Chapter 10: Track Down This Murderer

Carlotta had paid well for him. He'd do his job. Vincenzo had come from Milan to visit his second cousin when she'd wrote to him of her problems in Paris. Vincenzo had often helped his baby cousin in their homeland of Italy, but now he was on foreign soil. He'd have to think quickly in order to do his job.

Carlotta whispered a little prayer of hope before placing her opera glasses on her nose. She looked into Box 5 and waited.

Erik shivered as a draft blew past him. He looked back just in time to see the glint of a knife in the dark. He sprung up, dropping Clarissa to the floor. She cried out then crawled behind her Papa.
Erik grabbed the man's knife and turned it around. the two struggled. When Erik finally managed to punch the assailant in the face, he also grabbed the knife. The man swore at him in Italian. Erik raised a brow.
"it's not nice to call someone who's just defeated you a-"
Erik glanced at Clarissa who was cowering behind him.
"Well, a bad name. Clarissa." He turned to her. She stood slowly.

The music continued to play loudly, masking the scuffle. Only Carlotta and Piangi were made aware of it. They stood in their box and gasped as they watched the Phantom pummel their assassin.

His father was the head of the Gozetti crime family of Italy. He was one of the best...he'd killed all those others in Italy hadn't he? Apparently Paris was not for him.
"Pieta, monsieur! I am sorry. Mi scusi!"
"Who hired you?" The masked man asked him.
"Non so...uhhhh no one. I-"
Erik snapped the man's hand back, making a sickening crack. Clarissa gasped.
"Clarissa, don't look at Daddy, look at Mama on stage."
Clarissa whimpered but did as she was told, only glancing back once when Erik kicked the man in the groin. He fell to the ground then muttered..."Piangi."
"Oh really? That spineless slime? I doubt it. tell your...friend Carlotta that I'll not be killed so easily."
Erik quickly glanced at the stage, and his bride. He let Vincenzo go and he ran away.

Erik looked to the box across his. Carlotta and Piangi were gone...and Christine was going offstage for a costume change.
"Come Clarissa." Erik had to hurry if he was to save his beloved.

Christine had to hurry if she was going to make her costume change. It was a wonderful first part of Act I. She felt alive again. She wanted to burst with joy. The pain of the last few days was negated. She Tied up the bow in front of her bosom then began to trudge back out into the wings of the stage.
She heard a rustle behind her...then a shout. It sounded an awful lot like Erik. But why would he be here? She had to go back out!

"Christine!" Erik was frantic. He'd found Madame Giry and foisted Clarissa on her before frantically moving to find Christine. When he thought he'd caught a glimpse of her, she'd moved off onto the stage again. He sighed in relief. At least someone wouldn't try to get her onstage.

Madame Giry came running up with Clarissa clinging to her.
"What is wrong, Erik?"

"I caught an assasin trying to kill me. I think they might be after Christine as well."

Carlotta rushed to her old dressing room. She flung open the door and aimed her pistol inside. No one. She groaned then turned to Piangi. A wild light had come into her eyes.
"I need her DEAD!" Piangi backed away slightly.
"No, wait..." she trailed off. No this wouldn't do. The pain of losing Christine would make the Phantom come after her and her lover. She knew what she must do. She must hit them where it hurt most.
With their little one.

Carlotta calmly placed the pistol back in her handbag. She turned to Piangi and smiled. "La figlia." Piangi shivered. He didn't know what she meant by referring to Christine's daughter, but it frightened him, more than he'd ever been frightened before

Christine was a success. Once intermission began, she ran into her husband and daughter backstage. Clarissa seemed distraught and Erik was frowning. What a warm welcome this was. She followed them into the dressing room then huffed out a breath.
"What a warm welcome!" She threw her gloves on the dresser then paced.
"Erik say something!"
Erik handed her Clarissa then nodded. "Well then...Carlotta's trying to kill us. How about that?"