Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera, I only own The Phantom's Lair Theater and everyone in it.
Author's Note: I got to see Phantom at the movie theater for the second time by pure dumb luck. My sister and her boyfriend hadn't seen it yet so we saw it again! I like dumb luck!Thanks for all your encouragement on writing the ' Blind To It All' script and I will write it as soon as this story is finished. Have fun with this for nowenjoy everyone.
Agent Alexandra Paris: No worries, he won't cause too much trouble. And Erik needs a punching bag for a moment I think.
Jilly: I would definitely tell you if there's anything worth while to come down here for. You say you live in Oshkosh, Wisconsin? I was there last year in November-December doing my families magic show. We'll be coming back up this year around the same time so maybe you can come to the show and meet me. E-mail me.
Eilianu: Thank you very much. I'm just happy that I can inject humor into this story without ruining it. One of my real author friends keeps telling me about the importance of comic relief in serious stories so I try to follow her sound advice.
Miranda de la Costa: As always your review is one that I always wait for. Thanks for the encouragement and once this story is over with i'll start on the script.
Count Orlok: What do you mean stuck in New York! If your talking about the state I want to switch places with you. No matter where you are your closer to Broadway then I am. And I may lose track of chapters true. I'm just happy you can laugh at my humor.
Nemi Jade: Maybe just a little torture.
Keiri Masamiyono:I'll try to stick it in there, but I didn't even remember that the princes name was Eric. Ariel is actually named after the angel of wind and inspiration.
Enchanted Reader: I'm flattered, you've given me a wonderful compliment by saying that. As to writing myself into the story, yes Ariel is very much my clone. We have the same talents, unfortunately I don't own the Phantom's Lair Theater but I hope to some day and she acts out how I would handle the situation. I also have her temper. So yes Ariel is me. As to your offer again i'm flattered, but i'm unsure how I stand relationship wise so for now I can offer you friendship. E-mail me.
This Chapter: Okay this is where we leave the cliché behind. I know some of you think i've dropped all my originality but stayed tuned. I've been setting you all up for cliché disappointment. Seems like we're going into the whole triangle thing but not gonna happen and no Ariel won't be a new age Christine. She's anything but!
songs in italics
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Chapter 15: Lucky To Be Awake
They had managed to stall the new productions premiere for another week so Erik could add more to the script. He worked all day and night on the musical and it was starting to worry Ariel. She constantly had to force him to leave the piano at three in the morning to get some sleep.
" Mademoiselle, once more just let it come naturally. It didn't happen that long ago." Erik said in a measured tone. Veronica stopped in mid song and gave Erik an accusing look. They had learned that when Erik started using formalities with them he was really short tempered. And Veronica had had enough of it for one day.
" Erik, your dead on your feet. You should be in bed, we can rehearse by ourselves. I will not have Ariel on my case for your stubbornness!" Veronica said, puffing up her chest and towering over the seated phantom. Erik raised a weary eyebrow and the image of a mother hen crossed his mind and he smirked. But she was right, he needed sleep. This wasn't Don Juan Triumphant, this new piece was closer to his heart and being unable to move because of exhaustion would not do well.
" Very well." He sighed. " But only for a few hours, we still have more work to do." Erik said before making his way backstage to the apartment.
-6:00 p.m.
Giselle had been dragging Ariel out of the theater every morning for the past week and Ariel was sick and tired of looking at the same stores over and over again.
" Look at this Ariel, maybe you should get it for the farewell party." Giselle said, meaning the farewell party for her and Anthony that they were having at the close of 'Blind To It All'. Ariel looked at the dress and her eyes sparkled. The long, flowing dress Giselle held up was a gauzy dream in white. It was sleeveless and the material was crisscrossed over the bodice and hung down past the feet in layers. Along the waist was a blue, silk sash to cinch the dress tight. Oh my God!
" How am I going to dress myself when you leave?" Ariel asked in amazement while Giselle escorted her to the dressing room with the dress. Giselle laughed and handed Ariel the outfit . " You'll manage somehow."
Ariel came out, glancing at herself in the mirror and did a double take. Was that her? The dress accented her slight hourglass figure, her red hair falling over the white fabric like blood on snow. The white made any other color stand out, like the color of her fading summer tan and the green of her eyes. She looked like a Grecian muse.
