by Laura DeLuca
Hyde
Dark Musicals Trilogy, Book 3
Laura DeLuca
_
Kindle Edition
Copyright 2013, Laura DeLuca
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Pagan Writers Press
Houston, Texas
ISBN: 978-1-938397-57-8
Edited by Tara Chevrestt
Cover by Elke Weiss
http://paganwriterspress.com
Dedication
For Anne, Jackie, Steph, and Tiff from the Sisters Elemental and Paula from The Whimsical Pixie for their unwavering support in all my endeavors. What started out as a business transaction has grown into friendships I will always treasure!!
And special thanks to Nino Cusella and Andrew P. Weston for their forensic expertise!
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Epilogue
About the Author
Prologue
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 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 his 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 their bodies and voices had matured.
After the crescendo reached its peak, they moved on to 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 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 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 were 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 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 only 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, watched 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.
Chapter One
“‘Justyn Patko and his leading lady Rebecca Hope, jokingly referred to as Lord Justyn and Lady Rebecca by their cast mates, are destined to become the royalty of the stage in the very near future. To find this combination of beauty and talent in one performer is rare. To find it in a readymade duo is unprecedented’,” Rebecca’s best friend Carmen Weber read aloud from the New York Gazette in the most exaggerated voice she could manage. Rebecca tried to grab the paper from her hand so she could see the review for herself, but Carmen jerked it out of her reach and cleared her throat dramatically before she continued, “They tied up their breathtaking rendition of Phantom with a real-life proposal that left many members of the audience in tears. This amazing twosome will surely take Broadway by storm after their commencement next spring, and this reporter, for one, is anxiously awaiting their professional debut.”
“Wow.” Tom Rittenhouse whistled from the backseat. “That’s some write up.”
“It’s certainly flattering,” Rebecca agreed. “I think it’s the best review we’ve gotten so far. Of course, Justyn’s proposal is what put things over the top.”
“Speaking of which, let me see that rock,” Carmen demanded. She dropped the newspaper and practically yanked Rebecca’s hand off to get a better look at the glittering solitaire diamond on her finger. “Not bad, not bad. You officially have the maid of honor’s approval.”
Tom peered over to give the engagement ring the once-over as well. “I’m surprised it’s not carved into the shape of a skull.”
From the driver’s seat, Justyn laughed good-naturedly. “If it was for me, it probably would’ve been. However, Becca’s taste doesn’t run toward the grotesque and disturbing, so I decided to stay traditional.”
Tom snickered. “If you ask me, her taste in guys is a little grotesque and disturbing.”
Justyn raised a pierced eyebrow. “If you’re referring to her taste prior to choosing me, I suppose I’d have to agree.�
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“Touché, Lord Justyn, touché.” Tom laughed. “I guess I have to give you props for originality. What girl could turn down a ring from the phantom?”
“Justyn definitely did outdo himself,” Rebecca admitted. “I’m still swooning a little.”
“An onstage proposal,” Carmen said with a dreamy sigh. Then she gave her boyfriend a dirty look and smacked him with the rolled-up newspaper. “Why don’t you ever do romantic things like that for me?”
“Ouch,” Tom complained. “Geesh, Lord Justyn, do ya have to make the rest of us look bad all the time?”
Justyn rolled his eyes. “It’s not hard to make you look bad, Tom.”
Rebecca found herself grinning at their jokes, but she remembered when their banter wasn’t quite so playful. It was hard to believe there had ever been a time when Rebecca wasn’t with Justyn, but she’d once had a very brief infatuation with Tom their senior year. It caused a love triangle not unlike the one between Christine, Erik, and Raoul, and the two boys had duked it out more than once. Rebecca was glad all that was behind them. She was also happy to see Tom and Carmen cuddling in the backseat. Their relationship had been on again, off again over the last few years. Right now they appeared to be on again, but it was hard to maintain a liaison when they were in colleges at opposite ends of the country. Still, they always found their way back to each other. Rebecca wouldn’t be surprised to see a ring on Carmen’s finger in another year or two.