Author's Note- Well, here be more…and no, this story is not nearly over. I have plenty of tricks up my sleeves, hehe…
Kirsten Rose- hehe, no, but it was fun. Thanks for reviewing.
Tallacus- Suspense is good, and I am g lad it is metaphorically killing you…of course, if it is really killing you…that is bad, lol. And, I guess you shall wait and see, eh?
Cold-Blooded-Angel- Thank you much! That compliment about suspense made me happy
Ram Jas- Yes he had! Er…wait…lol…YES HE SHOULD CHOOSE ME! There…and glad you liked the chapter…and, long phic it sounds like, hehe. Thanks for the review.
Araiona Dubois- Thank you much, and some things may change…shall see, eh?
Rinny Leonhart Rikku- This story will continue for a good while after Don Juan, so there will be lots more updates…I am estimating around 50+ chapters for this story. So nope, it won't be ending soon. Yay!
Chapter 28
Don Juan Triumphs?
Two hours. Two hours was all the time left. Jen sighed and watched Erik pace about the lair. "Nervous?"
"Yes…no…a bit of both."
"How can you be both?" Jen asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically. "I don't know!" Erik yelled back. He didn't want to deal with it. "Last chance to turn back."
"I am not turning back. It is too late."
"It's never too late." Jen replied calmly. She herself was also afraid, but kept it much more hidden than Erik did, for once. She knew why- this would determine the rest of his life. Or, what he saw of it. Jen saw another future. "You know, if she does agree to marry you…what will her last name be?"
Erik stopped pacing and whirled around to face her. He hadn't thought of that. "I…I don't know."
"Didn't think so." Jen said. "Then, I will give you one." She thought for a few minutes of the different names she had seen for him. "Destler." She said at last. Erik gave her a strange look. He had been expecting something…well, he didn't know what he had been expecting. "Why?"
"It's what almost all the phanfic authors use." She replied simply. "Phanfic?"
"I'll explain later, if there is a later. For now, just concentrate on the performance. You know all your lines, right?"
"I WROTE the opera, Jen. I believe I can handle it." He told her rather coldly. "Fine, fine…" Jen muttered, putting her hands up. "Geesh, I'm just trying to help. Want me to sing Christine's part so you can get some practice."
"Not really, but do I have a choice?"
"No. Start." Jen commanded. She sucked at the Soprano's part, herself being an alto verging on being a tenor. She always missed the notes and cracked the ones she managed to hit. But, she knew all the words and the tune by heart. Listening to Erik sing nearly made her melt into a phangirlish puddle, but she decided that if she did melt, it would be far too mary-sueish for her liking. So, she listened, and tried not to drool. Then she sang, making both herself and Erik cringe. By the time she finished, she was laughing more than singing.
"That is quite enough." Erik said when they were finished. Jen grinned. "Well, Monsieur Erik Destler, be careful tonight. If things do not work, try to find me. I will always be around for you." She placed a simple yet loving kiss on his lips, then walked back up the tunnel. "Good luck to you as well." He whispered after her. His opera was about to begin.
XxXxXxXxX
"Well, may God protect us all." Jen said softly, picking up her mallets. They would begin any minute now. She knew all her music, she knew what would happen, and she knew that she had a plan. But, she was still scared. Edward noticed her white-knuckle grip on the sticks. "What is it? You know your part down to the last 32nd note." He said jokingly. "I know." Jen said softly.
"Then why are you so nervous?"
"I don't know." He opened his mouth as if to say something, but had no time, as the show began. Jen played her parts, waiting for her solo. Carlotta's screeching voice stood out against that of her fellow singers, and Jen continued playing, almost mechanically. Gabby was playing through her part as well, and Jen could see her fingers twitch slightly as they moved the bow. Music filled her ears, but it did nothing to calm her. Jen could tell her solo was coming. She took a deep breath, then played. Luckily, no notes were missed. She had Erik to thank for that. He had added the solo in for her, and she knew that for a fact. And, therefore, he had forced her to play it over and over again until she could do it perfectly with a blindfold on.
