Chapter 34: Madame Esmeralda
Once everyone had calmed down Erik cleaned out the glass from Lotte's feet and bandaged them up in some gauze he had found. Lotte sat on her bed watching him work wiping tears from her eyes. Christine had come out of the kitchen carrying a plate of rolls and handed them out. Erik set his aside and took up his mask.
"Father, where are you going?" Lotte asked as he wiped away the make up and put the mask on. Then he put on his cape. "I'm going to the fairground. I have a bone to pick with this Madame Esmeralda person."
"I'll go with you," Christine offered as Erik went to one of the mirrors and slicked back his hair.
"No, I'm going alone. It's not safe out there for any of you."
"Erik," Christine started to say, but stopped when she realized that nothing she said was going to change his mind. He looked over at her, but she turned away.
He went back to what he was doing, but the look on Lotte's face in the mirror broke his heart. Finishing up he turned and went over to her. "I'm sure you don't want to kill me. But that look in your eyes is telling me different," he said towering over her.
"I'd never forgive myself if I did kill you. I won't bring myself to do it. But what if you don't come back? What are we to do then?"
Erik looked at the clock on the organ. It read 9:30. "Here's the deal. If I'm not back by midnight go and fetch Mme. Giry. She'll know what to do." He leaned forward and kissed her. "I love you Lotte."
"I love you too, Father. Please be careful."
He kissed her again before going over to Pierre, who had been standing against the doorframe. "Take care of her. You'll be the man around here till I get back." He handed him the key to the dressing room. "You may need this at some point. It's best if no one goes in there."
Pierre took Erik's hand and shook it. "Thank you for everything Erik. Good luck to you."
Erik nodded his approval, and then moved towards Christine, who refused to look at him. He placed a hand under her chin and brought her eyes level with his. She had been crying again and she let out a small whimper. "I'm so scared. I feel like I'm never going to see you again. It sounds like some kind of trap."
He pulled her close to him. "I love you Christine. If something were to happen to me I want you to promise that you will never forget that. Always remember that I love you."
"I will. I love you too." Then she took the ring he had given her off her finger and put it on his pinky. "Take that with you. Keep it close and keep it safe. Don't forget us and we won't forget you."
Erik stared at the trinket then at his beloved. It hurt to be leaving her again and he leaned his forehead against hers. They reached out for one another and shared the most romantic kiss in the history of the world. When he pulled back he tucked some of her hair behind her ear and turned away. He went down the stairs and untied the boat before climbing in. Pushing off from shore he got under the gate and it lowered as soon as he passed.
It fell with a clang then, came the sound of splashing. He stopped rowing and turned around. Lotte was wadding through the water towards the gate. She began shaking it hoping to push it open, but the attempt failed. Reaching her arm through she yelled out to him, "Father, wait!"
They stared at each other for awhile before Erik looked away and began to row away again. "I'm sorry Lotte. I know you understand, but you don't want to believe that I must go alone."
Lotte watched till he was gone before falling to her knees in the water, so it was up to her waist, peering through the gate like an abused animal looking for affection.
xxxxx
Erik told no one on the way out, not even Mme. Giry about his actions. The last thing he wanted was for someone to follow him. Even though it had been years he still knew where to find the fairgrounds. Every year around this time the gypsies would set up their wares in the square outside the Opera House.
As he got closer the smell of incense, chewing tobacco and cigars hung in the air and he hated it. He had always hated that smell. It may have been years since he actually smelled it, but he knew it all to well.
The sound of laughter stopped him in his search and he saw people laughing at a monkey jumping around and waving a metal cup. Erik decided to keep walking. That monkey seemed to be taunting him. Quickly he moved down the rows of tents looking for the one that belonged to Madame Esmeralda. "Where is she?" he growled.
Finally the tent appeared through the smoke and he crossed towards it when a young couple came out happily chatting about the fortune they had received. When they saw Erik they hastened past him and whispered something to one another.
"The next client may enter," a voice called from inside the tent.
Erik searched for a patch of shadow and slipped into the tent. From the safety of the dark he glared at the frail old women sitting behind the crystal ball. She gave a sly smile as if she knew exactly where he was.
"There is no need to hide from me Erik. I knew you were coming and I knew you were going into the shadows. You can't hide anything from me. Now come have a seat," she said motioning to the chair.
"I would rather stand. I don't trust sitting down in front of you."
"Fine, it doesn't matter to me one way or the other, but at least come out of the shadows. I like to be able to see my clients, so that I may make the right decision on their fortunes."
Hesitantly Erik stepped into the candlelight. She was so pleased with his cooperation and grinned at the thought of having him back in her grasp again. "There are you happy now?" Erik growled.
"Oh, yes very. So I assume you know why you are here," she said leaning back in her chair.
