Chapter XXXII.

The Persian knew that he can't leave the children alone for a long time, but he also knew that he had to prevent a catastrophe to occur as fast as possible. Erik in this state of mind was the cruelest monster ever, and the Daroga could easily imagine he was capable of the most horrible of actions, even murder, most likely murder!. He knew he won't let Erik take the children's lives, as he was going to protect them even if his health will be taken… but at first he has to protect Monsieur Chagny and Christine… But what about the children…? He wanted to ask Mahtab, as she was the oldest in that family to take good care of the smaller family members until he arrives back, he knew it wasn't the best choice, but better than anything else he could have come up with in that desperate moment. There wasn't enough time for him to run home and get Darius here to watch the children, and to tell the truth, the poor servant was terrified of both Erik and the small girl as well. Mahtab was way more mature than her age, and maybe… maybe she will be able to take care of the smaller ones… but no matter where he ran in the house, he could only find the boys. Mahtab was gone as well!

- Mahtab! Mahtab! Where are you? – He searched her around frantically. – There is no time for hide and seek my dear, please come here! Tonton has something important to tell you!

- Maatab not here. – Flo shook his head and pointed towards the front door. – She out with Papa.

- What do you say? – The Persian knelt down to the small boy and with shaking hands he caressed his face. – My boy, did Mahtab follow Papa…?

- Yes she told me be good and she goes to Papa. Papa sad and she stays with Papa.

Oh, Allah, it was just what was making things even more complicated… why that small thing can't stay on her rear? What a troublesome kid! Just like her stupid father! Not only her face is such a mess as that moron's, but she is such a small troublemaker as well! He is starting to get fed up with this family! Allah, it will be HIM that kills that man in no time…

Praise the Lord he invented steam that powered steam engines that powered trains. Praise the industrial revolution for making the invention of trains possible. Praise the train for being slow and the schedule to be certainly unpredictable. If travelling from Paris to Perros - Guirec took much less time, Erik wouldn't have the time to cool off somewhat on the train, and it would have resulted in a disaster. Especially when he noticed he wasn't alone in the cabin. He was looking out of the window, huffing like a seal after the train departed, causing the window to steam up by his breath. In his mind he was plotting out what he was going to do once he gets that liar woman in his hands and what should happen to the boy, but… but what on Earth should happen to them, anyway? Kill them both? Yes, to be honest, this was the first thing that raced through his mind, killing both of them, and then… but how? He did not like to kill people, of course, he did not like to do so. He always regretted it later, no matter how hard he was trying to deny it even to himself. Memories of his murders haunted him sometimes both in sleep or awake. And killing someone as dear to him as Christine made him feel utterly desperate. He still did not really feel like he was able to do it. He used to be a murder machine back in Persia, but it sure was easier to kill someone he did not know. They told him to kill a "John Doe" and he did so. Easy with a random human, as he did not have to think through what the world will lose with them – and most likely, nothing. Average people were easy to replace as world population grows very fast. But Christine… Christine can't be replaced. She wasn't just a random liar and he loved her so much.., that is exactly why his heart was aching with anger, realizing she lied to him. She said no one would accompany him, and now there she goes with the little soldier and sure had a great time. And if she wanted to do so… what should he do about it? If Christine wanted to be with that boy, maybe that is his fault. He wasn't a loving and good husband to her enough. He should have tried harder. His anger slowly turned into self – loathing and bitterness, and some kind of apathy. And just as any person who feels frustrated and has no clue of what to do or how to solve his problem, he did the one possible reaction in this scenario- he slowly started crying. He did not cry out loud it was just some soft whining sound he made, and as he was occasionally gasping, only that gave away his crying.

Suddenly he felt something brushing his arm and he unintentionally tossed it away from himself, letting out a huge startled gasp. Self – defense was his first reaction, and only then he turned to the left to see what touched him. His eyes opened up in shock as he noticed his small child sitting next to him. Mahtab was examining him with a mixture of worry, pity and cluelessness.

