Author's Note: So, this totally came up faster than expected. I WAS SO SAD TO NOT HEAR FROM: RedDeathLvr, Niikkii95 and xandi412. I am totally sad. ='( See? Totally sad face. But! I wanna show my love for CassieXSesshie4ever and Why Fireflies Flash! Thanks guys so much!
I know last chapter was pretty sexy and hot, well, not really hot but, sweet. It really was. For Erik and Nathalie's first time together, I wanted to really make every sound, sight and experience one to remember but, it may have been too detailed. So, sorry for that. But, whatever! Let's get to the story! Please review guys! It really means a lot!
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah... I don't own Phantom of the Opera... Blah, blah, blah...
Chapter Six: Making Plans
He held the paper in his hand, examining it so carefully as if he were touching a small baby bird. A frown set in his face, taking in the paper into his fist and balling it up, sending it into the fireplace in front of him. The paper caught fire quickly, blackening and withering away into ash to join the burning wood. He turned around in his chair, his eyes set on the picture on the hearth that held the picture of the two young children from so long ago.
"Aftós prókeitai na tin kánei éna astéri,"* he whispered, his teeth clenched together, grinding against each other.
"Your highness," Markus called in Greek as he walked in the study.
"What?" His harsh tone stopping Markus in his tracks.
Markus rubbed the letter in his thick, grimy hands, pondering if it was a good idea to give this to him now.
"Speak now, Markus!" He shouted, done with the moron's silence.
Markus placed the letter on the large wooden desk. He turned away, closing the door after him.
He turned around, looking at the newest edition to the collection of papers and letters that were neatly stacked on the desk. Yet, this didn't fall into a file, no. This letter sat alone, commanding attention from all. He raised a brow, his hand reaching for the letter. As soon as his tanned hand claimed it, he felt the coldness of it and the outstanding quality of the envelope.
Labeled for his eyes only, he brought it to his face, examining the writing on the front. 'Prince Klaudios', it read, the cursive regal in it's black ink. He turned it over, looking at the back. His eyes widened as he saw the red wax skull holding the letter shut.
"Ridiculous," he whispered as he slid his finger under the flap and moved it over, ripping the skull from the silky stock paper. He pulled out the note and tossed the envelope back on the desk, his attention solely on the note he held.
'Devout Prince, I am well aware of your servants ruining my home with their disgusting hands. I know of the letter you have taken also. If you wish to remain in good graces of the world you believe you live in, do not do as the letter asks. Keep your worries and troubles away from Nathalie, she is in good hands.
Sincerely, Opera Ghost
P.S. I am always watching.'
The prince looked up from the letter and out the large window. The dark crimson curtains pulled away so he may look out.
He dropped the letter from his hands as the white mask turned away from the window and disappeared from sight, melding into the slow-falling snow.
He jumped up, his fists crashing down on the desk. He ran towards the doors of his study and tossed them open, turning to the large black wooden doors. As he opened the two heavy doors, a black horse was fleeing, a man in a long black cape sat upon the large creature.
He was enraged as the white mask showed a glimmer once more as it looked back, mocking him for he could do nothing now. He slammed another fist into the door, the loud bang echoing through the mansion and the now silent front yard.
"Prince Klaudios, are you alright?" A lone maid asked, having heard the banging and slight yelling from her master.
With a sharp turn of his head, he glared at her, his eyes burning with amber eyes looked almost gold with the fire igniting behind them.
The servant shrank away, huddling herself away from the maddened Prince. She began to slink away, her heart racing in her tiny body.
The Prince looked away and back out into the dark snow outside. The sound of the horse galloping was now gone, his mind now racing to the man Nathalie was with before. He took in a large breath, calming his rattled nerves. As he closed the doors, and locked them, he turned to the maid, giving her a soft smile.
"My apologies, Rhachel. I saw something that frightened me." He took one of her hands and gave it a light squeeze.
"Would you like for me to bring you some hot tea?" She asked, now calm as her master settled.
