Author's Note: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews! I will try to have the next chapter up soon. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine except you know the ones that are : )
An Alliance
Bedelia returned to Christine's room a few hours later. She brought her a tray of food like always and a light. This time Christine didn't greet her with her usual demeanor. Instead, Christine was sullen and very quiet.
Bedelia felt sorry for her long time idol. She hated that Corbin was causing pain to such a beautiful and nice lady. She set the tray down next to Christine and kneeled on the floor next to her. Bedelia sat there for a moment hoping Christine would notice her but she continued to stare blankly ahead of herself.
"I've brought you some food Madame," Bedelia whispered. Christine turned her head slowly to look at her. She looked so sad and helpless. "You need to eat and keep up your strength."
"What is the use?" she said bitterly, "Your brother will soon have my little girl if he doesn't already. And Erik…I just don't know anymore." Christine broke down crying again. She was so confused. She didn't know how McClendon got a hold of Erik's mask or where he was. She couldn't decide if he had been bluffing about having Erik or not. It was obvious he hadn't known about Amanda but now— who know. She just knew it was all her fault.
Bedelia felt her heart breaking. It was then that she decided that Corbin couldn't get away with this any longer. "He doesn't have them you know. He doesn't have your husband or child."
"Thank you," she cried in relief, giving Bedelia's hand a little squeeze. "Thank you for telling me."
"He is planning something. He doesn't tell me very much. But I know he almost caught the phantom, your husband."
"Erik, his name is Erik." Christine provided. Bedelia smiled and nodded. It was funny to think that the phantom had an actual name.
"Corbin almost caught Erik. He was really angry because he got away." Bedelia looked away from Christine's eyes. She didn't like telling bad news. "He has many connections. It is only a matter of time until he finds where your little girl is."
"I don't see how. Erik is very careful. He would have made sure that Amanda is safe and hidden."
Bedelia shook her head. "But that is just it. Your husband, uh Erik, didn't know that my brother was after him. He just thought that he was after Raoul. Does your husband have many friends Miss Daae?"
"Christine please. And I am afraid he doesn't."
"Madame Giry is your friend, is she not?"
"Yes she is," Christine whispered.
"It is very likely that Amanda is there." Christine shook her head furiously not wanting to believe that it would be that easy. She felt her eyes well up again.
"I am sorry," Bedelia said softly. "Corbin is not stupid. He is very conniving and very sadistic in his forms of revenge. I don't tell you this to upset you. It is just the truth. He did his research on the phantom. He hoped that the phantom hadn't died like everyone believed."
"What will we do?" Christine cried.
"I will help you," she said gathering her strength. "If we can get out of here before Corbin returns then we might have a chance."
Christine gave her a skeptical look. "But why would you help? Isn't he your brother?"
Bedelia shrugged. "I have stood by my brother far too long. I have watched too many families be destroyed and seen many good people tortured and killed at my brother's hands." Bedelia buried her face in her hands, her voice choking. "H-he isn't my b-brother any longer." She looked back up at Christine tears streaming down her face. "I look into his eyes and I can't see Corbin. I see some monster. It terrifies me."
Christine gathered the frail girl into her arms and let her sob. She stroked her hair and rubbed her back, comforting her. Bedelia cried for a few minutes before calming herself. Now was not the time to fall apart.
"Thank you," Bedelia whispered wiping the tears from her eyes.
Christine smiled warmly at her. "You need to find Erik. I have a fairly good idea to where he might be. In the cellars of the opera house used to be his home."
Bedelia smiled. "Yes, I know where that is."
"Really?" Christine raised her eyebrow surprised.
"I've lived here for many years. And I have spent most of that time trying to hide from everyone." Bedelia blushed and turned away.
"Well, this makes things easier. I hope he is there."
Bedelia nodded and stood to go. "Be careful," Christine called. She gave her a reassuring smile and left the room.
She hurried through the hallways making sure to dodge the men walking around. She had perfected that talent in the first year that Corbin had taken residency here. She quickly made it to the secret room as she called it. She knew it had once been a dressing room. She wondered briefly if it had been Christine's dressing room.
