Yay, more story! I even have a treat...two chapters in one update! I didn't really like having my update numbers and my actual chapter numbers differentiating, so I decided to put two in one to even them out. Also, I haven't had anyone enter the fanart contest yet. Is there still any interest? Deadline in May 15. Remember to enter by telling me where it's posted in either a review or a private message. Shoutouts to Cow-Lover2214, UnseenAngel17, and videogameluvr2009. Enjoy the chapters!
Chapter 23
I woke up in my own bed the next morning, a red rose tied with a black ribbon on the pillow beside my head. I smiled as I took it in my hand and brought it to my nose, reveling in its perfume. Hopefully, this was an omen to a good day. But hearing the screeching coming from the stage when I was in the foyer made me have doubts about that statement. Apparently, Carlotta was still there and definitely not happy. Even though she was screeching in Spanish, what Spanish I did know alerted me to this as her words were definitely not nice.
I saw that she was berating Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur Andre, and Madame Giry, who were all rolling their eyes, obviously annoyed. I reached the stage as she was taking a breather from her rant, holding my ears. "Aye, signora, those words would make a sailor's ears burn."
She whipped her arm in my direction to point at me, speaking loudly to the trio. "You see dees?" she exclaimed in her over-exaggerated accent. "How could you let dees leetle toad take my place?!"
I chuckled. "Hey, when you point, just remember that you have three fingers pointing back at you."
She gasped and stalked over to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Piangi try to figure out how you would have three fingers pointing back. When Carlotta stood right in front of me, she screamed, "How dare you?!" as she raised her hand to slap me.
Bring it…I dared her silently. I knew I could take her out easily. But apparently someone above us didn't think I could as a sandbag crashed to the stage right behind Carlotta. She hit her highest note yet as she jumped about a foot off the ground, then proceeded to 'faint'.
Told ya, Erik, I thought. The opera house is definitely the home of all things drama…
Once they 'revived' the prima donna, she was pale as a ghost and more scared than mad. "I can't work like dees anymore! I quit! I'm going back home, and you weel never see me again!" she yelled as she stalked out, Piangi following her, still puzzled over the pointing thing.
All was silent after Carlotta's ranting self finally made her way out of the building. For once, it was so quiet you could hear a note fall to the stage from the rafters. It sounds like a swoosh, the impact of the red skull-shaped wax seal on the stage making a dull thud.
Firmin turned to Andre as he picked the note up, his hands shaking as he opened the note. He read silently before Andre, with his voice cracking and going up a couple octaves, exclaimed, "Read it aloud, man!" It was all I could do to hold my laugh in.
Firmin took a deep breath, then read aloud the words on the note. "Fondest greetings to you all, I have heard that Signora Carlotta has recently terminated her employment here at the Opera Populaire. I have written to you today to express my happiness in this situation. I feel it is about time that she left. All it took was a sandbag to the stage – which I have repeatedly done – and a woman who exceeds her talent by twenty times? If only this could have happened sooner. I also request in this letter that said woman replaces Carlotta as prima donna for the upcoming season after her performance in the off-season. I remain, ladies and gentlemen, your obedient servant, O.G."
On the outside, I was calm and collected, only widening my eyes when I heard what Erik wanted me to be the star for the season. On the inside, I was anything but calm. What?! Erik! You better have a darn good reason for this! Just wait 'til I see you tonight. Oh, are you gonna get it…
"Well," Madame Giry said. "It seems as if he does want you to grace this stage. You were worried for nothing. Are you up for the challenge?"
I nodded, keeping silent as I planned so many ways to torture a certain Opera Ghost…
Chapter 24
"Erik!" I screamed at the top of my lungs when I reached the lair. "You have some explaining to do!"
He came out of a little alcove in the wall which I could only guess was the kitchen, a smile plastered on his masked face. "Ah, Mandy. I see you have received the news."
"I was there when they read the note out loud. What were you thinking, making me the star? I was only supposed to do the concert, then I was going to be done. We don't even know if the audience will like me yet!"
He chuckled – dang, at is it with that dang chuckle? It's like he knows what it does to me – as he sat down at his organ. "Mandy, everyone in this opera house has been exposed to voices, extraordinary and horrible, for years. They know what is good and bad, and if they say you're great, I think the audience will think that, too."
For some reason (perhaps the chuckle), I couldn't find it in myself to be mad at him anymore. I stood beside the organ, running my fingers lightly over the pipes. I didn't say a word, but I think he knew that I wasn't mad at him anymore, as he started to play something I definitely recognized. "Don Juan Triumphant?"
