Lusus Naturae

Chapter 3

""

The music blared and all across the stage performers danced and sang, Christine among them. Her voice echoed off the walls, making the listeners gasp at the beauty of her voice. Ballerinas twirled, stage props were beautifully decorated, and the orchestra played their beautiful tunes.

Christine loved performing in the theatre- the lights, the costumes, the audience- but mostly the music. Every time she performed her soul flared and burned. She became light hearted and gave herself happily to the freeing tunes. She danced and sang letting herself go completely- without a care in the world.

The play went without a hitch! Well, except for the duck that had randomly flown across the stage… What a strange occurrence! About half way through the play there was a commotion backstage, a couple thunks were heard along with some cursing, and then a duck soared across the stage! It landed with a thud at Christine's feet before getting up and, quacking obnoxiously, waddled off the stage. The audience laughed, thinking it was part of the show, and, unwilling to let them know that it wasn't planned, she added in a clever line to make the duck appear planned. Besides that one situation, the play went perfectly and with the last note the audience erupted into cheers- shouts of "bravo" and "encore" echoed in her ears.

Mr. Grant ran onto the stage and pulled Christine into a fatherly hug. He bowed many times with her to the audience- both of their smiles beaming. He grasped her hand and they headed of the stage- he was practically skipping.

"Christine! You were fantastic! Our rehearsals weren't even that good! What in the world have you done in that short time to make such a difference?" He looked at her eyes shining in expectation of her answer.

Christine looked away and smiled.

"My angel."

With that she walked away. She couldn't help but laugh at the confused sputtering her manager gave. She felt carefree and happier than she had in days as she headed toward the dressing room. She found herself humming and skipped to the door- a feat which proved rather difficult given her current outfit; a sparkling gown of various petticoats and heavy red satin. Ignoring the weight she danced over the threshold and shut the door. She spun in a circle and giggled in her giddiness.

"You were wonderful…" A voice suddenly said.

She gasped and spun around. Raoul sat in a chair, feet thrown up on the table and crossed at the ankles. Her hand flew up to her chest as if it could stop her heart from beating from her chest.

"Raoul. You scared me."

He didn't move. His eyes stayed intently on hers- an unreadable expression etched upon his face. Her hand kept its place upon her chest and she became confused as her heart continued to palpate.

"Where is he Christine?" His voice was flat and emotionless. His eyes bore into hers and she couldn't stop a shiver from running down her spine.

"W-who?" She flinched and cursed herself for how weak her voice sounded.

He was across the room in an instant, knocking the chair he was previously sitting on to the floor. His face contorted into a snarl and his eyes bore daggers into her. Her back slammed into the door, her eyes wide as he was suddenly nose to nose with her, his hands on either side of her head.

"That wretched Phantom! I know he's here Christine!" He yelled at her making her flinch and slam her eyes shut.

"Where is he?!" He yelled again.

"I don't know!" She finally yelled back.

He shoved himself away from her and began pacing the room, his hands running through his hair in frustration.

"I know he's here!" he said again.

"How do you know that?" She asked. Raoul must be wrong; her angel told her that he wouldn't be coming.

"Because he hit me on the head with a bucket!" It was then that she noticed the bruise on the side of his head. The image of Raoul getting a bruise from her angel was too humorous for her to pass up. Before she could stop herself she burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha ha!" She choked and gasped out more laughter. She clutched her stomach and tears leaked from her eyes. Raoul's face became red with fury- his cheeks puffed out, his eyes narrowed, and her hands fisted at his sides. She just laughed more.

"Christine! Christine it's not funny!" His scolding fell on empty ears as her laughter increased in volume accompanied by her choked snorts. Finally he had enough and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him.

She gave him no mind, the image of her Angel hitting Raoul with a bucket repeated over and over in her mind. She collapsed on the bed and continued to laugh.

Earlier

He followed her to the opera house, sticking to the shadows to ensure his secrecy. She looked disappointed when he told her he wouldn't be coming to her show.

Of course I'm going! If you are singing, my angel, I will be there.

Once he saw her enter the theatre he snuck in the back and proceeded to make his way up to the rafters, not as good as his past seat in box 5 but it would do. As the show began he watched with satisfaction as the Christine enchanted the audience. Every note perfect and heavenly.

A movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was Raoul. And he had a gaggle of cops with him. Erik saw Raoul's eyes darken when he saw Christine on the stage and his darkened in return.

Raoul pulled his men around him in a huddle obviously coming up with a plan. He saw the man point up toward the rafters and Erik knew that he would be discovered if he were to stay put. With one final glance at Christine he faded back into the shadows.

"Let the games begin."

The men scattered around the theatre and began their search for the phantom.

"I don' see why we're chasin a bloody phantom! I eard he died in tha' fire…" One mad said to his partner his Irish brogue giving Erik a moment of confusion before he could understand him. They walked right underneath Erik and hadn't spotted him.

