Caylin's P.O.V.
"Yves!" I called out to my son as we were packing, getting ready to return to Paris. In where we are going to perform at a local theatre. It has been about a month since we have performed in Dublin. We had our last performance last week, already with sadness took down the outdoor theatre and we're now getting ready to go back to Paris and I still haven't asked Yves what his opinion of Erik's opinion of me was. Right now I was in my green plaid travel dress along with my locket and ring with my hair loose. Yves turned to me when I called for him.
"What is it Mum?" Yves asked.
"Last week, Odela told me that Erik has feelings for me," I told him "I know it sounds mad but-"
"How is it mad Mum?" Yves interrupted me, "Erik does have feelings for you. He always has."
"That's not true Yves. You were there that night at the Opera with the "Don Juan" performance, remember?" I reminded him.
"Yes" Yves answered, "I also remember him going out of his way to watch you perform whenever he could. He may not have treated you in the way he should've, but it doesn't change the fact that he was always mesmerized by you, and he's like that towards you now, if not more so and he also treats you the way he should've back then."
Yves had said that without stuttering even once. That made me nervous. If Yves believed Erik felt this way, then it had to be true. Yves instincts were always good and they were almost always right. If Erik did have feelings for me, what am I going to do? I don't know what I feel for Erik. I know I love him as a friend, but more? I don't know. I'm not going to say anything about this openly. I need to know and be sure of what I feel towards Erik before I say or do anything. He's been hurt more than enough due to what happened to him, especially because of Christine. And since we're going be to Paris, there's a chance we'll bump into her. She came to see us the last time we came to Paris with Raoul. I helped them during that time at the Opera House so them coming to see us perform is their way of thanking us or rather me for helping them. I'm worried about this since Erik is going to perform with us in the second show that we're going to perform there. Occasionally, Nadir will stop by, but I haven't seen him in two years, so I don't know what's going on with him. I haven't received a letter from him in months. Lynette, Enjolras, Marius and Cosette always stop by to watch us when we come and afterwards, they usually spend time with the Troupe. Now I had something else on my plate to worry about think over, and I don't even know where to start.
"One month later"
We had built the set for the next performance at the local theatre in Paris. I still didn't know what I felt for Erik other than a friendship love. We were doing our last rehearsals for the performance we're going to do first, but Peter wanted to do a of couple scenes for the show after we perform our first show here, and just my luck too because one of those scenes was a scene that has me and Erik in it. In that particular scene, Erik's character is seducing my character and we end up in bed for a little bit before the next scene takes place. In that show, he's doing the role of Dracula from Bram's Stoker's novel and I'm performing the role of Mina. In the other scene, Erik has to sing a song with Jo who will be playing the role of Lucy. Thankfully, we didn't have to be in costumes for this. We were allowed to be in our regular clothes. Every person under the age of thirteen isn't allowed at rehearsals or performances like this one. Erik is wearing his usual casual white shirt and black pants and boots and thankfully no mask and wig. I'm wearing a new long sleeved poet's red shirt, and my black pants and boots, along with my locket and ring of course. Again, my hair is loose. Erik and Jo are going to do their scene together first, and then I do my scene with Erik. Knowing Peter, he's got an ulterior motive for doing this, and I think I know what it is. I think he wants me to do this scene with Erik in particular to see if any authentic feelings I may or may not have toward Erik will surface in the rehearsing due to the fact that there have been times when one or more of the performers in the Troupe have their true feelings surface through rehearsals or performances. It's not always romantic feelings that have surfaced through things like this. Sometimes even something a performer has been burying in themselves for a long time, but finally show themselves in the rehearsing does happen, like a hidden anger, sadness, or even joy. I don't know what will happen concerning me. All I know is that anything I feel, rehearsing or performing or whatever, I have to let it flow and then I'll see what happens and go from there. We are now sitting in the empty theatre and it's the night before we do our first performance which is based on Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel "The Secret Garden". I'm performing the role of Martha (the maid) in that one. Isobel is too old to play Mary Lennox and Alicia is too young for the role, so she will be played by Molly's niece, Liz. Chloe will be performing the role of Lily, Tristan will be playing Archibald and Dave will be playing his brother, Neville. Isobel and Yves will be spirits in the show.
