Chapter 4: Lonesome Gargoyle Yearning for Heaven
1 week later
Erik looked out the window of his bedroom and looked at Charlotte, she rode the white horse provided for her to use only when he saw fit. He watched her feed the horse the oats from the pouch given to her. Erik finished dressing and walked downstairs, he was given his usual paperwork. He sat down and saw Gabriel already there waiting to discuss further business with him.
" What do you have for me?" he asked
" The Vicomte de Chagny has written you," Gabriel said, " He wants to know how long you attend to keep his daughter?"
" I have already told him that she will stay here for as long as I see fit, write to him and make sure he knows that," Erik said, " A promise it to be kept and that family should know what promises are."
" Yes, master," Gabriel said
Gabriel pulled out some papers and set them down.
" Your signature as well as your seal," Gabriel said
" And what am I signing?" Erik asked
" To assure the government that you are not forcing the people to work, that they come to you for work," Gabriel said
Erik smirked and said, " As they wish."
Gabriel looked at Erik as he finished his paperwork.
" Master, why are you trying to acquire more land, when you have more than enough?" Gabriel said
" You can never have enough land," Erik replied, " Why build a cottage when you have room to build a palace?"
Gabriel nodded and breakfast was served, Charlotte joined the men and they rose from their seats. She looked at both of them and sat down, then was served.
" Did you enjoy your ride my dear?" Erik asked
Charlotte looked at Erik and nodded, though calm on the outside, her heart was racing. She smiled and ate breakfast and Gabriel looked at the young woman, he clearly saw that she was uneasy around Erik. She now seemed to him even worse since that day he saw her run out. He had spoken to her and she had confessed that Erik had a gift to draw women in with his mesmerizing voice.
Flash back
" Mademoiselle, it is me Gabriel," he said through Charlotte's closed door
Charlotte wiped the tears and opened the door. Gabriel looked at and saw she had been crying.
" Why do you cry so?" Gabriel asked
" I cry because I am a weak woman," Charlotte said
Gabriel pulled his handkerchief out and dabbed her teary eyed face. She looked at him and turned away, he shut the door and looked around.
" Tell me, what made you run from my master's lesson? Did he harm you or did you argue with him?" Gabriel asked
" Not at all, I ran because it was the only thing I could do," Charlotte said
" No, Mademoiselle, running is not the answer, please tell me what happened," Gabriel said
He sat her down and she folded her hands in her lap and looked down.
" I was singing and he joined me, his voice is that of an angel, but deadly like the devil. I was mesmerized and compelled to sing with him like a performance. As the song goes, the lovers finally tell each other how they feel and then a simple passionate kiss. It was then that he and I embraced each other's desire for the song. We kissed, but it was not of acting," Charlotte said embarrassed to say, " It was feelings from beyond."
Gabriel looked at her and grabbed her hands and she looked up at him. His brown eyes stared at hers and he touched her face.
" Mademoiselle, please speak of this no more, these feelings come when they feel like it. It means nothing to you nor my master. It just happened," Gabriel said, " Nurturing these worries will make you grow bitter."
Charlotte nodded and Gabriel wiped her tears and kissed her hand.
" I have come to bid you good-bye," Gabriel said
" Where are you going?" she asked
" I am going to Paris to the Opera Populaire," Gabriel said
" Please take me monsieur, I beg of you, do not leave me here with him, I wish to see Paris. I will not be of any trouble to you, I will be an angel," she said
Gabriel grabbed her hands and smiled and then stood up. He looked down at her and bowed.
" We will see each other again, Comte de Bellamont, will not try another thing Mademoiselle de Chagny. He was scared as you were from that moment," Gabriel said, " Do not worry, I shall bring you back something from Paris, my promise. Please, be well."
Flash back end
Gabriel looked at his plate and then turned his fork over. Erik sat there and looked over his paper work, then sat it down and rose from his seat.
" Lessons at noon my dear," Erik said, " Do not be late, Gabriel will warm you, I have errands to run in town."
