The Phantom of the Opera: A Beauty and a Beast (Guile and Melody)

[Guile]

Erik saw the tears streaming down her face and immediately regretted everything he had said, despite feeling it was the truth. But, he couldn't let her leave. That's why he had locked the door. He knew it would frighten her, and she couldn't hide that fear in her eyes, but he meant her no harm either. He would make sure she saw that. She would see him again. "Yes, Christine." His eyes drifted to where her eyes were. Rose? What- The sight he saw astonished him. She kept...she kept that? "Yes," he repeated, trying to make himself believe that what he was seeing was not fake. "The flower I gave you." There was no more anger in his tone. Just, a bit of sadness...even a little comfort for he couldn't stand her tears. "Christine, you must know that I do not mean you any harm either." With this, he opened the space between them and stepped through the mirror, facing her.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Angel of Music, speak I listen. Grant to me your glory." She sang to him directly. No one else was in the room, just herself and the Phantom of the Opera. There was nothing keeping them apart. "Angel, my soul was weak. Forgive me, enter at last, Master." She walked over to the rose, still encased inside glass. "I meant no disrespect to you by having him here. I'm sorry. This whole place is your home. Your Opera Populair." She held the first rose as though it was glass itself. "Please,.Forgive me."

 

[Guile]

Erik was frozen in place as she started to sing. She started to sing to him. Christine sand for him all the time. However, he never remembered a time when she sang to him, simply because she wanted. It startled him, in the most pleasant way possible. And then, the way she looked at his rose - the way she held it, so tenderly, as if it were so precious to her. God, it ate away at his heart, which was beating far too quickly to be healthy. "You act as if it is your fault. You cannot help the actions of the men you draw in." I suppose that applies to me as well... "Don't apologize." He kept his words soft and dared to take a few steps toward her. He didn't know how long it had been since he'd been in this room, but he felt as if he were wrong to be here again. "I came...I came to congratulate you - tell you how proud you made me tonight. You sang beautifully, perfectly to be honest. I couldn't have done it better myself." Which, Erik truly believed.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She also took a few steps forward, toward the man that she had loved being around since her infancy. "Well, I wanted to do this for you." She confessed. "I wanted, at least, to save my managers from having to repay the hundreds of people that made it here, tonight." Before she made it all the way to her music master, however, she replaced her treasure, locking the glass case with a turn of a key. "Thank you for your praise, Phantom. But, I could never have made it without you." There was nothing separating the two musicians from each other anymore, except, perhaps, the Vicomte, who was now on his way back to Christine.

 

[Guile]

She's so close...so close and yet, so far away. "Thank you, Christine. For sharing your gift with the world. I am more than sure that everyone in that audience was very pleased tonight. They will talk about you, Christine. You have shown them what you are capable of, and they will not forget it anytime soon." Erik smiled at her so warmly, remembering the past times he had been in her room. Remembering when they were so much younger. How curious she was about him! And Erik always secretly loved that, so long as she never found out. She treasures that rose I gave her...to this day. Oh, Christine, you've no idea how much joy that brings to my heart. The Vicomte. Erik was drawn out of his thoughts of Christine by another one, much less beautiful. Raoul was to be coming back for her. No! I can't let him take her away. Not on this night. She sang so well...it was her first leading role. A role we both worked hard for to make sure she got! I won't let him come in here and take Christine away on a night like this. A night when we should be celebrating together. Or, at least be spending together. Without saying another word, Erik held out his hand for Christine to take, unsure whether she would or not. The thought of rejection made Erik's heart sink in his chest and his hand trembled just slightly. Oh, please Christine. Come with me tonight. I want to show you...finally, I want to show you my world. "Won't you come with me, Christine?" Amazingly, he had managed to keep his voice steady. "I wish to satisfy your curiosity." He smiled, remembering the time she had snuck down the stairs to the cellar, about half-way, and listened in on him and Madame Giry. She had wanted to know what was down there. "I will show you what is below, at last."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine heard, very faintly, Raoul de Chagney on the other side of the door. "Christine! Who's there with you?! Christine!" His voice barely hit her ears, therefore, it was ignored. His hand was right there, though she didn't know if she wanted to take it. But, what's this? Her body seemed to be thinking for her, for her mind wasn't doing the work, that's for sure. Without saying a word, she reached out her hand to his. Soon she felt his glove against her bare skin. "Christine!" Raoul kept trying to open the door. "Christine!"

