Chapter Three: The Old Fortune Teller


The darkness surrounded him. Swallowing him. Pulling him under the waves of fear. "Christine…" he found himself moaning. "Christine, where are you?"

"She won't hear you."

Erik turned around, his cape swirling around. Javert stood with his fat face twisted into a horrible smile. A chuckle came from his throat and echoed. "She won't hear you, and if she did, why would she come? Why would she want to see a corpse?"

He Phantom stiffened. "She would come."

"She hates you."

"No!"

"How could she not! You're hideous!"

"Christine…"


Erik jerked awake, eyes flying open and sitting up on he couch in which he'd fallen asleep on. He could find no sign of the man that had haunted his dreams. He put his hands to his face, leaning into them and propping his elbows on his knees. A sigh escaped his lips.

"Erik?"

He turned to see Christine standing there, hand stretched out towards him. He grasped it and brought it up to the smooth side of his face, leaning into her touch.

"Erik, what's going on?" she whispered into his ear, face so close to his that he could feel her breath on his skin. "Last night. Every time you lay down today. Is this to go on? I know you have no slept well in nights before. For the same reason? Erik, his can't go on."

He looked at her, his mismatched eyes meeting her tear filled blue ones. "My love, I'm sorry to worry you."

"I'm worried for your sake," she whispered, caressing his face. "Perhaps we should not go tonight. I could say I have a horrible headache. That would work, don't you think? Meg and Raoul can go alone and they'll have a lovely time."

"You seemed to want to go."

"Not if it will cause you more distress."

Erik pulled her down so that she sat next to him and her head fell to his shoulder, her hand clutching his. "Going to the fair this evening… perhaps it will put the ghosts behind me."

"It won't be worse?"

The Phantom shook his head, kissing her hand softly. "No, my dear. I should think not."

They did not discuss it again in the afternoon before the sun set and they made their way up to ground level to meet Raoul and Meg. Little Giry's face lit up at the sight of Christine and they embraced, Christine leaning in to whisper something into her ear. Meg nodded and they were off.

Erik pulled his cloak closer to his face and his hat that he wore down as they walked through Paris' streets. Christine touched his arm, easing some tension. He looked down one her, her eyes smiling up at him he and allowed a smile of his own to cross his lips. She was there. The looks of distrust and fear didn't matter. As long as she was there.

"This looks amazing!" Meg gasped as they entered the fair grounds. "Look, Christine! Look at the man with the fire!"

The girls laughed and giggled like schoolgirls as they watched the Gypsies perform for them.

"No one's looking, you know."

Erik turned abruptly from his place where he'd been watching Christine. "What?"

"Since we walked from he opera house, you've been looking about, watching everyone as if they might suddenly form a mob and come after you," Raoul chuckled. "No one's watching you, no one's even noticed."

"It wouldn't be the first time a mob was formed against me simply because I keep a mask over my face," Erik growled. "And even more so if they know what lies under it."

The aristocrat shrugged. "People – not that there are many here tonight – are far too intrigued by the performers to look at you."

Erik looked away from the slightly smaller man. "I hope you're right."

"About what?" Christine's questioning voice met his ears.

He turned to her, feeling slightly ashamed. He'd come for her and he would not let his own paranoia of the human race ruin their time. "Nothing, my dear," he said with a small smile. He wrapped an arm around her and she relaxed in his embrace. "What would you like to see next, my angel?"

Christine stood in thought for a long moment. If she had decided on their next viewing, her request was cut short by a raindrop that splattered the tip of her nose. She laughed at this and looked up, seeing the clouds that were rolling in for the first time. "I'd say," she began as she turned to look a her husband, "somewhere dry." As soon as he words had left her mouth, the sky opened up. A deluge fell on them, forcing them to move quickly to the nearest tent.

The girls were laughing by the time they reached it, everyone one of them soaked. Well, all except Erik that had moved a bit quicker and had managed to avoid the gush of water that had fallen on the other three from the of the tent.

Christine beamed. "That was wonderful!" she announced with a giggle. "Perhaps every day at the fair is meant to end in mud and grime!"

Erik shook his head with a silent smile on his lips. In one quick motion he pulled his cloak from his shoulders and draped it around his wife's. She looked up, startled. "Erik… I thought you were worried about-"

Her husband shook his head. "I'd rather have people gawk than have my lovely young wife catch a cold and spend the rest of her time off in bed."

She blushed at his thoughtfulness and pulled the far-too-big cloak around her much smaller shoulders. "Thank you," she said quietly, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

Raoul chucked. "Meg, my dear, I would offer you my jacket, but I fear that it is as wet as you are."

The ballerina laughed at this. "Well we shall both suffer colds then, if we must. It was well worth it, I assure you."

"Won't you come to the fortune able?" a haggard voice said from behind. They turned to see a little old woman, bent with age, standing there, her gnarled hand stretched out to them.

"Fortune?" Christine echoed.

"Only two francs."

Erik rolled his eyes. "It's a scam, Christine. Believe me, I could tell you each trick they pull on you."

The old woman smiled. "Give me your hand, sir, and I will tell you about yourself. For free to show I am no sham."

"It's not worth my time," Erik growled.

The old lady snatched up his hand with a quicker motion than anyone would have though and tore his glove from it. He started to pull away, but she began to speak. "Your name is Erik," she began.

"Christine said my name just a bit ago," Erik countered.

The woman's eyes closed and the touch of her hand on his cool skin made him shiver in revulsion. He began tug, but her voice came forth again. "Angel of Doom. Angel of Music. Phantom of the Opera and Opera Ghost, all names you have held. Many a name to one face. One face that no one may see."

Erik's mismatched eyes widened in horror and he pulled away. "This is insane," he growled. "Leave me be, old woman."

She cackled as he turned his back on her. "Javert's murderer."

He stopped dead still, silence reigning through the tent. He turned slowly, eyes narrowed. "What?"

"We found him dead the next morning," she answered him with an evil grin. "Dead as could be, cold and rotting. Found the blood on he ground and his eyes rolled back. The little boy had done it, we were sure, because the little corpse was nowhere to be seen."

"Enough!" Erik yelled, his voice echoing ominously. "Enough." He turned to leave, Christine taking his hand, worry etched onto her fair features.

They left in the rain, returning to the opera house that evening in silence. Raoul and Meg bid the couple good evening, doing well not to ask about what he old hag had said. It was not until they had reached their underground home and Ayesha had greeted them, bringing forth no reaction from Erik, that Christine had laid a gentle hand on his arm.

He turned, eyes filled with unshed tears. His knees buckled under him and she sank to the ground with him, holding him as he sobbed openly in her arms.


A/N: I'm so far behind on my Phantom viewings… last night was only my 4th time :sigh:


Cmdr. Gabe E:Oh something has to give the happy ending a run for it's money or it wouldn't make it a good story! There'd be no plot, just fluff, on which I am certainly no apposed to. Lol.

Lost Schizophrenic :Well, he went, and now he's sorry he did. Lol. Poor poor Erik. No rest for him.

Alicia Miller:Thanks so much :)

GoldenLyre:Hehe… yeah, poor Erik doesn't get away from his past very easily does he?

Clever Lass:My pleasure :)

Lynx Ryder:There's still a bit of tension between Erik and Raoul, obviously, but it would make since hat Erik would be a bit more at ease seeing as he's married Christine and Raoul's found someone else to keep him happy… Ah well, poor them with a mini-fight, but at least it didn't end too poorly, the fight, I mean

India Pyro: Okay lol.