(A/N: YAY! A long chapter! Finally!)
I STRUGGLED IN his grasp, even though I figured he'd be too strong. Trying to loosen his grip, I scratched his arm, feeling the blood run onto my hand. I began to feel lightheaded when he drew my blood, like it was on a high. Like he had said, pleasure.
"Kaleo! Let her go!" A voice yelled.
I was released and dropped, my knees buckling and giving way beneath my unsupported weight. I looked up to see a blurry image of what I believed was Alex.
"Stay out of this, Aubrey. It's none of your business. I have blood claim and am going to bond with her."
"You didn't taste the witch blood? If you did that it would kill her."
"In that case, I'll turn her."
"You know what happens if you do that. Look at Sarah Vida. Her family disowned her for becoming a vampire to save her life. She almost got killed by her own family then by other vampires. What if that happens?"
"Do you think I'd let my prey stray off like that? She's too valuable."
"I won't let you if I have to fight you myself, Kaleo."
"You really like her that much? Then here." He picked me up and shoved me to Alex's feet. "We'll see how much Jessica likes that."
"We all know how that went down." Alex picked me up.
I had never passed out in my life, but with the sickening nausea coming over me and the ache in my neck, now didn't seem like a bad time to start.
"Why didn't you yell for help?" Alex asked.
"I wouldn't stoop to that unless I was in pure pain or going to die." I smiled weakly. "So what is your name?"
"What?"
"Is it Aubrey or Alex?"
"You call me Alex while were here."
"So you're like me, you're called one, but it's really the other?"
"Yes."
"What about him?"
"His name is Kaleo, but he goes by Kelvin."
I convulsed, almost vomiting on my lap. Thankfully, I was able to swallow before I up chucked. I realized that my neck was still bleeding when Aubrey leaned forward. I froze, not sure of what he planned to do. Instead of taking the blood, he blew on the wound, making it scab over and disappear.
Sleep. I heard in my head. With little hesitation, I obeyed, feeling Aubrey pick me up.
I WOKE LATER in a house I didn't recognize. It was dimly lit and I was lying on a black leather couch.
"You alright? You passed out." I heard a voice say.
I looked up to see Aubrey and another girl walk in. The girl had dark black hair, brilliant green eyes and pale skin.
"Yeah, I'm fine, I guess. May I ask your name?" I directed the last bit toward The girl.
"Jessica Allodola." She smiled and shook my hand once I sat up completely.
After the introductions, I noticed an black laptop with a file open that said Dark Flame at the top.
"Ash Night..." I mumbled to myself. Jessica looked at me then at the laptop. She then smiled, walking over and closing it.
"You read Jessica's books?" Aubrey asked.
"I'm quite a fan to say the least. That's why vampire was the first thing that came to mind when Kaleo tried to bond with me."
"I see. You've read Tiger, Tiger more then once to remember something like that."
"It's a favorite of mine." I said with a smile that I was afraid looked mechanical due to the fact I rarely smiled. "Going into randomness and things that don't relate, where are we?"
"New Mayhem, New York." Aubrey answered. "This is my house."
"Did you just say New York?" He nodded. "You mean to tell me that," I checked my watch. 4:49. "About five hours ago I was in Long Beach, California and now I'm in New Mayhem, New York?"
They nodded together this time. Then, it hit me.
Aubrey's a vampire remember? Super speed, duh! I hit myself in the head in realization.
"Is it normal for you to forget things after you've lost blood?" Jessica joked.
"No, not usually, but I've never really lost this much blood. Well, at least not in years." I recalled the day my parents died, the first time I laid eyes on Siete.
"I see, well, we better get you home." Aubrey commented. "Your parents will be worrying about you."
"Parents what are those?" I joked. "No there's no rush, they wouldn't miss me if I died in my room. They'd they really only notice when I turned to a rotting piece of carrion since I'd smell by then." Aubrey smiled shaking his head.
THE NEXT DAY, I arrived at school, half dead since I needed to get up early to go to the store. (Since I had been knocked out when I usually went there for the next days food.)As usual, all my early morning classes were hell and then I got to Drama. Today, we would be trying on the costumes to see if they fit and then practicing. I had to try on eight different costumes(all with a tight corset, no blood though) including a horribly revealing white basque(a tight fitting blouse for females) that I would wear while in the boat.
