Chapter 17

Poppy didn't have to go up to watch the opera. She knew it was a success. She lay stretched out on the bed just waiting. She hadn't seen Erik since she had ran into him in one of the cellars. This whole existence was getting preposterous. She needed to find a way home. Her hand stretched out and petted Ayesha. The cat had been keeping her company all night. She began purring and Poppy smiled. Why was she mopping? She had never let others get to her, so why now? She'll show Erik that he can do much better. Yes, it was true. She was mad at him, but it also was not his fault. Love is blind, and Erik was blinder then Poppy right now. She'll teach him to see again.

Poppy was conducting a plan when she heard Christine vocalizing. Poppy sighed. Well, it was also true that Christine had a good voice; But Poppy had done well in chemistry. Erik had a lab. She had stumbled in to it one day. Erik didn't know of course, but Poppy there after, snuck back in and began to memorize her way around.

Poppy heard Erik sing... "I have brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne ...
to this kingdom where all must pay homage to music ...
music...You have come here, for one purpose, and one alone ...
I first heard you sing,
I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing, for my music ...
my music ..."

Poppy sighed, waiting for the rest of the song and leaned against the door, listening. Erik began singing one of her favorite songs, Music of the Night.

"Night-time sharpens, heightens each sensation ...
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination ...
Silently the senses abandon their defenses ...

Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendor ...
Grasp it, sense it - tremulous and tender ...
Turn your face away from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to the music of the night ...

Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before!
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!
And you'll live as you've never lived before ...

Softly, deftly, music shall surround you ...
Feel it, hear it, closing in around you ...
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of the music of the night.

Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world!
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me ...

Floating, falling, sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in to the power of
the music that I write - the power of the music of the night ...

You alone can make my song take flight - Poppy sang softly along with him. help me make the music of the night ..."

She stayed against the wall, pretending that it was she out there in Erik's arms, not the airhead. Like Erik all she wanted was someone to love her too. She heard Erik carry Christine into the next room and finish the song. Poppy soon fell asleep with her head leaning against the door.

XxX

The next morning Poppy woke to the sound of Erik playing his organ. Again he was pounding on the poor thing. She listened carefully. She had to mark her timing carefully. Poppy cracked the door open a bit and listened and waited. Soon enough, Poppy heard Christine on the move. Poppy slipped out of the room and slunk behind her.

Christine was now at Erik, stroking his face. Poppy felt the painful tinge of jealousy.

"Who was that shape in the shadows?
Whose is the face in the mask? "

Just as Christine got to, 'who's face is in the mask'...and reached out to pull off Erik's mask, Poppy let out an almost feline snarl and ran straight for Christine, her red hair flying out behind her. Poppy landed on Christine snarling and growling. Christine let out a yelp. Poppy began screaming at her, taking Erik intended words. Adding a few of her own.

"Damn you!
You little witch!
You little demon! God damn you!
You little lying bitch!
You little viper!"

On and on Poppy went, screeching out words that shocked even her.

"Poppy?" Both Erik and Christine cried out in shock together.

Poppy didn't answer. She was busy trying to kill Christine. Christine, for a small airhead, was holding her own. She got a few hits in. Erik tried to pull Poppy off of her, but Poppy rounded on him snarling, "You stay out of this!"

Christine might have been done for, if she hadn't knocked Poppy's glasses off. Both girls froze. Poppy, from having her eyes uncovered, Christine, from staring up into deeply scared eyes. Poppy and Christine let of gasps. Christine shrank away from Poppy, as Poppy shoved her away. Christine ran to her room, as Poppy scrambled up and tried to do the same, when Erik grabbed her.

"What the hell, were you doing!" Erik roared, spinning her around. "You had no-" Erik froze as he saw her face fully. Deep, pale purple and red scars covered her upper face around her eyes. White eyes stared blindly back at him. There was no indentation of pupils or irises. Her eyes were flat and white. The eyes themselves had scars.

"Poppy -"

She faced him fully. Anger radiated off of her. "See me! See what I also have to put up with! Yes, I'm ugly. I too wear a mask. This is also why my family no longer even cared for me! I was too ugly in their perfect world."

"Yes, I see, but why did you attack Christine?"

"You was too blind to see as to what she was about to do. She was going to pull your mask off." Poppy snarled.

Anger crossed though Erik. That was way she had been caressing his face. So that she could pull his mask off. Only he was too blind with love, that he didn't heed the danger. "Poppy I am truly sorry." He hastily started to place a hand on her cheek. Poppy reached out and took it, and finished placing his hand on her cheek. Heat sheared though her, as she closed her useless eyes and leaned into his hand. They were like that for several minuets, until Poppy opened her eyes. Should she dare? She really want to- no. Needed to. She let go of his hand. Erik kept it there for a few seconds more, before he let it fall away. He stared down at her. Poppy walked up closer to him and placed both her hands up on his face, one on his velvety soft skin that was on his left cheek; the other on his hard leather mask. Erik pulled away lightly, but Poppy whispered, "No."

Erik felt his heart beat jump as he whispered, "What are you doing?"

Poppy smiled, "Just one of the 'people lessons.' How to kiss." With that, she brought her lips to his own.