"That would be lovely." He said, walking towards his study once more. "By the way, where is the Palais Garnier?" His voice low as he looked to the servant turning back around to answer him. "It houses the Paris Opera House, does it not?"
She nodded. "Yes, Monsieur. It is the grand building on Place de l'Opera. You can't miss it." She gave a sweet smile as she turned once more to fetch his tea.
Klaudios nodded, turning into his office and closing the doors. He walked to the corner of the room, farthest from his desk and grabbed the newspaper sitting on a red velvet chair. He quickly obtained a dark smirk as he read it carefully.
"Décès deun amant. ," he whispered. "Death of a Lover."
…
"Death of a Lover?" I asked, drying my hair with a large towel. "Sounds a tad tragic, no?" I walked over to Erik as he sat at his desk, his hands lightly grazing the thick stock paper in front of him.
He sat only in his black trousers, a sight I will always have imprinted on my mind. I smiled privately and blushed openly.
"It's a dramma tragico, meaning 'tragic opera'. The auditions are this afternoon, actually." He said, turning to face me, a gleam in his eye.
I raised a brow at him and took a step back. "I'm not auditioning."
Erik laughed loudly, pushing the chair back and standing up, walking over to me. He stood a few inches taller than me and those green eyes were displaying his authority.
"Yes, you are." He gave a small smirk as he ran his fingers over my cheek. I breathed heavily and closed my eyes, loving the feeling.
My eyes snapped open. "Oh no, you cannot make me fall for that with your magic tricks, Monsieur!" I gave a small laugh, trying to keep my stern glare.
"Oh no? Are you sure, mademoiselle?" He spun me around quickly, taking me in his arms and holding me close to his body as his lips kissed my exposed neck.
"You cannot make... me do it, Erik..." I breathed out, goosebumps traveling all through my body.
"Watch me."
…
"Mademoiselle André of Paris," a deep voice rang through the auditorium.
'Damn you, Erik', I cursed silently as I stood from my chair in the audience, walking slowly towards the 'stairs of impending doom' as I loved to call them when I worked with what's-his-name. I silently hoped that man took good on his threat of never letting me perform ever again in Paris for walking out on his rehearsal. I haven't made it to the center spotlight so, hopefully there is still a chance for them to banish me also.
I walked even slower once my heel stepped onto the worn dark wooden stage. 'Please, please, please reject me', I prayed again, looking up into the rafters as if God were sitting up there watching me. Yet, no God was up there. Typical.
"Ah! Mademoiselle André!" The deep voice said again.
I turned my head sharply and looked into the audience, nothing but blackness. "Pardon, Monsieur?"
"It is me, Henry! Henry Boudreaux!" The voice said again, much happier this time.
I gave a light smile and walked to the front edge of the stage. A tall man with light red hair had walked up, the white hair now showing extensively. He was tall, able to look over the edge and not having to stand on tip toes.
"Oh, Henry!" I exclaimed, lowering to my knees to grab his out-stretched hands. "It's so good to see you again!" I gave the warmest smile I could, watching the older man in front of me.
"How is your dear mother? I haven't seen her since the divorce, I might add. Has she remarried?" He asked, taking a chair from the orchestra pit he was standing in and pulling it in front of him. With one leg up, he pushed himself so he was eye level with me as I sat on my knees.
Little whispers began sounding off through the audience, the other auditioners curious as to who in the world the manager was speaking to.
"I have seen her recently, only last night actually. She is doing well and no, she has not remarried. I believe you captured her wild heart, Monsieur."
"Oh, you hush now!" He smiled brightly, his yellowish teeth barely visible through his red and gray mustache. His stomach was larger, probably due to the fact that he hadn't eaten healthy over the last three years of having divorced from my mother. "Oh, and please don't call me 'Monsieur', it makes me feel old!" He said with a hearty laugh.
"Oh, Henry, it has been so good to see you again! How are you holding up?"
"Well-"
"AHEM!" A large cough came from the back, interrupting Henry.
