Chapter 7: The First Real Confrontation

One night as they sat in the lair Lotte picked up her sketchpad and flipped through her sketches as her Father practiced another oneof his pieces at the organ. As she looked at the sketch of the chandelier she got a wonderful idea. "Father, may I speak to you?"

"Yes, Lotte what is it?"

"Have you ever considered rebuilding the opera house? Once its finished you could share your musicals talents with all of Paris. Wouldn't you like that?"

For the first time in years Erik hit a sour note and flinched. "What did you say?" He asked as memories of Christine ripping his mask off his face in front of a full house and the screams that filled his ears, the chandelier falling and the windows shattering.

"I was thinking we could rebuild the opera house. It's nothing a few windows and some steel couldn't fix. Then we could show the world what a wonderful musician you are."

Now Erik was furious. Maybe he was wrong for takingthe child in. Why did she bother asking such a haunting question? His golden eyes glared at her and he frowned. "Lotte the subject is out of the question. My life has always been a secret and that's how I plan to continue living it. My music alone is enough to keep me happy."

Lotte looked awestruck. "Then what am I just another treasure in your cavern? Hearing you say that Father makes me feel like a prisoner in your presence."

"No one told you to seek me out Lotte. It was your choice alone; no one is keeping you here. You could leave and forget all about me if you wanted to, and then go back to the life you left behind!" Erik shouted his temper rising.

"Why do you fear the world? Always hiding and staying within the cold and darkness. I heard you once terrorized people who came to the opera house. They must have done something to anger you so. Tell me please Father."

"I will tell you nothing. Drop the subject Lotte it is of no importance to you."

"I won't till you tell me. What have they done to you?"

Now on the point of no return Erik lashed out and felt the palm of his hand strike Lotte's cheek hurling her to the floor. She coughed a bit then looked up at him, tears falling heavily from her eyes. "I trusted you! You promised no harm would ever come to me while I stayed here with you. I was always told people can change, but I see you haven't. Your love is what keeps me here Father. I could have left yes, but after you protected me from that man and the cold all those nights ago I knew there was a soul somewhere inside of you." She clutched her cheek and ran from his sight upwards through the tunnels.

"Now I've done it. I've scared away my child." He thought as he looked shamefully at his hand that was finally regaining its pink color. "I managed to break my one promise to her over a stupid argument. I have to find her before she hurts herself."

He followed her up to the one place she always went when she had felt most frustrated with the world around her, the roof. She would be curled up in a corner. He reached the doorway and was for the first time afraid to go out and approach her.

Lotte sat in her usual place the legs of a horse statue. Her cheek was throbbing, but it was her heart that was shattered. She had left her parents for this, to be struck by he who protected her. Yet she couldn't hate him or leave the safety of the Opera House. She had forgotten almost everything about her old life except for her mother. There was nothing to go back to. Her parents surely saw her as dead that day and probably forgot about her. She knew Father would soon come looking for her, but she didn't care.

"Lotte!" he called out, but she dared not to answer him. "Lotte I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten mad at you. It's just that my life is far from perfect. For years I loathed what I was, but when you came looking for me I saw that I had some kind of purpose after all. It was up to me to protect you. However I have broken my promise. If you do decide to leave it will be no difference to me, but know this child you were the first to soften the cold heart of the Phantom of the Opera."

Upon hearing this Lotte stood and revealed her hiding place. Her father stood opposite the statue holding a rose in his hands. He held it out towards her. Slowly she walked towards him and accepted his gift sniffing its sweet perfume. She looked up into his eyes and saw complete misery. Without a second thought she collapsed into his arms. "Never let go of me Father. Never let me go!" she cried.

"I won't. I will hold onto you until all the tears have passed. That is one promise I will not neglect."

"Father I'm so sorry. I never knew. That is why I sought out the answers in the first place," she choked on the words as her tears damped his cape.

"It's about time I show you something Lotte. I want you to look beyond the mask. Take all the time you need to perform the task, but as soon as you do your reaction will decide your fate. If you scream you will be forced to stay here with me and finish what you started or if you remain calm you will be free to leave and go back to your parents."

Lotte gasped. While he continued to hold her she reached up and grabbed the edge of the mask. Erik closed his eyes awaiting a scream for any man, woman, or child that had seen the distinctive mark had yelled out in fear. Gently she pulled back the white porcelainand held the mask in her hand.

Under the mask had been a large deformity of the skin that consumed half of her father's face. It came up from his cheek, circled his eye, and ended at the top of his head. She moved the mask into her other hand and with her free hand touched the skin with her fingers.

"Is that all? There is nothing scary about your face. This so called curse may be a gift that may one day serve a purpose." She said handing the mask back to him.

He let go of her and placed it on his face once again. "It seems to me that you have passed the test. You're free to go."

Lotte watched her father turn away and head towards the doorway. She twirled the rose in her hand and felt the love for him build inside her. "Father, wait!" He turned to face her, a cross between hatred and sadness etched on his face. "I choose to stay here with you. My other life is over and I need a place to call home. I love you Father."

Erik could only stare at her. Never before had a woman said she wanted to stay here by his side. Christine had loved him, but at the same time loathed him. Lotte came up to him and held out the rose. He took it, but let it fall to the ground before taking her in his arms.

"Why were you not afraid?" he finally asked.

"I was afraid, but not of your face. It was your temper that gave me the most fear. Neither of us have anything to fear anymore. I will keep your secret and you will continue to protect me."

For awhile all they could do was hold each other until it began to rain. Erik pulled off his cloak and draped it around her shoulders before leading her inside. They both knew within their hearts that they were always safe with each other.