Rachel stood at last, but kept the distance between them. "I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I have stage fright. I can't sing, and even if I could I wouldn't want to."
"Stage fright?" His tone was dripping with amusement. "Put your childish fears aside and come with me."
"You can't blame me for being so nervous. I grew up in the shadows, Erik." She crossed her arms coldly. "Find some other fame seeking—"
Erik turned around, took her arm, and tugged her through the mirror. "You're being so foolish. Trust me."
"Stop it. I said I didn't want to sing!" She tried pulling away futilely. "What makes you think they'll even give me the opportunity to get the part?"
"Don't worry about matters such as those. I will take care of any and all mundane details."
"Mundane?" She scoffed. "Mundane."
He didn't respond to any further remarks Rachel had to give. Erik spent the rest of the journey to his lair in complete silence, yet bearing a patient ear to the insecure rants about her voice. Before she could sing, Rachel would need to have utter faith in Erik's capabilities in order to amount to unprecedented success. The most alluring factor of the Phantom's plan was that there would be no irritating love triangle to distract Rachel from her practices. He smiled to himself. This opera would be perfectly sublime, and nothing would interfere with its production.
Rachel moaned as they reached the banks to Erik's dwelling. "I never thought I would be so upset to have to be here again."
"Are you quite finished?" He stepped out of the boat, holding his hand out courteously to guide her to the ground. "Or would you rather sit and whine in the vessel for a while longer?"
She glared at him while brushing past, ignoring his gesture to help her. "Well, if you're going to force me to sing, I might as well read the opera. Where is it?"
"I would prefer that you learn to sing first." His gaze was unfalteringly set. "Unless, of course, you would just prefer to butcher it with your underdeveloped voice?"
"Why do I allow our visits to continue?" Rachel's fingers slid over the keys of his organ. "I don't see much of a benefit for me anymore. Now that the 'masked man of mystery' has been unveiled, I see no reason as to why I bother coming back."
"Sing, Rachel."
She laughed at his blunt request. "Oh, that's hilarious."
"You've sung before. What makes this any different?"
"Give me something to sing, then." She sighed as he gave her a piece of parchment with delicate, mahogany letters sprawled across it.
"Speaking in time with the heart beat
Loving that exquisite rush
Can't hear your words over my pulse
My veins are talking again
Whispers, whispers
My heart says in whispers
Learning, learning
How to hold my breath
Don't know why, but here it is again
Sitting down, but my heart is racing—"
"Enough," He stated with the air of someone who is always obeyed. "I know perfectly well where you need to improve." Erik began to rummage through miscellaneous piles and drawers until he found a lengthy, silk scarf. "Close your eyes."
"Excuse me?" Rachel set the music sheet down.
"It's really rather simple. Let rest your eyes."
She back away incredulously. "I'm not sure I should trust you." Rachel shut her eyes nonetheless.
"Thank you."
He tied the scarf round her head, taking care to disregard the slight twinge that ensued from his touch. Erik led her back into the boat but instructed her to remain standing. She did. He rushed back to his organ and pressed a key.
"Match it."
"W—What?" She wobbled unsurely. "This is silly. Let me off the boat, or take of the blindfold at least."
He pressed the key again, this time more urgently. "Match the note." Rachel tried, and failed. "You're a little off." Erik pulled on the rope attached to the unstable flooring that Rachel was standing on. The slight motion set her completely off balance, and, with a yelp, she fell into the water. "Hm," He mused as she sat up sputtering. "You seem to be an alto."
"What was that for?" Rachel flopped unto dry ground.
"You need to learn to always be poised, that is key to being the lead." He drummed his fingers along the keyboard while muttering various altercations that must be made to the opera. "Also, it will serve as a form of motivation."
"This is unfair." She wrapped her arms around herself as an attempt to ward off shivers. "I shouldn't have to be punished for something I didn't want to do in the first place."
"You believe your position is unfair? I have to revolutionize the definition of an opera to suit your vocal capacity. Whoever heard of a lead alto?"
Rachel took a cloak of his that was lying on the ground and used it as a blanket. "Personally I don't mind. Perhaps it will shake your persistence."
"Unlikely." Erik pressed another key, this one was a lower note. "Match it."
"Oh, you don't want me to stand blindfolded this time?"
"Do what you will." Erik repeated the note for good measure. "Go on."
This time she tried, she succeeded. They spent hours tapping notes and mimicking them. Erik was forced to give her a break when she began to doze off in between keys. Eventually, he had to carry her into his room to rest. Until the morning light, Erik spent his time performing revisions on his newest obsession. There would be no mistakes, no room for error. He chided himself from previous experiences. This time, nothing would intrude upon his dream of creating a new form of opera, one that would inspire artists to come.
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Yay for update!
I wrote this while watching Lord of the Rings so I was pretty distracted. I hope it's good anyways.
Read, enjoy, review.