Hey! First of all, thank you to every single person out there who reviewed. It means a heck of a lot! Thank you from both of us.
We hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Bella's mind, yet again, was not at ease. She kept gawking at him. He was sitting in the first row of seats, watching their rehearsal. He was bouncing his leg up and down, impatient.
"Who are you starring at?" A voice asked. She turned her head vastly - Alice.
"You know."
"Oh, right. Mr. Black." She looked at him too, "has he noticed you, yet?"
"No."
Bella turned her back, not wanting to speak of it. He was wonderful - forgetful was more like it. She couldn't believe he couldn't remember something as simple as six years ago. It was easy to remember, a beautiful - well her father had called her beautiful - young girl whose father was a famous composer. Surely it wasn't very common. Then again, in this time there were many composers.
"I'm sure he'll come around." Alice's voice interrupted Bella's train of thought.
"Perhaps," she stated quietly. "Alice, I'm going to lay down. The scene is over, and I'm tired. Tell Rosalie if she needs me, okay?" Bella said. She didn't really wait for a response from Alice. She turned and walked off to the main quarters of Rosalie's office.
It was a small office, accompanied by a small sofa - a French sofa, to be exact. Rosalie's office was a tad smaller than Emmett's, considering she was a junior manager of the Opera House and Emmett was the full time manager. Bella sighed, and snuffed the only candle in the room. Although it was still day, the room was quite dark...exactly what Bella needed.
Bella laid down on the small sofa. Her body rolled up into a small ball helped her fit on it. Her eyes closed. She was so tired, the Angel Voice was keeping her from sleeping. She didn't mind though. His vocal lessons got smaller as the month went on. Did she mind? Not at all, it gave her more rest when she didn't have her Angel Voice making her sing in her dreams. Her dreams were so deep though, she clearly thought she would feel more rested.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Flash Back- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Come get me, Jake!" A young girl was screaming. Alarge russet boy sprang from the furry bushes that sat in the large garden.
"GOTCHA!" The boy, Jake, called. The girl giggled.
"Ha ha, this is fun!" She exclaimed. The boy nodded in agreement.
"I've got to leave soon, Bells," he said sadly.
"No!" she protested.
"I've got to," He stated simply. He shrugged, "I'll come back, I promise."
He caressed the little girl's cheek. Holding a smile on his lips, he caused a smile to form on the girl's lips. His promise pleased Bells - as he called her.
"Okay, Jake... Jake?" Bella asked looking up that the boy.
"Yes, Bells?"
"Daddy said that you ... you are not allowed to see me after tomorrow, when I turn thirteen." Bella's eyes went to the newfound bumps on her chest. She was becoming a woman.
"I'm afraid I wont." Jake said looking down at her, she sighed.
"But why?" Bella asked, "your a boy, and I'm a girl. If I become a woman will you not want to be my friend?" Bella asked. Jake's eyes became dark, and his eyebrows knitted together in a furrow.
"No, not at all." He paused, "you'll need to finda husband, and you can't very well do that unless I am out of your life for a little while. And really - what is a year, dear Bella." He said, his large russet hand again cupping Bella's face as he smiled at her. She smiled against his hand.
"I do not want another man in my life." She blurted out. Her face turned crimson.
"Excuse me?" Jake sounded bemused.
"I.." Bella couldn't say it, but she had to.
"Now, Bella, I know you want to be my friend, but, Sweetheart, you'll get older and want somebody to have you." Jake said trying to soothe her. Bella shook her head in frustration.
How could a girl of twelve possibly know that she was in love with somebody who was seventeen years old? He was five years older than her, which was younger than the person her father had in mind for her. Mr Emmett Cullen's brother was in his late 20's and that was who Bella was set to marry. That was her best friend's uncle. She would be her best friend's aunt!
She had to tell him. She looked over at Jake and sighed.
"I love you, Jake." She looked ashamed.
"Well, I love you too, Bells." He said, looking rather amused with her.
"NO!" Bella paused sitting, up right and beginningto elaborate with her hands. "I'm in love with you, Jake." There was a gasp behind the two. Charlie was standing there. He had been getting ready for a performance.
"Get out!" Charlie yelled at Jake.
