Capturing A Phantom Heart.
Chapter Three: The Fateful Meeting.
There was only two hours until Don Juan will begin for the Opera Poplaurie.
Olivia quickly read through the script and sung the songs alone in her bedroom.
Then Mother came in, she instanly stopped what she was doing.
"Come Olivia, I shall get you dressed in Carlotta's old dressing room." She said.
A rushing shiver went down her spine, her voice suddenly turned dry.
Olivia never told anyone what happened there that day except that she found Christine in a faint.
Those eyes crept back in her thoughts, the strange colour boring into hers.
Mother noticed Olivia's distress, she slowly came towards her and laid a comforting hand.
"I know you are nervous about tonight," She began.
Olivia looked at her, if only she could open her mouth and tell her the truth that she was haunted by one pair of orbs that oddly pulled her in.
"But you are doing Christine a favour, she is very weak and I couldn't see her lasting on stage for the whole pefomance."
"Is Raoul going?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, though it pains him to leave her. You want to see his face, such despair yet hope in his eyes." Mother replied.
She frowned at that response but shrugged it off, then both of them walked out and headed to the dressing room.
With each passing person that stared at her, Olivia felt her confidence shatter and terror overcame her.
Even entering the room made her shiver with it's wide walls, a painting of the diva holding a head on a plate left her gasping at the sight.
Mother shut the door behind them, then rushed to a stool where a risky dress lay.
She helpped Olivia to put it on, then she pushed her to the mirror.
"There, don't you look beautiful?" She said, softly.
But Olivia was quietly whimpering not at her image but the fact that this was the place where she saw those eyes.
Would they reappear?
"My child, what is the matter? You are shaking like a leaf." Mother asked, twirling around to block the mirror.
"Nothing Mother, I'm fine. Just a little nervous and cold." She replied, with a weak smile.
She didn't believe her but didn't say a another word.
"Come, we shall speak to Christine and get you ready for the stage."
Olivia was relived that she was leaving this room, she was the first to head out without a second's hesitation.
Mother frowned at her adopted daughter's behavour, she could sense that there was something she was hiding terribly.
Entering the room where a frail Christine lay, Olivia sat beside her and took her hands into her own.
"Oh, it's like looking at my twin just without my eyes." She said, with a smile.
"Christine, I'm nervous." Olivia said, with fear in her voice.
She looked at her, if only she knew the real truth about what was going to happen tonight.
"You will do alright, I'm sure of it."
Olivia nodded.
She looked across the room where Meg was fully dressed for the Opera and Raoul changed into his suit.
"Are you ready?" Mother asked Olivia.
One more look at Christine, then she turned and nodded her head.
The stage was set, crowds of people were waiting for Reyer to tap his box to begin the show.
Olivia watched everyone getting into postion, Meg waved at her direction which she replied back.
Music boomed out, playing it's new melody.
The red curtains pulled away to reveal the stage, the actors and dancers were doing their bit.
Then they began to sing, the words were so suggestive and risky that it shocked the public deeply.
Fans were open, women were shaking their heads while men were muttering under their breaths.
The song ended with Carlotta overdoing it with her booming voice, she nudged a another person aside constanly while they were trying to point at where the story really began.
Piangi entered, throwing coins at Meg while singing about his plan to woo a young virgin.
Olivia was holding the basket with a tight grip, she would deeply annoy the public for not being Christine but she had to try her hardest.
A echoing laugh came from Piangi, two others were smiling as he went back behind the curtain.
Suddenly, he gasped when a large figure came and landed on him.
This was Olivia's cue.
With each hestaint step and her voice singing of love, her eyes rose up to see the public were deeply in love with her already.
She looked up at Raoul, a swift nod of the head made her more confident but she didn't let it show on her face.
Leaning down on the floor, playing with a rose, she didn't hear the soothing voice of a different man than Piangi.
Then, when he rose it so that everyone could hear, Olivia stopped what she was doing.
With each note, she slowly rose her head and turned to the direction where he stood.
She gasped suddenly at his finger touching his lips.
Who was this masterful and beautiful man?
His meer presence made everything else melt away.
Taller than she, his booming yet muscaline voice was sending raw shivers down her spine that she shut her eyes and let it embrace her.
A swift of his cape, she quickly opened them and could not take them off him.
The black mask covered his whole face apart from his eyes and that beautiful mouth that breathed out words she couldn't possiably imagine.
He was getting closer, the smell of his male scent was deeply intoxiating for Olivia.
She had never felt like this before, passion and burning lust was overtaking her.
Suddenly, he rushed and cupped her neck with his large hands.
His touch made her shiver, her eyes were blissfully shut and her mouth slightly open.
Then he slid down to her arm which he held very closely to his heart, his eyes quickly blaring in hers.
She wouldn't realise that it was the man that had those haunting orbs until much later on.
He let her go, singing the last few lines while she backed away trying to gather back her senses.
She had to sing next, would she remember the words?
Quickly they came, not rushed but in a flow like a running waterfall.
Her eyes wandered everywhere execpt from him, she had to try and not to succumb to him.
Then she turned, feeling the sleeves fall down from her shoulder blades to her arms, her eyes burning into his.
All what she said seemed so real and truthful, she had decided to be with this mysterious stranger and that she would forever burn in hell with him just to feel his touch.
The pair walked up the stairs, one on left side while the other on the right side.
Their eyes never left each others, she still sang like a passionate nightingale.
Reaching the top, Olivia let a note linger.
He swished his cape and let it cover the banner, they both sang as they walked closer to each other.
Once they got there, she placed her hands on his arms while his were on her hips.
He quickly turned her around with a crafty twirl so that she could be against his back.
Singing until there was no more left to be said, his hands slowly rose to her neck again with her own leading the way for him.
The crowd were on the edge of their seat but for Mother, Meg and Raoul, they were terrified.
Guards were dispatched everywhere, there was no escape.
But for Olivia and the stranger, they were oblivous.
How she longed for this moment to never end, the touches and his song would forever burn in her memories.
Then he slowly sung a song she had never heard before, his fingers curling her hair until they fell back on her neck.
She was loving every second of it, just to feel his breath against her was desireable.
Without noticing, he pulled her around so they were facing each other.
She opened her eyes and stared at him only to feel horror come back at her.
It was the man that she saw long ago!
But the fear was erased, the love and affection that he was steaming from his orbs was a beautiful sight to see.
"Christine, that's all I ask of you!" He sung out.
"Wait a minute, I'm not Christine. I'm Olivia."
Her words stung the man that was holding her tightly.
From pure passion to shattered heart then raw anger, Olivia realised that she had made the biggest mistake in her life.
Author's Note: Uh oh, that was pretty bad of her to say that huh? So what do you think of this chapter?