A/N: As you can see, by the previous chapter, my Guardian Angel saved my life. Many of you are wondering what happened. I am as well. Erik assures me that he has told his tale to Phoenix and that she has written it down. I hope that you find out what happened. Erik has put me back on the stage – practicing as always. Enjoy this chapter and as always, read and review for our dear writer. Our fate is in her hands.

With much love,

Angelina

Chapter 38 – Blood…Fire…Death…

All Meg could remember was a shrill scream that emanated throughout the entire opera house. It had awoken not only her but almost everyone else. She had rushed to where the young girl was only to scream herself.

Mikhail Vasilev was pronounced dead at 9:30 in the morning. Meg would never forget the sight. Several inspectors had come to the scene quicker than she imagined they would. It had reminded her of the night Joseph Buquet was killed. He had hung from the rafters on the stage in the same manner Mikhail did.

"The Russian underground…"

Meg and Arnaud, who had joined her only moments after she found the girl, both turned to the inspector.

"I am sorry, sir…" Arnaud was puzzled. "Did you say the Russian underground?"

"It is their mob, so to speak, Monsieur." Holding up a black circle – wax – the inspector continued. "It is their mark. All of Monsieur Vasilev's pockets were bare. Apparently, the gentlemen owed them money."

Several men brought down the large body of Vasilev and quickly brought him out of the opera house. The inspectors had lingered for another hour before they left as well.

Arnaud sat Meg down and looked at her. She was pale and shaken. Memories of her past filled her mind and it frightened Arnaud to no end.

"I never thought I would see something of that manner again."

"I am sorry, Meg. I should have inspected the scene first."

Meg shook her head. "We have so much to worry about now."

"Do not worry about the opera. Something will come up."

"Such as what? We barely found this investor as it was."

"Something always comes up." Kissing her on the forehead, he stood and looked down at his radiant wife. "We will find a way."

Meg watched as Arnaud walked away.

We will find a way.

She was beginning to wonder if luck was running with them or against them.

Most of the dancers were shaken and she had assured them that everything would be fine. But there was one that she had not seen…

Angelina…

Angelina looked at herself in the mirror. The dress was a little loose but would do until she could retrieve one of her own.

"Angelina?"

Peering out of the bedroom, she looked and saw Erik standing on the stairs. He smiled at her and bowed.

"Shall I return you to your room?"

"As my guard?"

"As your angel…" He held out his hand and she graciously took it.

Before they could walk down the staircase, the sound of a cane hitting rock echoed throughout the lair.

"Angelina, you are to return to the dormitories."

Angelina's eyes went wide as she peered over. Standing near the edge of the lake was Madam Giry.

"Madam Giry!"

"Return to the dormitories immediately. Do not stop anywhere else."

"Yes, Madam."

Erik stood there and watched Angelina quickly leave the lair. He did not look at Madam Giry – knowing the glare that she was already giving him.

"I swear, Erik…"

"Nothing happened, I assure you that, Madam."

"Why did you do it?"

Erik looked upon her. Her face did not hold anger but sadness.

"Why did I do what, Madam?"

"Why did you kill him?"

Nodding his head, he began down the stairs. He responded – nonchalant. "Was it that obvious?"

"The noose around the man's neck was a very large indication."

"Apparently I am not the only one who does it." Reaching his organ, he held up a Parisian newspaper. The headline neither could deny.

Russian Underground Tightens the Noose

"Answer my question."

"I do not owe you any explanation, Madam Giry." He had already heard that the inspectors had ruled it to be murder for greed and money owed.

"There is already a new investor."

"That there is."

"A man with no name." She shook her head. "You are growing careless."

"I am growing a heart."

Madam Giry looked at him with her eyes wide. "I do not understand."

"She called me her guardian angel, Madam. She stayed with me last night so that I might protect her. She feels safe with me." He smiled. "My heart grows."

"Erik…please, listen to reason."

"Monsieur Vasilev was a threat to Angelina. I took care of it."

Madam Giry watched as he turned his back to her. He sat down at his organ as if there was nothing going on around him.

"You murdered a man."

"I saved a young woman's life."

"His blood is on your hands."

"You have no idea what happened."

"Then tell me, Erik, so that I might understand."

"He hit her, Madam." His head hung low. The bruise was already upon Angelina's cheek. Erik grimaced at the thought of what else would have happened. "Angelina might not be with us right now if I did not interject."

"Tell me what happened…"

"Very well."

"You will be what I want you to be. I am funding your opera with my money. I will get my just reward."

Before Mikhail could put his hand on her again, a black leather gloved hand grasped his wrist. Angelina's eyes went wide.

"Erik?"

Mikhail's head slowly turned and saw a tall figure standing there. He nearly laughed as he saw the mask upon Erik's face. "What is this? Some sort of joke?"

