Chapter 10: Skull Mask and Red Attire

2 days later

Meg rushed over to one of her ballerinas, she knelt down and looked at the girl.

" I slipped," the girl said

" Are you alright?" Meg asked

" I think so, but there was like sand on the stage," the girl said

She got up, but fell and Meg called her husband over.

" Get the doctor," Meg said

Henri ran off to seek the opera house doctor and Victoire looked around the stage for the sand, but saw none. She looked at the others as the stagehands swept the stage again until they felt it was clean. The pit looked at the girls and shrugged, they went on to warming up. Once the girl was taken care of they were back to practicing, until a piece of scenery fell between the ballerinas. Meg jumped back and she looked up to see a dark figure walking off. She felt that Nicolas was angry about something, or he was trying to spoke the girls about tonight's performance.

" Nicolas," she thought

" Jacob pull it up," Meg called

" I'm getting it," he said

The young stagehand pulled the scenery. Nicola repeated this when there was no one looking. This time the scenery hit one of the girls and she fell into the other.

" Jacob another one," Meg said

Nicolas smiled and climbed up into the rafters of the opera house. He looked at the stagehands that were looking around for sudden phantom activity. He gave a whistle and they looked at him. He smiled as he pulled out his long blade and cut the rope of one of the supports. They clung onto one another and Meg looked up hearing something. Victoire looked around and ran with the other girls. Nicolas cut the other ropes and the support broke and the stagehands fell. One grabbed onto the other rafter and Nicolas looked at him.

" You have seen me and now you will die," he whispered

Stabbed the stagehand and he fell to the ground, the girls screamed and ran to Meg.

" The Phantom's mad," they cried

Meg gathered her girls and stood in front of them.

" Why are you doing this?" Meg shouted

" Why am I doing this?" Nicolas replied, " I calling death here."

" What do you want?" Meg asked

" I want nothing more than to be loved by the woman I have chosen," Nicolas' voice echoed, " I will kill those who stand in the way."

Meg looked at Nicolas' shadow on the cat walk and then a rose fell from the rafter.

" Bravo Victoire," he said, " You have met your Phantom of the Opera."

Victoire breathed deep and ran off stage, Meg told the girls to stay in the pit. She ran after Victoire and caught up with her.

" Victoire, stop!" she cried out

" What am I to do?" she cried

" Nothing, he won't let you go," Meg said, " He won't let me go either."

Victoire shook her head and Meg hugged the young girl, then Victoire looked down to find she didn't have the pendant on.

" My pendant," she said

" We'll find it," Meg said

" No, you don't understand, I saw his face…and for my freedom I have to wear that pendant…if I lost it then I'm his for life."

Meg looked back at the stage and then told her, she wouldn't have to go with him. She assured Victoire he would not harm her. Victoire nodded and Meg nodded and they walked in.

That night came and all was cleared from the fatal falls of the stagehands. Victoire breathed deep as she watched people come in.

" Just breathe," she whispered

Victoire got ready and the curtains were drawn, music was play and she began to dance. Her elaborate costume shined in the light and then she was joined by the others on stage. She performed as she was trained and found it was going well.

Nicolas dressed into a red velvet attire and placed the skull mask on. He smiled with a complete satisfied look.

" You will see that I am no ordinary devil," he said

He carried what he need and planned everything, for the perfect disappearing act. He came to a secret passage under the stage and without warning came up. There was a sudden explosion on stage and smoke filled the stage area. Nicolas rose from under the trap door and everyone gasped at the figure that stood before them. He looked around and drew his blade from it's sheath. He lifted the blade and pointed it at Captain Alexander and smiled. Alexander rose and two men stood behind him, one man was a familiar figure to Nicolas.

" Captain Alexander, what a pleasure to see you here at my Opera house," Nicolas said

Meg rose and Nicolas looked at her.

" Sit down Meg!" he shouted

Meg sat down and Nicolas walked off stage, the smoke vanished and the performers were knocked out. Nicolas stood before the audience and a psychotic laugh escaped his lips.

