Music of the Night: The Phantom of the Opera Returns (Guile & Melody)

[Guile]

When they reached Gustave Daae's grave stone Erik placed Alistair on the ground gently and kneeled beside Christine. He placed his hands on her shoulders and kissed her cheek before letting her go, turning to look at the stone, and beginning to talk, sounding a little awkward. "Monsieur Daae," he began softly, "I adored listening to your music when I was a boy at the Opera House. I have always loved music and have done my best to pass what talent I had onto your already talented daughter. However, more so than my love for music, I love Christine." He closed his eyes as he let the words drift into the night, as though her father were there with them and could hear every word he said. Every word that came out of his mouth was sincere and his heart ached for the deceased man. "We came to tell you that I love her and have asked her to marry me - to which she has accepted. I pray that we have your blessing and that you will watch over our family from your spot with the angels in Heaven. God bless you, sir." He pulled from his jacket pocket, a red rose with a black ribbon tied around the end and placed it beside Monsieur Daae's stone. He bowed his head and said a quick prayer with his eyes closed, before turning to Christine and nodding - his eyes portrayed the sadness that he was feeling, but he smiled at her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The wind blew and surrounded them in a tight circle. A voice seemed to be gliding with the wind. "CCChhhhrrrriiissstttiinnnneeee,my love, do not cry these tears." The child knelt by the father and looked around, possibly hoping that he was alive and waiting for her. "Papa...Pere..." she whispered. She shut her eyes as the words came. "You were once my one companion. You were all that mattered."

 

[Guile]

Erik felt the wind change and he heard the voice on the wind. He smiled, closed his eyes and took a deep breath just to remind himself that he was alive. When he opened his eyes he turned to Christine and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly, but said nothing. He wanted her to be able to say her peace, or do what she felt she had to do. This was her father, after all.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Father, I need you!" She flew toward the trees, believing Gustave's voice to have come from that direction. She searched for him everywhere as she skipped around the song. "Wishing you were somehow here again...Wishing you were somehow here...too many years...fighting back tears. Why can't the past just die!" She sang as she was on the edge of the cemetery now. The children stayed with their father. "Pere, let's go back! Please!" His son clung to Erik. "I don't like this at all!"

 

[Guile]

Erik was frightened as well - frightened for Christine. He held them close to him and watched her, horrified for a few moments. "No, children. We can't leave her here. Everything will be fine, just...just let me go speak to her." He kissed them each on the head and motioned for them to stay put. "Now, don't move from here. We'll be right back and then we can go home. Everything will be fine." He reassured them before running off after Christine who seemed to have gone off her head. He ran up from behind her and wrapped his arms around her, trying to keep her still. "Christine! Christine, darling, please stop. He's gone, my dear. He's been gone for years." He turned her around and held her tightly by the shoulders so she wouldn't try to get away from him. His eyes were saddened and filled with worry. "I'm sorry, Christine. I would bring him back if I could, but I can't. Nothing can, you must accept that." He pulled her close to him in a hug.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The twins made to move toward their mother, but, on their father's orders, they stayed put. Christine cried. "Erik, he was just here!" She struggled against him, but the Phantom of the Opera was too strong. "He was singing with me." She hugged her future husband and trembled in his arms. "He was calling to me."

 

[Guile]

Erik held her tightly, his eyes closed, trying to comfort her. "I know, sweetheart." He didn't know how to explain what they had just heard. Perhaps it really was her father, but even so, he could never be alive again. Erik didn't know what else to tell her, so he told her just that. "Darling, I heard it too. But even if it was truly him...I can't bring him back to life. You have to let him go - he would want you to go on with your life. I'm not saying forget him - no one could - but you have to move on." He knew she was hurting and his heart continued to break for her. Erik kissed the top of her head and ran his hands across her back as he held her tight to him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She ceased fighting and arguing. "Thank you, my teacher and protector." She kissed his cheek. "Please, I want to go back." The little ones were shaking in the cold. "C-Cold...Br-Brother..." Lillith trembled. Her brother removed his jacket and tossed it over her body and hugged. "My dearest, do not fear. Mum and Papa will come back to us." Alistair stroked her cheek. They saw the shadows of their parents in the distance, but did not know it to be Erik and Christine. "Stay back!" Alistair ordered. "If you touch us, my father will destroy you! He will have your head!" He attempted to sound strong and confident as he covered Lillith protecting her. "Not one move!"