 

[Guile]

Erik couldn't believe she had taken his hand. Oh, but how happy he was! He couldn't hide the smile that came out looking like more of a smirk - for he could hear the Vicomte just barely on the other side of the door and Erik knew he had Christine. At least, for now. He wrapped his fingers gently around her hand when she placed it in his, and lead her through the mirror. The corridors were dark as ever and though Erik was used to it, he was sure Christine was not. So, hanging on the wall was one of a few lanterns, still lit. He took it in his free hand and held it in front of them, so that Christine could watch herself, so she didn't fall - though, Erik had no plans of letting her anyway. As he walked her through the darkness that was like his home, Erik couldn't help letting his emotions take hold of him. How his heart soared with her so near! Every now and again, he would look back at her, the brightness showing in his eyes, just to make sure she wasn't afraid - wasn't thinking about returning.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

At first, the woman walked, in silence, behind the Phantom. She felt her heart going at the speed of a hummingbird's wings. Seeing nothing but darkness until they reached the end of the hallway, Christine was carefully taking each step, until, at last, Erik grabbed the lantern. Oh, thank you. Her mind was a flurry of thoughts right now, though she was relaxed to the fullest extent. No longer hearing the Vicomte, all her focus was on her teacher and the world around them. She didn't know what to say to him, but she didn't want this long journey to be filled with silence. And...he did say that he enjoyed her singing. When at last she opened her mouth, her words filled the empty air. "In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came." She kept following the Opera Ghost. "That voice which calls to me and speaks my name and do I dream again for now I find the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind." She was his now, that much was very clear. He sang to her on a nightly basis, never leaving her alone, though she did not want him to.

 

[Guile]

Erik continued on in silence until he heard her voice. Oh, it was beautiful. Echoing off the walls of these empty corridors, gracing Erik's ears so wonderfully he almost sighed. When she finished, Erik had a longing to sing. His heart beat quickened as he took the tune she had started and sang his own verse, to her. "Sing once again with me, a strange duet. My power over you grows stronger yet." He turned his head to look at her again and smiled warmly. "And though you turn from me to glance behind, the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Walking behind him as he, her Angel of Music sang to her, she turned away from him, just slightly, to look back the way she came. Then, there was the sound of hooves beating and the snorting of something big ahead of them. Christine started to get very nervous. Then, the horse came into view. Christine pat his snout with her free hand, just enjoying the sight of something other than the two humans. The animal was black as night, enormous as well. Christine was transfixed by him as she walked beside him and pat his neck.

 

[Guile]

Erik had sensed Christine's sudden nervousness and gripped her hand just a little tighter, not enough to hurt her however. It was simply a reassuring grip. Then, watched as she noticed his horse and smiled, knowing that she was not longer frightened. An idea came to his mind as he stopped with Christine and stood beside the animal. "Here," Erik spoke softly into her ear as he came up behind her and put his hands ever so timidly on her waist. He had never done such a thing to a person before, let alone a woman. "If you will permit me, Christine, I will help you up." He smiled warmly, but at the same time wondered if she would reject the idea of riding. Erik had such a calm, respectful demeanor on the outside. However, on the inside he was so afraid. He was afraid of doing something wrong, offending Christine, frightening her, being rejected. God, there's that word again. Reject. When will I ever stop despising it? Well, perhaps when people stop despising me.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

The woman was, at first, unsure of this idea, not knowing the intentions of the animal nor, truly, the Phantom of the Opera. She sighed, breathing in the smells, sounds and sights that surrounded the two. She jumped when he had come up behind her and practically hissed in her ear. "Oh..." she looked to her left, where his face was, well, actually, his mask. "I'm sorry, we were having such fun and then I stopped it. That was selfish of me." She felt her dress press against her body, as his fingers pinned it to her. "Y-Yes, sir." She whispered. "You may. But, is he tame?" Truly she loved horses, if she knew them, but this beast was a complete stranger. She observed, anxiously, as the horse stomped one hoof, as though ready to get moving. He lowered his enormous ebony head.

