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

[Saiyan Princess]

The children came along as soon as the gate rose. They fought against the small ripples in the water until Lillith fell on top of in their struggle to get through the water. Christine made her way to the middle of this lake to hold them. "Hush, my loves. Mommy loves you. She isn't going anywhere." She ran her fingers through Ali's hair. "My brave boy, no, my brave young man, you must not be so afraid to shed tears, but, for now, there is no reason." She allowed herself to get drenched as she was toppled on, though protecting her belly the whole time. When.it was to the point where the dress was stuck to Christine, Andrew hid his face, for it was red.

 

[Guile]

Erik watched the children rush to greet their mother, his head hung in shame. Finally, he got the nerve up to go out into the water to them. Erik went up to the children, afraid to get too close for fear of frightening them. "My children...can you ever forgive me? I meant you and your mother no harm." His words came out softly and he kept his gaze from meeting their's, his eyes being the only portion of him that showed his shame. "You believe me, do you not?" He asked, glancing at Christine as if to ask her the same question. Erik longed to hold his children, but he was afraid of the rejection and hatred he might receive from them, so he stood patiently waiting for their response.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Why wouldn't we believe you?" Catherine stepped up beside her father and kissed his cheek. If it weren't for the babe in her arms, she would have hugged him. "Oh, Papa!" She did what she could, her face was in his chest. The younger ones eventually stopped their crazed antics as far as fawning over their mother went, and Alistair was the first to tackle Erik. Christine wouldn't let go of Lillith, for the daughter was being used to hide Christine's top half.

 

[Guile]

Erik was grateful for Catherine's acceptance, though he didn't have an answer for her. He brought his head up enough to kiss her cheek and baby William's forehead and wrapped his arms around her the best he could. Erik was pulled out of his thoughts by Alistair's sudden grip on him. Erik grunted as the boy ran smack into him, but he started to laugh before loosing his footing from the blow and falling into the water himself. Standing up, now completely drenched like Christine, he wrapped his arms around his son and held tight to him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

When Alistair rammed into their father and knocked him down, Catherine gasped in surprise as she stood there, all alone. It was strange, seeing her entire family enjoying themselves once again, without all the worry that they could be in the midst of something horrible. "Well, I'm glad that I'm the only one that's dry." She teased as she walked away from the water's edge. "I can't be touched. I have a baby with me."

 

[Guile]

Erik let go of his son and looked around at everyone he had come to love more than anything else in the world. A sudden thought overtook Erik - he did not want them to leave him again. Erik was thrilled that they were home, but he didn't know if he could trust Christine not to leave him anymore. Doubts filled his mind and he didn't know how to assuage them without offending Christine. Erik was at a loss for words.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Above, Raoul was firing up the audience into a mob. "You see what that thing has done! He has kidnapped Christine and her family!" He started off. "Let's rid this place of the nuisance!" He lit a torch. "Who's with me?!?" He tried to rile them up as best he could. Christine pulled the children close, not sure if they would get hurt. "No, I cannot trust you."

 

[Guile]

As Christine pulled their children close in fear and distrust, Erik grew afraid once again - afraid that he would lose them. He also felt anger growing inside of him, which he pointed at himself, because he could not get Christine to trust him. His memory flashed back to long ago when he had brought her down beneath the Opera before by force. He echoed his words from years ago. "Down once more to the dungeon of my black despair! Down we plunge to the prison of my mind! Down that path into darkness deep as Hell!" He grabbed onto Christine, gently but firmly, so that she could no escape. "Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place? Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!" Erik pulled her over to the lever and shut the gate furiously, knowing the mob would be coming.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The mob was indeed coming, led by Raoul."Track down this murderer, He must be found!" They chanted. "Hunt down this murderer! He must be found." Christine was forced to release her terrified children. "Master, please! I beg you to free me!" She wasn't singing, merely pleading with the man.

 

[Guile]

Erik took Christine by the shoulders and turned her so that she had to face him. His eyes burned into hers, radiating from them was his sadness and pain - everything he had ever felt because of her. But, also, there was love somewhere behind all of his hurt. "Hounded out by everyone! Met with hatred everywhere! No kind words from anyone. No compassion anywhere. Christine..." He said her name softly. "Why?" Then he shouted at her for, as far as he remembered, the first time ever. "Why?!" Tears formed in his eyes, but he blinked them away quickly.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Madame Giry chimed in with the music. The Phantom was her best friend and she didn't like the fact that he was being hunted down. "Your hand at the level of your eyes." Raoul continues the song. With the same lyrics. "At the level of your eyes." The mob comes in right after him. "Your hand at the level of your eyes! Track down this murderer! He must be found! Track down this murderer, he must be found! Hound this animal who runs to ground! Too long he's preyed on us, but now we know! The Phantom of the Opera is here! Deep down below! He's here! The Phantom of the Opera!