" Of course Monsieur," Charlotte replied
Erik looked at Gabriel as he lowered his head. Erik hit Gabriel in the head, Gabriel looked up at his master.
" Raise your head at the table," Erik said
" Yes, master," Gabriel said
Gabriel watched Erik leave the dinning room and Charlotte looked at him. She rose and Gabriel stood and she lifted her plate from the table.
" Mademoiselle, you do not have to do that," Gabriel said, " The servants will do that."
" I'm just helping them out a little," Charlotte said and walked into the kitchen
The servants looked at her and took her plate, she smiled and thanked them for their hard work. Charlotte walked out and Gabriel watched her sit down so politely.
" Gabriel, your master, is he truly the famous Phantom of the Opera?" she asked
" Yes, he is," Gabriel said
" How did he get his wealth?" Charlotte asked
Gabriel sighed and said, " A long time ago, about 15 years after the great fall of the opera house, he came here to find a new life. He became many young singer's tutor and then once he was able to restart his life fully, he used that money to buy land. He began to build and make deals with other Comtes. The money just continued to come and he built his own palace of darkness."
" He's just a corrupt, villain," Charlotte said
" The Comte de Bellamont also married into a wealthy family of a young opera singer, whom he taught. Her dowry provided him with more than enough money to live like a king and then received another dowry after the wedding. He's been married twice, the second young woman's family paid him three times the dowry than his previous wife," Gabriel said
" He married? The Phantom of the Opera, married and stole from his wives' families," Charlotte said, " What happened to both of the wives?"
" One was murdered by her secret lover. He loved his wife and when he found his beloved dead in her secret lovers arms he killed him. Hung him from the roof with his lasso," Gabriel answered, " The second life was ill when she married him, 3 months after their marriage she past away."
Charlotte found her heart pounding against her chest. She felt pale and Gabriel looked at her.
" He is said to never marry again, he's taken several young women and taught them, but none to love," Gabriel said
He rose and put out his hand and she took his hand.
" We must be quick, but I will show you," he said
Charlotte stood up and took his hand and they walked upstairs and Gabriel opened the study door. Charlotte entered and looked around it, she saw some letters on the ground and knelt down.
" He's been in here reading these," Charlotte said
" Yes, he tends to do that often, his first wife was just as young as you mademoiselle," Gabriel said, " Though it was quite obvious that their marriage had brought some sadness to a poor actor that loved her."
" I can understand, he is cruel," she said
She looked out the window and Gabriel looked at her.
" Comte de Bellamont is not as cruel as you think he is. His life has been very difficult and he is only trying to seek justice for those who sneered at him," Gabriel said
Charlotte looked at a sheet, which covered something, she walked over to it and Gabriel looked at her.
" Mademoiselle no!" Gabriel exclaimed to late
She pulled the sheet down and looked at the portrait. Gabriel looked her and she covered her mouth.
" Mother," she whispered
" Madame de Chagny's portrait," Gabriel said, " It was a wedding gift."
" But he never gave it to her," she said
" A story which is for another day Mademoiselle," Gabriel said
She covered the portrait and Gabriel walked with her downstairs to the music room.
" Please, let us forget this and warm up, just as my master has asked," Gabriel said as he began to play
Charlotte began to warm up and Gabriel looked at her as she did. He nodded and Charlotte walked over to him, then sat beside him.
The Vicomte de Chagny estate
Christine looked at the piano and touched the keys gently. Raoul walked in and looked at her.
" Christine," Raoul said
" Raoul, it's been a week," Christine said
Raoul walked over to her and sat down beside her and he took his wife's hands. He kissed them and she looked at him.
" She's probably scared, and I can't be there to help her," Christine said, " My only daughter and he took her. He took her because of my promise."
" Christine, she is fine," Raoul said, " She will write to us and tell us everything."
Laurent stood outside the music room and narrowed his eyes. He balled up his fist and walked off and took his horse out. He rode off into town and stood outside a tavern, saw a dark carriage outside it. He folded his arms and waited and when the dark figure walked out he pulled his blade out.
