Chapter 11: Blessings of a Forsaken Angel
Erik and Meg stood before an alter and a priest wed them that night. Erik's life with Meg had already started when they slept with each other. Erik knew from there she would not abandon him and would save him from his darken past. Marie and Gaston watched as they witnessed the marriage between their master and his lady love. Erik kissed Meg and they were now husband and wife.
That evening continued with music played by the servants and celebration for welcoming Meg to the house of a thousand tears. Erik took her outside and kissed her on the candle lit veranda and then showed her the land she now owned with him. The money he had earned for three years became her money as well. Everything was now half hers and she told him she only wanted a new life with him and their baby.
" Erik, what will my mother think?" Meg thought
Erik took her in his arms and they looked out in the distance.
" Let me tell you a story my beautiful angel," he said, " One that will make you rethink your decision."
Flash back
20 years ago ( 1853)
Erik watched from box five as the rehearsals went on and he listened to the instructor scolding the chorus girls, including young Madame Giry. He could only smile under his half face mask finding that one day none of those girls would listen to such an old woman. He fled once he heard the doors open and went into the shadows of the opera house. Erik went down a couple sets of stairs and down a hall then up another set up stairs where he entered under the stage. He then came up into the shadows and climbed the ropes into the rafters. Erik watched from there and then smiled and let something fall to give the instructor a scare. The girls jumped and the old woman screamed a terrifying scream. Young Madame Giry laughed and the other girls looked at her.
" Are you not scared?" they asked
" No," she replied
The instructor looked around and Erik jumped down and wrapped his cloak around tapped her shoulder.
" Forgive me Madame," he said
She turned around and screamed and Erik vanished into the shadows. The instructor ran out to tell the managers of the Phantom. Madame Giry smiled and walked off and went down below to hear a slight chuckle.
" Erik," she called holding a candle
Erik looked up and stood up in her presence.
" Madame," Erik said
She smiled and Erik looked at her taking the candle from her hand. She sat down and looked at Erik.
" Is there something wrong Antoinette?" he asked
" You're my dearest friend Erik," she said
" There is something wrong….your leaving the Opera Populaire," Erik said
She silenced him and said, " No, Erik not at all…I can't leave you without someone caring for you."
He took her hand and kissed it and she looked at him.
" I want to tell my husband something, but I don't know how…I'm afraid to tell him because then he might get worried," Madame Giry said
" Why should you be afraid that he might think it's too soon?" Erik asked
Madame Giry looked at Erik and then sighed.
" I'm with child," she replied
" With Child?" he asked, " And your afraid?"
" I want to tell him, but I don't know how?" Madame Giry said
" You need to tell him before it is too late, cause when it becomes to late you will be forced too," Erik said
Madame Giry nodded and hugged Erik and promised that she would tell him soon. Erik spent several days watching Madame Giry and finally watched her tell her husband. He had never seen the couple so happy until that very moment.
End of Flash Back
" Nine months later a beautiful baby girl was born and 20 years later she grew up. Now married and with child with the same decision to make," Erik said
Meg looked at him and then hugged him tight. She kissed him and promised she would write her mother before it became to late.
So, Erik watched Meg and she did as she promised and wrote to her mother telling her about her marriage and being with child.
For the first few days of their marriage Erik and Meg spent time away from servants and the estate. They wanted to learn about each other, though Erik knew pretty much everything about Meg since she and Madame Giry lived in the opera house after Meg's father past away. Meg learned a little about Erik and found that he was not bitter any longer about his past.
Marie and Gaston watched as Erik changed from his bitter state and his estate changed for the best. Meg's gentle touch brought hope to everyone and the estate became lighter. Erik learned to deal with the ignorance of his servants and continued to teach Colette, which it was not long after that she was sent away to be tutored under someone else. Erik and Meg looked forward to their child's arrival into the world. Erik finally found that missing piece when he kissed Meg for the first time as his wife. He was renewed and hopeful for his future.
7 months later
Darkness touched the morning light, it began to rain and thunder. The dogs paced with Erik as he waited to hear news on Meg. Meg had suddenly fallen ill and he knew it had to deal with the baby that she carried. Erik was afraid about the idea of child birth and heard that most mother's never made it through. Erik had called the man with all the answers, his friend and investment friend. The doors opened and Erik looked up, everything stopped and Olivier looked at Erik.
" Well?" he asked
" Well," Olivier said
The dogs whined as they too waited news with their eager master. Erik rubbed their heads and looked at Olivier.
