The Opera Ghost CH 9

Bo sucks in a sharp breath, watching how Lauren stalks around the room. The fear The Phantom casts off towards the guests is impressive, but completely unnecessary. Her reputation proceeds her, to say the least. It took a moment to see Lauren standing in front of Bo. Addressing her in such ease.

Before Bo can eve respond though, the Phantom turns quickly to face the frightened onlookers. "I hear congratulations are in order." Lauren's voice is sure, even though her heart is breaking with every syllable. "Not only is tonight for the hard workers and entertainers of this respectful establishment, but an engagement."

Lauren finally turns back to the couple of the night. Monsieur Thornwood still clinging to Bo, his faced contorted in anger. At least he will protect her, she thinks sadly. In another life, Lauren would be happy for them. But that was before she found herself loving Bo. "I will leave you to the rest of your night, but all I ask is a dance with the bride to be."

Dyson grips Bo just a little tighter as Lauren steps forward, her dark eyes focused on the brunette. "Who is engaged?" Bo whispers. Dyson is about to answer her, but when he looks at Bo, she is staring at The Phantom.

Laughing quietly to herself, Lauren rubs along her bottom lip trying not to smile at the absolutely clueless look on Bo's face. "My apologies, Monsieur, I may have spoiled your plans." Lauren unties her cape and chucks it to the side. Her ribs are still very sore, especially from the leap from the balcony, but she has a soft spot for the dramatics.

"My dearest Isabeau," Lauren's voice is almost remorseful as she fingers the diamond crested ring that lays loosely on Bo's exposed cleavage, "May I have the honors?"

Bo's eyes pop open, everything about this evening making more and more sense to her. Of course Dyson did this. It is one of many moves that he has demonstrated over these few months. The surprised dates and the random gifts. She could curse herself for not making it clear to him that her feelings for him are purely plutonic.

Bo feeling completely stupid, reaches for Lauren's hand, but Dyson pulls her back and pulls a dagger from his suit. "Not in this lifetime demon!"

Lauren doesn't even flinch as she unsheathes her sword as has the tip pressed against her jugular. "Mine is bigger." She hears a snort come from the side and notices Bo's tall blonde friend covering her mouth. Lauren smiles at her and throws her a wink, almost missing the deep blush that covers her face.

Bo gives Tamsin a glare as she accepts Lauren's hand. Tamsin just shrugs embarrassed at her own reactions to wards the woman Bo is obviously tethered to.

Lauren holds her sword pressed against him until she feels Bo's hand on her hip. A soft growl rumbles deep in her throat as she holsters her weapon away. She refuses to look at Bo, knowing her eyes will make her weak. This Lauren's farewell. She knew getting involved with Bo would be dangerous, but she didn't care at the time. Or she couldn't.

The crowd pushes back further, leaving a wide open circle for the two of them. "Make it a good one, Monsieur." Lauren announces to the band leader. Not a moment later, the band starts up and Lauren takes the lead. The slow tango makes the two women move together as one, hands drifting across their bodies, as they twirl and grind across the ballroom floor.

It is hard for Bo to see Lauren so closed off around her. It is hard to believe that this is the same woman that she shares a bath with from time to time. The same woman that kisses her so tenderly, but with enough passion to make her knees weak and her head spin. It is so hard to dance so sensual with Lauren, but feel so far away from her, so detached. All Bo wants to do is leave and take Lauren away. Somewhere that Lauren will be free from her own demons.

Lauren can feel Bo try desperately to look at her. She is finding it difficult to hold Bo in her arms, knowing what she looks and feels underneath it all. She finds it difficult to breath, when her heartbeat is in sync with the woman in her arms.

It is when the middle of the song, when the beat slows and it forces Lauren to face Bo. And her resolve crumbles. "I apologize for this." Lauren begins as she brushes a few stray hairs from Bo's face, careful to not disrupt her mask. "I just knew you would be busy soon and I wanted to say thank you. You were a first for me."

Before Bo can even speak, Lauren parts with her, giving them just enough space. "And my last." Its whispered, but Bo heard it. All of a sudden The Phantom throws something on the ground. A loud explosion like noise, and the floor opens up, swallowing up The Phantom, leaving only white smoke in her wake.

Bo ignored the gasps and screams as the loud noise carried throughout the Opera House. She is all to familiar with Lauren's escape artist routines. Seeing the smoke, she focused on Lauren and watched her drop through the floor. And Bo ran and jumped in right after her.

Dyson's focus was Bo and he panicked seeing her follow that monster. With no regard for his own life, he followed suit and jumped into the unknown just as the floor closed back up, leaving the remaining guests in fear and confused.

A pile of sandbags broke Monsieur Thornwood's fall. The space below was dark, surrounded by moving mirrors. "Bo!" he shouts looking for any sigh of her. He pulls out his dagger once The Phantoms face starts to appear in the moving mirrors.

"You can't leave well enough alone, can you Monsieur Thornwood?" Lauren voice is tired and these emotions that continue to surface is making everything harder. Seeing, or rather feeling Bo follow her through the drop space had Lauren feeling. Not expecting anyone else, Lauren laid in the sandbags, but only until she felt Bo land on her with a thud. Gasping for breath, Bo apologized and tried to help Lauren to her feet, but she refused. But Bo is just as stubborn as the blonde and she does not go down without a fight. And she fought all right.

"Leave me, Bo. I don't need your pity." Lauren spits out and rolls over to her hands and knees tring to get up without harming her ribs even further. She can her Bo huff her disapproval, both of them knowing she is making it more difficult.

"Pity? Really? Are you kidding me Lauren?! You can play the wounded puppy all you want to them, but not to me. I know you better." She can feel the familiar fire and knows that no one is leaving without hashing out whatever is going on between them.