- Do you not want me to touch you, Papa? – She asked with compassion.

- How… how in God's name are you in here? – Erik rubbed his eyes to see if he was just hallucinating his daughter's uncovered skull – face next to him on the seat, but no. She was there, in full reality.

- I followed Papa. – She sat closer.

- Why?

- Papa was mad and scared. I can't leave you when you need me. Is Papa still mad?

Now what to say to a five year- old sneaky child who, with her best intentions, followed him on a path that was both dangerous regarding her physical and mental health? She could have been caught and beaten again, without her mask, and he was a terrible father not even noticing the small girl constantly in his heels, as he was too busy plotting his shameful and disgusting revenge on Christine… and what this child could have seen if he didn't manage to calm down enough to finally put away the thought of a double murder? God… just to think of that possibility made his heart skip a beat with fear. Looks like it is his child who helps him regain his last bits of sanity, contrary to she doesn't understand a word about these issues? He reached out for the little deformed creature and sat her on his knees, then absently stroke some locks of blondish brown hair out of the child's forehead. How can such a small thing read in his emotions when a five year old can't really sense these nuances normally? What is so unique about this kid? She really seems to be a tiny adult with a free spirit, but a child's knowledge in some fields.

- No… Papa is getting better. – He replied some moments later, as he felt his body and soul both getting free of the fury he felt before. He was breathing slower and his heartbeat returned to the normal pace.

- What are we going to do, Papa? – She inquired.

Now what to answer, again? Should he really tell her about his nasty thoughts about her mother? Not the murder part, of course, but what should he say, why are they on that train, to begin with? Where are they going? Where are their life going? Oh, what was he thinking? Should they get off at the next stop and go home? But… Christine still did lie to him and he wanted to clear things up. He can't and should not act like nothing happened, and wait for his wife to return and continue this mini play she directed. No, he won't kill them, but they should pay for the lies… He wanted to trust Christine, but the fact she was with Raoul, made him jealous and wanted to clear things up. Does Christine love him still? Does she want to go with that man and leave him? Well, it would be the best if he just followed Christine and the boy around without their knowledge to spy on them, to listen what they have to say about this issue. But what about Mahtab? He can't tell her that Christine lied. She will hate her for that and he shouldn't destroy Christine's stateliness in front of the child. Mama should be pure and flawless to her children. Mama is perfect.

- We are going to visit your Grandfather's grave. – He answered after some pause.

- What is a grave, Papa? Mama said it too, but I did not dare to ask.

- It is a hole in the ground, which people dig to put dead people in there. After they fill in the hole and put a stone over it and write the person's name on it who lays there.

- What is a dead?

- Dead is someone who dies.

- What does it mean to die?

- It is… it means that a person closes their eyes for the last time. They go to sleep and never wake up again.

- And they don't eat?

- No.

- They don't sing and speak?

- No, they just sleep forever.

- Why?

- Because it is how life ends. You wake up when you are born and you go to sleep forever when you die.

- So Grandpa sleeps as well?

- Yes, he does now.

- And why should they be put in the ground? There is dark and cold there, no? Aren't they afraid?

- No, you can't be afraid when you sleep.

- But yes, you can. – Mahtab looked at Erik with knowing eyes. – You can hear people shouting you are a monster and it makes you afraid. I know it.

- Oh… dead people don't dream any more. – He shook his head sadly. He knew Mahtab sometimes still had nightmares about the train incident, but he would have never thought they affected her little soul so much. She seemed to be all right most of the time, and she never worded what she felt before. – Don't be afraid, my child. It gets better with time. – Yes, he lied. It never will. Wounds of the soul stay and haunt forever, but she is too young yet to know this.

- And why did Grandpa die?

- I think he had some lung problems. But ask Mama about it, she knows it better than I do.

- Papa…?

- Yes?

