Disclaimer: I don't own anything here except the premise of this particular bit of phanfic and Maggie. There is no copyright infringement intended with the song 'Learn to be Lonely', I've only included it as I love it so much – it often makes me cry, but then so does Enya's new song 'If I could be where you are…' (But I figured '…..Lonely' sums up Erik in a lot of ways and because I wanted to include it in a way that it looks as if Jane wrote it for him)……

The 'dirge song' is actually just a little rhyme I made up, so no one else is to blame for the badness of that:O)

Sorry for the very long delay in updating this – I am still struggling with major writer's block and I know this is rubbish; but a few people have asked for an update, most especially my good friend Aelia O' Hession (you must read her stories if you haven't already) so here it is.

'…….' – thought

"……" - speech

All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.

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Erik and the Gentlemen:

Chapter Ten – L'Opera Populaire

He awoke later to find her gone….for one awful, heart-stopping moment he thought she'd fled – maybe realised she'd made some dreadful mistake, but then he heard singing…..

He got up, dragged on some clothes and followed the sound. It seemed as if it was coming from the pipe-work. It also sounded like Jane…and so he followed it, donning his mask and wig as he went. He passed crew who had stopped as if transfixed by the song, and then saw Henry Jekyll standing at the bottom of the steps leading up to the top of the turret.

"She's up there and she's singing that song….the one she wrote herself" The other man sighed wistfully "Edward wishes it was for him, as do I, but then I think in some way it is – it's for all of us that are without hope…..all of us lost souls" he looked up the stairway "she sings well does she not Erik?"

Erik listened intently – it was a sad song, but it was very beautiful and fitted her voice well. "Yes…yes, it's good."

Henry rolled his eyes with a smile and wandered off "Maggie will be wondering where I am; I left to fetch another game – though we will need to ready ourselves soon enough. Do not tell her mother yet, but she is insistent on not being left behind this time; Lord knows what Sawyer will say."

Erik did not reply and Henry shook his head with a sad smile "ah love!" he mumbled to the mirror he passed to see a grinning Edward "I remember it well; how I wish it were me."

The other man made his way up the steps following the song, as he stepped out at the top Quartermain was there "Does no one on this blasted thing sleep!" he hissed in exasperation.

"Did you when you heard it?" was the calm reply with an arched eyebrow.

They stood silently behind the turret as she was begged to sing it again by a young crewman "Please Miss Jane, it makes me think of my best friend, Baqir, and I – his parents died and left him an orphan just like mine; if not for the captain we would be beggars now."

"Alright Aatif…..once more and then I must return, or the subject of this song will come looking and then we will all be in trouble." She smiled.

She cleared her throat, as she always did, and began:

"Child of the wilderness,

Borne into emptiness,

Learn to be lonely,

Learn to find your way in darkness.

Who will be there for you?

To comfort and care for you?

Learn to be lonely,

Learn to be your one companion.

Never dream that out in the world,

There are arms to hold you.

You've always known,

Your heart was on its own.

So laugh in your loneliness,

Child of the wilderness –

Learn to be lonely,

Learn how to love,

A life that is lived alone.

Learn to be lonely,

Life can be lived,

Life can be loved,

Alone."

She looked at the young man with her "Why do you like it so if it makes you weep Aatif?"

"I don't know." He smiled through his tears "but amidst the sadness, I hear hope there too."

"How? It is a song about learning to be entirely alone forever – a body can't live that life happily surely?"

"Not forever, but at some point even the most isolated of us finds another soul Miss Jane – look at you and Mr Erik; I understand he lived in a deep cave and hated all mankind, yet you found each other." He dipped his head "Allah is good and we always find the path He means for us."

Jane patted the young man on the back "Aatif, if I had a quarter of your optimism I would be happy soul indeed."

He chuckled "I have had a hard life, but it is good now and I appreciate it all the more."

She smiled and nodded "My grandfather, a good man, the only genuine soul in my Godforsaken family, told me once that into every life a little rain must fall to appreciate the sunny days. Though I do believe some people have a deluge before a heatwave."

Quartermain grinned at Erik "She has a sharp wit."

"You have no idea…." The other muttered.

"He was a wise man Miss Jane…." There was silence "Well, I must get on. Thank you."

"No need to thank me for…what was it Erik said once? "Making his ears bleed with my caterwauling" Erik flinched at the remembered insult and Quartermain stifled a smirk.

"Not one for sugaring the pill were we laddie?" he whispered to Erik.

Erik merely ignored him as Aatif remonstrated "I don't know about then Miss Jane, but you sing well now."

"Ah well that comes of living in the jungle – I could practice. Loads of space, rarely any people and the animals did not complain of bleeding eardrums…..though" she chuckled "Baloo did used to howl with one particular song I favoured."

Erik remembered Maggie's words and smiled.

Aatif came round the side of the turret to be confronted with the two hiding men; he jumped and Quartermain put his finger to his lips and took the boy with him "I'll speak to her later….seems you two have some more…….discussing to do." He smirked as he left.