She made her way to the mirror and slipped behind it. She walked down the narrow dark hallway. She didn't need a candle. She had memorized the pathways, the twists and turns. She placed on hand on the wall and felt her way down to the lake.
She wondered how Christine met the phantom, or Erik. How did they fall in love? Perhaps he was the secret lover?
When she got to the lake the gondola was already gone. Bedelia felt a little discouraged but then heartened as well. It meant that the phantom was down here but it also meant she had to swim. Taking a deep breath Bedelia plunged into the cold black water and made her way across the lake.
She felt her arms going numb and thought that she would pass out. She wanted to give up but couldn't. Christine was counting on her. She could not fail her friend. At least she hoped Christine was her friend.
Bedelia finally made it and was happy to note that the gate was not down. The place remained how it always was. It was not much to look at. Papers were scattered everywhere. There was broken glass and debris laying around. Bedelia knew that this place had once been beautiful but now it was in shambles like the rest of the opera house.
She stepped out of the water shivering. "Erik?" she felt a little weird calling for him. He had never had a name before and he was never someone she would seek out willingly.
"Monsieur Phantom, if you are here I am here on behalf of Christine."
Bedelia waited a few seconds but couldn't hear anything. She felt disappointed but then relieved. The stories she heard about the phantom were never pleasant ones. Seeking an ex-madman didn't seem as frightening when she was talking to his wife.
The air was still. She didn't know what to do now. Then she felt a presence. She could feel his eyes on her back. She didn't know how she knew it was him but something inside her knew. She stood there frozen, unable to turn around.
"Who are you?" his voice was low but held a power that Bedelia knew she should not test.
She swallowed nervously. "B-bedelia, sir."
He grunted. "Are you scared?"
"Yes," her voice was meek and quiet, she wondered if he had heard her. He began to laugh. It was a cruel laugh, one that sent chills up and down her spine.
"Good," he whispered. "You are McClendon's sister correct?"
Bedelia almost turned around but caught herself and looked to the floor. How did he know that? "Yes."
"Then how can I trust you?"
Bedelia was stumped. She hadn't really thought this far. She just thought about finding the phantom and telling him where Christine was. Then he would save her and they could escape before Corbin came back.
"I don't know sir."
"Then it seems we are at an impasse. Or I could keep you down here and offer a trade. How much are you worth to your brother, Bedelia?"
"Not much in comparison to you. It is you he is after Monsieur." Bedelia waited for his response but it never came. She was worried that he had fled but she didn't want to turn and check. "Monsieur Phantom?"
"What do you mean?" he asked. Bedelia thought she could hear panic in his voice.
"Because that is what he has always been after. He has wanted revenge ever since you killed our parents." She heard him swear and walk closer to her.
She tensed up as he stopped directly behind her. She could see his black shoes and knew he was only a foot or so away. Slowly she started to turn around. She didn't know why she decided to turn but she just felt compelled to. Once she was facing him she forced herself to look up.
She found herself staring into his dark angry eyes. She quickly noticed he had no mask one and took no effort to hide his face. She screamed one hand covering her mouth.
He continued to stand there staring at her. Once the initial shock wore off she surprised herself by not feeling scared. He was repulsive but his eyes were not cold like she imagined them to be nor were they red. Yet, standing there in front of him she didn't feel afraid anymore.
It was then that she realized that she no longer held any malice for him either. She had forgiven him and herself. He glared at her daring her to turn away in disgust, daring her to cringe. When she didn't, his eyes change slightly. They grew softer and curious.
"I want to help you Monsieur Phantom." Bedelia said squaring her shoulders keeping her eyes trained on his face. "Christine is on the second floor in the old costume room. The one that is farthest from the ballet dorms. And Raoul is one floor above that. In one of the storage rooms."
He looked at her for a moment longer; searching her face to confirm what she said was true. He nodded once, satisfied that she was indeed telling the truth. He walked past her to the gondola. Bedelia watched him as he stepped inside ready to push off.
"I forgive you," she said quietly. Erik froze in the boat and met her eyes once more.
