This is a song from a musical I've been trying to write on-and-off for years now (10? 15? Not sure). It's a story of "vampyres" - not the type who live in castles and drink people's blood to survive their undead existence, but humans who were cursed centuries ago to live "forever" but to also waste away until the lose all emotion and life becomes too weary to live.
The original lovers - who eventually take the names of Nightwynd and Diamora - slowly drifted apart. Diamora seduced a young Frenchman called Philipe in an effort to slow her own demise. A few centuries later and the two - now known as Charlotta and Selenicus - are in England when a ball is given by Lord Fitzgerald in order to find a suitor for his reluctant daughter, Catherine.
Catherine's eye is taken by a young nobleman called William but the mysterious Selenicus soon piques her interest. The two suitors battle for her affection, which culminates in an ultimatum that she must choose one or the other by midnight.
This song is the final song where she is making her choice. At first I wrote it open-ended - in that the "audience" wouldn't know which one she picked (I pick you... would see her pointing off-stage where the two protagonists were). But then I changed my mind and wrote two endings - one for each suitor. I liked the idea of that last chorus being sang softly and sadly, and almost from a distance.
From "Nightwynd: Curse of the Vampyre"... "Here in the Dark"
----
Catherine
Watching these sands
Slipping right through my hands
When your future is calling
You fear its demands
Fate can be cruel
Always changing the rules
If you don't heed the warnings
It plays you the fool
Selenicus
Here in the dark
Beats a tormented heart
Won't you come to its rescue
It's falling apart!
William
Here in the dark
Just awaiting the spark
That you promise with your kiss
Set fire to my heart
Catherine
High in the sky
Where I long so to fly
Was it writ in the heavens
This cruel pantomime?
Making their mark
Are the moon and the stars
As I search them for some sign
To make up my heart
William
Watching you there
Full of doubt and despair
I would hold you, console you
And ease all your hurt
Selenicus
Here in the dark
All the questions you ask
Have no answers uncensored
By mind or by heart
Catherine
Time and again
I have made my mistakes
Wouldn't give up the fight
Had to make them again
Here as I choose
There's a chance I may lose
When the stakes are so high
You must see it straight through
William
Here in the dark
Beaten down by his charms
Will you give in and live in
His cold, lifeless arms?
Selenicus
Here in the night
Is a flame burning bright
It's a fire desire
Has sparked into life!
Catherine
Hear the clock chime
Selenicus/William
12 o'clock
Catherine
Is it now time?
Selenicus/William
Time has stopped
Time to choose
It's your moment of doom
Catherine
How can I choose
When I don't know what's wrong and what's right?
I'm torn in two
So alone; it's too hard to decide!
Catherine/Selenicus/William
Here in the night
Can I know in my mind / Can she know in her mind
What is reason from treason?
Who will walk by my side? / Who will walk by her side?
Here in the dark
I am falling apart / she is falling apart
In a moment of torment
I must unveil my heart / she must unveil her heart
Selenicus/William
Here in the dark
Catherine
Frightened and lonely!
Selenicus/William
Here in the dark
Catherine
Can no one console me?
Selenicus/William
Here in the dark
Catherine
I just don't know what to do!
Selenicus/William
Here in the dark
Catherine
How can I kno-o-ow?
Selenicus/William
Here ... here in the dark
Catherine
Why is Fate so unkind?
Selenicus/William
Fear... fear in the dark
Catherine
Going out of my mind!
Selenicus/William
Tears... tears in the dark
Catherine
There are none left to cry!
Selenicus/William
We're... we're in the dark
And it's time now to choose...
Catherine
How can I choose?
Selenicus/William
Time to choose now...
Catherine
I must choose now....
{pause}
I...
Must...
Choose...
You......
----
{if Selenicus is chosen}
William
Here in the dark
She has broken my heart
She has chosen the darkness
And torn me apart
Charlotta
Here in the night
Are the tears that I cry
All I hear is the laughter
Behind his cold-hearted goodbye...
{in the distance}
Nightwynd
Here in the dark…
----
{if William is chosen}
Selenicus
Here in the dark
I'll return to her arms
She who brought me to darkness
And murdered my heart
Charlotta
Here in the night
Stars have vanished from sight
So our duet continues
We'll dance through the cold, endless night…
{in the distance}
Nightwynd
Here in the dark…