"Idiots." Erik smirked to himself.

"Shut up! Do you want the ghost to hear us? The viscount said that we should be quiet as possible!" The other officer snapped back. He turned away from his partner and stormed ahead.

Without hesitating Erik silently lept from his hiding spot and grabbed the Irish lad. He pulled him into the shadows and quickly hit the right nerves to make him fall unconscious. After gagging him and tying him up he stalked after his next target.

"Rob! Just because I told you to be quiet doesn't mean you have to pout! Come on grow a…pair…" The second officer turned and his face grew pale at his partner's absence.

"Aww shit damn!" He cursed and automatically brought his weapon up to defend him. Slowly he crept back the way he came- eyes darting back and forth, hands shaking.

"Rob? Rob, this isn't funny."

"On the contrary. This is quite amusing."

Erik was hidden behind some crates now and could hear his prey coming toward him. This boy's steps were loud, his breathing labored, and his body gave him over to his fear. He would be no match. When he was near enough Erik lept and planted himself in front of the boy, quickly dislodging the gun from his hand and stood nose to nose with him- hoping that his face showed anger instead of the amusement he felt inside. The boy just stared at him, eyes wide and mouth hanging open in shock. He was stuck like a deer in headlights and finally Erik grew tired of his lack of response.

"Boo!"

The boy screamed, threw his hands in the air, turned on his heels and tried to run. Erik grabbed him by the collar and it took the boy a second to realize that he wasn't moving although he ran. Erik couldn't hold back a snort at the situation and before he let himself laugh completely, he knocked the boy unconscious and hid him as well.

As he proceeded to his next victim, he couldn't help but chuckle at his clever game. He stopped suddenly and looked at the floor.

"A trap door? Oh what a fun new toy this will be!" Quickly coming up with a plan he quickly went to lure his victims. There were two more officers a short way away from him. Once he was close to them he let himself be seen as if he were caught. The men took chase as expected and he took off toward his trap. Dropping his mask at the correct destination, he then hid waiting for the right moment.

"Look! It's his mask!" One officer bent down to pick it up.

"Got ya!"

Erik pulled the trap door. The man gave a look that had a mixture of "oh shit" and "I'm an idiot" before falling through the hole. The other man was slack jawed and pointed at the hole, oblivious to the phantom behind him. He knocked him unconscious and threw him down the hole as well before shutting the trap door. He replaced his mask and brushed his hands together in a job well done.

"Only 2 more, and Raoul."

He stealthily made his way to the last people. They were searching backstage, going through the rafters and various props. On the side of the stage he could see Christine performing and his breath caught. She wore a red satin dress that showed her bare shoulders. The bodice hugged her in all of the right places before flaring out at the waist. Her hair was down, letting the brown curls fall to her waist. He felt his heart constrict within his chest.

"Lets check again over here." A voice broke into his thoughts and he swiftly hid in the nearest door. The three men searched where he had previously been. He peeked through the door at them and contemplated how he would dispose of them.

"What in the world are you doing?!" Mr. Grant's voice shouted. His shout figure appeared and he stalked toward Raoul. "Why are you causing havoc in my theatre?!"

"Monsieur, we are looking for a man." Raoul explained.

"You are disrupting my performance! There is no man here!" He continued to rant and rave and before long Raoul was arguing back at him. The two so engaged in their argument that they failed to notice Erik just feet away from them. The two officers were within arm's reach and Erik swiftly took advantage of this. A hand wrapped around one man's mouth he dragged him back into the room and shut the door. Before he could make a sound he silently knocked him out. He peeked through the door again. The second cop was talking, probably expecting the other to answer. Struck by inspiration Erik quickly grabbed the unconscious officers hat, plopped it on his head and grabbed his gun. Acting like the fallen officer Erik put the gun at attention and left the room. He stood next to the still speaking officer, making sure his good side was facing him. The man kept talking.

"Never imagined when I enlisted I would resort to chasing a mad man around a theatre. I thought I would be tracking criminals and solving murders. My name should be in the papers by now. Instead I'm stuck here listening to these prats bicker about some crazed lunatic in a mask."

"You think he's a lunatic?" Erik asked amused.

"Well of course! Phantom my ass! I'll know when that idiot is in the same room as me, and when he is I'll find him and shoot him! He will have no chance against me!" He still hadn't noticed that his partner had been replaced. Erik began to chuckle.

"What the hell are you laughing at?" The young man's head snapped over to Erik his eyes glaring up at him.

Erik smiled and slowly turned his head. The boy's eyes widened as his mask appeared and Erik would have rolled on the flood laughing if the situation had been different for the boy let out a girly scream that would make Carlotta jealous. Erik quickly put the boy out of his misery and turned to the Vecont.

"What the hell?" Raoul turned around and faced Erik his eyes wide at the unconscious officer at his feet.