"Oops. I seem to be taking up someone's sweet and most important time. See me after the audition. I would love to talk more." He gave another smile before taking my hands and kissing the knuckles.
"Absolutely." I stood, a large blush over-coming my features for having had a whole discussion during auditions. I walked to the 'X' marked with chalk in the middle of the stage.
"Alright, Nathalie! Sing 'Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix' from Samson and Delilah, opera 47." Henry's voice sounded from the darkness.
I looked down and took in a few breaths, my nerves coming back. "D-Do you want me to start from the beginning?" I asked, my voice stuttering. I coughed to clear my nervous throat.
"The beginning, yes." He answered.
He must be watching me as I stand up here, looking up at the woman he had known since she was thirteen. I took in a deep breath and remembered what Erik had said: 'believe in yourself, make me proud'.
"Make me proud," I whispered. Looking up into the large spotlight placed on me. "I love you..." I mouthed, hoping he was somewhere in the building watching me.
I took in a deep breath, ignoring everything around me, focusing on the song I had learned only a few hours ago. As long as it had been, thankfully, it was in French and not German or Spanish. Thank God it wasn't in Spanish.
The sound I produced sounded so magnificently, I couldn't believe it was me. The piano Erik had played while back in the opera house had been playing through-out my head, making it easier for me to release the voice that was begging to escape. Never had I felt like this before. The powerful, yet gentle, lyrics vibrated in my throat, echoing off the walls in perfect harmony to nothing playing with it, allowing me to gain fully what was happening.
I paused, gathering a breath, starting again and feeling the rush of the euphoria sweep through my body as I took into the high octave and achieved the high note that had escaped me during rehearsal with Erik. I heard it with such beauty, my knees felt weak.
As I ended, nothing happened.
Nothing made a sound; no one made a sound.
I became a stiff board, my black hair falling slightly in my face. I slipped it behind my ear, hiding a slight blush staining my cheeks.
A clap sounded. Slowly, that clap became faster, adding gradually with others who joined in, applauding.
I looked around, hardly believing they were clapping for me.
"Brava, Brava, Bravissima!" Henry shouted, running up towards the stage, turning sharply and speeding up the stairs. He ran to me, his large figure grabbing onto me, spinning me around taking me in complete surprise. He spun me around on stage as I laughed, hugging him back.
"Oh, Nathalie! I cannot believe it! That was spectacular!" He gave another shout as he put me down, turning towards the audience and the blackness.
"Ladies, please, those who are trying out for the lead soprano, the spot has been filled immediately! Please try out for another spot or you may leave! Thank you! That is all for the auditions today!" He beamed, smiling the greatest smile I hadn't seen since he had married my mother.
"Henry, please! It wasn't that good! These ladies probably trained for their lives for this audition." I told him, laying a hand on his chest, smiling up at him.
"Nonsense, Nathalie! Let us leave, we shall have dinner right away!" He took my hand in his large one and lead me down a separate set of stairs on the other side of the stage.
As we walked down, the groans and whimpers of cries were heard. I looked and saw a young blonde with her hands holding her face. A man patted her on the shoulder, whispering sweet nothings in her ear to try and cheer her up. As soon as he and I made eye contact, he stood up with a large amount of disdain towards me. He picked his lover up and walked her away from me as I made my way towards the entrance of the Palais Garnier.
The gold ornate of the double staircase we walked down shed it's glory to the hall before us and the large glass and wrought iron doors. The sun had set behind the building, giving the city before us an orange glow.
"Henry, I do not wish to be rude but, I do have someone waiting for me. I must leave. But, I promise we shall have dinner as soon as possible!" I smiled at him, taking my hand out of his. I turned away, bumping into the chest of another man.
"Oh, I apologize!" I cried out, having him grab onto my shoulders for stability.
"It is quite alright." He said, letting me go.
I walked away quickly, looking for Erik and to tell him the amazing news.
…
"Monsieur Boudreaux?" A man asked with a thick accent.
Henry turned around, his brown eyes landing on the young man standing before him. "Yes? May I help you?"
