15 Masquerade / Why So Silent

The days passed by and everything seemed to return to almost normal for the Opera Populaire. Everyone fell back into routine, except for Ivy. There was a new Opera to begin and rehearse for and for once in her life Ivy was actually a part of it. Madame Giry had announced that Ivy was to be playing one of the lead dancers at the Masquerade, and there had been some opposition. But then she had danced, and all protests were stamped out. Not only could she dance it seemed, but her body seemed to contort and shift into places that other members of the ballet only dreamed of.

Rehearsals were all day long, every day and it seemed that Ivy barely saw her underground companion for most of that time. The time she had to herself was spent writing the song she had almost completed. She hardly knew how anyone could write a whole opera, since it seemed to be taking her forever to pour her words onto paper. She knew what she longed to say to him, those thoughts she only kept to herself, but she wasn't sure how to turn them into lyrics.

Erik was near devestatingly quiet to her, and the lair was filled with deadly silence. Ivy was almost afraid to speak, for fear of risking his wrath. She wouldn't even know what to say to him if she did choose to speak. Ever since she had admitted those things to him, it seemed that he wanted nothing to do with her. She was trying very hard to forget about those things, and that he was obviously not worried or cared for whether her heart broke because of him. But in truth, he had no idea what to do about her words.

He was still unsure of what they meant exactly, and what she was revealing. Would risking himself, and showing himself to the public break her heart. He thought very well it could, if something should happen. Or perhaps she knew something of his plan. It was a rather devious plan, he had to admit. And in his heart, Erik loathed having to use Ivy to get to Christine but there would be no other way. If he was to make one last attempt to her, he'd need everything to be perfect and he could not get caught. And the only way that would happen, is if Ivy was protecting him. He knew that.

As the Masquerade grew closer, and Erik's final masterpiece was coming to a close he knew that there was just one last piece he had to obtain. He had been watching Ivy write, only barely glancing over her shoulder every now and again, but what he caught on the paper had intrigued him. The words had called to him, and stirred something inside his soul. One day while Ivy was at dress rehearsal, Erik had finally made his move. He had known the little dancer had finished her song the night before and had watched as she thought she had put it away securely.

Finding the pieces of parchment, he gazed over the words and the melody and knew it would be perfect for his Opera. Perfect for just that right moment. But did Erik have remorse for taking her things and using them to his own gain? Only slightly. The pain and the hurt that Christine put him through had only fueled his obsession more, to the point of almost self-destruction. He didn't even realize that now a part of him wanted nothing more then revenge for making him feel things he shouldn't towards this normal woman.

---

The night of the Masquerade ball had arrived, and Ivy was as nervous as she could possibly be. Her stomach was in knots, not knowing what would happen that night. Ivy tried not to think about it, blocking everything but her ballet routine in her head. She concentrated so fiercely that she didn't hear Mme Giry announce that it was time to take their positions. The audience would be arriving and it was time to go on. Ivy took one last breath to try and steady her nerves and was glad for only one thing, that she wouldn't have to see him watching her. She knew he would be watching of course, but as long as she didn't have to see him.

The lobby was filled with people from corner to corner each in their own masks, not able to tell one from the other. Ivy slipped her own mask on and moved to her place, waiting for the signal before she began to dance. People started to flood the lobby, as they came into the Opera, though Ivy paid them no attention. She only concentrated on the dance in front of her, and moving in time with the music. She let the music wash over her as she moved with the rest of the ballet.

Beasts and ghouls, angels and queens were applauding from all around her and Ivy had never felt more alive and free then she did at that moment. She had waited her whole life for this, and though no one could tell who she was behind the mask, that didn't bother Ivy. She was dancing, and all of the world was watching her it seemed. And dancing perfectly she was, fitting in with the rest of the dancers like she had always been with them. Even Erik as he watched and waited seemed very intrigued by the way she moved. His attention was turned when it was announced that the Viscount had arrived. And there he was, that smug brute child with his Christine.

She was beautiful, no mask upon her face to cover her lovely features. Her dress was simply splendid and gorgeous, and Erik belatedly noticed the ring that fell against her neck, sparkling gently. The two were whispering to each other, laughing and carrying on as they came to dance. Erik could wait no longer. Clutching his Opera close to his chest, he waited for the song to die down and then announced his arrival. There was a burst of smoke as everyone stopped and turned. The song came to a dead silence and each dancer turned their eyes on the man in red who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

No one was staring harder perhaps then those that knew who he was, and what he wanted. No one had even seen the Viscount depart in a hurry, off to gather his sword and take care of the nuisance for once. As Erik came down the stairs, each and every eye was on the Opera Ghost. He raised the envelope that had carried his Opera and shoved it in the face of the managers. "This time, you will preform MY opera, Don Juan Triumphant.. but .. there are a few instructions."