"Come on, Charlie. You know she doesn't know what she is talking about! She was just jesting, right Isabella!" Jacob tried to get Charlie to calm himself.
"No, I am not. I am in love with Jacob, Daddy. I want to marry him, not Mr Cullen. Please, Daddy." Bella pleaded with her father, her voice soft. He shook his head no.
"Isabella, tomorrow on your birthday will be the last you ever see of Jacob Black. And listen clearly young lady, you will marry who I say you will marry!" Charlie said stomping his foot down. He looked over at Jake.
"Mr Swan," Jacob pleaded. Charlie shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Jacob. Your father is my best friend, a good piano tuner, but..." Charlie began to trail off. "You are no good for my Bella. You'll see her one last time - tomorrow will be the last of it." Charlie said. Jake opened his mouth to speak.
"That is all I'll be having under my roof! So long as I am alive - " Charlie stopped short. He clutched his chest, his face a bright red.
"Bella! Call Rosalie, hurry. Run as fast as you can!" Jacob said. Bella's eyes blurry with tears, she ran until she got to the Cullen house. Bella walkedright in as she ususally did. Rosalie looked up, taken by surprise.
"SOMETHING'S WRONG!" Bella called.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - End of Flash Back- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A loud bang awoke Bella. She sighed - she was so tired!
"THE PHANTOM!" called a maid. Bella walked out of the study. There was a man found in the center of the stage with a set on him, his body spewing blood over the mahogany floorboards of the stage.
Dead.
"Oh my!" Bella said, the smell of blood sickened her. She saw a large black flash. It was a cloak, she was sure of it. Lookin down at the bloody mess, she saw there was less blood pooled on the floor than she remembered. But she had just looked at it.
"What happened here!" demanded Jacob as he and Jasper walked in. The man's body lay there, immobile, only blood pouring out of his abdomen onto the now crimson floor.
"The Phantom left this for you." Rosalie said, looking down as she handed him the note. It was sealed with the Phantom's usual seal, a blood-red wax skull.
"The Phantom? He is not real! Now why is there a dead man in my Opera House!" demanded Jacob once again, his voice low and bellowing. "Call upon the hospital! GO, you IDIOT!" he said to a maid who was wallowing in pity. She must have known the dead man.
"The Phantom is real, and the sooner you give him what he wants the sooner you get what you want!" Bella quipped at Jacob.
"Mind your manners, Miss..." He couldn't think of her name.
"It's Swan. Isabella Swan, Jake." Bella said, her voice angry.
"Excuse me? What did you just call me," he sounded irritable but Bella didn't mind. She was just as infuriated.
"I called you - " Bella was about to say Jake but she stopped short. "Mr. Black." She bit it out. She only called his father that, Billy Black.
"That is what I thought. You should mind yourself, Miss Swan. I will not be so kind next time," Jacob said, glaring at her. Victoria was behind her, he smiled.
"Oh, what happened?!" Her fake accent sounded horrified. Of course, this bloody man was a horrific sight.
"Oh, do not look at this, La Diva, please. Go to your quarters and rest your lovely voice for tonight." Jacob said admirably.
"You are still showing Cats after this?" Emmett demanded, his voice astonished. Emmett never knew Jacob when he was younger, only heard of him, and Emmett knew of Bella's fascination with him when she was younger. He also knew that Jacob didn't remember her as she had remembered him. No matter how thick Emmett seemed to be when it came to the mind - especially woman minds - he was surprisingly knowledgeable.
"Yes! I am, do you have a problem with that, Mr. Cullen?" Jacob asked, glaring at him. Emmett bit the inside of his cheek in order not to bite this man's head off.
"No."
"Good," Jacob challenged in the same low voice.
"Give us the letter, Mrs Cullen." Jasper held out his free hand, the other was occupied by Alice. Ever since he had walked into the scene, Alice was plastered to his side. After crying in hysterics, she had stopped blubbering enough to tell one of the hospital helpers what had happened.
Nobody out side of the Opera House knew of the Phantom of the Opera. Nobody. They kept it a secret, or else they died in this very Opera House. The Opera House was large enough that they were sure there were bodies stashed up some place for the Phantom.
Little did they know that the Phantom did not like to spill the blood of the people he killed. If he did so, he would be tempted by their blood and would often take the dead's warm blood in order to quench his hunger.
