Sorry it took so long. In this chapter we learn a big thing. Actually, two huge things. Well, in the next chapter, we learn more. Right up here, I am going to include a Horse Lingo dictionary. I put Ceasar into this chapter, and me, being a horse obsessed person, I sorta got carried away with the language. Oh well.

Pommel- the front of a saddle

Cantle- the back of a saddle

Leaping horn- the part of a side saddle, that you put your right over

Jumping saddle- self-explanatory

Side saddle- also self-explanatory

Bridle- the tack that goes on the head

Canter-a three beat gait that is faster than a trot, but slower than a gallop

Trot/Jog- a two beat gait that is faster than a walk, but slower than a canter

Lead Rope- self-explanatory

Hand- unit of measurement that equals to 4 inches

Friesian- a Dutch breed of horse which is only black

Astride- riding with one leg on each side of a horse

Dismount- to get off a horse

Mount- to get on a horse

Leg Up- explained in Chapter

Stall- usually four-sided room, where horses sleep or live in


Chapter 13: The Return

"Erik… Erik…" Meg called his name, trying to wake him up.

"What…?" He asked groggily, obviously wanting some sleep. He had fallen asleep around 5:00 in the morning. It was 10:00 in the morning. All night, he had been watching over Christine. Now awake, he stood up and looked at the bed. Christine! She was gone. Meg saw the expression in Erik's eyes.

"Don't worry Erik. She's just walking around with the doctor's wife. Why don't you get yourself cleaned off? The bathroom's down the hall and to the left." Meg said, ushering him to the door. He looked a mess. His hair was all over his head in a tangled mess, and he looked very sleepy. After he was cleaned off, and put a clean shirt on, (conveniently located in his cloak) he went back to the room. There, Christine was once again sitting on the bed.

"Madame, you may leave today. Don't run, but you can move around a lot. Be careful not to rip the stitches open. Your baby is just fine. The bullet pierced above the abdomen. But, very close though." The small woman assured them. Erik and Christine both felt great knowing that their baby was fine. She left, giving the three of them some privacy.

"Both of you, get ready. I am going to find us a carriage." Erik said, "And you Christine, don't mess around and somehow get shot again." Christine thought his comment was a little crude, but she saw his smirk and didn't think much of it. Christine and Meg both went to the bathroom to wash up. Basically wash their faces, run their fingers through their hair, and they borrowed a little perfume that they found in the room. When they got back to the room 15 minutes later, they had nothing to do. Luckily, Erik stepped into the doorway.

"I got one. We must leave." Erik said, motioning for them to follow him. As soon as they were on their way, Erik started to think. 'Who would try to do this? It wasn't Madame Giry or the managers, they were gone. Maybe one of the stage hands.' Just then, something hit Erik, he slapped himself mentally. "Damn it!" He yelled, as he sunk his head into his hands.

"What's wrong Erik?" Christine asked, scooting closer to comfort him.

"I just remembered that the ballet girls saw me. I blew my cover. What should we say? Should you deny the whole thing?…" He trailed off.

"First, we will have to tell them. They should know. There is a rehearsal today at about 2:00. Madame Giry is back today. She can help us." Christine said, putting her arm around his shoulder.

"Erik, don't worry. You know my mother can come up with some great threats, you of all people should know." Meg added. A chill ran down his spine. He shut out the memories of the threats from his mind.

"Christine… I know what you told Marissa and Lauren…" Erik trailed off with no real emotion in his voice.

"Erik please don't be mad at me! It just slipped out. You can trust them. They're really nice girls. Don't kill them please!" Christine pleaded, worried about Lauren and Marissa.

"Clam down Christine. I believe you." Erik said, hugging her, " I think they are very trustworthy. But…" He took a short pause, " I want to talk to them. Also, I believe, in your best interest, that you should stay home and not go to rehearsals. Meg, when we get to the lair, I am going to give you a note. It will be to your mother."

They reached the opera house at last. Erik paid the driver and stepped out. He held out his hand for Meg, and did the same for Christine. They walked up the stairway that led to the lobby. Instead of opening the doors, Erik ran his hand down the left wall.

