Howdy everyone! Thank you all so much for the fabulous reviews, they were all super sweet! A big thanks and shout out to newborphanatic for the very sweet and funny review! I am so glad you are enjoying this story and your reviews always make me happy so thank you a billion!(:
Any who it has been raining all week so I haven't been super busy which left me with lots of time to brainstorm and come up with new ideas for this story so I can't wait for all that! So yeah enjoy chapter 8 and please review! Thanks so much!(:
"Shall we begin?" Excitement soaring through May's body she quickly nodded her head. Erik played three dark keys on the piano and May was already entranced by his ability. Suddenly turning to the girl Erik began speaking in a new tone of voice; one that sounded more teacher like that had more authority.
"Ok, so the most important part of singing is breathing. A singers breathing will in the long run either make or break a singer's ability." May listened diligently, "Now before we begin I must know one thing." He hesitated for a moment. "Are you wearing a corset?" May was shocked and confused by his outrageous question. She was confused by why he needed to know this. Before speaking again, Erik noticed the change in her reaction and gave a slight laugh. "Miss. Daily it is a simple question. I would only like to know because corsets restrict your breathing and can cause you to fall into bad habits."
May now understood and relaxed a little. She was hesitant in responding. "Y-yes I do happen to be wearing one. It is proper."
"As proper as it may be it is a danger to your singing." He then stood towering in front of the girl. "Now as your teacher I advise you to go back into the study and remove your corset while I wait out here, and I also advise you to never wear one while your singing again."
Feeling uncomfortable about the subject May decided to argue back. "But that is very-." She was cut off.
"Very what? Un-lady like, un-proper? Believe me you will do much better once you are rid of that horrid contraption."
May was not done arguing back yet, "but Erik I-."
"Now go!" With that he spun the girl around and gave her a shove to start walking. Glancing back as she walked, May noted that Erik was now walking over to a small book shell against the cavernous walls of his lair.
Once inside the study and now corset less, May decided to make her way back to Erik but as she turned to leave something on a cluttered desk caught her attention. Pacing over to the desk May gingerly picked up a piece of art work. On the paper she was now holding was a portrait of a beautiful young lady lying on a bed looking to be asleep. Looking closer she realized who the lady was; it was Christine. May was confused; this was the second portrait of Christine that she found in Erik's lair. How could Christine possibly know the phantom; she always spoke of how frightened of him she was but she did also always speak of a certain angel of music.
Thoughts flew through the young girls head as Erik's voice rang out.
"Are you alright in there May?"
May quickly responded, "Yes I'm alright." Emerging from the study now she still had the portrait in hand and every intention to ask Erik why it was there. When she shut the door of the study and rounded the corner to go back to the piano, Erik now stood in front of it with his back to May glancing over sheet music.
"Erik?" She shyly asked as he turned to face her.
"Yes."
"Um why do you have a picture of Christine?" May held out the picture; Erik's expression changed in a split second as he swiftly leaned forward and stole the drawing away from the girl.
"Where did you find this?" he asked urgently.
"In the study, it was laying with some other papers. Did you make it?" Pacing away from May and glaring at the picture in his hands Erik gave a very un-relatable response to the question just asked.
"How do you know this is even Christine?" He huridley laid the portrait down on a table away from the piano. "Now please don't be my art ok."
His art! A simple slip of words that May's wittiness was able to catch in a second. So he did draw the picture; peculiar. "I'm sorry."
Turning to face May again Erik to a deep breath before responding. "That is quite alright." As he walked back to the piano May walked towards it also. "Now that you know the first lesson of proper breathing, let's begin."
The lesson was going very smoothly. May enjoyed Erik's teaching very much and was awestruck by his amazing piano skills. Without any sheet music or anything Erik would be able to play practically any song from memory or make up any tune at the snap of a finger. Erik was also very impressed with May's singing. The young girl had a beautiful gift and was able to learn anything quickly, her high flowy soprano voice complimented Erik's haunting piano skills perfectly and together they both sounded wonderful. May was also very transfixed on Erik's voice. Every now and then he would sing something for her or demonstrate a technique and May would end up completely captured by his beautiful golden tenor voice that echoed through the catacombs of the Opera House.
The lesson had been going on for quite a long time now and it was very late in the evening that it was practically morning. May was rather tired and Erik could tell but he still wanted the girl to keep going. At the end of a long piece May broke her proper singing proper and leaned up against the piano.
"May you need to watch your posture; that is probably the second most important part of singing." May was too tired to fix how she was standing.
"I know I'm sorry but I am just really tired." Erik glanced at the girl who was leaning up against his piano.
"I think it's about time for a break." Giving a sigh of relief May stood and walked over to a sofa near by the piano and sat down on it. May saw Erik stand and leave the room and watched him as he came back holding out a glass of water to her as he reached her side.
"Here's some water, it's important that you always stay hydrated while singing." He handed May the cold cup as she gave him a quiet thank you, and then he retreated back to his piano.
Setting down the glass May turned to watch Erik as she pulled her legs into her chest. "Erik, how long have you been playing piano?" He turned to face May and hesitated a moment as she gave him a soft smile.
"For as long as I can remember." He grinned lightly then looked down at the keys.
