Review Reply:
clockgirl191 – Why thank you! And here's more!
We Have All Been Blind
Preparations were made for the production of Dun Juan Triumphant. There were mixed feelings among the employees on the opera. Some believed it was terrible and thought it would lead the Opera Populaire into disaster, others argued that it was an inspiring piece that was not like any other production and would bring more profit.
Raoul, himself, was in the middle of the two options. While the music was wonderful the overall theme was too dark for his tastes. He was not surprise that the Giry's and Christine like it, their tastes in operas were different.
The first few days after Erik had delivered his opera the theatre was in chaos at the arrival of the opera ghost and his demands to put on his creation. He also sent notes to the managers, who of course hated the opera.
Raoul had been present with Christine as Andre and Firmin huffed and puffed about the ghost's notes. The two of them stood at the wall, not wanting to get in the raving managers ways, at least, not yet.
"Ludicrous!" Andre hissed as he paced back and forth within the office. "Have you seen the score?"
"Simply ludicrous!" Firmin agreed.
"It's the final straw!" Andre declared.
"Well, you know my views." Firmin remarked. "But we daren't refuse."
"Not another chandelier." Andre groaned, putting his hand to his head in dismay. With his free hand he picked up the letter that was sent to him and began reading it out loud sarcastically.
"Dear Andre, re my orchestrations, we need another first bassoon. Get a player with tone and that third trombone has to go! The man could not be deafer, so please preferably one who plays in tune!"
"Dear Firmin," Firmin held up his own letter. "Vis a vis my opera, some chorus members must be sacked. If you could, find out which has a sense of pitch. Wisely though, I have managed to assign a rather minor role to those who cannot act!"
Raoul had to hold back a snicker, though Tyce—who was curled around his neck—did a poor job but only Christine heard it. Raoul had to admit that even with Erik being enraged by he and Christine and was tormenting the opera house, he still managed to maintain his sense of humor.
That was when Carlotta came storming into the room, Piangi and their companions trailing behind them.
"Outrage!" she screeched, causing Raoul to cringe at the volume in the small room. "This whole affair is an outrage!"
"What is it now?" Firmin sighed.
"Have you seen the size of my part?" Carlotta demanded.
Raoul raised one of his eyebrows at the woman. That's her problem with all this?
"It's an insult!" Piangi declared.
"Not you as well!" Firmin let out an annoyed breath. "Please understand—"
"The things I have to do for my art!" Carlotta huffed.
"If you can call this gibberish 'art.'" Piangi stated.
Raoul felt Christine stiffen next to him and quickly took her hand to make her rethink her actions. It would not do to have her go after the man for insulting her angel's work. However, Carlotta noticed the movement and her gaze focused on them.
"Ah! Here's our little flower!" she remarked cruelly.
"Miss Daae, yes, quite the lady of the hour." Firmin stated.
"She secured the largest role in this 'Don Juan.'" Andre added, making Carlotta bristle.
"Christine Daae? She doesn't have the voice!" Carlotta then pointed accusingly at her. "She's the one behind this! That hideous composer is probably no more than your puppet!"
"Signora!" Andre tried to soothe.
Christine tensed again at the diva's words and this time Raoul did not try to hold her back. He was not going to get in her way again from defending their shared love.
"How dare you?!" Christine's tone unforgiving, going to stand in front of the diva.
"I'm not a fool!" Carlotta hissed. "You think I'm blind?"
"You evil woman! How dare you?!" Christine growled back.
The two woman stood glaring fiercely at each other. Raoul thought for a moment that Christine was going to slap the other woman but before that could happen Mme. Giry came in with Valere behind her. Mme. Giry took in the room and its occupants, the tension thick in the air. She looked at Firmin and Andre.
"Please, Monsieur, another note." Mme. Giry announced and everyone except her, Christine, and Raoul let out a groan. The Madame paid the reaction no mind and opened the sealed letter. She held it up to the light and read out loud.
"Fondest greeting to you all!" Mme. Giry read and Raoul could just hear Erik's voice speaking as she continued. "A few instructions just before rehearsal starts."
Mme. Giry went to Carlotta and stood in front of the diva. "Carlotta must be taught to act. Not her normal trick of strutting 'round the stage."
Carlotta looked positively insulted and Antonio glared as Mme. Giry went to Piangi next.
"Our Don Juan must lose some weight. It's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age." Piangi looked down at his stomach and sheepishly pressed both of his hands to it. Dante patted at his pants to reassure his human.
Mme. Giry went to stand by Firmin and Andre next. "And my managers must learn, that their place is in an office, not the arts."
Raoul saw Mme. Giry's eyes widen slightly as they read the next part. When she looked up and her eyes went to Christine, Raoul understood why the reaction.
"As for Miss Christine Daae." Mme. Giry began hesitantly. Christine straightened and waited curiously. "No doubt she will do her best. It's true her voice is good, she knows. Though should she wish to excel, she has much still to learn. If pride will let her return to me, her teacher."
So, Erik was giving Christine the chance to go back to him, Raoul thought, but she would have to leave me. He shot a look at Christine who was biting her bottom lip. He knew that she would not do it, for Erik was referring to going back to him as his student and only his student. Raoul doubted she would be able to, not after she and he decided to try to both be with him and all be together. They did not want to think of the possibility of Erik rejecting them when they are finally able to tell him their feelings and what that could mean for all their relationships towards each other.
"Your obedient friend," Mme. Giry finished softly. "and Angel."
