The Phantom's Guardian (the Phantom of the Opera fan fiction)

Part 30 - Brief moments in heaven

The above music has no relation to this chapter but I really loved this version of the title song so I thought to share with you.
"Here the sire may serve the dam

Here the master takes his meat!

Here the sacrificial lamb

Utters one despairing bleat!"

The chorus girls and Carlotta were rehearsing a song from "Don Juan Triumphant". Monsieur Reyer is directing the orchestra but in her mind, Desiree could not forget how the song sounded when Erik's fingers danced on the keys of the pipe organ. With the combination of faint candlelight in the lair, she thought it sounded so much ominous back then than right now, being played by a whole orchestra in broad daylight. She decided to focus on the job at hand, which was making sure the sandbags used for counterweight for stage and curtains are filled.

"Poor young maiden! For the thrill

On your tongue of stolen sweets

You will have to pay the bill

Tangled in the winding sheets!"

The tune rose in tempo and Carlotta's voice rang out in a high pitch. Desiree winced as her ears suffered from the onsalught. Although she knew that Carlotta is a talented soprano, her mind refused to put the woman in the same league as Christine. Both were talented but Christine's voice was kinder to the ears, more soothing, she thought.

"Serve the meal and serve the maid!

Serve the master so that, when

Tables, plans and

Don Juan triumphs once again!!!!"

Unable to tolerate it any longer, Desiree lifted up the filled sandbags along with a coiled rope. She whispered to another stagehand, a scruffy man who she came to known as Pierre. "Hey, I'm going up to the catwalk to hang the counterweights."

He looked up from his job.

"Okay, Derrick, I can go with you."

Desiree casually replied, "No need, I can do it alone."

Pierre looked at her incredulously. Desiree felt uncertain suddenly and asked with equally wide eyes, "What?"

"Derrick, Aren't you afraid of the Phantom of the Opera? He killed Buquet up there, did you forget?" he whispered scandalously.

Desiree felt uneasy at the mention of Buquet's death. She felt somehow responsible for his death as she raised his suspicions which led to the Phantom killing him. It did not matter that he was a vile person; she was never one with a nature that revels in hurting people.

A tiny shiver crept up her spine and Pierre had mistaken that response for her fear of the Phantom. He chuckled and patted her shoulder. "Just let me finish this and come with you, Ok, lady-boy? We all don't want a one-on-one meeting with a murderer, right?"

Desiree stiffened abruptly at his words. She felt a spark of anger and turned her head to prevent him from seeing it. Instead, she hitched up the sandbags on her shoulder and stood up.

"You can keep your comments to yourself, Pierre. I would rather not be tangled in the web of gossips when Madame Giry comes around. And I can handle the job alone. I do not need anyone's company."

"Ha Ha ha, suit yourself.." Pierre's quiet laughter enraged her more and Desiree walked away silently, heading towards the rung of stairs that led to the upper sections of the stage.

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