AUTHOR'S NOTE: I HAVE CHRISTINE AND ERIK SINGING IN THIS CHAPTER. CHRISTINE IS IN ITALICS, ERIK IS IN BOLD, AND THE TEXT IS BOLD AND IN ITALICS IF THEY ARE BOTH SINGING. ENJOY! ~ DP
I awoke with a fresh start for a new day, and another day filled with another rehearsal for the Phantom's opera, Don Juan Trimuphante. I had a light breakfast with the ballet corps, and then went in for my costume fitting for my character of Anita. Piangi was Don Juan, and even though he was losing weight just as the Phantom had suggested, he didn't seem comfortable with me in the part of Anita. Just the same, I didn't feel comfortable with him as Don Juan. He was much older than me, and I felt very uncomfortable during our first song together, The Point of No Return. When it came time for the rehearsal, I came out in my costume to see Raoul, Firmin and Andre all sitting in the front row to watch the rehearsal to see how it was coming along. Monsieur Reyer was there, conducting the music and directing the opera, just as he always had before, but I could sense the stress coming off of him, as well as the fear that we weren't performing the opera to the Phantom's liking. Rehearsal began with the corps and Carlotta singing the first song, then Don Juan's entrance with Passerino. I came and sang the beginning part, dreading for The Point of No Return. I just didn't feel comfortable acting this out with Piangi, but I didn't dare tell anyone for I didn't want to stir up any more drama between Carlotta and I. However, my shyness and timidity showed when Piangi ran his hands down my side during his chorus and I shot up from the bench, knocking Piangi over and the bench falling on top of him. He began cursing at me in Italian as the others began to help him up as I ran my fingers into my hair, sighing.
"Oh, this is getting ridiculous," Reyer shouted as he threw his baton down on his stand, his hands on his hips, glaring at me. "You have to be more welcoming of his advances, Miss Daae! You have to perform advances of your own! How many times must we go through this?"
"I'm sorry, Monsieur Reyer. I'm trying my best."
"You're not trying enough, Miss Daae! We open with this opera in two nights, and you are nowhere near ready!"
I lowered my head, looking sheepishly at my hands just as Piangi said, "I cannot work with that girl! She is mad, just as La Carlotta said!"
"She's just shy, Signor Piangi," Raoul said as he came up the stage, defending me as he came over and kissed my forehead. "I'm sure that Carlotta was just as shy when she was first touched on stage by a man."
I knew that Piangi had rolled his eyes, sitting back down on the bench, waiting for us to continue. I looked up at Raoul, whispering to him, "I really am trying, Raoul. I just don't know how to be sensual or advancing towards men."
He smiled, kissing my forehead softly. "It's all right. You're doing a great job, Christine," he said as he parted from the stage, his attention turned towards Monsieur Reyer. "Let's take it from Anita's verse in The Point of No Return, and we'll go from there."
Monsieur Reyer nodded, playing the chord just before my words began. I sang throughout the rest of the chorus, being as advancing as I could be towards Piangi, but I found it difficult to do so. We continued with rehearsal well into the night, until our voices were raw and our feet were sore. While I was walking back to my room, I heard Raoul's voice behind Andre and Firmin's office door.
"I am not going to do that!"
"What's the harm? You two will be married this spring and I know it's got to be killing you that you haven't gotten up that skirt yet."
"We're not like that! We're waiting until we're married!"
"Look, Monsieur le Vicomte, we know you love the girl, but don't you want a little sample of what you're going to have on your wedding night? All we're asking for you to do is making some advances towards her, show her that there's not only emotional love, but physical love as well."
"No, I do not want a sample of what it could be like, because I want the whole thing on the night of our wedding! She will be sublime on that stage in two nights, and I will not take her virginity in order for her to fit her character more."
As much as I appreciated Raoul standing up for what we believe in, I grew angry and frustrated at the conversation that I had just heard. I stomped the rest of the way back to my room, slamming my door shut and locking the door. I threw the score down on the bed, cursing the Phantom for giving me such a character that I knew that I could never live up to. I didn't have the guts, and I didn't have the personality for it either. I quickly tore off my costume after I loosened the ties, not caring if I ripped it at all. I threw it across the room, looking for something to wear to bed. I left my corset on, pulling on a robe for the meantime and sitting down at my vanity, my head in my hands. What was I going to do? I couldn't live up to this character; there was no way. My career at the Opera Populaire would be over just as it started. I looked at my hands, folding them together as I looked up at the ceiling, then back down at my hands again.
