It had passed a week since Saya's and Phantom's last meeting. So far, when she slept, there was nothing but pleasant dreams of her imagination. And there was...there was Solomon. She and Solomon had gotten very close the past few days. They spent hours talking; their dinner breaks together, and studied their Operas together. Solomon was so sweet and attractive Saya almost completely forgot about Phantom.
The night of the performance soon came, tragedy would soon strike.
Annemarie was warming up soon after she put on her costume. She complained that she had to cover her blonde hair with a black wig, nevertheless, if she wanted to keep the part she would have to wear it. Saya prepared for her role as well and prayed that nothing would go wrong.
She hoped nothing would go wrong.
A dark shadow passed over the ceiling of the Opera House with black wings. The shadow crept into the window and empty hallways. It targeted the stage, though, it knew it could not be seen or the performance would be ruined.
This will be a wonderful night.
The shadow was Phantom. Though, his presence did not provoke his vampire brethren. Strange, how silver dimmed the smell of his blood. He crept in the shadows of the backstage; he eyed Saya who stood before Solomon. He grimaced at the couple.
How he wanted to kill Solomon right then and there.
"It's a shame, you really would've made an impressive Carmen," Solomon said. His hand caressed her neck, Saya smiled.
"I know, but Annemarie is just more experienced. And I feel a little down because..." she started but she looked down. She looked so ashamed of herself at this point, wanting to cry. Solomon cupped her chin and pulled her face forward so he could get a good look at her.
"You still sing beautifully. I hope you do well, Saya," Solomon said softly. Saya nodded her head. Solomon kissed her cheek and Saya smiled.
"Shine, Star of the Night," he encouraged. Saya nodded her head and left, she had to because the Opera was going to begin soon.
So, Annemarie has taken your place my dear?
Well then, a visit I will need to pay
With another swift billow of his cape he was gone and off to complete another dark deed.
Annemarie drank an herbal tea before she went on. It was rather late which made her testy. The servant had explained that the teacup had gone missing for a minute and that she had to look for it. Annemarie scolded the servant and drank her tea, only knowing it was her downfall.
The stage curtains opened, the play began. And soon, as the first song began Annemarie opened her mouth and prepared to sing. Nothing came out but a raspy note, she gasped. The audience laughed and the orchestra stopped.
"No, keep going!" Annemarie yelled at the maestro. She tried to sing again but her singing was raspy and hoarse, she ran off stage and the curtains closed. Joel and Amshel ran on stage to help clear things up.
"Dear Opera guest, we are sorry for the inconvenience. Carmen will start again in fifteen minutes when the act of Carmen is played by Ms. Otonashi," Joel said. He pulled Saya onto the stage and she stared into the audience with a worried expression. The audience cheered for Saya.
"For the time being we will indulge you with The Toreador Song and Habanera," Joel told the maestro. The orchestra quickly turned their pages and began to play the music. The curtains opened and singing began.
The servant who had brought Annemarie her tea looked at the cup, it smelled different. A chill ran down her neck, she turned her head to the side to see a mask man.
"Well, I was planning on killing Annemarie but you'll do," Phantom said. The servant girl ran but Phantom was faster. Within a second, without anyone seeing, he grabbed the girl and strangled her. He had to make sure that there was no sign of him returning. However, just as a warning...he jumped up onto the rafters and dropped the dead servant girl onstage.
The audience screamed, everyone screamed. Someone had been murdered.
Saya ran out of her dressing room and saw the dead girl's body. She clutched the blue rose she had taken from her room, she now knew she was not safe. She turned around and called out for Solomon. Solomon soon arrived before her and Saya grabbed his hand and ran.
"We're not safe here!" Saya warned. She held his hand and ran. She was leading him to the Opera House's rooftop.
What is wrong my dear?
He'll find us here
Who is he, Saya?
The Vampire of the Opera
They headed up a staircase, Saya's cloak flaring behind her as she walked hastily and desperately. Solomon followed her as she held his hand, keeping him close to her body.
I do not sense him
Saya
He is gone forever
He is tied to me
Unable to sever
He lives to kill
I can't elude him
I never will
They headed up the spiral staircase, the last staircase that they would have to walk up to get to the rooftop. Saya's dress and cloak fluttered as she swayed, she was in a hurry.
And in this maze
(And in this maze)
Where darkness has no face
(Where darkness has no face)
The Vampire of the Opera has healed
(The Vampire of the Opera could have never healed)
Tonight secrets have been revealed
(There are no secrets to be revealed)
They exited the Opera House and Saya shut the door behind her. She locked the door from the outside so no one could interfere or listen. Little did she know of the shadow watching them. She turned and looked at him with a worried expression. She stepped toward him, her gypsy dress swaying with her steps.
The Vampire of the Opera is gone
Solomon the puzzles undone
How could I have ever been so blind?
The Vampire is alive and in my mind
Saya looked at the blue rose in her hand and closed her eyes. Her tears fell on its beautiful petals like crystals clinging to a necklace. She looked back up at Solomon. She suppressed her sadness and continued to warn him.
