(Note: Recently the video stopped playing on this website. So if you wish to watch Erik and Juliette's dance as I imagine it then just follow the link to YouTube when the video rejects letting you watch:) Sorry for the trouble.)
Juliette laughed as Jamie spun her around dancing to the music being played by the orchestra. She hadn't been this happy in a while. As she danced her long yellow dress swished with her. Erik had known what he was doing when he designed it.
When the music ended she stepped off the dance floor to rest briefly. Jamie mentioned something about getting them drinks and left. All of the colors and masks blended together brilliantly. Juliette watched Meg dancing in her pink and black outfit. After all that had happened, it was nice to get a break.
There was only one missing element. She really had hoped that Erik would turn up and say hello before he went and did his Red Death entrance. As she casually adjusted her golden mask a voice addressed her from behind.
"Hello mon petit danseur, enjoying the evening?" she whipped around came face to face with Erik. He was still wearing his half mask but he had on black pants and tall dark brown boots. He also had a gold waistcoat with a white cravat and a royal blue tailcoat with gold trim. She threw her arms around him in a tight hug.
"You came!" she said and then pulled back, "I'm so glad to see you. Nice costume."
"Merci, I don't think Antoinette got the notice about costumes though," Erik said with one of his small smiles. His eyes briefly turned toward Madame Giry, who sure enough only had one change in her outfit which was the shawl Meg and Juliette had given her.
"I must say, you look lovely."
"Thank you. The costume is beautiful. I am so grateful to you." Said Juliette with a broad smile. "And I told Maman that and she said she was going as a strict ballet mistress." This elicited a small chuckle from Erik.
"Well, I have a little while before my big entrance. May I have this dance Mademoiselle?" he held out his hand.
"I would be delighted Monsieur Phantom." Said Juliette with a curtsy. She gently laid her golden gloved hand in his and Erik led her onto the dance floor. Juliette realized as the music began that the song playing, was similar to Tale as Old as Time, from Beauty and the Beast.
Slowly the pair began to waltz. Erik was a brilliant dancer as he led her around the floor. She felt like she was gliding. He gently spun her and brought her in catching her hand. At the climax of the song, he placed his arm around her waist and lifted her up slightly as they turned on the spot. As the music ended Erik spun her out and she ended in a deep curtsy, still holding his hand.
Erik bowed and then led her off the floor. Juliette only then noticed that people had moved back from the dance floor while the pair of them danced. Juliette and Erik headed back to the corner they had originally been standing in.
"That was lovely Erik, probably the highlight of my night. Thank you for coming." Juliette said smiling up at him.
"I enjoyed it too mon petit danseur. I am afraid I have to go now. Thank you for this evening." Erik replied.
"Yes, you probably should leave. Otherwise, all the girls will come and swamp you wanting to dance." Juliette said with a laugh.
"Maybe," said Erik and with that, he disappeared. Seconds later Meg came running over.
"Oh, Julie! You look magnificent. Was that HIM?" she said lowering her voice. Juliette gave a small smile but before she could answer she was swamped by several of the other ballet rats asking who her dance partner had been.
Juliette looked over the sea of faces and made eye contact with her mother. Madame Giry had her eyebrows raised and a slightly amused and knowing expression on her face. She gave her daughter a brief nod before being drawn into a conversation with one of the patrons. Whatever else would come to pass tonight, good or bad, Juliette knew she would never forget that dance.
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It wasn't long after Erik left that the crowd started to sing all together and Juliette gladly joined in. She smirked at the manager's opening lines about the Phantom not being here before singing,
Masquerade! Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you
Flash of mauve, splash of puce
Fool and king, ghoul and goose
Green and black, queen and priest
Trace of rouge, face of beast, faces
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round in an inhuman race
Eye of gold, true is false
Who is who?
Curl of lip, swirl of gown
Ace of hearts, face of clown, faces
Drink it in, drink it up till you've drowned
In the light, in the sound but who can name the face?
Raoul and Christine entered with Raoul in a naval costume and Christine wearing a short multicolor dress that hat a poofy skirt and heeled silver boots. Neither wore masks and Juliette could just make out the engagement ring around Christine's neck.
Masquerade! Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade! Seething shadows breathing lies
Masquerade! You can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade! Leering satyrs, peering eyes
Masquerade! Run and hide, but a face will still pursue you
What a night! What a crowd!
Makes you glad
Makes you proud
All the crème, de la crème
Watching us, watching them
All our fears are in the past
Three months of relief
Of delight, of Elysian peace
And we can breathe at last
No more notes, no more ghost
Here's a health, here's a toast
To a prosperous year
To our friends who are here
And may the splendor never fade
What a blessed release
And what a masquerade
Juliette was the one to sing this finishing line.
Think of it, a secret engagement
Look, your future bride, just think of it
But, why is it secret? What have we to hide?
You promised me, no, Raoul, please don't, they'll see
Well then let them see, it's an engagement, not a crime
Christine, what are you afraid of?
Let's not argue
(Let's not argue)
Please pretend
(I can only hope)
You will understand in time
(I'll understand in time)
The music became faster and more intense as the many different colored faces blurred together. At last they all made it up onto the large staircase.
Masquerade! Paper faces on parade
Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade! Every face a different shade
Masquerade! Look around, there's another mask behind you
Masquerade! Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade! Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you Masquerade!
Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade! Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
By now everyone was of the staircase but as they all sang the celebratory line an ominous figure appeared at the top of the staircase. It was Erik dressed as Red Death. The costume was brilliant the giant skull's head that was his mask hat a red hat with a large feather. It looked nothing like that stupid outfit Gerard Butler had worn. The costume had a long blood red cape, poofy black and red sleeves, black and red pants, and a gold, black, and red waist coat. Juliette marveled at the fact that he had created this and her intricate dress within the time constraints he had.
Why so silent, good messieurs?
Did you think that I had left you for good?
Have you missed me, good messieurs?
I have written you an opera!
His voice was threatening as he pulled out a musical score that Juliette knew to be the opera he had been writing.
Here I bring the finished score -
"Don Juan Triumphant" !
He threw the book at Andre who, not quick enough to catch it, missed. Juliette rushed forward and caught it by the tips of her fingers.
I advise you
to comply -
my instructions
should be clear -
Remember
there are worse things
than a shattered chandelier . . .
He motioned Christine closer and as if in a trance she moved forward. Once he was within arms-reach he grasped the necklace holding her engagement ring and ripped it from Christine's neck.
Your chains are still mine -
you will sing for me!
With that, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Panic arose and Juliette moved quickly to find her sister and make sure Meg didn't get trampled. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Raoul approaching her mother.
Well, this ball certainly didn't turn out the way everyone else expected it to. Only then did Juliette realize she still held Erik's opera. "Ah well, I'll give it to the managers in the morning. They've probably already fled with their tails between their legs." She thought to herself. And with that, she continued her search for Meg.
Author's Note: Sorry for the long delay! Hope to be back to my weekly update schedule I'm attaching a link to the youtube video of what I imagine Erik and Juliette's dance to look like but if that doesn't work you can always type in "Beauty and the Beast French Dancing with the stars" in Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qKIW2dDtDw