 

[Guile]

"Nonsense, Christine." Erik whispered, finding it hard to speak with Christine so near to him. "You've not stopped anything." He smiled at her, to reassure her that his words were true, and also, that he meant no harm and would not let any harm come to her. "Of course he is, Christine. He may be a little pushy once and again, but I will be right here guiding him. Trust me," were the last words he whispered before tightening his grip ever so slightly around her waist to support her as he lifted her up and into the saddle. Once he made sure she was balanced and situated he smiled up at her again. He noticed how his heart ached now that she was further away from him. "Now, you just hold onto the saddle. I'll take the reins and guide him." Erik did as he said, taking the reins in his hands and began walking at an average pace, not wanting the horse to get worked up and want to take off. He kept looking back at Christine to make sure she was alright. "Just stay relaxed. I won't let anything happen to you." Erik promised her the first time he looked back at her, after the horse and he took only a few steps forward.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Miss Daae did as she was told, at first frightened to no end of being on this huge and seemingly dangerous animal. But, then, he started to move and Christine was in her own little world again. Out there on stage, she was so happy. Now, this same feeling came over her and she couldn't help but smile. Their song had been cut short, but she would never let it end that way. "The show must go on." She grinned. Then, as the hoof beats kept the slow, dark rhythm, she continued. "Those who have seen your face draw back in fear." She looked directly at him.What do you hide? "I am the mask you wear..." she wanted to reach for it.

 

[Guile]

As Erik walked on, the reins still firmly in his grasp, he heard Christine's voice again. Oh, how it made him smile. Her voice was so beautiful, so heavenly. Then, he processed the lyrics and became weary. Erik felt eyes on him and he turned to see Christine looking directly at him as she sang. Her next words, about his mask, caused him to cut her off with his own line. "It's me they hear." Then, like magic, they both joined in together with the exact words. It was as if their hearts knew what to say, knew what the other was thinking. "My spirit and your voice, in one combined. The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your mind."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine blushed, knowing that Erik had caught her in the act of watching him. Oh, no! She was in trouble now. "Your spirit and my voice, in one combined! The Phantom of the Opera is there, inside my mind." They finally reached a point where the horse could go no further, and Christine was glad. Even though Erik held the beast, Christine could have sworn that he was still watching. Waiting for her to give him a reason to take fright. A river came into hearing range. Christine thought about what lie ahead, blindly obeying every order that she was given. Releasing the saddle, she watched Erik. Why do you wear it?

 

[Guile]

Even turned facing away from her, Erik could feel Christine's eyes on him. For an odd reason that Erik couldn't place, it made him smile. She's curious...curious about my mask. She will want to know sooner or later. I must make sure she does not find out. Not...not now. If ever. At last, they approached the river. Erik stopped the horse's steady pace and let go of the reins, making his way to Christine's side. Holding up his one hand to her at first, Erik thought it better to just lift her off the horse. Hoping that Christine wouldn't be frightened by this, he once again, placed his hands on her waist and pulled her off the animal, setting her down gently on her feet. He couldn't help stopping for just a second - he couldn't move, he found. Erik was staring into her eyes, oh how beautiful they were! He was quickly lost in them, but his fear of frightening Christine pulled him out of his daydream and he took her hand in his again, tenderly of course. From there, Erik lead Christine to the water's edge to a boat. He smiled at her, a smile that asked her to trust him, before helping her in.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine wanted to trust him, she did, but something about him made her want to run. The horse moved away as the Phantom reached up for Christine's waist. Christine felt it as well. Miss Daae was on the horse one minute and the next, she was on the ground and being led toward the water's edge. Her gaze never left him, nor did it want to, even as she stepped up and over the small boat and sat in the front. Her gaze had to move away from him, had to know where they were going. This was all strangely beautiful. Something felt right about finally being united with her Angel of Music.

