Phantom 2000 part 10

The music ceased and the graceful couple stopped immediately when an old, powerful-looking man began tapping a knife against his wine glass to gather everybody's attention. "Gentlemen I would like to thank you all for coming various distances to this important gathering."

"Erik, shouldn't you be the one making that speech?" Christine whispered.

"However we must move on to the matter for which we brought here…,"

"Hush my dear, this sounds important."

"But before we move on I must thank two Masters tonight, the first being Thomas Maricardo a slimy son of a bitch whose ruthless charm has got us this lovely manor tonight. And … " he paused.

"Did he just forget your name?!" Christine whispered angrily. Erik squeezed her hand as a way to beg her to calm down. Clearly this man was a leader of some sort and Erik knew how someone in power would hate to questioned or interrupted.

"Erik DeMortem!" he finally remembered. Christine rolled her eyes as everybody else's turned to them. "A youngling who I hope we benefit all of our future plans." He raised his glass and they all half-halfheartedly applauded.

Christine did too with a forced smile. "What did he mean by that last bit?" Erik shrugged as the old man continued.

"Now could all the men please join me in the other room for the business we need to discuss."

"I cannot join you can I?" she said sadly. Erik kissed her hand and said nothing, but she held on to his. "Erik I do not understand anything. What is going on?"

"Go wait in our room and lock yourself in."

"No I would feel safer being as close to you as possible. Just please try and get as many answers as you can for us." Erik nodded and left. Christine watched him go as the door was closed behind him. The bride in the lavender gown stared daggers at her. Christine looked around the room and all the brides had the same murderous look in their eyes pointed straight at her.

Erik felt horrible for leaving Christine alone, but all the men were here so there was no danger out there. Right? So why did he still have a bad feeling? Maricardo waved for him to take the open seat beside him and offered him a cigar, but Erik turned down the smoke. "Never quite got a taste for the damn things," he simply said.

"Do not mind it." Maricardo waved off. "We only smoke it now cause, well the only harder to kill than us is an old habit," he chuckled.

"Here here!" one man raised his glass.

Erik opened his mouth to demand explanations, but his friend beat him to it. "Now gentlemen I think we have been rude enough to our generous host. I think it's time we let him in on our little society."

"Very well Maricardo." The older Vampire from earlier spoke. "No need to be arrogant you have already made your point about being right."

"Being right about what?" Erik finally spoke out.

The Elder took a deep breath. "About us needing you." Erik raised an eyebrow in question. "In our last meeting Maricardo brought forth what we thought was a minor problem: monster hunters. People, specific people banning together to wipe us out of existence. They have been around for as long we have, but only been handful of them at a time. Maricardo brought us information of book being written to destroy us. He suggested we prepare ourselves. At the time we laughed it off, however Maricardo took matters into his own hands and found you."

"But why me?"

Maricardo took over again. "You see old sport; you were already dangerous to anybody who stood in your way as a fleshy human man. I figured you could help us with our growing problem. These hunters consist mainly of police personnel and those with experience in battle. They are getting smarter, they recruiting more and more hunters."

"So you turned me."

"Yes. We want your skills, your intellect and already refined killer instincts."

Erik thought for a minute. "How have you been handling the problem thus far?"

"I will let you continue, Mr. Burns." Maricardo nodded to the head vampire and finally sat down.

"With what we call strays."

"Strays?" Erik repeated in case he heard incorrectly.

"Yes strays. Think of them as the lowest class of vampires that we bite but do not kill. They were people born lower class peasants we using as pacifiers for the hunters. Strays are the opposite of us: uneducated, classless and crude. They never last long; they either wander into the sunlight or are too stupid to outsmart hunters. All of us here use various methods of luring in our victims to avoid drawing attention to ourselves; strays however simply attack anyone unfortunate enough to be outside at a late hour with no subtly and in crowded areas. And we make the hunters find them instead of us.

"But now that these hunters are getting smarter and growing in numbers, we the upper class vampires are now in danger. Maricardo himself has lost a few brides brides in the last five years." He did not even flinch when Erik glanced over at him. "We have actually lost two members in Eastern Europe this year." A few of the gentlemen bowed their heads, raised their glasses and muttered a few words for their fallen companions.

Erik thought for a minute as all eyes were on him. "Very well I will help. But I will require time to formulate a decent plan as well any and all information I need."

"Excellent!" Mr. Burns grinned while tapping the tips of his fingers together. He was about to raise his glass for a toast when Erik interrupted him, "AND!" they all paused and looked at him. "I want something in return for my services."

Mr. Burns eyed Maricardo and exchanged glances with the rest. "Seems fair enough to me, since we have taken advantage of his hospitality and skills."

Mr. Burns sighed, "Fine. What is it you want from us?"

