Chapter 7: Masquerade and the Waltz of the Blades
2 months later
Christine looked at Raoul as he came in from a long ride. He got down and looked at Christine as she stood there. He kissed his wife and she presented the invitation to him.
" This came," she said
Raoul looked at it and saw the blood red ink on the envelope, with the seal of Comte de Bellamont. Raoul opened it and pulled out the invitation and sighed, he looked at Christine as she waited patiently to hear him say something.
" We're going to get our daughter back, he's held her prisoner long enough," Raoul said
Christine nodded and Raoul looked at Laurent, who stood there and nodded
" Raoul, what do you suggest?" Christine asked
" We will not do anything, but ask for a meeting with him," Raoul said, " No, weapons. We'll play his game, just as we have before."
Comte de Bellamont estate
Erik looked at Charlotte as she stood there, and she walked towards him. He removed a pouch from coat pocket. She looked at it and then he reached into it pulling out a chain with a ring strung on it.
" Erik," she whispered
He walked to her and placed it around her neck. He kissed her neck and she looked at him.
" Shh, our secret," he whispered
She looked at the ring and saw the 6 different cut stones, made into a flower.
" It's beautiful," she whispered
Erik smiled and lifted her chin, she stared up at him.
" We will marry, soon after," he said, " Do not worry my dear, your wish has been granted."
Gabriel listened in as he leaned his head against Charlotte's bedroom door. He found it heart breaking that she would fall in love with Erik, but not realizing Erik's true feelings.
" Foolish woman," Gabriel said, " He speaks lies."
He walked off and went off and took Cesar to town. Erik walked out the room and Charlotte followed him. He gently led her downstairs and looked up at her as she stared at him. He turned away and led her down the dark hallways to a cellar, where it seemed to only be a place for him. His black, draping cloak followed behind him, Charlotte looked back as the door shut. He opened the gate and stopped, and Erik looked at her. Erik pulled a rope towards the edge of the pathway. A boat came and Erik put out his hand and helped her into it. He got into it and pushed off, then let it sail as he guided it. Charlotte watched as the lanterns lit, as they past by them, then blew out. Erik grabbed a rope and pulled it, and a gate opened. She saw a bright chandelier hanging from the ceiling, it lit once they came under it. The room around them let up and Charlotte gasped at the light, Erik got off. He removed his cloak and looked at her and she stared at him.
" This is where the music of the night is played," he said, " Your music you sing at the theater begins here."
" You are the mysterious writer of all my music?" she asked
" You have come to the depths of my genius," Erik said, " My power, my empire of the music of the night."
Charlotte stood and Erik grabbed her hand and her midnight blue gown swayed behind, as she got out. Erik looked at her and pulled her to him, and Charlotte looked at him.
" Your voice has healed the deathly cold on my body," he whispered
Erik turned her around and pulled her to him, he wrapped his arms around her. Her head leaned against his chest and Erik tailed his hands over her.
" You have succumb to me, my dear, sweet Charlotte de Chagny," Erik whispered, " You are no longer belong to anyone else."
His hands wrapped around her neck gently and then trailed to her shoulders.
" Do you wish to please me?" Erik whispered
" Yes," she whispered
" Then give yourself totally to the darkness and dwell here with me," Erik whispered, " Become my angel of the night."
Erik grabbed her hand and placed it on his cheek.
" Close your eyes, the flesh you touch is that of the man you desire," Erik said, " Touch it, feel it, let it become one with yours."
Charlotte turned and looked at him and gently sang, " The man I desire does not wear a mask, but shows his true face."
Erik removed his mask and looked at her, then kissed her hand.
" Mademoiselle, I welcome you to the music of the night," he said
Erik pulled a chord and there a beautiful organ sat. He took her hand and placed it on his face.
" Meet your angel of music," he chanted, " He waits for you here in each note you write, he's in the song you sing."
He walked Charlotte to the organ and sat her down by it, he sat beside her. Erik opened a piece of music and began to play it, with gentleness. Charlotte gently sang with him and Erik looked at her. The piece he played and the song she sang, was called Un Posto Denomino Il Cielo, which translate to a place called heaven. Charlotte felt tears fall from her face as she realized what the song was about. It was about lonely drifter's life. She looked at Erik as he played it and he looked at her, then stopped.
" Erik," she whispered
She wiped the tears away and then leaned her head on his shoulder
" I will save you," she whispered, " I will sacrifice my life to save you from your solitude."
The guest began to arrive as the evening hours were setting in, Erik looked at the endless carriages and smiled.
" The game begins," Erik said
Raoul and Christine arrived and Laurent rode beside them. Two other young men joined them.