"No more Aatif, I really must return….."

"Yes or I could become most agitated." Erik wrapped his arms around her waist and she leapt forward.

"Erik! Gods, you startled me – the sea masks your scent…I didn't know you were there!" She blushed and he realised that though his immediate concern was she had indeed changed her mind, it was actually rare surprise.

"Why do you blush?"

"I…you…how long were you there?" she eyed him hopefully.

He could've said he had just arrived, but Erik had never lied to her and was not about to start now "Long enough."

"Oh." She looked crestfallen.

"You sang well. I thought the song a trifle sad though."

"A trifle sad? But still nothing like the depressing dirges you normally toss out with abandon." She bristled.

"I was going to say you have improved markedly – but now merely wish to know what you mean by 'depressing dirges'?" his voice raised slightly; Erik loathed having his music criticised.

"Without you my life is over'?" her own had risen an octave – and was now carrying down the pipes. All aboard could hear them and were smirking at what was obviously a lover's tiff. "Oh and another you favoured a lot was 'my heart is shredded, see how I bleed'. Finally let's not forget my personal favourite 'Death is my escape' Let's see, how did that charming little ditty go?" she pretended to think…

"Oh yes…in fact how could I forget such happy lyrics as these?

watch my blood pour on the cobbles,

Like crimson water from a well,

See me shuffle, weighed down by grief,

Down the road to immortal hell.

I see you in the arms of beauty,

Destiny's been kind to you.

I hide in darkness, amongst the shadows,

A demon whose soul was rent in two…"

She rolled her eyes "and so it went on for another thirty two bloody verses, accompanied by the most depressing music outside of a funeral parlour!"

Down below Quartermain roared with laughter "I do like that woman!" Sawyer smirked as they listened close to the pipes in the salon, along with the others.

Erik grumbled in irritation as she went on "and when I asked you to play something just a little merrier, you said, "I am not a merry man" though I have to agree – rotting corpses are less offensive at times!"

Quartermain laughed out loud once more, but Sawyer flapped a hand to shush him as she carried on – warming to her subject "I mean I wasn't asking for a polka, or anything too frivolous – your word I think – just something that meant I wasn't driven to such despair I wished to cut my throat!"

"I can play happier music – but why would I wish to when I have had such a….." he protested angrily as she butted in.

"If you say ONCE MORE that you have had a hard life; I swear on all that's holy I will push you from this turret into the sea myself, and you can bloody swim to shore!"

"Why bring this up now?" He was confused, last night it was all undying passion - this morning harsh words. Not that he wasn't used to it - they'd screamed at each other enough when they were together before, and that was just as friends.

"I…." she hesitated "I felt like it." She stalked up to him "she left you, remember – angelic voice or no." then she left.

Suddenly it dawned on him why she was angry – she was worried. He had, once again, criticised her musical abilities; music, she knew, was something that had drawn him to Christine in the first place. He had made her seem lacking and now they were heading back to L'Opera Populaire, back to Paris…..back to Christine….

"You're jealous!" he exclaimed both gleefully and in sudden realisation.

"You might like to delude yourself in that fashion! But I have to say for someone who thought he was repulsive to all woman kind scant hours ago, your ego has made a remarkable recovery!"

He caught her arm and twirled her round to face him, backing her up against the wall as she reached the bottom of the stairs and the others spilled out of the salon.

"I am repulsive to all woman kind…save one." And his mouth crashed onto hers, moments later he raised his head "she saved me more than once, and I love her more than any other in the world….surely you know that by now Jane?"

She stared at him "all I know is she sings like an angel and I caw like a crow…your words remember? Music is your soul Erik; I have none……..of either." She pushed past and stalked away turning at her door she locked his eyes "I am a monster – you would do well to remember that."

Before he could move Quartermain walked past "I'll speak with her, she'll not believe you as she thinks you're biased."

Erik nodded "But I am not leaving….she will need me." He stood resolutely outside her door.

Quartermain went in….…..

0-0-0-0-0-0

"Madam – you do the man outside a disservice."

"Do I? I think you misunderstand me Quartermain – I merely do not wish to witness him fawning over a shallow girl."

"He loves you; and he is not the only one on board this vessel I think."

She sighed "Do not mock me please. Only one man loved me and he died; Erik thinks he does and for one moment, last night, I wanted to believe it too. As to this other, well they do not know me do they?"

"No, I think they do….Erik certainly does. I know enough of you to like you. You remind me of my last wife" he looked over at her and smiled….it didn't last long as he watched her.

A few moments later he sat down heavily "I see…..she never did that. Do the others know?"

"Only Mina and Edward, and by default Henry." She looked at the floor until he tilted her chin up.

"But you control it?"

"Yes, it is merely an extension of my temper. Maggie does not do it; she is not like me, thank God. She has more of her father in her, she's more forgiving than I – less prone to such rages; she also has the animals as a way of expressing her feelings. God help us all if she'd been like me with that sort of ability."

"But she knows of it?"

"Oh yes, though she's grown up with it so it bothers her not."