"Be prepared to fall. Christine, I'll hold you." Erik said, picking up Christine into his arms just in the nick of time. The floor under them gave way, and they fell in. They landed on soft ground. They were in Erik's stable. There, he had Ceasar, his 16 hand black Friesian horse. He whinnied when he saw Erik. "Sush boy." He petted his nose, and led him to an open area. He had a plan. He slapped himself mentally realizing something. "Um… Christine. Do you know how to ride astride?"

"No. I never have before. Only side saddle." Christine replied, not catching onto Erik's clues.

"Well, now you are going to learn. The leaping horn on my old side saddle is torn. You'll have to ride with my English one." Erik said, going into his small tack room, coming back out with his huge English jumping saddle, and a bridle. He placed them on Ceasar's back and tightened them. "Ok, Christine, I'll give you the leg up." She grabbed the pommel and cantle, and then Erik grabbed her calf and lifted her into the seat. She slipped many times, and Meg was laughing on the inside at Christine. When she finally balanced, Erik tied a lead rope to the bridle and started to lead Ceasar. Meg walked along side Christine, just to help her balance, when she would slip. They once again took the scenic route. When they reached the opening, Erik and Meg helped her dismount and she took a few wobbly steps.

"Erik, are my legs supposed to be sore?" Christine asked, finally able to take a few steps without losing her balance.

"Well, when you ride astride, you use different leg muscles than you do when you ride side saddle." He said, patting Ceasar's neck. "The jumping saddle probably didn't help too much either, or that it was a few sizes too big for you. I'm going to put him back. Could you warm up some wax for me? I'll be back in about 30 minutes." He mounted Ceasar, and cantered in the opposite direction. Luckily the passages were wide and had high ceilings because he would have fallen off by hitting something. When he was ¾ of the way there, he slowed down to a jog/trot. He put him back into his stall, and locked the trap door, making sure nobody fell into there by mistake. For safety reasons, he had a two-way lock, so you could unlock it from outside, and the inside.

He went back down the same passage as before, but instead of turning to the left down the rest of the passage, he went to the dead end wall. He stomped his foot on the floor in front of it. The wall opened, and he grabbed a torch that was lit and walked inside. This one would take him directly to his side of the lake. He would have taken this earlier, but it was too narrow for Ceasar. It took 5 minutes for Erik to get back to his lair. He walked into the library to find Meg and Christine there.

Meg looked up. "How did you get here so fast?" She asked, rather curious.

"I took a passage in a passage." Erik said, walking to his desk in the corner of the room. "It's shorter, but Ceasar wouldn't fit." He sat down at his desk, and opened a drawer which contained: a bottle of ink, two quills, a stack of parchment and envelopes, and a seal stamper. He took everything out and placed them on top of his desk. He looked at the clock on the wall and it said, 12:00 noon. He got focused and started to write. He thought at first, then started to write it. Half an hour later, he finished. He sealed it in fresh wax and handed it to Meg.

"Take this to your mother. Come back immediately after she lets you come back. You should know your mother's passageway." He said, as he opened the trap door, and she walked inside. The torches were lit inside it. She opened the door to the room. She saw her mother laying on her bed reading.

"Mother," Meg said, getting her mother's attention, "Erik wanted to give this to you." She gave her the note, and she read it to herself.

Antoinette,

If you have not heard by now, Christine was shot yesterday. She and the baby are doing fine. She will not be at rehearsals today. I don't know if the mystery shooter will target anyone else. At 3:00 I am going to talk with the managers. Keep a close eye out for your self and Meg. I fear you might be next. Also, it might help if you also watch over Marissa and Lauren, a ballet student and a singer. I don't know how many people know that they know about Christine and me. I don't know whom they are trying to get, that is why I am talking mostly about you four. Just remember that I am still lurking in the shadows. If there is anything that you know that may be some help, then please tell me, for the sake of our health and well being.

Your friend,

-Erik

Madame Giry had heard of the incident, and of her secret rescuer, 'The Phantom'. She had been wondering about it. Antoinette went to her desk and started writing quickly. She handed the letter to Meg.

