Sorry I couldn't post yesterday! I was busy after school and then my mom and I rented "Les Miserables" to watch (the 10th Anniversary movie).
Ethalas Tuath'an: Ooh! I love the musical Wicked even though I haven't seen it. I've read the book and basically memorized the soundtrack, though, and it's coming to Boston this spring so I might go see it! Yes, I do feel sorry for Vincent because of what I did for him in the last chapter, but at least Loralee and Erik are happy.
Phantoms' Lobo: I totally agree with you - I also hate people who try and take Erik's girl away from him. And there's actually going to be this chapter and an epilogue left, not just one chapter. You might give me something! Ooh, wonder what it'll be. . .
LittleMollysheart: Hmm, well this weekend I most likely won't have time to review your story, but maybe some other time. I'm sorry and hoped you stayed patient while waiting for this late chapter.
HiddenOperaAngel: Don't we all wish we had Erik instead of the people in our stories? It's not fair he's a fictional character. . .
Chapter Twenty Nine: Until My Dying Day
Loralee walked down a hallway of the Opera House, three months after the disastrous Masquerade. The memory of Vincent and Hector's dead and bloody bodies lying lifelessly on the floor still haunted her, but she had managed to push the memory into a far corner of her mind with help from Erik.
Erik.
Oh, how she loved him. He would allow her to sleep in Christine's old bed, now officially hers according to Erik, and he'd always be by her side when she'd wake up screaming from a nightmare. Slowly, with his soothing and comforting words, Loralee regained peaceful sleep, and he helped her everyday to forget her past with Hector.
After the incident, also, almost all of the Opera House knew of the Phantom. They found out that he was dubbed innocent by the Vicomtess and slowly welcomed him to their practices and shows when they knew he wouldn't send them any more notes or drop any more chandeliers. It was a large change for Erik, and with Loralee's help he managed to even get a part in the next Opera as the lead singer.
He was now safe from the public, he was now free from his obsession over Christine, and he now had a woman to love with his whole heart. Loralee almost cried to see him so happy.
Humming, she absently ran her fingers across the wall as she stepped lightly down the hallway on the wonderful Saturday morning. Most of the Opera House was still sleeping, but Loralee desired a little romp about the place.
Tomorrow Christine would be coming over with Raoul to visit Erik and Loralee. Christine had immediately become Loralee's friend and Erik also was becoming more and more comfortable. The other day Loralee had happily announced Erik and Christine brother and sister which Raoul had looked horrified at, making the three of them crack up.
Raoul was slowly getting over his loathing for Erik, and was actually turning into a real challenge with Erik when it came to chess. While Christine and Loralee would gossip about different topics, Erik and Raoul would be leaning over a chessboard, concentrating heatedly over each others moves. Besides chess, they were turning out to be great friends.
Meg and Madame Giry would sometimes come down to Erik's lair to visit Erik and Loralee. It was with the help of Meg that all of the Opera Populaire knew that Loralee and the Phantom were courting each other and loved each other deeply.
The reaction of the Opera Populaire to this news frightened both Erik and Loralee but they were cleared of their fears when they came up the next day to a large cake dedicated to the Phantom and Loralee's love. Erik was quite amused at their unnecessary congratulations and Loralee was embarrassed beyond belief.
Carlotta had left the Opera House as soon as Erik was reported to have one of the lead parts in the upcoming opera Faust. Messieurs André and Firmin were quite upset at first, but then Abigail Winchcombe, a young singer from England, stepped up to be Prima Donna. Loralee even gave Erik permission to teach her to sing, now knowing that he wouldn't fall for another obsession.
Loralee walked up onto the stage, gazing out at all the seats and boxes, once again awed at it's beauty. Her gaze flickered up to Box 5 and the picture of Hector and Vincent came back into her mind.
Hector was buried quietly and lonely, no one volunteering to mourn for him after hearing what he had done to Loralee. Vincent, how ever, died an innocent and heroic death, so he therefore got a larger and more elaborate funeral. Loralee had insisted on going because she felt terribly guilty for Vincent's death. Before he was buried, she slipped his engagement ring onto his finger and kissed his cold forehead. Edward Badeau, who she finally met, forgave her. Loralee was glad he did because she didn't know if she was ever going to forgive herself.
Today, though, was the first day she said she could start wearing colors again and stop mourning in black clothes over Vincent. She had took the opportunity to wear the first dress she ever got from the Opera Populaire: the dark red one with black lace.
