Capturing A Phantom Heart.
Chapter Eight: A Deadly Warning.
Time passed.
The Opera Poplaurie was slowly getting it's confidence back with more operas that were selling out.
There was no fear or threats from the Phantom.
It was like he had simply disappeared.
Much to Raoul's disappointment and anger.
Christine had recovered from her spell of illness and returned back to dancing with Meg .
Speaking of the young Giry, she went to a ball two weeks ago and let her eyes fell on the most handsome gentleman from England.
He promised her that he would here for tonight's pefomance where she would get a rare supporting role alongside Carlotta in a romantic comedy.
She was constanly gushing about him, boosting about how rich he was and always bringing fresh flowers nearly every day.
Christine was very happy for her sister, they grew closer than ever and shared many secrets that they didn't say before.
But for Olivia, she was sinking in a never ending nightmare.
Ever since she heard of the name of her mysterious Phantom, it never stopped her constant thoughts of him.
No matter how much she tried, it all failed.
Even her dreams were teasing her with more erotic encounters, heartbreaking rejections and wedding bliss.
Mother kept a very close eye on her every day, checking on her whereabouts and if she was fine.
Olivia placed a mask on her face, a fake smile that never reached anywhere and spoke in a mild manner.
She noticed her friendship with Christine was non-existant, not even Meg looked at her with a care.
It was like she was a black sheep, no longer wanted because she did the unthinkable.
She fell in love with the Phantom Of The Opera, the most wanted man in Paris and the ghost that constanly haunted everyone in his path.
It was the night of the opera, every seat was filled with people ready for the pefomance.
Reyer was chatting to his fellow muscians, preparing them for the upcoming show.
Carlotta was moaning yet again about her dress in her room, Piangi was standing outside talking to other dancers.
Christine and Raoul were sharing a moment in the roof, no one bothered them at all.
Meg was showing her gentleman lover all around the area, sneaking sweet kisses in each place they went to.
Mother was placing the final touches on Olivia's hair, silence was intensing for the both of them until Mother broke it.
"There, you're ready." She said, with a sigh.
Olivia stood, straighing her dress and clucthing her hands together.
"Mother, do I have to do this? I'm tired, I don't feel very well." Olivia lied.
A stern look went across the woman's face, she was quickly getting annoyed about the girl's behaviour and her lying isn't helping her boiling temper.
"You're fine, now get out there and do your job." Mother replied, pushing her out of the door.
Olivia looked at her harshly, rubbing her back where her nails dug in her skin.
"Get moving!" She shouted, pointing her finger.
Olivia gave her one last frown, then stomped down the coridoor and headed to the stage in a sulk.
She watched the dancers doing their final movements, getting them right while they were talking to one another.
A sharp feel of lonliness fell over her, tears were begining to pool in her eyes.
If only she was with Erik, he was all what mattered in her life.
The thought of him rejecting her for Christine would forever shatter her heart, no-one else would repair it or make it beat again.
Even the dreams she had of him pushing her aside seemed so real and damaging that she refused to leave her room all day and cried until she couldn't no more.
The music was begining it's melody, the chatter of visitors quickly died away.
Everyone and everything was set.
Raoul and Meg's gentleman sat in box five, waiting for their lovers to appear.
Olivia watched them, giggling like a bunch of schoolgirls.
Disgust and jealously filled her feelings so much that she turned away to up above where a flash took her attention.
Something was rustling, movement echoed but it was hard to hear over the booming music.
Olivia felt a shiver run up and down her spine, could it be?
The curtains opened to reveal the stage and it's players.
She focused on her duty though she did linger her eyes up a few times.
Carlotta burst in, singing in her loud operatic voice.
Piangi stood there and admired his woman.
He had a lucky break after Don Juan, he thought he died from the Phantom's cruel hands but he fainted instead of losing his life.
Carlotta sobbed for days, Piangi was her soul mate forever and always though she sometimes treated him poorly.
He was a good lover, passionate and romantic on certain days.
He always stood by her when she thought she would be overthrown for that Daae woman.
But now, she was back as a chours girl and she was in the limelight again.
The audience wasn't noticing her much, they were focusing on Olivia.
The girl that strangely looked like Christine, the woman that played a powerful pefomance with Don Juan.
She looked lost, pushed aside so that other dancers could appear for everyone to see.
Meg came alongside Carlotta, letting her vocal voice come out.
It wasn't masterful or perfect, the audience liked her pretty face but she was nothing special.
She winked at box five, her gentleman did the same back to her.
Then Christine appeared, twirlling and blew a kiss to Raoul which he caught.
But when it was Olivia's turn to dance, a sudden loud bang made everyone scream and turn at where it came from.
At the doors stood a dark figure, covered in black head to toe.
