You're probably all wondering why I am not updating Cape Swooshing. It's called procrastination. I do it a lot. Please review, peeps. Thanks to Cassieopia Lilly for beteating!
Disclaimer: I don't own it.
Raoul De Chagny hurried through the pouring rain, a scarf pulled up around his lower face and a hat shielding him from the worst of the downpour. In his arms he clutched a small bundle that was tucked partly beneath his cloak. He walked with his head down, not wanting anyone to recognize him. It was unlikely that anyone of his social standing would be wandering around the bowels of Paris unless their carriage broke down.
Stepping over a drunk that was vomiting profusely on the sidewalk, he stopped and pulled out a small slip of paper from his pocket. After reading it quickly, he turned left down an alleyway. There were bits of garbage and brownish water everywhere, and homeless people huddled against the buildings. There was one, though, that sat alone and was trying to build a small fire. As Raoul strode by, he looked up and hissed," Some money to a poor man, kind monsieur?"
As the Vicomte turned to face him, Erik leapt up and shoved the other man against the wall. His hands wrapped around the trapped Vicomte's neck as he spat," What have you come for this time? What is left for you to steal from me? You took my love, my home, my music, everything! But now I finally get my revenge, now I finally get to kill you!" As he tightened his grip, Raoul gasped and dropped the small bundle. It rolled a few feet, and began to wail. Erik's head snapped to the bundle the second his sensitive ears picked up the pathetic cries. Another homeless man crawled over, and whispered," It's a baby!" Erik released the near-dead Vicomte, and kicked the man who was now cradling the bundle in the ribs. He gasped and buckled over, dropping the baby. Erik rolled it over and picked the child up gently.
It was a baby girl, with tufts of soft black hair and a pair of bright green eyes. But the lower half of the child's face was, to put it mildly, horrendous. She had a hole that stretched from just beneath her small nose to her upper lip, and her cheeks were not aligned at all. Her chin curled downwards, giving her lower face a weasel-like appearance. Her skin that was pale and smooth on the upper half of her face turned bright red towards the bottom, and had many small ridges and crests. The upper half of her face was like an angel's, but the bottom was like a demon.
Raoul, apparently confident that Erik was not going to attack again, said softly," She's your daughter, monsieur Phantom."
Erik nearly dropped the baby as he turned to face the Vicomte," That's not possible. You're her fiance, and we only….well, you know what I mean, once."
Raoul's face turned slightly bitter as he replied," That was all it took." Becoming more businesslike, he continued," Christine would have brought her herself, but she is still weak from the pregnanacy and labor, and I did not think it fitting for her to come see you alone. The child is three monthes old, and she wants her to be raised by you. Christine paid for a small country house for you and the child to live in, and she will continue to pay rent. If you accept her, I will never seek you out again, and I believe it would be of your best interest to keep the little one. Christine has not selected a name for her, but insists that her middle name be Meg after her friend."
Erik's face was thoughtful as he examined the baby, and he said in a barely audible voice," Dominique."
Raoul tilted his head to the side," Dominique?"
"There was a kind maid at the house I was born in who was gentle to me. She begged my mother not to sell me to the circus, to let her raise me instead. But Mother refused, and fired her."
Raoul digested this information before saying," So, you'll accept her."
Erik was stroking the baby's grotesque cheek as he replied," I accept everything but the house."
"I do not think Christine would allow her daughter to be raised on the streets."
The smallest of grins crept across Erik's face as he whispered," Have you not heard, Victome? They are rebuilding the Opera Populiare, and are opening it under new management. I think it best that I arrive before some other Phantom steps in and takes over my role. And I won't be alone, will I, Dominique?"