" Tonight, my friends, you are to see a silent opera," he announced

Nicolas walked through one of the side isles of the opera house to get to Captain Alexander's box.

" And you are the star," Nicolas called

Meg breathed deep and got up and ran downstairs and Henri went after her. Jacque kept his eye on Nicolas as he advance.

Suddenly people gasped and Jacque saw Nicolas was gone, he rose from his seat to look everywhere. Alexander pushed between the two men and ran downstairs, but as he got to the doors. Nicola appeared and made his advancement. Alexander flew through the doors and the people rose.

" Draw you blade Captain," Nicolas said, " Show these people entertainment, that is after all what they came here for."

Captain Alexander drew his blade and Nicolas allowed him to stand up. He then slashed his sword at Alexander and Alexander blocked it.

" Very nice," Nicolas said

Nicolas held his position and then he kicked Alexander back. Alexander stumbled towards the pit area and looked at Nicolas as he advanced.

" Have you come to stare at me, the Phantom's shadow?" he questioned

" You don't scare me Phantom," Alexander said

Nicolas smiled and slashed at Alexander and pointed the skull blade at his throat.

" I don't kill, but I do kill when I need to defend what is rightfully mine," Nicolas said, " This opera house is mine, the performers that sing their sweet melodies are mine. Victoire is mine."

" Victoire is not yours, after all who could love a man with a mask…A man with blood on his hands, that kills for no reason," Alexander said

" That is enough!" Nicolas shouted, " It is you who is the monster…a man who wears a mask hides what people wish not to see! There for he has been judged by those who can not accept a difference!"

Alexander looked at his opponent and struck back and Nicolas threw his cloak at him. He was distracted and Nicolas slashed as his uniform.

" To night Monsieur you will chose life or death before this audience," Nicolas said

" I've made my decision, Life," Alexander said charging at Nicolas

Meg got help from the stagehands and got the performers off stage. Victoire opened her eyes and looked around.

" What happened? She asked

" Nicolas, has appeared to all," she said, " He's attacking Alexander."

" I have to stop them," Victoire said

" No," Meg said

Victoire looked at her and said, " Madame?"

Meg sighed and helped Victoire to her feet.

" Nicolas is not a bad person, he's only experienced bad things since he became the way he was," Meg said

" Madame, I know he's angry about his beloveds death, but killing Alexander isn't going to help it," Victoire said

" You don't understand Victoire, he's in love with you," Meg said

" But…how can that be I only met him that day?" she whispered

" I don't know, his love was like Erik's 4 years ago…Erik was the Phantom of the Opera, brought here by my mother," Meg said, " He lived in the cellars where Nicolas lives now. He taught a young chorus girl."

" Christine Daaé ," Victoire said

" Yes, my dearest friend, she thought he was an angel of music, but was deceived. Raoul also was in love with her and like Alexander he would go for what he wanted. When Erik made her chose, he had Raoul tied to the gate to his lair, lassos around his neck. She had courage and kissed Erik, which changed his mind, because that was the first time had he truly felt human compassion. He released Christine and Raoul and sent them on their way. He vanished from sight, but I found him that night. He acted like a scared animal and I calmed him. Erik and I married 3 months after the Opera Populaire met its fate. Victoire you must know now, that once you've seen his face, you are his forever even without a charm. His love burns deep for you, and now you must face the first phase of his burning love for you," Meg told her

" Erik, that picture…in your room was that Erik?" she asked

" Yes," Meg said

" What happened to him?" she asked

" He past away, he was ill until the very end of his days. We were only married for a few months. The doctor thought the many years of living in cellars of the opera house, might have been the cause of his deathly disease. Victoire I saved Nicolas from death, but you can save his soul. See him past the mask, he longs for that attention…let him write the music for you," Meg said, " In the end it was love that saved Erik and perhaps Nicolas can be saved…but do it before it's to late."

Victoire looked at Meg and Meg grabbed her hands.