" And imagine I gave up becoming a personal shopper to have a career in musical theater." Giselle said. " Well you definitely sold me on this. Even if we weren't having a party i'd wear this." Ariel said and experimentally twirled around as the layered skirt fanned out to show off her legs beneath. She smiled brightly at herself and imagined what the men of the theater would say if they saw her like this. More importantly what one man would think of it. Ariel wasn't known for wearing dresses or skirts, she just wore what she thought was comfortable. Which usually consisted of jeans and a t-shirt. Suprisingly Erik never seemed to mind her choice in clothes.
" You know he'll like it." Giselle whispered in her ear and Ariel waved her away with a fake look of annoyance. " This is for me, and if I happen to impress other people along the way that doesn't hurt either."
Giselle just shook her head and they went in search of an outfit for her next. Ariel found a velvet Genuivere gown in burgundy for Giselle. The actress had always loved Renaissance period clothing and this one could be passed off for a modern enough piece of clothing to wear in this day and age. They were ready to leave the store and while Giselle was paying for her clothes Ariel was staring out the display window when she saw a fairly familiar figure pass by.
" Giselle i'll be outside." Ariel said and didn't wait for Giselle to answer before she she left the store and followed the blond haired woman. It couldn't be ! Ariel thought and hoped with all her heart that she was right.
The woman looked so out of place. With a thick wool cloak thrown over a equally thick dress that screamed 'not of this time!' She kept runging her hands as she stared into every face with sincere fear. She appeared only a few years younger then Ariel. When a car honked its horn the woman looked as if she'd faint. Ariel went into action, no matter who she was there was no use to let her wander around like this. It was cruel.
Ariel went up to the woman, she knew everyone in this town was used to seeing the actors from the theater walking around in costume so this woman's clothes weren't suprising. But Ariel also knew that this woman wasn't acting. " I'm sorry, but are you lost miss?" Ariel asked and the woman turned around sharply. Her blue eyes wide for a moment until they settle on Ariel and they were filled with relief.
" Oh there you are." The woman said calmly.
Ariel was taken aback for a second and studied the woman once again. "I'm sorry, have we met before?" Ariel asked. Suddenly the blond woman started to jump up and down excitedly and clasped Ariel's hands in her own. " So you are Ariel." It was more of a statement then a question.
Ariel watched the bouncing blond with something akin to horror. She considered herself a good actor but anymore of this and she wouldn't be able to mask her reactions much longer. " And you would be?" Ariel asked, wondering if she actually wanted to know.
The blond calmed down enough to give a small curtsy and Ariel noted by the way she moved that the woman was a dancer. " Pardon, my name is Meg Giry. Primma donna of the Opera Populaire." She said and beamed at Ariel.
Ariel was trying to keep her legs from buckling. She was relieved that this woman hadn't turned out to be Christine as Ariel had feared. But she was still shocked that yet another supposedly fictional character was standing before her in the flesh. And she thought Erik's appearance had been shocking at least it hadn't been in the middle of downtown in broad daylight.
" Meg Giry? As in little Meg?" Ariel asked carefully and Meg made a childish look of disgust. " I don't answer to little Meg anymore. Only mama and Erik still use that silly pet name." She said and then her expression sobered a bit and Ariel saw a much older, mature version of Meg Giry.
" How is he?" Meg asked in a calmer tone. Ariel could only guess she meant Erik. " As far as I know...he's adjusting." Meg accepted this answer and gestured to the sidewalk. " Lets walk a little bit and I can maybe explain why i'm here." Meg offered and Ariel nodded. "That would be a nice change."
Meg and Ariel walked for a while in silence, many of the shop windows would often catch Meg's eyes and Ariel was only too happy to let the woman indulge in her curiosity. When they were near the theater a man walking in the opposite direction nearly knocked Meg off her feet. Ariel caught the woman in time and turned to yell at the rude individual who didn't even seem to care what he'd done. Meg touched Ariel's arm and shook her head. " He can't see me, no one can but you." Meg said and Ariel stared at the woman in disbelief.
" I think its time you explained what's going on." Ariel said firmly, she didn't want to be rude but this waiting game got tiring after a while. Meg realized Ariel's meaning and nodded.
