Ugh. I'm so behind. I can only offer apologies for putting this off and I can only blame my laziness. Please readers, forgive me! Abigail's return as leading soprano in the Port Royal Opera House! I only own Abigail…read and review please!
Chapter 4 Return
Abigail pouted and stepped closer to the door. Jack took a step after her.
"Abby love, please. This is my opera house and I give the orders. Not some…maniac who runs around in the shadows. Do you think we run a circus?" Jack waved his hands lazily. Barbossa gaped at him , slack jawed.
"Your opera house? Ha! This is my opera house!" Barbossa argued. Jack leaned back slightly.
"Really? If it's your opera house, then how come you let everything get so out of control? You're really no help at all to this place." Jack wandered away from the man. Will had his forehead resting on his thumb and index finger, looking down.
"Not again." He muttered. Abigail was glaring at Jack. She stepped up to him, sizing him up. She raised her hand and promptly slapped him across the face.
"How dare you call me 'Abby love'! I'm leaving!" She sturned swiftly on her heel, storming towards the door, Norrington by her side.
"Not sure I deserved that." Jack stood in a daze. Barbossa rolled his eyes.
"Abigail, you'll be playing the lead!" he called. She stopped and slowly turned her head towards them.
"You don't deserve her!" James snarled at the group. Jack raised an eyebrow.
"It's useless to try and appease me!" Abigail added on to James' comment. The two managers stood eyebrows raised.
"Appease her" James demanded.
"You're only saying this to please me!" Abigail said dramaticly, placing the back of her hand to her forehead and allowing her head to roll to the side.
"To please her," James began, stepping away from the prima donna.
"I will not listen! You thus insult the honor of your prima donna?" Abigail huffed. Tia looked worried and oddly pale for her dark complection.
"Who scorn his word, beware to those…" she said mysteriously. Abigail continued to wail and moan in dramatics.
"You have reviled me!" she cried. Tia shook her head slowly, ignoring those around her.
"The angel sees, the angel knows…" Tia stated quietly. Will was contemplating to himself. He ignored the goings on and stared at his hands, palms up.
"Why did Elizabeth fly from my arms?" he muttered to himself.
"Elizabeth…" Anamaria spoke her friend's name softly.
"You have rebuked me!" Abigail snarled at the managers viciously.
"Please signora! We beseech you!" Jack and Barbossa pleaded with the bratty star. Tia continued to act in her mysterious manner. Will looked worried, and Anamaria looked determined.
"I must see her…" Will stated quietly. He planned on ignoring Tia completely.
"She'll se me. I'm her friend after all." Anamaria smirked cockily.
"This is uncalled for! This is unfounded! This is unheard of!"
"The angel knows. The angel hears."
"Where did she go?" Will pondered.
"You are unthinking! You are unfeeling!" Abigail snarled.
"They are unthinking! They are unfeeling!" James snapped. The two managers continued to plead. The money would leave if they had no star! No star no show! No show no money! No money means no power! All they worked for would be wasted. Jack gulped. No money no rum! If he couldn't have his rum he would die. Okay, not right away…but he would be miserable.
"Signora! Sing for us!" Jack paniced, "If you don't I'll be miserable! You wouldn't want me miserable would you?" Abigail stared at him, eyes wide and creeped out. The room had settled into an awkward silence at Jack's outburst. Barbossa slapped him upside the head, a freaked out look on his face. James just stared at him.
"Don't be a martyr!" Barbossa pleaded, "Ignore that baffoon! Jack doesn't know what he's talking about!" Jack gave him his insulted look.
"I know what I'm talking about!" he argued. Barbossa rolled his eyes.
"You got into a fight with a monkey over a peanut." Jack stopped chattering.
"What new surprises lie in store?" Tia, Anamaria, and Will mumbled together. Tia was still in her trance, twiddling her thumbs. Will was embarrassed in a word. How was Jack and Barbossa making him look? In his opinian he looked like a fool for being their patron. Anamaria shook her head, a smirk on her face. Jack was making the opera house look like an asylum.
"Our star!" Jack shouted as loudly as he dared.
"You go too far!" Abigail huffed dramaticly. She rushed out of the office, everyone hot on her heels. She quickly entered the main hall with its dark marble pillars and floors. James' arm linked with hers.
"Good day gentlemen! Ladies!" he waved them off.
"Your public needs you!" Jack stated to her as he opened the maple doors, reveiling a large crowd of people, creering as they saw her. A man hands her a rose.