" Speak man what is wrong?" he asked
" Erik, your wife is doing fine," Olivier said
" The child?" Erik asked
" Is well," Olivier said, " I believe your child is…"
" What is it?" Erik asked with eagerness
" Perfect," Olivier said
Erik breathed a sigh and the dogs braked and Erik walked into the room. Marie wrapped the baby into a soft blanket and laid it in Meg's arms.
" Erik, come see your son," Meg said
" Son," he whispered
Erik walked over and looked at his son as he stood there.
" Perfect," he whispered
" Perfect just like his father," Meg replied
" Nothing like his father," Erik said
He sat beside Meg and Pandora and Delilah jumped on the bed, Erik pushed them off the bed. They gave him a look and whined as they wanted to see what all the excitement was. Meg placed the child in Erik's arms and Erik looked at the child, he just stared at his son.
" He's beautiful," Erik whispered, " So perfect."
Erik walked to the window and opened the curtain, the sun pierced through the clouds and welcomed the beams entered the room.
" My beautiful son welcome to this world," he said
" Maurice," Meg whispered
" Maurice," Erik repeated, " It's a beautiful world now that you are in it."
Meg smiled and Erik looked at Pandora and Delilah as they looked eager to see the new arrival. Erik tapped his leg and they stood on their back feet and sniffed Maurice. Erik looked at Meg and walked over to her.
" My beautiful wife, who gave birth to you Maurice," Erik said
By the fall of the next year Meg and Erik went to Paris and visited Madame Giry with Maurice. Meg and Madame Giry had a long talk as she held her grandson and congratulated the parents of a beautiful son. There was more celebration once they had their marriage blessed at Notre Dame. Madame Giry welcomed Erik officially into the family, though he had always been apart of the family since her marriage to Meg's father.
As the seasons came and seasons went, Erik watched his son grow into a young boy. He learned many things in the family business and Erik taught him about music as well.
By the time Erik's son was 8 years old he was no longer an only child. Meg had a daughter and Erik was now obligated to his daughter Agatha, to teach her the family business. Meg assured Erik she wouldn't be into that and wanted her daughter to dance like her.
Both Meg and Erik watched their children grow and gave everything they desired. Erik's earnings became double each year and so he gave his children plenty of money for their schooling in their future.
When Maurice was 16, Erik sent his son to the finest school in Paris where he would learn only the best ways to invest his money. Agatha was sent to a school of dance and art, where she was taught how to dance and sing. Erik looked at his family as they showed contentment and Erik knew the time would come where he would see death as his new companion. Erik lived his life to the fullest and without regret, he walked to a room and there he opened a music box. He lifted a ring and studied it and there held it for the first time in 17 years.
" I wish to return this ring to her, but I dare not travel there," Erik thought, " on her tombstone is where I will lay it. I will out live her."
Meg entered the room and looked at Erik as he stood there. She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him.
" My dear husband, there is no more reason to fear the past," Meg whispered
" And I will never fear it again," Erik said
Meg smiled and Erik turned around and looked at her.
" You are more beautiful each time I see you," Erik said
" You are becoming senile Comte Montague," she said
" Am I countess?" Erik questioned
He smiled and kissed her passionately and they walked off together.
9 years later
Erik and Meg went to Paris where their son had a surprise waiting for them. Agatha followed her parents as they walked up to the apartment. Erik and Meg walked up together and knocked on the door. Maurice opened the door and welcomed them in and kissed his mother on her cheek and shook his father's hand.
" What is the big surprise?" Erik asked
" Well, it's not here it's somewhere else," Maurice said
" You make me climb these stairs and its not here, I'm not as young as I use to be son," Erik joked
" Don't worry old man, I'll take care of you," Maurice said
Agatha looked at her brother and then walked downstairs before they did. She looked at her older brother now 25 years old and engaged to a beautiful young woman, that he met in a shop. Agatha, now 17 and seeing a young Comte from northern France and the son of a formal business associate of her father's. Meg and Erik walked down the stairs with their son behind. Erik, was now 64 and had led a good life, he was not at all expecting to see the next few years. Meg, strong in health compared to her husband in the last 9 years, she took care of most the finances and the reconstruction on their grand estate. Maurice led them to a carriage and he took them to a place where memories were welcomed. The carriage stopped and Erik turned and looked to see the Opera Populaire, it sparkled with a fresh coat of paint and a poster announcing the reopening. Erik got down carefully and stared at the opera house, Meg grabbed his hand and gasped.
" Welcome Father to the Opera Populaire," Maurice said
Erik walked towards the front door and breathed deep, tears fell from his face and Meg followed.
" It's beautiful," Meg said, " Maurice how did you get this?"
" My partner and I bought it and fixed it up, Agatha, sister would you do the honors of being the first chorus girl?" Maurice asked, " and Mother would you be our instructor like grandmother was?"