Christine knew this was going to happen, but not like this. A fight yes, but she thought it would be Erik's fault the fight started and not hers. Yet here she was in the middle of circle of murderous brides. They all hated her and she loved it!

The kill circle began closing in on her. Christine held her ground not showing an ounce of the fear she refused to acknowledge. "Can we kill her Lavender?!" One of Mr. Burn's brides suggested to their head sister.

Lavender stepped forward. "You know ladies… this fun be over too soon if we all go at her at once." She and Christine locked eyes threateningly. "But the new…girl still needs to learn her place!" The ghoulish servants felt the uneasy atmosphere and one by one slipped out of the room. Lavender smiled as if victory was already hers. "WHO WANT TO GO FIRST?!"

"Let us have her first!" cried the head sister of Maricardo's brides.

"Very well Hazel. Go right ahead."

Hazel and her sisters giggled and made hissing sounds as they came closer to Christine. She parted her lips and unsheathed her fangs; the brides circling her did the same as the rest quietly cheered. Christine locked eyes with Hazel and growled before the other bride pounced on her.

Immediately Christine was knocked to ground, but scratched her first opponent and sent her flying odd with unbelievable ease. She got back onto her feet in time as two more brides came at her; Christine grabbed the one's hair, and slammed her into the third. Both went flying on top of the first.

Christine grinned. This is going to be easier than I thought.

Mr. Burns rubbed his chin as he stared at their newest member. "That is … a very interesting request. Very unique indeed." He took a sip of his scotch mixed with blood. "In fact I do not believe what you are asking has ever been done before."

"I see no reason as why it is impossible either," Erik pointed out.

Maricardo chuckled at his friend's boldness. "Well I suppose none of us here felt the need for it. But like I told all of these bastards earlier this year, you are something different, old sport."

Mr. Burns sighed, "Indeed."

Erik nodded. "So do we have a deal? Or do you all need to leave my home now?"

Mr. Burns actually chuckled. "Oh Maricardo, I really like this one! Do not worry, Erik, you have yourself a fair deal. Help us with our problem and we will figure out your request." He smiled as he handed Erik a fresh drink. "Gentlemen I believe we must toast to this fair contract!" Everybody raised their glasses. "Down with these meddling hunters and cheers to Erik! May every night be a feast and full of endless pleasure!"

"Here Here!" They all cheered in his name and drank together. As they all drank the room was silent and Erik heard something in the other room.

"What was that?!" Erik put down his glass and faced the thick double doors.

Maricardo waved him off. "Probably the women having chit chat or whatever women do when we are not around."

Then there was a crash. Followed by a scream.

"CHRISTINE!" Erik leapt to his feet and ran to rescue his beloved.

All of Maricardo's brides leapt on her at once, she threw most of them off some hitting random pieces of furniture the others she managed to beat off of her. She stood ready for the next blow when Hazel snuck up from behind her and sank her long nails into her throat and shoulder. Christine screamed in pain, but slammed her fist into Hazel's rib causing her to release her hand. Thoroughly pissed off at this point, Christine roared as she picked her up by her ankle and hair and sent her flying and smashing into a large mirror.

All the brides scattered away from her, staring in fear. She stood tall and victorious. Then she saw that they were staring behind her. Christine did not want to, but turned around to see Erik standing there looking shocked along with all the Masters behind him with the same expression. Her victory turned to shame as looked at the damage she had done.

She could not face her Erik. She saw Maricardo out of the corner of her eye. "What in the name hell happened here?!" he demanded angrily.

Hazel came forward and Christine felt a massive wave of guilt when she was shards of mirror sticking out of her back. "We… we got into a fight," she owned up sheepishly.

Christine felt Erik come up behind her and take her hand. "Are you alright?" he whispered. She looked at him and gently rubbed the deep scratch on her neck when she saw he was not angry.

"You fought with our host's mistress?!" he questioned, his temper starting to flare.

Christine looked opposite the room and locked eyes with Lavender, who yelled, "Christine is the one who started it!"

Her jaw nearly hit the ground as words failed to coherently leave her lips. "Why in hell?!" someone shouted. After that the entire room busted into an uproar; everybody demanding answers and others shouting blame, except for Erik who was trying to think of something to bring order and Christine who stood without a clue with what she should do.

"ENOUGH!" WACK. Maricardo roaring and slapping his bride so hard she hit the ground caused the rest of the room to fall into silence. Only Erik and Christine stared in horror at what he had done. Hazel began sobbing which only angered her Master further. "Silence!"

"Leave her alone!" One of her sisters came running forward followed by her fellow brides.

"YES STOP IT!"

"Stop hurting her!"

"Stop hurting US!"

"Silence! All of you!" he roared. "I will not have you embarrass me, in front of my fellow compatriots!"