" Not long ago, Erik told mama and I that he was going to take his own life. We were told to leave and as always we honored his wishes. I'm sure you know about that already though. But when Erik said that he wanted death I ran from the lair, to my room at the opera and put my plan to work." Meg said. Ariel raised a questioning eyebrow letting Meg know she had her attention.
" Months before I had gone to see a local fortune teller and asked her to find a way to heal Erik's broken heart. I had watched from the sidelines so long that I couldn't stand seeing him in pain anymore. It wasn't for some time before the gypsy woman came back and told me of a spell that sends a person to the location of their soul mate. I thought it was perfect to solve all Erik's worries but the gypsy warned me that the spell not only transcended distances but time as well.
I disregarded all the warnings. As long as it helped one of my family find love I could not think of consequences. Yet for a long time I could not find the courage to dabble in such a dangerous act. Until the night Erik swore he would die. I thought there was no other way, so cast the spell.
In the morning I went back to the lair and couldn't find Erik, I searched the entire opera house but he was no where to be found. Even though my plan worked I was frightened of where or when Erik was. So I went back to the gypsy and told her I wanted to make sure he was all right. And that is how i'm here and yet not here." Meg said and looked at Ariel who had a very blank look on her face.
" Are you all right?" Meg asked and after a moment of silence Ariel's eyes cleared and she looked at the blond ballerina. " Your using astral projection?" Ariel asked. Meg acknowledged it and Ariel touched the ballerina's arm. " But you feel solid." Ariel objected. "Only you can feel and see me Ariel, it was meant to be that way." Meg told her.
They stopped walking and Ariel had them both sit on a sidewalk bench. Her head was swimming with thoughts that she had no control over. " So you're saying that Erik was supposed to end up in the theater? My writing had nothing to do with it?" She asked. " Your writing did help guide the spell, that is for sure. But don't you believe in destiny or soul mates?" Meg asked and her blue eyes held such childlike innocence.
Ariel ran her fingers through her hair and groaned. " Meg, if I still believed in soul mates i'd still believe that Erik and Christine belonged together. As for destiny I won't even comment on that." Ariel ground out and stood.
" You expect me to believe that Erik is my soul mate, even for me that is pushing the romantic wishful thinking scale just a bit too far." Ariel said and started to pace in front of the bench. Meg watched her with a smile, recognizing the way she moved as his way.
" Have you ever wondered why you are so much alike, you and Erik?" Meg asked gently and Ariel looked at her as if the primma donna had lost her mind. " You write plays and run a theater in honor of Erik. You hide your feelings, wearing a mask of your own even if it isn't a physical one." Meg stood and grasped Ariel's hand in her own. " He wouldn't be here if the two of you weren't meant to be." Meg smiled. "Did you know that Erik hasn't written music or sang since Christine left. And now i've heard such beautiful music from your theater that I know he is happy."
Ariel took a deep breathe and looked around. Life went on as usual. People pressed each other aside to reach their destinations in time. Children pulled at their mothers to buy them something in one of the flashy toy store windows. Cars sped by at dangerous speeds to beat the afternoon traffic.
In the middle of this chaos was Meg and Ariel. And then for a moment all the noise ceased, every figure in movement froze in place. It was only in her mind, but Ariel felt like the world had stopped and gave her time to think.
In all the time she had fantasized over Erik and his story in her younger years, Ariel had mapped out what would happen if they ever met. So far nothing had gone the way she'd planned from the first word either of them had said. She smiled at the thought. The way he stumbled onto the stage, devoid of all his grace and charm, confused as a lost child. Ariel had been no help and only assisted in confusing him more.
Their first kiss had been unexpected though she'd written the scene over and over until it was a fine science on paper. But in truth it had been more wonderful in the flesh then anything her mind could have imagined. Now they kissed often but it always seemed new each time. Her heart soared whenever she saw him, a feeling she had only associated with singing before. But soul mates? In her mind, Ariel saw Erik's face shrouded by his mask and smiling at her the way he did. Her heart leapt into her throat. It would have been easier if the question was if she loved him. That one she knew the answer to or so she thought. She loved the figure from her stories, but she wondered if she loved the man who slept on her couch every night. Who brought her flowers after each performance and seemed to know whatever she was thinking without a word passing between them.
