Hello! I am here again, quickly this time :) I hope you enjoy my next chapter :) It's drawing to a close now :((
Chapter 38
Henri and Madame Dupet stepped into the Opera House, handed in their tickets to the man on the door and made their way inside.
They found their seats in row F, near to the edge, with a reasonably good view of the stage, the red curtain firmly closed.
Backstage, Christine stood, twisting her hands in nerves, her eyes darting forwards and backwards, seeing several gendarmes holding guns from her spot.
Her poor angel... Her mind fretted, before protesting against the pity she felt...
No, he is a murderer!
She steeled herself.
Antoinette stood, also wringing her hands. The gendarmes worried her... oh, Erik, don't do anything stupid!
André and Firmin sat in their box, opposite Raoul de Chagny, sitting in box 5 – the Opera Ghost's box... if he showed, he was dead.
Erik stood above the wings, in a secluded area with a good vantage point. He was tense with excitement. He was going to win! By the end of today, it would be over, and he would have Christine! His heart fluttered in anticipation, and he was unable to keep still with the adrenaline rushing through him.
The music began – a tricky violin solo – and the curtain rose.
The dancers moved onstage, pulsing forwards and backwards, before starting to sing.
(Don Juan triumphant – Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Here the sire may serve the dam,
Here the master takes his meat.
Here the sacrificial lamb
utters one despairing bleat!
Madame Dupet raised her eyebrows... what was this? She looked around at the crowd, tutting in disappointment... this was not appropriate for the higher class of Parisians!
Carlotta stepped forwards for her solo.
Poor young maiden! For the thrill
on your tongue of stolen sweets
you will have to pay the bill –
Tangled in the winding sheets!
Henri coughed... his brother had written this? He was torn between embarrassment and feeling impressed... this was bold – he would never have the nerve.
Serve the meal and serve the maid!
Serve the master so that, when
tables, plans and maids are laid,
Don Juan triumphs once again!
Piangi entered the stage, strutting around, while Meg – Antoinette's daughter – danced round him, until he tossed her a purse, and she grinned in character, causing the audience to shake their heads at the obvious display of lewdness.
Piangi:
Passarino, faithful friend,
Once again recite the plan.
The actor of Passarino replied:
Your young guest believes I'm you
I, the master, you, the man.
Piangi/Don Juan:
When you met, you wore my cloak,
With my scarf you hid your face.
She believes she dines with me,
In her master's borrowed place!
Furtively we'll scoff and quaff,
stealing what, in truth, is mine.
When it's late and modesty,
Starts to mellow with the wine...
Passarino:
You come home, I use your voice –
Slam the door like crack of doom.
Piangi/Don Juan:
I shall say: "Come hide with me!
Where, oh, where? Of course – my room!"
Passarino:
Poor thing hasn't got a chance!
Piangi/Don Juan:
Here's my hat, my cloak and sword.
Conquest is assured,
If I do not forget myself and laugh!
And with a dark cackle, Piangi placed a black mask over his eyes and exited the stage.
With a dark smirk, the Phantom leapt from the rafters, as Piangi looked up, gasping, the Phantom set his noose around his neck – but, with little time, he twisted the noose, Piangi struggling for breath, and placed a wooden spike in it, to hold it tight against the thrashing man's airways.
The Phantom looked up as Christine began to sing from the stage, and a predatory glint shone in his eye as he braced himself for his entry, his whole body shaking in anticipation. His victory was so close!
Christine/Aminta:
No thoughts within her head,
but thoughts of joy!
The Phantom closed his eyes briefly to absorb the beauty of her voice, before opening them again and kicking Piangi out of the way as he prepared to enter the stage.
No dreams within her heart,
But dreams of love!
Henri glanced sideways at his mother, who nodded. This was the girl they had heard at the graveyard... what was happening?
Passarino:
Master?
The Phantom/Don Juan:
Passarino – go away!
For the trap is set and waits for its prey!
Passarino left the stage, and The Phantom entered in the back, the black mask hiding his face from Christine, trying not to let his hands shake and show his excitement. His eyes gleamed with adrenaline and joy.
As he began to sing, Christine looked up from where she was on the floor, how could she not recognise that voice? Her head screamed danger! At her, but she was a performer... the show must go on... if a little more carefully. She braced herself, taking deep breaths and not looking at him yet.
You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish, which 'til now
has been silent... silent...
Christine's heart raced at the sound of his voice, soft and silky, as it washed over her, she saw his finger cover his lips in a 'shh' symbol, and she swallowed, unsure, but entranced at the same time. She could never resist the beauty of his voice.
Henri and his mother sat in the audience, their eyes wide and enthralled at the new man's voice... it was familiar... it was his! Henri's body was on high alert... what was he doing? Was he supposed to be on there? ... Good God, was he an amazing singer!
