I know that there was a little disappointment over the fact that I did not have the bride and groom express their thoughts. I thought about them exchanging vows, but I am trying to keep this authentically 19th Century and I am not sure that it was done during that time. Instead I will have them toast one another. Next week when I am home from Florida you will receive updates sooner. I am still retro-editing earlier chapters, and have a volunteer proofreader, judybear236. I will not be making corrections this week because I would rather update with the small amount of time that I have due to my vacation. I spoiled all of you with my 2 update per day schedule before my vacation.

Chapter 53

Erik surveyed the table and realized that he had never dined with as many people in his life. Better yet, most of the people present actually cared about him and did not think of him as a freak, or a monster. Perhaps, for some present, this was a small group, but not for him. He looked across the table at his "living bride" and could not contain his happiness. She was the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen, and she was his. He smiled at his wife across the table, his eyes contained a tender promise that he would love her, and take care of her, forever.

He decided to make a toast and lifted a goblet in praise of her. "To our family and friends, I wanted to thank you all for being here for us today. You are each special to us in your own way."

He looked at Christine and continued "To my lovely bride, Christine, you came to the Opera as a small lonely child. A solitary, bitter, and broken young man heard your sorrow, and understood your loneliness. He saw you as a kindred spirit, and wanted to take you in his arms, and wipe away your tears. He heard you ask for an angel, and while he was far from that, he heard your innocent and heavenly voice and wanted to help you fulfill your dream of becoming a great diva. He began to teach you how to free your voice, and let it soar, so that the angels in heaven could hear you sing. In turn, you made his song take flight to places that he could not dare to take them. One day he realized, that the child that he had befriended, had become a beautiful woman. He fell in love with you. While he did not dare to hope, that you could see past his loathsome face, into his lonely soul, you did, and you saved your angel from hell, and brought him with you to heaven.

He wiped a tear from his face. Christine, I love you, I promise that I will spend the rest of my life trying to be worthy of you, and the love that you bestowed upon me."

Christine wiped the tears from her eyes, as she listened to Erik's impassioned toast. She lifted her own glass and told him "Erik, it is I who is unworthy of your love. When my father lay dying he promised to send me an angel of music. After he died, I came to live at the Opera and I never felt so alone and unloved. I was far from my home in Sweden, and frightened for my future. You heard my pain and sorrow and comforted me. Your voice was so ethereal that I believed that you must have been the angel that my father promised me. I know that you do not believe this, but I am more convinced than ever that you are. I used to pray that my angel could be a real man. One day my dream came true, and you revealed yourself to me. I am sorry that I did not always believe in you, and that I denied my own feelings for you. But then I kissed you, and I knew that, when I denied and betrayed you, I was destroying myself, because we are two halves of the same soul.I cannot survive without you, and I do not ever want to be parted from you again. I love you with all my heart; you are my angel, now and forever."

The group all toasted the new bride and groom, not an eye was dry in the room knowing the adversity that preceded this event.

Only the children were unaware, little Erik looked at his uncle and asked him "Would you show us some magic? Please."

That request broke the seriousness of the event and everyone laughed. The party adjourned to the drawing room where Erik spent the next half hour showing them some of his tricks. Everyone was amazed at Erik's talent. After a while Jean Paul came up to Erik and told him that he needed to leave to get the children to bed. Erik clasped his hand and thanked him for coming. He told Jean Paul that he would be ready for the surgery soon, but had a few matters to settle before going under the knife. Erik did not want to be rendered helpless with a homicidal maniac nearby. At the moment, Philippe cast a shadow over everything. He and Christine said goodbye to Jean Paul, Dominique, and the children; Nadir went home with them as the Giry's were given Erik's old room to stay. Erik noticed that Honore was trying to catch his eye. He came over to her, and Georges and they asked to speak with him in private. He led them into the study.

Erik frowned in concern as he faced the Comte and Comtesse de Brecy. "I can sense that some matter is weighing on you, what is going on?"

Georges spoke first "We did not want to concern you on your wedding day but Michel has disappeared."

Erik's melodious voice raised in alarm "What!"

Georges swallowed "When he came back the other night Philippe was asking him questions about you and naturally he told them nothing. He told them only that he took you to the inn near the train station just as you told him to do."

He paused and looked at Erik's guilt ridden face. "Philippe was not satisfied but did not dare go further. Raoul was there, and he tries to hide his true face, in front of him. He did not question Michel further, but this morning Michel was missing. Sabine told us that he had gone to check on our carriage and never returned."

Erik exclaimed "What have you done to find him? Why didn't you come and get me? I would have postponed the wedding, this is more important."

Honore laid a hand on Erik's arm and gazed up at him smiling "Your reaction is why Erik. Robert, Georges and Raoul have looked for him extensively; we also brought in the gendarmes. There is nothing that you could have done."

Erik felt a dark rage fill him "But it is my fault that he is missing. I should have taken care of Philippe and Luc Benoit already and not cowered here, in this house."

Honore replied calmly "No Erik, this is not your fault at all. Michel has been involved in this for a long time, a lot longer than you have. Georges and I, as well; Michel helped you by choice. He knew all of the risks and was glad to help you. We all are."