Someone squeezed Ariel's hand and all the noise of the street came back in a rush. When the world started moving again, Ariel remembered that Meg was still standing beside her. But he blond woman just smiled at Ariel as if she'd known everything that was going through her head.
" You know the answer. Even time doesn't stop true love." Meg said, and her wisdom showed in her voice when she spoke. " I'll leave you to it, and tell Erik that I'm glad he's happy." Meg said and released Ariel's hand. She was about to stop Meg from leaving when a voice caught her attention.
" Ariel, what are you doing?" It was Giselle who called out to her, she was out of breathe. Obviously she'd been looking for Ariel. But when Ariel turned back to where Meg was standing no one was there. A quick search of the street turned up nothing. She was gone.
" Ariel Gentry, did you hear a word I said?" Giselle asked and Ariel turned to her friend with a faraway look in her eyes. " Yeah, I heard you. I'm fine. Just a bit shaken thats all." Ariel answered and massaged her hand which was still warm.
" You call having a conversation with thin air while you take a walk down mainstreet is fine? Have you been getting any sleep lately?" Giselle asked with concern. Ariel waved her friends concern away. "Yes i'm fine. I just need some time to think." And to sort out what just happened. She added in her mind.
" I need to take a walk. So why don't you head back and i'll be there in an hour. I just need to clear my head." Ariel said. Giselle studied her face for a few moments then nodded. " All right, but don't be out too late. Or Erik will have my head."
Ariel smiled at her friend reassuringly and Giselle left her alone. What was supposed to be an hour long walk turned into four. It was ten o'clock before Ariel realized it and headed back. She still didn't have an answer when she got back.
-6:00 p.m.
Erik was on his way to the apartment staircase when he saw someone already half way up it. He only needed to see the swagger in the mans step to know who it was. Erik growled, forgetting his fatigue for the moment. There was a score to settle.
The stealth in which Erik moved was soundless, too quick to make out in the shadows he blended into. His breathing slowed until it was undetectable amongst the other noises of the theater. He waited until Malcolm had entered the apartment before he followed, avoiding the stairs that were old enough to him away. Malcolm had left the door open and Erik smirked. He's making this quiet easy.
Dispersing any ideas of a stealthy entrance Erik just burst in the door and caught the rather suprised Malcolm by the throat. His hand itched for a lasso but he settled for shoving Malcolm against the wall and pinning him there by Erik's grip on his neck.
" I thought I made it very clear what would happen if you came back!" Erik ground out and Malcolm's eyes widened when the hold around his throat tightened. He tried to claw at Erik's hand but it was no use. His hand was like a vice.
" Wait...please..." Malcolm choked out between gasps. But Erik would have none of it. " And why should I monsieur? So you can hurt Ariel again. I don't think so!"
" I'm not...here to...hurt Ar...iel...I came to...apologize..."
How Malcolm managed to get the entire sentence out under Erik's death grip was unbelievable. But it was enough to make the phantom pause. If he killed Malcolm then the man would never be able to hurt Ariel again. But Ariel might hate Erik for killing the man as well. And he didn't want anymore blood on his hands.
Grinding his teeth, Erik's grip tightened one last time. I can't believe i'm doing this. And he let Malcolm go. The man slid to the floor and stared up at the phantom in shock. Erik's eyes almost glowed in the darkness when he crouched to meet Malcolm's eyes.
" Speak now or forever hold your peace monsieur." Erik said in a cold, low voice. Malcolm new full well what he meant by those words, and decided he better start talking.
Author's Note: I know, you all hate cliffhangers. But it's better then having to wait a few more days for a longer chapter isn't it? These are my unusual plot twists, tell me what you think. This is not my favorite chapter. I hate having to do the whole ' let me explain' conversation. So i'm letting you know i'm not expecting you to love this chapter. But let me know what you think. I love you guys no matter what. If theres any errors in grammar I was too tired to notice them.
It turned out that time when they start questioning how they feel about each other. Of course we all know the answer but, and so do they but their not so sure about it yet. And to my reviewers I need some help. I need a song for the cast to sing. I have plenty of songs for Ariel and Erik in the upcoming musical but nothing for the cast. So if anyone knows any musical songs please let me know.
Next Chapter: Erik and Malcolm have a long chat and Ariel finds the answer to her question and finds out what Erik's been working on.