Jasper sighed and began to read the letter aloud.
" 'Mr. Black & Mr. Hale,
This will be my second notice. I am not pleased with you. I thought you two were business men. This is business, surely you have realized this by now. If you do not wish your main star, Miss Victoria Lucidor to have an unfortunate stage accident - which is what you will tell the authorities - it would be best to follow my simple wishes. Isabella will sing the song 'Memory' for the stage of Cats. I will have my box open for my own personal use. Box Five, to be precise.
Still I've yet to obtain my monthly allowance of 10 pounds. I'm sure you've not forgotten my wishes. You will do as I request, or I will make sure Miss Victoria has an accident she will not be able to get herself out of.
You know my demands. Money in box 5 by tonight, before Isabella sings 'Memory'.
-The Phantom of the Opera.' " Jasper finished quietly. He looked over at Jacob.
"I don't think he's jesting, Jacob. This isn't something to take lightly."
"I do not want Isabella to sing this part, I want Victoria!" Jacob hissed in protest.
"A man has died here, Jacob! And he will not be the last, for once do what is right and allow the Phantom his desires!" Jasper said in an exasperated voice, trying to calm Alice and trying to convince his partner at the same time. It was hard to do simultaneously.
"Fine! You better dress, Isabella. You do not sing as well as Victoria but I'll be damned if you look like you do now! Clean her up! She looks as if she's slept!" Jacob said, marching out of the corridor and into the lobby of the Opera house. Bella sat down. Sighing, she looked over at Jasper who was holding Alice close to his body, shushing her at all the right moments, comforting her at the right speed.
Jacob has changed, she thought to herself. The Phantom - her Angel of Music - her Edward laughed at her thoughts.
"That is right my dear, see what he is."
Maybe he is not the man I've fell in love with so long ago. Bella's thoughts went to Edward then, her own personal Angel of Music.
Then Edward heard something, Victoria.
"Come on James, I've got to tell you something!" Her voice was distant. He hated leaving his Bella in her time of thought, in her time of need. He wanted to read her thoughts more, they were much clearer than they were in her dreams.
The last thing the Opera House needed right now was a scandal. If word got out that another person had been mysteriously killed, the police would investigate and the Opera House would lose business, possibly even be shut down. Two stagehands gathered the dead, bleeding man in their hands and dragged him off the stage, leaving behind a rather large crimson streak. The man wasn't very important – he wouldn't be missed. They would bury him beneath the Opera House, within the catacombs.
"James!" Victoria screeched, walking quickly away from the stage. Edward's silent dark form followed the seething woman. She ground her teeth in anger and frustration. That little twit had gotten her part again! But there was nothing she could do about it. It replayed in her head, the night she met that demon – the Phantom. Time had dulled her fear, and she liked to imagine that he had been nervous and stuttering rather than strong and commanding.
"La Diva," James said affectionately, opening her dressing room door for her. Not in the mood for flirting, she pushed him back and strode into her domain.
"That little…" she couldn't think of a word bad enough so she finally settled on the worst she could think of. "That little slut has once again stolen my part!"
"Well, go complain to Mr Black," James said, sore that she had treated him so poorly. "He seems to like you enough."
"I can't, you idiot!" Victoria sank into the plush settee, sighing. "Otherwise the Phantom will kill me."
"How do you know?" He looked suspiciously at his partner. She was known to lie so what made this time any different?
"Because he threatened me straight to my face!" she snapped, exasperated. "It was right after whats-her-face's performance not too long ago. I was going to go to her room to give her a piece of my mind, when the lights went out and this man tells me that I better not get in the way of Bella's career or else he'll kill me!"
"Are you sure you didn't hit your head?"
"I'm serious, dammit! I saw the Phantom!" Her face was turning an infuriated puce. "I'm not lying, James."
"That would be a first," he muttered under his breath.
Edward was hiding safely in the shadows. Being a creature of night, he felt most comfortable in the darkness. At their argument, his lips spread in an amused grin. He was also pleased that his threat had been successful – it had scared that vain woman out of her arrogance. Temporarily, at least.
