Chapter 6

The Note

As Erik sat there thinking, trying to anyway, he thought about how he should word things to sound credible without sounding like he was devising anything against the Vicomte.

This must be the most subtle of letters to garner suspicion without actually spelling it out to them. He must do this right, if it is to hold Raoul for any time successfully. By the time they are done with him, it won't matter whether he is still alive or not, he will be unable to do much to hold them back. He was confident that he could end this battle without violence. He owed it to Christine to end this battle without violence.

The question he had to think out was how was he going to do it, he had a plan, he had a great plan, but to make it sound credible without riling suspicion upon him, or rather the person purported to pen the note, that was the trick. Erik made several attempts, finally, in frustration; he stood up and walked to the window. He gazed at the night sky, the moon was but a sliver, and the sky was very dark velvet. There was a sprinkling of stars in the sky; however they would disappear as the clouds drifted past. The air was cold, and he gave a shiver. Christine had fallen asleep hours ago, exhaustion taking over and leaving her in deep slumber. Twice he walked over and gently caressed her face, hardly daring to believe she was really here with him, and ensuring that she was alright. Yes, he was avoiding thought; it was just so much all at once. His head was spinning with the events of the day, this was like the first day of his life, he truly never felt so alive before, and it was hard to think laconically as he did so naturally before in his life. Christine had changed him, by simply accepting him; she gave him a soul and a conscience. This was, indeed, something new. He knew right from wrong before, but nobody had been kind to him, so he never had to worry about right or wrong, he felt just in whatever he did.

He jotted down some words;

Dear Monsieur's,

It is with deep regret that I report knowledge of questionable events surrounding the tragic fire at the Opera Populaire. I apologize for the lag in time ofafewdays between the fire and this letter; however there was a certain degree of shock experienced and a desire to not act in haste was the primary goal.

As it appears to be most certain the end is final where these events are concerned, it seemed the time lapse would not place peril upon anyone concerned.

Let me clarify by stating that you may wish to detain and question one Vicomte de Chagny with regards to the mysterious disappearance of his Fiancée mam' selle Christine Daae as well as the notorious opera ghost.

It disturbs me to have to inform you of this, however I believe there may have been foul play surrounding this whole affair. There was a fight and a struggle going on about 30 meter's from the steps of the Opera Populaire as witnessed by me and my party coming to help patrons as they left the building. We noticed that the Vicomte was trying to hold mam'selle Daae back from the Opera Ghost, while the Opera Ghost was attempting to grasp her, seemingly to protect her. She looked as if the Vicomte had frightened her, and was trying to pull away from his grasp; there were bruises on her face as if he had struck her. The same time as the Vicomte was holding the wrists of mam'selle, he was attacking the Opera Ghost, though with what, I was unable to see. The Opera Ghost fell to the ground, and the Vicomte yelled something inaudible to mam'selle and proceeded to attack her in similar fashion as he did the Opera Ghost. I then witnessed him with assistance from some other unrecognized person, throwing the two now unconscious bodies into the sewer through the opening near where the altercation took place. As the one whom aided him left the scene, I was unable to believe what I feel I had witnessed, though proof that he had crossed paths with the Opera Ghost lies in the fact that he is in possession of the White Mask that the Opera Ghost was wearing when he was last seen. I witnessed him gazing at it in triumph and placing it in his shirt.

We were not able to go aide anyone where this occurred, as the throngs of frightened people exiting the opera house were never ceasing. We also felt that it was best to stay away from any dispute with the Vicomte, as he has power and we are but common Parisians. My conscience would not allow me to live if I did not draw your attention to the events of which I observed.

In the interest of prudence I wish to refrain from signing. You will need no witnesses if you find their bodies where I have described, or if they are still alive and located, therefore I wish to respectfully remain, Anonymous.

That almost sounded right, he would put it down for the night, now having an idea that was what he would weave when they returned to Paris, he could at least sleep. That should keep the Vicomte detained if he did it right. Smiling to himself for the idea he was hatching, he took off his outer clothes andgently lay next to Christine on the bed. Thinking that he would surely sleep immediately, he found his proximity to his beloved to be more than he could bear. He thought about sleeping on the floor, to allow them to get a full night's sleep, however, when he began to move, Christine spoke;

"I thought that you said you would sing "No one would listen" through all the way for mewhen you were done writing your letter and came to bed. Are you going to keep your word? I have been very quiet and patient, ok, I was sleeping, but never the less, I waited for you, please, Erik, could you sing for me?"

"Very well, as you wish, I shall attend to your desires!" Erik softly began to sing, soon they were both asleep, though Erik woke several times as he was not used to sharing his slumber with another human, much less one who was so close to his proximity.

"Erik, wake up, it is morning. Would you like me to go down and get us some breakfast? I may have more trouble this time convincing them of my appetite, as I am rested and restored. "

"Maybe you can tell them that you are with child, they would understand then."

"Oui, but they would wonder where my husband was, as well as what kind of husband would let his wife travel alone pregnant."

"Well, I certainly will not when you are carrying our progeny. I will protect you with my life, as I plan to for all time."

"I know that Erik."

Erik rose from the bed and placed his shirt back on, which helped to slow Christine's heartbeat closer to its normal rhythm. Neither one of them felt they should be reckless with their abandon at this time, it kept them from escaping their situation. Time moved on and they had to employ their intelligence to keep one step ahead of Raoul. He was as dangerous as Erik was when he was on the outside looking in. Though Raoul, for all his intelligence, was no match for Erik's genius. He would win, or die trying. He knew he was not forcing Christine, and that brought the power he needed to ensure his triumph. Thus, it was with great reluctance that they forged ahead despite all desire to spend their emotions to their exhaustion over and over again. There would be time for that later. Now they had to fight the good fight to gain the right to live in their love.

"Very well, when you return we shall review and revise the letter I have written for the Gendarme. Then today we shall find a confidante to get it to the Paris Gendarme. That will be our primary goal, aside from insuring that whomever we get to take the letter for us pick up any tidbits of news there may be as to what the Vicomte is presently doing."

"Very well, Erik, with that decided, I shall be back with some breakfast for us. I fear it will not be much, but it shall keep us from hunger and help us concentrate on the issues at hand."

Erik was getting restless, the idea that they didn't know what Raoul was doing or where he was at the present time was making him crazy, he had to know where the enemy was in order to be wise in his counter move. The danger of violence lay in not knowing the steps the enemy was making. Today would be the day they decided their next moves and laid their plan into play. His blood coursed with the excitement of the power he now had over this silly, spoiled brat who attempted to steal his Christine from him. He grew just a little more angry with what he had almost lost to Raoul every time he thought about it. Before, it was unknown so it was without passion, now it was known to him and there was no turning back from her any longer.He could hardly believe how close he came to doingjust that mere days ago.

Just then, as he was entering the truly dark place in his mind, Christine returned with their breakfast.