Sweet Seduction
Chapter Three: Past the Point of No Return
A/N: Okay, hope you like this chap! It's my fave song from the movie/play and I hope my version of it does it justice! Please review and tell me what you think!
Christine sat down on the floor of the stage, spreading her thin, yellow chiffon skirt over her bare legs, nearly exhausted. After agreeing to perform as Aminta in Erik's opera, she had been thrown into a whirlwind of rehearsals and costumes fittings, practicing and studying her script and all sorts of last minute details. She hoped she didn't look as nervous as she felt. This was the biggest female lead in the show and she'd only agreed to do this two days ago, to the manager's relief and some others (mainly Carlotta's) discontent. Fortunately, she hadn't run into Raoul, who was kept at a distance from her at all times since his spiral down into insanity. She could see him out of the corner of her eye, glaring at her, watching her every move. She didn't believe he'd forgiven her for deserting him in the chapel, and had to hide the smile that threatened to spill over her face when she imagined his fury and disappointment that his genius little plan wouldn't work after all.
Oh, this costume was so uncomfortable, especially the uniquely designed corset, fitted to nearly strangle her and pinch every time she moved, and she soon grew tired of pulling up her shoulder straps that continually fell whenever she moved her arms. Though it was beautiful, it certainly wasn't very comfortable or practical, and the skirt was so ridiculously sheer and flimsy, it threatened to rip every time she walked. Fortunately, the interval in the program was only a few scenes away and then she could collapse for a brief moment in her dressing room.
At least Erik had kept his word. She hadn't seen him lurking about anywhere during the play. Maybe it was all for the best, anyway. The audience really didn't seem to like this play, cringing when the music started and gasping at some of the risque dialogue when they weren't busy staring and gaping at the numerous police officers spread throughout the theater.. Erik would be so disappointed to see that the audience really didn't like it, so maybe everything had worked out after all.
At last, Don Juan finally came onto the stage. She could see a faint black outline as she glanced behind her, and knew Piangi would be approaching her in a moment, to begin their duet.
But, as her Don Juan drew closer, she immediately knew that this was not Piangi.
Oh no. He began singing, and Christine knew, in a sharp instant, that it was him. How many times had that voice sang to her in her dressing room during their lessons? Behind the mirror? At the cemetery? It was Erik. He had broken his word and come to the performance anyway. She was tempted to look around wildly, to find Mme. Giry, but she controlled herself. NO! Stay in character. You're Aminta, the beautiful Spanish gypsy, being seducing by a mysterious masked man, you shouldn't be glancing around the stage wildly! Focus on him. Only on him
She then realized with a sickening feeling in her stomach that Raoul's plan may work after all. If anyone but her knew he was here, he'd be captured! She had to control herself. She couldn't let on she knew it was him, but she could tell people were starting to realize that this strange masked man wasn't Piangi. Oh, why did Erik have to be so foolish? He was willingly putting them both in danger!
She concentrated on him, only on him. His hair looked even darker than usual under the spotlights, almost gleaming, and she had never seen him wearing the smooth black mask on his face before. She let her eyes stray downward towards his costume. His body looked very rugged and handsome in Don Juan's costume. It fit him extremely well, outlining his muscular arms and firm legs, the low shirt underneath his tight jacket revealing a glimpse of his smooth chest. He looked extremely handsome.
No! What was she doing? She couldn't let herself be seduced now. Seduced? Why would he possibly seduce her? How could she allow her angel to seduce her? Oh, this was so confusing. His voice. She'd concentrate on his voice. Standing up, she closed her eyes, waiting for him to begin singing the chorus.
Past the point of no return
No backward glances
Our games of make-believe are at an end
Oh, his voice was so different than the familiar soft voice of her Angel. His voice was loud and powerful, the thrill of performing giving his voice a new-found strength she had never heard before. He pronounced the words with a low, seductive undertone, practically making him and his new voice irresistible. There was an adrenaline she knew from experience could only come from performing urging his voice on now, the passion and fervor rushing out of his throat, giving a new depth to his perfect low voice.
Past all thought of "if" or "when"
No use resisting
Abandon thought and let the dream descend
He came towards her, silently, swiftly, drawing closer and closer. She still couldn't believe he had broken his word, but maybe it was worth it. He was beginning to send delightful shivers up her spine. Erik drew closer and closer to her. He felt the swell in the music coming, and he couldn't control himself any longer. He raced over to her, grabbing her neck with one hand and wrapping the other around her waist from behind. Her eyes shut and her arms almost instinctively wrapped themselves around his, feeling his warm, firm body as Erik sang:
What raging fire shall flood the soul ?
What rich desire unlocks its door ?
What sweet seduction lies before us?
He proceeded to release his arms from her neck and waist, touching his hands to her cheek and mounds of dark,curly hair. He felt her warm body, every sweet inch of her while dragging arms down, past her shoulder, all down her deliciously long, bare arm, finally to her warm, moist hand, finally kissing it. She felt her heart beating fast beneath his touch and knew she would never be able to control her passion as he finished
Past the point of no return
The final threshold
What warm unspoken secrets
Will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return
He watched her as she moved away from him, glancing at him nervously, sending him the same frantic message with her eyes beneath her passion: What are you doing here? Get Out!