"I certainly hope so. You see, I'm in the business of wanting to be the new patron for the opera you are wanting to put on, the 'Death of a Lover', correct?" His thick accent made the hearts of the women walking around the two gentlemen flutter. Each girl gave a deep sigh as they passed him, trying desperately to look into the eyes of the handsome young man.
"Oh, sorry to disappoint, my boy. I've already gotten a patron." Henry said, his full attention on the man with the dirty blonde hair tied into a loose ponytail that was hanging ever so carefully down his back.
"Well, maybe I can persuade you in perhaps allowing me to play the part of the brother of the lead soprano. If you don't mind," the man held his hand out, ready to shake Henry's.
Henry nodded and shook the young man's hand, feeling the motion of a piece of paper being pressed into his palm. Henry's eyebrow raised.
"Have a good day, Boudreaux." He walked away, his hands held behind his back as he made his way through the small crowd of young ladies watching him. "Ladies," he gave a soft smile to them as he passed through, all sighing and shouting claims of love.
As soon as he stepped outside, the white and gold carriage pulled up, the door immediately opened. The prince stepped inside.
Henry watched the scene unfold before him, the paper still in his hand. He pulled his hand up, unraveling the paper. A check. Henry's eyes bulged as he read the amount of money on the paper. He had never seen that many zero's before in his whole life! Well, that man certainly got the part.
…
His lips pressed firmly against mine as he held me against one of the wooden pillars backstage. All the lights had gone out in the audience and Erik had come out of the shadows and pulled me into this spot we hadn't moved from for a few moments.
He broke our kiss, taking my ear into his teeth with the softest nibble. "I couldn't be more proud, Nathalie. You were the best out of all the women here."
I sighed, closing my eyes as Erik held me against the wooden pillar. "I couldn't have ever done it without you. Thank you so much." I smiled, taking his face in my hands. I looked into his eyes. My thumb ran over the white plaster mask on his face, his eyes closing as my other thumb gently traveled over the soft flesh of his cheek.
"You are most welcome. Now, let us go home. I have something special for you when we arrive." He gave a small smirk as he pulled away, taking my hand in his.
"Will you give me a hint?" I asked, smiling as he walked us out to the stage and down the set of stairs I had traveled constantly in the past half hour.
"Not a chance." He chuckled as he led us out of an exit on the side of the wall and into an alleyway behind the huge opera house.
…
"Did you do it?" Markus asked, rubbing his bald head with his wool-gloved hand. The finger's had been cut off to make him look more deadly, he liked it. He relaxed against the white velvet of the seat in the carriage as they bounced up and down through the busy streets of Paris nightlife.
"Even better." Replied Klaudios, leaning against the small arm rest on the wall of the carriage. He gave an evil smirk as he watched the people stare at the ornate horse-pulled carriage passing them.
"Well?" Markus watched Klaudios as he gave a dark chuckle before turning his amber eyes on him.
"I got the part of her brother."
"That's foolish." Markus sighed, looking out the opposite window.
"Oh no, it's the best part in the whole opera, I promise you." The prince let his white teeth show as he smiled, a plan formulating in his Greek mind. His amber eyes watched as the stars began to form into the sky and dance amongst the Parisian buildings.
"Well, I hope it is. Especially for all that money you paid that oaf."
"The money doesn't matter. That can be replaced over-night, no worries, my good man. But, I wonder how she'll do. I watched her perform and my God-"
"You don't believe in God."
"Hush. As I was saying," Klaudios let out an exasperated sigh as he situated himself into a more comfortable lean. These stupid horses always going over bumps and holes. "As I was saying, before I was interrupted, she has the most gorgeous voice. It is incredible. I had never heard a woman sing like she can. Such a siren."
Markus nodded, knowing if his prince was saying something such as that, she must have been amazing. "Do you think that man will be a problem?"
Klaudios' face kept towards the window yet, his eyes held a hard glare on Markus. "Of course. I might need you and Edio to take care of him eventually if he becomes any more of a problem."
