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Music of the NightElectricStory.com
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Dark, lyrical, tough-minded stories that outshine reality. A young werewolf takes revenge on her tormentors at school; a troubled therapist duels for her life with a fascinating but deadly patient; a suburban housewife is drawn into furtive combat with the witch down the street; and soprano Christine Daae tells of her secret marriage to the Phantom of the Opera, seen not just as frightful ordeal but as raw, glorious, grand passion. The werewolf story is a Hugo winner, and the Phantom story was short-listed for numerous awards. — SMC
An ExcerptIn his own way Erik had chosen his weapons, fought for me, and won. At least no blood had been shed. I ceased accusing him and resigned myself to making the best of my situation as a prisoner in the Phantom's house. I spent two weeks as his guest, solicitously and formally attended by him in my daily wants. He even rowed me on a tour of the little underground lake in his boat, and showed me the subterranean passage from the Opera cellars to the street, through which he obtained necessary provisions from the outside world. Then, during the wedding procession in a performance of Lohengrin, the Opera Ghost and I exchanged vows beneath the stage, and he put upon my finger a ring that he said had been his mother's. He solemnly wrote out and presented to me a very handsome and official-looking civil certificate, and said that having had his first kiss already, he would not trouble me for another yet, since he was so ugly and must be gotten used to. Thus began my marriage to the Phantom of the Opera. In M. Leroux's novel the Phantom's heart is melted by the compassion of the kidnapped young singer, so that he releases the lovers and dies soon after, presumably of a morbid enlargement of the organ of renunciation. The soprano and her noble lover take a train northward and are never heard of again. But that is not what happened. When he said "first kiss", Erik may have spoken literally. Like any man with money he could buy sexual favors and had certainly done so in the past. But with what wincing, perfunctory haste those services must have been rendered! And he was proud, and, in his own way, gallant — or at any rate he wished to be both proud and gallant. I thought then and think now that although more than twice my age at least, he was very inexperienced with women...  Table of ContentsBeauty and the Opéra or The Phantom Beast Unicorn Tapestry Boobs Evil Thoughts
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Copyright © 2002 by Suzy McKee Charnas |
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