Victoria began to dab perfume onto her wrists and behind her ears with a violence that would have been more appropriate on the battlefield. Her face was screwed up in a scowl, wrinkles appearing on her otherwise flawless skin. She was beautiful in a way that reminded one of a hunting tiger, fierce and utterly without kindness or mercy. Her flaming red hair was up in an elaborate twist, and emerald earrings dangled from her earlobes. She began to ready herself for tonight's performance of Cats.
Hearing enough, Edward slipped silently out of the room. He was darkness itself and neither James nor Victoria noticed his departure. Victoria's thoughts annoyed him like a buzzing fly that was too close to his face, and he blocked her shrill voice out. There was only one mind that he wanted to hear – Bella's.
He went to Bella's dressing room - still with perfect stealth - and waited until the two girls entered. The performance was about to begin.
"You've gotten the most beautiful song in the entire musical!" Alice said excitedly, grinning at Bella. This time Alice didn't have a vocal part, she was one of the ballet dancers with flawless grace. "You'll be wonderful," the pixie said comfortingly to Bella, seeing her anxiousness.
"Thank you, Alice, but I'm not so sure." Bella sat before her dressing table and stared into the mirror at the reflection. This was not her. That beautiful girl could not possibly be her. But it was. Alice had helped Bella to dress and ready herself for the performance. Somehow her best friend had managed to make her no longer plain. Bella's brown eyes were now almost magnetic - drawing you towards them - and her hair was pulled back into a simple, but pretty, twist. The crimson satin gown she wore complemented her milky skin beautifully. Her full lips were a light pink, and her figure was slim.
"Trust me, Bella," Alice began. "You'll do wonderful. You are an amazing singer." She smiled warmly and placed a quick kiss on Bella's cheek. "So cheer up!"
"How long does it take you two ladies to dress?" Emmett Cullen asked, opening the door to the dressing room. He looked slightly exasperated. "That infernal Jacob Black won't stop asking where you are. You're part is coming up very soon so please be quick." He stopped and looked at Bella for the first time, his face softening. "You look lovely, darling."
Bella blushed and smiled. "Thank you very much." But she didn't truly believe him. Even after seeing her reflection she didn't believe she could be anything other than plain old Bella Swan.
He left. Alice helped Bella up, going out to watch the musical from behind the curtains.
Victoria had been demoted to a lesser part, but she still insisted on singing for the majority of the show. Bella and Alice watched her sing vigorously to the audience, still striving to be the star, to be the reason why people came to the Opera House.
Edward stared for a long moment as his Bella. Of course, she didn't know he was there – she never did. He would often follow her, listening to her clear thoughts. She was going through her lines in her head, making sure she knew all the words. He wished she could see how utterly ravishing she was, how achingly beautiful. To him, she outshone Victoria and Rosalie's beauty easily. She was the bright sun in this world of darkness that he was forced to live in. She breathed life into his dead heart.
Without thinking, he reached his hand out towards her. The stage lights caught his pale skin, throwing rainbow-colored sparkles into the air. How simple it would be to touch her silky skin; how easy it would be to just reach out and stroke her bare arm. His fingers tingled with this new, foreign need.
Suddenly she turned, and he snatched his hand back. What had he been thinking? He had nearly given himself away! Bella patted her glossy brown hair into place and her scent hit him. Freesia.
With his thirst freshly quenched, he was able to breathe her floral scent and not feel the familiar agonizing thirst. She smelt heavenly.
Then he remembered where he was supposed to be. He had demanded his ten pound monthly allowance and he was going to get it tonight. The Phantom disappeared through the back stairs, blending seamlessly into the shadows.
Bella stood with Alice, waiting until it was her part. Her palms were slick with a light layer of sweat yet they were ice cold. She was nervous; there was no denying it. As if by some kind of supernatural power, her eyes were drawn upward to box five. She had never seen the Phantom there before but somehow she always knew when he occupied the private box. Now it looked as empty as always, but she knew he wasn't there. She didn't have time to feel panic or confusion for Alice pushed her softly out on the stage.
It was time for her to perform. Victoria shot daggers at her with her eyes. Blushing and ducking her head, Bella went onto the stage and did as they had practiced so many times before.