Peter just called up for Erik and Jo for their song. It'll be the first time Erik will sing with a soprano in front of people since Christine. Jo may not have a soprano voice for opera like Chloe does, but she's still a soprano nonetheless. Before singing with Erik right now, she kept to tell Erik not to worry about it and just lose himself in what he's doing, like he always sees us do and so on. Erik took a breath and Jo just closed her eyes, all ready to sing. The musicians played their first notes, Heather, Chloe and Odela who are playing the vampire brides did the first lyrics of the song, and then the first big piece of music was played and Erik began to sing his part.
This is just the beginning
It isn't an end
This isn't a funeral
It's more of a christening
There's no need to wear black
This is just what I came here for
And the war has begun
I'm creating my dynasty
The Dark side of the Sun
Life after life
You won't need flowers on your grave
You won't need prayers
You have no mortal soul to save
No one should mourn
No one should ever shed a tear
The rewards I am offering
Shine brighter than gold
Life after life
You are only the spirit
The first of my kind
It's a matter of time before London belongs to us now Jo joined in singing with Erik
Every night someone new
Every victim a midnight feast
They will fall one by one
And our empire will quickly grow
The Dark side of the Sun
Life after life
This is the prize I give to you
Find your new world now Erik sang the next lyric alone
And see what damage you can do here they sang together again
Together we will prowl these quiet moonlit streets Erik sang alone again
Choose our prey carefully they sang together again
And let it begin Erik sang the next part alone again, as if commanding her
Life after life
Go and quench your new thirst
Drink the blood of the innocent they sang together again, filled with joy
Those who are without sin
Taste the sweetest of all
Life after life
You won't need flowers on you grave
You/I won't need prayers Jo sang her only solo part in the song
I have no mortal soul to save they sang together again once more
Together we will prowl these quiet moonlit streets
Choose our prey carefully
And let it begin
Life after life after life after life after life
After life after life after life after life
After...LIFE!
When they finished, everyone applauded and cheered as they took their bow. The entire time, they were circling each other, letting the song filled them up with whatever was fueling them and it worked out AMAZINGLY!
"That was very well done you two" Peter praised them, "Jo you can take a seat. Caylin, you're up. You know what to do."
I got up and went to Erik while Jo sat down with her husband. I was nervous because there was no set choreography for any of this yet. We already knew the songs and our lines, but we haven't been given directions or set choreography yet so at the moment we are improvising. Something told me that Peter was doing this on purpose to see what will happen. We are going to skip the talking parts in the song, and just do the singing parts. The rest of the song will be worked on later.
No One's P.O.V.
Everybody sat in their seats as Caylin and Erik lost themselves in their roles and began their song. Erik sang first, and as he sang, he was looking at Caylin with so much passion that people would wonder if any of it was real and not just because it was what was demanded of the role.
Ever since I saw you
Shivers down my spine
You're the one
You're the chosen one
I'm here to make you mine at that moment Erik was making his way toward Caylin
You're the one
Out of all the loves I've known
All my centuries alone
You are flesh of my flesh for all time
I've commanded armies
I've defeated kings now Erik was right in front of Caylin and was gently caressing her face
But today, seeing you this way
Armies and kings seem trivial things
Empty and trivial things Caylin looked down at the floor with anguish and took a step back from Erik, and began to sing
Please don't make me love you
Please don't make me need you
You know very well I can't turn you away
I can feel the nightfall
I embrace your darkness
But must I give up all the beauties of day? Erik stalked up to Caylin and sang his next part, holding his hand out
Pure pleasure for infinity
Why should we all be born to die?
I offer you my love, eternal love
A love unchanging as the stars above Caylin took Erik's hand and they sang together
My blood will be your blood
My bed will be your bed
Together we will face the centuries ahead
And when the world's grown old, our gold will still be gold Erik sang the next part alone
There's always a tomorrow Caylin sang her next part in the sang and held onto Erik, as if embracing him and getting lost in what she was feeling
Another mist is closing in
I feel I'm losing all control Erik sang his next part and made sure to keep eye contact with her and at the same time, tried not to lose himself in her as well
You have the light of passion in your eyes
A look that nothing spoken can disguise
It tells me that you feel the things you want to feel
Your body wants me now, some things you can't conceal
We'll live our lives and then we'll live them once again
There's always a tomorrow now they were singing the rest of the song together
There's always a tomorrow
There's always one more night in one movement, Erik picked Caylin up, and carried her bridal style to a couch that was further up where they were on the stage, placed her on it, bent down to her and kissed her full on the lips, to which she instinctively responded to with eagerness and passion as she kissed him back and held his neck and head in place. Erik pulled away from Caylin for a minute and made it look like he bit her neck like a vampire. After they both took a moment to take a breath, they sang their next and last part of the song.