"Wow. Well you are very good." Erik responded with a soft thank you. "Will you play something for me?"
Erik quickly looked up at her, the white of his mask glimmering in the candle light. "Play something?"
"Yes, for me. Will you Erik?"
There was a long pause. "Alright I suppose."
May smiled up at him as she got comfortable seated on the couch. Placing his long fingers strategically upon the keys, Erik shut his eyes and began to play letting everything leave his mind. Once the first note slipped out form the piano May's jaw dropped. It was beautiful; the music Erik was creating was unbelievable. Every note and chord had a deep haunting meaning to it and Erik poured his heart into every sound made. Succumbing to the music May leaned her head against the back of the couch listening intently. As the music wrapped the girl in tighter and tighter her eye lids were becoming rather heavy. Finally letting the music take her, May slipped into a deep sleep as the haunting melodies danced in her dreams.
Erik poured his heart into his music; everything locked inside of him came flooding out in the lovely melodies. As his song came to an end he was snapped back into reality. Pulling away from the keys Erik took in a deep breath and turned towards May grinning. His grin slowly faded as he saw the young girl curled up on the couch. He stood and began slowly walking towards the girl. As he reached the couch where she lay he noticed now that she was asleep. Giving a light chuckle gazing at the sleeping ballerina he decided to let her go; so pulling a thick blanket off of a nearby chair Erik draped it over the girl and sat in front of her on a small coffee table in front of her.
Gazing at the small girl on the couch thoughts soared through his mind. Erik enjoyed the presence of this girl all the time and now watching her and spending this time with her he accepted her as a friend. He was shocked by the fact that she wasn't afraid of him and hadn't questioned his mask or his meaning within the opera; the girl was so young but yet so witty and strong. Erik glanced over her blonde curls; her hair was not as curly as Christine's but rather wavier. May also had lots of rather adorable freckles while Christine's face was spotless. She was also taller than Christine. Erik stopped himself; why was he comparing this young girl to Christine.
He loved Christine but did she love him? And what would he say to May if she was to eventually find more drawings of her or some of her things. Although he hardly knew May he did feel as though he could trust her but how could he tell her about Christine. Standing quickly to get his mind off of both May and Christine, Erik fled to his piano where he poured out his feelings in endless song after song. When Erik played he would lose himself for hours; for reasons beyond him, he would lose himself within his music and forget everything contributing to the outside world and anything around him. So without realizing it he let numerous hours pass.
Slowly escaping out of her dreaming state May's eyes began to groggily flutter open. Sitting up in her incoherent state she paid little attention to the soft sound of a piano playing in the background. Thinking she was back in her dorm room she thought nothing of the strange music.
Stopping to right down his thoughts Erik glanced over at the sleeping girl who now seemed to be awake and in a daze.
"Well good morning sunshine!" Erik sarcastically called to her. May's eyes shot open as she jumped with fear giving a small gasp. Erik chuckled satisfied with scaring the girl.
"Oh um… uh good morning?" May asked confused.
"You fell asleep listening to me play last night so I just let you go."
"Oh, oh I'm sorry." May looked down at the blanket that was laid across her lap.
Erik stood and began walking towards her. "That is quite alright." He sat on the coffee table in front of May. "And if you every need to stay overnight again I will be happy to make better accommodations for you."
May smile at him lightly. "Oh well thank you Monsieur."
Erik grinned in response. The two were quiet for a moment. "So, it seems my music bores you to death." He teased.
May laughed. "No not at all. You play beautifully, I was just very tired. You worked me hard last night."
"I did but that is only because I knew you could take it. You did very well May and with time your voice will be stronger than you can imagine."
May blushed at what he had said. She was so thankful that this was happening and that Erik was giving her this amazing experience.
Looking around flustered May tried to find a clock. "What time is it?"
"around 9:00" May looked at Erik shocked.
"9:00? Oh my goodness I need to go." May quickly stood up as the blanket fell off of her lap. Erik happened to know exactly why she had to leave and what her plans were for later in the day, so he decided to take this as a perfect time to have some fun with her.
"What do you have a fancy date or something?" He stood watching with a wicked smile as May stopped in her tracks and spun to face him. May looked rather muddled by how he knew.
"It's not a date." She told him, attempting to keep a confident tone.
"Oh really? Well Make sure to tell a certain Jack Oliver that I say hello."
"How do you know about him?" She asked unknowingly.
Erik grinned at her laughing. "I know everything." He teased.
May stood up tall and decided to stand her ground. "Well yes I am meeting with Jack and no it is not a date so if you don't mind I will be on my way now."
"That is fine with me but before you go why don't you come back tomorrow evening around, let's say 6?"
May thought it over for a moment. "6 will work well thank you. I will see you then in that case. Oh and thank you for letting me stay overnight."
"Of course, so tomorrow night we will start on new songs and more sight reading techniques to get you on the right track."
"Sounds great thank you." They both paused. "well I will be on my way now, have a nice day Erik and I will see you tomorrow."
"Yes see you tomorrow. Oh and have a nice date." He turned away from her laughing walking back to the piano.
May gave humorous gasp then laughed and started on her way.
Woo that took a while! Ok so I hope you all enjoy it and yeah! So please review and have a great week!(: