*shyly enters* Um...hi, folks. I'm back, at least for the time being. I know, it's been forever since I've updated. At least I'm not dead, though. My diagnosis was just a horrible case of time-lack with a hint of writer's block. I hope I will be able to write more soon, should work and time dictate. But, until then, please enjoy this chapter. I made it especially long to try and make up for lost time. Thanks to TigressFlynn, Zandriana, 8goose8, 1Lunatics1, DarkFirePrincess21, Tierlover, marcelineandbonnie, dallysbear, DiCuoreAlissa, TheGirlWithARainbowHat, Kimberlychick, LuvLoveStories, Anomaly9, StarWarsLover1, Rennyangelee, Arlea Ritchey, d3adquinn, Midwinter's-Night-Dream-86, MusicIsMyStyle1, .1996, AnimeAngel1218, polarbear12, Labor Of Love, bloodychu, Ignus Kirk, pmoon1995, vanessaserrato, Midnight message, strawberryxdom, J.M.B 12345, blushingpixie, dancergirl829, The Beast in Repose, DeadlyPurpleBunny, thepunmaster20xx, reamane21, harleygirl93, Disneylover18, EvilRandomCrazyPerson, and Imagination Writer 247. Looking back at it, has it really been that long since I've updated this story? I sincerely apologize...enjoy!
Chapter 48
The next day was filled with last-minute preparations for the show. Safety checks and dress rehearsals stole my time until it was time to get ready for the real deal.
After my customary pep talk to everyone, I made my way to my dressing room, my first outfit of the night waiting for me. It was a light gray (almost silver) corset with a darker gray skirt made of flowing tulle. If one were to see me on a dark and foggy night, they might believe me to be mist personified.
I was the MC for the night, so I had to make a good first impression…since I was also opening the show with a number of my own. I know – surprise, surprise. But it was at the request of the managers (as well as a few select others) that my duties of the night include more than my dance with Cirque du Soleil and announcing each act.
A knock sounded on my door. "Ten minutes, mademoiselle."
As I exclaimed my thanks, I made my last checks for my mental checklist.
Makeup? Check.
Dress? Check.
Readiness? Check.
With a light – not to mention excited – heart, I made my way to the stage. Erik had not come by my dressing room to see me, claiming that he was preparing something himself and that he would see me backstage. It didn't feel right to leave without seeing him, but knowing that I would see him backstage calmed me.
With everyone backstage, I gave my last words of encouragement and wishes of good luck. Once I heard the orchestra play their last tuning note, I knew the lights would dim and the curtains would raise at any moment, so I took my place in the wings. Once the audience quieted their conversations amongst themselves and took their seats, the beginning strains of my first song burst forth from the pit – my cue to walk out onto the stage.
Gateun sigan soge utgo inneun neol bomyeon,
Ije nae nunen neoman isseo,
Machiunmyeongcheoreom muldeureogan haruneun,
Imi cheonnyeoneul jinandeutae,
Ojik neoreul neukkigo,
Hayan pibue daha,
Salmyeosi seumyeodeun ne sumgyeol,
Maeil kkumeul kkunabwa,
O! Jeongmal geojitmalcheoreom,
Sum swineun geu sunganbuteo,
Nae sinjangi doeberin neo,
Itamkke kkumkkumyeo saranghallae,
Sojunghan ne pumsogeseo harureul sipeo,
Saranhae nae unmyeong gateun neo,
Carry on,
Carry on,
Carry on,
Carry on,
Gateun gonggansoge ppajyeodeulgo isseo nan,
Ije nae mameun neoman neukkyeojakku gaseumsoge seoseongineun ne moseup,
Soneul ppeofeumyeon daheul deut hae,
Ojik neoreul neukkigo,
Hayan pibue daha,
Salmyeosi seumyeodeun ne sumgyeol,
Maeil kkumeul kkunabwa,
O! Jeongmal geojitmalcheoreom,
Sum swineun geu sunganbuteo,
Nae sinjangi doeberin neo,
Itamkke kkumkkumyeo saranghallae,
Sojunghan ne pumsogeseo harureul sipeo,
Saranhae nae unmyeong gateun neo,
Carry on,
Carry on,
Carry on,
Carry on,
Woah, neoreul saranghae,
Nae simjangi doebeorin neo,
Hamkke kkumkkumyeo saranghallae,
Sojunghan nepumsogeseo harureul salgo sipeo,
Saranghae nae unmyeong gateun neo,
Saranghae, ooh, saranghae…
Even though I'm 99.9284% sure no one understood a word I sang besides 'carry on,' they shook the stage with their applause. Once it died down, I began my introduction.
"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the very first Opera Populaire Showcase!" Applause interrupted. I continued when it stopped. "Tonight will be a night that is full of wonder and amazement. You will see some familiar faces as well as a few new ones. I hope that you will give them the same love as you have given to me. I am your host for the night, Mandy Destler."
Thank goodness I rehearsed that part over and over, and not just because it sounded perfect…
"Our first performers of the night…"
0-0
Christine and Raoul were the first ones to go…and may I say that they were absolutely adorable together! They sang a different song, one I had never heard of before, but they worked it!
I just knew the wedding bells would ring at any time.
As I introduced the next act (a young girl named Marcela who was singing a hymn), I noticed a figure in Box Five. It shouldn't take a genius to figure out who it was. He stood from his seat and exited the box. I paid no mind as Marcela was coming onto the stage.
Erik reached backstage about a minute into the song. "Where have you been? Wait…scratch that. I know where you were. Why were you up there instead of getting ready down here?"
"I'm sorry," he started. "I just wanted to see your first performance of the night and I had to meet so-"
I waited for him to continue his statement, but he didn't. I decided to push. "You had to meet someone? Who?"