All he did was nod as he continued playing. He played through the introduction and Don Juan's conspiring with Passarino, then came upon Aminta's entrance.
"No thoughts within her head but thought of joy,
No dreams within her heart but dreams of love…"
He looked at me as I sang the high note at the end, his eyes wide. "Let me guess, this was in the story as well?"
"Yup." Was all I could say as his eyes filled with mischief.
"Passarino, go away for the trap is set and waits for its prey…"
Sweet Cheezits from Asgard… I thought. At that note, my knees grew weak, but I had a good hold on the organ so I didn't drop straight to the floor. I hadn't heard him sing before that, but all I could think was…nothing. There was literally nothing in my head except his voice. He was better than all Phantoms from my time put together.
"You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge,
In that pursuit of that wish which 'til now has been silent, silent,
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…"
He stood, abandoning the organ and stalking towards me. This was getting interesting fast.
"Past the point of no return, no backward glances,
Our games of make believe are at an end,
Past all thought of if or when, no use resisting,
Abandon though and let the dream descend…"
At the next part, he came behind me and wrapped his arms around me, almost possessively. Forget interesting, this was euphoric!
"What raging fire shall flood the soul, what rich desires unlocks its doors,
What sweet seduction lies before us…"
We began to circle each other, seeing nothing but each other's eyes.
"Past the point of no return, the final threshold,
What warm unspoken secrets will we learn…"
We pulled apart, an arm's length from each other.
"Beyond the point of no return…"
It took me a moment to catch my breath before I could start with Aminta's part. I looked over at Erik and saw the smirk he had on his face. Alright, I thought. Let's have some fun…
''You have brought me to that moment when words run dry,
To that moment when speech turns into silence, silence…"
I brought a finger up to my mouth on the second 'silence', bringing it down slowly as I went on with the next line.
"I have come here hardly knowing the reason why,
In my mind I've already imagined…"
My hands went to the sides of my head then linked together in front of me, all the while holding his gaze.
"Our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent,
Now I am here with you, no second thoughts,
I've decided, decided…"
I walked toward the organ, Erik following me on the opposite side.
"Past the point of no return, no going back now,
Our passion play has now at last begun,
Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question…"
I held a finger up for 'one final question', then braced my hands against the organ, slightly bending my knees.
"How long should we to wait before we're one…"
I saw Erik swallow, the fire in his eyes burning brighter. We began walking again.
"When will the blood begin to race, the sleeping bud burst into bloom,
When will the flames at last consume us…"
We started to walk towards each other, singing in unison.
"Past the point of no return, the final threshold…"
We embraced, Erik spinning me to where my back was at his front. I leaned into him as his hands went to my sides, just holding me to him.
"The bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn,
We've passed the point of no return…"
We were both gasping for air after the last note rang out from us. Once I had somewhat caught my breath, I began humming the tune of All I Ask of You as Erik would've sang it to Christine. As I got to Christine, that's all I ask of… I gasped and pulled away from Erik, stumbling. He caught me before I face planted into the stone floor. "Are you alright, Mandy?" He asked me.
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just…you made me prima donna for the season, right?"
"Yes." He answered uncertainly.
"And you plan on having Don Juan performed this season, correct?"
"Yes, but I don't see what that has to do with anything." He chuckled.
I sighed. "It has everything to do. Didn't you write Don Juan for Christine to perform?"
He let go of me and backed away a couple feet. "I originally did, yes. Bu things have changed since then."
"What things?"
He sighed. "When you first told me the story of the man that lived underneath the opera house and how the girl that he pined for betrayed him during his own opera, it was hard to believe that she would be so selfish and childish. But, looking back now on everything that I've seen, all I can see is that she still is a child. Though this opera was written for her to perform in, I feel that she would be too immature for the role. I fear some of that is my fault. I've led her on, letting her believe that her childhood story of the Angel of Music is real. She is stuck in a world full of fantasy and make believe that I don't think she'll be able to handle it."
"And you think I'll be able to handle it?"
"I know that you wouldn't pull my mask off in front of an audience." He said jokingly.
I shook my head. "Nope. Unless you get on my bad side, I will do nothing of the sort."
He smirked. "Well then I guess I better stay on your good side."
"Speaking of good side, which really has nothing to do with that nor anything else" I babbled, pulling my tablet from my pocket. "I need your help and some music paper. Think you can spare some of both?"
The song is owned by Sir Lloyd Webber and I will not take credit.