A/n: Crap! It came to my attention that it seems like i stole an idea from my last chapter from Kytten, but i didn't! I really didn't mean to take the idea from another person, i thought it was original blush. Well, wanted to clear that up... (thank you inkie pinkie)
Moonjava: Thank you:)
Loser: thanks! Here's that update you wanted, btw...
Lilhikki : A good smutty... i can live with that! lol, thanks:)
inkie pinkie : again, thank you for bringing that embarrasing detail to my attention... and thank you for the kind review:)
PHILIPPE POV
"Where is he?" I scream, speaking of my brother of course. The nerve of him sometimes! He left the meeting in a rush, before he was even dismissed, and then he does not return home for a week.
"I'm sorry, Monsieur Philippe, but no one has seen him at the Opera House," one of my servants answers.
I storm out through the door, "Then I will find him myself!"
With this I run into the stable and quickly saddle a horse, jumping on and riding off without any more interruption.
Raoul will come home, whether he wants to or not.
RAOUL POV
It is well into the morning when we wake up. Finding myself about to fall off the bed I nearly cry out before I feel my angel's arm wrap around my waist.
"You tossed and turned last night, Raoul," he whispers.
"I was dreaming," I answer, too quickly.
"Of what?" he pulls me back towards him, a little hesitant though.
I'm reluctant to answer, "I had a strange dream, almost like it were real, but I've never seen it happen before. Philippe was mad, ranting and raving about me not being home, and then he took off, headed for the Opera House. It just felt so real."
I feel his head shake, "But it couldn't be, not unless there are two of you and your other half saw it sleep walking."
I laugh, "Sounds crazy doesn't it?"
I turn around to see him smiling a half-smile, "Aren't all dreams crazy, one way or another?" He kisses my forehead and a smile spreads across my lips.
"I guess so," I answer.
He sits up and starts to get dressed as I do the same. The day seeming to move very slow we finally finish and prepare breakfast.
PHILIPPE POV
I dismount the horse and quickly move to the front door.
Bursting through them unannounced I notice the managers out front.
"Monsieur Comte!" Andre yells.
"We were not expecting you to come," Firmin bows in apology.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion, Monsieurs, for I was not expecting to come either, but it seems my brother is missing, and has been for a few days, and I was hoping to find him here," I explain.
"Of course, please feel free to walk about, if you need any help finding him…" Firmin starts.
"…I'll be fine, thank you," I quickly turn down the hall, headed toward Christine's room.
Opening this door more gently I look in and find no one there, but he could be hiding anywhere. I step in and quickly shut the door behind me.
RAOUL POV
Breakfast finishes and Erik starts to shift uncomfortably, still finishing a glass of wine, which I myself had today as well.
He looks up and our eyes meet. Breaking the uneasy silence he suggests, "Why don't we go walking around the Opera House? I could show you some of the better ways to get around."
I smile, "That sounds fun."
He sets down his glass and smiles as well. Why would he be so uncomfortable? "What's wrong, Erik?" I come up beside him.
"It's nothing," he sighs.
"Erik," I push.
I place a hand on his shoulder, but he flinches out of my grasp, "Please, let's just get out of here."
"Alright," I answer, hurt by his harsh treatment.
He leads us up the path to Christine's room. Checking to see if anyone is there he stops me.
"Erik?" I whisper.
He clamps a hand down over my mouth.
Another voice answers me, "Raoul?" It's Philippe.
I shake away Erik's hand, "It's okay, it's only Philippe, my brother."
"Only Philippe?" my brother answers, "Then who are you talking to, and from where, my dear brother?"
Erik allows me to open the mirror, and while I step out he just stands in the passage entrance, "Hello, Philippe."
"Thank God, you're alright!" he rushes up to embrace me, apparently not noticing Erik.
"Of course I am," I turn to Erik, "Thanks to Monsieur Erik."
He blushes at the name 'Monsieur Erik', but gives me a death glare all the same.
PHILIPPE POV
Another person? Another man? My God! Has my brother lost his mind?
"Raoul, why did you not send word, that's the least you could have done!" I scold.
M. Erik steps back once, "I think I should take my leave."
Raoul takes a step toward him, "Erik…"
"This is not my place, viscount, this is yours, with your brother," he answers, taking another step back, "Go."
With the simple command this M. Erik closes the pathway, leaving my brother behind, dumbfounded.
"Raoul?" I place a light hand on his shoulder.
He does not answer, but simply stares at the mirror.
"Raoul!" I try again, but to no avail.
Then he presses a hand against the mirror, and whispers, "Erik, please don't go."
A voice, just as low as his had been, answers from behind the mirror, "Go now, Raoul, and do not return."
I watch as my brother keeps his hand on the mirror, then drops it to his side, his knees giving out and slamming painfully into the ground. He does not move for a long time, but then drops his head and weeps.
I come up behind him, wrapping one arm around his shoulders, "Raoul?"
In return he throws his arms around me and burries his face in my shoulder, crying. I know that the suit will be ruined, but a suit can be replaced, my brother needs me.
"Hush now, it's alright," I try to comfort him.
He shakes his head 'no', "I loved him, and I still do! I thought that those feelings were returned."
I place my hand on the back of his head, petting his hair the way you would pet a cat, "Please, Raoul, it's time for you to come home, he was right."
"I WAS HOME!" he straightens up and yells this in my face.
I stop, dead silent, my features a mask of nothing.
His tears start again, "I'm sorry, Philippe."
"It's okay," I whisper.
I offer him a handkerchief, which he gladly accepts and dries his eyes with it.
He stands up and I do as well, brushing some dust off of my outfit.
"Come," he says, "Let's go home."
I smile and the two of us make our way to call for a carriage.
ERIK POV
I did stop talking, but I never left the mirror, in the hopes that Raoul would tell his brother to leave. Though I do not blame him for not coming back to me, not after the way I treated him this morning. I hate myself for the way I am.
Turning now that they have both left parts of their conversation run through my head. One part making me feel sick to my stomach:
"Please, Raoul, it's time for you to come home, he was right."
"I WAS HOME!"
I turn and slam my fist into the closest wall, causing my knuckles to bleed. I look down at the blood, slump against the same wall and laugh. I let the blood flow freely over my knuckles and down onto the ground.
I let myself slide to the ground, and I finally let the tears fall. Had I let this happen earlier Raoul might still be here, but now I cry for two reasons, I mourn a loss, and a gain.
Today is the day, that so many years ago, I came to this Opera House, and never truly loved, until Christine. But was that really love? No, that was my heart thinking it was in love. My first and last real love would have to be Raoul. God, I'm an idiot! How could I be so blind as to not see this before?
"Oh Raoul," I moan aloud, knowing that now I can talk and no one will hear me.
Standing on shaky legs I go down to my pit of a house again, and grab the wine.
Sitting on the bench of my organ I start to play, nothing at all, nothing important, just music. Anything to rid myself of the pain. Anything to rid myself of memory.
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a/n: angsty... i know... please review!