"This time you're mine!" Raoul charged at him sword flying.

"He's sloppy." Erik easily dodged and he was briefly reminded of the fight that took place in the graveyard. Before he had been so set on keeping Christine safe and with him that he had been constantly checking on her to see that she were ok. His concern of his love had lost him that battle, but now he was intently focused on the present.

Christine could be heard on stage and Erik had to remind himself not to let her voice distract him.

"What do I do? Where do I go?" She cried out to the audience. This was one of the most dramatic scenes in the play.

Raoul swung in his rage but Erik easily dodged. Feet evenly apart. Keep your balance. Dodge. Keep your stance. Present a smaller target. Now! There was an opening and Erik lunged his punch forward into his chest.

"How will I survive without my love? Who will I cry to? Who else knows the dark secrets of my heart?" Her dramatic voice filled the theatre.

Raoul's sword flew away from him as he crashed into a stack of crates. They shattered and various objects scattered across the floor. Raoul stared up at Erik, hatred showing in his eyes. Erik had his back to the stage side and he crossed his arms and glared back. Like a child throwing a tantrum, Raoul grabbed the closest thing and chucked it at him. A rubber ball. A shoe. A pan.

"God please send me a sign!"

Raoul grabbed for something else and a choked quack escaped from the yellow object. A duck? Why would they have a duck? He flung it at the phantom but he easily dodged. He glanced over his shoulder and was shocked to see it land at Christine's feet. Everyone fell silent as the small creature stumbled to its feet and waddled away.

"That wasn't the sign I wanted dear lord!" She looked up at the ceiling in annoyance and the crowd gave loud applause and laughter.

Erik turned back to Raoul and decided that this needed to end. Scanning the area quickly he found a weapon. A bucket. Not exactly the weapon of choice but it would do. He ran to it and snatched it up, Raoul hot on his heels. Once he grabbed it he spun and landed a solid blow to Raoul's temple. The man collapsed in a heap.

"My god!" Mr. Grant looked at the situation in astonishment. His eyes darted between the unconscious Viscount and the masked man. Erik dropped the bucket and stared at the man. Finally he smiled at him.

"An excellent production Monsieur! One of the finest I've seen!" Erik bowed at the manager and his smile grew at Mr. Grant's confused expression. Erik then took off leaving the manager in his shocked state and headed back to his perch in the rafters to watch the rest of the performance.

The rest of the production was flawless and Christine was superb. After the show he watched as Mr. Grant pulled her into a hug and proceeded to bow to the audience with her. She headed off stage and he silently ushered the audience a quick departure so he could check on her.

A few stragglers inhabited the theatre a while later but he was certain they wouldn't spot him on his way to her room. Once he got there he was about to knock when he heard the Viscount's angry voice.

"That wretched phantom! I know he's here Christine!" He placed his ear next to the door to hear better but jumped back when something thunked against the door. Anger flooded through him.

"If he laid a finger on her I will kill him!" Remembering the bruises on her arms Erik had to force himself not to tear down the door.

"Where is he?!" He heard Raoul yell again.

"I don't know!" He smirked at her tone. Angry and irritated. He imagined her glaring up at him not letting him have the upper hand.

"That's my girl!" He silently praised.

"I know he's here!" Raoul said again.

"How do you know that?" Her voice held curiosity in it this time. He pressed his ear to the door again.

"Because he hit me on the head with a bucket!"

There was a pause of complete silence and Erik imagined many scenarios. Christine's face growing red with fury. Her loving eyes sending sympathy to her betrothed. Christine kissing the injured spot on his head. He had to push back that last thought as his stomach began to twist. He was unprepared for the response that came.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

She was laughing! He pushed away from the door slightly in shock. It wasn't a polite laugh. It wasn't a flirty laugh that so many women had resorted to these days. No. It was full out, no holding back, tears streaming down your cheeks, laugh.

"Christine! Christine it's not funny!" Raoul's voice echoed through the room but Christine's laughter only grew. Erik felt a smile spread across his face as he heard her choke and snort. Raoul started stomping toward the door and Erik quickly ducked away. He heard Christine's laughter crescendo as the door opened then lowered again as it slammed.

"Stupid…No good…. Rotten…." Raoul muttered as he stormed away. After he was certain he was gone, Erik turned his attention back to Christine's door. She was still laughing and it made his heart flutter.

He took out his gift for her and gently placed it at the foot of her door before knocking. He took off before she could answer and hid again. A spot where he could see her but she wouldn't be able to see him.

The door opened and she came out with a smile upon her face. Her cheeks were rosy from her laughter and her eyes sparkled. They became confused, however, at the empty space that met her. She looked to and fro and found no one. Then she found his gift and the smile returned. Gently she picked up the gift and fingered it gently.

A red rose with a black silk ribbon tied around it.