Phantom Resurrected Chapter 15

A/N: And now comes the part in the story where we get down to the nitty gritty and become more graphic. A safe warning, if you don't like the whole "Erik and murderer" concept, then steer clear.

Christine sat beside her vanity in her dressing room, as Erik's anger started to rise. She glanced up as he took the piece of paper, the dreaded note he had received that morning in Box Five, and began to crush it within his grasp.

"Erik, don't." she pleaded. Standing up, she gently gripped his tense forearm, trying to have him relax. His flashing eyes looked down on her before he let the crumpled paper hit the floor. On her way, to pick it up, she noticed he had made a fist so tightly he had bruised his palms with his own fingers. He sulked to a nearby chair and plopped down. Sweat dripped from his temples as he sat brooding. Christine unfolded the note to look at it one more time.

Destler,
If you ever want to see your daughter alive again, you will come to the opera stage alone at midnight and turn yourself in. The bounty on your head is still very high. Is it worth enough to save her life?

The note was hand written and not signed. "Do you think the police could have sent this?" she asked. He shook his head furiously.

"No, it couldn't be. Besides the Metropolitan are probably the bastard who put up the reward money, no gain for them if some officer turned me in. No this is some one planning on revenge." Erik said in a calculating manner.

Christine rested her hands on his shoulders, rubbing the tension out of them. "Well, who in the world could connect Desiree to you? No one even knows that you are alive."

Erik leaned forward in the chair in concentration. "It could be that one managers, Danvers."

Christine stopped in shock. "Jacob Danvers? No he couldn't."

"He's had a lot of contact with Desiree. Perhaps she let something slip." Erik tried to reason, but Christine refused to believe him.

"Jacob couldn't do this, Erik. He's a kind person who had been good to me and Desiree. He probably just as clueless as we." she stated

Erik sighed running a hand through his long hair. "Perhaps you are right. But I wish." he swallowed back a lump in his throat.

Christine saw him reach a hand to cover his face, trembling as if he were afraid or perhaps ashamed. "If only I had told Desiree the truth before none of this would have happen."

There was a loud knock on the door interrupting them, followed by a shout. "Ms. Day, please its me Jacob, I mean Mr. Danvers. I need to speak to you. It's quiet urgent." Christine glanced at Erik.

"Perfect timing." He muttered. "Let him in." She opened the door to be almost knocked over by the frazzled bumbling Jacob. He didn't see Erik at first and started talking quickly.

"Christine, I mean Ms. Day. I received this shocking letter today from Matthews accusing me of kidnapping Desiree, your niece. Did you even know she was missing? Matthews said in the letter that you told him it was me. The police are coming and." he suddenly stopped and noticed the dark figure of Erik sitting in the chair. "You!" he hissed pointing a finger towards him.

"At your service again, Mr. Danvers." Erik replied coyly nodding his head.

"You are behind this whole thing, admit it!" Jacob shouted. "Who are you really?"

"I'm Erik Destler, Desiree's father."

"And the infamous Phantom? The London Skinner?"

Erik rose to his feet. "One in the same."

Sensing the aggression between the two men, Christine stepped in, pushing Jacob and Erik gently away from each other.

"Please settle down both of you. Jacob, I never told Matthews anything like that. Desiree is missing and..." She looked at the note in her hand. "We found this today" Holding out to Jacob, Erik snatched it away before the young manager could see it.

"Damnit, you just can't tell him everything Christine." He muttered. Christine looked at him shocked. Jacob's lips curled into a slight sneer.

"What is the matter, sir? Do you not trust me?"

Erik glowered at him, his brows knit tightly. "I trust no one. It's what's kept me alive for so long boy." Christine ignored him and started to address Jacob again.

"Desiree was kidnapped. This ransom note, the person who did this wants Erik to turn himself in at midnight." She explained.

"Jacob do you think this could be Matthews' doing?"

He shook his head. "Matthews that idiot. He could hardly keep his boots laced up; he could never pull off this, at least not by himself." He focused his gazed on Erik. "Perhaps you should do what the letter says, sir and turn yourself in!" Both Erik and

Christine gave him a puzzled look. "It's simple; use him as a distraction, while I free Desiree."

Erik couldn't restrain the chuckled that burst from his throat. "Dear God, are you planning to add 'hero' to your list of small attributes." He said laughing. "Don't be stupid, I can do this one solo." He moved to gather his cloak and hat, but Jacob stepped in front of him.

"I'm going to help here. You sir would be wise to accept my assistance if you care for Desiree at all." He challenged boldly. Erik snapped and let a fist go fly across the small vanity table, sending perfumes and combs fly across the room or crashing to the floor. Christine covered her face to avoid the wreckage and even Jacob lost his sturdy composure. Erik raised his hand as if Jacob where going to be his next target. He hissed through clenched teeth.

"How dare you! Desiree is my only child, how dare you say I don't care for her!" There was a long pause as Jacob slowly adjusted his eyes. Speaking slowly he whispered.

"I'm sorry, but do not accuse me of the same crime either." He finally gathered the courage to look Erik straight in the eye. "I love your daughter, Mr. Destler. Let me help you fight for her freedom."

Erik lowered his hand and took a step back. He gave a slow nod and said nothing more, until Christine laid a hand over his arm. "Well, I'm coming then too."

Erik ever so slowly pushed the door open, balancing his dim lit lantern in the other hand. The door suddenly gave a loud creak and swung open further than Erik desired. He grunted and glanced back to the real cause of the sound. Jacob stumbled forward, trying to keep himself and his own light from falling on the floor.
"Will you be quite?" Erik whispered harshly to him. The young man had proved nothing but a nuisance so far. He adjusted the light on the lantern so he could see both Jacob and Christine behind him. He wished they had both stayed out of this so he could just do on his own. "Keep your lamp just bright enough so you can see me." Erik instructed. "Christine, you can follow Jacob, but we must be silent, understood?"

