Everything leading up to her performance had gone well. They decided to start her off easy, and she'd only sing once that night.
The lights dimmed, and she appeared onstage, surrounded by automated smoke, in a black gown, with a black veil.
The song started up, and she gave it her soul. She breathed everything she had into each note. Each measure filled with more passion than before.
She sensed something other than the audience mid-song, and looked up to her left. She finished the song, and was greeted with a standing ovation. She looked again to the darkness above, and saw him. She met his gaze, and saw his warm smile.
He held out a hand to her and when she was preparing to bow, for it was the end of the opera, she raised her arm out towards him, and acknowledged her teacher, and acknowledged her audience; grateful for their presence.
When she walked off stage, and the rustling of people leaving filled the halls, she made her way to the dressing room. She heard the door click as it swung open, and she rushed inside, eager to speak to her master. "Brava, brava, bravissima!" sang a familiar voice.
She turned to the source of the voice, the mirror, and grinned. "That was amazing! Oh, the thrill! And just the comfort of knowing you were there, thank you." "My dear, I must ask you something..." he said fumbling in his pocket for something.
Suddenly the doorknob rattled, and a woman walked in. It was Mme. Daaé! She was....crying? She ran to Erik, and threw herself around him. "Thank God you're here! Raoul left me! He took my babies...."
He returned her embrace, and pulled her away. Elizabeth was watching the two, tears streaming down her face. She kissed him passionately, and Elizabeth cried out with pain at the sight of Erik betraying her.
'How could he?! Doesn't he of all people know how it feels to be betrayed? He said he loved me...'
she thought to herself. "I gave you my voice! I made your song take wing! And now, how you've repaid me, denied me and betrayed me!"
Erik, clearly hurt, looked to her, and back at Christine. Christine looked once to the young girl, clearly judging, and said "Didn't know Raggedy Ann here could talk." Erik looked scornfully towards Christine and said, "I love her. She accepts me without for all I am." Lizzy looked hopeful, praying he'd return to her side, but he wasn't finished speaking. "But she's not you. Christine, I love you."
YOU ARE READING
Music of the Masquerade
Hayran Kurgu(Musical based, not book.) (For the sake of the story, let's pretend there was never a fire at the Opera Populaire, and that Erik, Meg and Madame Giry never went to America (Love Never Dies)) It's been 25 years since Christine left him in his eter...