"I'm not sure if I should be praying for this or not," I said quietly, closing my eyes, resting my head against my folded hands, "but I'm not sure what I should do. This could be my big break, even though I was successful as Alyssa and the Countess. I have never been publically groped and kissed on stage before, and I'm really struggling here. I want to be successful, but how can I be successful when the cost of it is so high? Please…please give me the strength to get through this opera, whether I find my inner sensuality or not. That's all I ask. Please…please just help me if you can."
I sighed quietly, making the sign of the cross with one of my hands, sitting down on my bed. As I leaned over to blow my candle out, it went out on its own. And I knew. I straightened up immediately, moving to get off of the bed, knowing he had heard. Knowing he had listened to every word that I just said. I looked around my room, wondering where he was.
"I didn't appreciate you tearing off your costume in such a manner, my dear," said a voice in the shadows coolly and quietly, with only a touch of frustration and anger. "You could have ripped it, and then where would you be? The seamstresses can't repair costumes quickly, you know."
"I…I know. I'm sorry, but I am just so…damn frustrated with this opera of yours, and I'm about to burn every piece of music that I can find."
"If you do that, I will have to spank you for being the insolent and ungrateful child that you are being," he said in reply, his voice more angry and cold now. "How could you treat my music like this in such a way, throwing it down while you had that little tantrum? How could you treat me like this, your Angel and your companion for so many years?"
"You are not an Angel. You are the Phantom. You are the person who has caused all of the accidents that I have seen over the years, and –"
"And I'm also the person who can help you with this part."
I blinked, turning towards the mirror, and I gasped. I saw him standing there, on the other side. My hands moved over my mouth, moving to sit back down in the chair by my vanity. He had taken me completely by surprise, and I wondered how long he had been standing there, watching me. "How can you help me," I asked, watching him as he stood like a statue on the other side of the mirror, his own eyes watching over me. "I am a lost cause."
He chuckled darkly, placing his hand on the glass, looking at me still. "Isn't that what you said to me so many years ago when I first taught you to sing? I can teach you to be sensual too; you won't feel anything, it won't hurt, and we'll only go as far as you want me to go."
"I don't know if I should agree to this. Something may happen that we both regret."
"Stop resisting, and come to me…"
"No, I can't. I need to rest."
I am your Angel of Music…
"Stop it," I said softly, placing my hands over my ears to not be enticed by his voice, but it was no use. It plagued my ears with its sweet and whole sound as I turned my back to the mirror.
Come to me, Angel of Music…
"I can't," I said weakly, not realizing that he had opened the mirror and stepped inside my room, moving be hand me, and placing his hands on my arms, moving them down away from my ears. I felt his lips against my earlobe as he sang those enticing words again.
I am your Angel of Music…Come to me, Angel of Music…
With that, I was lost. I was now in his control again as I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me inside to the tunnel behind my mirror. He pulled me along the tunnels and the corridors, keeping my body close to his as we walked. My mind was beating against his hold on me, but I found it hard to resist him the more I walked deeper into the catacombs and closer to his lair. I looked down at myself as he helped me into his gondola, seeing that I was still in my robe and corset, having completely forgotten to dress for bed.
"You shouldn't see me like this," I said softly as we moved across the lake, pulling my robe closer and tighter around me to hide what I had on.
"If you pull that robe any tighter, I won't be able to help you," he said in reply as he turned the corner to his lair.
"But I'm only in my corset and this robe."
"This is perfect for what you're going to learn tonight, Christine. The character of Anita is modest in some forms, but when the rich man named Don Juan chooses to court her, she decides that she has to be a little more…unconventional, so to speak."
The boat stopped and he tied it to a rock to hold it in place, stepping out to help me out of the boat. I placed my hands in his and he pulled me up gently, helping me to step out onto the cool rocks of his domain. "I didn't think about that when I considered the background of the character," I said honestly as he walked me over to his piano, sitting down on the bench and turning towards me again. He looked at me up and down, and then pulled the tie of my robe in one swift movement. My robe came open, revealing my creamy soft legs and the tight corset that was around my body. I gasped loudly, moving to cover myself.
"Don't. You need to learn this, Christine, whether you like it or not."
"But –"
Just as I was about to say something, he played a chord on his piano, and began to sing.
You have come here in pursuit of your deepest urge, in pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent. Silent…
I shuddered at his voice, turning my back to him. He stood up, coming behind me, moving his hands to my arms.