 

[Guile]

Erik couldn't hide his smile, but was indeed able to suppress a sigh of relief he had wanted to let out once she stepping into the boat. How glad he was that she had not turned and ran! However, Erik couldn't let his guard down now, there was still a chance that she might startle. He didn't want to frighten her, and so Erik forced himself to be very weary of his actions. He got into the boat carefully and stood behind her, picking up the ores and placing them into the water, softly rowing at last. Thought he did not row too quickly. Erik didn't drag along, but he wanted the moment to last. The water shimmering under the lights of candles and his lantern was far to beautiful, especially with Christine's beautiful figure outlined by the glow. Looking at her just caused his heart to quicken in his chest and Erik wasn't sure how much longer he could stand being near her before he would break. All he wanted to do was confess his feelings to Christine, to tell her of the longing he felt - the need to hold someone close to him again, especially her. Unfortunately, Erik could not. Oh, if he did! What a disaster it could be! Nothing frightened Erik more than confessing his love, only to find out that she could not, would not, love him the same way. It would destroy what was left of his fragile heart.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Unable to keep herself still, Christine faced him to break the silence that she felt had hovered over them. "Excuse me, sir, but, you aren't what I had imagined you'd be from the stories that others have told me." Her face darkened to crimson. "They keep saying things like 'He's shrouded in fire.' or 'He's got Death's head.'" She brought her eyes down in shame. "I shouldn't have listened. I never associated the two fables, my Angel of Music and the infamous Phantom of the Opera." The tune that they were singing kept popping into her head for some reason, though she didn't have words to finish it.

 

[Guile]

At the sudden sound of her voice and the fact that she had turned to meet his gaze, Erik forced his eyes to flicker away from her. His face darkened just as much as Christine's had - he had been caught staring. Or, at least, he thought he had. He wasn't entirely sure, but that didn't stop him from being embarrassed. However, he was drawn to her and couldn't help looking back into her beautiful eyes. Christine's words startled him, though he did not show this. "Do not fret, Christine. I don't blame you for being a bit...surprised at my appearance. After all, growing up around those who tell stories of me would make one believe them, wouldn't they?" Erik let a small grin form at the corner of his mouth. "As you can tell, they are quite wrong. Then again, I would never attempt to correct them. THe more gruesome and supernatural they think I am - the more they fear me - the more inclined they will be to accepts my demands." He let out a soft chuckle, then remembered that he had not wanted to say anything that might frighten her. His eyes snapped back to her with a soft shimmer to them, a kindness he was not accustomed to feeling towards people. "However, you should never fear me, Christine. No harm will ever come your way, I promise you this. I do not seek to frighten you in the slightest. Only those fools who run my theater. Yet, I am glad that you now know the truth. You will know form now on, in your heart, that when I speak to them, when I demand something of them, my harsh tone is not directed at you." Erik admitted under his breath, "it always bothered me that I could never tell you that. I was always worried you would think of me as some sort of brute, if not an actual phantom." Erik allowed himself to chuckle a little more as he continued rowing, the gate to his home slowly coming into sight.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Yes, sir." Was her only answer. "I understand more than I did before, as a naive child." Her gaze traveled, but would always come back to the man in the mask. "Just, please don't hurt anyone, Master. It isn't right. They'll come for you and then, I'll be all alone again. I don't want that." Something told Christine that this wasn't a good idea at all! She was going down into a hellish prison and, it was quite possible, she would never return. She had no control over her own mind anymore. Her legs wouldn't obey her. The gate rose and Christine's breath came heavy as his little world came to her corneas. "It's....amazing!" She gasped in exasperation. "So bright! Just like I remember!" Her fingers grazed the shore as they stopped. "You must feel so alone at times." Mirrors everywhere all pointed to them, all cracked, broken, excluding a few. "Did you do all of this yourself? You're quite lucky, Monsieur. You have no one that you need to share it with. You have all of this to yourself." Her body jerked a little forward, involuntarily, also as a result of stopping.