He shook his head. "No one. It isn't important. Who is up next?"
Meg and Peter are – you're trying to change the subject!"
He chuckled as he gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "And I do believe I have succeeded. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get ready…"
I shook my head at his antics as he ran off.
0-0
Meg and Peter had danced to the melody of 'Hallelujah' beautifully, followed by two more acts. Erik was finally up next.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you have seen our next guest with many times as we have graced this stage. Please help me welcome Monsieur Erik!"
As the applause echoed throughout the building, Erik strode onto the stage with the confidence of a king. But only I could see through his façade: for some reason, he was extremely nervous.
I turned to make my exit, but Erik's hand around my wrist halted me. "May I have the pleasure of Mademoiselle Mandy joining me on stage during this performance?"
My eyes went wide as the crowd went as wild as their Parisian sensibilities would allow them. We didn't practice this in rehearsal! I thought. But I couldn't deny him, especially in front of what seemed like the entirety of Paris. I nodded and followed him back to center stage.
Then he began to sing a song I never would have dreamed the infamous Phantom of the Opera would ever sing…
"I set out on a narrow way many years ago,
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road,
But I got lost a time or two,
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through,
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you,
That every long lost dream lead me to where you are,
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars,
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms,
This much I know is true,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you,
I think about the years I spent just passing through,
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you,
But you just smile and take my hand,
You've been there you understand,
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true,
Every long lost dream led me to where you are,
And others who broke my heart they were like northern stars,
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms,
This much I know it's true,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you,
And now I'm just rolling home,
Into my lover's arms,
This much I know is true,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you,
That God blessed the broken road,
That led me straight to you…"
As the last note rang out, he pulled my body to his and kissed me. I heard exclamations of 'I knew it!' and gasps of shock. When we pulled away from each other, he smirked. I rolled my eyes playfully and whispered, "We will talk about this…"
Once the bows and such were finished, he strode off the stage the same way he came on: with a nervous confidence.
I took a deep breath, trying to recover from his sudden show of passion. "Well, that was unexpected…"
0-0
As the next act was entering the stage, I took Erik to a closet. "What was all of that for?"
"What do you mean?"
I sighed. "You do know that now everyone will be talking about us now-"
"Does that mean you are ashamed of me?" he suddenly asked, his sense of uncertainty and feelings of being inadequate bubbling to the surface.
I stopped at his accusation. "What?! Absolutely not! That's not what I meant at all. People are going to be talking, trying to find out who you are…as in, you might be find out…"
He showed me just how much he didn't care…
It didn't last long, sadly, as I had to finish getting ready for my next act.
0-0
A violin run echoed through the air as I danced onto the stage, beginning the last performance of the night, Master of Tides. Yes, I seen my chance and I took it.
Almost everything was pretty much the exact same as the video, except for the obvious technological differences between the 19th and 21st centuries. For instance, instead of the water shooting up behind the performers by automated fountains and such, we had pressure plates strategically placed around the stage so when one of us stepped on one, we got the same result. The siren costumes weren't as tight-fitting, but the skirts were light and airy, yet just enough to conserve propriety. The kraken effect was made my dropping a white cotton sheet (at the perfect time, mind you) and shining a pink and blue stained glass spotlight on it, the stagehands playing puppet masters with miniature homemade tentacles such as how one would make shadow puppets on the wall. And Lord knows that the opera house would be burned to the ground if we had access to flamethrowers…
So we used people.
Acrobats dressed in flaming orange were flying through the air, being tossed by their counterparts, combatting the monster, acting as the flame we needed.
As the last notes rang out yet again, the audience went crazy! We took our bows, then I motioned for the other acts to join us on stage. We bowed in unison many times as the audience called for encores from each of us, flowers flying from every which way.
I reminded everyone that there were concessions in the foyer as we made our exit. Once everyone was off the stage, we all went to our respective dressing rooms to clean up and greet our guests. I decided to put my gray dress back on and was heading to the door when Erik came through it, closing it quickly behind him. "May I talk to you for a moment before you go out there?"
"Um, sure, Erik. What's up?"
He opened his mouth to say something, but seemed to think better. "Never mind. It can wait for tomorrow. I'm sorry I bothered you."
"You never bo-" but he was gone before I could finish…
Whew, that was long! At least, it took a long time to write. The songs used in this chapter are God Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts, Master of Tides by Lindsey Stirling, and Carry On by ALI from the Korean drama Faith. A very interesting show, I assure you. I also highly recommend it, put the translation below, and state that I own none of these songs.
As we're in the same time, I see you smile,
Now only you are in my eyes,
Just like fate, each day gets filled with you,
It already feels like a thousand years has passed,
I only feel you,
Against my white skin,
Your breath softly touches me,
I dream every day,
Truly, like a lie,
You came to me without a word,
The moment you started to breathe,
You became my heart,
I want to dream with you and love you,
I want to live my days in your precious arms,
I love you, you are my destiny,
Carry on, carry on, carry on, carry on,
In the same space, I am falling for you,
Now only you can feel my heart,
You keep pacing through my heart,
If I extend my hand, it seems like I can touch you
I only feel you,
Against my white skin,
Your breath softly touches me,
I dream every day,
Truly, like a lie,
You came to me without a word,
The moment you started to breathe,
You became my heart,
I want to dream with you and love you,
I want to live my days in your precious arms,
I love you, you are my destiny,
Carry on, carry on, carry on, carry on,
Woah, I love you,
You became my heart,
I want to dream with you and love you,
I want to live my days in your precious arms,
I love you, you are my destiny,
I love you, I love you...