Poppy woke up early. This was the day. Today was the day of Don Juan! She slowly got out of bed. She was scared as hell. Performing on stage in front of a few people is one thing; performing on a stage in front of hundreds is another. She slowly got dressed, lingering around, not rushing. She played around; Ayesha had come in, so she played with her for a while. Finally she couldn't put it off any more, she walked out were Erik was. He was back; she had heard him moving around when she got up. When she had come down to the lair last night he was not there. She waited for him as long as she could, but grew too sleepy, so she went onto bed. Sighing, she walked out of her room.
XxX
Erik had come back late last night. He was out taking care of some businesses. He had checked in on Poppy. He found her asleep. He had stood in the doorway watching her. Erik knew it was not proper to do so, but he couldn't help it. He finally tore his self away. He knew that Mme. Giry had told her about his past. Or at least what Antoinette knew.
He wanted to be angry at her, but in away was relived, and embarrassed. Poppy had told him about her past, yet he didn't tell her his. But, it was too painful. Too much for her to know all of it. He walked over to the model of the stage. Moving some figures around, Erik sung quietly.
"Seal my fate tonight—I have to know—have to be sure—let all know—let all see…let the audience in…let a new life begin!"
He turned when he saw Poppy walk out from her room. He picked up a idem from the desk and slipped it into his pocket. Poppy walked up to him. She looked tried, pale. Erik brushed a lock of red hair out of her face. "Poppy? What is wrong?"
She caught his hand, "I'm scared. I 'm afraid of screwing up your Opera."
Erik shook his head, "You'll be fine. Don't worry, we have worked hard. You won't 'screw up' anything," he leaned in and kissed her deeply, "Come, you must get ready."
Poppy nodded, breathless. She didn't know how he did it, but he had taken away the fear.
Erik grabbed his cloak, and led her to the boat. He wanted to take the long way. Helping her in to the boat, Erik pushing them off. As he steered them along, Poppy could not help remember the day they met. Her whacking him with her cane, snapping at him, laughing at him, playing with him. All in all, teaching him how to relax, to have fun.
Erik watched her as she became lost in thought. "Sing," he commanded. Poppy jumped, turned to face him.
"What?"
"Sing. We need to warm your voice up."
Poppy was surprised, "What song?"
"You know which one." His voice held something Poppy couldn't identify.
She nodded. "Beneath the opera house, I know he's here. He's on the stage with me, he's everywhere. And do I dream again for now I know the Phantom of the Opera is real."
Erik didn't think that she would change the words, but he went with it, "Sing once again for me. My love will be with you. And though you are scared, the Phantom of the Opera will be with you—on the stage."
"Those who have seen your face, drew back in fear…I will be the mask you wear…"
"It will be me they hear…."
"Your/my spirit and your/my voice in one will be combined the Phantom of the Opera will be there—on the stage."
Poppy began to sing the mezzo scales, then moved into the soprano ones. When she finished, she felt that she could take on anything. She turned to Erik, "Thanks."
Erik smiled, "You're welcome." They had reached, the bank. Helping her out, he led her up the stairs and ramps. When they got to the stage, Erik stayed in the shadows.
Poppy turned to him.
"Make me proud," Erik whispered, running a cool hand across her cheek.
Poppy closed her eyes, "I will." Then the hand was gone. Sighing she went to get changed for the show.
XxX
"Ow! Damn it! You know it was men that invented these damn things! No sane woman would wake up one day and, "let's try to make ones waist so small that they can't breathe!"
"Are you done?" Mme. Giry rolled her eyes and gave one last pull on the black corset. Poppy's already small waist collapsed even smaller.
"Complaining to you, yes. To who ever designed these costumes, no. Who was it?"
"Erik."
"Then, I'm not done complaining to him."
Mme. Giry just smiled. She weaved a white rose though Poppy's hair. They had tried to curl it, but Poppy's straight hair would not curl. Poppy had to go 80's and tease it. She then curled it. She was almost afraid of what it looked like, but Mme. Giry said it looked great. Things were going along fine, but Mme. Giry had a feeling that Erik was about to do something that will shock all.
XXX
As the music played, the chandelier shuddered.
XxX
The Opera started fine, Reyer taking his bow, and with a flick of his wrist, the orchestra began the overture. It was an inharmonious, a cacophony of sound. Hard and mean, just like Erik's life. The set was mostly red and black. A set of a brothel inn. In the middle of the stage was to pillars. Each had stairs going up to meet as a bridge. The chorus was dressed as gypsy whores and hags. The atmosphere was dark and erotic.
Here the sire may serve the dam; here the master
takes his meat!
Here the sacrificial lamb utters one despairing
bleat!
Carlotta was dressed as a whorish hag. She makes the most of her part.