"Oh you know me huh? Well congratulations. I let you see the monster behind the mask. Yay for you. So you can know live happily ever after with Monsieur Thornwood." Having trouble breathing, whether it be from her ribs or her breaking heart, she can't tell, lifts her shirt up and rips the bandages from her body. The bruises are still an angry purple, but she can see them changing to a greenish tint. Slowly but surely they are healing.

Bo's voice cracks and she rushes to Lauren. Her soft hand holding the damaged area, and Lauren allows her to. "Stop calling yourself that Lauren. You. Are. No. monster. You are kind and gentle. You keep these oblivious people from harm regardless of the danger you're put through!"

The silence was thick but the space between then closed even more as Bo held Lauren's face in her unoccupied hand, forcing their eyes to meet. "You never asked if I accepted."

"What? But I thought-"

Bo cuts her off with a shake of her head. "I know what you thought, you stubborn woman. That's why if you have asked me instead of assuming, you would know I don't love him. And I do not want to marry him."

"Why not? He can do anything for you. Take you out and be with you. Really be with you. Why not say yes?"

"He's not you, Lauren."

Lauren smiles, finally getting clarity about Bo's feelings. Things will still be difficult for them, but they know what they both want and don't want. And that's more than Lauren could ever had hoped. Cashing in her raincheck for dinner, Bo offered to go get Lauren's horse so they can enjoy the rest of their night. The Phantom nods trying to catch her breath as Bo disappears into the dimly lit tunnels.

What she didn't expect, was a third person following her through the floor. Dyson Thornwood, Bo's knight in shining armor, has come to save his beloved.

Dyson stands tall, and approaches The Phantom, gripping the dagger tightly. "I love her and I will fight for her. Even against a cold blooded killer. Bo deserves happiness. Not to be a prisoner kept under lock and key!"

Lauren nods and walks behind the moving mirrors, her images being maneuvered and has Dyson whipping his head trying to find the real her. "Finally something to agree on. But why would you assume I'm keeping her as prisoner? Did you even ask her what she wants?"

"I know what is best for her. She is just so innocent. She doesn't understand what you are. And I won't stop until you are dead." Dyson seethes and the mirrors suddenly stop. He can finally see The Phantom…and the thick noose she carries.

"And you are not afraid of me?" She asks just above a whisper; her only focus seems to be the rope in her hands.

Dyson approaches her and adjusts the dagger, preparing for an attack. "You are just a ghost story to these imbeciles. But I know better. You are nothing, but a killer, without a conscious."

Dyson has had enough of this back and forth and charges the Phantom, catching her off-guard, but goes into a defensive stance. She quickly doges the blade to her gut, redirecting it towards her bicep. It barely scrapes her skin as her shirt took the brute of it, but unfortunately the moves caused Dyson's elbow to collide with her ribs.

The pain made the blonde fall to her knees, a cry erupts from her throat. No matter how hard you train and how strong you think you are, bruised ribs will make Gods fall to their knees.

Dyson stumbles off balance and stumbles passed her as she falls. Finding her vulnerable, he takes another stab, but The Phantom saw it coming. As a last resort, Lauren tucks her body and rolls away from him, kicking his knee when he passes. Dyson drops to his own knee, groaning in pain. It was only a second he took his eyes off of The Phantom before he felt the rope around his neck.

Lauren tightens the rope, constricting his airway and forcing his head straight, making him see their reflection in the still mirror. "It would be so simple to end your life, Monsieur." She says tightening the rope, watching as his hands try in vain to loosen the rope, and failing.

"I could drag your body and hang you for the whole party to see. A party that you hosted." She leans in close so she can feel his hot tears falling down his face. "But you are not a bad man. Stupid, sure. But I do not see any threat from you."

Lauren releases the rope and he gasps for breath. The burns on his neck should be a reminder enough to take her seriously. His coughing gets louder and she has lost all her patience though. So grabbing his forgotten dagger, she knocks the butt of it on the back of his head, leaving him unconscious.

Watching the man fall forward, Lauren lets out a deep yell. It would be so easy to kill him. She can tell he is dangerous, even if it is just his pride. The only reason she doesn't kill this idiotic man…is for Bo.

Getting from her bruised knees, Lauren stands and scratches her head. She's not entirely sure how to get Dyson upstairs without being noticed in her state. But before she can thing for too long, familiar hoof beats come through the tunnels.

Seeing Bo riding her horse doesn't surprise her, but Vex riding with her does. Lauren stands confused, until Bo wraps her into a hug. "I saw everything. I am so sorry about him, but I am so proud of you for not killing him. You are so strong Lauren." Bo coos and guides Lauren to the horse.

Vex watches their interaction and smiles to himself. As soon as he saw the three of them fall through the floor, Vex rushes to find the tunnels, even though most are hidden. Luckily, Bo found him wandering and they both went to help, at whatever extent that may have been.

"Vex?" Lauren asks, all three of them looking at Dyson.

"Aye, I got him, love. You need to go clean yourself up. You look terrible." He winks and grabs ahold of Dyson's ankles. He figures getting him outside of the Opera House would be easier than his room upstairs. Maybe he will even get the message if he woke up in the dumpster. Either way, Vex will cover it up for his friend.

Lauren nods and leans onto Bo as they walk to the horse. Bo helps the blonde up before hoping up in front of her. "Let's go home, Lauren."

Home, Lauren smiles and wraps her arms around Bo. She takes in the scent of Bo's chocolate hair, an intoxicating smell, and relishes it. "As you wish, my Angel."

AN: You guys were so patient and I thank you for it! Hope you guys like this chapter. Let me know either way if you can. I appreciate the follows and favorite's in this story. The responses are incredible so thank you. Your continued support is amazing. Thanks again for reading!

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