Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera.
Sorry I've made you wait so long. My goal was to get this done by Sunday but…oh well. I guess one day off isn't too bad especially since my creativeness was caput Saturday and Sunday was really busy. (My mom made me help her recarpet the sunroom :-P which includes moving the furniture. Double :-P) Anyhoo… Hope you enjoy it and…read on! Woot! BTW I almost forgot. I now have red streaks in my hair. I got them done with Sparky. (In your face Sparky! See? At least I was nice enough to mention you when you didn't the same for me! –Sticks out tongue-). Please review!
Two days had passed since the girl had awakened. She was recovering wonderfully though she still clutched her head whenever she tried to stand. Nonetheless the day she could leave was all too far away. Having her here reminded me too much of Christine even asleep as she was now. Softly I tapped out the Mozart I had heard my beloved sing so many times. I could almost hear Christine's voice dancing in the air; rising and falling as it twirled…I stopped. Now I remember why it has been so long since I've played the piece. Now I know…I stood, my hands clutched into fists beside me, my heart pounding in my ears. In a sudden rush of fury I shoved the ornate chair aside. It toppled down the stairs crashing into the candelabras (1) and cracking the already broken mirrors. I turned and swept the sheets of music off the stand. I then stormed after the chair to wreak even more havoc upon it…a flash of color caught my eye…the pictures…of Christine (2) …Yelling I ripped them from the wall, tearing and shredding them to pieces. I then carried the paper to the water's edge and tossed them into the air…The bits of color drifted slowly…onto…the water…I collapsed onto the floor weeping silently…Oh Christine…Why did you leave me...? The rasp of paper against stone…I should pick up the music…before the water takes that away as well…Slowly I stood, my head hung. The sound continued, only louder…a tapping noise…I turned slightly gazing up…she glanced up at me as well, momentarily looking away from the stack of music in her hands. The tapping had been her straightening the pile against the stone floor…Her eyes were filled with fear, pity,…and hope. Hope of my acceptance which they seemed to beg for. She lowered her head with the air of a humble slave and returned to her work.
Don't be such a scaredy cat. I scolded myself. He's just some dressed up weirdo with a mask…I remembered watching him nearly toss the enormous chair…Okay. A really strong weirdo but still human just the same. He started up the steps. Closer and closer and closer. I prayed he wasn't still angry. Closer and closer…he knelt down across from me scooping up papers as I was. I loosened my grip on the papers in my hand. My hand was shaking a little. This has just been too much. First my dad… I shook my head to get rid of the thought. Great. I don't need this. Any of this. Not now...I have to find out what's going on, where I am. I slipped my hand under another sheet. Unconcerned my eyes flicked over it, but did a double-take…I know this. Just last voice practice my teacher wanted to see if I was as good at French as I was at Italian. (I was) Voice was the only on of dad's "genius teen" lessons I enjoyed. (Not that I let him know) Ecstatic, I motioned to the man.
"I know this! I know this!" I nearly hollered, beaming. He seemed confused, tilting his head a bit to one side. I pointed to my chest, then my temple, then to the page.
"I. Know. This." I said again. He looked at me oddly. Like a teacher who's trying to tell if you're lying or not. Carefully he slipped the sheet from my hands.
"La Solitaire (3)," He muttered, reading off the title. I nodded my head. Yes! Yes! Finally something familiar! He gave me that look again before slowly nodding.
Again the young girl beamed up at me, so full of youthful light. With renewed energy she began gathering the sheets. Once we had organized then, I retrieved the chair from where it had been thrown. As I was setting it down, I heard the girl moan quietly behind me. She remained sitting on the floor but she had a hand on her head, messaging her temple. She must not be fully recovered from her head injury. I walked over and offered my hand. Flashing another bright smile, she shakily pulled herself up. She stumbled then steadied herself. At last we could begin.
Ah, haughty youth, o thou slayer of wild deer,
Thou pale horseman pale, of the dark, tender eye,
I would that thou on thy wing-footed charger
Wouldst bear me up to love's heav'n on high.
She had quite proficient talent. True, she made mistakes such as a strained high note, running out of air, a quaver, or a slight (ever so slight) flat note. What impressed me though is the fact that she recognized most mistakes. I knew this for every time she bungled something she would place a hand on her chest just below her throat as if to steady her voice.
Oft have I in the night, all lonely sitting,
Shed many a tear, and stretched my arms to thee;
But all in vain! I caught at shadows flitting,
Thou heard'st no sob, my tears thou didst not see.
She faltered and stopped, smiling sheepishly. I stopped as well.
"Very good," I said, clapping a bit. "Forgive me if I've been rude these past few days. I thought you were unable to speak French." The girl's face fell as her gaze shifted to the floor.
"Sorry," she replied. "I don't know what yer saying." She obviously still didn't understand me, but she could sing…I don't know which angel sent her to me but I could never abuse an opportunity like this one. I could train her. I could again rise into power through her voice. I could teach her…but first things first. I pressed a hand to my chest.
"Erik." At first the girl showed no response but then she repeated the gesture, smiling.
"Autumn." Teacher and student. Erik and Autumn (4). May our future unfold… Together.
1. Those are big sticks like one of those that hold up the bulb on a lamp except instead of a bulb and cover…thing…there's a candle. I had to ask my dad about this one.
2. If you haven't seen the deleted scene in the Phantom of the Opera (it's another song that Erik sings. It's soooo sweet. It's to the tune of "Learn to be Lonely". SEE IT!) then you'll have no idea what I'm talking about. Even if the movie hadn't shown it I probably would have mentioned some kind of picture/sculpture/artwork that the Phantom did. He's just too creative to not do some kind of likeness of Christine. Anyhoo I knew that would cause a problem with Erik and Autumn's relationship so I had to get rid of it. Autumn's just too curious to not notice anything like that.
3. I was lookin at my voice teacher's collection of music and I saw a book of French songs. We were working on something else so I didn't get to sing the song. (Boohoo) The guy who wrote this piece (Camille Saint-Saëns) was born a little late to be believable but the song was so appropriate (and in French) that I just had to put it in here. In English, "La Solitaire" means the solitude. Isn't that cool?
4. The names work together really well like Sonny and Cher and…well that's all I can think of, but you know what I mean
AND NOW (drum roll please)-pause for effect-…THE E-MAIL ANSWERS!
I'm answering e-mails now. Sparky does the same thing and I decided to follow suit.
Octopus1738: Thanks for the FYI but like I said in an earlier chapter it was just a theory. Also I'm planning on reading the book, but first my mom and I have to go the library. Heehee! Every time we've tried so far it's been closed:-P Thanks anyways!
Lady Lefty: Thanks for the compliment and I'm glad I cleared some stuff up for you! Keep reading!
countriebabe214: HEY GIRL! WOOT! I've missed you too! The reason I haven't been showing up…well the first time (ya know when I was supposed to do the lesson) was because a voice recital snuck up on me so I couldn't go. :-( Boohoo. The other times have been because Jordan's mad at me and it's kinda hard to avoid her in small group plus she would be snappin at me because of it. Tell everyone I said "Woot!" (Except for Jordan). Hope to hear from you again!