- When people die?

- You can never know. – Erik sighed. – Some people die early and some live long.

- And do they know when they die?

- No. No one knows when exactly they leave Earth.

- Will you die too, Papa? – Her voice gave away much worry.

- Yes. – Erik nodded. – Eventually everyone does. Papa as well.

- I don't want you to sleep forever. – Mahtab hugged Erik's chest and grabbed his shirtfront with those tiny skeletal fingers as she was afraid Papa will disappear right now if she doesn't hold him strong.

- Don't worry, Mahtab, Papa feels all right and he thinks he won't go anytime soon.

Yes, Erik knew well that he was an old man. He was afraid of having to leave his children alone, this thought bothered him sometimes. He was here, at the age of nearly 60, with 3 small children. Will he be able to assist them while growing up? What will happen to them without him…? Oh no… better not to think of anyone's death. To make Mahtab's mind get away from the thought of death, and his own to settle down after these waves of emotions he just had to get through, he asked:

- Mahtab, did I ever teach you this song? – He started singing Mozart's "Sehnsucht nach dem Frühling" while stroking the child's hair behind her ear.

"Komm, lieber Mai, und mache

die Bäume wieder grün,

und lass mir an dem Bache

die kleinen Veilchen blüh'n!

Wie möcht' ich doch so gerne

ein Veilchen wieder seh'n!

Ach, lieber Mai, wie gerne

einmal spazieren geh'n!

Zwar Wintertage haben

wohl auch der Freuden viel;

man kann im Schnee eins traben

und treibt manch' Abendspiel;

baut Häuserchen von Karten,

spielt Blindekuh und Pfand,

auch gibt's wohl Schlittenfahrten

aufs liebe freie Land.

Doch wenn die Vögel singen,

und wir dann froh und flink

auf grünem Rasen springen,

das ist ein ander Ding!

Jetzt muss mein Steckenpferdchen

dort in dem Winkel stehen,

denn draußen in dem Gärtchen

kann man vor Kot[Anm. 1] nicht geh'n.

Am meisten aber dauert

mich Lottchens Herzeleid.

Das arme Mädchen lauert

recht auf die Blumenzeit.

Umsonst hol' ich ihr Spielchen

zum Zeitvertreib herbei:

Sie sitzt in ihrem Stühlchen

wie's Hühnchen auf dem Ei.

Ach, wenn's doch erst gelinder

und grüner draußen wär'!

Komm, lieber Mai, wir Kinder,

wir bitten gar zu sehr!

O komm und bring' vor allem

uns viele Veilchen mit!

Bring' auch viel Nachtigallen

und schöne Kuckucks mit!"

- No, not yet. – She smiled. – Very nice song, Papa!

- This is one of my favorite songs by Mozart. – He sighed dreamily. – So positive. Do you think, my dear girl, how beautiful spring is? Everything is blooming and birds are singing… you know, animal babies are usually born in springtime. Oh, Mahtab, can you believe that I much preferred winter over spring some years before? Oh, how foolish I was… - He told this mini monologue rather to himself than Mahtab, as the girl didn't know a single word in German yet, neither in any other language.

- Why, Papa? Winter is very nice. You can build a snowman.

- True. – He let out a small laugh and patted the child's head.

The Daroga had no more time to lose. He lost enough already, running up and down like a madman to search for Mahtab. She could be in danger, and oh, Allah, what about Erik… where could he be? Well, Darius wasn't too happy when he left Florian and Noel at his apartment with him to take care of them until he returns, but he simply HAD to search for Erik and Mahtab. If Mahtab is missing and Erik finds out he lost her, he will be the very next person to be killed. He already felt those strong bony hands around his throat. How they could grip… one would never surmise such a strength coming from someone as skinny as Erik. He did not even know who to search for at first, but he also knew he had to get to Perros to warn the young Chagny and Christine about Erik's soon arrival and maybe to smack Erik's death head until he realized how idiot he can act. Of course, he missed the last train. How happy he was to that thought… He started asking the staff of the train station whether they had seen Erik getting on a train to Perros. He got a positive answer from one of the conductors, who even added he wasn't alone.