"It was my birthday," she continued, "and my mother had surprised me with a trip to the opening night of Don Juan," she felt compelled to tell him her story. "It would have been my second time going to the opera. I heard that Christine Daae was singing the lead again. She has an amazing voice. My friends were jealous of me because I was going to the phantom's opera but that is not why I wanted to go. But-" Her voice choked.
She rubbed the oncoming tears out of her eyes, taking deep breaths before pressing forward with her narrative. "But my father had this business opportunity. I don't really understand it all. He asked me to stay home because there was a man in town that my brother wanted my father to met. This man was in charge of some big fancy school that Corbin wanted to go to. I didn't really pay attention so I am not sure. But they begged me to give up my seat so my father could meet him."
She laughed bitterly "My mother was upset that they were trying to convince me to give up my seat on my birthday. To make me feel better my father said he would take me to another performance. He told me that he would even arrange a meeting with Christine Daee."
Bedelia paused, wiping her sweaty palms on her dress. Erik was listening to her story intently, his eyes never wavering from her face. "I wanted to make them both happy so I relented. My parents left for the opera never to return. After everything happened Corbin promised to take care of me. We ran away from home because we didn't want to be separated. Then Corbin met some people. He—he started doing things, terrible things. Everyday he became angrier and more bitter."
She felt a lump rise up in her throat and swallowed trying to maintain a straight face. "I think he blamed himself for their deaths. I was always afraid he blamed me. I blamed myself," she whispered bowing her head. "He swore that if he ever met the phantom again that he would do him the same kindness."
She clenched her fist and met his eyes again. "I was angry at you and at my brother for doing horrible things," she said bitterly. "I was angry at him for changing. But mostly I was angry with myself for being so weak and being unwilling to stop him. I don't know when I stopped hating you or why. Perhaps it is because Christine loves you so much. I don't blame you anymore."
She shrugged and sighed. "I guess I knew that Christine would not love you as much as she does if you meant to kill them. Perhaps you did but maybe you didn't. I just know that you are different. I can see it in your eyes. You are not a killer. So, I forgive you."
They stared at each other for a while. Bedelia didn't expect him to say anything. She didn't want him to say anything. It would ruin everything she thought. She just wanted him to know that she did not blame him for what he did. She was no longer Bedelia McClendon but just Bedelia. She still felt sad but no longer alone.
"Get in," he said gruffly. Bedelia nodded and stepped into the boat. The journey back was quiet but Bedelia felt at ease.
Once they were across Erik took off his jacket and passed it to Bedelia. She took it without saying a word. He was definitely not how she imagined him.
Erik then strode off up the blackened hall. He didn't wait for her to follow him. He figured she made it down here just fine so she could make it back.
Truth was he didn't want to spend another moment in her presence. He had this feeling in the pit of his stomach. It had been gnawing at him ever since she said that McClendon was after him. He should have known that there were people he killed his last night at the opera house. He should have known that there were people who wanted revenge. He had just been caught up in his own bliss to even think about other people. He regretted what he had done that night. He supposed he should be punished for it but he was selfish and didn't want to give up his life with Christine and Amanda.
As he got closer to the mirror he began to feel more agitated. He had this desperation to get to Christine. McClendon was a mad man. Erik had been him on some level and knew that there really was no telling what he was capable of.
Erik kept to the shadows of the opera house; a strong sense of déjà vu came flooding back to him. He managed to avoid most of the men wandering around. He was on the second floor when he heard crying. Christine just a few hallways away but that crying sounded familiar.
Erik quickly located the sound and felt his heart quicken. His little Amanda sat on the floor sobbing. She rubbed her eyes and was looking around the barren hallway terrified. Erik didn't think but just went. He left the shadows and gathered his girl in his arms.
She cried harder when she saw her father and buried her face in his chest, unable to speak. He patted her back and realized right then how utterly bizarre it was that she was here. Erik swallowed, the color draining from his face. He quickly turned around to retreat to the shadows when he felt something hard make contact with his head. His world started spinning and Amanda shrieked. The only thing he could think of before he passed out was to land on his back.
Send me a review and tell me how much you hate me because I would hate me. Cliffhangers, grr. Tell me what you think of the chapter and I am working on the next chapter right now.
