3
A/N: I noticed that I am using some french in my typing. If I do, I'll try to put the translation at the bottom of the page, so you're not in the dark.
gerbear- thanks for your reviews!
Charter Mage Z- just watch and read.
Chapter 3 the trouble with troubled men
Emma rushed out of the house early the next morning. She did not even say goodbye to her parents.
"Emma! Are you coming home tonight!" Her mother shouted form across the house.
"No!" was Emma's response, she had no idea how long she would be with Aric.
She didn't even take the families carriage, she would have rather walked. She arrived at the opera; Christian was waiting outside for her like he always did. They embraced.
"Emma, you seem a little distracted, what's wrong?" Christian asked concerned.
"Nothing, except that, the boy came back yesterday. His name is Aric, and he wants me to meet him in my dressing room tonight, and I figured out hoe he left that night. There is a spring in the mirror, from when my mother's phantom was there, I had forgotten about it. He used it last night!" Emma squealed.
"Don't get to excited Emma. You don't know anything about this boy. He could harm you." Christian warned.
"You don't want me to see him don't you?" She asked.
"I didn't say that, I just want you to be careful that's all. I don't want to have to come in there after you." Christian said, "There might be spiders down there."
Emma laughed; Christian didn't like spiders one bit. He screamed every time he saw one, and made Emma kill it. She didn't mind.
Michael called to them from the steps of the opera. Emma's stomach churned, she had not been able to look at Michael the same way after Christian told her that they loved each other, she found nothing wrong with it, but it was still strange.
Michael hugged Christian, and kissed him on the cheek. Michael hugged Emma as well.
"How's my leading lady?" He joked with Emma.
"Fine and my leading man? Are you ready?" she asked.
They laughed. Michael took Emma's hand and Christian put his arm around her shoulder, and they headed into the opera.
"…Yes, the day comes,--the last day breaks for me! My wedding day it was to be! Tell no one thou has been with Margaret! Woe for my garland! The chances Are over--'tis all in vain! We shall meet once again, But not at the dances! The crowd is thronging, no word is spoken: The Square below… the streets… the streets… um… the streets…" Emma could not remember the line for that part.
"Emma, my diva you must get this right, we open in two days." Vincent Boisson the conductor whined.
"I know monsieur, I know. I'm sorry. I'll get it right." She said, "The crowd is thronging, no word is spoken: The square below the streets overflow the death-bell tolls, the wand is broken. I am seized, and bound, and delivered-- Shoved to the block--they give the sign! Now over each neck has quivered the blade that is quivering over mine. Dumb lies the world like the grave!" Emma gave her triumphant finish to Margaret's monologue.
"Merci! Bon travail! We shall end for the day! Vous remercier et le bon jour." Vincent praised.
"You did good Emma." Christian said.
"Yes, but I cannot remember that part." She was clearly upset.
"We'll practice tonight." He suggested.
"No, I have to meet Aric remember?" she reminded him. "Besides, aren't you going somewhere with Michael?"
"Oh yes, I forgot. How did you know about that?" he questioned her.
"He told me, during the break."
They said there goodbye's and left each other for the night.
Emma sat in her room, she was very uneasy about seeing Aric. Christian's word replayed back into her mind.
"You don't know anything about this boy. He could harm you."
What if he was right? She had no time to ponder this question; the mirror slowly began to slide open. Aric came through the mirror and smiled at her. He didn't say anything, he just held out his hand to her, she felt as though she was being drawn to him, she really had no control, she could not turn round to run, no matter how much she wanted to: "he could harm you."
She was scared. But the fear soon left her, he slowly lead her deep below the opera house and showed her the wonders of what was below. She could not explain it, but, everything was aglow with the beautiful golden lanterns that lined the walls. He led her farther and the lanterns were less and less, it became darker, and she more afraid, that fear did not subside even when the lights came back and she could see somewhat again. He led her to the lake beneath the opera house, just like in the story; the boat was just as she had imagined it, and she sat in the gondola as he rowed it even deeper into the opera house. The lanterns here, illuminated themselves, they appeared to be just holding themselves up. The light showed a dark green film around the bottom of the wall were the water had once been, and lapped up against.
They slowly entered a room, and as they did, the candles became lit, and they beauty of the underground palace was known to her. The gondola hit the edge of the lake, Aric left it to glance once at his domain, and he then turned to her, and held out hi s hand to her. She did not take it at first. She was still afraid.
"Do you trust me?" he asked her.
"I… um… Yes, yes I do." She managed.
She took his hand and he led her out and showed her around the small living quarters, which Emma assumed that he lived. The tour was silent; there was no need for words. He led her to a bed and sat her down; he sat down next to her. He stared at her, she could see forever in his eyes. She had hoped that he would not try anything with her, she was not ready for a relationship, and she was young and wanted to be free at least another year before she was tied down by her true love.
"Why did you bring me here?" Emma asked.
"You don't know? I thought that you knew the story of the phantom of the opera." Aric said.
"I do, but I don't understand what that has to do with me," Emma lied, she knew what the story had to do with her, but she had no idea why he had brought her here.
"Don't you? You know what it has to do with you! But what I think that you don't understand is this, why I brought you here." He laughed.
"No I don't, and if you would be so kind as to tell me why." She demanded.
"Are you afraid, of me?' Aric tried to draw this out as long as he could; he was doing very well he thought.
"I wasn't, until now." She confessed.
"There is no reason to fear me, I have done nothing to try and harm you." He said.
"Not yet you haven't." She hissed, Emma was getting very annoyed.
"I think that your friend Christian has gotten to your head." He believed.
"Leave him out of this. Now, you will tell me why you have brought me here!" she demanded.
"Ok, if you wish. I brought you here because of the story. I am the phantom of the opera." Aric said.
"No, no! The phantom died years ago!" She was now very irritated.
"Yes, he did, but I picked up were he left off. I came here ten years after he died. I had heard the stories. I knew the only reason that he let your mother go was because he felt pity. I came here to do what he did, but the only difference is, I won't show you any pity."
Emma was outraged, how could this jerk, no, jerk wasn't strong enough a word for this man. How could this bastard say this to her face!
"Why do you were his mask?" She asked trying to sound calm.
"I must do what he did must I not?" He mocked her.
Emma acted like she had dismissed the issue. Aric turned to look somewhere in the layer. Emma came up from behind him, and pulled his mask off. Aric crumpled to the floor as if he was just caused great pain. His hands cover the right side of his face. Emma turned him over and tore his hands away from his face. There was nothing but the other side of his handsome face.
"I have no words for you. I can't believe that I dared fall for you. Don't ever try to see me again. I will call the authorities, and you know that I will do it to." And with that Emma turned and stormed off back the way he brought down to this hell.
A/N: ok, I know that Aric is a little bit able to point out the obvious; I didn't realize it until the end. Anyway, the french is this:
Merci- french- thank you
Bon travail-french- good job
Vous remercier ET le bon jour-french- thank you and good day
3