I DONT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
BUT I DO OWN THE SONG
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Elizabeth couldn't remember the last time she was ever this exited.
Tomorrow she was due to see an opera in the theatre that her Master had suggested, he had even secured a ticket for her.
Elizabeth was seated in the loveseat by her window with a cup of camomile tea to sooth her nerves.
After so many months of singing opera Elizabeth was looking so forward to seeing her first. The opera she was to see was the Magic Flute; she had never before heard of this except in reference to her sister Verity who sometimes played pieces from the opera since it was written by Mozart.
Elizabeth, now more than ever, was a little thankful for her sudden impulse to turn back when she had run from him before.
When her Master had released her and told her to run she had complied and ran. But once in the tunnel her feet slowed to a stop. She had stood there, shaking with dear, half because of what had happened and half because of the fact that despite what had happened she really didn't want to leave.
She was so scared, but she couldn't get the image of him out of her mind. How he just stood there, there was horror in his eyes and shame. He looked like he really had no idea what he was doing.
The rational part of her mind told her to run, run as far as possible and never return and perhaps she could one day fool herself into believing that it had all been a dream. However, the other part of her mind, the part that was connected to her emotions, her soul and her heart made her stop.
It scared her how much she really trusted him, how much she seeked his approval and how it hurt when she felt that she was displeasing him. Elizabeth so badly wanted to believe in him, even when his hand had been on her throat she had wanted to believe there was some other reason as to why this was happening. She didn't want to fear him.
She was so confused, and so lost.
But then she heard his music, his organ playing and at that moment Elizabeth knew where she really wanted to go. Once again she disregarded her logical side as her feet moved without her own knowledge back down the pipe, back to him. His sweet music called to her like the piper of hamlet to the children of the town, and just as they were drawn to their deaths Elizabeth couldn't have stayed away even if it meant ending up back on his noose.
One step at a time, she was still scared, but for a different reason. What if he told her to leave? What if he did not want to see her anymore? The thought of never seeing him again made Elizabeth's heart ache.
When she finally saw him, the words had just spilt out her mouth with no control; she leant against his leg because it felt right, she wanted to be close to him. And when he sang to her, Elizabeth had felt in her very core that she had made the right decision returning to him.
She smiled a little at the memory. Thinking about their little question time, the whole thing seemed too surreal, or in a better use of the word, completely unreal. It didn't seem like something her Master would engage in, almost too normal for someone as spectacular as he. But it had certainly happened. He respected her wish not to speak of her family just yet and for that she was thankful.
Elizabeth really did not want to stop her lessons yet, not when she still had so much to learn.
A soft knock at her door disturbed her thoughts "Come in" Elizabeth called and the door opened to reveal Verity. She smiled sweetly "Elizabeth, I saw your light on, I thought you might want some company?" in her hands was a tray set with some tea. Elizabeth looked down at her cup and realised she was nearly finished.
"Thank you Verity, that's very thoughtful of you, why don't you come and sit here?" she patted the chair by the love seat. She poured the tea and handed the cup to Elizabeth who in turn handed her previous one back to be placed on the tray. She sniffed the aroma and smiled. Earl Grey, Verity's favourite. Elizabeth liked this brand too, but she preferred Camomile a little more. It was incredibly relaxing.
They drank in silence for a while with Verity tapping her foot rapidly against the floor. Elizabeth sighed "Verity, please do not twitch, it is most unbecoming and you do not want it to grow into a bad habit. Now tell me what had gotten you so anxious."
Verity frowned "Nothing is wrong" she said "I just don't understand how you could possible sit so quietly for so long, don't you get restless?"
Elizabeth shrugged "I like the peace it gives, leaves room to think; sometimes one must take time to stop and simply...take it all in."
"Take what in?" Verity asked
Elizabeth thought for a moment and shrugged "Oh, I don't know. Life I suppose. Yes, I believe sometimes it is good to just sit down sometimes and reflect, or just to think. It gives one a sense of peace and calm."
Verity raised a brow "What it gives me is a sense of boredom, really Sister, lighten up a little, you're always so serious and calm."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"No" Verity nodded "I guess it's a good thing, but you really shouldn't be so eek. I saw how Mother was lecturing you again; you should stand up for yourself more, tell her to mind herself a little."
Elizabeth smiled and thought wistfully of actually standing up to her mother and father, then sighed.
Heh, if only! Elizabeth didn't have a single brave bone in her body, she was sure of it.
"Hey Elizabeth" Verity said.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering, since you haven't tied your hair back yet, can I do it?"
"Elizabeth smiled "Of course" she said.
Verity beamed and jumped up to retrieve the brush, a few bobby pins and two ribbons from Elizabeth's vanity table and stood behind her as she took some of her black tendrils in her hands and brushed.
"Your hair is so soft" Verity commented "No one really notices it, but it feels just like silk, I wish I could get my hair like this."
Elizabeth shook her head slightly, but stopped when Verity became annoyed "Your hair is much prettier Verity, everyone thinks you're beautiful."