 

[Guile]

Erik nodded in agreement and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Of course, darling." He whispered to her and they turned and made their way back to the children. As they approached them, Erik suddenly became aware that the children did not know it was them approaching. "Hush, my son. You are very brave. However, bravery is not needed in this situation." He chuckled and when he got to the children he noticed that they were both shaking from the cold. "Oh, dear. Come, we must get back. Here, darling." He took Alistair's jacket back off of Lilly and gave it back to his son to wear once again because he had picked Lilly up in his arms. He held her close to his body and wrapped his arms tightly around her to keep her warm.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine looked back at her father's grave and smiled. "Thank you, my father." She picked up Alistair, who was still trying to work out what was happening. "You were the ghosts?" He asked as he felt his mother's fingers wrapping around his under arms and was hoisted to her hip. "Father, I wanted to follow you, because you were gone for a quarter hour and we were getting...she was...scared." he corrected himself immediately. Lillith nuzzled into Erik and started humming. Christine rubbed Alistair's back. "Come, let us go back to Catherine." She walked on.

 

[Guile]

Erik kissed Christine's cheek before starting back to the Opera with Lillith in his arms. "Yes, son, we were. However, I'm glad you didn't follow us. You never know when you could accidentally get lost - better to just wait in one spot for the others' to come back to you." He said with a little laughter in his voice. He pretended not to notice that his son had been scared, not wanting to embarrass him, and just focused on ignoring the cold night air.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

His daughter moved the hair from her father's ear...or, what remained of it. "He was shaking and crying, Pere." She giggled as Christine walked ahead, wanting to get to Catherine as quickly as possible. The rain and snow were heavier now and Lillith threw her little reddish brown curls back as she caught flakes of ice in her mouth. "He just doesn't want to admit it. He's too strong for that."

 

[Guile]

Erik concealed his chuckle, but smiled at his daughter. He whispered in her ear. "I know, but don't tease your brother." they kept walking and when they got inside to the Opera House Erik was glad for the sudden rush of warmth. He continued to carry Lillith in his arms as the family made their way down into the cellars and into the boat. He stopped to help them all in, then got in himself and began rowing.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine was awake by now and was struggling against the ropes that bound her. "Let go! Come on!" She wasn't upset about William anymore, she just wanted to be free to move. Alistair was hugging Christine tightly and wasn't about to let go in case he got hurt. Lillith was singing to herself and kicking her feet off the side of the boat. Her feet were in the water. She was extremely high pitched and off key. She would get lyrics wrong.

 

[Guile]

Erik looked at Lillith and raised his eyebrows. He chuckled and didn't want to offend her, but he said jokingly, "we're going to have to give you lessons someday, young lady." He smiled at her so she wouldn't take it badly before the boat docked and he helped them all out. He walked over to Catherine. "It's alright, my dear, we're back." He gave Christine a look of worry, but untied the rope from his daughter anyway. "There you go. I'm sorry, darling, but we had to leave for a little while." He added quietly, "I hope you understand."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair laughed at his sister's singing and Lilly blushed in embarrassment, then, when she heard her twin, she tossed him overboard. "That'll teach you to laugh at me!" Christine wrestled them off of each other as Alistair stood and pushed Lilly into the water. "It's a good thing I don't have triplets, or I'd run out of hands." Catherine was pale again, her hair was falling out and she was thin indeed. "Yes, Father."

