Her Story by GoldenLyre
Previous disclaimer applies.
Chapter 10
The performance of Don Juan Triumphant progressed steadily and quite well despite the tense atmosphere. Backstage, however, the performers were jittery and restless, often looking around for a sign of Erik. When I say performers, I meant the stage hands as well. And Madame Giry. My muscles tensed up as I realized that my cue was coming up soon…
Piangi belted out Don Juan's lines with a full tenor voice, but I couldn't help but cringe at his lack of grace. Don Juan was a master of manipulation, a woman's dream lover, a man who oozed sex appeal. Piangi made it seem as though he were a clumsy, lustful oaf. Despite myself, I giggled. As Piangi made his exit with a rather pathetic excuse for an evil laugh, I cleared my throat and made my way to the stage, slipping into the character of Aminta.
"No thoughts within her heart, but thoughts of joy…
No dreams within her heart, but dreams of love!"
I sat at the front of the stage, pretending to busy myself with a basket of roses. My heart fluttered in my chest – it's been quite a way into the performance yet no appearance of Erik. My eyes diverted to Raoul, who was sitting in Erik's box. He obviously hadn't learnt his lesson from the night of Il Muto. My eyes must have lingered on him too long, as he smiled at me.
As I shifted my attention back to the roses, I heard his voice echo across the stage. Suddenly, the entire theatre fell silent…
The Phantom has made his appearance.
I did not dare turn… His voice truly sounded like an angel's – the pitch was perfect and not a single note was out of tune. It sent a shiver of anticipation up my spine… He was truly in character – he was the epitome of seduction. Erik was Don Juan. And his song was tempting, captivating his Aminta… just as he had once done when he was only Erik, and I, Christine.
"You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge –
In pursuit of that wish which till now, has been silent… Silent…
I have brought you – that our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defences
Completely succumbed to me…
Now you are here with me, no second thoughts –
You've decided… Decided…"
That last lyric lingered in the silent air. It was as if everyone had ceased breathing. I finally turned to look at Erik… He was clad in black, a sinfully attractive silhouette against the red and orange setting. His sapphire eyes sparkled with amusement as he looked at me, a smirk playing upon his lips. I repressed my own grin from emerging through my actress' façade and playfully thought to myself, it was all a game now, was it?
I stood up without taking my eyes off him. The smirk grew on his face as he held his chin up, challenging me. My breath caught in my throat as I felt my mouth go dry… He leisurely strode over to me, around me, singing Don Juan's lyrics – the lyrics that seemed to be written just for him.
"Past the point of no return… No backward glances –
Our games of make-believe are at an end
Past all thought of "if" or "when"…
No use resisting – abandon thought, and let the dream descend!
What raging fires shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its doors?
What sweet seduction lies before us?
Past the point of no return – the final threshold!
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return…"
He was teasing me. I knew it, and he most definitely knew it. First he took me in his arms, to which a gasp escaped me and too soon he released me, and slid his ungloved hands down my bare arm. That sent a shiver of pleasure up my spine. Love and amusement shone in his eyes as they bore into mine, daring me to follow up to his challenge. His game of seduction.
With a small smile I walked slowly to the front of the stage, Aminta's reply to Don Juan's words emerging from my rouge-painted lips.
"You have brought me, to that moment when words run dry -
To that moment when speech disappears into silence… Silence…
I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why!
In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenceless and silent…
Now I am here with you – No second thoughts
I've decided… Decided…"
I sang the last word with finality, gazing straight into Erik's eyes. I promised myself to him right then and there. I had glanced up at Raoul earlier, and I was sure I saw tears shining in his eyes. My heart wrenched for him, but I just couldn't return the way he felt about me. Not when I felt that way for the man I was singing with right then. Diverting my attention back to that man, I continued.
"Past the point of no return… No going back now!
Our passion-play has now at last begun…
Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question –
How long shall we two wait before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud burst into bloom –
When will the flames at last, consume us?"
Our duet reached its peak – our voices, almost as though they were our very souls, rose in pitch and intertwined with one another in perfect harmony as we ascended the intertwining staircase to reach the bridge over the stage. We steadily walked towards each other, completely oblivious to our surroundings.