Just as she was about to turn and exit down the stage, a familiar pair of black gloved hands wrapped around her. She leaned into the familiar chest and breathed in the familiar smell of mystery.
"Hello darling," Erik said into her ear, moving his mouth lower so he could kiss her neck. She giggled and didn't stop Erik as he pulled the pins out of her hair, letting it fall down about her face. When Erik swung Loralee around in his hands and continued to kiss her neck, she pulled away gently.
"Not on the stage, Erik. Not where everybody could see us."
"I don't care," he growled, pulling her back to him and kissing her full on the lips. She sighed into him while kissing. Erik had changed so much from being the quiet and mysterious ghost to being a normal and brave human being.
He pulled apart from the kiss first, smiling down upon her.
"I see you've ended your mourning for Vincent," Erik said, looking at her dress.
"Yes, I've decided to wear this dress. It's my favorite. You know why?" Loralee asked him, her forehead pressed against his.
"Why?" he asked.
"Because it's the dress I wore when I first saw you in the chapel."
Erik looked thoughtful.
"Hmm. . . I suppose you're right. Yes, now I can remember. You looked stunning in it then, also. I was just too stupid to notice."
Loralee giggled and kissed him shortly on the lips. He only pulled her back in for another kiss which was longer and much more passionate.
"I love you," Erik said in-between kisses, his hands running through her black hair. She smiled and looked at him.
"I love you, too."
"I would sing out my love for you now, even!" he said, backing away slightly from Loralee.
"Would you now?" Loralee asked, eye brow raised. Her answer was a sly smile from Erik as he spun her around so that he back was pressed against his front. It almost made Loralee jump when he started to sing softly in her ear.
His singing, if possible, was even more beautiful than his already magical speaking. It made her forget everything around her and give her wings to fly with up in the clouds. The softness and love in his voice made her shiver and her eye lids droop. His hands now rubbing her abdomen were soothing like his voice as he sang his love out to the empty stage.
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
I want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day i'm loving you more than this
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day!
As he finished singing the chorus, the words just seemed to form in her mind as she sang in return, her voice definitely not as captivating as his, but considerably good for her normally average singing style.
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesn't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
Erik joined her then, their voices combining as Erik turned her around in his arms so that they were singing face to face.
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather
And stars may collide
But I love you until the end of time
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day!
Oh, come what may, come what may
I will love you, I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day!
Just after they finished singing on a very powerful note, their voices combining strongly and creating a beauty unseen in any other Opera, Erik slipped something into Loralee's hand.
She looked down and her eyes widened when she saw a small dark red velvet box, a black ribbon tied around it. She had an idea of what it was he was giving her but just to be sure she untied the ribbon and opened the box.
There, on the red velvet, sat the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.
It was a plain silver band with a sparkling white colored opal stone in the center, two sapphires flanking it on either side. Upon seeing it, Loralee almost broke down sobbing. She did let a tear slip out of her eye when Erik went down on his knee, on the stage, and took the ring from her, looking her straight in the eye.
"Will you marry me, Loralee? Will you love me until my dying day?"
She hadn't expected this, just like she hadn't expected Vincent proposing to her at the Masquerade, but at least she knew the answer to this proposal with every single ounce of her heart.
He was even on his knee!
"Yes!" she almost shouted, tears of happiness now tumbling down her cheeks. "Yes, I will marry you, Erik. I will love you not till your dying day, but for eternity."
Erik smiled at her happily, getting off his knee, and standing up so he could kiss Loralee before slipping the ring onto the appropriate finger.
Just after he slipped it on and leaned in for another kiss, the sound of someone clapping broke their wonderful moment. They looked over, rather irritated to see a young maid smiling and clapping at the two of them on the stage.
"Bravo, bravo!" she shouted out. "Congratulations! I'll go tell the cook to make an extra big cake for today!"
With that, the maid left a stunned Erik and Loralee all alone once more on the stage. Erik was the first to look back at Loralee.
"Well, I say that just proved that every bit of news gets around the Opera Populaire quicker than any other place. My bet is that by this afternoon the majority of the Opera Populaire will know of our engagement."
Loralee looked back and smiled at him.
"We'll get cake this way, though," she pointed out. Erik just laughed and pulled her in for another kiss, this time picking her up and twirling her around the stage.