Some gasped, wondering who he was to have such audacity to announce that the Opera was going to be doing his opera, though most looked just plain lost. Erik went down the list, announcing each part of his Opera that was to go precisely to instructions. Christine of course would have the main role, and Carlotta would be taking a backseat this time in a smaller role. His presence so demanding, covered in a gold mask that hid most of his face, his sword at his side playfully teasing at Carlotta and Piangi, just daring them to try and stop him. And then his eyes fell upon Christine and he came towards her.

Christine stood frozen, in silent horror and wondering exactly where the man was that had sworn to protect her from this vicious monster. But the moment she looked into his eyes and he started to sing sweetly to her, she knew that she must return to her teacher. He begged her sweetly with music to come back to him, so that she would prepared for this role, and she was accepting. Ivy tore off her mask and pushed through the rest of the ballet in order to get to them before he had a chance to take her again. Finally pushing through the last person, she saw him rip the ring and necklace off of Christine's neck. "You belong to me!" Erik had growled, meaning to take her by the arms.

Ivy felt her body start to move, though her brain didn't seem to want to catch up. She put her hand on his wrist, to at least try and free Christine enough so that she could run when she saw that Raoul had returned sword in hand. Erik knew he was surrounded and with nowhere to go, he turned and stepped over to the trap door, dragging Ivy along with him who still had a hand on his wrist. He hadn't meant to jerk her so violently, as they both fell through the trap door. Ivy let out a little squeak as she hit the bottom, and found herself in a room full of mirrors. She knew the place existed, but had no idea where it led. Letting him go with jerk, she felt another thump and turned around to see that Raoul had followed them through the trapdoor.

Soon another hand was upon her, pushing her into the darkness as Erik grabbed his sword once more. "Erik no... please don't kill him... they will not stop until they hunt you down." She pleaded with him. "Remember, he let you live..." Erik glared at her and shoved her down the passage, following her and telling her to move or else they would both swing from the hangman's noose. She fled quickly and quietly, feeling that angry and hatred behind her as they both went back underground. Ivy hoped that Raoul would find his way out of the mirrors, unaware that Madame Giry had come to take him and lead him out of there.

16 Madame Giry's Tale /Tthe Fairground

Mme Giry pushed Raoul into her room and closed the door behind them. "What are you doing? I have to go find Christine.." Raoul pleaded but Mme Giry only shook her head. "Please.. you must listen.. there are things that you do not know.. that I have to tell you..." She sat down and started to tell him the tale of how she had found Erik when she was a young girl, and rescued him from the gypsies, which were savagely beating him and treating him as a sideshow freak.

Raoul sat listening to the story, and hearing her go into the tale of when she had brought Ivy to Erik and how the two had remained bonded, even through all of this time. He actually felt pity for the poor monster, though he didn't want to. And mostly, he felt pity for Ivy hearing and seeing that the girl truly loved him and knowing that Erik only had his eyes on his fiancee. "That is why Monsieur.. please.. you must keep watch over Christine, but have some mercy on him. He did not kill that man... Joseph Buquet tried to attack Ivy and she was defending herself." At that Raoul looked quite surprised. "She... she killed him?" Mme Giry only nodded.

Raoul stood, shaking his head a bit in disbelief. "I will try my best to see all the mercy I can for this creature, but I am not doing this for him. I am doing this for her... I would be devestated if I lost Christine.. I will do my best Mme Giry.. thank you." He left quickly, leaving Madame Giry to wonder if telling him had been the right thing to do. She could only hope that the four of them would find peace, but she knew that this story was long from over.

--

"Why did you stop me from taking her?" Erik demanded as the two approached the lair, both still in costume though only she had pulled off her mask. "Because if they SAW you take her they would follow you and they'd know and they'd hunt you down and kill you. Are you really that blind Erik?" Ivy snapped, throwing the mask into the lake. "I am quite tired of having to save you from your obsession... all of this is going to earn us nothing but the noose, and you know it!"

"I will take her and I will have my leave. You won't have to see either of us and you'll be free, don't worry about your own neck." Erik growled back. "I am NOT worried about my own neck can't you see that? You are completely blind.. that mask covers more then your face. You are so blind to everything around you, you just cannot see..." she trailed off, giving an exasperated sigh as she sat down on the bed. "There will be a day when I am not there to make sure and keep you safe Erik.. remember that. A woman can only take so much." Ivy laid back in her costume on the bed and turned away from him. She heard the sound of his cloak fluttering and when she turned back around, he was gone.