Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom in any way shape or form, except for this plot. I own Danielle and her drunken brother, Luc, though. Yay for me! (sigh)
Chapter Fifteen: A Return to Normalcy and an Odd Bond Comes to Light
Danielle and Erik
Erik was soon back on his feet, though Danielle made him stay in bed until she was completely sure he was strong enough to stay up for long periods of time. They enjoyed a few more weeks of happy solitude, alone now that Nadir had left them. Danielle practically forced Erik to go without his mask every other day, though, truth be told, he didn't really mind that much. He was delighted by the idea that she could look him in the eye without fear or disgust, barely noticing the scars that covered the right side of his face. Of course, he couldn't tell her that. He was afraid that he had given away too much of his "regard" for her already. Danielle, on the other hand, was bursting to tell him her feelings. She withheld the information because she feared rejection. If she told him she loved him, and he didn't favor the idea, she would probably never see him again. They would both be too uncomfortable too continue their lessons.
Throughout this lovely interlude, they discussed everything they could they think of (except their feelings) to entertain each other. For the first time, they didn't have music to fill up their days. Danielle was only too delighted to sing and play for Erik when he wished it, but she tired sooner than he did. They talked about all the places Erik had been, glossing over the unpleasant parts. He didn't fool Danielle, but there was an unspoken agreement between them that she would never question his past. Danielle told Erik about her life, which was far less exciting, but he was an eager listener. She didn't leave out any of the disagreeable moments. Hers weren't as painful, to be sure, and she liked telling him everything. They couldn't both keep secrets. Besides, Danielle felt that it was more important that Erik learn to trust her than she to trust him. She already trusted him with her life; it didn't go much deeper than that. There was the little matter of trusting him with heart; she'd have to work on that.
They also discussed literature. Danielle teased that she had been very bored without him and hadn't found any interesting books with which to occupy herself. Or rather, she had found interesting books, but she couldn't read them because they were written in strange languages that she had never known existed. Nadir had read a bit of them for her and translated them into French. They sounded very exotic, which prompted her to bend the "past rule" by asking how he had acquired such knowledge. They also discussed mythology; there were no books of mythology in his library, which Danielle found extremely disappointing. She scolded him roundly for that.
Eventually, their time together came to an end. The Opera Populaire was up and running again two weeks after Erik's recovery. Rehearsals would begin once the cleaning staff had the place gleaming. The costumers, set designers, etc. would be required to come back first, then the dancer, then the principal singers, followed by the chorus, hairdressers and the people who did everyone's make-up. The gala night would be held a month later, allowing everyone time to get back in shape after their long absence. The whole cast, once assembled, was greatly surprised to see that Danielle was glowing. She told them all that no one in her family had succumbed to the illness, and she was delighted and thankful to God that her loved ones had been spared. No one believed her.
Rumors flew about her and the young tenor playing Raimbaut, Alice's betrothed. Much to Erik's displeasure, the tenor n question was none other than the Francois that had accosted her months before under the Phantom's gaze. His old ways were threatening to resurface with the renewal of Francois' flirtatious air. Erik might have finally killed the annoying insect if he thought Danielle would forgive him. There were also rumors concerning some nouveau riche that Danielle's brother consorted with, and who had hosted the masquerade where Erik and Danielle had first met face to face, or rather mask to face. Apparently the man was named Mathieu Latrec. It was not known how his family had come upon their money, but it was probably in a not-so-legal enterprise. Neither Erik nor Danielle really cared. What did unfounded rumors matter to them?
Rehearsals were going as well as Erik could have hoped. None of the principal performers were terrible, Danielle was perfect, the chorus was passable, and a few of the dancers were showing great talent, no doubt spurred on by Marie, who was as tyrannous with her girls as ever. The gala would, no doubt, be highly praised. Danielle would finally receive the recognition she deserved, and she would be guaranteed the best parts the Populaire had to offer. Everything was well with Erik and Danielle. It's a pity that they had to be so miserable.
Erik
The former Phantom of the Opera was miserable because, like Pygmalion, he had molded Danielle's voice into perfection. Compared with hers, every other voice on that stage was an embarrassment. Hers helped cover their flaws by distracting the ear, but on close inspection, every flaw was glaring. In the process of creating this beautiful work of art, he had fallen totally in love with it. The difference was that his creation was flesh and blood, not marble. She was a real, warm, intelligent young woman. That is what made Erik's position so tragic. Danielle was just as unattainable as Galatea, despite the fact that she wasn't a soulless, loveless, motionless stone.
In fact, her soul, her huge capacity to love, and the wonderful way her hips moved when she walked came together in a combined effort to finally destroy Erik's sanity. He didn't even have the luxury of kissing her passive cheek. Pygmalion really didn't know what he'd had. Danielle was always there, a constant temptation. He didn't dare speak his love for fear of losing what little happiness he had contrived. If she knew how much she meant to him, she probably run as fast as she could in the opposite direction.
