Chapter 9: Dancing with Feelings

1 month later

Meg laced up her ballet shoes and walked on stage. She warmed up and danced a little and then did a routine or two. She stepped wrong and she fell to the stage.

" You never should dance a lone, there should always should be two,"

Looked up and saw a hand reached out to her. She took the hand and was pulled up. She looked into black masked that stared at her.

" Erik," she whispered

He smiled and kissed her and then with one quick motion took her into his arms. She leaned her head back against his chest and he kissed her neck.

" My sweet Meg," he whispered, " You have mourn long enough."

He trailed his hand over her body and gently ran his hand over her neck. She closed her eyes and Erik kissed her on her neck again. He then with one slick motion spun her out of his hold. The dress she wore now matched the color of his red attire.

" My rose of all roses," he whispered

She smiled and he pulled her back into his arms, he snapped and music began to play.

" Dance with me, my sweet Meg," he whispered

Meg and Erik danced across the stage, with their eyes never leaving one another's. They danced a fast pace, tango like dance, and a waltz. Meg looked at Erik and kissed him and Erik kissed her back.

" Mourn no more Meg," Erik's voice echoed in her head

Meg opened her eyes, feeling the soften hold around her. She saw the half mask and Meg pulled away. Nicolas grabbed her hand and she looked at him.

" Meg don't leave," Nicolas said

Meg looked at Nicolas as he stared at her. His attire matched Erik's black attire, she walked to Nicolas and wrapped her arms around him. He held her in his arms and stroked her head.

" The Phantom of the Opera," she whispered, " He's here with me."

" Never letting you go," Nicolas whispered

" He will always be," she said

" Isn't it about time that someone saved you," Nicolas whispered, " A beautiful angel does not need to be by herself."

Meg looked up at Nicolas and he guided her down the stage. His black cloak floated behind him as he guided her down the dark halls. She stared at him as he led her down the cellars and took the boat. He helped her in and then got into the boat, then pushed off. Meg looked at Nicolas as he took her down the endless stretch of water. He turned a different passageway, from the one he took Victoire. She watched him guide the boat to another passage and then tied it at the edge. He got off and put out his hand to her. She stood up and grabbed his hand and he took her down another winding hall, he opened a door and climbed the stairs.

" Where are we going?" she asked

Nicolas pulled her to him and placed his finger on her lips.

" It's a place you haven't been in two years," Nicolas said

He entered the top of the stairs and let her go in first, he then locked the door behind her. She stopped and looked around and she lit a candle hearing the sounds of someone sleeping. She walked with the candle and got closer to find her husband sleeping in one of the rooms down in the cellar.

" Henri," she whispered

He opened his eyes and saw the candle light, he sat up.

" Meg," he whispered

He stood up and Meg turned away and he grabbed her hand. She looked at him and he walked to her.

" No, not this time," he whispered

Meg looked at her husband and he pulled the candle from her hand. He set it down and gently stroked her cheek and kissed her on the lips.

" No, Henri," she whispered

" I know, I'm not Erik…I never will be, but I love you Meg. I gave my heart to you…please try to love me. I have made a promise to your beloved Erik that I would take care of you," Henri said

Meg felt tears fall from her face and Henri reached over and pulled a rose from off the stand.

" From my heart to yours," Henri said

Meg looked at the rose and saw a white and black ribbon to it.

" From me, your beloved Erik," Henri whispered as he wiped the tears from her face.

" Oh, Henri," she cried

She wrapped her arms around him and began to cry endless tears. He took her into his arms and held her.

Nicolas heard the tears and leaned against the door, he sighed and looked at the rose he held.

" I had to let her go sometime," Nicolas said, " But I will be her Angel forever."

Nicolas walked off and climbed up the endless amounts of stairs. He came to the rooftop of the Opera house and looked out.

" Angels of heaven, I say to you that I will not lose another," he whispered

" Bonjour," a voice said

Nicolas turned and saw Victoire standing there. He saw the pendant around her neck and he gave a nod.

" Bonjour Mademoiselle," he replied

She walked to the edge and stared out and then looked at Nicolas. Nicolas found himself pulling away from the light and into the shadows.

" Don't draw back," she whispered

Nicolas stopped and looked at her and she walked to him. He turned his face away from her.

" Please," he whispered, " Stay where you are."

" No," she whispered

" I said stay away," he said louder

" No," she said

" Stay away from me!" he shouted

Victoire looked at Nicolas and saw pain in his eyes. He breathed deep as he looked at her. Her delicate form was traced by the moonlight, he stepped out carefully. He stood straight up and his black cloak was caught in the breeze. She breathed deep then walked towards him, his hand extended to her. She grabbed his hand and he pulled her into his hold. Her back against him and he wrapped his arms around her. She closed her eyes feeling warmth from his hold, just like that night he danced with her on stage.