"Can't I add a petti coat or something? This is a bit exposing."
"Sorry. These are replicas of the Broadway production. All of the Christines before you have worn almost the same thing." Ms. Vasquez said.
"That was Broadway, this is a high school production. Do you realize how many complaints could be filed for one little bit of skin?"
"Well take that chance, Emma."
"But-"
"Don't worry, we wont gawk. Or at least I won't and I'm the only one who's going to be close enough to do so." Aubrey said.
I looked over at him and he wore the black uniform he would wear for all but one scene. Mask included, he played a convincing part. I smiled to myself as he strode forward.
"Is there something wrong with my face?" He joked since I was staring.
"Not that I can see enough of it to tell." I pulled off the mask to find that he had the prosthetic face on. It was more frightening than I had anticipated, but it held a certain warmth. "Now there's what's wrong with it." He chuckled and turned to see what the Masquerade costume looked like.
"Nice basque." Kaleo commented, walking up behind me. I turned to find him in the stage manager, Joseph Buquet's, costume. I smiled thinking of the fact that he was to be hung. I was amusing. I looked him in the face.
"You've got shit stuck to your head, Buquet. Oh, I'm sorry, that's your face." I raised a hand to my mouth as if in surprise. I then walked past him.
I practiced and warmed up. Then Patrick asked if I wanted to practice "All I Ask Of You." I agreed as long as we only used a stage kiss. We got the maestro to have the orchestra play for us and we began.
No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide eyed fears
Im here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you
Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you
All I ask is every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summertime
Say you need me with you now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you
Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You're safe, no one will find you
Your fears are far behind you
All I want is freedom
A world with no more night
And you always beside me
To hold me and to hide me
Then say you'll share with me one love, one life time
Let me lead you from your solitude
Say you need me with you, here beside you
Anywhere you go, let me go too
Christine, that's All I Ask of You
Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Say the word and I will follow you
Share each day with me
Each night, each morning
Say you love me!
You know I do.
Love me, thats All I Ask of You.
Anywhere you go let me go too;
Love me, that's All I Ask of You.
He stage kissed my a few times and let me go. Ms. Vasquez came over, scolding both of us.
"If you are going to add a kiss in, then really kiss, We can't have you stage kissing because it doesn't look real. Now do the last four measures and really kiss." We looked at each other in disdain and then began.
Anywhere you go let me go too;
Love me, thats All I Ask of You.
Pausing for only a second, Patrick drew me into a brief kiss. I bit my tongue to keep a straight face. We both pulled away and spit into our hands.
"Oh, that was nasty." He whispered.
"You're a horrible kisser!" I commented.
"Hey, that was a first!"
"I don't care, that was horrible!"
"Just don't do that on stage!" Ms. Vasquez added.
"With that terrible kisser, its hard not to!"
"Shut up! You taste like a muffin from snack!"
"BETTER THAN TASTING LIKE A BURRITO, BEAN BREATH!!!"
"WHAT WAS THAT!!!??"
"GUYS! Stop it!"
There was a sudden silence when Ms. Vasquez yelled. I strapped an imaginary helmet on my head.
"Now, Alex, Patrick, and Emma go to the equipment. We're going to go through scenes 31- 35, Erik's gate just arrived. Everyone else can finish with costume and rehearsal."
We went to the back lot and brought in the large aluminum gate. After setting it up, we began "Down Once More," a variation of Music of the Night, which would fade into other variations. Alex started.
Down once more to the dungeons of my black despair
Down we plunge to the prison of my mind
Down that path into darkness deep as hell
Why you asked was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place?
Not for any mortal sin
But the wickedness of my abhorrent face!
(Chorus) Track down this murderer, he must be found.
Track down this murderer, her must be found.
Hounded out by everyone, met with hatred everywhere.
No kind words from any one, no compassion anywhere
Christine...
Why? Why?!
(Helen as Madame Giry) Your hand at the level of your eyes
(Patrick) At the level of my eyes.
(Helen) This is as far as I dare go
(Patrick) Thank you
Have you gorged yourself at last in your lust for blood?
Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?
