Disclaimer: I own nothing, if I could i'd write this in four languages so I don't have to say this before anymore chapters. I do own the Phantom's Lair Theater and its inhabitants.
Nemi Jade: :scoots away: I'll be over here while you review. : puts her hand at the level of her eyes.: Just to be safe, but thanks for the review.
Hellcat the Wicked: I wouldn't be that cruel, where's the fun in that? And i'm glad you went all giggly, it was my objective. Mission accomplished.
Count Orlok: Maybe, we'll have to see what happens with the musical before I can focus on another couple.
Miranda de la Costa: As always I love to hear from you and receive your encouragement.
ElvenStar5: Well you'll have to wait to find out what's on Erik's cunning mind. But you won't have to wait too long I promise.
xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: Will do mademoiselle. On with the show!
Author's Note: Okay here it is, I actually didn't have the name of the musical until I ended the last chapter. So you learned the name the same time me and Ariel did. So yeah Erik is somehow keeping secrets from me as well even though I write everything he says. Go figure...Heres the chapter you've all been waiting for the musical 'The Love I Only Knew'. I'll only be putting in the songs that I refused to put in before. So i'll maybe show bits of other pieces but you guys know the story already, i'm not going to repeat myself. Most of the action will be in the next chapter.
I have a question before we start. Can anyone tell me what these C2 communities are for? I really don't know their purpose.
Chapter 21: ' The Love I Only Knew' Part 1
There was a bustle of activity backstage on the opening night of 'The Love I Only Knew'. If you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, which Erik for some reason was doing often that night you were liable to get knocked right off you feet by some rushing tech or actress looking for her make-up. Kyle nearly dropped an aerial scene on Erik when he was passing and the phantom stared at where he'd been standing, the space now filled by yards of painted canvas and rigging rope. Now Erik remembered why he never bothered the cast at the opera house on opening night despite the two he recordedly had. They nearly killed themselves without his help each time. He used to laugh at the cast as they ran around like insects when the lights came on, but now being among those who were running about he felt some pity for those he used to taunt.
" Erik!"
The phantom turned to Kyle who looked as if he'd run down three flights of stairs to reach the stage. " Oh man are you okay? The rope just slipped, I didn't mean for it to fall on you. It didn't hit you did it?" The young man asked frantically while he started coiling up the rope so he could rehang the scene.
" Calm down Kyle." Erik said, patting the younger man on the shoulder. " If you don't, i'm afraid you and I will have something in common when it comes to scenery. I don't want our current primma donna beneath one of these." He said good naturally and Kyle smiled, though it was a bit cracked because of the stress. Erik left the man to his work and went in search of the primma donna in question.
Erik found Ariel sitting on the apartment staircase with Ghost's head on her lap. She was brushing down his white coat with brush, a robe protecting her blue dress from any stray strands of dog hair. Ariel smiled but Erik could see the way her hand shook when the rest of her body refused to react in any way to the noises around her. Ariel was a seasoned actress and singer but even Erik was shaken by tonight. It wasn't just the fact that it was opening night, the story bothered them. They were going to open their hearts to hundreds of people.
" Ariel ?" Her head came up a bit too quickly when he called her. Erik crouched down in front of her and caressed her face. The smile reached the green pools of her eyes and Erik kissed her. " Its time we take our places." He said and helped Ariel to her feet.
Ariel silently let the robe slip from her shoulders to reveal the dress he'd first seen her in. She was a vision, the reason he still breathed. He couldn't help but kiss her again, lingering this time. He would have to wait half way through the musical to kiss her like that again. The chaste ones that proceeded it would drive him mad.
Ariel smiled against his lips, pulling away so she could look at him. " Go on Erik, i'll see you on the roof." She said and her eyes glittered, knowing he was going to be tortured by waiting. This woman lives to torment me. Erik thought when she slipped from his arms and away a spot offstage while Erik was left to the first scene alone with Katarina and Jessica.
