Father Once Spoke of an Angel
By: Stealiana
A/N: There are run-on sentences and some bad grammar. It's all under the name of artistic license! The thoughts are meant to flow together because as someone's brain starts running on hyperdrive, they don't usually take time for perfect grammar and sentence variation and all that. Mmk? Don't wanna get any complaints about my abuse of the English language. It's ARTISTIC! ^_^ Proceed…
Chapter 16: I'm Still Here
Christine glanced enviously at Meg Giry, who was waiting patiently in the darkness of the wings. To see the older dancer so composed while she was trembling did not do much to bolster her flailing confidence. What worried her most was the 'dreadful duet', as she had dubbed it, before intermission.
She jumped when she felt a hand grab hold of hers. It was merely Adrian, squeezing her hand reassuringly. He leaned over her shoulder, whispering what were supposed to be comforting little nothings into her ear. Despite her efforts, she found her mind drifting to Eric and filling with anxiety. She knew Erik would be watching from Box Five, and the managers, and all the patrons…
"Why, love!" Adrian's concern broke her feverish thoughts. "You're shaking!" His arms encircled around her, but all she could feel was a growing sense of nausea. She willed the feeling out of her system, and tried to concentrate on the trickle of words coming from Adrian's mouth.
"…I'll still love you whether you triumph tonight or not, alright? I have every confidence you will be the shining star in tonight's performance, and you'll set everyone talking!" He was so convincing; she almost believed him. He pulled away from her, and she found herself missing the warmth his body provided.
"May I…" She nodded and smiled, cutting off the remainder of his sentence. He inched forward, letting his lips brush against her like a feather tickling her senses. It was so insubstantial that it left her leaning toward him for more, but he had already moved away.
"I will congratulate you more personally after the show, love. At least, I hope that's why you entrusted the key to me!" He squeezed her hand and smiled one last time before he abandoned her to the black of backstage.
Christine finally became aware that the older dancer was watching her with an amused expression upon her lips. The singer felt herself blush a flaming red. How could she have acted in such a manner, in public? Such displays of affection should be reserved for a more private setting…
"You know," Meg Giry smiled. "Beware of blondes. The last time a Christine had a blonde suitor there was a dark man waiting to catch her by surprise." The younger girl blinked, confused by the low laugh that accompanied the odd statement. Meg looked at the girl carefully.
"My goodness, despite your make-up you look as though you've seen a ghost! You have nothing to worry about, you know. I've heard you and Eric practice. You compliment each other well." Meg paused and sighed sadly. "And you sing far better than I could ever dream to."
"T-thank you!" Christine stuttered, mustering a smile.
"For what? Telling the truth?" The dancer covered her mouth to conceal a laugh. Christine felt the urge to giggle rising within her, but she nearly choked as she heard the orchestra begin.
* * *
"I daresay!" Firmin whispered. "This is going splendidly well!"
"Of course it is! Did I not suggest that we cast the two as the baroness and the colonel?"
"You did no such thing! My good man, you were convinced Henri and Brigitte should-"
"I most certainly was not! Eric and Christine, I said, all along. Brigitte is hardly older than the girl - and Henri is too old to play the dashing young man."
"Perhaps you will change your tune with the end of the act. The choralmaster was deeply displeased with the duet."
"He heard them again, didn't he?"
"Yes, and called it a disaster."
"Mother of God… is he out to ruin us?!"
"Apparently the understudies became ill."
"Curses… we could have cancelled!"
"It was nearly sold-out! On such late notice, it would have been dreadful!"
"You're right. Well, here it is, let us hope for the best."
* * *
The curtain was closed and the pit music drowned out the scene-shifters in the background. Christine moved to her place in front of the mirror in her bedroom. She caught a glimpse from Eric, and they shared a smile before the lights came up.
She began her wordless song, accompanied by a solo violin, the vowel sounds lilting from her throat. She was aware this was not her best vocal work, but the knots in her stomach were preventing her from doing much of anything. Her concentration was on keeping the brush in her shaking hands.
The knock on the door was enough to make her jump - little acting was required there. Her hand flew to her breast in a flirtatious surprise at the sight of Eric in his crimson uniform, crisply pressed with gold dangles on his shoulders.
"And what, pray tell, is the occasion for such finery?" It had begun, the strings had entered - there was no turning back.
They exchanged their lines effortlessly, but there was something daunting in Eric's eyes -an unspoken fear, an unnamed desire. His curious emotion permeated every line with a despair that incited her to match his expressions of hopelessness.
She had begun to sing, as if the words were springing from her own heart.
How can I forget everything that has been?
How could she forget Erik, and how could she abandon the only world she knew? Yet it seemed that was what was being asked of her. And she knew she wasn't strong enough…
She let Eric's voice soothe her, and he did so with amazing ease. He crooned another possibility - one she had not realized until now existed. His face was so clearly begging her not to leave everything she had for the sake of one man.
Leave the candle in the window to burn…
But she could not just abandon him… she loved him! Ever since she had seen him the first time she went to the Opera, she had been drawn to his green eyes and blonde hair. If she gave him up…
Who then will I have cherished my heart for?
Her despair built into her crescendo, her voice soared as if it was not even her own, but that of a divine goddess, tearing at the heavens and unleashing retribution inside her very body. Eric's voice cried out, just as tormented, as he pleaded with her, the brass laying the supporting notes beneath him to prevent him from dashing himself to pieces against the rocks of his own torn soul.
I will wait forever and more
If I may keep your heart secure…
But hadn't he always? He never asked for permission before, and surely he did not need it now. But he was waiting, she saw through the tears that overwhelmed her. He always had been waiting for her, but he had been standing in the shadows of so many other things that she had overlooked him. How could she have ignored the swelling of her heart when she looked upon his face, her faintness of breath as he touched her hand, this strange warmth she had never felt before…?
He was standing now, searching her eyes. She realized he wasn't supposed to, it wasn't in the script, but she didn't care. Their voices twisted in heavenly harmony, a sweet perfection that made her heart beat unbearably fast.
Just wait for me as I will wait for you!
The percussion crashed at the end of the crescendo, and the brass were playing unspeakably loud. She was watching his face so carefully she did not realize he was leaning closer, that his lips were so dangerously near…
His arms supported her as her knees collapsed, drawing her directly against his body. She was his prisoner as his lips covered hers. This was not in the script, but it didn't matter, good God, they were kissing in front of an entire audience! But she didn't care that the patrons had gasped, she didn't care that her hand was uncomfortably crushed against his chest, she was just beginning to taste a fervor and lust she hadn't known existed and then he let go…!
As she regained her feet, she realized the curtain had drawn and the pit was silent. The scene-shifters had come out in the darkness and had begun to move the set about. The crowd backstage met the loud hustle and hubbub of the audience members as intermission was underway. She could not speak, although clearly Eric wanted her to. In her blank mind, she could not find any words, and so turned and fled in the darkness. There was a tiny clink and a golden glint as she escaped. Eric moved and picked up the wedding ring that had slid off her finger.