" It really was you," she whispered, " You're the one I danced with that night."

Nicolas looked down at her and leaned his head on hers.

" What name do I give you Phantom?" she whispered

" Nicolas," he whispered, " Nicolas Cassé."

" Nicolas," she whispered

She turned around and touched his face and he pressed her hand on his face. She saw he had a tear stain on his cheek. She slightly shivered and Nicolas pulled her into his hold. She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes feeling safe in his arms.

" Victoire," a voice called

Captain Alexander came up and walked out seeing a dark shadow embracing Victoire.

" Release her!" he shouted

Victoire opened her eyes and looked at Alexander

" Alexander," she gasped

Nicolas released Victoire and looked at Alexander as he breathed.

" What do you want with her?" Alexander asked

" Onlythe companionship you desire with her," Nicolas said

He stood up on the ledge and leapt off and Victoire ran to the ledge, seeing he vanished. Captain Alexander walked over to her and grabbed her hands, he pulled her from the ledge and smiled.

" A shadow isn't what you need Victoire," he said, " Come with me."

Victoire and Alexander walked down and out of the opera house for a nightly stroll. She looked at him as he escorted her around, then he stopped. She looked at him and he gently kissed her cheek. They walked back to the Opera house and Alexander looked at her.

" Until tomorrow after the show," he said

" Yes, after the show," she whispered

He smiled and walked off and then she went back. Nicolas watched them part and he shook his head.

" You will see me in the morning sweet angel," he whispered

Nicolas jumped off the statue's back and went down five cellars down. He waited until she fell asleep, then like a shadow hid in darkness. He came to her bedside and lifted her into his arms, he took her all the way down to his lair. From there her laid her down softly onto the soft swan bed. He looked at her and gently touched her face, and hummed a soft melody.

" Sleep, sleep my angel," he whispered, " I will be here when you wake up."

He drew the vale curtain down and walked off, to his own resting place. He laid down in his darken room, he closed his eyes thinking that, what he did would help Victoire see his feelings for her.

Early that morning Meg opened her eyes and saw she laid beside her husband. For the first time in two years she felt free of pain. She wrapped the top sheet around her nude body and got dress. She then walked out the room and went to her room, there she slept in her bed.

Victoire opened her eyes and sat up suddenly, finding she was not in the dormitories. She got up and ran out into the main part of the lair, she looked with fear and heavy breathing.

" Nicolas," she called

Nicolas opened his eyes and rose from the comforts of his sleep. He slipped the mask on and rose from the bed. He dressed quickly and walked out to see Victoire standing there.

" Why have you brought me here?" she questioned

" For your peace that you've longed for," he replied

He put out his hand and she walked to him, then placed her hand into his hand.

" My dear Victoire you have come to a place where I make music for you to dance to," Nicolas said

" You kidnapped me Nicolas, against my will, return me as once," Victoire said

" I can not do that," Nicolas said, " You have been brought here by the one man that can give you everything you desire."

Victoire looked at him and shook her head, and pulled her hand back. Nicolas looked at her, then walked to her.

" What is it?" Nicolas asked, " Why do you look at me in such a strange way?"

" I want to return to the top," she said, " I don't belong here."

She walked towards the lake and got into the boat and looked Nicolas. He looked at her and shook his head, he ignored her pleading look.

" You long for a man such as I and do not lie to me. I have seen it in your eyes. I have felt it in your touch," Nicolas said

" Return me," she said

" No!" he shouted, " You are the woman who will remain here with me!"

" I am a human being Nicolas, a woman who needs be with others to live a proper life. If you tried to live among them you would see you are no different," Victoire said

Nicholas looked at her and stepped into the boat and grabbed her wrist.

" I am human, and I have lived a life out there for a year. No work, no money, no food. I would have eaten my own flesh so that I may have a meal. People turn you away if you looked like I did," Nicolas growled, " Look at me and see that I am the monster."

Victoire looked at him as he breathed deep. He let her go and then got in and pushed off the edge. He took her back through the same way. There was no words spoken between them and once they got to the dressing room he looked at her. She glanced back at him and Nicolas saw tears in her eyes. She turned away and the mirror shut and Nicolas shouted so loud that it was heard through out the opera house.

Victoire looked around and quickly made it to the dormitories. She sobbed in her pillow and hoped that the nightmare would end.

Nicolas looked at the shattered hand mirror and saw his reflection.

" This demons mark, only can eat at my soul," he whispered, " I will not lose site of my goal."

He looked at the blade and lifted it up and cut across the fabric of a covered mirror.

" I shall make my presence known, starting with Captain Alexander," he said