Chapter 13 - Don Juan Triumphant

Once again (and probably not for the last time!), sorry it took so long to write. I was locked on here for a while and I was writing other chapters for my two other phics. Anyways, it's out now, so do enjoy!

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The week running up to the performance of Don Juan went quickly or Christine. Every night, she went to her 'grave'. Every night she spoke to Louisa. She only cried once after their first meeting, then, the pain eased. Christine was getting worse for wear, she was growing every larger black bags under her eyes. Madame Giry watched, and noticed until she could take no more. She sent Christine to bed early on the weekend before the production, taking the rose from her. Christine tried to protest, but she secretly welcomed the sleep.

Then all of the sudden, it was it, the night of the production. An important moment for two people. Christine and Erik. Erik was pacing his Lair, dressed as Don Juan. He had sent the costume designs, but of course kept his own. Christine was not yet his, and his heart and mind yearned for her face and voice. She would love him, learn to love him; for who he was not just for his face.

He had it all planned, he would take Piangi's place once he had sung his opening, then, it would be him singing. He would prove his love for Christine, and she would not be able to resist. A smiled played upon his lips, but he squashed it. He would not allow himself an early celebration. He would take her by force should the need arise. Madame Giry would not keep her from him any longer. Erik sat at his desk, checking his mask was firmly in place. It was, even though he had checked it a thousand times. He was ready. With one last look about his Lair, his eyes fell upon the model of the Opera Populaire. He took a lit candle and walked to the model.

"Seal my fate tonight,

I hate to have to cut the fun short,

But the joke's wearing thin,

Let the audience in,

Let my Opera BEGIN!"

So singing, he dropped the candle into the model, setting it alight. He watched, face unmoving, as the flames flickered and grew. Christine WOULD be his.

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Christine herself was getting ready for her part. Dressed in a black corset and a white and gold gypsy skirt, with a blood red rose taking back the front of her brown locks. Her thoughts were a blur. She hadn't seen or heard anything from Erik, apart from orders for his Opera. Her identity as a Futori was troubling her too. What if Erik found that out? What if anyone found that out? Was she ready to sing in this Opera? All this was mixed up in her mind, whirring round over and over again. In the end, she had to go and relax in

her rooms until moments before her cue.

After what seemed like forever, she stood waiting in the wings. The curtains opened and Carlotta and the Chorus opened the Opera. Christine looked out from her spot. Women fluttered their fans and muttered to their next-door neighbour, men didn't know where to look. This opening was flames and red, signifying Don Juan in Hell. Ballet Girl acting as prostitutes and other extra's acting as paying men were dancing and the Chorus sang a song of Hellish sins and forbidden fruit. Christine looked down and took a deep breath, Piangi was now singing his intro, soon it would be her turn.

DON JUAN (PIANGI)
"Passarino faithful friend,

Once again recite the plan…"

PASSARINO
"Your young guest believes I'm you-

I, the master, you the man…"

DON JUAN(PIANGI)
"When you met, you wore my cloak,

She could not have seen your face.

She believes

She dines with me

In her master's borrowed place!

Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff,

Stealing what in truth is mine.

When it's late and modesty starts to mellow with the wine…"

PASSARINO
"You come home!

I use your voice

Slam the door like crack of doom!

DON JUAN (PIANGI)
"I shall say, 'Come hide with me! Where oh where? Of course my room'"

PASSARINO
"Poor thing hasn't got a chance !"

DON JUAN(PIANGI)
"Here's my hat, my cloak and sword.

Conquest is assured!

If I do not forget myself and laugh!

A-hahahahaha!"

Piangi exit's the stage via a curtain. Christine took another breath and sang her opening lines,

"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy…

No dreams within her heart, but dreams of love!"

Piangi re-entered with his cloak covering his face, little did she know, Piangi was already dead behind the curtain.

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It was Erik who now sang in Piangi's place. While Carlotta squawked her way through the opening number, Erik lay in wait in the shadows. He had to time it right, too early and Christine would know, too late and he would miss his chance. So as soon as Piangi shut the curtain after his intro, Erik swooped down on him like a bat out of Hell (LOVE THAT SONG!), cloak swooping behind him, Punjab Lasso in hand. It had been easy, Piangi didn't resist death. So now, Piangi was dead, and Erik entered in his place. His plan was going perfectly…

His eyes rested on Christine, she was a perfect Aminta. She was bent over, miming picking the thorns from red roses. Erik lowered his cloak and began his song…

"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…"

He walked towards Christine, who had now stood up. His eyes blazed with a deep longing…

"Past the point of no return
No backward glances
The games we've played 'til now are at and end…"

He walked again closer to Christine, going circling her…

"Past all thought of "if" or "when"
No use resisting
Abandon thought and let the dream descend…"

Erik suddenly leapt towards Christine, arm going around her neck, stroking her and then running his hands along her arm as he stepped away…

"What raging FIRE shall flood the soul
What rich desire unlocks its door
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 finished, and waited for Christine's heavenly voice to fill the room.

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Another waited with baited breath. Madame Giry knew from the moment Erik sang the first word it was him. What did he want now? What had become of Piangi? She didn't know. She stood where Christine had been, waiting. Something was afoot, so she wanted to be there.

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Christine stood, Piangi didn't quite sound right. A bit rough, quite like Erik. But he hadn't been seen or heard since his last letters, so she didn't even dream it was him. She sang her part, looking at Don Juan with a nervous passion…

"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…"

Christine looked at Don Juan with a more powerful longing.

"Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion-play has now at last begun…"

She began to climb the large spiral staircase on her side of the room. Erik also did the same on his side, never taking his eyes from Christine.

"Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question
How long should we two wait before we're one?"

She paused, reaching for Don Juan, Erik. He too paused, then they both continued. Christine still singing,

"When will the blood begin to race
The sleeping bud burst into bloom
When will the flames at last CONSUME us? "

They were both standing opposite each other, at the top of the stairs, a bridge between them. The began to walk slowly towards each other, both singing now…

"Past the point of no return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed now
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return…"

Erik's heart beat raced, Christine was now in his arms, holding his hands around her waist. Christine still thought it was Piangi who sang with her. She shut her eyes, as instructed. Erik sang now, alone, and softly into her ear…

"Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Lead me, save me from my solitude…"

He traced the outline of Christine's neck, and turned her towards him. Christine's eyes fluttered, opening and she withheld a gasp. She realized it was Erik who sang with her.

"Say you want me
With you here
Beside you…"

They stepped apart, hands still clasped tightly.


"Anywhere you go
Let me go too
Christine that's all I ask of…"

Christine didn't let him finish…

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A/N - Ha ha ha! I'm SO ebil:K You'll just have to wait for the next bit!