" Invitation please," Gabriel asked
Raoul helped Christine out and Christine presented the invitation. Gabriel looked at them and bowed and then they walked in. Laurent and the two other young men rode off with the carriage. Raoul and Christine looked at the elaborate decorations, they walked to the ballroom. Guest already danced as the music played and Christine looked around for Charlotte and Raoul looked for the target at hand.
" Raoul, don't be quick," Christine whispered
" I won't," he replied, " Look for our daughter and get her out of here."
Raoul touched Christine's hand as they walked around, slipping their mask on. Christine looked around and saw two familiar faces. She looked over at Raoul as he pushed his way through the crowd.
" Attention, the Comte de Bellamont and Mademoiselle de Chagny," Gabriel announced
Raoul and Christine turned and saw Erik and Charlotte enter. Erik's blood red attire made Christine shiver, seeing he wore the deathly red attire before. Charlotte's gown matched Erik's attire, her long white gloves matched Erik's white gloves. Her mask matched Erik's black and trimmed gold mask. Gabriel looked at them and he bowed just as everyone did. Raoul had vanished from sight and Christine remained standing. Erik looked at her and smiled as he descended from the stairs.
" Madame de Chagny, do you not honor me as your host?" Erik announced
Christine looked at him and under her mask narrowed her eyes. She gave a curtsy, but then stared at him. He walked over and stood in the middle of the ballroom and turned to his musicians. They began to play and Erik looked at Charlotte, and the two began to dance to the waltz. Christine watched her daughter's innocence become dark, as she dance with Erik. Other's joined in and Charlotte looked over her shoulder and saw her father standing by the window. She looked at Erik and touched his face and then kissed him once more. Christine shook her head, then as her daughter past her, she saw the ring. Charlotte leaned her head against his chest and Erik looked at her, he looked around seeing Christine, then in the distance saw Raoul.
Laurent and the two others managed to get in and looked around.
" We will set up at each point," Laurent said, " There's one shot so make it count. At all cost do not surrender."
" Right," the other two said
Laurent slipped on his mask and walked downstairs, the other two followed finding a point to sniper the host. Raoul and Christine advanced and Christine cut in and danced with Erik. Raoul took his daughter away form them, Erik looked at her. He narrowed his eyes at her.
" What do you think your doing?" Erik growled
" Helping you realize that my daughter is not yours," Christine said
The sudden pace of the music picked up and Erik pulled Christine to him.
" My don't we have a familiar position," Erik said
The guest watched Erik and Christine take the floor as they struggled to over power one another. It became more of tango of past affections, Erik dipped Christine and leaned to her.
" You have changed," Christine said
" To the man you lost," He said as she pushed him away
He pulled her and she fell into his arms, Raoul looked over and Charlotte breathed deep.
" Kiss me once again my darling, remember the dreams you shattered," Erik said
" I rather not," Christine bit
Erik pulled her tightly to him as they waltz then did a fast change. The guest could only see the entertainment, but didn't know the war. Erik let her circle him, still holding her hand. His other hand extended and grabbed her hand, their arms crossed now. Christine looked at him and he looked at her.
" Christine, oh Christine," he whispered
" Why are you seeking revenge on me Erik?" she questioned as he dipped her again
As the song ended Christine came to a curtsy to the ground. Erik looked at her breathing deep, as she looked at him. The guest cheered and Christine stood up as Erik kissed her hand.
" Thank you for the dance Madame," Erik said
Charlotte looked at her father then looked at Erik. Raoul saw the ring around Charlotte's neck and looked at Christine.
" Come on, we're leaving," Raoul said
Erik saw Raoul grab his daughter and guide her through the crowd.
" Erik!" she cried
Erik drew his blade and Lauren looked at Erik and fired a shot. Charlotte felt her heart shatter as she turned around. Raoul looked and saw Laurent slip his gun away and Charlotte pulled away. She pushed through the crowd and ran.
" Erik!" she cried
Erik looked at Lauren and pointed his blade at him.
" You have not won!" he shouted
Laurent drew his blade and came at Erik, Erik's shoulder bled as he struck Laurent.
" Stop!" Charlotte cried out, " Erik!"
" No, my darling," Christine said catching Charlotte
" Let me go, let me go to him," she cried with tears
" He is a devil," Christine said
" No, he's my master," Charlotte said
Christine looked at Charlotte and said, " No, he's a deceiving man."
Erik slashed at Laurent and Erik cut Laurent's mask off.
" You are fool, do you know where you are!" Erik shouted
Laurent stabbed at Erik and cut his cloak, Erik's blade continued to stare at Laurent as he jabbed at him.
" Little boy you are no match for your mother's teacher, your sister's lover," Erik taunted in a chanting song, " I am the master of this dark and deary palace. Why don't you give up and go on?"