" Monsieur I ask of you to bring Vicomte's daughter back," he said
" You're a brave young boy, and foolish," Erik said
Erik pushed the blade away and Laurent put the blade to Erik's neck.
" You have your debt's beenpaid, now return his daughter," Laurent repeated
Erik removed his cloak hood and looked at him. He grabbed the blade from his hands and threw it to the ground.
" The Vicomte de Chagny's daughter belongs to me!" Erik growled
" Let my sister go!" Laurent shouted
Erik slapped Laurent across the face and drew his blade, the skull blade stared at Laurent.
" Tell your father if he so desires than he will pay the right amount of money," Erik said
" You thief," Laurent growled
" No, I'm an investor to the arts, your sister wishes to live like a princess, I need the money," Erik said
Erik walked off and got into his carriage, Laurent narrowed his eyes. He whistled and his horse came, he jumped on and headed back to the estate. He entered the house and went into the music room.
" He's holding her captive mother, that monster called Erik!" Laurent exclaimed.
Christine looked at her son and stood up and saw the mark on his face. She walked over to him and wiped his face.
" Erik is what?" she asked
" Holding Charlotte captive, he wants you to pay for her stay at his estate. He's a thief and he deceiving you," Laurent said
Christine looked at Raoul and she tried to express what she was about to say.
" No, he wouldn't do that," Raoul said, " Where does he live, Laurent?"
" In the west of town, it's the dark estate past the hills hidden by the fog," he answered
" Then it's time to pay a visit," he said
" Raoul no," Christine said
" No Christine not this time," Raoul replied to her plea
Christine felt tears fall from her face and grabbed Raoul's hand. He pulled Christine to him and Laurent looked at his parents.
" I assure you Christine, that will not happen again," Raoul whispered
Comte de Bellamont's estate
Erik walked in and tossed his cloak and to a servant and walked to the music room. He opened the door and Gabriel and Charlotte looked up. He walked to Charlotte and grabbed her by her wrist and she winced in pain
" Damn you!" Erik shouted, " You little wench!"
He slapped her across the face and she looked away, her cheek became red from his powerful hit. She breathed deep and turned to him with tears in her eyes.
" What have I done to angry you master?" she asked
Erik smirked, with no mercy and said, " You lying Delilah, you have spoken to your brother outside of this estate. You went to town and told him where I was, what happened."
" No, that's not true!" she cried, " I have not spoken or written to anyone. I never left this estate. I swear to you!"
Erik looked at her and his eyes showed little light in them, there was darkness.
" Betray me and you shall pay my dear," Erik said, " Gabriel leave now."
Erik locked the door behind Gabriel and she looked at him, he warmed up with the piano, then looked at her. She swallowed deep and Erik looked at her she turned away.
" Sing," he said coldly, " Are you to waste my time?"
" I'm sorry," she whispered
Erik played again and she began to sing, with a raspy voice. Erik looked at her and then stopped. He stood up and walked over to the young girl. He gently wrapped his arms around her and she looked up straight ahead.
" You're forgiven," he whispered in her ear, " I should apologize to you, you had nothing to do with this."
Charlotte felt him kiss her head and leaned his head against hers.
" You must forgive me for my anger," he whispered
Charlotte turned around and faced him then touched his face. She looked at his smooth skin and stroked his face. She ran her hand down from his forehead to his chin, Erik closed his eyes at her touch and grabbed her hand then kissed it.
" Erik," she whispered
He opened his eyes and met hers and she reached for his mask, but his hand stopped her hand.
" If you wish to see my whole face you will only see a lonesome gargoyle's face," Erik said, " One that yearns for heaven."
Charlotte touched the mask and she found herself slightly shivering. Erik grabbed her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. He brought her hand to the edge of the mask; she curled her fingers under the porcelain mask and gently removed it from his face. She could see the disfigurement and stopped.
" I can't," she whispered, " I'm sorry."
She leaned her head against his chest and began to sob, remembering what Gabriel told her.
" How can he ever love a woman like me?" she thought, " I am my mother's shadow."