"Yes, because of one of your stupid curses my poor daughter has to suffer."
"Don't you ever call one of curses stupid, Erik!" she snapped. "Unlike other fortune tellers my curses and fortunes do come true. With the snap of my finger I can control things. I know where your family hides and I know how much of a weakness you have for them. I can make them suffer."
The crystal ball became filled with smoke and then Erik could make out the lair. Christine, Pierre, and Lotte were all sitting around awaiting his return. Then he looked at Mme. Esmeralda and she snapped her fingers.
Christine grabbed her throat gasping for breath. "Stop it!" Erik snarled. "Leave her alone. Your battle is with me!" He grasped the crystal ball staring into the image his eyes filled with rage.
She snapped her fingers and Christine let out a couple of raspy coughs. Lotte had gotten down beside her while Pierre ran to get some water. "I can see that you care deeply for these people. If you didn't you wouldn't have come here. I'm surprised with this change. Years ago you cared for no one else, but yourself."
"Well because no one showed me love here. Why should I care about someone that doesn't care for me back? That's not how the world works."
"What big words you use. But they will not save you. You know the consequences for all this if you flee again. You're precious Lotte will kill you. Because of what you did I can control so many of her actions. I can drive her mad or make her the sweetest person in the world just like that."
Erik gazed into the crystal. Lotte's face was wet with tears and she gazed at the clock every five minutes. How could his own flesh and blood destroy him? He knew she wouldn't do it, but she was under control of this witch. He looked up at Mme. Esmeralda, who smiled at him. "Fine I'll play by your rules. What do I have to do to lift the curse?" he asked his voice now filled with anger.
"Wonderful! I was beginning to wonder how long it would take you to ask. It's simple really. Seeing as you murdered my husband in order to escape its only right to put you back on display. Only seeing as you're not a child anymore the name won't suit you. I have an idea. People would come from all over to the see the famous Phantom of the Opera. I think it would do much better then Devil or whatever it was we used before. And I think during the day we'll just leave the mask off, but at night you may have it back. If you argue at all I can put the curse back. Don't tempt me in any way," she warned.
Erik was upset. Lotte didn't deserve to suffer. And he didn't want to be a freak anymore, but he gave in. He nodded his head and Mme. Esmeralda snapped her fingers. In the crystal Lotte fell to the floor. "What did you do to her?" Erik snapped.
"Temper, Erik. I've lifted the curse. When she awakes and sees images of you she will love you again, but she can never have you, because you belong to me now." She snapped her finger and two men came up behind Erik grabbing his arms. He tried to struggle, but Mme. Esmeralda reached up and grabbed his chin. "If you struggle I'll kill the girl."
Erik immediately relaxed and pulled away from her grasp. The men took him out to another tent and she followed after them. Erik was thrust into the cage and he scrambled to stand. It felt much smaller than he remembered and rather drafty. One of the men locked the door while Mme. Esmeralda demanded the mask. At first he resisted, but she raised her hand ready to snap her finger. Scared out of wits he pulled off the mask and handed it to her. The cold wind whipped at his exposed skin.
"Better. Oh, I'll also need the cape, so you can't hide away your features. You'll get it back just like your mask I promise."
Erik slipped the cape through the bars and sighed. He sank to his knees and watched the wretched old hag leave the tent carrying his things. Touching the deformed side of his face with his hand he felt cold metal and pulled his hand back. Christine's ring was still on his finger; just thinking of her drove him to tears. "Christine!" he whispered pulling the ringed finger close to his chest. "What a fool I am, but at least Lotte can have a happy future…" he shuddered at the last few words. "…without me."
"Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls; I wish to draw your attention to the main tent. Inside we hold the hidden terror of the Opera House. Once he lurked the walls, but now he wishes to entertain you all. Come in and see the Phantom of the Opera," a man shouted from outside the tent.
"Damn it. Now there'll be tons of people asking about me at the Opera House. Damn, Damn, Damn," he muttered to himself. As he did this a group of people came into the tent and crowded around the cage. Some got perfect view of his face, while some grumbled, because they couldn't see.
Erik didn't bother to try and hide his face, because with a quick look he saw the two men holding whips in their hands. The last thing he wanted was to have the leather slap across his back. Thinking about it made the hair on the back of his hand stand on end as old scars began to burn. Without the mask or protection from the gazing eyes he felt naked and helpless.
He decided to give up on caring, but something in the back of his mind started to make itself know. It was something Lotte had told him years ago when he still doubted himself.
"Father, you don't have to look handsome to be loved. When I see you I see the man that loves me and creates beautiful music for me; the man that cared for me when I was sick and held me when I was sad. He taught me right from wrong and what mattered in life. I see no demon, I see no monster, I see no fire burning in those eyes, but I'll always see the man who once said I love you."
