Last chapter of the day, folks! I hope you like it so far!
Please review...it's my only reward for this! It keeps me going! Sorry for begging! ;)
-Nico
Athena hadn't spoken a word to Erik the entire carriage ride to the Opera House.
He regarded her as they rode. She was most certainly beautiful, but there was coldness to her demeanor that was apparent even to strangers.
She sat rigidly against the velvets and silks of the carriage, her dark hair secured in a spiraled fashion underneath a veiled hat. Her diminutive form was enveloped in folds of blue silk and lace. Her gloved hands were folded demurely in her lap.
She was obviously bred from wealth.
And it was also apparent that her wealth was what drew Erik to marry her.
Bile rose in his throat for a moment, ashamed so far at the life he now found himself in.
"Are you going to be ill?"
The question came from Athena, who was looking at him with disgust.
"No," Erik assured her. "I'm fine."
Athena scoffed.
Soon enough, the carriage rolled onto the cobble stoned drive-up in front of the Paris Opera House.
As the footman opened the carriage door, Erik emerged nervously.
This would be the first time he would enter the Opera House through the front doors.
"Erik!" Athena yipped.
He turned to see his…wife…waiting with her hand extended.
She wanted him to help her out of the carriage.
Awkwardly, Erik took her hand and pulled in an uncouth manner, resulting in Athena colliding into him.
"What's the matter with you?" She whispered harshly, adjusting her hat which had come out of place.
"I apologize," Erik said unapologetically.
The woman was beginning to get on his nerves.
Athena huffed and grasped his arm. "Come on," she said, leading the way. "We're late."
The Opera House looked exactly the same. Erik inhaled deeply, somehow able to catch the scent of his former lair that lay far beneath his feet.
"Could you breathe with your mouth closed?" Athena whispered up at him. "You sound like a…Monsieur Andre!"
Her voice changed tone mid-sentence from evilly cold to sugary sweet with the approach of the men Erik recognized as the pompous Andre and Firmin, the managers of the Opera Populaire.
"Madame Mansart," Andre gushed, kissing Athena's hand. "How positively luminous you look today!"
"Positively luminous!" Firmin echoed, grabbing her other hand to press a kiss as well.
Erik's stomach lurched. Such were the mindless compliments of the innately greedy.
Not that he was much better…
"Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur Andre, allow me to introduce my husband," Athena was saying, her face smooth and smiling as she extended a falsely loving hand to Erik. "This is Master Erik Mansart," Athena said proudly. "Your new Patron."
Almost immediately, Erik found his hand clasped within Andre's, being pumped furiously by the frizzy haired man. "Master Erik," the older man said. "What an honor it is to meet you!"
"We look forward to hearing all of your brilliant suggestions," Firmin said enthusiastically. "Your wife tells us you are something of a composer as well."
Andre gasped dramatically. "Is it true?"
"Absolutely," Athena beamed. "Erik creates the music of Angels," she informed the managers. Then, looking at him somewhat sadly she added, "it's why I fell in love with him in the first place."
Erik looked at Athena, who in turn quickly blinked and avoided his gaze.
"Well, then you must play for us!" Andre said, clapping a hand on Erik's tuxedoed back. "Come, I shall introduce you to our cast!"
Erik half walked, half was pushed by Andre to the entrance of the theater. With every step, Erik's anxiety level rose.
When Firmin and Andre slapped open the doors to the man entrance to the theater, Erik's senses were completely overwhelmed. The theater company was in the middle of a rehearsal. Random musical notes fell and rose around him…from what Erik could gather it was the music from a new opera he was only vaguely familiar with…seamstresses ran from ballerina to ballerina trying to perfect any snags and tears in their costumes…vocalists warmed up…stage hands fiddled with scenery…
Erik sighed. He was home.
"Attention! Attention!" Andre walked down the aisle towards the stage flamboyantly. "Can I have everyone's attention please?"
Eventually, the noise in the auditorium twittered down to silence. Andre and Firmin climbed onto the stage, followed by Erik and Athena, who shot him a murderous glare as he accidentally stepped on the ridiculous train of her blue gown.
"Everyone, please gather round," Firmin said, motioning with his chubby hands. "Yes, that will do nicely, thank you. As you all may have heard, we have an extremely important announcement to make."
"It seems that we have stumbled upon a bit of good fortune," Andre continued. "Allow me to introduce to you all Master Erik Mansart and his wife, the beautiful Athena Mansart. Monsieur Mansart has been kind enough to take our little theater under his wing. Ladies and Gentlemen, your new Patron."
Immediately, thunderous applause erupted. Erik stood still, bowing slightly only after Athena jabbed him in the ribs.
He knew that the applause was for his money and not for him, but Erik couldn't help basking in the approval of these complete strangers for just a moment.
"We also are pleased to announce that Monsieur Mansart is our very first Patron who possesses musical talent," Andre continued, resulting in a twittering laugh from the cast and crew. "And if he'll be so kind, I know we would all love to sample just a little bit of his talent."
Erik began to refuse, yet at the urging of the managers and the shoving of Athena, he suddenly found himself sitting before the grand piano that rested in the middle of the stage.
He breathed deeply, swallowing hard as he heard the ballerinas behind him talking…saying things like handsome and beautiful.
And fueled by this unexpected admiration, Erik began to play.
He wasn't sure where his old life and his new life overlapped, but if anyone recognized the aria he began to play no one said anything.
At first, the music began softly, rising and floating amongst the listeners who were paying undivided attention to the miracle of music unfolding before them.
As his fingers reached the last few bars of "Think of Me," a voice began to join in the melody of the song.
It was a voice that all at once caused Erik to stop playing.
He lifted his head slowly as a new figure came to stand next to the piano.
"I'm sorry Monsieur. I didn't mean to make you stop."
Erik's mouth went completely dry.
There, standing in all of her angelic glory, was Christine.
"Please," she urged, smiling. "Continue."
Erik couldn't pull his eyes from hers. "I've forgotten the rest," he said weakly. "I apologize."
Christine smiled. "Well, you deserve an ovation regardless," she announced, clapping her hands. After a moment, the rest of the cast followed suit and the delicious sound of approval suddenly filled Erik's ears again.
"Monsieur Mansart," Andre said, pulling Christine closer to Erik. "Allow me to introduce our star, Miss Christine Daae."
Christine extended her hand, no doubt waiting for Erik to place the formal kiss upon the back of her hand. "Pleased to meet you," she said sweetly. "I've never heard that aria played with such heart."
Erik merely stared at the woman's hand.
Christine became confused and lowered her hand, looking over at her manager in confusion.
"You must forgive my husband," Athena said, briskly coming to his social error. "I'm afraid business matters kept him up later than usual last night."
Christine smiled again. "I understand," she said brightly. "I often have to force my fiancée to stop working once the sun goes down…otherwise I fear I'd never see him!"
Athena laughed cordially.
Erik's insides twisted.
"Monsieur Mansart, it was a pleasure," Christine said. "But if you'll excuse me, I must warm up my voice."
She curtsied politely, retreating back into the mash of people surrounding Erik.
He craned his neck to watch her go, much to Athena's chagrin.
"Yes, well, we should let rehearsals resume," Andre declared. "We wouldn't want our Patron's money going to support a flop!"
"If you'll just follow me, Monsieur, there are several pieces of paperwork you must look over and sign," Firmin was saying.
But Erik wasn't listening.
He was too busy trying to stop his heart from leaping out of his chest and chasing after Christine.