Epilogue
Erik knew peace was not far away. After Christine's passing, Raoul had slipped back into the habit of the morphine, all the old physical pain seeming to come back violently, without her caring presence. The children were helpless against his self destruction. Erik had witnessed his frailty at the auction which he had engineered to tie up his own loose ends. Madame Giry had taken it upon herself to actually orchestrate the event as his own health was also failing him.
He had watched from his old vantage point, box 5 as the auction progressed, hardly able to bear seeing these precious artifacts leave, they were a part of his life. But the Opera house was ready now for a new life. He knew his children would take care of it. He watched carefully while the monkey box was presented. He and Christine had agreed to relay the horror of his life and capture to Raoul early on, Christine telling Raoul it had been told to her while in the lair the night she had gone missing, so many years ago, before the tragedy. It was what had really softened Raoul and kept him from pursuing Erik into America those first years. He wanted him to have it. He smiled when Miranda bid on it, knowing she wanted to make sure of Raoul noticed it. He faded in and out of his morphine soothed plane of thought. After Raoul bought the monkey box and played the song, he felt an unbearable ache inside him and set off for the Christine's grave, somewhere he spent a great deal of time. Before leaving he left his usual dark rose, this time wet with his tears.
They had wanted to protect Raoul to the last and if Erik's health failed before his, Madame Giry or Meg would eventually pass their history on to their children. He wished to be able to tell them himself, to let them know for only a brief time, who he truly was. He, Miranda and the children had stayed close, although Miranda could not make him leave the Opera house to live with her and her husband. Mary was married happily, the boys successful in their own right, Frederick was a successful playwright, his elder brother Philippe, had taken on the duties of Viscount. They wondered about the eccentric old teacher who would not leave the Opera house long after it had closed, but had their own busy lives to lead
The day came when Raoul's heart gave out, they were all saddened but had in actuality, lost him the day he had turned back to the drug. They were all gathered at the lawyers office with Miranda present as well. After the usual routine of inheritance Mary was given a heavy manuscript by Madame Giry.
"Child, she said through tears, please read this, it was your mothers final wishes, and your father's as well. Raoul was a kind and decent man who forgave us all in the end, I hope you and your brothers can do so as well. Please come to see me when you are finished and have told your brothers what is inside." She left for her home where Erik had finally agreed to come live as his health was deteriorating quickly. " I gave it to her" she said, approaching him at her piano bench, he was still well enough to play. He responded by softly playing an old song for her, Masquerade, paper faces on parade…
Mary sat reading this beautifully wrotestoryof her parents life. She soon brought her brothers in to explain. After her own tears had passed. It was what they already knew in their hearts really, just like the man they knew as their father had known. It was an extraordinary story brought about by the cruelest of circumstances and they accepted it. They all went to Miranda's as she had asked and found their father there, where they stayed with him until he was finally released to their mother for all eternity.
Some years passed and the old Opera house re-opened, completely rewired, and refurbished to it's original splendor. There was a new Opera for it's grand opening night, one written by the new owners themselves. It was called… the Phantom of the Opera.
The end.