Poor young maiden! For the thrill on your
tongue of stolen sweets
you will have to pay the bill - tangled
in the winding sheets!
Serve the meal and serve the maid!
Serve the master so that, when tables, plans and maids are laid,
Don Juan triumphs once again!
She mikes her small part for all it was worth. When she was finally finished, Piangi, Don Juan, entered. So all in al everything was going well, but Poppy felt uneasy. She fidgeted, tugging on a red curl. Something was wrong. She felt it in her bones. Poppy felt someone nudge her. She turned to find Christine and Raoul.
"Poppy. We are leaving early. I want to say that I am sorry. I'm sorry that I treated Erik like I did, but, I could not love him. I'm glad that he has you. Good-bye and good luck."
Poppy stood there shocked. Huh, some people always seem to amaze you. She figured that she better say something nice, "Thank you. And good luck to you as well," She guessed that Christine had wanted an apology, but Poppy was not sorry for all the things she said and done to Christine.
"Yes. It was nice meeting you Poppy. Come Christine, our carriage is a-waiting."
They left, Poppy not giving them another thought. She turned back to the Opera.
"…Furtively, we'll scoff and quaff, stealing
what, in truth, is mine.
When it's late and modesty starts to
mellow, with the wine ...
You come home! I use your voice - slam
the door like crack of doom!
I shall say: "come - hide with
me!
Where, oh, where? Of course - my room!"
"Poor thing hasn't got a chance!"
"Here's my hat, my cloak and
sword.
Conquest is assured, if I do not forget myself and laugh
... "
Poppy swallowed. It was
time. Carrying a basket of red roses, she walked slowly out onto the
stage.
"... no thoughts within her head, but
thoughts of joy!
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love!"
She knelt down on one knee. Poppy picked up a rose and began pulling the leaves off.
"Master"
"Passarino - go away!
For the trap is set
and waits for its prey ... You have come here in pursuit of your
deepest urge, in pursuit of
that wish, which till now has been
silent, silent ..."
Poppy jumped at the sound of Erik's voice. She really didn't think that he'd come on the stage. In the movie he did so, to try to win Christine. But, he did not need to with Poppy. He had her already.
"I have brought you,
that our passions
may fuse and merge -
in your mind you've already succumbed to me
dropped all defenses completely succumbed to me -
now you are
here with me: no second thoughts,
you've decided, decided ...
"
Poppy heard him walk up to her. She slowly stood and turned to face him.
"Past the
point of no return -
no backward glances:
the games we've
played till now are at an end ...
Past all thought of "if"
or "when" -
no use resisting: abandon thought, and let
the dream descend ..."
Poppy heard him circle her, his passion growing with each rising note.
"What
raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its
door?
What sweet seduction lies before us ...? "
Finally he growled and reached for her, rasping fire as his hands wandered across her delicate skin. She could feel his gloved hands, his breath in her hair as he forced his song from his lungs. Her back pressed into his sturdy chest. Poppy couldn't breath. She didn't know what the hell he was doing. He released her, sliding his hands across her jaw and right arm. During practice, he had not really put his voice into the song, then again nether had she. But now, now he was throwing all of his self into the song.
"Past the point of no return,
the
final threshold - what warm, unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond
the point of no return ... "
It was her turn. She began to sing her heart out.
"You have brought me to that moment where
words run dry,
to that moment where speech disappears into
silence,
silence ...
I have come here, hardly knowing
the reason why ...
In my mind,
I've already imagined our
bodies entwining
defenseless and silent - and now I am here with
you: no second thoughts,
I've decided, decided ...
Past
the point of no return -
no going back now:
our passion-play
has now, at last, begun ..." Poppy began to walk to the stairs
and to climb up them. "Past all thought of right or wrong -
one
final question: how long should we two wait, before we're one ...?
When will the blood begin to race the sleeping bud burst into
bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us ...?
She heard Erik climb up his set. Throwing her
self into the song, he did the same. Both their voices rose.
"Past the point of no return the final
threshold -
the bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn ...
He grasped her, spinning her into his arms with fingers and palms
that roamed. "We've passed the point of no return ..."
Poppy took a deep breath and relaxed into his touch. Slowly, Erik turned her. Taking her right hand slipped a cold metal ring one her finger.
"Say you'll share with me one
love, one lifetime ...
Lead me, save me from my solitude ...
Say
you want me with you, here beside you ...
Anywhere you go let me
go too -
Poppy, that's all I ask of you!"
Poppy felt along the band. It was a simple ring. A wedding ring. That's it! That's why all the secrets! She lifted her head. But be fore she could say anything; the same dreaded feeling came back. She then remembered. "Erik! The chandelier!" At that moment there was a loud groan and then a snap.