"I apologize, your highness, for not being there to chase after him. I was... doing things..." Markus smirked, thinking of how well that maid was screaming in pleasure. His manhood swelled just thinking of it.
"It doesn't matter. I let you off the night anyways. I wouldn't have disturbed you anyways." Klaudios gave a hearty laugh as he watched Markus shift uncomfortably in his seat. "You're such a horny bastard! You fucked her well, I presume!" Klaudios leaned forward, a wicked grin on his lips.
"I certainly learned from the best," Markus started, winking at Klaudios as the prince gave a rowdy laugh. "She didn't survive the aftermath though."
"No?" The prince was trying to hold back the laughter trying to escape him.
"Nope. So, she now sleeps where the pigs feed. Dirty wench." Markus smirked as Klaudios erupted into a loud roar of a laugh.
Tears formed at the ends of the prince's eyes from laughing so hard. "Oh, oh God! Amazing!"
Both men laughed the whole rest of the way back to the mansion.
…
Erik held his hands over my eyes, his leather-gloved hands holding my face close to his chest as he walked me down the stairs. He was humming a soft tune, something I had heard before.
"What are you singing?" I asked quietly as he kept me walking forward.
I felt his free hand take my hair away from my ear. His breath was there in an instant.
'Look into my eyes, you will see
what you mean to me.
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there, you'll search no more.' Erik held my hand as he stopped me. I felt him go ahead of me, his hand never leaving my eyes. "Don't peak." He took his hand away and I obeyed, keeping my eyes closed.
'Don't tell me it's not worth trying for.
You can't tell me it's not worth dying for.
You know it's true, everything I do
I do it for you.' Erik grabbed both of my hands, gently coaxing me up the steps I was completely blind to. I trusted him, letting him guide me into perils of the unknown steps I was taking.
'Look into your heart, you will find
There's nothing there to hide
Take me as I am, take my life
I will give it all, I would sacrifice.' As soon as I reached the top step, he pulled me back into his embrace, having me walk ahead as he held onto my body.
'Don't tell me it's not worth fighting for.
I can't help it, there's nothing I want more.
You know it's true, everything I do
I do it for you.
There's no love, like your love
And no other could give more love
There's no where unless you're there
All the time, always...' He sang loudly, his deep tenor voice sounding through-out the stone room we were in. It echoed off walls and vibrated my body, leaving me defenseless as he kept me walking forward, turning me slightly.
'You can't tell me it's not worth trying for
I can't help it, there's nothing I want more
I would fight for you, I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you
I'd die for you!' Erik stopped the two of us. He turned me around slowly to face him. "Open your eyes," he whispered, watching as my lids went up slowly. I saw him sigh as he looked into my light blue orbs, smiling as a tendril of black hair fell into my face.
'You know it's true, everything I do
I do it for you...' He ended the song, watching me as I smiled up at him.
He'd die for me? My heart skipped a beat.
I felt him turn me and I watched as my world began to spin. My head began to spin and my knees shook. "Erik," I whispered. I felt him tense as I brought my hands to his hands that were placed on my shoulders.
"Please, do me the honour of something another woman could never give to me." His voice was filled with love no longer. Yet, with the hurt of knowing I might refuse.
The white dress against the porcelain skinned mannequin looked as if it didn't even look real. I looked on as the black curls on the mannequin's head roll over her shoulders. I looked into the face. Blue eyes. My blue eyes.
I spun around and looked up at Erik. I searched his tanned and pain-infused face. "Get rid of the mannequin and yes," I smiled as he pulled me into him, his hands holding tight to my body.
"I love you, Nathalie."
"I love you also, Erik."
A/N: GASP! Did that just happen? Oh yes it did! He proposed! AW! REVIEW AND TELL ME IF YOU LOVED OR HATED IT! I love all of ya'll!
*"He's going to make her a star."
"Everything I Do" by Bryan Adams and seriously guys, "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" from Samson et Delilah is the most amazing aria I have ever heard. Please look it up. So amazing.
-Laania