Demon (38 page)

Dark Musicals Trilogy, Book 3

She stood entranced, gazing at her reflection in the Victorian mirror, as a white mist swirled around her feet. Her normally pallid cheeks were flushed from excitement because she knew
he
had arrived. His sweet, gentle voice echoed from the shadows, calling her name in the words of his song. The music invoked feelings of passion, nearly impossible to suppress. She turned, desperately searching her dressing room for the owner of that voice. Hoping that for the first time, her eyes would fall upon her teacher. She was unable to see the genius who had summoned her with the very beauty of his music, yet she felt his presence all around her.

Trembling in fear and awe, her gaze fell again upon the mirror. As though she were trapped within a dream, she saw her own reflection fade, to be replaced by another—a mysterious man whose face was hidden behind a white mask. He reached out his hand to her, beckoning her. It was her angel—her angel of music. Partially hidden behind the mask, the phantom’s dark eyes bore into her soul and spoke of a yearning that matched her own. Though she knew she should be afraid, Rebecca Hope, completely in character in the role of Christine, took hold of the gloved hand and stepped through the glass into the underground labyrinth that was the phantom’s lair.

Even as they crossed the threshold of no return, the orchestra burst into a full-bodied movement, led by the chilling blast of the pipe organ. Rebecca felt the music envelope her, possessing her very soul in much the same way the phantom had captured Christine. She became one with it, blended with it. Her voice rose to meet the high notes beautifully and effortlessly.

“He came to me, an angel in the night.

His voice is like a siren’s call.

Now I follow him, though I know it is not right.

His commands cannot be denied at all
.”

As the phantom led her through the tunnels, Rebecca found herself lost in the music and in the beautiful, seductive voice of the partner she knew intimately both on and off the stage. Her boyfriend Justyn Patko laced his arms around her waist, caressing her not only with his hands, but with this thrilling tenor. His voice was like a vocal massage that titillated her to the very core of her being. It left her as breathless then as it had the very first time she’d heard him sing. Each note made her shudder with barely suppressed passion. Their voices rose and met in perfect harmony. It was even more electrifying than it had been when they performed
Phantom
together in high school, because both of their bodies and their voices had matured.

After the crescendo had reached its peak, they moved onto Justyn’s solo. Rebecca felt his voice wrap around her like ghostly arms, moving in time with the physical hands that explored every curve of her body, leaving both the character and the actress who portrayed her dizzy with passion and need.

“The mysteries of music have been revealed to you.

You will never be free, no matter what you may do.

You’ve journeyed with me to the world of the unknown.

This night I have claimed your soul as my own.”

When Justyn sang about the music of the night, it was as though he were singing just to her. Rebecca found herself just as overwhelmed with emotion as Christine. In spite of the hundreds of people who watched, captivated, from their seats, the moment was somehow intimate and sensual. Yet Rebecca couldn’t help but notice something odd as Justyn serenaded her. His normally steady hands trembled as he brushed her russet curls aside to stroke her neck. It wasn’t something the spectators would notice, but Rebecca knew him too well. She could sense her lover was not quite himself. After four years, there wasn’t much he could hide from her, despite his exceptional acting abilities.

As soon as the phantom sent the chandelier crashing down onto the unsuspecting theater patrons, signaling the beginning of a twenty minute intermission, Rebecca went in search of Justyn. She found him chatting with their friend Quinn, who had landed the role of Raoul for his final college performance. He would be graduating in a few weeks and starting off a promising acting career on the small screen. He’d already acquired a spot on a soap opera that was shooting in New York City. The heartthrob role was perfect for someone with his boyish charms. Though at the moment, he appeared more suspicious than charming. He wore the look of a co-conspirator as he whispered with Justyn in the corner. When they saw her, both of their mouths snapped shut in midsentence. Rebecca walked up to them, her hands on the hips of her rather elaborate blue ball gown.

“What are you boys up to?”

“Nothing, nothing,” Quinn said and winked a blue eye. “I was just asking Justyn to go a little easier on me with the noose this time around. I’m still chafed from the last show.”

Before she could question him further, Quinn laughed and disappeared behind the curtain, leaving Rebecca alone with a strangely silent phantom. Though Justyn was unmistakably stunning in his old-world shirttails and cloak, Rebecca couldn’t help but notice that beneath the white mask, her Gothic boyfriend looked even paler than usual.

“Is everything okay?” she asked him with narrowed eyes. “You seemed a little shaky up there.”

“You noticed that, huh?” He seemed embarrassed. “Honestly, I’m so nervous I think I’m going to throw up.”

“Hey, that’s my line,” Rebecca joked. “Since when do you get stage fright?”

He shrugged. “We all have our moments.”

“Even the great Lord Justyn?” she referred to him playfully by his nickname. “I never would have believed it possible.”

He sighed and leaned back against the wall. “This show is just … different. This could be the last time we ever perform
Phantom
together. Even if we do make it to Broadway, there are no guarantees they’ll be doing this play or that we’ll get the leads. I just want everything to be … perfect.”