"You must tell him – he will not desert you, nor would the other...nor would I."

She smiled at him "thank you….you make me feel better; though I do not believe you."

"I have seen worse, and anyway you also remind me of my son. He had a fierce temper, though not like that, and a resolute loyalty that cost him dear in the end."

"He died……..Mr Sawyer told me. I'm sorry for your loss. It is harder when our children die before us, than our siblings or parents. It goes against the grain I think, to see our offspring die – it is not meant to be the way of things." She impulsively hugged him "I would not like to suffer such a loss, I would not survive it."

"You're stronger than you look."

"You're not the first to tell me that….Erik did also when I lived through a fever he said would've killed anyone else."

Quartermain tapped her chest "No, I meant in there." He turned and added quietly "you can always count on me lass, always" and went to leave.

Tears brooked and fell silently – he turned at the door, handle in hand sensing her distress; and strode back to hug her as she crumpled. "I do so hate tearful women; I never know what to do." He muttered awkwardly as she tried to smile.

0-0-0-0-0

When Quartermain came out an hour later, just as they were about to dock in Paris, he was a little pale "She's remarkable, boy – but her temper, never truly rouse it; you have no idea what you have there. I have persuaded her tell you, but I doubt it will be yet."

Erik stalked in without replying to the older man "Why confide in him and not me? Why could you not tell me what it is that bothers you so!" he raged.

"I care what you think of me Erik; if you hated me now..." she tailed off, taking a deep breath before continuing "Quartermain is not as passionate as you – he sees beyond the emotion. You do not….."

He stopped ranting and strode over to her, grasping her shoulders he ground out "Do you honestly believe there is anything about you that I would hate? I have murdered many Jane – I have committed acts of torture and I have driven souls to madness by merely existing……there is nothing about you that could revolt me…" he hauled her against him as she stood stiffly staring at him – her eyes hollow and pained, but despite his pleadings she would not relent and he began to wonder at the darkness in her that would drive her to such despair.

Still if she would not tell him, Quartermain might – or Maggie……she must know what haunted
her mother so.

"Alright, alright, I won't press the point; but know this Jane – I love you full as much as you do me. I wonder that any female could love this" he gestured to his face "but more, the man inside. I believe I am twisted in more ways than one…." She went to protest, but he pressed a soft kiss to still her "you can defend me all you wish – I know the truth of myself, but I love you for it all the same. I swear I will never leave you Jane, never."

"John promised the same." She sighed as she finally relaxed against him.

"John Greystoke was a good man – I am not, I am a selfish one. I have you now and will hold you; I wish to keep you with me, you and Maggie, and that means not leaving you... not dying."

She nodded and buried her head in his shoulder; he knew she was not convinced….just then there was a knock at the door "It is time once again to face the lunatics in the asylum." Nemo smiled as Erik opened the door.

"Ah but this time it is different – this time they trespass on my territory…...and they will pay!" he swept out with a flourish of his cloak.

Jane rolled her eyes and smiled "he did always love the dramatics."

"Are you well my dear?" The captain enquired, she was extremely pale and her eyes looked…..odd; red almost, like something was being held barely in check. Though he could see she had been crying so maybe that was it.

"Yes….I will be fine…." She flashed a tired smile "I worry only."

"About what?" Erik asked in concern, turning.

"If Matilda Moriarty has hurt any at the opera house, even the despised Carlotta….I….I fear what I will do….I fear so much what I will do."

Erik came "You should fear what we should both do…."

"No Erik…only I." he was about to ask why again, when Maggie approached.

"Why Carlotta mama, I thought you did not like her?" she asked with a smile as she came up with Henry and Mina. The vampire gave her friend a worried look, she knew the truth and was concerned but understood – God, if anyone understood it was she and the man beside her. Jane smiled back and mouthed "I am well enough" to both her friends – neither looked convinced.

"Because la Carlotta is my nemesis; she is a pathetic and shallow creature – but not deserving of death……..yet."

Erik smirked "I think that she would be little comforted by that remark."

Sawyer strode past them "Shall we?" he glanced at Jane in both concern and surprise "You alright?"

"Yes, why?"

"You're eyes are red…I mean really red."

Henry stepped in front of him as he went to peer more closely "Well, it has been an eventful day has it not?"

Mina too blocked his path with a small smile, Quartermain marvelled at their loyalty to their friend – but was grateful for it; Jane, like Mina, was a force to be reckoned with in her own right he now realised…….albeit a seriously dangerous one; possibly more so than the vampire.

As they went to Nemo's automobile, Erik looked at her and realised Sawyer was right – her eyes were red. Her irises were no longer that deep blue; but now black with flecks of red in them, that seemed to be growing and expanding. It bothered him greatly, yet he could not say for why….

A subdued Maggie took Quartermain's hand in hers, and looked at him seriously "You may not want to watch Mama with the bad people today Quartermain."

"Why's that little one?" He asked picking her up.

She put her arms round his neck and whispered in his ear "she'll gobble them up."