Piangi's voice reached her ears, and she shut her eyes. Jen continued to play, switching instruments when need made her. Time seemed to stretch on and on. It seemed like Erik wasn't going to come. Then, she heard his voice. Soft, sensual, beautiful. He was there, and for some reason, that calmed her. Not a lot, but it did calm her. She knew he was safe for the time being.
The Phantom's voice must have awed some of the audience members, and Jen tried not to roll her eyes as she watched Raoul's face turn from enjoyment and alert to confusion, then to shock. It was quite amusing. She waited, and when Erik began singing something that did not match the former song, she took a deep breath, then, unknowingly held it in. She waited for the inevitable. Then it happened. It just…happened. Jen heard the screams and looked up. She saw the grand chandelier come crashing toward the orchestra pit, watched all the musicians drop their instruments and run. It all happened so fast, yet it seemed like slow motion to her eyes. Jen couldn't move. Edward watched her, and yelled to her, but she didn't hear him. So, he pulled her out of the pit, just before the large crystal object crashed. Jen snapped out of her daze, and ran out of her friends protective embrace. She had to find Erik, and she had to find him soon.
She flew down the halls, trying to avoid the people collected in them. She watched briefly as a mob began to form, then continued running. She had to make it, had to find Erik. Soon she reached the room she and Gabby shared. She opened the door and quickly searched for the bag she had packed earlier. She knew that the flames were coming closer and closer with each minute. Once she had her bag, Jen turned to grab her coat. She saw Waffle looking at her with bright eyes. "Gabby is gonna get you." She said softly, giving the kitten a final cuddle before opening her escape route then fleeing down the passage in the mirror.
Time was of the essence. She had to make it before the mob, she had to make it before Erik left. Jen ran through the dark, unable to see but knowing the path by memory. Time flew by, and she flew further down. The sounds of a mob could be heard, faint, but still there. It reminded her how careful she had to be. Soon, Jen reached her destination. Light filled the tunnel, as did the angry shouts from Raoul and Erik. Jen crouched back in the tunnel, far enough back that she could see them but not the other way around. Now all she had to do was wait.
XxXxXxXxX
Erik glared daggers at Raoul, even though he was tied and about to be strangled. He hated the man. This man had ruined his life, or the closest thing to a life he had had. He would now meet his end. Christine was watching helplessly, and Erik knew it. He was beyond caring. If she would not choose him willingly, he would make her choose him. He would eliminate the competition. Raoul would die.
The fear in the boy's eyes was almost humorous. He knew he couldn't win this time. Not now. "You were too confident." Erik whispered to him. He then pulled the lasso tighter. Raoul gasped and began to go limp. Erik watched, almost gleefully, as Christine's face went from begging to something else…that is, until he realized that the other expression was hatred. Cold, harsh, hatred. "I gave you my mind blindly."
"You try my patience." Erik hissed. "Make your choice." Another tug on the lasso, and another grunt from Raoul. Then Erik saw something change in the young singer's eyes. Pity, or perhaps something else. Love? He did not know. He had not seen love before, not first hand.
"Pitiful creature of darkness…what kind of life have you known?" Erik nearly let go of the lasso as her angelic voice reached him. She glided through the water towards him, and he waited. Had she chosen him? Erik did not have time to wonder, as Christine pressed her lips to his. She let him hold her close, let him kiss her. They pulled away, and he looked at her, confused. Had she chosen him?
Author's Note- Dun dun dun…climactic moment! Dramatic music! Er…Erik? Creedy? Guys?
Erik- It isn't my day to put in the dramatic music…
Creedy- I'll get it, I'll get it…
Jen- There we go…well, thanks to my muses, this story is coming along. I shall try to get more up later this week…read and review. )