Disclaimer : I do not own the Phantom of the Opera or Erik, I do own Ariel, Darius, all the other cast and crew of Phantom's Lair Theater and the theater itself.
Note: Nothing really just enjoy the performance of ' Blind To It All.' Just so you guys don't get confused. When the action is not happening in the sound booth i'll be calling Anthony Erik during the play since thats who he's playing. You'll know when it's the real Erik i'm talking about.
Chapter 7 : Blind To It All Part 1
Tom Hanson walked into the sound booth and proceeded to start all the pre-show checks on the sound and light boards. He never noticed Erik standing behind him until the phantom voiced his presence.
" Ariel said I should watch the performance from here." He said calmly and smirked when Tom jumped a few feet in the air before spinning to stare at Erik with a chalk white face. Upon seeing who it was the man leaned against the sound system to catch his breathe.
" You would think working here for the past two years would prepare me for things like this. But man you take the cake." Tom said, managing a shaky laugh. " Makes sense though, you are pretty much the leader here anyway." Tom said shaking his head before going back to his work and Erik leaned back in his chair.
" How long before the musical starts?" Erik asked but was interrupted by a familiar bark as a white hybrid attempted to jump on Erik's lap. The dog only managed to get his top half over Erik's legs but it was enough to make the phantom sit up straighter.
" Hey Ghost." Tom greeted the dog cheerfully. " Oh and Erik the shows starting in a few minutes. Once everyone sits down." Tom started to talk into his microphone.
" Jay, Carmen. I need the lair set on the stage. And tell Ariel we're ready to start."
Erik sat with Ghost lying content at his feet and observed the crowd through the sound booth window. It wasn't like having his own box at the opera but in a way it was even more exciting here.
Tod took off his head set and handed it to a confused Erik. The tech just smiled at him. " It's Ariel." He said.
A voice was coming from the device and Erik realized it was Ariel's but he would be damned if he could figure out how the thing worked. Tod eventually had to help him put if over his head so that it didn't accidentally pull off his mask and which button to push so he could talk. Ariel's voice filled his ear and he was having a slight sense of deja vu.
" What? You thought you were the only one who could speak to someone in another room?" Ariel said playfully as if she could read his thoughts. " I'm down here on the stage look." She said.
Erik looked out of the booth and saw Ariel's fiery red hair as she leaned out from behind the curtain with her own headset pressed to her ear and giving him a dazzling smile. Erik's heart leapt into his throat for a moment at the sheer beauty she radiated. He had no idea she was actually in the performance tonight.
" I see you bella seraph." He managed and was pleased to see her blush from all the way in the booth. " Who do you portray tonight?" He asked. On the side of the stage Ariel did a small curtsy and put on a pair of smoked glasses. " A blind woman named Manaree. Your blind guide tonight monsieur. Enjoy the show." And with that she was gone behind the stage and Erik handed the headset back to Tom.
The curtain parted and Ariel or rather Manaree came out on stage in a very familiar midnight blue dress. It was the one he had seen her in on the rooftop. With her red hair falling around her bare throat and a pair of smoked spectacles that a blind person would wear to hide their eyes. She had a walking cane and always stared off in the wrong direction with her other hand at her side. The cane tapped back in forth as she walked with a continuos rythme.
Erik almost laughed when the scene was presented. It was a mock up of his lair and his throne which he had seen Ariel stretched out on the first time he'd seen her in real life.
Manaree walked about the lair oblivious to her surroundings or what had happened there. Her cane kept up its rythme until it struck the throne. She stopped, her body stiff for a moment. Then reaching out her hand she searched for what her cane had hit. Her searching hands touched the arm of the grand chair. Setting down the cane she gingerly felt her way to the seat and again her hand found something else in her way.
It was the music box with the monkey and its cymbals.
A smile lit up Manaree's face and she picked up the music box so she could sit down. In the middle of the lairs gloom she managed to look like a light. She set the music box on her lap and started to feel out what it was. Her hands ran over the monkey and cymbals and the music boxes lead base until her fingers found the key. She wound it up and 'Masquerade' started to play in the simple, tinkling music. Manaree swayed to the music for a moment until the monkey ceased.
Tom pressed a button on the sound board and never noticed Erik's transfixed state as a different music box like song filled the theater. Erik had let himself be pulled into the performance. Manaree opened her mouth and sang along to the enchanting music.
Music boxes have within
Melodies they carry with them
Once their open music fills the air.
Every person you have known
Has a song of their own
Once they open up you'll hear whats there
Its not easy, you must listen
With your heart for what lies hidden
There was a melody locked deep inside of me
But now its free
It found a place embraced by harmony, sweet harmony
Love more then anything
Teaches our hearts to sing
Only love could break the shell
Now I know very well the love within myself.
