The Crystal Rainbow

An Alternate Universe – Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

© 2007

DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the rights nor did I create any characters found in The Phantom of the Opera or Phantom, nor have I received monetary compensation for writing this story.

To travel the world is a pleasure sublime
when the treasure of homecoming is certain in time.

A Fool's Book of Wisdom

Chapter Fourteen – Homecoming

"You shall find neither peace nor forgiveness, Crone. Not unless you make your confession to the little one."

"Hush, Diamanté! Why do you think I say these things to the child? Confession is exactly what I intend to do. I only need you to remain silent long enough for me to do so."

"Very well. Please, proceed."

Helen opened her mouth to begin her confession, but a knock on the compartment's sliding door interrupted her. Before anyone could respond to the rap, the door slid open and a tall, rather effeminate man with a thin, black mustache stuck his head through the opening.

"Next stop, Paris! Ten minutes! Last stop!" He announced succinctly and without another word or waiting for a response, he withdrew and slid the door closed with a soft thud.

"Damnez-le! I guess the fates wish to draw this out for as long as possible. Hmmm …. Christine, do you intend to accept my invitation and stay in my home?"

Helen bit back a smirk, as she saw the young woman's grip on Erik's hand tighten and her eyes locked onto his. He cocked his head and gave her a hopeful nod, which caused a relieved smile to settle across her lips.

"If you are still willing to have me and it will not cause you any inconvenience, I would very much like to stay with Erik and you."

Helen finally surrendered to her overwhelming urge and smirked at the young woman.

"Christine, please, rest assured that your presence in my home is not inconvenient. Erik and I are pleased to have you as a guest for as long as you wish. Is that not true, Erik?"

Erik's face turned a deep crimson and he nodded his assent, while at the same time he maintained a grip on her hand that looked almost painful. Christine, however, did not seem to mind his touch, but rather, leaned into him and smiled demurely.

"Oh! This should prove most interesting. These two will make me wish that chastity belts were still readily available. Perhaps, they still have such things in Persia. I should ask Nadir to get one for Christine and he can bring it with him along with Edgar. No, that will take too long and by the time he arrives, we will be christening their babe. Well, it seems that I must pay the apothecary a visit and purchase some Monk's Pepper. Hopefully, that will cool the boy down long enough for me to impress upon the two of them the dangers of passing certain boundaries. Ah, hell! The two of them are almost past the point of no return right now! How can I demand that they wait? Neither of them has ever known real love … well, ever. I wish it did not matter, but …."

For the first time in their long relationship, Helen heard Diamanté's voice sound quietly and gently within her head.

"The girl cannot hear us, so do not protest. Do not worry for the children, old one. We will watch over both of them. Nothing untoward shall happen to either the girl or her mate. Do not meddle with the boy. Together we shall make a trip to the apothecary unnecessary. They may be young, but they are not stupid. You just need to tell them why they must wait. I am certain the boy cares enough for the girl that he will reign in his desires for a time. Perhaps, I have been wrong about you. It seems that you are not entirely worthless. Perhaps, it is I, who forgot that where there is life, there is hope. At our parting of the ways, I may owe you an apology. I just may …. Hmmm …. Interesting …. It is not often that I am surprised, but I find it a welcome change, Helen."

Helen's mind reeled as a wave of pleasant shock rolled through her tired, old body.

"She called me by my name. She has never done that before. Christine, my child, it seems that you transform all those around you for the better. You bring love to Erik, peace to Diamanté and to me you give me hope again."

Helen smiled broadly and snatched her brilliantly colored carpet bag from the overhead luggage storage. She turned to her two dazed and besotted companions.

"So, it is settled. Come! Let us begin the final leg of our journey home."

◊ ○ ◊ ○ ◊

The companions made the trek from the train station to Helen's cottage in a comfortable silence. Erik and Christine murmured quietly to one another. Occasionally, Helen caught the two of them stealing a kiss or one-armed embrace, but for the most part, the only sounds came from the gentle swaying of the trees in the breeze, the birds scolding the humans for being too near their nests or the small woodland creatures scampering to hide from the thundering feet of the giants invading their domain.

The day had been bright and warm for an early spring day, but as the sun began to set, the breeze became chilly and the three found it necessary to don their cloaks. Soon, the hoods on their cloaks became an indispensible part of their attire. The formal layout of the woods soon thickened into a true forest and the path narrowed. Christine paused for a moment and lifted her head, a look of intense concentration on her lovely face.

"I hear music. Do I not? How can I hear music here … in the middle of nowhere?"

She bit her lip and her eyes narrowed as if she worried over the state of her sanity.

Erik chuckled softly and pulled her against him. He nuzzled his lips against the side of her neck and whispered.

"Indeed, ma chéri. You hear the music of the night."

As he caught her look of confused skepticism, he smirked.

"Very well … I will not tease you. There is a brook, which runs nearby here. Tomorrow I shall show you how it creates the music. Helen and I find that it keeps the more superstitious of our neighbors away from our home. And, we enjoy hearing its ever-changing melody. I believe that our adaptation of Water Music is much nicer than George Frideric Handel's version. What do you think ma amour?"

She returned his teasing tone with her own witty response.

"Actually, mon ange, I believe that together our music of the night would be the sweetest rendition of all."

Shock and desire raced through Erik's tall form and he choked on his indrawn breath. Christine blushed furiously as she patted him on his back and Helen roared with laughter.