How can we turn back when we have come so far?
Any sacrifice is worth it to be where you are
I /You had you/me in my/your thrall
You/I had to fall
But who could ever resist?
We're melting away in
And we'll always stay in
Together we'll stay in the mist!
Caylin's P.O.V.
After everybody applauded us, and told us how amazing we were and that the chemistry between us was great, Peter had us all go to bed so we'd be ready for the performance tomorrow. As I laid in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about the stage kiss Erik and I shared. Sure it was a part of the performance, but it doesn't change the fact that it made my heart pound so hard I thought it was going to explode from my chest. Not only that, I felt like I was sweating and most of all, I didn't want to let Erik go. I wanted to keep kissing and touching him. I didn't need or want sex right now. Just kissing and holding him was more than enough for right now and I wanted to hold him in my arms and kiss his soft, disfigured lips always. How Erik is physically ugly and beautiful at once is beyond me. But it doesn't change the fact that now, he's beautiful on the inside and that is what makes his unique beauty shine the most. I just hope that everybody is right when they said that Erik is love with me. I couldn't live with him or myself if they were wrong. I know now that I'm in love with Erik and I want to be with him. I still can't believe it took a stage kiss to make me realize what my true feelings for Erik are. I looked up toward the ceiling and clutching my locket and ring in my hands, hoping Christian was looking down and watching over me from heaven.
"Christian, if you're there and watching over me, please send me assurance that Erik loves me" I prayed in a whispered voice, "I need to know and be sure before I say anything."
"Next Night"
Erik's P.O.V.
The Troupe is doing their first performance now and they're currently in the second act. Caylin's first solo was funny and I had to hold back my laughter. I enjoyed watching the performance from off-stage immensely, but I haven't been able to stop thinking about the kiss I shared with Caylin last night ever since it happened. I know it was a stage kiss, but I still couldn't help pouring my love for her into it. And I know her kissing me back was a part of the scene, but it felt like it was more. I don't know. I just know that I wanted to kiss her again. Feel her soft lips press against mine, and not just when performing. I want it to be a regular thing between us. I want us to be together. When Christine kissed me that night at the Opera House, I could feel her sadness behind the kiss that she only did it because it was what I wanted, not because she loved me. Only because she felt like she had no choice. But when Caylin kissed me last night, it felt amazing. It felt warm, passionate and more. I have no words to describe it. I still remember what her soft lips felt like against mine, and I didn't want it to stop. Her kiss made my heart beat faster than I ever thought possible. Just when I thought what she did to me was maddening enough, something else happens to make me think otherwise. Caylin doesn't have a single clue what she does to me, and I can't tell her. Not yet at least. Once we're alone together if the time feels right, I'll ask her. I don't want to make her do anything she doesn't want to do and I especially won't make her be with me if she's not ready. I will wait for her, however long it takes. I just have to find a way to hold back to urge to just pull her into my arms and kiss her again.
Right now, Caylin as Martha is about to sing to Liz who is Mary Lennox right now. Right after the musicians played the first few notes; Caylin jumped right into the song and began to sing making sure she looked the girl in the eye as she sang and gave her shoulders a comforting squeeze.
What you've got to do is finish
What you have begun
I don't know just how
But it's not over till you've won
When you see the storm is coming
See the lightning part the skies
It's too late to run
There's terror in your eyes
What you do then is remembered
This old thing you heard me say
"It's the storm, not you
That's bound to blow away"
Hold on
Hold on to someone standing by
Hold on
Don't even ask how long or why?
Child, hold on to what you know is true
Hold on till you get through
Child, oh child
Hold on
When you feel your heart is poundin'
Fear a devil's at your door
There's no place to hide
You're frozen to the floor
What you do then is you force yourself
To wake up, and just say
"It's this dream, not me
That's bound to go away"
Hold on
Hold on, the night will soon be by
Hold on
Until there's nothing left to try
Child, hold on, there's angels on their way
Hold on and hear them say
"Child, oh child!"