"Give this to Miss Swann please!" he walked off, waving a 'thank you'. Abigail stood mouth wide open. She growled and slammed the doors shut.
"We need you too!" Barbossa said it as if it was the most obvious in the world.
"Would you not rather have your precious little ingenue?" Abigail turned away, prepared to walk back out the door.
Signora, no! The world wants you!
Prima donna, first lady of the stage!
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you!
Barbossa called after her and sweeped in front of her, blocking the exit. Abigail huffed and stormed away to another doorway. Jack stepped in front of her.
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?
Jack tried to guilt card. Prima donnas loved their fans did they not? That card has to reel her in and bring her back!
Think of how they all adore you!
Prima donna enchant us once again!
They begged of her. Abigail stormed off once more showing a slight smirk. Flattery, how she adored it! When she thinks they flattered her enough she'll return! Oh she'll return!
Think of your muse…
Muses, ha! Those ridiculous myths! But still…it was flattering!
And of the queues of the theater!
Can you deny us the triumph in store?
Sing, prima donna, once more!
Abigail acted like she was ignoring them in her dramatic fashion. Will and Tia stood away from the commotion. They stayed close by however. If they were needed they would have to jump in.
Elizabeth spoke of an angel…
Will mentioned, mostly to himself. Tia nodded slowly.
You took a snub!
But there's a public who needs you!
Abigail pointed out to them, pausing her escape. Her green eyes flared up in defiance and daring. She turned on her heel, a hand flipping back her dark locks and headed away.
Tia was lost in her own world, she craned her neck to look around.
She has the voice
Of the Angel of Music…
Jack and Barbossa listened to her quiet words, Jack grinned at the prospect.
Those who hear your voice
Liken you to an angel!
Abigail pondered their argument, smirking. She tapped her chin gingerly as she thought.
Think of their cry
Of undying
Support!
She grinned, oh how she adored the crowds cooing to her as she sang, flattering her as she roamed the city. She turned her attention back to the two managers, eyes flashing with triumph and arrogant pride.
Is this her angel of music…?
Will, still lost in his own world, almost oblivious to the goings on. His thoughts constantly remained centered on Miss Swann and her "Angel of Music" could he be that person with her in the room?
Jack and Barbossa both appeared pleased, motioning for sevants to come help prepare Miss Dawson for her performance. Abigail held her head high as she glided with the managers to backstage, her red painted lips stretched into a decievingly pleasant smile.
We get our opera!
She gets her limelight!
Follow where the limelight leads you!
Abigail concluded she was back on top. No more will Miss Swann stand on her own, but in Miss Dawson's shadow. For good.
"Is this ghost
An angel or madman?"
Anamaria pondered aloud. Her friend's behavior was unlike the norm. Elizabeth was so quiet, it was eerie how she only spoke in a voice above a whisper and so few words. Her normally colorful face was so pale, her rich cocoa eyes, dulled, lifeless and clouded over by her strange behavior. Her politeness was to the point she seemed cold. Oddly enough she only used politeness of that extreme when dealing with people she didn't like. Anamaria couldn't help but wonder, could this "Angel of Music" be affecting her so?
Will fared no different in an explanation. He didn't know her as well, having not seen her in nearly a decade. She couldn't have changed that much could she? Could this opera ghost be the one to have changed her?
Angel or madman…?
Leading ladies are such a trial!
Barbossa and Jack surprising agreed with one another. Difficulty with Abigail, then Elizabeth, now Abigail again! At least they're winning her over.
Tia was pale, the ghost was beginning to get bolder. He already kidnapped a person. He nearly crushed Abigail earlier. It was getting out of hand. And those two managers, he was getting angry with them, for simply not believing in him. There will be even more trouble if his payment isn't sent.
Heaven help you,
Those who doubt
Abigail sneered at the two gullible men. Both of them were wrapped around her finger, like a delicate silver ring. If not cared for properly it would break and she would have no more. With a little more flattery she would come back to them.
You'll sing again
And to unending ovation!
Will was steadily growing impatient with this mysterious ghost. He had to be alive and well! Making demands and orders and such! Why would a dead man need money? How would he write? He wouldn't have hands!
Orders! Warnings!
Lunatic demands!
It was all getting out of hand, slowly, steadily, but surely. And it was causing Tia grief and strife. If this kept up she would have a mental breakdown.
