Mme Phantom Chapter 7: Masquerade, a phantom of the opera fanfic

Chapter 7: Masquerade

The masquerade ball! Raoul and the opera house hosted a masquerade ball every year to celebrate the new season. It was Erika's favorite time of year because it was the one night when she was allowed out of the house and, most of all, to socialize. She would come as a common woman with no ties to the viscount or his family. She could talk and sing and dance without a care in the world. This year her costume was night themed, black and gold with a large flower corsage. Her mask covered almost her entire face, all but her mouth and chin was covered. It was one of the only times she wore her hair away from her face. The mask was black with a gold stripe down the centre and a large flower with a bow behind it on the right side of her face. Vincent, wouldn't you know it, wore a mask with ram horns. Change's costume made him resemble a parrot. Raoul and Christine went as King and Queen. How touching.

They got to the ball and were amazed at the response to this year's party. There were so many people, that they barely fit inside the opera house. It was such a good year that Raoul even allowed the servants of his household to come and enjoy themselves.

They were so happy, distracted, lost, and possibly drunk, that when Vincent bumped into Change later, they didn't recognize each other for a moment.

V: "Change, my brother!

C: "Ha Ha! Vincent!

V: Dear Change, what a splendid party.

C: The prologue to a bright new year.

V: Quite a night, I'm impressed.

C: Well, one does one's best.

V&C: Here's to us!

C: A toast to all the city,

V: it's a pity that the 'phantom' can't be here!

They laughed and moved inside, for the party was so big that outside was mostly socializing or drinking and inside was where everyone was dancing. Erika had spent most of the night here, dancing and singing along with the crowd.

Flash of mauve
Splash of puce
Fool and king
Ghoul and goose
Green and black
Queen and priest
Trace of rouge
Face of beast
Faces!
Take your turn; take a ride
on the merry-go-round
in an inhuman race
Eye of gold
Thigh of blue
True is false
who is who?
Curl of lip
Swirl of gown
Ace of hearts
Face of clown
Faces! Drink it in, drink it up
Till you've drowned
in the light
in the sound
but who can name the face?

Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill; let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lays
Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes
Masquerade! Run and hide, but a face will still pursue you.

As she was spinning, Erika noticed that Ida was also dancing and enjoying herself. She had no idea that the timid and shy servant girl could even look remotely happy.

I: What a night!

V&C: What a crowd!
Makes you glad
Makes you proud
all the crème De la crème!
Ch: Watching us, watching them!
I: All our fears are in the past!
V&C: Three months of relief!

Ch: Of delight!

V&C: Of Elysian peace!
And we can breathe at last.
Ch: No more notes! No more ghosts!

I: Here's a health.

V&C: Here's a toast.
To a prosperous year,
to our friends who are here.

Ch: May the splendor never fade!

V&C: What a blessed release!

I: And what a masquerade!

What Erika didn't notice was James had come, but he was not alone.

Justine: "Think of it,
(Spoken)
Our secret engagement.
Look, your future bride.
Just think of it.

Erika hadn't guessed that James had been calling on the house to see Justine. She was the biggest flirt around, but she had her sights set on him for a long time. She wanted him, his money, and most of all, his money.

Ju: Why is it secret? What have we to hide?
You promised me.

Ja: "No, Justine, please don't, she'll see.

Ju: Well then let her see.
It's an engagement, not a crime.
(Sung)
James now, what are you afraid of?

Ja: Let's not argue.

Ju: Let's not argue.

Ja: Please pretend. You will understand in time.

Ju: I can only hope I'll understand in time.

Crowd: "Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you
Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade! Grinning yellows, Spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill; let the spectacle astound you….

The others kept singing, but not Erika. She stopped dead. At that moment, Justine had kissed James, and Erika had turned around just in time to see it. She was heartbroken. Her? Her?! She started going about many ways to kill Justine in her head. Just than she was swept into a dance by the most unexpected of people. At first she had no idea what was going on, but she soon realized who this was who had, surprisingly, attended the ball. He half smiled at her from under his mask, shaped as a skull.

