Love Never Dies


Act XI: Think Of Me

Bella

I slowly paced towards the cliff edge, looking down into the stormy ocean below. The sea spray hissed and surged around the cliff bottom, as I stared into it.

It had been months since my last dream, months since I had last seen Edward, but that was ok.

The dreams had comforted me, soothed me, given me some hope as I dreamt of another time. I felt so drawn to the man in my dreams, to Aro of the Volturi.

Edward was never coming back, I had accepted that, but now the dreams had ceased I would do anything to feel as alive as they had made me feel.

So that was why I was up here, on the cliff top at La Push where I had once watched Sam Uley dive into the ocean below.

Before I had lost Jake. Before I lost even my dreams of that other life.

Now I stood, looking down, stripping off my jacket and my sneakers.

I could hear nothing, not one whisper of Edward's voice or the music which had haunted my ears.

Then it came, so sorrowful and entrancing to my ears, as I closed my eyes with a smile and listened.

"Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti," I heard and I realised the sound came out of my own mouth.

I never sang, I didn't know I could especially as I had always avoided drawing attention to myself. But even to me, it sounded sweet.

And with that, I jumped off the cliff.

I hit the water and went straight under, the chill sinking into my bones, hitting me like a ton of bricks.

I kicked upwards, my head breaking the surface, dragging in air deep as I relished in the rush of adrenaline and life through my body. The music was still strong in my mind, as I heard an almighty crash, and I was pushed back under.

I was smashed against the rock face, and fell unconscious.


Christabelle

I inwardly trembled as I prepared to walk out onstage, where I could hear the buzz of the Volturi's guests.

I was gowned in seductive red, my performance costume, but I would change into another for the masquerade already underway behind the curtain.

The gown was short-sleeved, my lower arms covered by white satin gloves. The bodice of my gown was covered in floral designs of black lace, while the skirts and the bustle consisted of alternating shades of crimson.

Like Aro's eyes.

I shuddered away from the memory of what had occurred in my dressing room, and how he had left so abruptly after I uttered that word.

I couldn't back out now, I could never escape.

I had to go on.

With a jump, I heard Aro step onstage before the curtain, as the chatter hushed and I felt the familiar feelings take flight.

The rush, the sweetest rush of all, setting my blood afire.

Nothing could compare to it, nothing at all.

"My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen tonight we present a surprise to our festival. As we all know my family has long been patrons of the arts, and no less than in the world of Opera, our first love. Music sets the soul free, and tonight you shall hear a soprano who shall do the same. Tonight I give you, a rising star of the Opera world, Signorina Christabelle Renzi!" he proclaimed, and I took a deep breath, as the gauze curtain came up, he stepped offstage without even looking at me, and I met the eyes of the crowd.


Aro

I slipped into my throne beside Caius and Marcus, settling in as I drank in the sight of my Christabelle. She was radiant in her crimson gown, her long dark hair only restrained by a single red rose, like the passionate gypsy and sensual courtesan she would portray tonight.

She glowed as she stepped forward, a small smile on her red lips.

"By your pleasure, my Lords, Ladies and Gentleman I shall perform three arias tonight, and I crave your indulgence as they are all in French, and not our mother tongue. They come from the greatest and the most loved operas of this age, I find a great honour in singing them for you tonight," she spoke out, her voice ringing as the crowd shifted, already spellbound by her voice.

I was entranced just by her beauty, as the orchestra struck the first chords for Carmen's signature aria, L'amour est un oiseaux rebelle, and her voice rang out, as she struck a flirtatious, seductive pose.

"L'amour est un oiseau rebelleQue nul ne peut apprivoiser,Et c'est bien in vain qu'on l'appelleS'il lui convient de refuser.

Rien n'y fait, menace ou prière.L'un parle bien, l'autre se c'est l'autre que je préfè n'a rien dit mais il me plait.

L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!

L'amour est enfant de Bohême,Il n'a jamais jamais connu de tou ne m'aimes pas, je t' je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

Si tou ne m'aimes pas, si tou ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime,Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

L'oiseau que tu croyais surprendereBattit d'aile et s'envola.L'amour est loin, tu peux l' ne l'attends pas, il est là.

Tout atour de toi, vite vite,Il vient, s'en va, puis il crois le tenir, il t' crois l'eviter, il te tient.

L'amour! L'amour! L'amour! L'amour!

L'amour est enfant de Bohême,Il n'a jamais, jamais connu de tou ne m'aimes pas, je t' je t'aime, prends garde à toi!

Si tou ne m'aimes pas, si tou ne m'aimes pas, je t'aime,Mais si je t'aime, si je t'aime, prends garde à toi!" she finished her first song on a sublime note, drawing out the chord effortlessly, and I felt my dead heart pound.

She truly was spectacular, and I sensed all the men in the room had long since fallen in love with her, as I had months ago.

She fulfilled the role of Carmen perfectly, both flirtatious and yet cold, seductive and yet aloof. Wild, free, untameable.

As the crowd clapped enthusiastically, she curtseyed deeply and gracefully before proudly looking out over the audience again.

