Chapter 21
Erik looked at her, the deep sadness in his eyes apparent. "Nicole, I'm so sorry," is all he said.
She continued to stare at him in disbelief. "You're the Phantom of the Opera? Is that part of the past that you refused to discuss?" she questioned, anger seeping into her voice.
"I wanted to…but I just…wasn't ready to confess yet," he finished lamely. He took a deep breath and straightened himself with a new resolve. "Now, I believe it's time you should join your father so that the Vicomte and I can get this over with."
"No, I won't allow it," she said softly. She turned to Raoul, his sword still up and ready. "Monsieur le Vicomte, I ask that you drop your sword. Even if Erik is who you say he is, this is hardly the place to inflict your brand of justice, and I won't allow it." She continued to remain in a protective stance in front of Erik.
"Won't allow it, Mademoiselle?" he asked, mocking her. "I refuse to leave this house without…how did you put it? My "brand of justice" being served! Now, stand aside and stop protecting this murderer, this monster!"
"Father, please?" she pleaded as she spared a glance at Monsieur Clary.
"Vicomte, I must ask that you heed my daughter's request. There will be no vigilante justice served in my house," he bellowed. He walked up to Raoul and held out his open hand. "Your sword, Monsieur, if you please," he said pleasantly, though the look in his one good eye told Raoul he better comply. With that, Raoul huffed and grudgingly handed over his sword, realizing he would be no match for a man the size of Monsieur Clary. His eyes, however, flashed a warning to Erik.
Erik simply tilted his head briefly with an expression that seemed to say, "Too bad you'll just have to wait until later to maim me," a small, triumphant smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Raoul returned to Christine's side. She was trembling and pale. He then gave a cursory glance towards Monsieur and Madame Despreaux, who looked quite distressed at the unexpected turn of events.
"Monsieur Clary, I do believe we shall have to cancel dinner as it appears your unexpected guest has spoiled my appetite," he said, continuing to glare at Erik.
"Monsieur le Vicomte, may I have a word with you in private?" Nicole asked suddenly.
Raoul looked at her, eyebrows raised, wondering what she could possibly have to say to him. "Whatever you have to say, you may say it in front of everyone here," he spat.
"Please, Monsieur. I would really prefer to talk to you in private," she pleaded. "This turn of events has brought up many questions, and I believe you have the answers I seek."
He turned reluctantly to Christine. "Will you be all right, my dear?" he asked, not wanting to leave her in the same room with Erik.
She smiled nervously as she looked from her husband to Erik and then to Monsieur Clary and the Despreaux's. "I'll be fine, dearest. Go answer her questions."
"Very well, Mademoiselle. Lead the way," he said politely, though it was obvious his anger was barely being contained.
Nicole turned to Erik, placing her right hand gently on his left cheek. "I'll be back," she said. Watching her be so tender with the monster unnerved Raoul, and he rolled his eyes and let out a loud huff. Nicole then turned around, walked over to Raoul, and gestured for him to follow her out the door. He followed, sparing a glance back at his wife before heading out the door and to the right.
They walked out of the library and into the parlor next door. Nicole closed the door once they were inside. "Monsieur, would you mind explaining yourself, please? Why is it you believe Erik to be the Phantom of the Opera?" she questioned.
"Why don't you ask him yourself, Mademoiselle? You seem to be on quite familiar terms with him," he said sarcastically.
"Oh, I plan on it, but I would like to get your side first. You see, I've known Erik for many months now, and the man I know couldn't possibly be the one I've heard about in all the stories, so that is why, if you have a way to prove your accusation, I need to know," she explained.
Raoul rolled his eyes at her in exasperation and took a deep breath. He then briefly explained the whole situation, starting with Erik pretending to be Christine's Angel of Music and ending with him releasing the couple from his underground lair. Once his story was finished, he smiled smugly at her. "So what do you think of your dear Erik now, Mademoiselle?"
She stared at him in shocked silence. "I had no idea. I…I tried to get him to tell me about his past, but he refused, saying his past was for him only," she said, still trying to comprehend that her angel had played his role for someone else before her, and the woman who had fallen for the same deception was standing in the library just a few feet away.
"Well, I can see why he didn't confess his deepest, darkest secret, Mademoiselle. It might have made him look bad," he said, his voice still dripping with sarcasm.
Nicole stood there for a moment, still digesting Raoul's story. Finally, she looked up at him and politely said, "Thank you, Monsieur le Vicomte, for explaining everything to me. I do apologize to you and your wife for his attendance here, and I ask your forgiveness."
Raoul's look softened when he realized she truly had no idea of Erik's past, and she seemed truly sorry for the unpleasant surprise his presence caused.
"If you please, Monsieur," she asked, gesturing towards the parlor door. He followed, and they returned to the library.
When they walked back through the library doors, everyone was standing around in complete silence. Erik was staring out the window; Christine was fidgeting with her hat; and Monsieur Clary was looking off into the distance, pondering the evening's events. The Despreaux's were standing off in a corner, quietly discussing stories they'd heard in regards to the famous, or perhaps infamous, Opera Ghost.
Erik turned around and locked eyes with Nicole. He read her eyes with ease. "We need to talk," her expression screamed.
She walked up to Erik and then turned to face Raoul, Christine, and her father. "Monsieur le Vicomte, I beg that you and your wife reconsider and stay for dinner. Perhaps we can settle this matter once and for all," she requested.
Raoul raised his eyebrows in disbelief that she would dare to make such a request after the story he had just relayed to her. "Mademoiselle, certainly you must be joking," he said. "My wife and I do not wish to be anywhere near this man. Did you not listen to a word I said earlier?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes, Monsieur, actually I listened to every word you said. And I believe there is a way to get past the hard feelings and perhaps come to a new understanding, but for that, I ask for your patience temporarily," she said, sure that the Vicomte likely thought her to be mad.
He looked at Christine and then back at Nicole. "If dinner were just with you, your father, and Monsieur and Madame Despreaux, I would reconsider. However, I cannot abide sharing a meal with this monster," he spat.
"Monsieur, I'm not asking you to share a meal with Erik. I am asking you to share a meal with my father and Monsieur and Madame Despreaux so that you may continue to discuss your pressing business matters. And while you dine, I shall take the opportunity to discuss matters with Erik, and then after dinner, we can sit and talk about tonight's events like civilized adults," she said, being mindful of her tone. She had formed a strong dislike to Raoul in spite of him being considerate enough to relay to her the story about Erik's notorious past, but she was hoping to avoid any further quarrels or worse, Raoul returning with a lynch mob sometime in the future.
Raoul looked again at Christine, who nodded her head almost imperceptibly. "Very well, we shall stay and dine while you talk with the monster," he said resignedly. "However, don't expect anything to change because of it. We've been through far too much with him to want anything other than the justice he deserves."
"Well, at least let me thank you for your willingness to stay. Father, would you mind terribly if Erik and I stayed behind to talk?" she asked respectfully.
"Join us when you are ready, my dear," he said, smiling slightly. He turned to his guests. "Right this way. Thank you again for staying, Vicomte. Perhaps we can work to salvage the evening."
"Don't bet on it," Raoul muttered under his breath as he took Christine's arm, shot the Phantom another hateful look, and followed Monsieur Clary and the Despreaux's out the door to the dinning room.