He's here, the Phantom of the Opera!" At last, with tears forming, Christine joined her music master.


"Have you gorged yourself at last


In your lust for blood?


Am I now to be prey


to your lust for flesh?"

 

[Guile]

Erik listened to her words - they stung his heart that she would think such a thing. His still held her firmly by the shoulders and spoke to her, forcing her to look in his eyes. She was going to see all the pain and suffering she had caused him, he would make sure of that. "That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood has also denied me the joys of the flesh. This face, the infection which poisons our love..." Erik broke off as tears started to slip through and down his cheeks as he recalled all his memories that haunted him every night through his dreams. "This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing. A mask, my first unfeeling scrap of clothing..." Up until now he had been singing as if lost in his memories - quiet and subdued - now, his anger resurfaced at the unfairness that was life. "Pity comes too late! Turn around and face your fate! And eternity of this before your eyes..." Erik stood in front of her, his eyes still staring into hers, but they had softened with pain. He could not forget how much he loved and needed her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"This haunted face


Holds no horror for me now." She sang softly to him. These eyes that, at one point, were so hypnotic to her, were now holding her to where she couldn't move. She handed the veil back to him. "It's in your soul that the true distortion lies." Raoul separated from the main group and splashed his way to the gate that separated him from Christine. Catherine backed away as he came and pulled her loved ones to their parents. "Papa?"

 

[Guile]

Erik looked down at the veil in his hands, his heart breaking beyond repair. The tears came more frequent now, and were broken off only when Catherine came up to them. When Erik looked up and saw Raoul, a crazed look flashed in his eyes and he let out a booming laugh. "I think, my dear, we have a guest!" He looked back at Christine with a smile, but in his eyes were different visible emotions: pain, hatred, betrayal, but most of all, undying love.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine was frightened, but intrigued as to who was here. "Raoul!" She cried. "It's you!" Raoul shook the bars. "Let her go!" He demands. "She doesn't wish to be here!" Catherine hid her face as she spotted Andrew behind Raoul. "Oh, Andrew!" She puts her baby in the crib and sprints as fast as he can until she reaches through the bars to hold his hands. "You're safe!"

 

[Guile]

Erik glared at Raoul, unwilling to ever let Christine go - not while she still loved the vicomte. His crazed smile vanished quickly from his face and was replaced with fury when Raoul told Erik what he had been thinking all along: that Christine didn't wish to be there, with him. "Never!" He screamed, his eyes glinted with a hint of the madness he was driven to. Then, he calmed suddenly, his smile returning as did the song of so long ago. "Sir, this is indeed and unparalleled delight." He was toying with the vicomte now, forcing him to remember the horror that had taken place here so many years ago. "I had rather hoped that you would come. And now, my wish comes true!" Erik laughed again. "You have truly made my night." He grabbed onto Christine once again, so that she could not go to Raoul, and pulled her close to him - much like the vicomte had done to her the night before. As he held her close, Erik felt the anger beginning to melt away, but he couldn't turn back now. He had to force himself on, otherwise, he would lose Christine forever. However, he wished more than anything to just beg her forgiveness - beg for her love and understanding once again.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul reaches through the bars as well as Catherine and Andrew continue their reunion. The twins and baby hide behind the shower but peek their little heads through to watch the scene unfold. "Free her!" Raoul continues to beg. Do what you like, only free her! Have you no pity?" Christine listens to this. "Please, Raoul, it's useless." Raoul wasn't giving up. "I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion!" He tried to reach still. Christine hid the tears from her captor and worried intensely that he may harm Catherine for being so close to the enemy.

 

[Guile]

Erik laughed at Raoul's attempts to get him to free Christine. He still held her close to him, his gaze flickering from the two men, back to Christine. When Raoul asked him to show compassion, fury erupted inside of him and he shouted back. "The world showed no compassion to me!" Inside his mind, images of his life flashed: first his mother who hated him, Christine who loved him before she found a new love in the vicomte, and various strangers who had recoiled in horror at the sight of him. How dare he ask me to have compassion! Erik almost opened the gate just so that he could kill the vicomte then, but as much as he hated to admit it, he could not - he still loved Christine, and killing the vicomte would destroy what little care she had left for her angel of music.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The children at the gate were caught in the middle of all of this madness. "Papa, what will you do?" Catherine squeezed Andrew's hands tightly. "Christine, Christine, let me see her." Raoul continued to beg, knowing that it was futile to argue with this man. "You're wrong, Phantom." Christine chimed in. "I was the only one, as well as Madame Giry and Meg. Andrew as well. We all showed compassion toward you."