I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
Christine found her eyes closing as she allowed the bliss of hearing his voice wash over her... how could she have ever denied him?
In your mind, you've already
succumbed to me,
Dropped all defences, completely
succumbed to me...
Yes... Christine's mind hissed at her, Listen! You're his! You've always been his! Don't resist!
Now you are here with me,
No second thoughts,
You've decided... decided...
Christine rose to her feet slowly, the gendarmes in the background, unaware of who he was, what was happening... She knew she had to remember the danger! But... his voice, it held her in a trance...
(Point of no return – Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Past... the point of no return,
No backward glances!
Our games of make-believe
Are at an end!
Erik's lips were curved into a roughish smirk, his eyes shining. Antoinette crept closer to the stage from the wings, her heart sinking... was he mad? But she felt she could not deny him... not when his voice was holding everyone in a trance, silky and smooth and perfect...
Past... all thought of if, or when
The Phantom walked toward Christine, like the choreography had said, and they begun to circle each other, their eyes firmly attached to each other, as if nothing else existed outside of them two.
No use resisting!
Abandon thought, and let
The dream descend!
What raging fire
The Phantom strode forwards quickly, drawing her close to him – him standing flush to her back, and she felt her body react, yearning for him to never let her go... hold her like that with such passion for the rest of her life.
Shall flood the soul?
What rich desire
Unlocks its door?
The Phantom ran his hand down her arm as he drew away, leaving her with shivers running down her spine... no! Come back!
What sweet seduction lies
Before us?
His expression was predatory, hers enthralled, entranced...
Past... the point of no return
He willed her to understand... to see his love, his need to have her.
The final threshold!
What warm, unspoken secrets
will we learn?
Christine pulled away from him, blinking, desperate not to be sucked in, but unable to resist.
Beyond the point of
No Return.
The Phantom shook his head slightly, warning her it was not going to work...
It was her cue... Christine was worried... what was she to do? But, as a performer, she could not let it pass.
You have brought me
She looked up at where Raoul was sitting, watching. The Phantom followed her gaze... how could she think of the boy, when she was with him? His jealousy flashed, but he could not let it show... not here.
To that moment when
Words run dry...
To that moment when speech
disappears into silence... silence...
She sent a look at Raoul, who nodded, glancing at the gendarme stood behind him. Raoul looked over at André and Firmin, who panicked slightly, bringing a gendarme into their box with them, as well.
I have come here,
Hardly knowing the reason why...
She shook her head slightly at Raoul, but even as he reacted, she had already forgotten about him...
In my mind,
I've already imagined,
Our bodies entwining,
Defenceless and silent...
Turning back to The Phantom, Christine let the shoulders of her dress fall sideways, revealing the skin of her neck, feeling the music, the lyrics dance under her skin, setting her aflame.
Now I am here with you,
No second thoughts...
I've decided... decided...
The Phantom eyed her warily, wondering if she was being genuine or not as she nodded at him and his heart began to pump faster.
Past... the point of no return
Christine begun to walk towards the back of the stage, a flirty look on her face, and, helplessly, the Phantom followed.
No going back now!
Our passion play has now,
At last, begun!
As they both reached the bottom of alternate spiral staircases on opposite sides of the stage and began to climb, all else fell away, leaving only the two of them, their eyes only for each other, forgetting all else, for nothing else mattered now. It was just them and the music, and all was right.
Raoul's expression was mildly disgusted...
Past... all thought of right or wrong
One final question:
How long should we two wait
Before we're one?
The Phantom watched her sing, hopelessly, his mouth dry, but seamlessly following the choreography.
When will the blood
Begin to race?
The sleeping bud
Burst into bloom?
The Phantom swallowed, his gaze turning predatory and intense as he watched her.
Raoul rose to his feet, his expression mildly horrified.
Henri stared at the stage, his mind a whirlwind of confusion.
When will the flames at last
Consume us?
Both of them had reached the top of the stairs and gazed across the bridge at each other, the Phantom swinging his cape off his shoulder onto the rail behind him as he joined in the chorus, their voices melding together perfectly, starting to walk together.
Past... the point of no return!
The final threshold!
As they reached each other, they desperately clutched at the other's arms, before determinedly following the choreography, the Phantom spinning her into his arms, and her breath came out in pants as she felt safe again, like she was in the right place, feeling protected, yet in danger and it was a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement and she never wanted that feeling to die.
The bridge is crossed,
So stand and watch it burn!
We've past the point of no return!