They all backed away a few feet, but did not stand down. Hazel stood up and glanced at Christine before speaking. "No."

There were a few gasps and Maricardo just stared at her and her sisters. "What?" he whispered almost inaudibly.

Hazel gulped, but held her ground. "We want respect! LIKE CHRISTINE! We want to be treated fairly and equally!"

"That is ENOUGH!" Maricardo's fangs sprung out as he threateningly stepped forward; his brides did the same thing. Christine nearly screamed when a violent fight broke out. When she had brawled earlier it was out of self-defence, but this! This was almost too horrible to watch! If Christine though she was a better fighter against the brides, their so called friend was at least ten times better and showed no mercy. She could not stand around and do nothing as these helpless women were being torn apart by someone they depended on. Christine was about to run and help them, but Erik held her back. She looked at him, pleading to help. Erik looked at everybody; nobody seemed interest in helping or even what was going on. It was as if Maricardo was taking care of an inconvenient chore that was a waste of their time. Erik wanted to help; if he did he may start a battle he would lose. He had no friends here (especially now after Maricardo's fight with his brides) if he were to go against Thomas, he would be going against all the Masters who were his friends. And if they destroyed him… Erik could not bear to think what would happen to Christine if she were left alone.

So Erik and Christine could do nothing, but hold on to each other and try to ignore the screams of pain. Finally it was over. Maricardo tidied himself up as his brides silently wept in a pile. None of them were dead, but they were all in pain and wished they were.

About an hour later nobody saw any reason to stay after Mr. Burns and Maricardo had apologised profusely for their brides' behaviour. Erik did not want accept their apologies, but what could he do? Refuse and make dangerous enemies? No he could not afford that, not after the massive request he had made earlier. So all he could do was shake their hands and nod; he would explain things to Christine later.

While Erik and the men were talking, Christine managed to sneak quickly to Hazel and her sisters. "Hazel," she began, but her words died quickly when the bride would not meet her gaze. Christine swallowed hard. "Hazel please. I am sorry. I had no idea…If I had known…"

"I am deeply sorry," Hazel interrupted her. "I have disrespected you and your Master and deserve no mercy or forgiveness." She said this as if she were reading a sign off a wall. There was no emotion in her voice. Christine realized then that her spirit had been broken a long time ago and every time hope shined that it may repair, Maricardo made sure that light was snuffed out.

Christine sighed and placed a gentle hand on the bride's shoulder. "I am sorry… and I have forgiven you." Hazel blinked and stared at Christine as did her sisters. The two women gave each other a weak smile, before Maricardo destroyed their precious moment.

"Hazel, let's go!" She jumped to his command and she and her sisters scurried out the door after their Master. Christine watched sadly as her friend left, too bad she felt no hope of ever seeing her again.

"Oh how sweet!" she heard a cruel giggle from the shadows. Christine spun on her heel and walked right up to Lavender.

"You bitch!" she hissed, since both of them wanted this to be an unfounded conversation. "You KNEW this would happen and that is why you did not attack me first! You set them up!"

"How much do you eat upon average?" she asked nonchalantly.

"Excuse me?!"

"How much you eat most nights?" she repeated.

Angry, but confused Christine answered anyway. "I … a… I drain a whole man almost every night. Did you hear what I just said?!"

"No wonder you won so easily, you get more nourishment than they do. All they they get is one man to share between the eight of them." There was a hateful pause. "I underestimated you, Christine Daae. But I can assure you it will not happen again."

Christine laughed at her face, "My God, you are afraid of me." Lavender glared at her, but she continued. "I know not why, but I am a threat to you."

A full minute passed before Lavender final responded, "You are different from the rest of us. For now that may be an advantage, but it will be your destruction; Even if I have to see to it myself."

"Good luck with that." Both women gasped and spun around to see their Masters none too happy with what was said. "I believe its time you leave me house."

Mr. Burns sighed, "I apologise, Erik. We will leave, but not without assuring you Miss Smith will be punished." He glared at her and she gulped. He only ever referred to her by her maiden name when he was really angry. "Come Lavender," he growled. She and her sister brides followed in pursuit as their Master leapt into the air and flew away.

Christine was not happy. Lavender may have been a bitch but no one deserved what these men labelled as just punishment. Erik and Christine looked at each other. Tonight was supposed to be a wonderful night, but it had been ruined. "We are never hosting again."

Am I in trouble with all of you?

Tonight did not go so well with the two lovers. But fear not all will be well.

And in case you are wondering about Erik's request don't bother asking in your reviews because no one shall know till the time comes.

What did you all think of the secret society?

Mr. Burns?

Maricardo's violent side?

Christine actually winning a fight and rivalry with Lavender?

Please review.

Love you all my pretties!

IZULZA