A New Start

Chapter 14: The link to the trap

Marie Claire's blood felt as cold as Alaska in the dead of winter as she walked into the lair. The gate slammed shut with a note of finality and she shivered.

"So," he said slowly as he offered a hand out to her so she could step across the lake. "You have finally come."

"Yes I have." she said putting a shaking hand in his and taking a leap across the water.

She landed lightly and immediatley took her hand out of his. He gave her a look and laughed an unatural laugh.

"Afraid of me are you? That will soon change, you will see." he said putting his hands on her shoulders.

She shivered at his touch. Why had this happened to her? Why couldn't she have a normal life?

"Please don't do that." she said, trying to slink away from his touch.

He didn't let go, putting a bit of pressure on her shoulders. Though she was not facing him she could tell that there was anger in his touch.

"Do not tell me what to do my dear. You will to succumb to me. Now sing for me."

Marie Claire's eyes widened in fear. Why oh why hadn't she heeded Lizzie's warning? He turned her around so that she was facing him and once again placed his hands on her shoulders, but this time more gently.

"Now sing for me." he said softly. "Let the music surround you."

As she looked into his eyes, she saw anger, she saw hate, but she also saw pleading. As though he had never felt human compassion or love, or better yet never let himself. But it was hidden behind all that anger and hate that he could not let go of, as if he refused to give anyone a chance to help him. She would like to help him, but she doubted he would let her.

"What are you looking at?" he asked curiously, but with a slight snarl in his tone. "Sing for me Angel of music!"

Marie would have been surprised at his words for this is what he had called her mother, but as he forced her to look in his eyes that same trance came over her. She began to sing the song that she had sung the last time she had been in the lair. As the words to Music of the Night soared through the air, Marie felt herself entering a surreal world. She began to wonder if there had ever been a life before this. Then Erik began to sing with her as he gripped her fingers and led her around the room. Marie Claire's voice seemed to grow stronger and more beautiful with each note. The music reached her soul as if it to were singing. The only thoughts that crossed her mind were thoughts of music. The Phantom took her small white hand and placed it against his cheek as if asking for trust. As the final note rang through the air, the room seemed to vibrate with the power of the music. Marie stood in awe for a moment, a small smile playing at her lips. She had never sung like that before. That was her best , and that was saying something. She looked at Erik in wonderment, wondering why he enabled her to sing this way.

"Bravo my young madmoiselle, bravo. That was heavenly." he said nodding his head in approval.

"Thank you monsieur Erik." she said curtsying politely. She was beginning to forget who she was, or where she had come from, as music consumed her mind. Erik placed his hand under her chin, tilting it upward.

"But you must keep your head upright or you will stifle your voice. Now lets sing again, I'll begin. I'll daresay you'll recognize this song." he said slyly as he began to sing.

"No more talk of darkness, forget these wide eyed fears. I'm here, nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you..."

Suddenly Marie's trance fell and reality hit her so hard that she almost couldn't breathe. Who she was and where she was came to her in rush as he sang the ever so familiar song.

"No stop it! That's the song my father and mother sang to each other!" Marie Claire yelled at the top of her lungs.

The Phantom stopped singing, a furious look in his eyes.

"Be quiet!"

"No! That's my parents song! I know that you don't like them and the three of you have been through a lot, but please don't mock them!" screamed Marie Claire, angry tears stinging those blue eyes.

Erik raised his eyebrows at her, a vengeful look in those eyes that seemed to burn.

"Don't talk to me about your parents, you insolent girl! Your mother betrayed me after all I did for her. She left with your dear father, never to return!" he said the anger inside him becoming uncontrollable.

Marie looked at him sadly, eyes full of anger at what he had done, but eyes full of pity for him.

"You speak of betrayal, when you are the one who decieved my mother, leading her to believe that you were the angel of her father." she said quietly, looking directly in his eyes with her piercing blue ones. "You sir, are a hypocrite."

He turned away from her, and walked slowly around the lair. As much has he tried to hate her, he couldn't, she was to much like Christine. But if she went much further, he could try harder. He laughed slowly.

"You have no idea my dear. Do not speak of what you do not know. How sweet and innocent you are, so much like your mother." he said, still not facing her. "But," he whispered to himself, "It will not be long before she and you will be mine, and Arthur and Raoul will be gone."

Unfortuantley for the Phantom, Marie Claire had good hearing. She stared at him, disbelief in her eyes and anger coursing through her veins.

