Dominic will be none too pleased, I thought sarcastically as I raced to his room. Then again, I was the one who was kidnapped and God knows what else. I pounded the door with vexation, hoping he was home. The door flung open, and there stood a very upset and frazzled looking Dominic, shocked to find me at his door in my Ball gown. He pulled me in by the good arm, where he held me in a tight embrace.
"Rhyder! Oh, Thank God you're all right! Are you hurt? What did he do to you?-"
I broke from him, and impatiently held a hand up to silence him.
"Wait." I mouthed, and I pushed past him to his desk. I pulled out a fountain pen and some parchment, and began my angry note.
"Of COURSE I'm not all right. First, I'm kidnapped by a masked man who looks remarkably like you, and he drags me down to God knows where-"I paused a moment, for my wrist was beginning to ache. "-AND He nearly broke my arm! I pass out, and wake up to find myself in his lair! This mask wearing, bi-polar psycho then tells me he 'wants to get to know me better', Lord knows what THAT means, and then he leads me back to the surface. I am confused, tired, hurt, and hungry. I WANT some answers, Dominic!"
I shoved him the note, and he read it with a sad, defeated look. "Alright, Rhyder." He said grimly. "Come," He motioned to a loveseat, "I will explain everything, but you must sit down." I sat next to him, arms crossed across my chest. He took a deep breath, and began.
"You remember the old legend of The Phantom of the Opera?"
I thought for a moment, then I nodded. He was supposed to be this hell-spawn, sent to torment the poor actors and dancers.
"My dear, you have met him tonight. He was the one who took you down to his lair, and I am astounded that he let you back to the surface. And he is also the poor soul who you discovered singing, as you may have figured out already."
Oh, Gee, thanks, Dominic. I really didn't-
"What you didn't know is that his name is Eric, and he is my brother."
A deathly silence filled the room. I felt myself pale, and my heart grew cold. Then pad of paper and pen slipped unnoticed from my fingers, and I stared at him with a empty, shocked glare.
"Yes, my brother." Dominic sighed, and hung his head. "Don't look at me like that," He pleaded, taking my limp hands in his. "If I had told you before, you would have gone running! If one is a monster, his brother must be equally terrible, no?" His golden eyes sparked with fury, and launched himself from the loveseat. "I've had to take care of him all these years! I looked after him after she found him at the circus! I dealt with his anger, and his loneliness! And I must deal with the disdain people give him! It is TORTURE!" He thundered, making me to cringe and close my eyes.
Silence followed. The air was thick with tension, and when I opened my eyes, he was standing hunched over his desk, breathing heavily. With trepidation, I got up from the couch, and tip toed over to him.
"For years, I protected him, Rhyder. When that girl showed up, I thought I'd be free. It was selfish of me, but I wanted to have him live like a normal person. Then, on that fateful night, when she broke his heart and soul and abandoned him, a part of him died. For five years, he never slept and ate almost nothing, and he would just sit at his organ. He would compose melodies that would chill a summer day. And when you heard his song, and he saw you..." He turned to face me, and grabbed me by the elbows. "He was enraptured by your face. You look so much like his darling Christine that it kills him. But you saw what happened at the Ball. I will not let him touch you again. There's no telling what he might do. Yes, I know I'm his brother, and I shouldn't say these things, but he is not stable."
Another silence followed as Golden eyes burned my own. Soon though, the fire in his eyes was quenched, and he released me. "Oh, Rhyder. I'm so sorry about all you've gone through. All the pain and suffering...That's why I took you in. I told you about Erik's life, and I felt the same sort of pain from you as you assaulted my Opera House." He chuckled shortly, and my lips twitched upwards in a grin. "We should get you to sleep. Do you want to with me tonight?"
My eyebrows shot up in surprise."No, not like that, you silly thing!" He barked a laugh. "I'll take the couch, and you may sleep in my bed. Does that sound good?" I nooded, smiling. "Wonderful. But I will have to go back to your room and fetch you a nightgown. Do not object, I'll be back momentarily." He patted my shoulders, and exited the room. I stared after him for a moment, then shook my head regretfully. If only I could speak, I thought,
Then I could tell him how I feel.
When the door to my room closed, I breathed a quick sigh of relief. I was terrified that she would want to follow me, but she did not. Instead of going to Rhyder's room, I slipped into a old, rarely used hallway. Halfway down, I began tapping on the walls, listening for a hollow space behind the cement. Finally coming across one, I pushed against the wall, and descended the flight of dimly lit and musty stairs. The music flowing from the nearby room did not deter me as I forced my way into my brother's domain. "Erik!" I bellowed, scanning the darkness for him. "I want a word." The music ceased, and the familiar and sorrowful voice echoed from the gloom. "Brother. To what do I owe this esteemed visit?" "What did you do to Rhyder?" I demanded, inching my way through the blackness. "Nothing, Dominic. I merely…observed her. You say she cannot speak? Well, that can be fixed, you know." Silence from both of us. "You mean...you could fix her voice? What do you want from her in return?" A chuckle came from the other side of the cave. "I want to give her what she deserves. Maybe perhaps... A bit more. Oh, it will take time, Brother, but I will make it so." There was movement. "And I will be repaid, brother,due time. Oh, and Dominic..." I tensed from the way he said my name. "Have you told her who the fire starter was?"
My blood ran cold. I couldn't tell Rhyder. I wouldn't tell Rhyder. "No, Erik. I did not tell her about the accident." I gnashed through clenched teeth.
Another mirthless chuckle from Erik. "Accident, Dominic? Not even about the part you played in all of it? Not even how you helped me with the preparations for the chandelier?"
My blood turned from ice to boiling lava in a matter of moments. In my rage, I could not speak.
"Good evening then to you, Brother." My brother's presence was gone from the room. I knew I was now alone in the underground chamber. I couldn't help but shake my head at his silly theatrics, and, in a cold sweat, I returned to the upper floors of the Opera House. If he tells Rhyder... I wondered, heart hammering against my chest, Then I will lose her forever.
Dominic came back into the room about ten minutes later, carrying my night dress. I smiled at him and yawned. He laughed and tousled my hair. "Are you sleepy, sweet one? Here," He gave me the dress and ushered me into the bedroom. As I walked into the grand bedroom, I could feel his eyes burn into my skull. I spin around, and see him standing there with a forlorn look in his eyes as he began to turn towards the door. I sprited back to him, and hugged hm around the waist. I felt him tense, and pry my arms from around him. "Goodnight, Rhyder." There was a terrible pain in his voice, and he left the room without turning back. I closed te door behind him, my heartbreaking at whatever was causing him grief. I changed, and slipped under the silken covers. Before I fell asleep, my thoughts turned to The Phantom, and what his secret was.
I slumped into the nearby armchair, my heart broken. How can I go on, when I can't tell her the truth?
Right there, in the silence of night, I began to do what I hadn't done for years.
I cried.
