AN: Lyrics from the Musical have been placed in here...it fit perfectly. Enjoy
Chapter 9: Unplanned Performance
1 month later
Dear Vicomte de Chagny
Your daughter grows each day with promise in her voice. She has spoken of continuing her lessons with her dear Comte de Bellamont. Though you do not approve of my lessons, then she will be sent back to you, but know this Vicomte; your daughter has grown to love from her heart. Her passion of music is what brought her here to me. She did not approve before, but she sees that she can be great with me as her teacher. She will blame you for the pain in her heart. You shall collect your daughter at the end of the performance.
Sincerely,
Comte de Bellamont
Erik sealed the letter and handed it to Gabriel. Gabriel looked at Erik in a slightly disapproving look.
" Take it to the Vicomte de Chagny," Erik said, " With haste."
Gabriel walked off and rode into the darkness with only a simple lantern to guide his way. Erik stood up and walked down the hallways and headed down to lair below. He lit a few candles and sat down to play the organ, the haunting tunes seemed to rattle his bones.
" Erik," Charlotte's voice rang
Erik did not answer her, but continued to play. He stopped and returned to the surface, there Charlotte stood, her eyes were painted gold, her dress was midnight blue, trimmed with gold on it. Stars in her hair and, her lips were painted crimson red. Erik walked over to her and kissed her head.
" You are not ready?" she said
" I will be in time," Erik said
He took her delicate hand and led her to the sitting room.
" Please, go get ready, the performance will not wait for us," Charlotte said
" Yes, and my star will shine," he whispered
Erik walked upstairs and changed into finer garments than what he wore. His black attire matched that of his olden day style. Erik put piece by piece on and finally finished, with his mask. He walked downstairs and Charlotte looked at him.
" Are your things packed?" he asked
" Yes," she answered
" Then you will be prepared to leave my dear," Erik said, " I must set you free tonight."
" Erik, I don't wish to go," she whispered
" You must," Erik said, " But remember my dear I am here."
Erik helped her into the carriage and he got in carefully, they rode to the theater in silence, but their minds were full of thought. They arrived and Erik helped her down and escort her to the back stage.
" Shall I see you after the performance?" she asked
" Just look in box five, I shall be there," he whispered, " and here."
He placed his hand on her heart and she placed her hand on his. She kissed his hand and Erik walked off and Charlotte felt her heart break.
Raoul and Christine arrived and came to their usual seats for the performance, there Christine looked over at box five and saw Erik's shadow sit down. She gave a nod to Erik and he returned it.
" After the performance, we will leave with Charlotte," Raoul said
" Alright," Christine answered
The performance started and their attention was drawn to the stage, as their daughter walked on. Her first note, drew the crowds attention and they stared at her. Her angelic voice broke through the silence and the story began. She introduced the characters and each began their own story, as she left the stage. Erik folded his hands onto the edge of the box as he watched her.
" She is my creation, the diva has entered," Erik whispered, " But she will leave me, her teacher, her lover"
As the performance went on Charlotte's beautiful voice continued to capture the audience. She stopped and looked at Erik and Erik returned her look. The audience was silent and Christine looked at her daughter. Raoul looked over at box five and narrowed his eyes.
" Christine," he said
" Raoul," she answered
Christine got up and looked at Raoul.
" You would do anything to keep your daughter happy wouldn't you?" Christine said
" No, Christine," Raoul said
" There's no turning back," she whispered, " There's no turning back."
" There is, we're saving her," Raoul said
Charlotte looked at Erik and sang, " I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why…In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent- Now I am here with you: no second thoughts I've decided….decided…"
Erik breathed deep as he stood up and stared at her. He met Charlotte's eyes as she stared at him, breathing.
" Past the point of no return-no going back now: our passion play has now at last, begun," she sang
Raoul stood up as Christine stared at her daughter.
" Charlotte," Christine said
" He's put her up to this," Raoul said, " He has something planned."