"Past the point of no return - the final threshold!
The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn!
We've past the point of no return…"
At that point, Erik had spun me so that I was leaning into his embrace, our hands entwined. His lips were now but an inch from my ear, his breath tickling me as the last lyric we sang hung in the air. It was as if we were now in our own little world – Raoul and the tense situation we were actually in were all forgotten. Erik wasn't done yet.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…
Lead me, save me from my solitude…
Say you want me with you here beside you…"
Strangely, his voice sounded so sorrowful, so full of longing. He gently slid out of our embrace and he turned me to face him. He grasped my hands to his exposed chest and continued with his beautiful voice… and I looked at him with nothing but love.
"Anywhere you go, let me go too…!
Christine, that's all I ask of…"
At that moment, I could see in the shadows behind Erik a pistol being cocked and pointed directly at his head. Before I could think, my hand reached up and snatched Erik's mask off his face, knowing it would drive him away instantaneously. My expectations were exceeded.
His face was exposed, and his eyes that previously shone with love and amusement now held a stormy mix of anger, hurt and betrayal… I looked at him apologetically, unable to do much else. The incident that I had caused triggered screams of fear and stunned expressions.
Erik grabbed me around the waist and grasped me tightly to him. In anger and frustration he unsheathed his rapier and cut a rope that triggered a trapdoor in the bridge, leading us to fall back into the darkness of his world.
On our way down, I shut my eyes to the horrified screams that followed a huge crash of the magnificent chandelier landing on the plush scarlet seats.
TBC
A/n: whew! you guys better appreciate this – it's 2 weeks to exams and yet I wrote this just for you guys… hope it was satisfactory! I'm rather proud of it, I don't know bout you guys – so review, ok? Few ppl I wanna thank for the feedback on my last chappie –
sushibles : my dear, I wrote this fic for the very reason of making people think…! Hahaa! Anyway.. I am NOT a Raoul fan! Anyone who reads this fic isn't.. he is Le Fop and he should die. You should read what my reviewers say bout him – they think up glorious torture methods and everything! Oh yeah, we don't like RC shippers either. And dude, chapter 3? It was a hormonal scene:P
Chocolate Covered Icicles : dude you got the yummiest username.. (grin) thanx for your amazing support, and I hope I wrote the scene to expectations. We cant have the fantastic EC ending too soon ;)
WildPixieChild16 : girl you got an awesome username! And thanx for your support, and hope the update was satisfactory..
tiny dancer : ahh my loyal reviewer! Hello! And umm.. I don't know why Christine's into Raoul – he is Le Fop! And he waddles! Hmm.. on Christine and Meg.. well, it was Meg who found Erik's mask at the end so I wanted to include that bit in. (covers mouth) gasp! I just gave away a little bit! Mann.. and yea the last line I was fond of too thanks for wishing me luck on my exams! You're the first, so I luve you specially for caring (grin) thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed the new chappie :D
Kat097 : I believe so.. shall we go RC shipper hunting? (grin) thanks for your amayyzing support – I hold yours to highest esteem cuz.. dude you wrote Cold Cold Heart. Nuff sed ;) hope you enjoyed this one!
the shrew : (grin) hello! (wave) glad you like my fic so much! It gives me a happy… and that EC moment in Christine's dressing room was my special treat for EC shippers everywhere! (grin) so yeah – glad you enjoyed it! Hope THE SCENE was to your liking! ;)
obsession is love : (grin) yeah Christine would never have to know.. ;) hahaa! Raoul? Oh you can garrotte him for all I care – he is Le Fop. He is insignificant. And yeah I really made him an asshole with that comment huh.. but what can I say? I'm a hardcore EC-ist
Number 356 : hehee.. thanks for your support m'dear – it's meant lots!
LostSchitzophrenic : hello! It's been a while, huh? Well, here's THE scene! Hope you liked it!
Rikku Ree : well that EC bit was for EC shippers everywhere! (grin) we're all hopeless romantics, are we not? Hehee.. oh yeah – you have GOT to send me that URL! I wanna blow Raoul's face apart and hang up the little blown up bits in separate bits of wall in his bedroom…