" You're the darkness, which my mother feared and now has over come and I am the son of the Vicomte de Chagny. You are but a disfigured man who is scared of the world around you," Laurent replied back
Erik smiled and backed off and music played and Erik laughed.
" Little boy let me teach you a lesson, your ideas have fallen to the ground, they shrivel up like your skin as it becomes aged," Erik sang
" Your one to speak of age, you are death's playmate and she is very fond of you Monsieur. She has over come your games and eaten at your very core," Laurent answered
Erik laughed and removed his cloak and Laurent removed his pistol.
" Have you seen yourself lately little boy, your scared, you run like dog who's been whipped!" Erik said growling the last word
" Forgive me Monsieur, but your singing off key," Laurent answered
" Your music, is nothing like the songs I write," Erik said
" Would you two set your blades down, it is frightening the women," Charlotte broke through
Erik backed off and Laurent did the same, he looked up in the window, seeing one of the boys.
" Your masquerade, is the devil's work," Laurent said, " And the Angel of music has died."
Erik narrowed his eyes and Laurent's came at Erik and Erik jumped back. Erik's blade caught Laurent's and he threw him back.
" The Phantom of the Opera is here before you all!" Laurent shouted
" There is no Phantom of the Opera," Erik said, " Only the demon's eyes."
" What lies behind you mask sir," Laurent questioned
" The curse that follows you to the end of your days," Erik replied
" I will win and you will die!" Laurent shouted
He came at Erik and Erik came to his knees and grabbed his cloak. He wrapped it around himself and vanished. Laurent looked around seeing only the cloak that laid on the ground.
" Did I not tell you that your ideas would shrivel up," Erik's voice rang.
Suddenly, there was a scream and one of the young men hanged from the ceiling hanging. Raoul looked around for Erik and drew his blade, Charlotte gasped. Christine covered her daughters eyes.
" Mother," she whispered
Erik appeared, dressed in black, behind Laurent and looped a lasso around his neck.
" Raise your hands at the level of your eyes, little boy!" Erik shouted, " No one can save you now!"
Laurent gagged as he felt the lasso become tight. Laurent dropped his blade and Erik looked at Laurent.
" Give in," Erik said
" No, never," Laurent gasped
" Then die!" Erik shouted
" Erik no!" Charlotte shouted
Erik looked at Charlotte and all was silent, Laurent looked at his sister as she walked out.
" Angel of music, guide and guardian. Grant to me your glory," she sang softly
Charlotte removed her mask and Christine watched her daughter. She saw Erik react to her daughter's voice, the innocence of Charlotte's voice soothed any anger.
" I am the mask you wear, but I have removed it Comte de Bellamont," she whispered
Erik let Laurent go and walked to Charlotte, he put out his hand to her. She took his hand and he pulled her to him. She touched the mask and he looked at her as she did.
" Hide no longer," she whispered
She slowly lifted one half of his mask and then he pushed her hand away. She looked at him and he removed the mask himself. People gasped and Christine and Raoul looked the two. Erik threw down the mask and Charlotte pressed her lips against his.
" Erik, I set you free," she sang
Erik touched her face and replied, " You have succumb to me, my angel of music."
" I have succumb to you master," Charlotte said
" No, turning back, you have fully excepted the music of the night," Erik said, " Charlotte, you have past the point of no return."
" No!" Christine shouted
Erik kissed her fully and Christine felt tears fall from her eyes. Raoul looked at the last hope, Laurent removed the lasso and grabbed his blade. He looked at Erik and Charlotte, then stood and with one motion pushed Charlotte out of the way. He thrust his blade into Erik's side. Charlotte watched in horror as Laurent pull his blade out and Erik shouted in agonizing pain.
" Die, you vicious devil!" Laurent shouted
" Curse you," Erik said blood dropping from his side
Erik had enough strength to swing the skull blade and stabbed Laurent in his abdomen. Erik stumbled back and Charlotte ran to him and caught Erik in her arms.
" Erik," she cried
Christine and Raoul ran to their son and took him into their arms.
" Get a doctor!" Raoul shouted
Someone ran off to find the doctor that they had seen, a very respected man. Charlotte knelt down beside Erik and stroked his head.
" Charlotte," Erik whispered
" I'm right here," she replied
" I'm sorry, I'm sorry for my weakness," Erik whispered
" No, you weren't weak," she answered, " You were strong and brave. We're going to get married, and have beautiful children."
" They'll be blessed by heaven," Erik whispered, " Somewhere I will never see. My hands their stained in blood."
A doctor ran in and looked at the two wounded, he looked at two other men.
" We must hurry," the doctor said
The two other men followed the doctor and brought in their tools.
" Madame, Mademoiselle please let me see them," the doctor said