"Take this to Erik. You will not be rehearsing today. Whatever you do, stay around either Christine or Erik." She said, opening the passage, and ushering Meg inside it. When she closed it behind her daughter, she left her room to the dormitories to find Lauren and Marissa.


Erik,

I am glad to hear that Christine and the baby are well. Meg won't be attending rehearsals today, for I am afraid for her safety. I'm not sure if this helps, but Monsieur André had the flu and stayed at his motel. We stayed in different ones, so I don't know when he got well again. All the ballet girls know it was you, Erik. I would advise that you should talk to them, and the whole company. They should know. Better now. Don't fret, I won't leave you in the spotlight. If you bring Christine and Meg with you, they shouldn't be so afraid.

Signed,

-Antoinette

He finished reading the note, and set it down on the desk.

"Ok. Meg, since you and Christine won't be rehearsing, you will come with me to tell the company who I really am. Christine, you should be able to make it walking." He looked at her who was standing next to Meg.

"Of course I can." She confirmed.

"Let's take the Box 5 route. Come on." He said grabbing his torch from the wall. They followed him into the passage. When they were in Box 5, they looked down and saw that Madame Giry had the whole company on the stage. "Hurry." Erik said, dragging them through a corridor, and into the lobby. "One, two three…" With that count, he opened the doors, and all three of them walked into the auditorium.

"Everyone, I would like you to meet your real patron, Monsieur Erik." Madame Giry said to the people, who didn't even notice them already next to the stage.

"The Phantom's our patron!" Samantha, a shy chorus girl, said in disbelief.

"I would also like you to know something else," Madame Giry said, turning her head to Erik, who nodded, granting her permission, "Madame Christine Daaé is… Monsieur Erik's wife. That may explain some things."

"So that means that Monsieur Erik wrote 'Love of All things'?" Samantha asked as she walked closer to Erik, and curtsied. "Monsieur, I am honored to be cast in your opera."

"Thank you very much, Mademoiselle Samantha. You yourself, are a great singer." Erik said flattered by her compliment, and lightly blushing. "I know talent when I see it. And only 13, you have a very mature voice."

"How did you know my name and age?" She asked puzzled how he could possibly get that information.

"I do my research. I also auditioned everyone. Yes, that was I. You all sang or danced in front of The Phantom of the Opera without knowing it. Except for Christine and Meg, who knew." Erik said, looking at everyone's reaction, especially Samantha's. She was very calm. He liked her. With him casting, she will have a great career ahead of her. "Now, getting down to business, none of you can tell anyone outside of these walls about me. Remember I have the power to fire anyone. I still have trap doors every where. Even in places you would never look." He wanted to scare them a little. It worked. "If you excuse me, I need to talk to the managers." He walked back through the doors. He trusted leaving Meg and Christine with Madame Giry.

He was taking a passage to the manager's office, where he knew they most likely be at. As he opened the trap door silently, he sneaked into a shadow.

"Damn this! Damn this all!" André yelled, catching Erik off guard. "It didn't work! My plan, how couldn't it?"

"Why don't we just take this to the police? Ever since we met, you've always wanted to kill. Why?" Firmin asked, realizing he had gotten too for into the plan to back out now.

"Why? Why!" André yelled, turning his back to Firmin, and now facing Erik, who he still didn't know, was there in the shadows. "That monster… is my brother! I hate him! I changed my name in shame! I was embarrassed to have that thing as my own flesh and blood! So now, I plan on finishing him off. Him, everyone who he cares about, and anyone who cares about him." He took a short pause, "Let me tell you my story…"


Shocking…! Yes I know. I don't know how I came up with that one, but somehow I did. Muhaha. Here is a preview I always give.

Chapter 14: Plans Uncovered and Made

Erik had a hard time trying to absorb all the information. He had a last name! Lauren and Marissa got themselves into this he had to help them. They can't die.

(A later point.)

"Of course, Marissa, Lauren, please go with Monsieur Erik." Madame Giry said in her tome of do-as-I-say-because-it-is-very-important. The two girls' faces went pale. They clung together as they walked behind Erik, into the corner of the auditorium.