And it doesn't even matter
If the danger and the doom
Come from up above or down below
Or just come flying at you from across the room
When you see a man who's raging
And he's jealous and he fears
That you've walked through walls
He's hid behind for years
What you do then
Is you tell yourself to wait it out
And say "It's this day, not me
That's bound to go away"
Child, oh hold on
It's this day, not you
That's bound to go away
The audience cheered when the song ended. I applauded with them, but had to stop my applause early to wipe the tears off my face. Caylin sang another song that hit me in the heart and I also saw myself in the song because it was how I used to be at one point, when I was living in the Opera House. Hiding behind walls in fear of everyone and the world, and all the rage I felt if I felt someone was doing as much as taking one baby step through those walls. I was also jealous of everybody, even though I was afraid of them, because they were able to live their lives, like I wasn't able to live mine, due to my face, my deformity.
I had no words to describe this performance. It was not only beautiful, but it was also, magical and had a spirituality that most shows don't have. The performance was over before I knew it. Everybody went out and took their bows, and I applauded with everyone once again and stood up in my seat from off-stage as the audience gave them a standing ovation.
"Caylin's P.O.V."
As I took my bow with the rest of the cast, I looked into the audience and by pure chance, saw Raoul and Christine, standing from their seats, cheering and and applauding with the rest of the audience. I just smiled but I let the smile go once the curtain came down. I quickly ran to Peter without even bothering to talk to anybody. I found Peter coming in from orchestra pit.
"Peter!" I called out to him urgently.
He turned toward my voice and saw me running.
"Caylin, are you ok?" he asked me worried. I stopped running once I was in front of him.
"I'm worried about Erik. I saw Raoul and Christine in the audience tonight. What if they come to see the next peroformance? I know that Molly will be using make-up to hide Erik's deformity, but I'm sure they will recognize him anyway. I'm worried that they have him and us all arrested for taking him on" I ranted.
"Caylin, breathe" Peter told me as he grabbed my shoulders, "Don't worry about Erik. He'll be fine. If Raoul and Christine do come to our next show, especially if they ask about Erik, let me deal with them. I don't want you to worry over nothing, especially if they don't say anything about it. If they do say anything about Erik, I'll take the heat of it all. It was my choice to take him on and give him a second chance. I'll deal with them if it comes to that."
"Thank you Father" I breathed out and hugged Peter tightly.
"Caylin, I can't breathe" Peter wheezed. I quickly let go of him.
"Sorry" I apologized.
"Don't worry about it," Peter told me, "I'm proud of you. You were more than amazing up there." Peter quickly looked around. I bent down and whispered to me "Are we alone?" I looked around myself, saw no one and there was no feelings in me anywhere. We were alone and I nodded my head to Peter.
"Well?" he asked me. I knew what he asking me and I knew that once I gave him my answer, he'll understand why I was so frantic and worried about Erik. But the best part about it was, I knew Peter wouldn't turn me away. He will support me all the way.
"I love him" I replied to Peter straightforward with no hesitations. Peter just gave me a giant smile and said with enthusiasm, "You deserve to be happy. Go and nab the man!"
FINALLY!
I have this chapter done, and unfortunately, I'm STILL DEALING WITH TOO MUCH EMOTIONAL CRAP RIGHT NOW! I don't think it's going to go away for a while, so and it'll take me a while before I get the next chapter so I'm begging all of you, PLEASE bear with me and be patient, because I promise you all, it's NOT OVER! Not by a long shot!
Erik and Caylin kissed! Even if it was just a stage kiss, it still counts as a kiss! Now Caylin knows how she feels about Erik. What will she do about it, especially since Raoul and Christine have come back into the picture? What parts will Raoul and Christine play in this and will they recognize Erik if they come to the Troupe's next performance?
I want to thank jigokunooujo, ChibiCheshire, Alysiana, DarkFireNyx, Victoria The Werewolf, Sami4321, and Blue Wolf29 for favoriting/following my story.
I also want to thank Don Juana19 for letting me use her AMAZING characters and pairings! Thank you SO MUCH!
Life After Life and Mina's Seducation belongs to Frank Wildhorn and Don Black
Hold On belongs to Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman
PLEASE REVIEW! They mean SO MUCH TO ME!
I own NOTHING except my OCs!