 

[Guile]

As Erik rowed on, the gate seeming to get closer and closer with each light push of his, he couldn't help being shocked by Christine's concern. Though, he did not let his face show his surprise. Erik could not promise that he wouldn't hurt anyone. Instead, he glossed over that and promised her something he knew he could keep. "You will never be alone again, Christine. Not if you do not wish to be." These were the last soft-spoken words he spoke before the boat came to a halt. A smile came to his lips again as he saw the amazement in her eyes at the beauty of the many candles about his home, that lit the place that would normally be pitch black. Instead, Erik's home had a warm almost homey feeling to it. Of course, it was not like a normal home, but it felt safe. Here, you could feel protected. Thinking about Christine's words, Erik stepped out of the boat carefully and confessed something to her. "Yes, Christine. I feel alone quite often." He couldn't hide the sadness in his understatement. He truly felt alone all the time. Except for when he was with her. "I created this home for myself, made it to my liking. It is large indeed - comfortable, yes. However, all the extra empty space just reminds me of how alone I truly am - how much I wish I had someone to share it all with instead of keeping it to myself." At last he had come around front and was facing her, his eyes still tinted with the pain of many, many years of loneliness. However, for his Christine, Erik forced himself to put on a smile as he held out his hand to her - a silent signal that he wished to help her get out and onto the shore safely. "However...I am glad you like it." And that was the honest truth, all of it. Her amazement at his home made his smile a little-less forced.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine stared out his outstretched hand, unsure of what to do. "Well, I can also assure you that, even when I go back, you are never alone." She took his hand, her own shaking just slightly. "I want you to be happy, and, if that means coming down here for my lessons, so be it. As long as you're here with me, I will gladly make the long trek and visit quite often." Her legs felt numb. Her heart palpated rhythmically. "I love your music lessons, Monsieur. They're all I lived for as an infant." She blushed, her fingers lost all blood. She looked dreamily into his eyes, transfixed. "But, why have you brought me here?"

 

[Guile]

Christine was so close to him. So close. It was all he could think about - her presence, her words, and...wait. Oh, the way she looked into his eyes. Erik wanted to melt, though his exterior showed little to no signs of this weakness in his legs, the tingling sensation pricking his skin at the touch of her hand, or the fluttering in his chest. And her words. Oh, they are so beautiful! So kind and caring! My Christine...she lives for my music lessons. She loves them! Then, a thought his him square in the chest. But there's no way she loves me. "Christine, your words are too kind." Erik said this with a smile as he gently guided her onto the land, then over a few feet away from the waters edge before stopping and looking into her eyes once again. "But...I could never ask you to come all this way for music lessons. It would be unfair to make a young woman such as yourself take such a long walk every day. I am perfectly content coming to you, dear." Oh, but how nice it would be to have her here, in my home, so often! In truth, Erik wished she would come down here to see him many more times, but he couldn't ask such a thing of her. He let his mind wander from this thought to her last question. "Why have I brought you here, you ask?" Erik chuckled a little as he repeated her question with a light-hearted tone. "Well, Christine, you have been taking lessons from me for many years. You have done all that I asked, I can tell. For, if you had not, your voice would not be nearly as beautiful as it is today." I can't tell her the real reason - that I just wanted her near, that I wanted her away from Raoul. "I recall, back when you were a young girl, a visit from you. During this particular visit I was called on by Madame Giry and had to leave briefly. When I returned, much to my surprise, you had gone. Oh, you returned shortly, but not after sneaking down the stairs into my cellar - just a little ways, you had said. And I believe you. However, I remember you were very curious about me and my cellar, so here you are. I wish to rid us of the secrets between us." Erik couldn't help notice that he had moved just a little closer to her, enough to reach out just a few inches and touch her soft skin. This closeness made it hard for Erik to speak, and instead, the rest of his words came out as whispers. "I want you to know a little more about the man that hides behind the voice of your angel of music."