Chapter 63

Well here is the worrisome chapter (twists hands in cloak as tries to wait patiently for reviews)

Amée was a year old when Erik finished the opera. She was indeed musically cline. Erik would play a small tune, and Amée would play it back. When Erik played the whole opera to Poppy, Amée's emotions matched the music. When it was sad, she cried, when it was happy, she laughed, and when it was angry, her face scrunched up. It was something to watch her.

Erik had followed the book more then the musical. For he had worked the unmasking part out very carefully. He was going to let it be known, that he had been the Opera Ghost, that he was indeed deformed. Poppy was confused and surprised that he was going though with it. When she had asked about it, he had told her that he had been watching the people of Paris. In all his years of living here, he had never truly noticed the people that lived in it. He saw men walking the streets that had worse faces then him. They had ether been born like that like him, or had suffered an accident. He had reigned in his fear of speaking to people, and had talked to them. They told him briefly about their lives, and he had told a little about his self. Erik told her that, they understood way he had hidden his self. That they had said that many times in their lives they had felt like doing the same thing. They told hem what Poppy had said those many months ago; it is only flesh. True there are people that well be disgusted that they will still hate him, but if he showed that he is a good person, most will over look it.

"I'm tried of living in a hole like a rat. True, my temper is insufferable…"

"But it can be fixed. What has made you hated was your temper. I can't explain your mother, but if she had not have been the weak woman she was and didn't make you wear the damn mask, you wouldn't have had to feel the need to live under the Opera house. True, I love it; you had taken nothing and turned it into a home." Poppy said as she fed Amée her breakfast, "Stop that now, eat it, not play in it," she told her.

Erik nodded, "An so much has happened. I am now the manger of the Opera Populaire…"

"A husband and father…stop it… Amée…" Poppy fought with her. Amée wanted to draw in the food that she had spilt. Erik watched mother and daughter battle for the spoon, a smile on his face. Finally, Poppy got the spoon away from Amée. Amée let out a whimpering cry, but then laughed and blew kisses at her mother. Poppy tried to hide her laugh as she wiped Amée's face and hands off. She picked her up, and carried her to the living room, Erik following. Ayesha was lying in the sun. When she saw Poppy put Amée down and her toddle over to her, Erik swore that the cat rolled her eyes and sighed.

"So when are we going to perform this opera?" Poppy asked as she set down and rubbed her forehead.

"Very soon. Practice will begin the day after tomorrow. I want to talk to the company later this evening." He told her as he set down beside her.

"I have to be there?"

"Of course. I talked to Maierline. She'll watch Amée."

Poppy sighed and laid her head on Erik's shoulder, listening to Amée try to case Ayesha around the room.

XXX

Erik had passed out the scores and scripts. Then patiently answered questions. All had been none saying the least, shocked. Erik told them; yes, it was a true story. That it was indeed his life. Mme. Giry frowned, but said nothing. Then came the tender part; his mask. Most had indeed guessed that he was deformed on that side. He had dreaded this part, but he need to show them. They had all been polite and never said a word about it, only glanced at it and whispered. Both he and Poppy prepared them and themselves. Erik felt like he couldn't breathe. Closing his eyes, he slowly removed the mask.

Now I could be cruel and leave a cliffhanger here. Oh the choices…what ever shall I do?

Ah, what the hell…

The silence that followed was almost as deafening had there been screams. The Rats let out gasps, as did the rest. Poppy couldn't see the reactions. She had never felt so flustered at being blind as she did at that moment.

Erik heard the gasps, and he opened his eyes. They were indeed shocked. They all set or stood with their mouths open.

Mme. Giry was the first to walk up to him. She, of course, had seen it many times. She turned to the rest, "I think that this does not change a thing."

The rest blinked and then shook their heads. Reyer looked down at the score, then back up at his manager. "When is the opera to be performed?"

Erik glanced at him, "As soon as you all stop staring at me and get to work on the practices."

They all scrambled.

Poppy pulled Erik off the stage and into a dark corner. "You all right? It was a very chancy thing you did, Erik. You know that you will be watched closely now. We all will be walking on pins for a few weeks."

"I know, but as we had agreed, I can't live in the shadows forever," He told he shakily.

Poppy held him close until he was not as shocked. When they finally joined the company, he had regained his compositor, and the people only glanced at him then retuned to their work, some asking Erik questions. Overall, trying to accept him.

I'm a bit worried that this chapter was too much. I hope that Erik showing his self to the Opera Company was did all right? (worry and fidgets yet again)