"Daylight. See the dew on the sunflower, and a rose that is fading. Roses whither away, like the sunflower. I yearn to turn my face to the dawn. I am waiting for the day . . ." As she sang, she focused on only remembering how her Angel of Music had taught her to sing. "Memory. All alone in the moonlight, I can smile at the old days. I was beautiful then, I remember the time I knew what happiness was. Let the memory live again."
Her clear, pure voice was like a cool fountain of water in a parched land - revitalizing and reviving all that heard it. The audience stared in awe at the little brunette with the angel's voice. But how could they have known that a true angel had instructed her, taught her how to let the music flow from her heart? After all, the Angel of Music was her ghostly friend - heard but never seen.
"Touch me. It's so easy to leave me. All alone with the memory of my days in the sun. If you touch me you'll understand what happiness is. Look, a new day has begun."
Just as the last note left her lips, it happened. In a large and resonating voice, he spoke.
"That was lovely, Isabella," he said kindly. All she could feel was shock. Could he possibly be talking to her? But before she could think anything else, he continued in a voice that the whole Opera House could hear. "But are you two, Mr Black and Mr Hale, complete idiots? I very clearly stated that I was to have my ten pounds before Isabella sang 'Memory'. Out of respect for her, I waited until she was finished, but I will wait no longer!"
Members of the audience looked at the ceiling, then around them to find the source of that voice. Though it was commanding and stern, it made the women's hearts beat faster for reasons other than fear. That demanding male voice spoke like the voice of God and was as seductive as a lover's touch and as dangerous as a knife's blade.
Jacob and Jasper sat in box seven. After the Phantom finished speaking, Jacob jumped to his feet. "This is preposterous! I demand to know who is pulling this stunt. Now!" His deep voice was insignificant compared to Edward's.
"I assure you, Mr Black, that this is no prank. And if you do not give me what is rightfully mine, someone will pay."
"You're not real; this isn't possible!" Jacob yelled angrily. Jasper had convinced him not to rent out box five but that didn't mean he was going to pay a ghost! The whispering from the audience rose to a quiet roar. Who was this voice? Was it part of the performance?
"Quiet!" commanded the Phantom from his unseen hiding place. Immediately, the Opera House was so silent you could almost hear Bella's frantic heartbeat. Then Edward spoke for the last time that night. "This is real, Jacob Black, and the sooner you realize that the sooner things will start running smoothly. Now, I want my monthly allowance."
"Dammit, Black," Jasper snapped. "If you don't pay him I will!" He left the private box. A shocked audience craned their heads to watch as Jasper Hale strode into the Phantom's box and dropped the bills onto the single velvet-cushioned chair.
The rest of the performance passed without incident. But the wealthy, well-dressed crowd hardly cared what was happening on stage anymore. That silky, honey voice replayed in their minds along with that Bella Swan's glorious rendition of 'Memory'. Victoria could have acted like a dog and they wouldn't have noticed.
"Do you know the Phantom?" Alice asked Bella when they were both backstage. Cats was still being performed, the last few songs sung. Her bright, piercing blue eyes stared seriously into Bella's chocolate ones.
"Not that I know of," Bella said, her voice faint.
"Well, he certainly knows you. Are you sure you haven't ever seen him before?"
"I swear, Ali, I've never so much as caught a glimpse of the Phantom!" But the gears were already turning inside Bella's mind. The Phantom's silky voice ignited a sense of deja vu inside her. She had heard it before......but where? It seemed as familiar to her as her own face though she couldn't place it. But she'd heard it before, of that much she was certain. Eventually, she would figure out where she heard that unmistakable voice before.
The female members of the audience watched closely for any sign of the mysterious voice that had awoken such raging desires within them. As they exited the Opera House after that night's performance, the men held their wives and daughters close for fear that the ghost would somehow violate them.
But they would return. This new mystery had made them curious. They would all come back, hoping to experience it once again. For the same reason that haunted houses and horror novels are popular, people would come to this Opera House to hear him again.
And as Edward listened for Bella's thoughts, he realized his mistake. He was no longer the Opera House's dark secret, no longer the ghost unknown to the outside world. He had exposed himself. Slipping back into that familiar darkness that haunted him, the Phantom knew he must accomplish one thing. Bella's talent would not go to waste. His Bella would succeed in a world gone mad.
That much he would make sure of.
~ForbiddenWords & Oriana~