"And now I shall perform a piece from Gounod's Romeo and Juliet, Je Veux Vivre," she said, before once again taking her place centre stage, glittering like a ruby in the candlelight.

"Je veux vivre dans ce rêve qui m'enivre,

Ce jour encore, douce flamme

Je te garde dans mon âme

Comme un trésor!

Je veux vivre,

Cette ivresse de jeunesse ne dure, hêlas! qu'un jour!

Puis vient l'heure, où l'on pleure.

Loin de l'hiver morose laisse moi, laisse moi sommeiller

Et respirer la rose, avant de l'effeuiller.

Ah! - Ah! - Ah! Ah! - Ah! - Ah! Douce flamme! Reste dans mon âme

Comme un doux trésor longtemps encore.

Ah! - Comme un trésor Ah! Longtemps encore!"

She finished singing triumphantly, her voice only becoming lovelier and lovelier as she went on, the pure joy and innocence of Juliette brushing aside the seductive cold of Carmen.

Her curtsey was just as deep, and deep colour shone in her cheeks as she stood, her eyes sparkling.

"And to finish, I shall now perform an aria from La Traviata. It takes place just as Violetta is about to die, and she senses even the love of her Alfredo will not save her. It is called Addio, del passato," she murmured, and I thought I detected a hint of sadness there. I sat up, memories of our confrontation in the dressing room coming back.

I prayed it was not an omen.

But then my Christabelle, my angel, began to sing, and I was lost in her as she looked directly at me, into my eyes.

"Addio, del passato bei sogni ridenti, Le rose del volto già son pallenti;

L'amore d'Alfredo pur esso mi manca, conforto, sostegno dell'anima stanca.

Ah, della traviata sorridi al desio; A lei, deh, perdona; tu accoglila, o Dio!

Or tutto finì.

Le gioie, i dolori tra poco avran fine, la tomba ai mortali di tutto è confine!

Non lagrima o fiore avrà la mia fossa, non croce col nome che copra quest'ossa!

Ah, della traviata sorridi al desio; a lei, deh, perdona; tu accoglila, o Dio,

Or tutto finì!" she finished, as the orchestra crescendoed, and she dropped into one final curtsey as the audience exploded into applause and cheers. Garlands and roses dropped onto the stage, as the orchestra struck up once more, and the gauze curtain dropped before Christabelle, despite continued shouts for an encore.

I clapped along with the others, enthusiastically and with passion as I looked with pride upon my little swan's triumph.

I had a gift waiting for her in her dressing room, so I could find her amongst the crowds of guests. Or rather so she thought it would make it easier for me to find her, after all with my vampiric senses it would not be hard to find her.

I impatiently awaited her arrival, as Marcus and Caius enthused over her performance in my ear.


Bella

With a splutter, I awoke to look into Jake's furious black eyes, his hot, strong body cradling my shivering, cold one.

"How could you be so stupid? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" he asked angrily, before he hefted me into his arms without another word.

All I could think about was the amazing thrill of music running through my veins, as I remembered all I had dreamt.


More soon, I hope.

The English translations for the arias are below, and I really suggest going and looking up some of the arias sung on Youtube. They are fabulous.

Carmen, Habanera:

English Translation of Habanera

Love is a rebellious bird that nobody can tame,and you call him quite in vain if it suits him not to come.

Nothing helps, neither threat nor man talks well, the other's mum; it's the other one that is silent but I like his looks.

Love! Love! Love! Love!

Love is a gypsy's child,it has never, ever, known a law;love me not, then I love you;if I love you, you'd best beware! etc.

The bird you thought you had caught beat its wings and flew away ...love stays away, you wait and wait;when least expected, there it is!

All around you, swift, so swift,it comes, it goes, and then returns ...you think you hold it fast, it flees, you think you're free, it holds you fast.

Love! Love! Love! Love!

Love is a gypsy's child,it has never, ever, known a law;love me not, then I love you;if I love you, you'd best beware!

English translation of Je Veux Vivre:

I want to live In this dream which intoxicates me,

This day still, Sweet flame I keep you in my soul.

Like a treasure!

I want to live,

This intoxication of youth lasts, alas, only for one day!

Then comes the hour. When one weeps.

Far from the morose winter. Let me, let me slumber, And inhale the rose,

Before plucking its petals. Ah! - Ah! - Ah! Ah! - Ah! - Ah!

Sweet flame! Stay in my soul like a sweet treasure

For a long time still. Ah! Like a treasure-Ah! For a long time still.

English Translation for Addio, del passato:

Farewell past, happy dreams of days gone by;

The roses in my cheeks already are faded. Even Alfredo's love is lacking, To comfort and uphold my weary spirit.

Oh, comfort, sustain a tired soul, And may God pardon and make her his own!

Ah, all is finished

The joys, the sorrows will be soon over, The tomb confines all mortals!

Neither tears or flowers will my grave have, No cross with a name that covers my bones! Oh, comfort, sustain a tired soul,

And may God pardon and make her his own!

Ah, all is finished!

Kind of prophetic don't you think?

Act XII: Masquerade up soon!