Wah, wut happened to you guys, reviewers? I only got a couple reviews on that last chappie... but Oh well, I love you guys anyway! But damn it makes me so so so mad because I got a D in World Cultures citizenship because I was late to class a couple of times, and my parents found out and THEY AREN'T LETTING ME GET THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA DVD! It's a crime! Someone call the police! They said I would have to wait until I got my grade up! My teacher hates me, because I'm like, a straight A and B student, until that one D... and now I don't have Phantom of the Opera to some home to! Errrggghhh! It makes me mad!
Disclaimer: I do not own PotO. I don't own Past the Point of No Return either, but it's kind of necessary for this chappie.
Jane woke up sullenly the next morning in the early hours of the day. She felt guilty about what she had said to Erik, but she was too frightened to apologize. Jane changed her clothes to buy herself some time, but even then it took an hour for her to work up the courage to face Erik. When she had worked up the nerve, she opened her door and stepped into the hallway.
She knocked on Erik's door, but received no answer. He's probably so angered with me that he won't even talk to me.
"Erik?" she called through the door, praying that he would answer.
"In here, mademoiselle," Erik answered from the main room, roused by Jane's voice. He sat up and straightened his coat, trying to redeem his superior image. Jane walked down the hallway and entered the main room, her eyes downcast in a shy manner. She didn't speak until she stood by his side, and he was still sitting at the table.
"Erik, there was something that I wanted to tell you," Jane began, "I'm... sorry about what I said yesterday. I really didn't mean it. I don't hate it here. It's... different, of course, but I don't hate it, and I don't hate you. I'm just terribly homesick, and I said things I shouldn't have."
Erik remained motionless for a second. He wanted, at first, to snap at Jane, but couldn't, not when she looked so... genuinely sorry and honest. She... didn't hate him. Erik then allowed his lips to form the shape of a small smile. "And I did things that I shouldn't have, mademoiselle. I... apologize for threatening you. I should have kept my temper." Erik sighed, then continued, "Let me assure you, mademoiselle, that I will never hurt you, ever. No matter what you do."
Jane offered Erik a small, slightly uneasy smile. He stood up and grabbed his cloak.
"Mademoiselle, if you would like, I will take you to see the rehearsal for the opera Hannibal, which, I believe, is going on at the present time, above our heads. You will have to promise me, though, that you will listen to everything I say. You will have to stay quiet, and hidden, and should you try to disobey me at all, it will be the end of both our visit and my kindness," Erik paused, realizing that he was threatening Jane. "So, would you like to go?" He looked at her expectantly, and she nodded.
Erik draped his cloak around Jane's shoulders and helped her sit in his boat. When she was settled on the elegant cushion, he himself got in and they started off.
The journey was traveled in silence, as both Erik and Jane were lost in their own thoughts. Erik though about the risk he was taking, for if Jane screamed, it was possible that he would not escape with her. In fact, he might not escape at all! The only thought that kept him going was that he wanted to make Jane happy, and he felt that he needed to make it up to her somehow for threatening her.
Jane was excited at the prospect of getting to see her friends again (even if only from a distance), but she was also rather confused as well, because she still couldn't decipher how she felt about Erik. Did she hate him? Not really, no. Was she a little scared of him? Yes. Did she like him, maybe, love him? Jane glanced at Erik and sighed. She didn't know. He was... intriguing, and different.
They arrived at the opposite shore of the lake, and Erik helped Jane get out of the boat. He took his cloak from her and fastened it around his own shoulders, but drew a fold around her with one arm. He led her down many passages, but instead of going toward the window, he led her toward her own mirror.
He operated a latch and slid the mirror open, once he had made sure no one was in the room. Jane's eyes opened wide, and she suspected that Erik had been watching her, but did not say anything. Erik led her down many more secret passages, and they came to Box 5.
"Here we are, mademoiselle," Erik muttered as he took Jane's hand and led her into the box, gesturing toward a chair where it would be hard for people to spot her. "And mademoiselle, I know that it may seem like, should you cry out, you would be rescued, but believe me, that's not the case."
Jane wondered what he meant exactly (How could a man get away like that?), but the orchestra began to play, and she watched the dancers sway and move gracefully to the music. She especially paid attention to Meg, and realized just how much she missed her friends. She let out a small sigh, and Erik gave her a quizzical look.
Jane, feeling Erik's eyes on her, turned and gazed back at him. His face was so... serene, like a proud but cold statue. Erik, becoming suddenly aware of his image, altered his look and offered Jane a small (and, he hoped, comforting) smile. Jane raised the corners of her mouth a little bit. Well, he isn't so bad when he smiles...