Erik sat in the fake throne he'd found Ariel in that first day he came to Phantom's Lair Theater. He closed his eyes and smiled, remembering the way she had thought he was playing a game with her when she'd pulled him out on the stage.
The curtain rose and Erik slouched in the throne and watched as Katarina and Jessica entered the lair. He forced the anguish into his words and movements as if the past month had never happened. It was a dark place to enter, and Erik only went there willingly because he knew what awaited him at the end of the journey. A fiery angel in blue. Ariel watched Erik from offstage, her head resting against the wall. Even when he showed pain his grace was still there. His presence never lessened by the burden of only a month ago.
Scenes past quickly for Ariel and Erik, going from their first meeting onto Erik's waking up to meet Ghost the first morning he spent in the future. Erik was frustrated by the fact that he couldn't catch Ariel up in his arms just yet and that communicated to the tension that existed between them during the first few days. Ariel had a habit of dancing around the stage just out of reach, teasing him with the fact that he couldn't have her yet. After the rather comical scene of Erik and Darius's first meeting which the audience loved came rehearsals and the song that Erik did not want to hear.
Ariel directed Anthony and Giselle in their motions onstage as she had that day. But before they could sing, a different song came on. The spotlight fell on Ariel as Giselle and Anthony danced silently. Ariel looked up at Erik, his eyes burning into hers from the upper set and her heart skipped when she sang.
Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But i'm not that girl.
Ariel touched her cheek, where Erik had kissed her moments ago and smiled. Anthony and Giselle dancing like music box ballerinas between her and the phantom. Ariel suddenly frowned and turned away from Erik's gaze.
Don't dream too far
Don't lose sight of who you are
Don't remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I'm not that girl...
Every so often we long to steal
To the land of what might of have been
But that doesn't soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in.
Ariel watched Giselle and she smiled sadly. She walked around the other woman as she sang.
Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who's winsome
She wins him.
She looked up at Erik and immediately away as if it hurt.
Brown hair with a gentle curl
That's the girl he chose
And heavens knows
I'm not that girl...
Don't wish
Don't start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn't born for the rose and the pearl
There's a girl I know
He loves her so
I'm not...that girl...
Erik had held his breathe during the song. Ariel had felt inferior to Christine that first day as if she would never be the same to Erik as the woman who broke his heart. He was going to make sure that after tonight Ariel would know how truly wrong she had been.
After the small scene they had from 'Blind To It All' Erik nearly lost his control during the point where he was finally allowed to really kiss Ariel. Between Veronica's tripping trick and the two of them leaving for the bar. He made sure that Ariel left the scene breathless.
Everyone's favorite part was probably the audition scene purely for Erik's reaction. They had hired most of those who had really auditioned just to get the same rise out of the phantom for the performance. He was sure that after a month of this he wouldn't be able to hear the song Tanner sang without cringing ever again. Malcolm didn't know if he would ever get used to Ariel launching herself at him every night, in the back of his mind Malcolm wondered what would happen if Erik ever missed his cue.
Scenes changed, Ariel found out that every time she had to talk about her and Malcolm's relationship it felt better. She almost laughed between the tears. The only kind of therapy you get paid to take is theater. She thought as she sobbed in Erik's arms. Erik wondered how many performances it would before her tears were no longer authentic. Soon there would come a time when Erik would have to share his past life with her as well. Instead of the many versions she had heard before they met.
Ariel didn't need to fake her anger when it came to the scenes that showed Erik and her friends hide the script for ' The Love I Only Knew', she still hadn't gotten over that. At least the audience enjoyed her rendition of ' John Jacob Jingle Himer Smitch' . Erik still didn't. Well I know how to get my way when Erik gets secretive again. She thought with an evil grin.
Now Ariel and the rest of the cast were backstage. Erik and Malcolm had taken center stage, neither of the men had actually rehearsed the first part of their encounter. So when Erik rammed Malcolm against the apartment set so hard that the plaster shook from the wall everyone winced.