"I assure you, Monsieur, that I am no joke." Erik looked toward Angelina. "Are you alright?"

"I have been better."

"Rise."

Angelina slowly rose to her feet. Erik slowly let go of Mikhail's arm as the large man began to rub where Erik had squeezed. Both men looked toward Angelina.

"Who is this, Angelina?" The fury inside of Mikhail was growing. The man in the white mask was about his size. It would be a fair fight.

Angelina smiled brighter then the sun. "My guardian angel."

Although there was happiness slowly building inside of Erik, he could not show it. "Go to my home, Angelina. I will be there shortly."

"But…"

"Go. I assure you everything will be alright."

Angelina hesitated but stepped toward the safe haven of Erik's home. Before completely going into the darkness, she looked back one more time and saw Erik's eyes. Something burned behind them. Angelina wanted to know what it was but knew that it would not be something good.

Erik waited another moment as Angelina was swallowed by the darkness. He watched as Vasilev turned to him. The bulky frame of the man was somewhat menacing but nothing that Erik could not take care of. The smile made him cringe. The Russian's teeth were yellow and cracked. The thought of him near Angelina made his blood boil.

They began to circle each other – as if it was a dance of death. The Russian laughed and it echoed throughout the opera house.

"So you are the young girl's suitor."

Erik remained silent. He would not give him any sort of leverage.

"A man in a mask. Impressive." The laughter came from low inside of him. He wanted to make it sound menacing. "You are no match for me."

Stripping his cape, Erik bowed in front of Vasilev. Slightly raising his head, Erik's smile was sly. "Let us be gentlemen about this, shall we?"

Erik stood up straight as Vasilev began to circle him.

"Do you think you stand a chance against me, masked man? Your precious Angelina will belong to me."

"Over my dead body."

"If that is how it must be, then so be it."

Vasilev quickly pulled his sword and thrust it at Erik. But with the speed of light, Erik had already drawn his and blocked the blow. The skull seemed to vibrate in his hand.

"Impressive."

"I assure you, Monsieur, that my skills are quite impressive."

"No face but intelligence. I shall have to remember that."

Thrust after thrust…blow after blow…Erik blocked every one. The large man seemed to try to be gasping for air. He took his shot and knocked Vasilev to the floor. Pointing his sword at the man's throat, Erik smiled.

"What I do have, Monsieur, is my precious Angelina. I promised her that no harm would come to her. I intend to make that promise stand true."

The sword dropped from his hand. The noise echoed throughout the opera house. Vasilev looked up at Erik.

"How do you wish to kill me if you do not have a sword? You cannot harm me in any other fashion."

His laugh was quickly silenced. Vasilev quivered as he saw the evil smile upon Erik's face.

"I assure you, Monsieur, that I already that planned."

Erik watched as the life from Vasilev quickly drained. Vasilev's feet were just mere inches from the floor.

"You will no longer be a threat to Angelina. I have kept my word."

Digging in his coat pocket, he placed a black wax seal at the foot of Vasilev's feet. Glancing up, the large man's eyes were still open. Bowing once again, Erik opened the door and walked out, leaving Vasilev in the dark where he belonged.

There was no remorse in Erik's eyes. He had done what he had set out to do – protect Angelina at all costs.

"Does she know the price you have paid to protect her?"

"No, she does not."

Madam Giry nodded her head. "Then I will speak of this to no one."

They both glared at each other, only for a moment.

"I will speak with Angelina. I will tell her that I will tell no one of her interaction with you."

"Thank you."

She began toward the stairs as Erik rose. "Madam Giry…"

Stopping, she did not turn around.

"Vasilev would have hurt Angelina if I did not stop him."

"I know this, Erik."

"Then what I have done is not truly a sin."

Madam Giry shook her head. "Erik, I am not to decide that. God and God alone is to decide."

"I will burn in hell for saving the life of an innocent?"

"I do not believe that." She paused, remembering Joseph Buquet and Piagni. "But there will be a price to pay for everything else you have done."

Erik hung his head. "All I am asking for is a miracle."

Madam Giry smiled but did not let Erik see it. "I believe you have found her."

Erik watched Madam Giry walk up the stairs. Would Angelina be the light he needed to escape the darkness that longed to claim him? Would there be more blood on his hands before he could ever be free?

All he wanted was a future. Maybe Madam Giry was right. Maybe Angelina was his miracle. Erik needed to tell her everything. In order to save himself, he must hurt the one he loved. In order to pursue a future, he needed to return to the past. So much pain and anguish to save his soul. Was he ready to redeem himself? Was the light ready to accept him?

My guardian angel…

For Angelina, he would walk through hell itself. He would revisit the past and hurt her to be with her. Erik was ready to do the unthinkable. Erik was ready to admit he was in love.