Well, he knew he had given his word he wouldn't come to the performance, but the temptation grew overwhelming and he couldn't resist. This was his opera. He couldn't bear to miss the restless stir from the audience, watching him, hanging on his every word. And, if he was coming anyway, why not make it a memorable expierence? Piangi wouldn't mind spending the rest of the performance bound up in the broom closet, would he? After all, it was better than ruthlessly murdering him, which was the other option he'd chosen to avoid. He had to come tonight, to see Christine, to hear her angelic voice filled with raging fire and passion as it soared over the notes he had composed for her. More than anything, he wanted her to know his true feelings for her. He had to tell her, and this was as good a time as any.
He watched her, resisting the urge to stare at him. He could tell she was shocked and bewildered he had done this to her, and upset he'd now be captured. Well, she needn't worry her gorgeous little head over those minor details. He'd disappear before the interval, and no one would ever know. Certainly, he could outwit a few dim-witted police officers and a foppish viscount. But he couldn't ignore his longing for her anymore. He needed her, needed to sing with her, to be with her.
He needed to tell her he loved her.
Well, at least now she wasn't looking alarmingly at him anymore. In fact, her eyes looked as if they were...wanting something, most likely mirroring his own as she began the chorus.
Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion-play has now at last begun
Her voice was growing stronger now, with more power and volume behind it, truly soaring and rising like an angel's. He wondered if there was any truth behind her scripted words.
Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question
How long should we two wait before we're one
She sounded almost vulnerable now,the passion and desire dripping off her voice. She knew she wasn't pretending to love her Don Juan anymore now, a fact that both scared and enthralled her. She began ascending up the wooden stairs to the stage bridge as he followed her lead, unable to control her obvious passion which burned as brightly as the flames below her They both heard her voice rising with emotion as she began the climax.
When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud burst into bloom ?
When will the flames at last consume us
She listened this unfamiliar voice projecting from her throat, hitting the low notes loudly with a sultry growl she couldn't control emerging from it. Narrowing her eyes, she looked at him suggestively, taking the final step up onto the bridge. He ripped the cloak from his shoulders, casting it aside to the ground in a flourish of black material. They were drawing close to each other now, as both began singing the final chorus
Past the point of no return
The final threshold
Erik couldn't control himself any longer. He grasped Christine's hand, twirling her around slowly under his arm until she was firmly pressed up against his chest. He crossed his arms over her, feeling every beautiful curve and figure of her body. They were both panting with the excitement of that moment and knew there really was no going back now as they finished
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return
He gently grasped her delicate hand in his own, lifting it to her neck and holding it there for a moment. He was in a world all his own. He couldn't believe that he had just performed one of the most emotional songs he'd ever written with the woman he loved in front of a thousand people. But, none of that mattered now. She was here, willingly, up against him, her own heart beating with emotions, faster than his own. Nothing else mattered. This was it. This was his moment, and he needed to tell her he loved her. He didn't care that there were policemen surrounding the stage, waiting to capture him, or that the Vicomte had left his box, or the audience members were all watching him anxiously, or that he had broken his word to her. Time stood still that moment, and the air was heavy with his anticipation and fervor. He had to tell her. He couldn't care less about anything else in the world than the woman here beside him and she needed to know the truth.
He loved her.
Gently caressing his strong hand down her neck, he fingered a lock of her wild, curly hair and began singing in her ear.
Say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Lead me, save me from my solitude
There was no sweeter sound on earth than his soft, low voice in her ear. The words sounded vaguely familiar to her, but she was too entranced to recall where she had heard them before. She never wanted him to stop singing to her. She was in heaven, a wave of pure ecstasy washing over them both as he continued:
Say you'll want me
With you here
Beside you
She turned around to face him, so many emotions racing through her mind as she gazed at his desperate, longing face. He grasped her hands in his own. He truly loved her. He needed her. He struggled to keep his voice from breaking with emotion as he pleaded:
Anywhere you go
Let me go too
Christine that's all I ask of…
"YOU!" a voice behind them screamed, shocking them both. Before either of them could understand what had happened, Raoul had silently come up behind them, jerking Erik's head back suddenly and ripping off his mask, exposing his wickedly deformed face to all of Paris. Christine screamed
"Raoul, no! How could you!"
but no one heard her as the screams of terror and repulsion from the audience drowned out her small voice.
Erik couldn't believe this. It was his worst nightmare come true. Policemen began running onto the stage, guns drawn. Raoul foolishly tried to hold him back, but he was rewarded with a sharp punch in the stomach, causing him to double over in pain. Erik struggled to think calmly, but it was so difficult, with his emotions racing and the police drawing nearer every second. Though he couldn't believe what he was doing, he needed to keep them distracted somehow, and that was accomplished by cutting the ropes that held the chandelier aloft, sending it raging down into the audience in a swirl of shaking crystals and flashing lights. Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse, Christine's eyes rolled back into her head and she fainted, slumping over as she caught her before she hit the ground. He hoisted her up into his arms, looking around wildly. Suddenly, he knew what to do.