Again and again he repeated the words gaining more confidence in them. He had his back turned to the door and he didn't sense anyone else in the cage with him until he felt the warmth of the leather slap across his back ripping his vest and shirt exposing his bare skin. Blood now trickled down his back making him wince. He let out an angered snarl and jumped to his feet. Everyone cheered and the man had gotten away already. Erik realized everyone was staring at him and with a gasp sunk down to his knees. "This is it," he thought. "This is what my life has become. Nothing more than a side show freak. I was born one and now I'll die one."
xxxxx
Lotte had fallen into a deep sleep, but the sound of the clock striking one had awakened her. She opened her eyes to see Pierre looking down at her. "Are you all right darling? I was afraid you had hurt yourself."
"No, I'm all right. What time is it?"
"It's one o' clock in the morning."
"Has Father returned yet?" she asked sitting up and looking around.
Christine looked up from a pile of music she was looking at. Her eyes were red and tears trailed down her face. "No, he hasn't. I'm so worried about him. I just knew something was going to go wrong," she said throwing the music to the floor. I'd go and look for him myself, but I have no idea where to look. I've never seen the fairgrounds."
"Did you speak to Mme. Giry yet?"
"No, we've been waiting for you to wake up. You've been asleep for about two and a half hours now. It was so sudden we didn't know what to do."
"But I feel so different now. I feel like so much weight has been lifted off my shoulders and yet I still feel so empty. We have to go and find father. He could be seriously hurt and close to death by now," Lotte said getting to her feet.
First she went into her room and changed into a normal dress and put on shoes and a cape. Then she waited for Christine and Pierre to change into something different before heading over to the mirror that led to Mme. Giry's room and disappeared into the darkness. Soon all of them were standing outside the mirror and Lotte looked through to see Mme. Giry walking around the room in her nightgown. Timidly she knocked on the glass.
Mme. Giry looked around startled then her gaze fell on the mirror. "Erik?" she questioned. Lotte activated the mirror and pulled it open revealing their faces. "Oh, Lotte, Pierre, and Christine you gave me quite a scare. Is everything alright? You gave me quite a scare."
Lotte had Mme. Giry sit down and she explained everything. Mme. Giry listened intently her eyes growing wide with each piece of vital information. When Lotte finished she stood and went behind her screen. The nightgown flew over the top and landed on Pierre's head. He flung it aside and sighed. When Mme. Giry came out again she was dressed in her everyday black dress and her had been done up into the famous bun of hers. "Come we're going to go to the fairgrounds and get back our manager. It's not far from here, but I want all of you to keep an eye out. The gypsies are not to be trusted."
Lotte gulped. Quietly they slinked out of the opera house and into the dark streets. Mme. Giry led them to the fairground and tried to make her way around the tents without getting them caught. Suddenly Lotte pointed out a sign. Across it in large letters was written "See the Phantom of the Opera."
On her own Lotte snuck past the man guarding the door and snuck into the tent and saw the cage where he father now lay his back exposed and fresh blood trickling across it.
xxxxx
Erik had gotten his mask and cape back as promised around one o' clock, but as he put the mask back on it felt like he had no more power left at all within the white porcelain. He had tried to pry the iron bars open with sheer strength, but he wasn't as young as he once was and soon gave that up. The wound from the whip burned making it hard to lie down and go to sleep, but he knew he needed the rest. He folded up his cape and laid his head upon it making sure his head was turned away from the opening of the tent.
He had seen enough people this evening and he wasn't looking forward to tomorrow. As he laid there he heard a strange noise from under the wagon that the cage rested on. But the sound was so soft. "It's probably just a mouse. It has nothing to do with me, so why should I care?" he thought to himself.
Suddenly Lotte popped up with a finger to her lips. He blinked a few times thinking he was going insane. "Lotte is that you?"
"Shhh, they might hear you. You sir are way out past your curfew," Lotte said pointing at her arm as if a watch had been there the whole time. "It's time we took you home," she said slipping a hand through the bars. He crawled towards her wincing in pain. He began to reach out his hand, but drew back afraid that she had been put back under the curse. She smiled sweetly at him. "It's okay. The curse has been lifted. I won't harm you."
At the sound of the love in her voice he came up to the bars and took her hand into his. "Oh, my dear I'm glad. Now don't tell me you came alone."
"No, Pierre, Mother, and Mme. Giry are waiting outside making sure the coast remains clear. Yet, I'm going to need the keys to get you out of there."
Erik looked around and saw the man standing at the tent. The keys were hanging from his belt. I don't see how you're going to get them."
Lotte thought for a moment then suddenly her face lit up and she smiled. "I have an idea, but I'm going to need to borrow something."
I know I'm mean leaving you at yet another cliff hanger, but this seemed a pretty good place for one. The next chapter will be up shortly so do not fear.