Meg smiled and looked at Erik and he nodded and Maurice looked at Erik.
" And there's always your role father as the Patron of the Opera Populaire," Maurice said
" Another way to get money I see," Erik said
" Come on Father," Maurice said
" I would be honored," Erik said
Months after getting sponsors the Opera Populaire opened and Maurice official opened it with the raising of the new chandelier, that looked close to the original one. Erik, Meg, Agatha, Maurice, his fiancée and his partner stood in front.
" The Phantom of the Opera, what do you have to say about that?" a reporter asked
" There is no Phantom of the Opera, he's a myth and will remain as one," Maurice said
" Then you should look beside you," a voice from the distance said
People moved and a couple stood there and suddenly everyone took pictures.
" It's the Vicomte de Chagny and his wife," chatter began
Erik looked at Christine and Raoul and Meg did the same.
" He stands before you," Raoul said, " The legendary Phantom."
" Comte Erik Montague," Christine said
Erik walked down and the press looked at Erik and he laughed.
" Fair Countess, you speak so sharply," Erik said
" It's good to see you Erik, you are looking well," Christine said
" As are you," Erik said, " For a bitter woman."
He turned away and walked up the steps and Raoul looked at Erik. Raoul and Christine climbed the stairs and stood next to Maurice's business partner.
" So, does this end all rivalry between the de Chagny family and Montague family?" a reporter asked
" I hope so," Maurice said, " My father and my business partner's father have been rivals since the day one woman walked into their lives."
Erik looked at his son and then the picture was taken.
1914 (15 years later)
Erik walked with his son across the land and Erik looked at his son.
" When your as old as I am you will wish that you did more in life," Erik said
" I have, I've expanded our business to America," Maurice said, " and the Montague fortune has just tripled."
" That sounds wonderful," Erik said, " How is your wife Maurice?"
" She is fine, our son and daughter are taking lessons from a tutor at the Opera Populaire," Maurice said
" That is wonderful," Erik said
Maurice looked at Erik and said, " Father how is mother, she is well is she not?"
" She's is well, her work continues as she writes our tale on paper," Erik said, " Beauty and the Beast….is what she has called her story, but I'm afraid the title will be more than a Beauty and the Beast story."
Maurice laughed and they returned and Erik looked at his lands.
" Your sister and her husband have traveled all over Europe and some of Asia, I don't see why they travel so much," Erik said
" They're just getting use to these new crafts called planes, their suppose to be really handy when it comes to traveling," Maurice said
" And these cars, what happened to the horse and carriage," Erik joked, " I can hardly understand modern science."
" The Vicomte and his wife have bought one why not invest in a car father, the horses are old and used for show," Maurice said
" I'd be damned if I traded my horses and carriage in for one of those stupid machines," Erik said, " It's the classics that keep this world going round."
Erik sighed and walked up the stairs and stopped, he breathed deep and Maurice looked at him.
" I can only walk so far before breath is gone," Erik said
Maurice looked at his father and then looked around, the estate was different, old and artistic.
1919 ( 5 years later)
Erik looked at the rose tied with the black ribbon. He tied a ring to it and placed it on the tombstone.
" You have served your purpose in my life, now I must bid you good bye," Erik said
He leaned forward and kissed the tombstone.
" Christine Daaé , it's only been hell with a little heaven," Erik whispered
He walked off upon hearing people coming and he watched from the distance in the shadows. He saw his rival being wheeled to the tombstone, he held something in his hands and Erik knew right away what it was.
" I see, you have found it for her," he thought, " It was my gift left to be found."
Erik watched as Raoul sat the music box onto Christine's grave. He saw him thenlooking at the rose and he looked around. Raoul only wondered. Erik vanished from sight like a phantom.
" I rest my life in your hands now, you may take me," he whispered
He walked to three tombstone and knelt down beside them. He placed his hand on one and rested his head against it. The tombstone read: Loyal wife and beloved mother, the Countess Montague. 1854-1919, the other tombstones read: Young forever and immortalized as angels, young Montagues never die only fall asleep. André and Capucine 1900-1919.
Erik closed his eyes and his hand fell to his side and he took in the last sweet smells of the world around him.
" There once was an angel forsaken, but then a servant girl came and changed his life, she was hated by him, but in the end she helped him find his guardian angel. Blessings for a forsaken angel. May he rest in peace now," a old woman said
" Grandmother Colette, it's time to go," a voice said
" I'm coming," she said
" Good bye Erik Montague, until tomorrow master," she said
She placed a red rose on his grave and placed the white mask under his picture.
THE END