" Erik! You have brought me here," she sang
" No, your mistaken," Erik replied
" I have seen your face beyond the mask," she sang out
" Forget all you have seen, you are free," Erik said
" I love you, Erik," Charlotte sang
Erik breathed deep and sang, " I am your angel of music! Come to me."
Charlotte smiled and walked to the edge reaching out her hand.
" Charlotte!" Raoul shouted
" Erik," Charlotte sang, " I love you."
" Charlotte, my dear sweet Charlotte," Erik whispered
" The darkness that consumes you is that of a man who yearns for heaven secretly, secretly," she sang
The audience found their hearts beating as the lovers words called out to each other. Charlotte turned towards her parents and looked at them tears streaming down her face.
" I'm sorry," she sang out, " But I love him."
" Charlotte don't do this," both said
Charlotte bowed and ran off stage and Erik ran out to meet her. Raoul and Christine did the same and saw Charlotte running towards the lobby of the theater. Erik stood there and she ran to him, Erik looked at her and ran to her, there they closed the gap between them.
" Erik," she cried, " Oh, my sweet angel of music."
" Stop!" Raoul shouted
Charlotte looked at her father and grabbed Erik's hand and they took off.
" I don't believe this," Raoul said
He looked at Christine and she nodded as he ran after the two. He saddled a horse and saw the black stallion taking off. He hit the horse to get going and ran after them, the pace picked up and he became determine to free his daughter. He had freed his wife from his mesmerizing song, now he had to finish.
" Charlotte!" he shouted
Charlotte held onto Erik as they ran through the town streets. He headed for a church and he stopped, he got her off, they ran to the rest of the way to the church. They entered the church and Erik looked at Charlotte. He took her hand and both walked into the church further. Erik turned to her and kissed her on her lips deeply, she returned the kiss.
" Charlotte, I love you," he chanted, " Come save me from my solitude."
Charlotte smiled and they walked to the alter and a priest walked out.
" Comte de Bellamont, what brings you here?" the priest said
" I have come to ask you to marry Mademoiselle de Chagny and myself," Erik said, " We have come against the will of her father. Please, good priest marry my lady and I."
" As you wish," the priest said
He led them to the back and looked at the couple, Erik grabbed Charlotte's hands into his own and the priest began.
Raoul looked at the church and rode there. He got off his horse and ran into the church as the thunder roared.
" Phantom!" he shouted, " Come out!"
Charlotte looked up hearing her father's call. Erik looked as well and the priest continued, Erik removed two gold rings and handed one to Charlotte. She breathed deep as Erik took her hand and slipped the ring on her delicate hand.
" Erik, your love for this woman is strong, but now you must vow to her, your eternal life," the priest said
Erik recited to her the vows, which he would keep for all their years together. Charlotte smiled with tears in her eyes.
Raoul walked towards the alter and knelt down before it.
" Heavenly father, let my daughter be safe, help me to find her," Raoul said
He looked up at the beautiful alter and then rose and called again.
" Do you really think you can play these games twice!" he called, " Show yourself you thief!"
The priest turned to Charlotte and she slipped the ring on Erik's finger.
" You have come against your father's wishes to seek this mans love, now you must promise that you will forever love him," the priest said
Charlotte looked at Erik and nodded and closed her eyes.
" Erik, I love you, treasure your love, I Charlotte vow my love to you, for richer or for poor, in sickness and in health," she chanted to him, " I will be loyal for all enterity."
" By the power invested in me, I pronounce you husband and wif.." the priest was about to finish when Raoul busted in
Erik narrowed his eyes and looked at Charlotte.
" Say it!" Erik growled
" No don't!" Raoul shouted, " Don't finish!"
Erik looked at the priest and Charlotte looked at her father.
" Finish," Erik growled
" I now pronounced you husband and wife," the priest quickly said
Erik and Charlotte kissed and Raoul breathed deep.
" How could you?" Raoul growled, " You've taken my daughter."
Erik stood in front of Charlotte and Raoul stood at a stance to fight. Erik shook his head and put out his hands.