That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood,
Has also denied me the joys of the flesh.
This face, the infection which poisons our love.
This face which earned a mothers fear and loathing
A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing.
Pity comes too late
Turn around and face your fate.
An eternity of this, before your eyes
This haunted face holds no horror for me now
Its in your soul that the true distortion lies.
Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!
Sir..
Raoul!
This is indeed an unparalleled delight.
I had rather hoped that you would come
And now my wish comes true
You have truly made my night.
Let me go.
Free her!
Do what you like only free her!
Have you no pity?
Your lover makes a passionate plea.
Please, Raoul its useless.
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show some compassion!
The world showed no compassion to me!
Christine, Christine
Let me see her.
Be my guest, sir.
Monsieur, I bid you welcome.
Did you think that I would harm her?
Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?!
Order you fine horses now!
Raise up you hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now except perhaps Christine.
Start a new life with me.
Buy his freedom with your love.
Refuse me and you send your lover to his death.
This is the choice,
This is the point of no return!
The tears I might have shed for your dark fate,
Grow cold and turn to tears of hate!
Christine, forgive me, please forgive me
Farewell my fallen idol and false friend,
I gave all for you and all for nothing.
Too late for turning back We had such hope and now
those hopes are shattered.
Too late for prayers and pity.
All hope and cries for help. Say you love him or my life is over.
No point in fighting.
For either way choose But either way you choose he has to win.
you cannot win.
So do you end your days with me
Or do you send him to his grave?!
Why make her lie to you to save me?
Past the point of no return. Angel of music,
Who deserves this? Christine, say no!
His life is now the prize. Why do you cry?
Don't throw your life away for my sake.
Which you must earn. I fought so hard to free you.
Youve past the point of no return. Angel of music,
You deceived me.
I gave you my mind blindly.
You try my patience.
Make your choice!
Pitiful creature of darkness,
What kind of life have you known?
God, give me courage to show you
You are not alone.
I went in for the kiss and stopped a breath away from his lips. Then, I dropped to my knees, my eyes wide with realization and fear. Alex dropped beside me and the maestro stopped the orchestra.
"Are you alright?" Alex asked.
"I can't... I can't do it..."
"Why not? You kissed Patrick." he joked.
"He's single. You have Jessica. Shell murder me if she finds out."
"She knows. I'll explain what happened later. For now, just be Christine. She's not worried about a vampire shoving a knife in her back."
He helped me up and nodded to the maestro. He started the orchestra, and pulled me into the kiss. I wanted to get lost in it, loose all sense of time and become giddy like all the sappy cheerleaders said would happen, but I couldn't. Knowing that making out wasn't supposed to be allowed, I tried to cut it short, but Alex was insistent. He made sure that his tongue found itself in my mouth before the music was over. He had a few hundred years of practice in his pocket, but the slow, yet demanding edge of his kisses was unusual, even in an immortal. He pulled away just in time and looked at the ground, getting himself to cry.
Take her, forget me,
Forget all of this!
Leave me alone.
Forget all youve seen.
Go now, don't let them find you.
Take the boat, swear to me never to tell
The secrets you know of the angel in hell
(Chorus) The Phantom of the Opera is there,
Deep down below.
Go now!
Go now and leave me!
He wound the music box and I walked in while the set turned. He sat on the bed, another remake of the broadway set, and sang along.
Masquerade,
Paper faces on parade.
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world with never find you...
Christine I love you.
I looked at my hand and pulled off the ring he had given me in a previous scene. Reaching for his hand, I placed the ring in his hand. I walked away slowly, holding his hand until I had walked too far. The stage went dark and the stage crew brought out Patrick's grandfather who was in a prop wheel chair and held the music box. The stage lit up and they were in the graveyard. The nun stopped the wheelchair in front of a gravestone:
Christine
The Countess De Changny
1854 - 1917
He set the music box down in front of it and looked at another gift that was left. A red rose with a black ribbon that tied a very familiar ring to it. The spot light narrowed onto the rose and then went dark.
"And so ends it all. We can finally perform!"
"When is the performance?" Aubrey asked.
"Halloween. Right before the dance and it has a ticket or you don't get in policy so no hecklers. Or there better not be."