"You're beautiful too Sister, just in a different way and it annoys me so much whenever mother complains about your colouring. I mean what's wrong with it? It's not like you're the only girl in England with black hair."
"No, but I'm the only girl in this family with black hair." Elizabeth countered.
Verity was silent for a moment before saying "Still, it's really pretty, especially at night, if we snuffed the candles, I bet the moon would make it all silvery blue. Like that time when we were kids and we went out at night to climb trees." She finished brushing her hair and began to separate it fir two long plaits.
Elizabeth smiled "You still remember that?"
Verity finished one plait and began on the other, pulling hard on the hair, just the way Elizabeth liked it "Of course, I certainly remember the way mother yelled at us when she found out."
Elizabeth and Verity giggled a little at the memory. As children Verity once dared her hand their sisters to a tree climbing contest. But they weren't able to do it in the day because their mother would disapprove, so they went at night instead. Of course Verity won and of course Elizabeth became the voice of reason who lost the dare by staying on the ground because she wasn't sure the tree could hold all of them. And it didn't, Verity fell after reaching the top and is was a good thing Elizabeth was at the bottom because her catching her falling sister was the only reason the girl didn't walk with a limp to this day.
"You saved my life" Verity said softly as she finished the second plait and secured it with a ribbon.
Elizabeth took her hand and led her so she was sitting on the love sea before her. "You're my sister, what was I supposed to do?"
Verity smiled "I know, you're really loyal, that's what's so great about you" she said as she hugged her. Elizabeth laughed "Hey, hey, what brought this on?"
Verity sighed "today I visited the Callow sisters, the ones who's eldest sister died three years ago. They're still in mourning and it was just so sad. I suppose they would be seeing as they're triplets, but it made me think."
Elizabeth smiled before pulling her sisters into her arms "Don't worry, I'm far from dead, in fact I intend to stick around simply to nag you to stop your twitching habits."
Verity laughed "Oh Elizabeth, I do love you, you always know how to make me laugh."
Elizabeth had her lie back so her head Verity's head was in her lap and began to comb her fingers through the girls hair, twirling her finger every now and again around the natural ringlets and hummed.
"Hey, is that that song that Maria always used to sing to you when you had nightmares?"
"Yes"
"She never did like me, she only liked you."
"Well you and the others did give her a lot of trouble."
"But she wanted us to do arithmetic!"
"Arithmetic is fun."
"Not for me. You're so strange Elizabeth, you actually like all that stuff, I think I would be content in life with just my piano. Seriously, I don't think I even need a husband, just my music and that's all"
Elizabeth smiled "That's good; it's always good to have something you are passionate about."
"Yeah" Verity smiled "Thanks Lizzy, I like talking with you, you don't judge anyone, you just listen. Hermione and Abigail wouldn't understand if I told them I had no interest in marriage. Abigail would act like it's scandalous and Hermione would lecture me, she's turning into a mini-mother."
They giggled "Verity that's horrible…although she is quite bossy"
"Bossy does not cover it Elizabeth, Hermione simply likes to nag, it's hard to imagine her as the girl who used to encourage pranks when we were kids."
"It's all a sign of growing up Sister dear."
"Well I hope I never grow up."
Elizabeth laughed. She really did love her sisters, more than anything. She may sometimes feel jealous of their accomplishments and feel sad that she would always remain in their shadows, but in the end she loved them dearly. After all she was their big sister.
"Hey, would you sing it for me, the song? I don't remember any of the words."
Elizabeth nodded "Sure"
She took a breath and sang:
"When the sun begins to set
When the sky is filled with twinkling lights
A fateful dream awaits you in sleep
A gentle story only for you
Close your eyes and drift away
I'll hold you in my arms till you wake
My Darling child
Sleeping so sound
I'll treasure, the times that we have together
When you are smiling
Even when you're crying
I'll love you
Enough to
Last us a life time"
She finished the song and sighed, in her lap Verity smiled "That was nice" she yawned "You know, you have a really pretty voice Elizabeth. You always had a pretty voice but somehow it seems prettier." And with that she fell asleep.
Elizabeth smiled widely at the compliment, it meant her voice was improving if Verity noticed it, it was her Master's influence working.
Elizabeth lifted her sister's head off her lap and went to call for a servant to take her to her room. Once Verity was safely in bed Elizabeth also went to sleep.
She had a busy say for tomorrow.
CHAPTER FINISHED
I HOPE YOU ALL LIKED IT
I WANTED TO GO INTO ELIZABETHS REALTIONSHIP WITH HER SISTERS A LITTLE, I SON WANT PEOPLE TO SART THINKING OF THEM AS THE BAD GUYS BECAUSE THEY ARENT. THEY CANT HELP THAT THEY'RE TALENTED AND ELIZABETH STILL LOVED THEM DEARLY.
NO Erik UNFORTUNELY BUT STILL, I HOPE IT WAS OK
PLEASE REVEIW