" I bid you welcome monsieur," Erik said, " to my family, did you think that I would harm her? Perhaps you have forgotten the last time."
" Perhaps it is you, who has forgotten the last time," Raoul replied, " My daughter and my wife are not yours to play with for feelings."
Erik laughed a little and Raoul did not move. Erik looked over at Charlotte and then looked over at the priest.
" Hear this sinful man's confession. I have had impure thoughts about this man's daughter, who I have loved since the day she arrived…forgive me father," Erik said, " Forgive me father."
" You monster," Raoul said
Erik laughed and drew his blade and walked towards Raoul, holding the skull blade.
" Forgive me father, for I have had many thoughts of killing this man, because of what he has done to make my life miserable….forgive me," Erik said, " forgive me."
Raoul raised his blade and narrowed his eyes at Erik.
" Your haunting past continues to haunt my family's life, first my son…my only son. Monsieur you are what they say you are," Raoul said back, " This time you will not live….Christine's mercy will not save you…a monster."
" You make me laugh Vicomte de Chagny," Erik said, " My beloved wife has loved me in secret from the moment she has come…it was only destiny that she would fall in love."
Raoul tapped Erik's blade away from his face and Charlotte held her breath.
" I throw myself at the mercy's alter!" Erik shouted, " forgive me father for this sinful man!"
" You don't deserve mercy," Raoul said
Erik nodded and came at Raoul, both swing blades at one another. They entered the main part of the church, and Erik threw Raoul off balance. Raoul fell back, but blocked Erik's devil's blade.
" Look, at those who stare down at you!" Erik shouted
Raoul got up and slashed at Erik and forced Erik back, he fell back towards the alter.
" Here is your alter of mercy Erik," Raoul said
Raoul stepped on Erik's hand and removed the blade and tossed it to the side. Erik looked at Raoul as Raoul prepared to once again try to kill Erik. Charlotte ran out and threw her self over Erik.
" Charlotte move!" Raoul shouted
" No," she replied
She held Erik in her arms, and Raoul looked at his daughter.
" Charlotte move," Raoul said
Charlotte stood up in front of Erik and looked at Raoul. She shook her head, then walked to her father.
" My father, my dear father, I am your daughter, here I have found a man. He watches me everyday and loves me. I do not know how you harbor such anger. He is a good person at heart and I would never leave him," Charlotte confessed, " I was afraid, but now my fear has turned into love."
" Charlotte, you do not know the man you have married, he desires only revenge on this family," Raoul said
" I'm sorry father, but I have made my choice," Charlotte whispered
She turned to Erik and put out her hand.
" Erik," she whispered
Erik grabbed Charlotte's hand and stood up. She looked at him and wrapped her arms around Erik.
" I can not change your mind, but I can only let you make your own decision," Raoul said, " Charlotte, I am your father, the one who tried to protect you from this monster, but I see even I can not. Forgive me."
Charlotte ran to her father and hugged him and Raoul hugged his only daughter. He saw the young girls tears fall. She looked up at her father and smiled.
" I will visit you and mother," she said
" I look forward to seeing my daughter's face again," he said
Raoul looked at Erik and turned away, Charlotte looked at her father as he left. Another moment where she felt empty, but then arms wrapped around. She looked up and smiled at Erik.
" My wife," he whispered, " let us go."
Erik and Charlotte walked off and rode back to the theater and Erik helped her down. Christine and Raoul walked out the theater and looked at them, Christine walked over to her daughter and hugged her.
" It was you who could only save him from his darkness," she said, " Don't let his power over power your senses, my darling."
" I won't mother," she said
She hugged Christine and Christine looked at Erik as he stood there.
" Your thirst for blood never stops, one day Erik it will. If my daughter is hurt by you in anyway there will be no mercy," she said
Christine walked to Raoul and took his hands and looked at them. Erik helped Charlotte up and he glanced over them, then got up. The carriage took off and Erik looked at Charlotte, she laid her head on his shoulder.
" My beloved Charlotte," he whispered, " Welcome home."