Danielle
Danielle was miserable because, like Echo, she had fallen in love with a man who had no interest in her. She could only watch as Erik bent over his only love, his music, as she sang it back to him, wishing that he would finally see the meaning behind her impassioned singing.
Perhaps she was mistaken in believing that music was his only love. She couldn't forget the haunted look that had always come over him in their little music room above. She still wondered about the previous occupants of that room. What had happened there? What fate had brought her to that particular dressing room?
Who had been before? Was Erik really some sort of Orpheus, mourning for a woman he had lost, staying away from mankind and keeping music as his chosen companion? Danielle could take comfort in the idea that he had chosen her as a friend. Perhaps that was the first step toward a happier life for him. She could only hope that she would be included in his life for the rest of hers.
Dress rehearsals finally came. Danielle's nerves were getting to her again. Every time she thought of the coming opening, she felt like a sea was churning in her stomach and her brain. Unlike the night before her audition, she gave very little thought to how this could affect her career. All her mind had room for was how the performance would affect Erik's opinion of her. She desperately wanted to live up to his high standards. Prayer and their nightly rehearsals were her only consolation.
Between the costume fittings, cosmetics tests, and all-day rehearsals, Danielle realized that the strain was getting to her. Every night she collapsed into bed and welcomed a dreamless sleep. A dreamless sleep, unfortunately, wasn't what she received most of the time. She had harrowing visions of the hissing, jeering crowds. Even the statues decorating the foyer seemed to catcall as she ran past, desperately seeking her music room, where her teacher would be waiting. She always woke up with Erik's disappointed face in her mind's eye.
The day before the gala would be held, Danielle was trudging back to rehearsals after a light lunch with Erik, when she was disturbed by a highly unusual occurrence. Her brother, Luc was waiting for her at the doors to the auditorium. What now," she wondered, as she examined his swarthy features and reasonably tidy suit. His light blonde hair was combed away from his face, meaning that he was probably sober. Danielle hoped so; it would be embarrassing to have to deal with her inebriated kinsman in front of her employers and coworkers.
"Danielle, my dear sister," Luc called when he noticed her approach. "You shouldn't have kept me waiting so long."
"What do you want," Danielle asked harshly. "It can't be anything good."
"If you must know, silly girl," he scolded, "I wanted to have dinner with you on the eve of your theatrical debut. You can only imagine how saddened I was to find that you had already gone out."
"Why? Because you had no one to pay for you? Are you and father already out of the money I sent this month," she spat.
"I didn't come for money or a treat," Luc said laughingly, "I just wanted to show some familial support. You know how crusty father is; he won't even be coming tomorrow night, but I will. I want to see my little sister show the people of Paris what she's got."
"You'll be here," she asked, a little touched at his show of brotherly affection.
"Of course, I'll be here. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'm proud of you, Danielle. I'll even be watching from a private box, one of the best seats in the house," he said graciously.
"A private box? How can you afford that," she demanded suspiciously.
"A friend of mine has Box Eight. He knew how much this meant to me, so asked me to watch with him and his parents," he assured her.
"Oh, well that's nice of him," Danielle murmured, a little let down because he wasn't going to pay the expense of seeing her himself.
"Just be sure to look for me in the audience if you can. I'll be waiting to greet my victorious sister after the performance, so make sure you're in the foyer soon after the curtain closes. I want to introduce you to my charitable friend. I'll owe the night to him, after all." He finally left her to rehearsals, telling people on his way out that the new star of the Populaire was his sister, Danielle D'Artoi, the magnificent singer playing the part of Alice in the newest production. Danielle allowed a smile to creep over her features as she rolled her eyes. He may be a miscreant, she thought as she watched his retreating form, but Luc is entertaining.
A/N: Pygmalion was a very talented sculptor who hated woman for all of their character, and physical, flaws. He decided to expose women and all of their imperfections by creating a sculpture of a woman that was so beautiful no mere mortal woman could compare. He was so brilliant that she looked real. She was so perfect that Pygmalion fell in love with the statue. He pretended that she was a real person, and he would dress her in the finest clothes and tuck her in at night. During a festival devoted to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, Pygmalion prayed that he would find a woman like his statue, but Venus knew his heart. When he got back home, he touched the statue and found that it was warm. He kissed, as he had done many times before, but this time she kissed back. He named her Galatea. They got married, had children and lived happily ever after. Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw is based on this tale, and My Fair Lady by Lerner and Lowe is based on that play.
A/N: Echo was a nymph who annoyed Hera, the queen of the gods, with her chatter. Hera cursed her so Echo would only be able to repeat things other people said. Echo fell in love with Narcissus, one of Greece's most infamous heart-breakers. He didn't care for any woman, including Echo. One day, Narcissus happened to notice his reflection in a pool and fell in love with himself. He wasted away longing for his own reflection. Echo also wasted away in mourning until only her voice was left.