- A little… boy… was with him as well? – The Daroga asked with hope.

- Yes, he was around 6-7 years old and had blondish hair, but I have only seen him from behind.

- Oh… that's good to hear. – The Persian wiped his forehead. At least Erik and Mahtab were together and he was certain Erik won't really hurt his daughter even in his biggest fury. There was a special bond between them and he thought Erik loved Mahtab more than Christine, or if not more, than in another way.

At least he was calmer by this thought… maybe Mahtab will be good enough to calm Erik down?

The young friends spent the day together. They were walking by the sea and talking about their beautiful memories together from their childhood. There was no word about Erik, or any of Christine's current life – Raoul did not want to mention those unpleasant memories and make Christine remember she had the children and the monster waiting at home. He wanted her to forget about them for a while, that is why he wanted to take her there. He wanted to relive the sweet times with the girl he loved the most. He did not mean any harm with it.

He just wanted to forget the years he had been through since 1881. He wasn't the Raoul de Chagny he used to be. Of course, his personality traits still were there, but they were altered by the horrible happenings in the torture chanber, followed by the hint of a happy life with Christine he was longing for, and ruined by that nasty fight they had after he found out Count Philippe was dead… then the expedition and the unbearably cold weather, the shipwreck, the icy waters he fell into… the terrible illness that followed… and then the operation he had to survive to save at least his arm and his life. He will never forget the facial expression of the doctor, who leaned close to him and announced with sympathy: "Monsieur de Chagny, I am sorry but I will have to amputate some of your fingers". That sentence, he recalled, hit him like a thunder and the next thing he could see was his bandaged right hand, the white bandages slightly soaked with his blood at some spots, and he could still smell the horrible hospital – scent with iodone and various other potions.

He did just briefly tell Christine about these happenings earlier, and the girl had enough empathy not to indulge in the subject any more than necessary, so they both had about 10 years in their past that was hidden for those days in Perros. Carpe diem – live for today. This was their motto. Christine was just as beautiful as she used to be – maybe even more beautiful. Her eyes reflected happiness as she looked at him, they were just as clear blue as the sea, and this sea wasn't stormy as he saw the waves in his nightmares. Her laughter was ringing in his ears the same way as he recalled it in those desperate and alone times, which was how he tried to comfort himself back then. It couldn't be noticed that Christine gave birth to 3 children, she was still as fragile little thing as before. Raoul was wondering how her body was capable of handling those pregnancies and childbirths. What a selfish monster of a husband she had! Erik did not respect that tiny body at all. He just couldn't say no to his urges, causing Christine to be pregnant again and again. What a strong and amazing girl Christine is! She wasn't affected by the sick influences of the monster. She didn't turn pale and did not die, having to live with Erik for 10 years. 10 years! Who would think that monster lasts so long? If only he turned up his toes… he still was willing to marry this amazing girl, and correct the mistake he made 10 years back.

- Raoul, I am thankful for the nice day we spent together. – Christine smiled. – But I believe we should go to the cemetery to visit Papa's grave.

- I thought we would do it tomorrow. – Raoul looked at her in confusion. – It is already turning dark.

- I don't mind going there at night. – She shrugged.

- Maybe this is another bad influence caused by him. – Raoul frowned.

- Why do you say that? – Christine asked with a sudden change in her tone.

- Oh… nothing. As you wish, Christine, we should go and pay Papa a visit.

As evening slowly fell on Perros- Guirec, the couple arrived to the cemetery to silently light a candle and mourn their dear Papa Daaé.

