Chapter 10 ~

The entire Popoulaire was in a hushed state for the following weeks after the abduction and rescue of one of their own. During the time it was made known that Annabelle Rain de Barbarac was in fact the actual owner of the Opera House and Lefevre was just the manager until Rain herself either married or reached legal age as per her late father's will. Rottenmyer herself had wanted the building and all that came with it and tried to remove Rain from the picture. And it looked like she had succeed in her attempt.

Erik was beside himself with agony over Rain's pain. The men had beat her enough to make her unconscious as well as Rottenmyer crushing her feet and ankles almost beyond repair. The physician wasn't sure if she would ever be able to walk again but he knew she would never dance as a ballerina. Rain had turned away from everything at that news and wouldn't even look at Erik. While it really wasn't a grand dream of either of theirs, they both had wanted it. Her voice as well was damaged from the screams, just as Rottenmyer predicted. Oh she could speak just as sweetly as she used too. But the notes she could hit before were gone. Her spirit was dying along with the rest of her as she continued to lay in her bed ignoring the world.

Juliette lightly touched his arm, "Perhaps she should be sent to Spain? She has family there on her mother's side."

"Leave me.. us?" Erik was shocked. Without Rain he was nothing more than the ghost everyone said he was. He looked at the door where his mon ange slept, perhaps being away she could find the strength to get up again? He felt his heart break the last few pieces as he moved from Juliette's side and entered Rain's room.

The room was dimly lit, Rain's eyesight still wasn't up to par after the head bashing the two had given her. She heard the door ghost open and knew it was Erik. "Mon Fantôme." She said with a smile as she struggled she push herself into a sitting position.

Erik quickly moved to her side, supporting her while moving the pillows behind her back. This was the most active she had been in weeks. Maybe she would be alright. He carefully sat on her bed and took her hand, "How do you feel Mon Ange?"

Rain shook her head, "The same as before. Broken."

Erik knew that her sitting up was for his benefit and that he had to let her go. He looked back towards the door. "Annabelle.. Madenoiselle de Barabarac I do believe it would be in your best interest to go to Spain to be with your mother's family." He said placing her hand on her lap.

Rain blinked at him. "Light the candles. You don't really mean to send me away do you Erik?" Him saying her given name and calling her mademoiselle should have been the clues that he meant it. But she had to see his face. His eyes gave him away if anyone cared to look.

Erik stood up and light the candles, he never could tell her no. Once the room was lit he stood next to the bed, stiff as a board and equally as cold. "Madame Giry has taken the liberty of writing them. I had nothing to do with it but as both your guardians and in light of what has happened I believe a leave is best." He clasped his hands behind his back and stared straight ahead.

Rain stared up at him, his eyes were cold, flat. Neither bright green in anger or storm blue in sadness. Just flat blue green showing no emotion at all. She felt tears come to her eyes as she looked down at the blanket covering her legs. "If that is what you both think is best Monsieur Destler. I am currently unable to care for myself as you can see."

Erik felt the pieces of his heart turn to dust at her words. He knew what her feet looked like under the blankets. They were in plaster casts to try to help the bones knit back together but the physician wasn't sure if they would. It was a guessing game and Rain was hopeless and she was the one that always gave him hope. He shut himself off completely. "You will be well cared for with them I am sure. And the Populaire will be cared for as well. I will bid you au revoir now." He turned from her because he wouldn't be able to stay much longer and not beg her forgiveness.

Rain felt the tears fall from her eyes, she turned to watch him leave the room. She raised her hand as if to call him back, fingers curling into a fist as he opened the door. "Je te aime Erik, mon Fantôme, au revoir, for now." She dropped to the pillows as the door closed with a soft click as the tears came in rivers. She cried for everything that had happened in her life with that door closing and Erik walking out of her life. Maybe for good.

Erik pressed his head against the wood of the closed door, "Je te aime mon ange forever." He whispered though he knew she couldn't hear him. He turned and saw Juliette standing there with tears on her cheeks. "It is done. Send her to Spain." He said walking around her.

"What will you do Erik?" Juliette asked, wiping her face.

"What I should have done from the start." He said, pulling a white half mask from his pocket and placing it on his face, "Be Le Fantôme." And he was gone from the apartments just like that.

Juliette knew that over the years Erik lived in the Opera House he had made modifications to the building. He was a brilliant man in all aspects and could fool you if you weren't careful. Henry and Danielle allowed him free rein and while Juliette wouldn't have she didn't try to talk Danielle out of it. Danielle was more of a free spirit than Juliette ever was and Rain inherited it from her mother. To see it snuffed out broke Juliette's heart. But to see Erik become less of a man hurt her too. What would happen to Erik now without Rain to light his way? She turned and entered Rain's room, dropping to the bed to hold the trembling girl in her arms. Juliette looked up at the ceiling, praying to whatever God was there to protect the people she called family and mend them.

A few weeks later, Alain Bay arrived at the Populaire to escort Annabelle to Spain. She was in a chair with wheels that appeared one day outside the manager's office. No one knew where it came from or who made it but it helped Rain get around though she never smiled. Juliette and Rain knew who made the chair and why though neither said a word.

Juliette was given the job of dance mistress and was in charge of the chorus and dance girls. Lefevre was still manager though rumors were beginning to float about that he was looking for someone else to pass the role onto.

Le Fantôme was in full swing. Making his demands and adding to the shows as he saw fit. Some days it was worse than others depending on his moods. Though everyone tried to please him it seemed there was nothing to be done for it. Everyone missed the old days when the Fantôme wasn't cruel in what he did. But those days seemed to be over.

Rain herself was just a shell of the girl everyone knew and loved. She didn't smile and she seemed to fold in on herself whenever the Fantôme made his appearance. Whatever happened between the two was over and it didn't end well.

Madame Giry and Meg went to the train station to see Rain and Monsieur Bay off. Meg tried to get Christine to come with them but she insisted that she had her lessons. When Rain heard her reasons she turned her head and didn't say a word. Now Meg and her mother stood on the platform watching as Alain carried Rain onto the train and her chair was loaded into the car.

"Maman will Rain's family in Spain take good care of her? Like we have." Asked Meg leaning into her mother as Alain appeared in the window of one of the cars and sat Rain by the window.

Juliette smiled at Rain and waved before speaking, "I hope so mon petit. Our home will not be the same without her."

Meg nodded her head, waving to the girl who was like a sister to her. She still blamed herself for Rain being taken, she should have stayed behind and fought. Tried to get Rain away too but she ran like a scared rabbit. Now Rain was paying the price and so was the Fantôme. And in a way, so were they.

Juliette pulled Meg away as the shout was called one last time for anyone to get on, steam came from underneath the train as the engine came to life and it began to pull the cars away from the station. She didn't know if or when she would see Rain again but she prayed that she would come back and set things right again. Because everything was falling apart fast.