I have brought you so that our passions may fuse and merge. In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses; completely succumbed to me. Now you are here with me, no second thoughts. You've decided…decided…
I turned to him slowly and he took a step back, slowly beckoning me with his finger to follow him.
Past the point of no return…no backward glances. Our games of make-believe are at an end…
He raised his hand and signaled me to stop. I did so, my eyes not leaving his as he moved behind me once more, his hands on my shoulders as he sang into my ear.
Past all thought of if or when…no use resisting…abandon thought and let the dream descend…
He lowered one sleeve of my robe and I tensed up immediately. He placed his hand over my throat, his thumb moving across the soft skin as I tilted my head to the side, relaxing.
What raging fire shall flood the soul? What rich desire unlocks its door? What sweet seduction lies before us?
He placed a small kiss on the nape of my neck and I let a low moan escape from my lips as he continued to hold me, running his other hand down my chest ever so slowly. I felt his smile against my skin as I melted against him, feeling a heat growing inside of me that I felt I couldn't stop it.
Past the point of no return…the final threshold. What warm unspoken secrets will we learn beyond the point of no return?
He let me go and turned me to face him. My cheeks were flushed as he looked at me, his breathing quick and yet composed. He held out his hand to me and said, "Sing." I obeyed his command, standing still at first.
You have brought me to that moment when words run dry. To that moment when speech disappears into silence…silence…
I stepped closer to him, slowly placing my hands on his chest. I slowly moved my hands down to the buttons of his jacket, slowly unbuttoning them as I sang again.
I have come here hardly knowing the reason why. In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent. Now I am here with you, no second thoughts. I've decided…decided…
His jacket was now unbuttoned and I gently moved my hands up, sliding it off and dropping it to the floor. I moved to his vest next, repeating the process as I did with the jacket, sliding that off and dropping it to the floor as well. I looked at his face, his beautiful face that was covered by that mask. I lifted my hand to his mask, slowly lifting upward. He clapped his hand over mine, stopping me from what I wanted to do.
"No, Christine…"
"Yes, Erik…" I said softly, lifting his mask gently off of his face, dropping it behind me, hearing it clatter on the floor. He bent down to get it and I kicked it further away, pushing against the catacomb wall. He let out a low, frustrated growl.
"You're going to pay for that later."
I ignored the comment, beginning to sing again as I played with the ties to his shirt, untying them as I sang.
Past the point of no return…no going back now…Our passion-play has now at last begun. Past all thought of right or wrong. One final question: how long should we two wait before we're one?
I slowly opened the shirt, placing a small kiss on his chest. He felt him shudder and stepped forward, coming off of the catacomb wall, stepping back. He was resisting me. I went after him slowly, taking him by the hand with one hand, and caressing his scars with the other. He leaned into my hand, his eyes closed as he gently pressed my back against another wall of the catacombs, lightly pressing his forehead against mine as I sang again.
When will the blood begin to race? The sleeping bud burst into bloom? When will the flames at last consume us?
I felt his hands slide my rope off and join his clothes that were only a few feet away from us. He ran his hands along my curves before cupping my buttocks and lifting me up. On instinct, I wrapped my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck as he carried me to his bed, keeping his eyes on me as our voices joined together for the last refrain of the song.
Past the point of no return…the final threshold! The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn!
He laid me down on the bed gently, slowly crawling on top of me, moving my hands above my head and pinning them gently with one hand as the other ran down my chest again. Instantly, my back arched, moving my chest closer to him as we sang the last line of the song.
We've passed the point of no return…
I panted softly as his hand stop on my side, my eyes closed as I absorbed his touch. He leaned down slowly, pressing his lips gently against my skin over my collarbone. I let out a soft, content sigh as he planted more kisses slowly, moving between my neck and my collarbone. I had let myself go; I had given myself to pleasure, and I was willing to give myself further. The heat grew faster and faster within my body, and let a soft moan escape my lips as he suckled gently on the nape of my neck. He looked down at me, thinking that he had done something wrong, but when he noticed how flushed my cheeks were, he moved his lips further down, kissing the tops of my breasts. My breathing became quicker as his hands began to travel and roam along my slender body before moving to my corset, slowly loosening the ties. Suddenly, he stopped, adjusting my corset and slowly sitting up, releasing me from his grasp and sitting on the edge of the bed. I panted softly, sitting up, placing my hand on his back, wondering what I had done wrong.
"You did very well, Christine," he said, his voice shaky and unstable, not looking at me.
"What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?"