Jane sat in silence, watching her friends dance. Do they even think about me any more? she wondered sadly. Erik watched the dancers practice their steps also, but did not share Jane's sorrow. He reached out a hand (for he sat behind her) and was about to lay it on Jane's shoulder, but he stopped himself in time. Jane did not want his comfort... or at least, he thought.
When the rehearsals finally ended, Erik stood and gently touched Jane's arm, and she stood up next to him. He wrapped his cloak around her, and she followed him silently down the hallways. Finally, they again stood outside Jane's dressing room, and Erik ushered Jane inside quickly before anyone else could come down.
"So, mademoiselle, how did you like it?" he asked when the door was closed behind them. Jane was silent for a few moments, her eyes sad.
"It was nice. Thank you, Erik. I enjoyed it," she spoke at last, a half smile playing across her face. For some reason, one that she could not fathom, all of her bitter feelings toward Erik had long since vanished.
"I am glad you liked it, mademoiselle," Erik murmured, opening the mirror and leading Jane down the hidden corridor.
"Erik?" she asked suddenly.
"Yes, mademoiselle?" he stopped and turned to her.
"You can call me... Jane, if you would like," she whispered, blushing slightly and thankful that the passageway was only dimly lit.
"Very well then... Jane," he replied, smiling (but just a little), "Thank you." He tentatively reached out and curled an arm around Jane's waist, not so much to hurry her on as to simply hold her, "And thank you for not crying out during our visit. If you would not mind me asking, why didn't you scream?"
Jane paused for a second. "I'm not quite sure. I felt that it was... useless to." What she did not tell Erik was that she wasn't sure whether or not she had wanted to be rescued. Erik almost sighed, but he caught himself before the breath passed his lips. Of course. Jane had wanted to be rescued, but he had scared her out of it... at least, he thought.
They reached the boat and started off, and soon enough had reached Erik's lair again. Erik stepped out of the watercraft and held Jane's hand tightly as she got out.
"Would you still like lessons today, Jane?" Erik asked as he faced her, "Or would you just like to eat something and go to bed?"
"It doesn't matter to me," Jane shrugged, "Well, I have actually been interested in learning a song from your Don Juan Triumphant. I saw it on your desk that one day in your room, and I found it rather enticing, since I didn't know you wrote your own songs, let alone whole operas. W-Would you teach me a song from it?"
"If you would like..." Erik went to retrieve the manuscript, and remembered with a guilty pang in his stomach how close he had come to losing it, but he smiled to himself. Jane was... asking to sing a song -his song- with him. Leather-bound book in hand, he strode back to the main room and over to his organ. He flipped through the pages until he came to "Past the Point of No Return", and began to play.
"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 defenses, completely succumbed to me
And now you are here with me
No second thoughts; you've decided...
Decided..." Erik sang, and Jane, at first, didn't understand what the song was about. She was too busy drowning in Erik's majestic voice. In fact, it actually reminded her of her Angel... Jane watched as Erik's fingers pressed the ivory keys with an intense passion.
"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 fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us...?" Jane slowly began to understand. The song was about... it scared her to think of it. She was a very modest person, at least, in that aspect, but Erik's voice was so... intriguing, that she didn't do anything.
"Past the Point of No Return
The final threshold
What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the Point of No Return" Jane was hesitant to start her part in the song, afraid of what Erik might think, but her voice nevertheless began to sing, as though Jane had no control over it.
"You have brought me
To that moment where words run dry
To that moment where speech disappears into silence...
Silence...
I have come here
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already imagined
Our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent
And now I am here with you
No second thoughts; I've decided...
Decided..." Jane gave Erik an innocently fearful and uneasy glance, as though to let him know that she didn't really mean those words.
"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 should 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?" Erik focused his entire attention on Jane's voice, caring about nothing but that and the music he played. Their duet was coming up... just one more measure...
"Past the Point of No Return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the Point of No Return..." Erik and Jane sang together in a perfect duet, and Jane felt her heart flutter. She liked -no, loved- the sensation of singing with Erik. She didn't care now what the song was about; Jane just knew that she had to sing with Erik. She had to.
"What does that last part sound like?" she asked Erik curiously, pointing to a page in the book, "'Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime?' How does it sound when you sing it?"
"Oh, it's nothing special," Erik lied, "But would you like to try the song again?" Jane nodded, a small smile making its way across her face. "Okay, but this time, I want you to put more felling into the music. Let it consume you. Pour out your soul with every note." Jane nodded a second time, and he began to play.