" Did anyone actually see this happen, or is it possible that Erik will bruise him more then necessary?" Ariel asked.
Darius just laughed and folded his arms in front of him, he was enjoying this. " Who knows, paybacks a bitch." He said, Veronica slapped him upside the head. " So are you Darius, we just don't point it out !" The actress snapped. Ariel raised an eyebrow at the display but wisely said nothing.
When Ariel turned back to watch her ex and the man she loved they were talking about her. She swallowed down the any unwanted emotions when Malcolm talked about what he called his biggest mistake. But deep down Ariel considered it the best thing that ever happened to her. She wouldn't be with Erik now if Malcolm and she had still been together.
Veronica gripped Ariel's arm tightly and she realized that Malcolm had started to sing. Erik said it was a song that Malcolm had actually named during this discussion so the phantom had deemed it appropriate. Ariel recognized it. Malcolm had a nostalgic look on his face.
I understand there's nothing I can do
I can't be what she needs as long as she needs you
If your the one she'll turn to from now on
There are things that you should know
About her when i'm gone...
She's not as brave as she might seem when she's had a scary dream
If you don't hold her she won't sleep all night
She's not as strong as she should be
She cries at movies on tv
And counts on you to see that things go right.
But she's a chance to make your dreams come true
To have someone who thinks there's nothing you can't do
A chance to live each day
And care the way you always knew you could
Take care of her for me
She used to be mine...
Erik somehow knew where Ariel was in the wings and locked eyes with her. Veronica's fingers were a constant presence on her arm but Ariel didn't feel them when he looked at her. Erik was careful that the audience didn't see him when he mouthed a few words to her. ' I love you.' She smiled and mouthed them back to him. Malcolm's words drowned out any other sly gestures the two could share.
She's not her best on rainy days
She'll test your love a hundred ways
She plays with your emotions like a song
She chases dreams that can't come true
And always tries too hard for you
And never knows just how to say she's wrong
But she's a chance to make your life complete
A chance to take these lonely days and make them sweet
A chance to feel so good
That everyone will wish they could be you
Take care of her for me
She used to be mine
Everything in the song was true to how Ariel made Erik feel. Nothing could make the feeling of loving her and having it returned go away. It was still fresh and whenever he saw her. The way the light caught her hair and cast red fire through it, the smile she reserved for when she said she loved him.
She'll never leave you anytime alone
She needs more time and tenderness then anyone you've known.
This time Erik looked over at Ariel with amusement shining in his eyes. She frowned though her face turned red. Malcolm's words were ringing a little close to home and she knew it.
But she's a chance you'll never, ever get
A chance that always seems to come to other men
A chance I can't forget
A chance that I somehow let slip away
Take care of her for me
She used to be mine...
Erik nearly burned a whole into Malcolm as he sang the last line. She is not yours anymore monsieur.
Malcolm concealed a smile when he noticed the way Erik was looking at him. Making his way off stage, he smiled.
" I'll leave the affairs of the Phantom's Lair Theater in your capable hands."
Malcolm repeated the words and walked off stage. He smiled at Ariel as he passed her. " You have one great guy Ariel, lets just hope I don't become a target when he gets angry." He said before Veronica pulled him away, gushing about how wonderful his voice was.
Ariel smiled, waiting for Erik to take his place at the piano. When he appeared asleep, the theater owner made her way onstage and readied herself for the song that told everything.
Author's Note: I'm sorry if you guys feel cheated but I didn't see a need to repeat the story word for word. I promised you the songs i'd left out. I hope you liked it and the last part of the musical may give you all a pleasant suprise.
I may not have a new chapter up till next week because I got a job a few days ago. I'm working at a candy store. :grins: But don't worry i'll still remain loyal to this story and finish the last two chapters soon. So tell me what you think. For those of you who read this story and don't review this will be one of the last chances you get to tell me what you think of it.
The songs were ' I'm Not That Girl' from my other favorite musical Wicked, and ' She Used To Be Mine' from one of Micheal Crawfords cds.