Chapter 13: A Chorus Girl's Phantom Lover

1 month later

Victoire spent a month practicing for the opera that was coming up. She still had memories of a month ago, at the ball. She sat on the stage after practice, Nicolas looked at her as she just stared out. He remained in the shadows and sighed as he watched Victoire stand up. He walked out and gently wrapped his arms around her, she closed her eyes as he held her.

" Nicolas, is everything at peace?" she asked

" Yes, there is nothing to worry about my dancing maiden," he whispered, " You are safe from any harm."

She nodded and just let him hold her, but neither knew they were being watched from the distance. Nicolas trailed his hands over her body and trailed his hand to her face. She felt his hands just gently stroke her cheek and run through her hair. She turned around and kissed him fully and Nicolas pulled her close.

Meg walked from behind the stage and saw Nicolas out and about. She walked back behind the curtain and sighed.

" They are like us, my beautiful Meg,"

Meg turned her head and looked at Erik, he wore the black mask, which was worn during the performance of Dou Juan. His attire was just like the costume as well and she smiled.

" Your very handsome dressed like that, it suits you well monsieur," Meg said

Erik smiled and placed his hand on her shoulder and looked at the young lovers.

" Their ages are not that far apart," Erik said, " They have their youth to protect their love."

" And what does age of to do with love?" Meg asked

She looked at Erik and he smiled, then touched her nose with one finger.

" Nothing at all," he said

" I didn't think so," Meg replied

Erik looked at them and touched Meg's cheek.

" You have changed Meg," Erik whispered, " Healthier, your skin is much softer. You do not look pale, I can tell something has happened between you and Henri."

" We are working out problems," she said

She turned and looked up at Erik, he kissed her head.

" I see good things for our Phantom and his Chorus girl, keep an eye out on them; there still is a trouble," Erik said, " The young captain has been coming around."

" I will Erik," she whispered

She closed her eyes and Erik was gone and looked at the lovers. She turned away, then walked off to turn in the music for the conductor. Victoire opened her eyes as Nicolas pulled away, she smiled at him.

" Nicolas," she whispered, " I love you."

" I love you too," he said taking her hands into his

Victoire wrapped her arms around him and closed her eyes.

" Can we be together Nicolas?" she whispered

" Yes," he whispered, " Forever."

Nicolas kissed her one last time and vanished into the shadows. She smiled seeing the rose on the ground, where he stood. She knelt down and picked it up, then lifted it to her nose.

" You are my rose sweet Nicolas," she whispered

That night the curtains rose and Victoire looked at the crowd as she stood in place. The red rose in her hand and the young singer walked up to her as she played hard to get. Nicolas watched and smiled, as his dancing angel, gracefully touched the stage. He looked down at his hand, which held a ring, a beautiful diamond ring.

" Patricia, may your spirit always be in this ring, so I may love you both," Nicolas thought

Alexander looked up in box five and left his own seat to make it there. He held his pistol under his coat and walked up.

" Tonight Phantom I will win Victoire's heart, you've taken her by force. I will set her free from your spell," Alexander said, " I have my pistol that will kill an immortal."

He came to box five and walked in quietly and readied his pistol and raised it up. He walked over towards him and fired a shot. Everything stopped and Victoire looked up in horror hearing it came from box five.

" No," she whispered, " No."
Another shot was fired and then a third. They suddenly saw Alexander being choked by a pair of hands.

" You have come to kill the Phantom," Nicolas said

" Let me go," Alexander said

" Gladly," Nicolas said

Nicolas lifted Alexander and raised him out of the box. Alexander looked at him in complete horror seeing the white mask staring at him.

" Don't let me fall," Alexander cried

" Such a young man should never be captain of any type of force. If one is afraid of me than one will die of shock in battle," Nicolas said

Nicolas lifted him out further, people could see the outline of the white mask. They gasped and Victoire looked at Meg in the mangers' box. Meg looked at Henri, then took off and Victoire walked off stage, to try to stop Nicolas from killing Alexander.

" Alexander, has come to kill Nicolas," she thought, " But I won't let that happen."

She ran through the stage hands and out into the lobby. She climbed the grand staircase and went to box five. She went to open the door, but found it was jammed with something.

" Nicolas!" she cried, " Nicolas!"

Meg ran to box five with Henri behind her.

" What's wrong?" Meg asked

" The doors jammed," Victoire said

" There has to be away to get in," Meg said

Both pulled at the door and Meg kicked at it. Victoire did the same thing.

" Nicolas! Nicolas Open the door!" Victoire cried

" Stand back," Henri said

They looked at him as he lifted a candle opera stand and slammed into the door. He continued until there was away to push the object wedged into the door.

" Nicolas!" Victoire cried out

The door opened Victoire walked in and grabbed Nicolas' hand.

" Don't," she whispered, " Not like this."

" He is a greedy scoundrel, wanting you for himself," Nicolas said, " If he is dead there will be peace."

Victoire shook her head and placed his hand on her face.

" Your blood stained hands will not be able to touch this flesh," she whispered, " You and I must be pure."

Nicolas looked at her and pulled Alexander up and threw him out the door. Victoire wrapped her arms around Nicolas and her took her into his arms. Alexander looked at them and shook his head.

" No, not this time," he thought

He lifted his pistol and stood up, there he aimed it at Nicolas.

" Let this be the day that the Phantom of the Opera died!" he shouted

He fired two shots in a row and Nicolas pushed Victoire away from harm. He was hit twice once in the chest and near his lower abdomen.

" Nicolas!" Victoire cried

She ran to him as he hit the ground hard and his white mask fell off. Meg looked at Alexander and then Alexander fell to the ground. Meg looked at Henri as he held the blade.

" Get a doctor Meg," he said, " Do it quickly."

Meg ran off and called for the doctor and he came gathering his tools. Victoire looked at Nicolas as he breathed deep.

" Nicolas, don't leave me," Victoire cried

Henri knelt down and Nicolas looked at the manger.

" Hold on friend," Henri said

" Friend? I would think I was a monster to those who know me as Phantom," Nicolas whispered

" You saved my wife from danger, I owe you Phantom," he said, " and this young woman deserves such a hero in her life."

Nicolas looked at Victoire and grabbed her hand and then kissed it. She leaned over and kissed Nicolas and Nicolas kissed her back before falling back into her arms.

" Nicolas," she cried