The Final Aria (Discontinued)

2

Chapter 2: A Parasite

Erik gazed at Roselyn's gentle face as they arrived at his domain. Her eyes were pleasant. They were so innocent. Upon the approach of the shore, Erik had stepped out, keeping one foot on the boat. He helped Roselyn up and allowed her to step out. He then removed himself from the boat. She was a tender lamb, one who needed his guidance.

Her voice is the one thing that needs control. Her lyric skills... perhaps those I can work on at another time, Erik thought to himself. He chuckled as Roselyn glanced around. Her pale eyes grazed across every detail. "It's beautiful," Roselyn whispered. Erik smiled. He heard the whispers of Roselyn. "This is my realm, illusions domain, where music and beauty and artifice reign," Erik explained.

Roselyn heard the singsong tone of Erik and turned to face him, the skirt of her dress twirling as she did so. "Did you just use sprechstimme?" Roselyn inquired. Erik became increasingly curious about this girl. She knew what he just used. Not many people did. "How did you know what I just used?" Erik inquired. Roselyn blinked and responded, "I... I don't know. I just guessed."

Erik turned his head for a moment, seeing the blank scores he had left. "So much to do in time that seems to be so little, yet extending each day," he murmured. Slowly, he turned back to Roselyn. He remembered her audition to enter the Opera Populaire, a place that was now a school for the performing arts. Roselyn seemed unfocused. It was almost as though something was clouding her head.

"I heard your audition," Erik began, "the small aria you started to sing. It was filled with emotions. It was unlike anything I had heard." Roselyn's attention went to Erik, the masked man who brought her to the domain that she was seeing as beautiful. With a brow raised, she inquired, "What do you mean?" "For starters, it wasn't from any opera I've known or heard. How did you come across it?" Roselyn sighed, "I came across it in my mind. I wrote it, sir."

With that, Erik laughed. "An innocent thing like you writing such a thing as that. It is unbelievable. I find it hard, yet again, things are not quite what they seem. Thus bringing me to a concern. Your singing. Yes, it is good, it's just lacking in control. You're pulling in on the notes that you should be pushing on," Erik remarked. Roselyn sighed. Using sprechstimme, she responded, "I haven't the time to seek lessons. I've been working just to afford to get by. I'm all alone. I have no family. My father's deceased and I'm stuck paying his dues..."

Erik shook his head. He retorted with the use of sprechstimme as well, "I can see, well hear, the lack of training. It is sad to see one who has such strength within reduced to a weakened state. Parasites and maggots pick at the surface, squirming around. They taint the beauty, widdling it down to the bone. It is painful, torturous, monstrous. Your father would be sorry for you. You're a lost wandering child without anywhere to turn. Why is it you who must pay everything that is due?"

Roselyn sighed, "I'm all that's left of my family. My mother died shortly after I was born, she was dreadfully ill, before I left home my father was taken by the same thing that claimed my mother..." Erik sighed. He could hear Roselyn's voice faltering. "Perhaps you should stop using sprechstimme for now. I'm putting you on vocal rest for five... no... twenty minutes. Not a peep." Roselyn nodded, she understood vocal rest rather well. "Why don't you sit down?" Erik suggested as he led Roselyn over to the pipe organ he adored playing, composing at it when time was granted. Roselyn didn't say a word, but agreed to it. "You do know you have potential with the right training. Perhaps when the twenty minutes is over, I could help you."

Roselyn seemed to perk up at the idea. Her eyes seemed to glisten with a light that was turned out long ago. "You seem rather eager about that," he chuckled. Roselyn started to open her mouth, wanting to say something. "I said not a peep," Erik reminded, his tone was strict. Roselyn sighed. This was going to be a long twenty minutes.