 

[Guile]

Erik heard Christine's words, but tried to dispel them by closing his eyes and shaking his head. He was not denying that they were true, but he could not bare to hear kinds words from her, not when he was in the middle of unintentionally ruining her life. "Be my guest, sir!" Erik screamed at Raoul as he cut Christine off, unable to take anymore, and reluctantly pulled the lever that opened the gate. His heart burned even as he did so.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Andrew and Raoul are forced to back up until the gate rises high enough to let them pass. "Andrew!" Catherine rams into him so hard that they fall in the water. They would have laughed had this not been a terrible moment. Raoul splashed through the water to get to his lover. "Raoul!" She met him half way. "Christine!" He answered her.

 

[Guile]

Erik watched as Christine ran to Raoul, unable to figure out what emotion in him was stronger: sadness or hatred. Trying to ignore that they were obviously in love, just from the way they ran to each other, he spoke again after a few moments of silence. "Monsieur, I bid you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her?" I would rather die. Erik thought to himself as he started to wade through the waters again as before, knowing that Raoul would be wary this time - surely the vicomte would not fall for his trick again. He would be on the lookout for the lasso. So, Erik had a new plan, it was risky, but he had to take it. "Why should I make her pay for the sins which are yours?" Erik yanked Raoul back away from Christine, at the same time he pulled his dagger from where it hung at his side and placed it against Raoul's neck, but did not push, forcing him to stay still or be cut.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's heart beat rapidly against her breast, causing her breath to come in rasps and gasps. "Raoul! Ph-Erik! No! Please, don't do this!" Raoul didn't move, for the look in the Phantom's eyes proved that he meant business by holding the dagger to Raoul's neck. Catherine screamed. "NO! DADDY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!" The children hid behind the curtain again. The baby, William, began to cry while Christine's baby started waking up and kicking a little. "Oh!" Mrs. Daae held a hand to her stomach as she cried.

 

[Guile]

Erik had a vicious look in his eyes, and his own blood and heart pumped so fast in his eardrums that he could hardly hear Catherine screaming. His pulse rushed and he longed to slide the knife across the vicomte's neck and be done with him forever. It would have been so easy to kill him and keep Christine and the children with him there forever, but something told him not to. Erik did not want to be a killer, but he would have to be if Christine refused him again. That's when Christine cried out in pain and Erik looked up at her, every other emotion gone form his eyes except for concern. She was holding her stomach. The baby... Erik's heart melted and he almost broke down and cried, but he couldn't. He forced himself to stand tall and try to keep it together, but now he was even more ashamed of himself. Why? Even his thoughts were laced with sadness. Why are you making me do this, Christine? Why couldn't you just stay with me, love me? He kept the dagger steady at Raoul's neck and spoke out, to her, unable to continue entirely with the dialogue he had remembered from so long ago. "Christine..." He addressed her directly, though his eyes kept wandering to her stomach and his words were much softer. His love was in pain - because of their baby that Erik longed to see born. "Christine, I'm asking you to stay with me." Tears were forming in his eyes and he was thankful that the vicomte could not see them. "I'm asking you to marry me, become my wife." Erik forced his voice to stay steady, but it had lost all its harshness and threat. "I want to live with you, grow old, and die with you, Christine." He motioned to her stomach with his eyes, the tears starting to come through in the tone of his voice. "I want to see our child born and be there to help you raise him." Or her. Even at a time like this, Erik was wondering what gender the baby would be. "I just want to be happy." He added, "and you can't say that you weren't!" A soft smile appeared on Erik's tear stained face as he recalled the sweet moments they had shared. "You love me, or at least you did. You cannot deny it, my angel of music." His voice faded off into silence as he waited for her response. "You know my options, Christine." He hated to bring this up. "Either I kill Raoul, or I let him go. Which one I chose depends on your answer." God, why does she make me do this? Erik hated himself even more.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The kicking was so hard to endure that Christine had to fall to her hands and knees because she could stand no longer. "Agh! Yes! I ADMIT IT!" She cried. "I ADMIT EVERYTHING! Since the day we first combined our voice! I admit everything to you!" She started crying, immense pain shooting through her body. She heard him call her his angel of music and everything came rushing back. Her first journey through the mirror, their singing on stage, the first time they ever spoke, the day of Gustav's death. "Just, please! Let him go! I need you now! HELP YOUR ANGEL OF MUSIC! HELP YOUR STUDENT! YOUR WIFE! THE MOTHER OF YOUR CHILDREN! YOUR CHRISTINE!" She admitted that there was no point in trying to escape as long as Raoul was set free. If he was free, she was happy. "I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE!"