TITLE: The Angel's Second Chance: Chapter 4
AUTHOR: EriksSylvia
DISTRIBUTION: If you want to put this somewhere else email me first.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any characters, sadly.
RATING: R
SUMMARY: Erik is sent back in time for one last chance. Can he make Christine fall in love with him?
COUPLES: Erik/Christine ('cause that's how it should be!)
Chapter 4
The Masquerade
The opening of the new season at the Opera Populaire. The cast was looking forward to that night. A masquerade for the people who could afford it and a party backstage for those who couldn't. Meg Giry was busy getting ready. As she was 16 this year she was old enough to go to the older parties with her mother. She was excited to show off the pretty new white dress her mother had gotten for her but, most of all, she was excited to see Christine. For the past three months there had been no sign of Christine or her Viscount. They'd left after the accident during 'Ill Muto'. During which time there had also been no sign of the Opera Ghost. The Phantom of the Opera seemed to have just disappeared.
9;It was about five forty-five in the evening which meant she had an hour and fifteen minutes to get ready. She began to get her make-up on as she thought about the last time she'd seen Christine. Her best friend had been getting into the new Patron's carriage. She knew that Christine had known her from when she was really young and Meg was happy to know that Raoul remembered her.
"Meg, do you need any help getting ready dear?"
Meg turned and saw her mother standing in the doorway with a smile on her face. She new that her momma was excited at the thought of Christine's arrival as much as she was. For some reason that Meg couldn't comprehend, her mother wasn't happy to know that Raoul and Christine had got on so well.
"I need some help with my hair, momma. I can never seem to get it right."
The older woman smiled and shut the door behind her. Mme. Giry sat down next to her daughter and began to brush her hair. Meg began to apply some lipstick and then a thought struck her.
"Momma?"
Meg turned slightly to face her mother.
"Why were you so upset when Christine left?"
That was the last thing the elder Giry expected. On accident she pulled her daughter's hair with the brush.
"Ouch."
"Sorry, love, I didn't expect that."
Mme. Giry took a deep breathe and looked into her daughter's eyes.
"If I tell you this, will you swear to me that you will keep it a secret?"
Meg nodded.
"Alright. I believe you're old enough to know."
The older women took another deep breath and took her daughter's hand.
"Well, m'dear, you know that we are both descendants from Gypsy heritage…"
'Silently the senses abandon their defenses, helpless to resist the notes I write. For I compose, the music of the night'
Erik smiled at his reflection in the mirror. He applied dark make-up around his eyes and sung to himself quietly. He couldn't hide the fact that he was excited for the Bal Masque tonight. He'd present his new opera to the managers and he would regain command of his Opera House. This time he knew how to do it right. This was not a trap for Christine, as was the first time, but his chance to show those two idiots upstairs that he truly was in charge. He washed the black off of his fingers and slicked back his hair, putting on a mask that covered the complete top half of his face. Erik glanced at his reflection again. He honestly hoped this frightened people, his Red Death costume. In one swift motion he grabbed the score for 'Don Juan' and disappeared behind a tapestry.
'Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you'
Christine walked up the entrance steps on Raoul's arm. The last three months had been almost a dream. Raoul had proposed and she had accepted. She had completely forgotten the man she knew he could be. He seemed so loving and caring, how could she refuse such a man?
'Flash of mauve, splash of puce! Fool and king, ghoul and goose! Green and black, Queen and priest. Trace of rouge, face of beast. Faces! Take your turn, take a ride on the merry-go-round, in an inhuman race! Eye of gold, thigh of blue! True is false, who is who? Curl of lip, swirl of gown! Ace of hearts, face of clown. Faces! Drink it in, drink it up, 'till you've drowned, in the light, in the sound, but who can name the face?'
But there was something that would always haunt her. Erik. He'd always be there. His voice would always haunt her dreams and plague her daytime. She loved him so much but he hadn't changed. Not at all. Months ago, she'd gone to Mme. Giry in hopes that she could fix this. She promised she would and that Erik would have changed.
'Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds! Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you! Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads. Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you! Masquerade! Seething shadows, breathing lies. Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you! Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes. Masquerade! Run and hide, but a face will still pursue you.'
How true it was. His face would always pursue her. She felt tears form in her eyes and the urge to vomit rising in her stomach. She had married Raoul and when he realized what she missed, the thing that kept her from giving herself completely to him he turned violent. He abused her mentally and physically. She feared Raoul, but, coming back to this time, he seemed so harmless. Raoul would never hurt her. She would try her best to keep her feelings for Erik a secret.
She rounded a corner with Raoul and walked down a dimly lit hallway with her fiancé. She looked at him and he looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Oh Raoul…"
'Think of it,'
"…our secret engagement. Look, your future bride. Just think of it."
She toyed with the ring around her neck.
"Why is it secret? What have we to hide? You promised me."
He leaned in to kiss her but she pulled away.
"No, Raoul, please don't, they'll see."
He sighed.
"Well then let them see. It's an engagement, not a crime."
'Christine, what are you afraid of?'
'Let's not argue (Let's not argue)
Please pretend (I can only hope)
You will understand in time (I'll understand in time)'
He took her in his arms and they began to dance. She let her mind wander to the past three months and how enjoyable they had been.
Erik waited in the shadows for the most opportune time. He knew when he would appear. He waited, and watched. He saw, then, Christine. The one person he had both longed and despised to see. She was, of course, with her lover. She had, no doubt, spent the off season with him. God knows what they had done together, Erik tried not to imagine.
'Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you! Masquerade! Every face a different shade. Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you!'
Erik laughed, if they only knew. Any moment now.
'Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you. Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds. Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you.'
"Showtime."
Christine stood with Raoul's arm at her waist and watched the show. This song was performed every year at the annual Bal Masque. She knew all of the words by heart and it was one of her favorite she'd learned at the Opera House. It wasn't until they sang they're final line that she realized, with a mixture of horror and excitement, what would undoubtedly come next.
'Why so silent, good Monsieurs? Did you think that I had left you for good? Have you missed me, good Monsieurs? I have written you an opera. Here, I bring the finished score. Don Juan Triumphant!'
Erik threw the score down at the feet of Firmin and smirked at La Carlotta.
'Fondest greetings to you all. A few instructions just before rehearsal starts. Carlotta must be taught to act, not her normal trick of strutting round the stage.'
He pulled out his rapier and pointed it at Piangi as he stepped forward. Trying, but failing miserably, to protect his dear Carlotta.
'Our Don Juan must loose some weight/It's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age.'
He then rounded on Andre and Firmin.
'And my managers must learn that their place is in an office, not the arts!'
He turned to Christine, then, and faltered. She looked amazing in her costume. Raoul had disappeared. Run off to get his own rapier, no doubt.
'As for our star, Miss Christine Daae…'
He snapped himself back to reality.
'No doubt she'll do her best! It's true, her voice is good, she knows, though, should she wish to excel, she has much still to learn! If pride will let her return to me, her teacher her teacher…'
He hadn't meant to say that. That was the last thing he wanted was for her to take pity on him. Though, she was coming towards him.
"Oh god…"
He whispered to himself.
When had Raoul disappeared? She didn't seem to care. All she wanted to do at the moment was hold Erik. His voice had changed again. It was, if possible, more empty. Could she possibly have done this to him?
"Oh Erik…"
She whispered as she went to him. He was breathing sharply and staring into her eyes. He glanced down and suddenly got very angry. Oh god, the ring.
'Your chains are still mine,'
"You belong to me!"He ripped the chain from her neck and turned from her. She couldn't just let him disappear like that. She went after him.
"Erik!"
She screamed after him but a shot had rung out and Erik was gone, through the trap door. She felt a white hot pain in her left arm. As she looked down she saw blood seeping through her dress. She suddenly felt very dizzy and heard a lot of screaming. She fell to the floor.