"I do believe the two of you shall prove more entertaining to live with than any romantic comedy I could ever hope to see on the stage in Paris. I only hope we all survive the experience. Really, Christine, if you want the boy, you should try not to kill him before you are ready to wed and bed him." Helen teased unmercifully. "Well, Erik, if you can catch your breath and walk without choking again, we should be home in less than five minutes as the cottage is just around the next bend."

Christine twirled about merrily and backed away from Erik. She leaned forward and taunted.

"Are you up to a challenge, Monsieur? Last one to the cottage must gather wood for the fire!"

And, with a peal of laughter, she turned and her lithe form nimbly sprinted down the path. Her slender shape briefly brought the image of a fleet gazelle to Helen's mind, but she lost sight of the young woman as Erik leapt after her. Helen could not help but join in Christine's laughter at the spectacle the two young people made and she slowly began to walk towards her home, chuckling quietly to herself all the way.

◊ ○ ◊ ○ ◊

"Really, Christine! Just because I knew there is a shortcut through the wood and took it, does not mean that I cheated. You never said that I had to stick to the path! I won, so you must gather wood for the fire. Is that not so, Helen? Fair is fair, right?"

The old woman chuckled as she shook her head.

"And, to think that I despaired for never having children of my own, only to find myself with two tempestuous ones this late in life. The fates have a strange sense of humor, but I have never felt as content as I do now. I only hope that I am a worthy teacher for the girl and can guide her into the legacy safely. No! Stupid Helen! Do not hope! You have no choice. You must be worthy of the girl or what is the point to your thus far worthless life? For once in your life, Helen, do more than is required and do what is right for someone other than yourself. Do what is right for Christine, and, Erik, too. That is the only course open to you. That is why you still draw breath on this accursed earth. And, tonight, you take the first step by making your confession to her … to them both."

"Helen?"

Startled by the gentle hand that rested upon her shoulder, Helen looked into the golden-hued eyes, which stared at her with concern.

"What is it? Are you feeling ill?"

She shook her head and met his eyes.

"I am well. I became lost in my thoughts. Now, I do not care which of you fetches firewood, but whichever of you stays here with me, I need you to help me in the kitchen. So, children, I leave you to your bickering. I shall be waiting for one of you in the kitchen."

She turned and walked into the kitchen, pausing only for a moment to conjure a small flicker of flame, which danced about the room as it ignited the wicks of the room's several oil lamps. Her fingers quickly moved to the laces of her cloak and tugged, releasing the bow. With a small shrug of her shoulders, the cloak lifted from her and danced across the room to land on the hook next to the back door.

"Very nicely done, Helen, but what if Christine walked in here and saw what you just did and not me? I understand that you told her you are capable of magic, but actually seeing it happen is quite another thing. Do you not think?" He chuckled. "Well, luckily for you it is only me. Shall we see what we have here that would make a suitable meal?"

Her eyes narrowed at the sound of his chuckling voice, but softened at the realization of the truth his words held. She placed her hands to the crook of her back, stretched and gave a long, tired sigh.

"As always, garçon, you are correct. I need to use care so I will not frighten the girl away. I am not used to the necessity of restraining myself here, but I thank you for the reminder …. Is she outside?"

Now, it was the young man's turn to sigh deeply.

"Yes, she said that she would rather collect firewood than work in the kitchen. She said that her culinary skills are sadly lacking."

Helen patted Erik's forearm.

"Do not worry, garçon, she will return soon. Now, let us busy ourselves and prepare a proper meal that will show Christine how welcome she is in our home!"

◊ ○ ◊ ○ ◊

The young woman stepped lightly through the forest floor, deftly avoiding the clutching brambles of the bushes. She held a light wicker basket over her arm, which she rapidly filled with the plentiful deadfall. All the while, she kept an eye on the warm glow of light, which she knew was Helen's cottage.

"The last thing I need is to get lost in the forest. It is much too cold to wander around lost, not to mention that Erik would tease me unmercifully about it and I do not wish to cause Helen any undue worry. That Diamanté! What a bitch! Oh! Look! That is a likely piece and that one too. I only need one or two more and the basket is full. Oh, Merde! The breeze chills me to the bone!"

She leaned to pick up a chunk of rotted tree trunk and froze.

"Christine! Christine! Chris … tine …."

The deep masculine voice called gently to her, the sound floating to her ears on the breeze much like a lover's gentle caress.

"Erik?"

Her voice was little more than a frightened whisper, as she knew it was not the voice of her masked love.

A rich bass chuckle rolled through the air, sending a chill up Christine's spine and the hairs on her arms to stand at attention.

"Who … who is there?"

She winced as her voice gave evidence of her fear.

"Christine …. Christine …. Chris … tine …."

And, then she felt hands clutch at her waist and begin to tickle her. Relief swept through her.

"Erik! You gave me such a …."

As she turned to scold Erik, the grin on her face froze and her eyes widened in terror.

"No!"

Her piercing scream penetrated every nook, crevice and hollow of the forest. Then, her eyes rolled up, leaving only the whites visible and she slumped to the ground as the extremely tall, extremely male form continued to tickle her twitching body. A ruddy face glanced up toward the moon and the pale light glistened off a set of large teeth. The moss green eyes closed and he sang in a voice like a sibilant sigh.

"Christine …. Christine …. Chris … tine …."