- How much do we need to walk still? Why did you put this thing on my head? – a high – pitched whiny sound came from behind Erik's back, while he was trying to remember where that damned cemetery was. Mahtab tried to remove the black mask off of her head. It was too big for her and it drove her crazy. Yes, it was one of those black silk masks Erik used to wear when he was around Christine under the Opera. He always carried one in his pocket in case something happens to his human mask, so that he will have something to cover himself with. He knew it well that Mahtab's head was too small for it yet, but he did not have anything else with him to cover her face with, so he just put it on her.

- Mahtab, be quiet. – He sighed, being in not the best mood ever. It was already dark, but suddenly he was distracted not only by Mahtab's chitchat. He heard footsteps getting closer. As he heard it, there were not only two people getting nearer, but a whole crowd.

- Papa, what's happening?

- Ssssh! – Erik lifted up the child from the ground and hid in a quiet corner to watch what was coming their way.

Many people appeared on the corner of the street, with a coffin. Oh, just a funeral march… He was so scared for a moment that he will have to protect his daughter from a catastrophe. With a relieved sigh, he hugged Mahtab closer to his chest and whispered in her ear.

- Be very quiet. This is a crowd of mourners. They go to the cemetery. We follow them so we go there as well.

- And what is in the box? – She asked with interest.

- It isn't a box, it is a coffin. I told you they take dead people to the cemetery.

- There is someone in the box? – She gasped.

- Yes, the person who died, they are in the coffin.

- Then why was a box like this under the Opera?

- Mahtab… shut your tiny face please, you should not talk among mourners. Give respect to the dead.

Erik did not want to answer Mahtab's question about his coffin bed, as he found that very awkward, looking back at it. They followed the crowd slowly, just as they were mourners too, and Erik just hoped Mahtab will finally remain silent. Of course, she had to talk again.

- Papa, the last two dead people in the group are talking! I saw it.

Erik let out a small irritated sigh, and reached into his pocket to search for some candy for Mahtab to suck on and finally make her quiet for a time. He was ashamed to admit, but he did put a piece of candy in the child's mouth from time to time while they were walking somewhere and he wanted some minutes of silence. Finally he was able to follow the mourners in peace with the girl being occupied by enjoying her sweet treat.

Raoul watched Christine kneeling at Papa Daaé's grave, even though it was a chilly evening in the spring, she did not move for a long time. About halfway of their visit, a group of mourners arrived to the cemetery to bury a dead person, but they were at the other end of the cemetery, so it did not bother them too much. Raoul stood there, behind Christine's back, holding his hat in front of him, silently wondering about how much he loved that dear old man as well. He was the closest person to him who wasn't a family member, and he even had to admit there were parts of his family he did not like and respect as much as he did the good old violinist.

The poor old man… it must hurt to watch his dear daughter from Heavens, suffering so much and marrying, and living with a monster. What he would say if he knew about his grandchild that looks like a small rotten corpse?

- It is not a nice thing to say. – Christine turned back to Raoul suddenly, with a hurt look on her face. – Especially not at his grave.

- I am sorry. – He apologized, not realizing he had spoken out his thoughts. – But… really Christine… do you not think sometimes about what he would say about… Erik?

- Erik…? – a soft whisper seemed to come from near, reminding Raoul of the evening at the rooftop of the Opera.

- Did you hear that? – He turned to Christine, turning pale.

- No. I heard nothing, only your mean words about my husband.

- I did not mean to hurt your feelings, but he… can't be the one poor Papa wanted you to marry!

- Oh… - another soft whisper…

- Erik, where are you? – Raoul turned around angrily.

- Raoul… stop it. – Christine lowered her head as she looked more and more hurt. – Why do you have to mock me? Do I really deserve this?

- Do I really deserve this…? – The voice repeated, but it wasn't any louder than the wind.

- He is here Christine! He is here and HE mocks you, not me!

Christine collected her strength, slowly standing up from a kneeling position, dried her eyes red from crying, walked closer to Raoul and looked him in the eye very closely before giving the man an enormous slap in the face.