" He will understand," Meg whispered, " Do you feel safe in Nicolas' arms? Do you feel like the world does not matter when he speaks to you?"

" Yes," Victoire said

" Then take the leap, for the sake of his sanity," Meg said

Victoire walked out on stage and saw Nicolas threaten Alexander with the blade.

" Stop!" she shouted

Nicolas looked up at her and Victoire looked back at Nicolas. His mask was that of a skull and his attire was a fine vibrant red, outlined with a embroidered gold design on his sleeves and dress coat. He sheathed his blade and walked towards the stage, there was silence amongst the audience as they watched. Victoire breathed deep as he came onto the stage, his eyes never left hers. She turned on her toes and looked at Nicolas, as he stopped only feet from her.

" Your pendant is gone," he said, " You belong to me now."

" I know," she whispered

Meg looked at Nicolas and Victoire as they stood there. She hoped that Victoire would make the right decision. Nicolas put out his hand and Victoire walked towards him ever so gracefully, like she was floating on a cloud. Her hand fell into his and his fingers wrapped around her hand. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her delicate hand. Victoire breathed deep and he pulled her to him and took her into his arms.

" Fight him Victoire!" Alexander shouted

" You can not resist me any longer," he whispered, " I have been in you mind for too long."

She closed her eyes and leaned her head back onto his chest.

" Nicolas," she whispered, " I can't fight you…I won't fight you."

She turned and faced him and reached up and touched his face. She reached behind him and grabbed his cloak. He looked at her and then without hesitation she pulled his mask off , but placed her hand on his disfigured half. He looked at her and wrapped his cloak around her and they fell through a trapped door. All that remained was his cloak and the skull mask. The audience gasped as they saw only the red cloak and the mask, they stood up and clapped. Meg breathed deep and placed her hands over her heart, two hands rested onto her shoulders and she turned around to see her husband standing there.

" Henri," she whispered

They looked at the dancers and singers that wiped tears from their eyes. They walked out and bowed and then the curtains fell.

That night Meg knelt down by her bedside and lit a white candle in front of Erik's picture. She looked at his picture and wiped the tears from her face. She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer.

" Must you pray alone for me?" Erik's voice whispered, " My sweet Meg, how I see you cry for me every night. Why not cry with my dear friend and your husband?"

" Because I prefer to shed no tears with anyone," Meg whispered

She looked up and saw Erik standing before her. His black cloak rested over his shoulders, his white shirt loosely undone, no mask and his usual black pants. He walked over to her and sat down on her bed. She laid her head on his lap and Erik gently stroked her head with his rough hands.

" Oh Erik," she whispered

She grabbed his hand and kissed it and Erik looked at her.

" It appears you are happier now, have you come to terms with my death Meg?" Erik asked

" Only in my mind, but my heart still bleeds," Meg replied

" Yes, the heart bleeds more than anything…your kindness to me mended my wounded heart that Christine cut open. If it were not for your silence and nurturing care…I would have died from a broken heart. Your gentle words and your gesture stitched the bleeding heart," Erik said

Erik covered her eyes with his hand and gently kissed her.

" Your Phantom lives in your heart, but sooner or later you will have to abandon him," Erik whispered

" Never," Meg said

" Shh, My sweet Meg," he whispered silencing her with his finger

Erik removed his hand and the room was covered in roses and Erik lifted one. One with a white ribbon and black ribbon tied to the stem.

" I promised you Meg that I would never leave you, and I haven't," Erik said, " I have asked Henri to take you under his wing. This rose ties us to you."

Erik slipped it in her hair and then stood up and Meg did as well. He took her hands into his own.

" Keep that Phantom from harming anyone, I have a feeling danger is just around the corner," Erik said

Erik kissed her and once more placed his hand over her eyes, then kissed her head.

" I am your angel and your phantom," he voice echoed

Meg opened her eyes and looked at the rose that laid by the candle. She lifted it up and then turned around and saw Henri standing there. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him.