The Phantom clutched her hands underneath his, and her head lay back against him, exposing her neck. You could cut the tension with a knife as everyone who had realised something was wrong (the cast, backstage and Erik's family) gazed fearfully up at the two of them holding the other one tightly. A gendarme approached the edge of the bridge backstage. The couple would not have noticed anything in that moment as they just felt the other holding them tightly, never wanting to let go, the adrenaline powerful in their blood, their breath shuddering unevenly.
The Phantom sung quietly into Christine's ear.
Say you'll share with me,
One love, one lifetime.
Christine's lips curved into a smile... forever like this? How could she refuse? Nothing ever felt so right.
Lead me, save me from my
Solitude!
Raoul looked ill...
Say you want me with you...
Christine opened her eyes, thoughts spiralling through her head, beginning to remember... another had sung this to her once, had they not? She could not forget.
Here, beside you...
The Phantom spun Christine in his arms, so they were facing each other, his eyes desperately begging her, boring into her. The Phantom's voice rose until it was loud enough for the whole audience to hear.
Anywhere you go,
Let me go too!
Christine's eyes filled with pity... the Phantom grasped it – anything! He clutched her hands between his tightly, tears filling his eyes with emotion.
Christine!
Christine rose her hands to his face, her heart pounding with regret.
That's all I ask of-
In one swift move, Christine pulled off the mask and wig, exposing his face, lit up with a grimace, the deformity sending many people in the audience screaming, raising their hands to the level of their eyes...
Henri gasped, his hands flying to his face in horror. The deformity was terrible, raised red marks, pitted holes, his hair thin, blonde and flyaway, the deformity continuing underneath it. It was more hideous, more terrible than he remembered it being.
Many gendarmes raised their weapons, and Raoul ran from his box to rescue his fiancée
The Phantom's smile left his face instantly, his heart filling with pain and betrayal. He promised her everything, and this was what he got? He looked sadly at Christine, whose eyes looked back at him, pitying, full of apologies, but useless...
Taking a deep breath, the Phantom steeled himself for the next part of the plan... he felt exposed, like his every secret had been told to everyone, the screams of the audience ripping through him, reminding him of the little boy who was tortured at the gypsy camp.
Everyone thought him a monster now... even Christine. She had unmasked him. She had betrayed him in the worst way possible. It hurt... God it hurt... and rather than give in to the pain, The Phantom grasped at it and spun it round, his eyes sparking with fury.
Looking out at the large, glass chandelier, the Phantom's mind was made up. He saw the gendarmes running through the audience armed with guns, and he knew he did not want to die. He would make her love him, if it was the last thing he ever did.
With a grunt of anger, the Phantom grabbed Christine round the waist, and swung his sword at a rope... the only rope, thanks to his tinkering, holding up the chandelier.
With a kick, the Phantom opened a trap door, sending him and Christine falling into the catacombs under the opera house, and a loud tinkling noise preceded the descent of the Chandelier.
Henri and his mother leapt out of their seats with yells of horror, throwing themselves to the floor to avoid it, while it crashed its way towards the stage, the orchestra diving out of the way as it fell towards them, landing next to the stage and exploding, a huge fire starting and setting the stage alight, the audience members screaming and running, Henri and his mother running, not out of the opera house, but into it, the heat of the flames roaring around them.
Raoul swung down a rope onto the stage while the windows of the opera house exploded outwards, the raging fire consuming them.
Henri and his mother ran backstage, hearing Raoul approach Antoinette Giry.
"Where did he take her?" he demanded, and Antoinette stopped for a second before making a decision.
"Come with me, monsieur, I will take you to him. But remember, keep your hand at the level of your eyes!"
Meg approached them from behind "I'll come with you!"
Antoinette shook her head, "No, Meg, No. You must stay here." She told her daughter, who turned around, attempting to stop the crowd, but Henri and his mother managed to slip past her.
Antoinette ran off, dragging Raoul. "come with me, monsieur, do as I say."
The Phantom dragged Christine by her wrist, one hand gripping a flaming torch, his deformity flickering in the light, his scalp almost visible through his thin hair.
Down once more to the dungeon
Of my black despair,
Down we plunge to the prison
Of my mind,
Down that path into darkness
Deep as hell!
Running, the Phantom dragged Christine, whose breath came out in fearful pants, unable to speak in the face of his fury. The Phantom stopped suddenly, turning to rant at her, his voice commanding attention and causing her to cringe in fear.
"Why, you ask was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place? Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abundant face!" he shouted, his eyes shining with betrayal and fury. What had he done to deserve this life?
In the distance, and chant begun...
Track down this murderer, he must be found...
Track down this murderer, he must be found...
Deeper they winded their way into the catacombs...
hello! Please review? It makes my day and for the last one, I only got one review :(( and i know from Story stats that I had 28 visitors to the last chapter... :(
Anyway, until next time!