 

[Guile]

Erik had watched the twin's bickering and laughed at them. He knew it wasn't fair to Christine, but they were quite comical - even when they weren't trying to be. "Don't worry, dear, I'll be around much more to help you keep them under control now." He went over to the twins, picked Alistair up out of the water and sat him down on dry land. "Quite picking on your sister." He warned, but half-heartedly for he was still smiling. Then he turned and looked at Lilly, who was coming out of the water with Christine. "And you - quit picking on your brother." Again, he was smiling, not able to be angry at his children for long at all.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Alistair glanced around at his family and couldn't stop blushing from embarrassment. Lillith couldn't look at her father, she was also humiliated. "It wasn't my fault." She argued. Catherine was busy rubbing her raw legs. "I thank you, Mother, Father." She hugged Alistair, who was wrapped in his blanket now. "I just want to see some justice for William." She felt a tear drip down her nose. "Um, darling...your father and I thought...maybe, you would still like to have a party for William, to celebrate his life." She lied to her first born. "Yes, Mother... I think he'd enjoy that." Catherine hugged her knees close to her, all the time staring at her father for hints of a lie.

 

[Guile]

Erik did not give on that they were lying, but went over to Catherine and wrapped his arms around her tightly. "I'm glad you're up for it. Like your mother said, he'll be happy to see you celebrating the man he was. Then, you must remember, that you do have to move on someday." He kissed her cheek and smiled at her sympathetically. "He will understand, my dear. In fact, knowing him, he'll be happy for you. He was a good lad."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine blushed a shade darker than her lips. She still felt like a child in her father's embrace. "Yes, Father." She whispered. You're one to speak of moving on, Father. "Yes, he was a good man, a very good man." She couldn't think of moving on right now, but she would try. "It will be a wonderful party, Sister!" Alistair kissed her cheek too. She, in turn, kissed him. "I know, but...we have nothing to wear."

 

[Guile]

Erik hadn't thought about the fact that he hadn't ever taken his own advice, but it was too late to take it back now. I just hope she'll be able to. "That's my girl." He said with a smile. He nodded in agreement with Alistair. "Of course it will! And don't you all worry about clothes. I have plenty of money for you each to buy a very nice outfit for the party." He didn't add that the money came form years of frightening the House managers to pay him each month. However, he felt it unnecessary to say anything as to where the money came from.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Catherine wrapped her arms around Erik and smiled at him. "Papa, thank you." Christine, on the other hand, wasn't fooled at all. "And, where, Monsiuer Erik, did you come across such wealth?" She knew very well where the money came from, but wanted to hear him say it. "You've been holding out on your wife. I do not believe you told me of such riches." She giggled. "Must we already keep secrets so early?" She refused his lips.

 

[Guile]

Erik looked at Catherine and rolled his eyes exaggeratedly before standing up and making his way slowly toward Christine with a sly grin. "You know very well where I got it from." He whispered, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close. When she refused to kiss him he started to tease her. "Well, I suppose I'll have to tell you..." he sighed, almost as though he were overacting, then went on with his made up story that he knew she was aware was fake. "I killed different people for it - some were out on the street, rather wealthy looking chumps, most were. The majority were drunk - easier to trick into a back alleyway where there would be no witnesses." He made his voice deep and intimidating, but his eyes were playful as he stole a quick kiss from her lips when she wasn't prepared.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"So, you believe in kicking, or in this case, killing them while they're down?" She reversed her steps, as though frightened, as he came toward her. "Ah, those poor, poor people. Release me, murderer." She teased him too. "Did they beg for their lives?" Her hands were cold against his cheek. "Is my teacher truly a murderer?" She laid her cheek against his. "Say it isn't so!"

 

[Guile]

"Oh, yes." He almost growled as he looked off into the distance as though remembering these fake people he slew. "They begged, pleaded with me - some tried to bribe me. However, it was much more fun to kill them and take their money anyway!" He let out a maniacal laugh that echoed off the walls. "And, when all else failed, they wept. I can still hear their screams..." He turned his head sharply back to look at her.