It came closer, it's every step was dangerous and mencening.
Two eyes appeared from the black cloak, boring on everyone it went by.
Horror and terror was on their faces, terrified of what could happen next.
Raoul and the gentleman rushed out of the box to go and comfort their lovers who were shaking.
It was only Olivia that didn't feel the fear, she stood very still and watched the figure.
But when it's eyes laid on her, that was when she realised who it was.
Erik.
He tore off the cloak and let it fly in the air, slowly floating down to the floor.
Light beemed on him revealing his shape and face.
A sneer was on his lips, a frown shadowed his eyes and a long mask covered that one side.
He climbed on the stage, the dancers backed away from his wrath.
Igorning Olivia, he went towards Christine with something in his hands.
Raoul stood to protect her, rage and hatred boiled in his eyes.
"You can't touch her, murderer!" He said, bitterly.
"Oh no? Just you wait." Erik said, coldly.
He turned from them, looking around the crowd.
"Good evening, monsires and madams." He began with a chilling voice.
The audience felt uncomfortable in their seats, the way he stared at them unevered their very core.
"Hear this: there will be a new opera that I have written. No more of this nonsense playing here, proper opera that will be shown here within a week. I want everyone that has come here to be in the same seats, wearing the same clothes and styles. This opera is about love and tragdey about a young woman who falls in love with a man that everyone refuses her to, she becomes a black sheep with no one to comfort her execpt the man who she dearly loves. There are many twists which even I haven't finished or written on, you will have to wait to decide. The cast should be: Christine.." He turned and pointed at her.
"As the lead girl."
She looked away from him, shocked and upset that once again he hasn't let her go.
Raoul took her in his arms and comforted her while she quietly sobbed.
Olivia looked at her, then at Erik.
She wasn't a black sheep at all, it was her that was.
"The remaining cast will be done tomorrow night, La Carlotta will NOT appear in this or there will be trouble to pay." With those words, he looked at her with burning hatred.
She wanted to charge at him with her long nails, giving him a what for but Piangi pulled her aside.
"Ah, I see you have surrived my fat friend." He said, cruelly.
Anger was on his face, he suddenly reconisdered letting himself and Carlotta go to attack him but one simple look from Raoul made them think again.
"As for little Meg Giry, stop going on about your lover. Boosting will lead to a downfall, you are heading that way." Erik said, letting a wicked grin come across his face.
Meg shook her head, big tears fell down her face.
Her gentleman came to comfort her, he giving a evil stare back at the masked man.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" He said, gruffly.
Suddenly, Erik rushed towards him in very quick footsteps.
His body loomed over them, Meg began to whimper while the man stood his ground.
"You don't belong here, English man. Go back to where you come from or better yet, take your shaking whore with you!" He shouted.
The audience gasped at the coarse words, shaking their head in shame.
Turning away from them, his eyes lay on Olivia.
Not once did she shiver or tremble in fear but she was simply fooling herself.
He walked towards her in slow steps, his orbs burning intensely in her own.
Just a few meters from touching, his needy breath blowing against her.
Her heart was thundering in a dangerous way, uncontrolable and risky.
"As for you, Olivia.." He began in a quiet but threatening voice.
"Get over what you feel for me, I never wanted you. All that time we shared, I imaged Christine especially that kiss."
The audience gasped again, they felt for the woman that stood there who was brave but must have been mad to let herself go with this madman.
"No one wants you here any longer, I can see it in their eyes and faces. Why don't you leave? The opera is not a place for a wanton whore like you. In fact, Meg is innocent compared to you. Having erotic dreams! I heard everything you said to Madame Giry, you sick woman! You disgust me and the whole of Paris. I don't want to see your ugly face here ever again, do you understand?" He warned.
Olivia's lip began to tremble, her eyes shone of tears.
"But what would you do if I don't?" She asked, suddenly feeling a bout of strengh to make herself stand up against him.
He leaned down to her ear and whispered the most shocking threat that was for her only to hear.
"I will kill you."
Within that, he quickly grabbed his cloak and disappeared in a thick cloud of black smoke.
Everyone chocked except Olivia.
Stunned, horrified, heartbroken. The dream had come true in the worst way she could ever imagine.
Why had he done this? Why did he say all those horrid and cruel things?
There was one way to find out: she had to find him.
Running away from the increasing ammount of smoke, she headed to Carlotta's dressing room.
As she opened the door, she watched Erik pull aside the mirror and stepped inside.
Waiting for his shadow to disappear, Olivia took a deep breath and went towards the object.
Fear and breaking down was threatening to overwealm her but she had to be brave.
She had to try and find out why this happened, sooner rather than later.
But would it make or break what she felt for Erik?
Only time will tell.
Author's Note: Another chapter should be up soon, hope you enjoy this one.