MONDAY MORNING, Aubrey and I went to school. It was then that I realized what the date was.
"It's Halloween already?!!"
"Gee. I've kept track for over 500 years and you can't keep track of fifteen."
"Shut up..." I replied, pouting weakly.
Then he did something very uncharacteristic: he gave me a noggie. I just stood there blinking in shock.
"You - you just - you just noogied me..."
"Yes, I did."
I did the anime fall. So now I'd need to get through the day AND give two consecutive performances, then I could let it all go at the dance. Just when I thought noting could get worse, it did.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE'S HOME WITH STREP?!" Ms. Vasquez yelled into the phone. Some indistinct babble came from the phone. "THEN WHO AM I GOING TO GET FOR THE OTHER LEAD ROLE?!" more babble and she hung up the phone.
"Miss Vasquez?" Kaleo said. "I could do it."
"Then who will do Buquet?"
"We can get one of the dancer guys to do it."
"I suppose so, but you need to lighten the character."
"NO!!!" Aubrey and I shouted at the same time. They stared.
"I am not kissing him! Strep-boy was bad enough!" and "he can't play Raoul, he's not innocent enough! Besides, the dancer guys cant act!" were thrown at them at the same time.
"You two will play the part as you always have. Just make sure you know your lines."
"Great..." I muttered, slumping into a chair.
"Yes, of course, Christine. Your Raoul will be more cynical this time." Kaleo said as he brushed past me.
BEFORE THE PERFORMANCE, I sat in the revealing costume for Hannibal, thinking about Patrick's sudden illness. Strep... how lovely. He never seemed to be able to stay healthy for more than a few weeks. Had Kaleo caused it? Or could he do that?
"Hey," I looked up and saw Alice. "don't think so hard, you'll never be able to perform like that."
"Thanks. I'm just trying to adjust to the fact that Kale- Kelvin is going to play Raoul."
"Kale- Kelvin?"
"Kaleo. It's his nickname." Thank god for cover up.
"I see. Well, just think of your boyfriend and kiss him."
"That's more difficult than you think."
"I've done it before. I'm a junior, remember? I had to play Marian Paroo in The Music Man and the guy who was supposed to be Harold Hill got switched. I hated the guy, but I thought of my boyfriend and it was over faster than you think."
"Thanks for the advice. And thanks for not reporting us."
"No problem, it's the least I could do."
"Okay, guys! Ms. Vasquez said. It's show time. Get in your places."
We all took our places and the opening sequence began. The curtain stayed down, but the actors spoke into microphones. They banged a gavel.
"Sold. Thank you, madame. Lot 665, then. A musical box in the shape of a monkey in Pursian robes, playing the cymbals. Still in working order."
"As shown here." A few notes played of Masquerade.
"May I commence at fifteen francs? Fifteen, very good. Do I hear twenty? Yes, twenty francs. And twenty five? Sold to the Vicomte De Changny. Thank you, sir. Lot 666, then. A chandelier in pieces. Some of you may recall the strange affairs with the phantom of the opera. A mystery never fully explained. We are told that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. And, while parts of it will be used to for the new electric light, perhaps we can scare away the ghost of so many years a go... with a little illumination. Gentlemen?"
The orchestra began to play the theme and the microphones were moved. Then, the curtain was raised on a Hannibal rehearsal. I stepped out in my pointe shoes with the other girls in the chorus. Everything went well, until the second performance.
WE TOOK A break for dinner while the sets were put back into place. I sat by myself in a secluded corner, munching on some potato chips.
"You're going to need better sustenance to get through this performance." I heard Aubrey's voice say.
"I know, but I'll make it."
"Here. Take this. I obviously won't be eating it." He showed me a orange.
"No, duh. But, no. Go find Baryl, she needs it more that I do."
"As far as I'm concerned, you both need it. I already gave her some, anyway."
"Fine. Thanks." He handed over the orange and sat down next to me.
"You ready for this?"
"Am I supposed to be?"
"No, not really. Just remember; for now, he's Erik. Just treat him the way you'd treat the character. We wouldn't want our own Opera Populaire incident."
"Your right. Though it wouldn't be too horrible if he just disappeared without a trace."
"Say, we still have a half hour or so. You want to go do something rather than just stay here and be bored?" We both stood.
"You want to warm up? It might take that long."
"Sure. Eat the orange first."
