See? I promised you there would be another chapter...
I am in need of some pity, my dear readers. It seems I have broken my darn foot.
I blame Raoul.
Lucky for all of you, this will meanI'll be high on painkillers andprolly writing a lot.
Anywhoooo...Enjoy!
-Nico
The carriage was still rolling as Meg opened the door, leaping onto the cobblestones in front of the Opera Populaire.
"Henry, bring the carriage around back!" She called over her shoulder to the now shaking driver.
She lifted her skirts, not caring for modesty at the moment, and ran inside of the Opera, nearly knocking over several innocent bystanders in the process.
Meg's muscular legs pumped as she maneuvered through the Opera House, frantically running towards her mother's quarters. Her breath burned in her chest, but she continued until she reached the heavy oak door, flinging it open without knocking.
Erik was instantly on his feet, standing in front of Madeline, who had been on the floor assembling what looked to be small blocks.
Madame Giry was also present, sitting in a chaise lounge watching the little girl play.
"Meg!" She exclaimed, jumping up as her daughter burst in the room. "What happened?"
"Where's Christine?" Erik asked simultaneously.
Meg looked nervously down at Madeline, who was watching her with wide eyes. "Er…Erik," she stammered. "Mother…something…something terrible…"
"Madeline," Erik said, his voice low. "Please go in the other room," he said, indicating the small dressing room that was attached to Madame Giry's living quarters.
Madeline, sensing her father's tone, got up obediently, moving slowly towards the dressing room, all the while keeping her eyes on Meg.
"Meg," Madame Giry said as Erik closed the dressing room doors behind his daughter. "What has happened?"
Erik approached Meg, who all at once fell into his arms, weeping. "Someone took her," she said, feeling Erik's arms tense around her. "They stopped the carriage…held a gun to Henry's head…and they took her!"
"Who took her?" Erik demanded, holding the crying Meg at arm's length. "Who was it?"
"I'm sure I don't know, Sir," Meg said. "I've never seen these men before. They were dirty, certainly not to be trusted."
"Where did they take her?" Erik demanded, unable to keep the anger from his tone.
Meg shook her head, lifting her wet lids to Erik. "They disappeared into an alley…I tried to stop them, but they locked me inside of the carriage!"
"Did they not say anything?" Madame Giry asked, smoothing her daughter's hair, trying to comfort her.
Meg nodded. "They did," she whispered, looking at Erik. "They said if you do not go to the cemetery at midnight then…then…" her voice broke again, "then they will kill Christine."
Erik moved swiftly, draping his dark cloak about his shoulders.
"Where are you going?" Madame Giry asked.
"To find her, dammit!" Erik replied, moving towards the door. Madame Giry moved quickly and slammed the door shut, just as Erik had opened it. "Move," he growled.
"It is daylight, Monsieur," Madame Giry replied loudly. "What good will you do her once you've been sighted and brought in by the police?"
Erik contemplated this. She was right. It would be unfair to Madeline if both her parents were suddenly gone.
"We must do something," Erik said, his voice loud. "We know who is behind this…"
Madame Giry nodded. "Yes, we do," she relented, sounding as if she had a plan.
Erik raised an eyebrow quizzically. "What do you suggest, Madame?"
"We shall play his game, arrive at the cemetery…but remember, we hold the ace," she said, speaking quickly over Meg's sound of protest. "Wherever he is, Christine is sure to be close by."
"We have no army, Madame," Erik informed her somewhat tersely.
Madame Giry smiled. "Perhaps we are not in need of an army, Monsieur."
She moved gracefully over to a locked cabinet. Producing the keys from somewhere inside of her voluminous skirts, she unlocked the cabinet, pulling out and opening a small mahogany box.
With amazing skill, Madame Giry pulled the small revolver from the box, arming it quickly.
"Mother!" Meg exclaimed. "Where did you get that?"
"It was a gift," Madame Giry replied, ensuring that the safety was in place.
Erik's eyes were wide, watching the woman's movements.
"It has never been used," Madame Giry continued. "It is a shame…such a lovely piece, don't you think?"
"Madame, are you implying that you may have found a use for this weapon?" Erik asked, impressed by the woman's handling of the gun.
Madame Giry tucked the gun within the velvet sash at her waist. "I would like to think that my late husband did not waste his time in teaching me the correct way to handle this revolver," she replied. "There are wrongs that need to be righted, Monsieur…wrongs against my family and yours."
Erik nodded once, catching her meaning.
"I shall come with you tonight," Madame Giry announced. "And together, we shall end this once and for all."