Manaree stopped singing for a moment and Anthony as Erik in his dress suit and mask appeared from behind the throne where she sat. He seemed both suprised by her presence and voice. He did not make his presence known and simply watched as Manaree sang from the heart.
There was a melody locked deep inside of me
But now its free!
It found a place embraced by harmony, sweet harmony
Love more then anything
Teaches our hearts to sing
Only love could break the shell
Now I know........very well the love within myself.........
Erik walked around the chair when she had finished to stand beside her, take a very imposing stance. No doubt he was waiting for her to notice him. After a few moments Erik relaxed and the side of his face that was exposed screwed up in confusion. Then he hesitantly waved his hand before her eyes and Manaree didn't flinch. Erik pulled back as if he'd been burned.
Manaree's cane came up and nearly hit Erik in the face.
" Monsieur I don't like people standing behind me." She said without turning to face him. Erik studied her closely.
" Your blind." He said coming to stand before her, though she did not look directly at him when she followed his movements. " And you sir are deformed." She replied sharply. " But I didn't come down here to swap our handicaps in the dark." She said, setting the music box down as she stood and tapped her way along until she encountered Erik's leg. He started but did not move, refusing to move it seemed.
" How would you know that if you were blind?" Erik sounded viscous, his words cold as he began to walk around her like a hunter observing his prey.
" Stop that!" She hissed. " Your being a pest doing that. And concerning how I know who you are monsieur phantom. I may be blind but i'm not deaf. I know very well where I am and I listen to what everyone says. I didn't expect to find a stagehand to be taking his afternoon brake down in a place condemned as hell, who else would act as if he owned the entire opera." She said confidently.
Erik stopped directly behind her and spoke in her ear.
" Such brave words for a woman who is down here on her own with the feared opera ghost." He seemed delighted when she appeared startled.
" I need your help." She said, seeming to lose her confidence slightly. Erik scoffed. " And what would that be?" He asked with a sneer. Already dismissing her as he walked to the organ. " I need you to help me get into the opera's company, I want to sing monsieur." Manaree pleaded and for once reached out blindly, worried when she couldn't find the person she was speaking to.
Erik stopped in his tracks and turned to her. Seeing her dilemma, he reached out as well without thinking and touched her hand. He pulled away just as quickly and Manaree fell to the floor. Crying out in frustration at her own disability and slammed her fist into the ground.
" I cannot do this by myself!" She said angrily. " I remember what its like to see. I haven't been blind all my life. I just need your help to prove to them that it doesn't alter my singing. Please................." She took a shaky breath. " Would you have my crying and begging? Just for you to do something you have done for years. To sway the managers decisions."
Erik touched his mask, like an involuntary tick and stared down at the woman who lay almost in tears at his feet. Turning his back to her he seemed to regain his composure. His voice still cold as steel.
" And pray tell would I gain for my troubles, if you haven't noticed i'm still a wanted man."
Manaree stiffened and managed to get back to her feet, a grim expression on her face. " For your troubles sir." She said just as stiffly as her stance. " I would do whatever you will." She scoffed. " I would no doubt sell my soul if it meant I could sing. No price is too great."
Erik smirked and turned to Manaree who stood with her chin tilted up, somehow sensing the tightrope she was walking between life and death. " What is your name mademoiselle?" Erik asked gently.
" My name is Manaree." She answered. " Do you agree to help me monsieur?"
Erik didn't speak for a moment. " I will be there to sway the managers favor to you. And as for payment you will live down here with me when you are not at rehearsal or performances, no exceptions until I have found a better way for you to pay for my services. Is that understood?" Erik's voice proved no room for argument.
He looked shocked when Manaree actually smiled. " Of course monsieur. Then I shall expect you at the audition." She said and was gone with the tap-tap of her cane as she went.
Erik did not speak until the tapping had faded away. Slumping into the throne like a suddenly boneless creature and hid his masked face in his hands. " You fool!" He mocked himself. " You monstrous fool, what have you done?"
The scene changed, and Manaree stepped to the front of the Paris Opera's stage to many a snickering jest. Her cane tapping along until she reached the edge, she kept her chin high and proud. The music started and a shadow could be seen in Box Five. Manaree opened her mouth and sang.
No worries there will be more. It's short I know but I need more time to work on the second half of Blind To It All. So review this for me and if I get rave reviews i'll work faster. I just hope I didn't confuse anyone with how i'm addressing the actors during the play. I want it to feel like Erik is living through the play as he watches it. All right everyone review and i'll be back soon.
Oh almost forgot, the song is called ' The Melody Within' from the movie Rigoletto, the children's movie.