Christine took in a sharp breath through her nose at the mention of Erik referring himself as 'Angel.' She had told Raoul that years ago when Erik had revealed himself to her as a man he had stopped calling himself an angel, even though Christine continued to keep calling him such. Raoul could see that the mention of him using the old nickname spoke volumes to Christine that he was willing to forgive her believed betrayal and become her angel once more.
They needed a way to get to Erik! It was the only way they could clear up everything and put a stop to this mess. Raoul desperately tried to think of an answered but they could not get to him and they knew that he would not come to them…
"We have all been blind! And yet the answer is staring us in the face." Raoul perked up as an idea form inside his head. His eyes met Christine's confused ones as he walked to her. "We shall play his game. Perform his work, for if you sing, he is certain to attend!"
Christine's eyes lit up in understanding, she grabbed his hands and squeezed them with a bright smile.
"We make certain the doors are barred!" Andre announced suddenly, causing Raoul to jump.
In his excitement about his plan, he had forgotten the others presence.
"We make certain our men are there!" Firmin joined in.
"We make certain they're armed!" Andre added.
"The curtain falls, his reign will end!" Firmin concluded triumphantly.
"No wait—" Raoul tried to say, horrified at the manager's plan.
"Madness!" Mme. Giry interrupted, she face slightly pale at the plan.
"Not if it works!" Firmin countered with a shrugged.
"The tide will turn!" Andre decided with a satisfied grin.
"Monsieur, believe me—" Mme. Giry began. "There is no turning the tide!"
"You stick to ballet!" Firmin stated with a scowl.
"Then help us!" Andre offered. "Instead of warning us!"
"Monsieur, I cannot, I wish I could…" Mme. Giry protested.
Raoul knew that she would never go against Erik, but the managers did not have to know that.
"Don't make excuses!" Firmin hissed. "Or could it be that you're on his side?"
The room erupted into chaos, everyone trying to speak at once. Firmin and Andre accusing with Mme. Giry protesting, Carlotta raving and Piangi agreeing, Raoul and Christine trying to calm everyone down, but that became more hopeless when the companions got into it as well.
It was Christine who finally silenced everyone. She went to Andre's desk that held Don Juan. She picked up the case and slammed it down onto the desk. It made a loud noise that got everyone immediately to quiet.
"I don't want any part in this plot!" She exclaimed, looking at everyone sternly.
"Miss Daae, surely…" Firmin began puzzled.
"It's your decision, but why not?" Andre questioned with a frown.
"She's backing out!" Carlotta gushed gleefully.
"You have a duty!" Firmin stated firmly.
"I will not sing it! Duty or not!" Christine declared then rushed out of the room.
Raoul instantly went after her. She ran through the corridors until she made it into the chapel. Raoul followed behind and found her already on her knees in front of the unlit candle. Her fists were curled tightly in her lap, her curls acting as a curtain for her face and Nada was standing next her.
"Christine, Christine..." Raoul called to her gently. He went to her, Tyce jumping off his shoulders and landing on the floor a few feet away, and kneeled next to her. "You don't have to, they can't make you."
She was silent for a few moments but then lifted her head. He saw that her eyes were glassy but no tears were coming forth.
"Twisted every way, what answer can I give?" Christine whispered before looking at the picture of the angel painted on the wall. "Am I to risk his life to win the chance to see him? He'll see it as another betrayal, the man who I've already hurt deeply."
Raoul took her hand and raised it to his lips, trying to bring her comfort. She turned to him, her eyes taking on an unwavering sheen.
"Do I have any choice? If I sing he's in danger, if I don't he'll never come." She squeezes his hand. "I know I can't refuse, and yet, I wish I could."
She turned to face him completely and clutched his hand in between hers tightly. She stared down at their hands and when she spoke her voice was miserable.
"Oh God, if I agree, what horrors wait for him, in this, my angel's opera?"
"Christine, don't think that I don't care, but every choice and every hope rest on you now." Raoul whispered, upset that it was his fault that she was this stressed.
If he had only waited to tell her of his plan later, Firmin and Andre would not have heard and they would not have come up with the plan to capture Erik. He knew that she had been happy, maybe even excited to be able to play the leading role in her angel's opera, no matter what circumstances the opera was made in. But now she was faced with the option that if she sang Erik might be captured and killed while if she did not Erik would not show himself and that might also lead to more harmful consequences for everyone.
Raoul could not but sighed. "Why does everything have to be so difficult?"
"You're the one who ended up making the suggestion that led to your love being in danger." Tyce offered, to which Raoul sent the otter a glare.
"Now is not the time." He hissed. The otter only shrugged in reply.
"I'll do it." Christine whispered dully. She then raised her eyes to meet his. "Maybe there is a way we can warn him. Mme. Giry still goes down to deliver him things. Maybe we can write him a letter?"
Raoul nodded eagerly and opened his mouth to speak…
"That's if he's not angry enough to not instantly toss your letter out upon receiving it." Tyce contradicted.
"Tyce!" Raoul warned but Christine sighed.
"There's that." She conceded.
"But he offered to take you back as a student." Nada countered, her wing reaching out to hit the back of Tyce's head. The otter grumbled as he rubbed the spot but did not say anything. "He might accept something from you if he thinks it's to accept his proposal."
"We'll try." Raoul declared. "We have to at least try. Right now, that's all we can do."
Christine gave him a weak grin but nodded.
Well, there's that. Let me tell you, it was fun messing and shifting the lyrics to fit the story and have different meanings. Hope all my readers enjoyed it. Next chapter will be in Erik's POV then shift to Christine's, you'll know why when you read it. ;) Don't forget to review!