P: "Why so silent, good madam?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good madam?
I have written you an opera."

He pulled from his pocket a full score of music.

P: "Here, I bring the finish score.
La Don Juanita!"

She smiled. Her father giving her and opera! Her mind was almost pulled from Justine's treachery, but not completely.

E: "Fondest greetings to you to.
But I have business before I can comply.
Justine must be taught her place!
Not her normal trick of strutting around the men.
My James, he must shake her spell

It's not his fault, for he is just a man.
And my brothers they must learn that their place is in an office
not the arts.
As for my mom, Miss Christine Daae..."

She looked to see her mother staring at them over Raoul's shoulder, wide eyed. No doubt she recognized who Erika was dancing with and realized that the notes were a real true threat. She knew the Phantom would stop at nothing until he had Erika to himself, her one true parent. No boy that Erika loved could keep her on the surface of the world.

P: "No doubt she knows her role,

It's true, her love for you
Is real, though
Should she wish to keep you
She has much still to learn
If pride will let her care for you,

Her daughter,
Her daughter..."

They did not talk much after that. They danced together, having a marvelous time, completely oblivious to anything but themselves and each other. They had no idea that Christine was planning. She was planning to try and save the life and heart of James, who she knew would be pulled into this. The only way she could think of to do that would be to tell him. Tell him of the phantom and his daughter, the Angels of Darkness, of Deceit.

She was looking for an excuse to go over to him, when Raoul told her he was stepping outside for a drink. This was just the opportunity she was waiting for. She started over, but was swept into a dance by another. A tall man, smelling of strong wine, had wandered over and decided to dance with the first woman who caught his attention. He was very loud, and though he danced with her, he paid no attention to her when she repeatedly asked him to leave. After what seemed to be a long while they stopped. The man looked over his shoulder at who was behind him. "May I?" the new figure asked.

"Um, sure, sure." And without another word the drunken man staggered off. The new figure was even more frightening to her then the last and she was so shocked at his approach that she hardly noticed when they started dancing as well.

"Erik…" she whimpered. He chuckled, a low terrorizing sound.

They twirled around, the colors swirling into a dizzying mass. "Erik, please," She pulled the strength to speak. "Please don't do this to her."

"Do what?" he sneered.

"You know."

"Do I?"

She closed her eyes and bent her head. "You have to let her go. You can't give her everything, you know that." She looked back up at him. His lips were pressed tightly together in a fine line. They did not speak for what seemed hours. Then Christine noticed something. They were no longer in the throes of dancers, but were dancing alone in the empty hallways. The candles were dimmed, and Christine was pulled unwillingly back into the night so long ago, when his music set her free.

They stopped dancing. She looked around, then back at her partner. She couldn't help looking into his eyes, which were no longer hard, but soft. She remembered that look. They bent their heads towards each other. But she turned away and pulled herself from his warm arms and into the cold abandoned hallway.

Ch: "I must go. They'll wonder where I am."

She started down the long hall, leaving him behind. Just as she reached the end, she heard his voice for the last time.

P: "Christine I love you."

She paused, and then made her way back to the party. She came out with her first goal, spotting James on one side of the floor twirling with Justine and Erika on the other back to dancing by herself.

When she believed Erika's attention was distracted, she went over to James. "Excuse me monsieur, may I have a word?"

James turned around, letting go of Justine, who looked very fickle. As soon as he turned around, however, his eyes rested of Erika, who, from what he saw, was dancing with an unknown man in a skeleton mask. And she was enjoying herself. A lot. For reasons he did not know, he suddenly went on the alert. "Who is that man?" he asked, well, snapped.

"Come with me monsieur, I will tell you. But you must be very casual. Do not make eye contact with anyone. Hurry, monsieur, hurry!" She grabbed his wrist and pulled him across the other side of the room from Erika. She glanced around before letting go and running up the stairs. He could have turned around then, disregarding the babblings of a crazy woman. But something compelled him to follow her up the stairs. Curiosity, Fear? Or something else, something deeper and more attached to the soul than any other emotion?