Four hours and many times later, Erik was very impressed. It was only Jane's third lesson, and yet she was singing almost as well as Christine had after three months of lessons! He could hear the emotions that poured forth with every word, and wondered if Jane was really trying to give him her soul through music. It was hard to tell, but Erik never let his confusion hold him back he sang. He could sense how much Jane loved to hear his voice, and he only gave her the best of it.
"Past the Point of No Return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the Point of No Return..." Erik was possessed by his music, and could not stop.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Lead me, save me from my solitude
Say you'll want me with you here, beside you
Anywhere you go let me go too
That's all I ask of you!" Erik suddenly remembered that Jane was still there, and jumped an inch in his seat. He had become so consumed by his music that he had even forgotten that she was there, and had only noticed her when she moved slightly. Erik looked at Jane, his eyes opened a little wider than usual and his breathing deep.
"Is that... the last part of the song?" Jane asked, trying desperately to conquer the smile that threatened to form on her lips for an unknown reason. Erik didn't answer for a long time.
"Yes," he breathed, straightening up in his chair and avoiding Jane's eyes.
"I thought you hadn't wanted to sing it," Jane murmured, her head tilted in an questioning way. Was he singing that for a reason, or just to sing it? Could he have been singing that... for me?
"Well, you wanted to know how that part went, so I... sang it," Erik still wouldn't look at the young dancer. "You should be going to bed now, Jane. It's quite late. I shall get you something to eat, then you can get some rest." Erik disappeared down the hallway, and Jane stood nervously, her heartbeat getting loud when she heard his approaching footsteps as he returned. He carried a small tray, some food upon it, and he set it down on the table and helped Jane into her chair.
"So, how did you like the song?" he asked politely, motioning for Jane to begin eating.
"It was... intriguing," she answered, taking a small bite of chicken gracefully. She found it a little unnerving that Erik's eyes never left her, and she tried to avoid his gaze, but he never looked away. She ate shyly for a few minutes, then claimed that she was finished and stood up.
"Thank you again, Erik," she whispered, moving to pick up the mess, but Erik stopped her.
"No, Jane. I'll take care of that. You get ready for bed," Erik commanded, and Jane stepped back, one of her hands automatically flying up to brush a piece of hair out of her face and her eyes downcast. "Goodnight, Jane," he murmured softly so as to get her moving.
"Goodnight, Erik," she replied, and she slowly began to walk down the hallway, retreating to her room and shutting the door behind her. Quickly she changed into her nightgown and crawled into bed.
"Child, your voice today was wonderful enough to rival a chorus of angels!" the Angel cried after a while, every tone radiating ecstatic joy.
"Thank you, Angel, but I only sing this well because of Erik. Without his lessons, my voice would still be horrible," Jane muttered.
"Have you figured out how you feel about Erik yet?" the Angel asked. Jane thought for a second, then answered.
"Not really yet. I kind of know, but I think I need more time. At first, I thought he was scary, but now, he's different. Singing with him, it showed me a whole new side of him, a side that I like. I can see now that he's soulful, and passionate, and gentle, not to mention... incredibly intelligent. I need to get to know him better, though, but if he's just as passionate and gentle in most aspects of his life as he was today, I think I may even... start to fall in love with him. Angel, did you hear the last part of the song that Erik sang?"
"Yes." More than you know...
"Well, I was thinking, it's kind of like he was singing that... for me, to me, and I think he meant what he sang," Jane was smiling brightly now. "Angel, do you think he meant it?"
"He did sing with quite a passion."
"I think he meant it."
"You certainly are a bright girl, child. But you need to sleep now," the Angel directed, and Jane relaxed into the pillows. She fell asleep listening to Erik's sweet voice, though she thought it was her Angel. This time, Erik entered her room again while she was asleep. He crossed the room to her bedside and stood there.
"Now it's you who'll make my song take flight
It' Back Again, the Music of the Night." he sat beside her on the bed and watched her sleep for a few minutes, taking in her beauty. After a while, he stood up and left.
He headed straight for his own room, and lay down in his coffin. Jane... liked him. And she would love him, if only he showed her who he really was, under the superior illusion. He would show her... She would love him...
Jane woke up when she heard her bedroom door close with a metallic click. She sat up slightly, shaking off her drowsiness. Someone had been there... Jane lit a candle and looked around, then noticed a small indentation in her bedcovers, where someone had obviously been. Jane blew out her candle and laid back down, in a surprisingly calm manner.
Angels do not leave indentations...
And I'm really sorry because I know that I promised reviewer responses every other chappie, but I'm technically not supposed to be on the comp right now... because of the whole grade thing... but hey, my brother has B-ball practice, my parents are gone... two plus two makes four, and about twenty mintues for me on the comp! Go me! But yeah, I probably won't update for a few days, unless my bro has another B-ball practice... so until next time!