This miscasting
Will invite malediction
Jack and Barbossa were oblivious to everyone else, only focusing on getting Abigail to join them. Trying to ease her fears of opera ghosts.
Tears…oaths…
Lunatic demands
Are regular occurances
Anamaria fretted over her friend. If any of this continued any longer, surely Elizabeth will fall ill and perish.
"Bliss or malediction?
Which has claimed her?"
No signs of caring came from Abigail. Elizabeth was out of the picture. That is all she cared for. Her stardom was coming back into her reach. She still had to keep up her game.
Think of how you'll shine
In that final encore!
Sing, prima donna once more!
Elizabeth's health and wellbeing was the thoughts of Will, Tia, and Anamaria. What the Phantom will do next concerned Tia greatly, causing her stress. Her heart racked her body with pain as it pounded nervously. Visions of disaster flashed through her mind. He needed to be stopped. Soon.
Oh fools, to have flouted his warnings!
Surely for her sake…
"Surely he'll strike back…"
Their warnings to the managers almost went unheard.
Surely there'll be further scenes-
Worse than this!
Think before these demands are rejected!
Tia begged of them to do as told.
I must see these demands are rejected.
Will's determination spiked. Anamaria growled in agitation.
"…if his threats
and demands are rejected"
Barbossa and Jack listened to Abigail's twisted lies.
Who'd believe a diva
Happy to relieve a chorus girl
Who's gone and slept with the patron?
Raoul and the soubrette,
Entwined in love's duet!
Although he may demur,
He must have been with her!
Will's eyes widened in surprise. Are they blaming him of all people? The accusing look from that horrid Abigail, spreading propaganda about him. Bloody pirates. The lot of them! Anamaria was equally surprised. Elizabeth wasn't that kind of person!
"Elizabeth must be protected!"
Abigail pouted, fanning herself with her gloved hand. She gave the appearance of a sad and lost little girl.
O, fortunata!
Non ancor
Abbandonata! (1)
The two managers, having not a clue what she said in her native tongue, only beliveing themselves to be played and falling for her trap, snapped.
You'd never get away
With all this in a play
But if it's sung loudly
And in a foreign tongue
It's just the sort of story
Audiences adore
In fact a perfect opera!
Will was no longer concerned with the trivial plight of Abigail's placement in the opera house, or the accusation. He was, however, more concern for Elizabeth and this Opera Ghost.
His game is over!
Tia sighed and countered him.
This is a game you
Cannot hope to win
And in Box 5
A new game will begin!
For if his curse is on the opera…
Anamaria joined in on her mother's warning.
"For if his curse is on the opera…"
Interrupted, by the two loud-mouthed and argumentive managers.
Prima donna
The World is at your feet!
A nation waits
And how it hates
To be cheated!
Barbossa opened a box, revieling a pearl necklace with tear-drop sapphire. Abigail eyed it but turned up her noseand faced the opposite direction. Jack offered an amethyest ring surrounded by tiny diamonds on a gold band. She turned down the glittering ring.
"All that glitters is not gold!" Abigail sniffed.
"What about a puppy? Everyone adores puppies! With their yaps and constant chewing and destroying valuable items…" Jack tried. His voice steadily growing quieter. "I don't like puppies when they destroy my stuff. Little buggers."
"A papillon."
"Pardon?" Barbossa eyed her suspiciously.
"I want a papillon. The little dogs with the butterfly ears!" Abigail snapped.
The stress that falls upon
A famous prima donna
Terrible diseases,
Coughs, colds, and sneezes!
Still the dryest throat
Will reach the highest note
In search of the perfect opera!
Abigail willingly changed into her stage outfit. A gold gown with powder blue bodice, with lace covering it. Floral patterns stamped onto the fabric, white ribbon sewed onto the hem of the hoop skirt, crinkled in the neat folds. This was her moment and with Elizabeth as the pageboy, the mute, everything was perfect.
…then I fear the outcome…
Elizabeth plays the pageboy,
Abigail plays the countess…
…should you dare…
"…When you once again…"
"Light up the stage
With that old age
Rapport!
Sing Prima Donna once more!"
The Phantom angry voice echoed amoung the halls and rooms. Frightening all who heard it.
"So, it is to be war between us! If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination shall occur!" He boomed at them all.
"Once More!"
O, fortunata! Non ancor Abbandonata! (Or, lucky person. Still not abandoned!)