She realized he really was feeling more than just the typical case of the jitters, and she felt bad for teasing him. Of all people, Rebecca knew what it was like to worry about choking in front of an audience. So she took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Listen to me, Justyn,” she said. “You have nothing to be nervous about. You’ll be
amazing
.” She stroked the cheek that wasn’t covered by the mask. “Just like you always are, both on
and
off the stage.”

She didn’t realize until after she’d said it, but he had uttered almost those exact same words to her at her debut performance their senior year of high school. It was strange how their roles were suddenly reversed, and she was the one doing the comforting.

“Thank you,” he whispered and lifted her fingers to his lips. “You always stand by me. I really don’t know what I’d do without you. You really are my angel of music.”

Rebecca smiled. “You’ll never have to worry about being without me. Now, come on. We have to get ready for the second act.”

Despite Justyn’s worries, the rest of the play proceeded beautifully. Rebecca hadn’t expected any less. Her confidence on the stage and in herself had grown significantly over the past four years, and she had never doubted Justyn’s abilities. When
Phantom
was chosen for the second semester of their junior year, she knew they would triumph. After all, they were a modern-day Erik and Christine if ever there was one. The chemistry they always shared had only increased as they gained experience, which was confirmed by the thunderous applause that shook the rafters when they took their final bows. The audience was as captivated by their performance as Justyn and Rebecca were by each other.

The cast was called back twice for an encore, with Justyn and Rebecca leading the ensemble. The excitement of it left her breathless. After curtseying for the final time, she expected Justyn to take her hand and lead her behind the curtains, as he had done for every other show. She was surprised, and a little startled, when he pulled her back into the center of the stage and waited for the crowd to hush. Eventually, the clapping, whistles, and hoots died down. Quinn came out and grabbed the bundle of flowers that families and friends had presented to them. The large room fell into an almost eerie silence, waiting to see what would happen next. Finally, Justyn winked at her and turned to their captive audience.

“It was a great show tonight, wasn’t it?” His amplified voice echoed across the high ceilings of the crowded theater as the spectators shouted their agreement. “And my leading lady, is she not phenomenal?”

There was more tentative applause coupled with a few hoots, since no one knew exactly what was going on. Rebecca blushed, feeling all eyes on her. It was strange when they were watching
her
and not some character she was portraying. It made her feel much more insecure. She wanted to ask Justyn what he was up to, but she didn’t want her shaky voice to be magnified by the microphone she still wore.

“This beautiful woman has been my partner for four years now,” Justyn continued. “Not just on the stage, but in our real lives as well. It was our love of the phantom that brought us together. It seemed only fitting that the opera ghost should be here, at least in spirit, when I ask the girl—the
woman
I adore—the most important question I will ever ask her.” He cleared his throat. “If only to lend me his strength and give me the courage I need to ask it.”

Rebecca gasped and then covered her mouth when the sound bounced off the high ceilings. Finally, she caught on. She might have been a little slow on the uptake, but now it all made sense—the secretive whispers with Quinn, his strange nervousness. She felt her eyes fill with tears as Justyn reached into his pocket. With trembling fingers, he pulled out a ring, got down on one knee, and took her hand in his own.

“Becca, my lady, my love. From the very first time I heard you sing, I knew you were my angel of music. But over the years, you have become my angel in every other way possible. You are my muse and my soul mate. I…I love you to the very core of my being, and I want to spend the rest of my life beside you.” His normally steady voice cracked with emotion, and he looked up at her with real tears in his eyes. “Will you give this phantom the happy ending that fans everywhere have always dreamed of? Rebecca Hope, will you marry me?”

Rebecca knew she was smearing her makeup, but she couldn’t stop the tears from falling as Justyn slid a white-gold band with a single solitaire diamond onto her trembling finger. He still wore the mask, but she saw the anxiety in his eyes. He looked at her expectantly, waiting for her response. She couldn’t believe he had been so worried. Could he possibly have any doubts about what her answer was going to be? She only wished she could think of a response half as eloquent as his proposal.

“Oh, Justyn,” she sobbed. “Yes, yes of course I’ll marry you!”

Smiling and weeping all at once, Rebecca helped him to his feet. He tilted her face so that their eyes met, and she fell into their dark depths, mesmerized by the unsuppressed devotion she saw there. When his lips parted, she thought he was going to kiss her. Instead, he spoke to her as the phantom one final time. His voice rang out strong, clear, and enchanting as he sang the last line of the play, substituting Christine’s name with hers.

“Becca, I
loooovvvvveeeee
you.”

There was thunderous applause mingled with sniffs coming from the audience. Even from the sidelines, their college friends, including Quinn and Frankie, were watching with approval. Their mothers were both wiping away tears in the audience. Yet despite the crowd that watched their every move, in that perfect moment when his lips finally found hers, Rebecca felt as though they were the only two people in the world
.