"Absolutely not. You did what you were supposed to do; you embraced the part of Anita and you did it very well. You will be ready for your performance tomorrow night. I just…"
"You just what?"
"Just as you said, Christine. I don't want to do something that I'm going to regret in the future, and I know that you don't either."
"O-oh," I said softly, sitting back a little, embarrassed. There was something going on with my body, and I didn't know what it was. I made sure that he wasn't looking before I ran my hand up my thigh and in between my legs, gasping softly as I felt a strange, unfamiliar wetness in between my legs. I quickly placed my hand beside me as the Phantom turned around, looking at me curiously.
"Are you all right, Christine," he asked, placing his hand over mine. I quickly pulled my hand away, knowing that he probably felt the wetness that was on my fingers.
"I'm f-fine, Erik," I replied nervously, but he moved closer to me, a sly smirk on his face.
"I felt you," he whispered, crawling over me. "You're not all right, are you?" When I tried to jump over him, he wrapped his arms around my waist, pinning me back down to the bed. Even though I struggled against him and he pinned me further to the bed, it aroused me even more and the heat spiked, as my resistance began to wane. "Be honest with me, Christine. Do you feel a heat in your body right at this very moment?"
"I…I…"
"Christine…" he said softly, one of his hands running slowly up my thigh, closer to wear the heat was strongest. It was the only place on my body that was clothed besides my chest. My breathing quickened with anticipation as his hand stopped just inches away from my core, looking at me again. "Do you feel a heat in your body at this very moment," he asked again, his finger slowly hooking the cloth and pulling it to the side. I was exposed, and I couldn't stop it. I didn't want to stop it.
"Yes," I whispered, my cheeks turning a crimson red. He smiled, looking up at me.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's natural. You're feeling pleasure, probably for the first time."
"Y-yes, I a-am," I said again, watching him as he kissed my arm, still shy and embarrassed.
"I guess your little Vicomte hasn't taught you anything about pleasure."
I shook my head. "We have only kissed."
"Give yourself to pleasure, Christine," he whispered softly, his hand slowly moving over my folds. I let out a gasp, feeling a wave rush over my body.
"H-how? How can I give myself to pleasure?"
"Shh…just relax and experience what it feels like."
I let out a slow breath, closing my eyes. I felt his fingers massage my folds gently as to not hurt me. I let out a little moan, my hand moving around his neck. Slowly, I felt a tip of his finger trying to enter me and I gasped softly, shaking my head 'no.' He smiled softly, as if he knew what to do. He pulled the cloth back more, my core and small bud exposed more now. He let out a low sigh, inching his mouth closer and closer. He licked once, very slowly and gently as I gasped, my eyes shooting open. I looked at him and he looked at me as he licked again, and I let out a low moan, my head falling back against the pillows. He began to quicken the pace of his tongue as my breathing and moans began to increase, my hips starting to buck as my body begged for more.
"Oooooh…Erik…" I moaned out, my hands entangling in his hair. He smiled softly against the folds of my confines, as waves began to overpower me and the pleasure within my body became stronger. The strangest thing was that it was like he knew and his speed increased. I gripped the sheets of the bed, moaning more and more. I didn't dare let go as the waves overpowered me even more, my breathing becoming more labored. He brought his head up, looking at me as I whimpered, my hips quivering, the smirk on his face wide.
"Let it go, Christine. Don't be afraid to let it go." With that, he began to ravage my core and I let out a loud gasp, which was followed by a pleasurable moan. I threw my hands back, gripping the headboard as I cried out, and my entire body now on the edge.
"Christine…my sweet Christine…"
Then, another voice, pulling me out of the world I was in.
"Miss Day? Sophia?"
My eyes fluttered as I felt a slight tingle in my legs. I slowly opened my eyes, finding ADA Nolan and a cop that I didn't recognize. I rubbed my eyes, feeling very disappointed that I didn't finish my dream. I slowly sat up, rubbing my eyes.
"Good morning, Mr. Nolan. There's my laptop," I said, pointing to my desk. The other cop nodded as I swung my legs around, placing my feet on the floor.
"Sleep well," ADA Nolan asked me, watching the tech person open the laptop, working on it to find where the emails came from.
"You have no idea," I said softly, running my hand through my hair. I sighed softly, thinking about what Monsieur Destler said. He was right. I had to tell ADA Nolan about us. I took a breath, standing up, folding my arms across my chest. "Mr. Nolan?"
"Yes, Sophia?"
"I need to tell you something."