Wasting no time, he furiously kicked the lever to his left, opening up the escape door in the center of the bridge. He ran over to it and jumped, holding onto Christine for dear life as they plunged down into the darkness.
Erik struggled to remain calm and think rationally, but all his thoughts were muddled by panic. His mask had been left back in the Vicomte's greedy hands, so he'd have to go without it for the moment. Christine was still unconscious and lying helplessly in his arms. When they finally reached the safety of his lair, he laid her down for a moment and gently shook her
"Christine! Christine, please wake up"
There was no response. Erik felt sick. He had to get them both of out here before the police and many others would find his lair. The trapdoor hadn't' closed all the way and they would be coming. First things first, he thought. There's still some time left. Don't panic. Just get another mask on. He bounded over to his desk, ransacking through the compartments until he found his normal white porcelain mask, fixing it firmly on his face as he strode back over to Christine. He shook her again
"Christine! For Christ's sakes, Christine, you have to wake up! Come on, don't do this to me!"
Oh, she had to wake up! Why did her feminine weakness have to choose this moment to start dominating? He couldn't very well leave the place indiscreetly carrying an unconscious woman in his arms. And they were both still in their stage costumes! Right, like they wouldn't be noticed outside of the Opera house.
Biting his lip, he slapped Christine's face gently. Still no response. He slapped her other cheek, harder this time, hoping to arose her, but she still didn't wake.
He tried to keep from slapping her again. This wasn't working, and he couldn't bear hurting her, even if she couldn't feel anything. He threw off his brown jacket out of frustration, watching it fall off into the lake. Suddenly, he got an idea. When the jacket was completely soaked he picked it up, and wrung it out over Christine's face and chest.
Finally, he got a response. The cold water sent a visible shiver through her body and she sputtered and coughed. Her eyes fluttered open, wildly, looking around in a daze.
"What-what happened? Where am I?"
"Shh, Christine, everything is going to be all right. Do you remember what happened before you fainted?"
He could see her eyes becoming clearer as the realizations hit her and she realized what had happened
"Oh my god! What-how did we-"
He gently placed his hand over her mouth
"Christine, I don't have the time to explain right now, but I promise, I'll tell you everything later"
She nodded
He busied himself , shoving a few necessaries into his worn leather satchel. Christine watched him oddly as she shivered from the cold in his lair
He came back over to her
"Oh, Christine, I'm so sorry. Here, take my cloak, you must be freezing in that thin costume"
She gratefully accepted his heavy wool cloak as he gently bundled it around her. He looked at her. She had an odd expression on her face. What could be wrong? Maybe she-
Oh god. The full realization hit him like a slap in the face. She didn't want to go with him. She probably didn't care for him at all, and he'd just been fooling himself convinced that she did. The look of utter loathing on her face couldn't be any more obvious.
He knelt down beside her, unable to look up into her face
"Christine, I'm sorry. I just assumed-well, after everything that's happened, I thought that you would want to come with me. But, I can see that you don't want too, so, I can't- I wont' force you to come with me. You can just stay down here, it won't be as horrid if they just find you down here alone, you can say whatever you wish about me. I suppose you'll just want to go back to your little Vicomte. After all-"
She silenced him by placing her delicate hand over his mouth. He fell silent at the sweet shock of her touch.
"Erik, what are you trying to say?"
He sighed "Christine, I was far too arrogant, performing and putting us both in danger. The police will be down here any minute and I must leave. I just assumed you would want to come with me, but it's obvious that is the last thing you want, and I don't want to force you into doing anything you're not comfortable with." he finished sadly
She looked down at him
"You really think that?"
He nodded
She gently grasped his hand, pulling him up to stand with her
"Angel, the last thing I want is to be separated from you. An- Erik, can't you see that?"
She stroked her hand down his mask
"I love you"
Suddenly, she kissed him. Leaning in to him, she kissed him with all the passion and heat she had within her. He savored the sweet blend of innocence on her lips, putting his arms around her and kissing her again, tasting the forbidden pleasure he had always dreamed of. She responded by omitting a low, sweet moan from within her as she explored every inch of his mouth with her own
They reluctantly broke apart. Erik looked at her in shock
"Christine, you really want to do this?"
She smiled
"Anywhere you go, let me go too. I'm coming with you Angel"
He felt a strange noise come up from within his throat, finally realizing it was a laugh. He hadn't laughed for as long as he could remember. Then again, he had never been this happy before either.
They could both hear the sound of the Vicomte and the mob chanting as they came closer to the lair. Erik grasped Christine's hand tightly in his own
"Are you ready?"
She nodded, before gently pulling his mask off his face. He automatically moved to stop her, but he stayed his hand when she glared at him
"You won't need it any longer. This haunted face holds no horror for me now"
He smiled as she laid it down on the oak table next to his once cherished music box. He motioned to the trap door, carefully opened and she followed him willingly, both eager to begin their new life together.