Chapter 2: Karma's A Phantom's Game
Erik lead Clara through the various secret corridors that were shrouded in darkness and shadow, he felt the grip of Clara's arm tighten around his own as she clung to his side,
"I can't see a thing" Clara murmured, the phantom could hear her anxiety and uncertainty in her tone but he smiled, a warmth filled him due to being humbled that she trusted him to lead her through the darkness that caused her such unease,
"Fear not, My lady for I shall be your eyes" he told her with a gentle reassuring tone as he lead her around a corner that finally offered some illumination that grew with each step as they approached a window through which Clara was able to see her aunt's room... She watched as her masked protector slide a security bolt open before moving the window to the side causing it to vanish among the stone bricks of the secret corridor... Erik then stood aside politely, allowing Clara to enter the room first.
Clara held her injured wrist close to her in a careful manner as she turned to watch Erik follow her into her aunt's room before sliding the 'Window' back in place but Clara was amazed to find that from this side of the wall, the window appeared as a mirror that cast only reflections of herself, Erik and the room in which they now stood... Erik caught her expression and developed a smug smirk,
"... I was once a magician in Persia. Mirrors were one of my many tools in which I would create illusions and enchantment" he explained as Clara approached the mirror and placed her uninjured hand against the reflective glass as she searched it with her eyes as if trying to work out how it worked,
"How... How is this possible?... Surely it can't be possible... A mirror is just a mirror and a window is just a window..." Clara murmured in awe, developing a smile due to her amazement and Erik found himself glancing at his masked reflection and he soon frowned,
"... Well the mirrors I make are liars" he grumbled, turning away but instantly earned Clara's curiosity,
"Why would you want to create a mirror that lies?" she pressed gently with a confused frown,
"... The reflection of a normal mirror reflects only the truth... I yearn for the day that I will be able to create a mirror that..." He tried but sighed, turning back to look at Clara before glancing at his reflection once again,
"... But it seems that no matter how much magic I use within my mirrors... It refuses to offer me a sweet lie and still offers me the sight of the painful truth" he murmured and Clara turned to look at the mirror so that she could see the reflection of Erik's masked face that wore a sorrowful expression... She looked back towards the masked man gently,
"... A mirror can only show what's outside. It seems poetic that your mirrors offer a deeper meaning that there is so much more hidden within the reflection it casts" Clara stated gently, Earning Erik's surprise but the moment was interrupted when Madame Giry entered the room and instantly jumped out of her skin at the sight of Clara and Erik,
"In the name of..." she grumbled before sighing in relief and instantly looked at Erik unimpressed,
"How many times must I ask you to not use your phantom corridors to sneak up on me?" she demanded in a scolding tone but it caused Erik to smile his bright charming smile,
"Oh but it's just so much fun, Antoinette and can you blame me for wanting to see a wonderful woman such as yourself?" Erik replied with teasingly mock filled tone that made the ballet mistress grumble but she looked towards Clara and frowned at the sight of how she was holding her injured wrist that had begun to bruise,
"Clara?... What happened?" she asked with a concern filled tone, approaching her niece whom allowed her to take hold of her wrist in a careful hand but still Clara winced,
"I broke it after being pushed down a staircase" Clara explained causing her Aunt's eyes to go wide in horror,
"WHAT?!" she demanded, whirling around to face Erik and instantly grabbed a broom, launching at the phantom whose's eyes widened and he rushed to hide behind Clara whom instantly held up her uninjured hand protectively,
"Whoa! No! Auntie, it wasn't him" Clara insisted, Erik poked his head out from behind her,
"Yes listen to your niece. Wasn't me" he confirmed, Clara nodding and watched as the ballet mistress eyed Erik suspiciously but slowly lowered her broom and Clara sighed in relief,
"Is it any wonder I hold no doubt that your aunt could win a war with only a broom in her hand?" Erik grumbled to Clara instantly shutting his mouth when Antoinette glared at him in warning,
"... Sorelli tricked me. Made me think she was trying to help me and she pushed me down the stairs to the underground and locked me down there. If it hadn't been for Mr Destler then I would never have found my way here" Clara explained gently and Antoinette instantly began muttering various curses in French and Erik placed his black leather gloved hands against Clara's ears as he put on a mocking horrified expression,
"Madame please. There is a lady present" he teased but held up his hands in surrender when the ballet mistress pointed the broom in his direction and Clara couldn't help but giggle in amusement,
"Fear not, Antoinette. As a gentlemen I saw fit to see the damsel in distress safely back to the realm of light and to your care. It shall be as the phantom that I make certain that the ballet rat receive a well earned price of karma for her monstrous actions towards your niece" Erik assured,
"Make sure you do" Madame Giry said firmly,
"No" Clara insisted causing both Erik and Antoinette to look at her surprised,
"Clara..." Antoinette tried,
"I don't want to give her the satisfaction" Clara stated before looking at Erik,
"My wrist will heal and the fact that she will see that her actions have not phased me will be punishment enough for someone like her" she reasoned and Erik sighed but nodded,
"... As you wish, my lady" he agreed, prompting Clara to smile gently,
"Thank you..." she told him before looking to her aunt,
"I shall go and see the opera's physician so he can bandage and splint my arm" she informed her, her aunt nodding and giving her a careful hug before watched her niece leave the room and closed the door behind her,
"... So..." Erik murmured after a couple of moments,
"... Rats or cockroaches in Sorelli's bed?" he asked,
"Both" Antoinette stated firmly and Erik could only chuckle with a smug, mischievous smile on his masked face.
It had been the next day when Clara saw Sorelli fleeing from the dormitories in terror,
"what on earth..." she mumbled just as Christine and Meg exited the dormitories whilst trying to hold back their laughter and expressions of amusement,
"Someone put rats and cockroaches in her bed" Meg explained with a giggle that Christine soon matched and Clara couldn't help but shake her head as Christine and Meg made their way off to inform Madame Giry but it was only a moment later that an origami folded rose drifted down from the rafters and landed on Clara's shoulder... She turned the folded bloom over only to find a small message written on the back,
'It would seem that The Phantom has taken a shining to you, Miss Du Bois. Erik'
The message had read and Clara couldn't help the gentle smile on her face as she shook her head in amusement.
Review For Chapter 3!
Kind Regards,
QueenOfDisney96