"What!" yelled Marie as the Phantom whipped around, "I thought that once I gave you my voice that you would leave my family alone. You decieved me!" she said, her voice rising and starting to shake. "I gave you my voice and this is how you repay me, by plotting revenge on my parents and Arthur? Please leave them alone. I love them and they love each other! Dosen't that mean anything to you!" she said her blue eyes gazing into his face.

He tapped his finger on his chin as if trying to remember something.

"Lets see, where have I heard that before? Ah yes, I believe your father said the same thing to me when he came to rescue your mother. Said that he loved her so I should let her go." he said gazing at her eyes, the eyes that looked so much like Raoul's. "He had that same expression in his eyes. You seem to have a lot of him in you." he said, coming closer to her.

"And I'm proud of it!" said Marie squaring her shoulders.

"Though I despise your father, I cannot deny that he loves you and your mother and your brother with all of his heart." he said as he came up to her and put his hands on either side of his face.

"But can't you see that you and your mother belong here?" he asked.

Marie Claire stepped away from him, shaking her head.

"No, we belong where we are. My parents belong together, they love each other more than life itself. And Arthur and I love each other. Can't you see that?" she said desperatley.

He snorted.

"So naive. If you will not stay by your own free will, you will stay by force! I made the biggest mistake of my life letting your mother and father go. It was a moment of weakness for not wanting to hurt your mother."

"It wasn't a moment of weakness, it was a moment of human compassion, for what you knew was right. You knew it was right for them to be together, why are you going back on your action!" yelled Marie. "Didn't you learn anything from my mother? She cared for you as a teacher, tried to help you. Will you let no one help you!" she asked tears staining her pretty face.

"Not likely, no one will. There is nothing you can do to stop my plan Marie Claire, you have only made it easier for me."

She stood in shock, remembering Lizzie's words. Why had she done this? But she refused to let him hurt anyone she loved. She would not let his evil plan follow through.

"I won't allow it! I thought that if I gave you my voice you would be satisifed. I thought I could at least trust you with that, but obviously I can't." she yelled, opening the gate and storming out.

He didn't follow.

"My plan will follow through, you can't escape your fate!" he yelled after her, once again turning to his organ.

She heard the strains of his music as she ran, running to escape the darkness that was threatning to overcome her.

When Lizzie walked home with Meg, she was rather quiet. Meg looked at her normally chatty daughter with concern.

"What's the matter dear? Are you worried about Marie?"

Lizzie sighed and decided that if she was going to be a real friend to Marie, she would warn everyone of Marie Claire's decision. Marie would agree later, Lizzie knew it. She had to keep Lizzie safe!

"Mama, Lizzie went down to the Phantom's lair." she said seriously.

"She what?" asked Meg in disbelief.

"She was only trying to protect her parents and Arthur from the Phantom." said Lizzie, her eyes full of worried tears.

"Oh Marie, the poor, sweet girl." said Meg biting her lip in worry. "Oh my god, Raoul and Christine." she said as she grabbed Lizzie' s hand and jumped in the first coach they saw, and headed for the de Chagny home.

When Marie finally made it up to the main opera house , the first thing she saw were her parents pale faces. Raoul's hair was everywhere, and Christine's clothes were wrinkled. They looked like they had run all the way to the opera, which in fact they had. Their eyes were filled with tears and their faces pale and drawn. The moment they saw their beloved daughter's tears streaked face, they ran to her. When they met, they wrapped their arms around her as she sobbed in relief at seeing them.

"Marie Claire, oh sweetie." said Christine, "We were so worried that something had happened to you." said Christine, stroking her daughter's curly hair.

"I'm so sorry." she choked out. "I was just trying to protect you and papa and Arthur..." she said looking up at them.

"Shhhh... Marie my darling girl, its okay." said Raoul, picking her up in his arms. "Let's go home. Arthur, Lizzie, Meg, and Felix are waiting for us.

Marie Claire snuggled up against her father's warmth, her tears spilling onto his jacket, finally feeling safe. Raoul smiled a watery smile down at his daughter, as Christine kissed his cheek and put her arm around him. She then kissed the top of Marie's curly head. Marie smiled into her father's shirt. These were the best parents anyone could have, and she loved them more than life itself. Raoul and Christine's eyes met, having that connection that soul mates often do. They knew that when Marie was ready to talk about this she would. But for now, she needed to be comforted and find her sense of security. They looked at each other with love in their eyes for each other and for their daughter, who was falling asleep in her father's arms as the family walked home.