Solomon,
I've been there,
To his realm of perpetual night
A place where all sunlight is banished by darkness,
Darkness
Solomon,
I've seen him
How could I ever forget such flesh?
So scarred and cold
Its...
Inerasable in my head
Saya looked back down at the blue rose, taking in its sweet aroma. She looked up for a moment and turned from Solomon; who looked a trifle worried. She began to walk toward the ledge of the rooftop but soon stopped.
But, his songs filled my heart with a chilling sound
In my soul music flooded all around
And,
I wanted to paint the night...
And I've sung as I've never sung before
(Those were nightmares and nothing more)
But in those eyes, beneath the malice
Lies a soul truly suffering
And all the pain and sorrow no one could comprehend
Shed in crimson tears
Saya, Saya
(Saya...)
Saya heard a faint call of her name, it was Phantom's voice. Her eyes began to pool with tears and Solomon hugged her, his warm breath beating against her ear. His embrace was warm and solacing; Saya stifled her tears and absorbed the warmth in the embrace.
Saya,
Please, no more talk of pain
Forget his wicked reign
I'm with you
No force will hurt you
I will calm you and protect you
Saya turned to him and tried to smile but couldn't. She was so worried that Solomon was wrong and worried that she might be going insane. She needed to hear that it was her imagination; she needed to be solaced by Solomon.
But his touch felt so...
Solomon held a finger to her lips. Saya rested her head on his chest. Solomon wrapped his arms tighter around, feeling that Saya was going to weep. He set his left hand on the back of her head, admiring the silken feel of her ebony tresses.
Please let those nightmares go
If he has returned I would have sensed his presence
Who could ever forget his essence?
Saya looked up at Solomon and Solomon looked down at her. His embrace loosened into a loose hug, bracing himself to hold Saya if she began to weep. He touched her face, wiping way a few tears that were visible on her cheeks,
Saya,
My beautiful goddess
How sadness had plagued countenance
I love you
Will my word do?
Saya smiled and her eyes cleared of the impending tears; now they were shining with happiness and relief.
Say you love me and it's truth you speak
Please tell me I'm not weak
Compose me with words of sunshine
Solace me with reminders of warmth
Say you need me with you
Forever and in death
That's all I ask of you
You know he's gone,
That you've won
I will be your guidance in the darkness
As long as you're with me
I shall be your guidance
Saya walked away from him and smiled at him. She looked so happy and filled with relief. She opened her mouth; she was standing up to the shadows, condescending them. She would not do their biding as her curse promised.
All I want is liberation
A promise of living with no lie
And with you
Always promising me
Freedom in your arms
To deliver me
Than say you'll spend every evening with me
Let me enrapture you from your lonely world
Say you need me with you
Here to hold you and to guide you
Anywhere you travel
Let me follow you
That is all I ask of you
Saya neared him and her body closed the space between them. Solomon took her hands lovingly and smiled.
Say you'll spend with me every moment
Of our life
Take my hand and I will follow too
That's all I ask of you
Say you'll always stay with me through ever encumber(Say you'll always stay with me through ever encumber)
Say you'll stay with me through the fall and summer
(Say you'll stay with me through the fall and summer)
Promise me, you'll share with me everything
(Promise me, you'll share with me everything)
And when we are left with nothing you'll be my everything
(And when we are left with nothing you'll be my everything)
They kissed. Solomon spun Saya around and the kiss didn't end until a long minute later. They looked into each other's eyes and took a breath. They braced their lungs for the next verse of their song.
Say you love me
You know I do and you can see
They kissed again, this time more passionately and carelessly. Saya dropped the blue rose she held, completely forgetting about her blood-lover, Phantom. Their arms wrapped around their bodies; embracing and savoring each other. The kiss parted and they began to sing again.
Wherever you go I'll go too
(Wherever you go I'll go too)
Love me, that's all I ask of you
(Love me, that's all I ask of you)
They were about to kiss again but Saya pulled back and smiled.
"The performance," Saya said. Solomon kissed her unexpectedly and Saya smiled beneath his lips. Once the kiss parted they took hands and walked toward the door, unlocked it and prepared to go back to the stage.
Order your fine horses now
I'll wait at the door
Saya I'll love you for now
And for evermore
The door was halfway shut as they entered, the last of their song seeping through.
You'll be here to hold me
To solace and to hear me...
Phantom walked out of the shadows and crouched before the rose that Saya had dropped. He picked it up and looked at him numbly, he was disappointed and upset.
I sculpted your voice to match the angels
Imbued you with pure wings
And
This is how you repay me?
You forget me and betray me...
He was bound to love you
The moment he heard us sing
Saya...
He held the rose to his chin and he let out a soft sob. His angel...How could his angel betray him? How could his angel kiss another when his lips were the first she's ever touched by means of blood? His sobs soon diminished and began growls of anger, he crushed the blue bloom he held; the petals falling onto the ground. He flew up into the sky and shouted;
You will rue the night you dare not do...!
That of what the Vampire asked of YOU!