What she told him barely registered through the black anger that consumed him. Erik was ready to storm out; Georges pulled out his revolver and aimed it at Erik's leg. Erik glared at him darkly, the Phantom was in command.

"What are you doing Comte? Do you think that you can stop me from going after De Chagny? I will end this for all of us." He warned.

Honore gripped Erik with all of her might. He looked down on her hand and was ready to push her back.

She told him firmly "You will not, Erik, you are not alone in this matter, we will deal with Philippe together but not your way. We will not watch you throw your life away trying to stop Philippe."

He paused and looked at her his green eyes still blazing.

She stared at him firmly her blue eyes as firm as he had ever seen. Georges too stood firmly cocking his revolver.

The General spoke calmly, as if addressing a subordinate. "I will shoot you, Erik for your own good. I will not kill you but you will be disabled."

Honore pled "We did not come today to your wedding to watch you throw your life away like this. You are an intelligent man, not a savage beast. Do you want to prove all the ignorant people who harmed you in the past right? Let go of your anger. You will not help Michel this way."

Erik swallowed and the black anger ebbed from his eyes. Honore and Georges looked at each other in relief as they could see a look of sanity return to Erik's eyes.

Erik smiled at Georges for the first time "Are you really going to shoot me with that gun General?"

Georges held firm "If you continue to act rashly I will."

Erik threw up his hands in mock surrender. "You win General, I will listen to you."

Georges still was wary of him, a man as intelligent as Erik was capable of deception. He kept his gun on the younger man.

"Son." He said. "I have not known you for long but I know that you are a gentleman at heart no matter what you have done. I have seen many a young officer go into battle and get his entire squad killed because he let his emotions get the best of him. I was in Sevastopol in the 50's, and was a young commander, in my arrogance; I caused many good young men to die a senseless death."

He looked at Erik and smiled. "As a reward for my so-called valor I received a Croix de Guerre, and a promotion. The Emperor himself called me a hero of France. I call myself a young fool, I did get through the Russian lines, with three of my compatriots, but the cost was horrific. To this day, I am still ashamed of my actions, promotion or not. I was in charge of their lives and I got them killed. You are a lot like I was, your intentions are good and your heart is in the right place, but you go about getting what you want without using the brains that the Good Lord gave to you. As far as I can see, he was very generous with you when he gave them to you, use them wisely."

Georges could see that Erik had listened to him; he lowered the gun and put it back in his holster. Erik looked at the old General, and wondered what it would have been like for him to have a father such as him. Perhaps his life might have been better, despite his abhorrent face. He was glad that the General was on his side, he would make a formidable opponent.

"Did you search the whole estate? What about 'Guy's suite'? I had a taste of Philippe's hospitality in that room the other night. I don't think that Luc Benoit appreciated Michel's interference in his plans for me." Erik observed wryly.

Georges replied "So I heard, I am glad that Michel was able to rescue you on time."

Erik looked at him intensely "Which is why I feel a special obligation to help him. Philippe was quite angry at me when I resisted his capture of me. When I struggled against him, I bloodied his precious face. He decided to make me "pay", for drawing his noble blood by, "giving me symmetry." Erik seethed.

Georges clapped him on the shoulders "He shall pay for his crimes, son, but not by you sacrificing your life. We have searched the area but unfortunately, it is still Philippe's property, and he had some time before we noticed Michel missing. We can only hope that Philippe did not harm him, but if he chose to, he is probably already dead."

Erik paced like a caged tiger, he looked at them "This man has hurt too many people, you and the Comtesse need to get out of there and return to your own home before he hurts you."

Honore challenged "He wouldn't dare. It is one thing to harm dancers, maids and servants. It's another to go after people of our status. We are safe from him."

Erik looked at her with worry. "Accidents can happen to anyone no matter what their status is. Your stepson is a clever man. If he were to decide that you were a threat to him he would not hesitate to neutralize you."

She looked at him "I am sorry but I am not going to leave just yet. Not until we know Michel's fate, I know that you oppose it, but perhaps it is time to set a trap for him."

Erik objected "I will not put an innocent's life at risk. We must find a way to stop him without taking such risks. Let me sneak into the Chateau and end both his and Benoit's reign of terror. I promise that they will be my last killings."

Both objected "No Erik, we will not let you take that responsibility on yourself." Honore insisted. "Enjoy your new bride, tonight, and we will think of something. Promise us that you will forget about this for tonight."

Erik nodded "I promise."

Honore smiled "Good, we will talk soon. It is time for us to go." She looked at him and squeezed his hand "Remember Erik, you are not alone in this. We care about you."

Erik looked at them both and saw their true concern and sincerity. "Thank you, you have no idea how much that means to me." He said.

The Comtesse replied "On the contrary we do. We know that you have suffered greatly in your life and do not trust humanity, but we hope to prove, to you, that not everyone will judge you by your face, if they do, then it is their loss not yours."

The Comte and Comtesse took their leave promising to get word to Erik as soon as they learned something about Michel. Erik still felt uneasy about doing nothing, for the moment, but after all it was his wedding night and he looked forward to consummating his marriage to Christine.