All of them, with Erik in the lead soft walked through the main aisle of the auditorium. Even with any light, Erik could make his way through by holding out his fingertips to feel the edge on the seat around him. When they reached the stage, Erik leaped from the floor on to the elevated platform with an effortless ease. He leaned down to scoop up Christine by her awaiting forearm in the dim light. Once she was on stage, Erik gestured to Jacob to find his way to the stair. He gave Erik what looked like a reluctant nod and made his way.

There was a sudden whining hum and a large flash of sparks from overhead. Christine gave a scream and tried to scramble into Erik's arms. Jacob missed his footing and fell several steps backwards. Then the lights came on, blinding all of them. A faint chuckled started from one end of the stage and grew louder approaching them. Erik held a hand over his eyes and squinted to make out the features of Harrison Matthews coming towards them. Even though his arms were folded over his chest, Erik could still make out the shape of not to well hidden pistol. He smiled gleefully as he addressed them.

"Well isn't this a surprise." He said mockingly "I expected you here Destler, but the lovely Miss. Day. Surely I did not think she could find her way in terrible mess?"

Christine possessed by a new anger inside her shot back at him. "You don't know the half of it you bastard!"

"Oh that Desiree is actually your child out of wedlock?" Matthews replied coyly picking at his nails. "It didn't take much work to discover you were the Phantom's whore. It was more of a gut feeling you could say."

Christine cringed at his words and Erik struggled to keep himself from lunging out. Matthews had closer access to his weapon than he did. It was better to keep calm for now. Besides he had a good feeling they were not alone. Jacob finally found his footing again and jumped up the small stairs towards the stage.

Matthews turned, backing up so he could kept at least one eye on Erik and aimed his pistol towards Jacob. He froze and didn't take another step, holding his hands up. "And of course, I'm a little surprised to find my backstabbing partner here as well."

"You are the bloody back stabber here, Matthews." Jacob replied. Matthews gave a small glance in Christine direction and smiled.

"Now now, even though the lady doesn't watch her tongue, I'd highly suggest you head yours before it becomes my trophy."

The icy tone in Erik's voice cut through the tension in the room like a knife. "Where is Desiree?" he demanded coldly.

"Oh Desiree, yes. We'll she's right here with us or that is she will be." Matthews raised his hand and snapped his fingers sharply. Jacob glanced over to Erik, trying to communicate with his eyes whether or not to attack Matthews. Erik shook his head. Not until they had Desiree.

A large burly man emerged from the shadows. Erik could detect the stench of beer and body sweat before the man was fully in view. He trailed something behind him in the shadows that was large enough to come up to the man's chin.

Flinging whatever it was into the flooded stage lights and hearing it moan, Erik realized in horror that it was Desiree. He hands and feet were bound and her clothes had been cut in several places around her body. A large cut across her shoulders and back revealed her scars and also that her bandage had come loose and her wound re-opened. More cuts were down by her les and even more blood there. She struggled to move but managed to look up at Erik and Christine. A mark on her face that could have been mistaken for dirt was in fact a new bruise.

Erik's rage boiled and it took all his might from lunging to kill the two men. Matthews sneered down at her then turned his attention to Jacob. "Well I think we could sell more tickets if we advertise it as the meeting place of two of London's deadliest killers, don't you think?"

"What are you talking about?" Jacob asked.

"Forgive me I forgot to introduce my assistant." Matthews point to the other man. "Erik Destler, meet Jack the Ripper."

Christine gave a gasp and Jacob cocked his head in disbelief.

"So what is your plan Matthews? You want to have me go to prison so you can get you and Jack here can have the reward money?" Erik asked.

Matthews laughed hard. "Oh I'm not that dull, old boy. I was actually hoping to see you fight to the death as if were. As for your daughter." He said slinking towards her fallen form. "I see to reason to keep her alive. I could just kill her now. Blame the death on my partner and regain control of the opera. Killing two birds with one stone as it were."

"You monster!" Christine yelled running out of Erik's arms and towards Matthews. He flung her aside as she feel towards where Jacob was standing. He bent to help her. Erik let a concealed hand slip around a small knife her carried in his vest. Jack directed his gaze to Christine.

"She's a real pretty one too." He commented. "After we all finished here, I would like to rip this one up real nice." Erik realized it was now his chance to strike. He took the knife out of his pocket and threw it at Matthews. It hit his hand knocking the pistol out of his reach and cutting across his palm. He groaned in pain, and Jack seeing this struggled to get free his own weapon.

But Erik was already on the offensive, using his body to shove Jack backwards into a row of mirrors. The glass shattered around them.

"Rip this!" He hissed at him. Taking out another knife he stabbed Jack in his hamstring twice, feeling the blood gush over the handle of the blade. Jack groaned, sinking to his knees. Erik dove for Desiree still stranded on the floor. He noticed Jacob had thrown his arms around Matthews trying to choke him, and Christine recovered the fallen pistol. Erik cut free her bonds and carried her up into his arms. She looked up at him, her eyes full of tears.

"Erik, I'm sorry." She whispered.

He had to get her out of there. Jack was staggering his way towards them, and Matthews might me following them sooner than Erik thought. He would have to rely on Jacob to cover for them as well as protecting Christine. God help the fool if he failed to do so. Erik turned to run backstage through the curtains and backdrops, blindly charging his way through the darkness in an effort to reach the passageways to the cellars. But before they could reach them, and be safely concealed in the secret night of his domain, Erik could hear the hurried rush of many footsteps not too far behind them.