All I Ask Of You

Chapter 11

I didn't see anyone at first, the ropes swayed ominously against an invisible wind and I could hear the echo of the singers warming up from below as the floor vibrated beneath me.

"Do you have it?" A voice suddenly asked.

I jumped, turning sharply around as I did to see Erik appearing behind me with an amused look on his face.

"Mon Dieu, you startled me!" I exclaimed as I raised my hand to my chest, trying to ease my pounding heart.

"I tend to do that a lot," He said with a sly grin.

I would've laughed or rolled my eyes if it weren't for the voice in the back of my mind,  repeating Christine's frightened tone as she described the Phantom's fury with her and I could feel fear clinging to my heart.

I quickly offered the throat spray to him.

Erik looked at me for a moment, but slowly took it from my hands and replaced it with what looked to be the same spray.

"What is it?" I whispered, feeling slightly nervous about it as I held the bottle in my hands.

He didn't respond for a moment, only looking at me, he seemed to be studying me with his vibrant green eyes, which made me even more nervous.

"Remember our deal."

That was all he said as he turned away from me.

I glanced at the bottle and when I looked back up, the Phantom had disappeared.

I took a deep breath as  I quickly walked back down the stairs, feeling a bundle of nerves swirling in my stomach as a question surfaced in my mind, human or devil?

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"They say that this youth has set my Lady's heart aflame!" The Confidante sang.

We were in the middle of the first act and I could see Christine as the page boy on stage, standing beside Carlotta who was playing the Countess. Meg was closest to the curtain that I was peeking out from to watch, playing as one of the Fops.

I wasn't going to be on until Act 3 so I had plenty of time to watch the show, and hopefully soon Carlotta would use her throat spray, and then hopefully, Christine will be the Countess.

I could hear giggling coming from above the crowd and I glanced up to box 5, which was surprisingly occupied by two ladies who were laughing loudly, glancing behind them as they did.

People from the crowd exchanged irritated glances at one another and I couldn't help but smile to myself imagining the Phantom trying to scare them out of his box.

I saw Madame Giry appear in the box, speaking to the ladies who seemed to be trying to explain something to her as she led them out.

Everything was back to normal for a moment until suddenly a familiar voice rang throughout the theatre.

"Did I not instruct, that box 5 was to be kept emptied!"

Everyone whispered to one another and I could hear Meg whisper, "The Phantom Of The Opera!"

"It's him!" Christine exclaimed frightenly.

"Your role is silent, little toad!" Carlotta snapped at her as she pulled her throat spray from her pocket.

I grinned as I watched her spray her throat, clearing it as she slipped the bottle back into her pocket, a wide smile on her face, unknowing of the event that was about to take place.

"Poor fool he makes me laugh, hahahaha! hahaha-"

The sound of a large hiccup resounded from her mouth.

The crowd began to laugh and I mirrored the sound.

"Madame, perhaps it is you who are the toad," I said with a laugh as Carlotta was croaking repeatedly, the curtains closing shut.

My side was beginning to hurt from laughter, it was almost too cruel, almost.

"Ladies and Gentleman, we apologize for the disruption, but the play will continue momentarily when the role of Countess is taken by Christine Daaé!" I could hear Firmin announce to the crowd, who clapped politely.

I smiled, more than happy that it had worked out.

I looked in search of Christine and saw her being quickly guided away by Madame Giry.

I followed them towards the Prima Donna dressing room and Giry looked over at me, seeming relieved as she opened the door.

"Help Christine into her costume," She ordered me.

I nodded and quickly got the extra, which was hanging in the closet, we always had backups of costumes in case the original gets ruined during the show, or in this case, the person wearing it has run off.

I tightened the corset and slipped on the big dress over her.

I glanced at her face in the mirror as I tied her hair up, in order for the wig to be placed over it, her face was filled with nerves as she looked into the mirror, our eyes making contact with each other.

"Don't be nervous, Christine, you can do this," I tried to reassure her with a smile.

She took a deep breath.

"I hope so, I've never sang in front of a crowd before."

"They'll love you, Christine, they'd be absolutely crazy not to."

"You think so?"

I nodded my head.

"I know so."

The performance resumed and Christine captivated the audience with her voice, causing the crowd to be completely silent, everyone staring in awe at the mesmerizing, beauty of her voice, and the cheer afterward was absolutely deafening.