That night Odette and
Raoul sat in box five, Odette was not surprised to see that the
managers had tried to ignore the notes and kept Carlotta in the lead
role. Odette also noted that Carlotta had a larger and louder
following than usual tonight. Intermission came without incident and
Odette heard some of Carlotta's supporters talking about a plan
hatched by Christine to make the Diva look bad. Odette laughed and
returned to box five to watch the rest of the performance. Soon a
voice roared out… "Did I not instruct that box five was to be
kept empty?" Christine grinned you didn't expect the Vicomte
did you? Odette rose silently and started out of the box.
"Where
are you going," Raoul hissed.
"I'm going to try to find
him, don't worry I'll find you after." Odette flashed the
Vicomte a quick smile and slipped from the box. She had seen a door
in the rafters and was sure that Erik had spoken from there. Vaguely
she heard the music restart, Odette flew back stage and up some
stairs that landed her on the catwalks.
Down on the stage Odette
heard Christine mutter, "It's him!"
"Your part is silent
Little Toad" Carlotta cried.
"A Toad Madame?" Erik sneered
maliciously, materializing behind Odette, "perhaps it is you who
are the toad." Odette frowned and Erik grinned at her, "Watch
Carlotta." He demanded, "Now you will see."
Below them, on
stage La Carlotta began to sing again "…You can not speak, but
kiss me in my Hu'Croak'" Valiantly she began again "Old
fool for he makes me laugh." Then she began on the aria, (if you
know anything about music let me know it that is the right term,
thanks!) there the croak returned! A look of absolute horror crossed
Carlotta's face as she fled the stage. Erik began to chuckle
spitefully. "I replaced her throat spray," he informed Odette,
with an evil laugh.
The Managers appeared on stage saying that
the performance would begin again and that Christine would now be
playing the part of Countess. Erik chuckled again "See, Odette, I
always get my way!" She looked at him in disbelief; he had changed
so much since Mazenderan. Suddenly, Erik leapt in front of Odette,
hiding her with his cape. She saw a stagehand walking through the
gloom towards them asking what they were doing up here. Erik started
after the person, but Odette grabbed his shoulder "No, Erik you
can't!" He just smiled at her and dashed after the stagehand.
Odette tried to follow, but her bulky taffeta skirt got caught. She
watched, helplessly as Erik pursued the person through the catwalks.
She lost sight of them somewhere over the stage. Seconds later, she
heard the dancers and the audience scream, ripping her skirt free
Odette ran to where she could see the stage. There she saw someone
hanging from the catwalks, almost dead center on the stage. Bloody
Hell! Odette thought as she ran closer and saw that the person
was actually Carla, the maid who worked with Bouquet. Odette began to
look franticly for Erik, instead she saw the Vicomte run to
Christine, and Christine led him up another flight of stairs towards
the roof.
As quickly and silently as she
could Odette began to follow, sure that Erik would find them. Almost
at the roof she saw Erik melt silently from the shadows and follow
the couple onto the roof. Odette ran after them and hid herself
behind a statue, seeing that Erik stood hidden ten feet or so in
front of her. Completely unaware that they had been followed,
Christine and Raoul stood in each others arms. Then Raoul began to
sing; "No more talk of darkness, forget these wide eyed fears. I'm
here, nothing can harm you. My words will warm and calm you. Let me
be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears. I'm here with you
beside you. To guard you and to guide you" (be honest how many of
you started singing?)
Christine smiled and sang back, "Say
you'll love me every waking moment…" Odette saw Erik flinch
when Christine asked Raoul for his love. "All I want is freedom a
world with no more night, and you always beside me to hold me and to
hide me." Erik collapsed back against his statue, How dare she
love him, she promised me! Erik's heart was breaking, first
Odette, and now Christine has betrayed me!
Christine and
Raoul both sang "Love me, that's all I ask of you." They kissed
and Christine dropped a red rose, tied with a black velvet ribbon,
Odette watched as Erik choked, and stood leaning against the statue
for support.
Christine and Raoul continued to sing, Odette
reached for her dagger wondering if Erik would dare to interfere, but
he was too distraught to move. Christine and Raoul returned to the
Opera house, fearing that Christine would be missed. Erik stepped out
from behind the statue and knelt to pick up the rose. Odette came
silently up behind Erik, crouched next to him and rested her hand on
his shoulder.
"I gave you my music made you song take wing, and
now how you've repaid me denied me and betrayed me." Erik sang
softly and sadly, Odette leaned her head on his shoulder, Erik sang
again, "He was bound to love you, when he heard you
sing…Christine…"
At the same moment Odette sang, "He has
always loved her, Erik can't you see?" For a moment Erik actually
leaned against her and Odette dared to think that she had won him
back. At that moment, Erik began to tear the rose apart, and stood
quickly and leaping to the top of one of the many statues adorning
the roof of the Opera; leaving Odette crouched on the roof.
"YOU
WILL CURSE THE DAY YOU DID NOT DO ALL THAT THE PHANTOM ASKED OF YOU!"
He cackled madly. With a soft sigh, Odette rose to her feet and
deserted the roof.
