Chapter Nineteen

The light has died, no one heard its final cries. The entire of the opera house however, feels its departure… almost as if the heart of the theater has been ripped away. The cast and crew move about like zombies, their motions routine and robotic. Buried, deep inside the shells they have erected, they are crying out, screaming in fear. It is over, it is all over. The manager has sentenced them to death.

They are no longer performing Faust. Satan's opera is what they are rehearsing now, and not a soul in the building doubts that the devil will come to take his dues. They know the wrathful spirit in there midst well. He will rise like a demon from the theaters depths, to the strains of his own opera he will enter. And like a plague of long past, like the locust of Egypt, the black death, he will sweep all into the end. Those who dare oppose him will fall, in flames.

The fear does not affect the individual in its heart, Jonathan, blinded in his own ambitions and feeling of triumph cannot see the darkness rising up around him, waiting to rip him apart. And in that darkness, the Lion watches, he has waited for this score, and he won't wait much longer, just till the moment is right. The final curtain must fall… for this opera is ending. If his opera is put forth upon his stage, if that battle field is made, you can see it in his eyes, a disaster, beyond even his imagination… will occur…

Mid summer, breaks end:

Diana lay in the lounge of the Jonathan's city apartments, her eyes shut in pain. He looms over her, his fist still clenching at his side. "You will not return to the opera until the night of the performance! Have I made myself clear!" Her eyes, full of silent loathing, met his. "Then how am I to practice my part with the rest of the cast? I will do terribly on the stage if I cannot practice." His face lowers to be across from hers; sadly he traces the new bruise on her temple. " I wish you wouldn't provoke me Diana, you keep hurting yourself." He sits down beside her, pulling her into his arms even as she shrinks from his touch. "I could not care less if you were to go up without remembering a single line, you would still be perfect. Besides, I will not tempt you unfairly Diana, if you returned, you would want to see him, I can't be so cruel." He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. "What kind of fool do you take me for Diana?"

With effort she pulls herself from him, her eyes never leaving his face. "An abusive, pig headed fool." His palm catches her sharply in the cheek and she crumbles, a few tears of pain leak free. He cries out in exasperation, and apologetically pulls her back to him. "As I stated, why the endless provoking?" His eyes were playful now, playful with a core of steel. "Now, go clean yourself up, we have dinner reservations and I will be embarrassed if we are late." His kiss was gentle, but the squeeze he gave her wrist was a warning. She waited until he had gone, listened to hear him locking the door behind him. He did. With slow steps, her wrist and head aching, she made her way into the bathroom and to the mirror; the signs of Jonathan's mad abuse stared back at her mockingly. "Would you even want anything to do with me now Erik? …you would never look at me again…

Peter cannot help me, Daroga isn't allowed on the grounds, and Raoul…" her eyes filled with tears. "Raoul say's you don't even speak my name… a month without speaking my name…" For a moment her expression glazed, he seemed to be sanding across from her, his eyes cold and accusing. "I didn't abandon you Erik!" He snarled, turning and stalking away, the silhouette of his frame blending into the shadows, "…Please don't abandon me…"

The shadows of the room faded as the lamps flickering light filled the place they had occupied. Oh but how she longed for them to return… then she could pretend… just for a little while, she could step into the shadows, and she would feel his arms around her…

Her eyes were tearing; a muffled cry filled the room. "He would have killed you Erik, he might still, and I will never see you again! Ever! I will never see you! Or hear you! Never!" she bowed her head and let the tears flow, muffling her sobs on a towel. Not too loud, a maid might tell Jonathan.

And standing alone in the darkness, the water tossing his reflection mockingly back at him, the Phantom watched his own tears fall, the two lovers… so far apart physically, were still so close…

(I will find you Diana… be strong, I told you the world could be a cold place…) Her eyes, wide with wonder, stared hard at the reflection in the mirror, "Have I gone mad? Finally?" the tears blurred her vision, so that another face seemed to gaze back at her from the glass. She wiped her eyes hurriedly and paused, there, in her own eyes… his fire, his golden fire burning brightly.

(Wait for me…) The same fire, the same heart, the same soul. "I will wait, even if it takes a lifetime, I'll wait for you."

The Persian

Eyes of fire, the laughter of a demon… and the screams of so many innocents… standing amongst the ruins of the Paris opera house, a dark shadow, a dark soul, waiting for the light of day to come, To bring the police, the world's attention, and another massacre. The eyes of a demon… long black wings, folding around a shaking form… "Why not die? we have no purpose worth life here!" Black wings… swallowing his soul… "I don't fear death, but I'll tell you what I do fear Daroga!" Demons laughter, wings and blackness… "I fear Damnation!"

Eyes of fire…

"Erik no! Allah will..!" My eyes flew open and I almost leapt from my bed, sweat dripping off my entire body. The candle on my bedside was flickering, still lit, though it was almost at the end of its wick. It had been a dream… "Just a terrible dream…" with a crash the door to my room burst open, The Viscount ran in with a look of worry plastered on his face. "Daroga! Are you all right? You're awake at last!" I smile lightly, moving over to show him I am all right. "I had a nightmare, that's all. I'm sorry to have woken you at this ungodly hour." The viscount sat down across from me, worry in his face. "…Daroga, do you realize the scare you gave me? I was afraid your wound was open!" A small smile playing over my face, "Should that happen, you will be informed, no fear."

He nodded, but his eyes were distant. It had shaken him to find me the way he had. Tied up behind a gypsy wagon was not my ideal way to be seen, but I digress. I was fortunate, fortunate from all I'd been told that I was even alive. The blow to my skull had healed, but it had a tendency to swell a bit if I wasn't careful. "So sorry again my friend, did I wake you?"

"Oh, you didn't wake me. I couldn't sleep, I'm too nervous." I nodded, sliding to face him in a more comfortable position. Nervous indeed, and we should be. Metaphorically we are placing our heads in the tiger's jaws. In the temper Erik was sporting I had been amazed he was even willing to speak to us. Still, I hope that once we have spoken again, he will confide in us once more. With a sigh Raoul looked toward the window. "When we meet with him, will we be able to speak with him safely?" I nodded, a hint of doubt finding its way into my mind. "He gave us his word, but we should still be careful, he isn't in a good humor. I hope the news you have from Diana is good." I winced as I saw Roul wince, "Is she all right?" He sighed, his eyes becoming clouded. "I think he's been beating her..."

My horrified expression must truly have been something, for he ran to get me a glass of water. …Beating her! She is an innocent! How dare he! If Erik hears of this there will be no holding him back… he will go and seek out the fool with blood on his mind. My dream could very easily come to pass… I took the water and swallowed it without pausing. "I have no idea what we will tell him now… that poor child…" his eyes locked with mine, "I'm afraid the bad news doesn't end there... Daroga, I have no news for him, because he already knows." I nearly drop my glass, "you said what?" he sighs. "He knows what count Emorenth has done, and he has claimed he will bring it to the attention of the entire cast." My expression seemed to frighten him again, "…He's… he's going to speak to the entire cast? In person! Has he gone mad!"