WE WARMED UP, hoping nothing would go wrong. For the first time, I was actually scared of Kaleo, much less how violent he would portray Erik.
"You alright?" Aubrey asked. I smiled, hoping it looked decent. Even a bit convincing.
"Yeah."
"Liar. What's making you burn a hole in the floor?" I sighed.
"I'm scared. Not just scared of torture or pain, scared for my life. For your life. I've never felt this before. It's like I'm feeling this weakness in my soul."
"Yes. That is how most people feel after finding out what Kaleo is. You were just too stubborn to be like that. Don't let that stop you from being Christine. Your public needs you. We need you, too."
"Thank you for the quote."
"You're welcome, my little Prima Donna."
He hugged me from behind and started to sing Music of the Night. My favorite song.
Night time sharpens, heightens each sensation...
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Slowly, gently night unfurls its splendour.
Grasp it, sense it tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night...
At this point I was almost asleep. He kissed my neck and I melted. He just happened to find a spot on my neck where the nerves told my brain that this was a good thing. His teeth grazed my neck, but he didn't bite. Though I made no move to stop him, he seemed to sense something odd in my sudden change of mood.
"You became a... puddle." He meant that metaphorically, of course.
"I don't know. I do that. Its just that spot on my throat... I melt.' He seemed a bit concerned, but ignored it as the prologue started.
Most of the play went smoothly with only a few hitches until the final section came. Kaleo ran with me down to his lair as Helen and Aubrey "chased" us. Aubrey had made it down and Kaleo was singing.
Wait! I think, my dear, we have a guest!
Sir...
Raoul!
This is indeed an unparalleled delight.
I had rather hoped that you would come
And now my wish comes true
You have truly made my night.
He grabbed me roughly and brought me to his side. I looked at Aubrey, who just stood there, trying not to lunge at Kaleo and kill him.
Let me go.
Free her!
Do what you like only free her!
Have you no pity?
Your lover makes a passionate
plea.
I looked at Aubrey with warning.
Please, Raoul it's useless.
I love her!
Does that mean nothing?
I love her!
Show some compassion!
The world showed no compassion to me!
Christine, Christine
Let me see her.
Be my guest, sir.
Monsieur, I bid you welcome.
Did you think that I would harm her?
Why would I make her pay for the sins which are yours?!
Kaleo threw the lasso at Aubrey and pinned him to the gate, almost breaking his windpipe. I looked at them with warning, for Aubrey's singing, he'd need to breathe. Kaleo let some slack and continued.
Order you fine horses now!
Raise up you hand to the level of your eyes!
Nothing can save you now except perhaps Christine.
Start a new life with me,
Buy his freedom with your love.
Refuse me and you send your lover to his death.
This is the choice,
This is the point of no return!
The tears I might have shed for
your dark fate,
Grow cold and turn to tears of
hate!
Christine, forgive me, please
forgive me
Farewell my fallen idol and
false friend
I gave all for you and all for
nothing.
Too late for turning back
Too late for prayers and pity.
We had such hope and now those
hopes are shattered.
All hope and cries for help.
Say you love him and my
life is over.
No point in fighting.
For either way you choose you cannot win.
But either way you choose he has to win.
So do you end your days with me
Or do you send him to his grave?!
Why make her lie to you
to save me?
Past the point of no return.
Angel of music,
For goodness sake,
Who deserves this?
Christine, say no!
His life is now the prize.
Why do you cry?
Don't throw your life
away for my sake.
Which you must earn.
I fought so hard to
free you.
You've past the point of no return.
Angel of music,
You deceived me.
I gave you my mind
blindly.
You try my patience.
Make your choice!
I walked slowly over, making sure nothing happened between them.
Pitiful creature of darkness,
What kind of life have you known?
God, give me courage to show you
You are not alone.
I almost roughly pulled Kaleo down and drew him into a shallow kiss. Aubrey seemed pained, but I tried to ignore it. The orchestra played the "kiss music" and I pushed Kaleo away. Kaleo looked at me with disdain and a whirl of smoke descended upon the stage. I was blind, as was everyone else, but the two vampires were not. Someone grabbed me and we shot through a trap door in the floor.
A/N: Okay, I know the formatting is kinda weird, but I can't help that. The lyrics are necessary, but it's hard to decipher between Kaleo and Emma. You're going to have to guess. Sorry. TT,TT