When her mother had gone, Meg heard a low grunt of pain behind her.
She turned and saw Erik in the doorway. He was leaning against the wall, clutching at the doorframe support.
Meg could not imagine how, in his weakened condition, he had forced himself to rise from the bed and walk that far. He had even managed…despite his injury…to put on a loose robe of black velvet.
She didn't want to think how much that must have hurt him. The robe hung awkwardly on his thin body, hardly covering his bandaged shoulder.
"Why are you still here," he asked in a thin, wavering voice as she hurried to his side.
"Erik! You shouldn't be up," she scolded, "you're not strong enough."
"Why are you still here, Meg," he repeated, swaying a little.
If it was even possible, his face was even paler than when she first found him.
She wrapped one arm around him, trying to steady him.
"Don't fall, Erik! Please, don't fall…I can't carry you!"
He put his arm around her shoulders and leaned on her. As thin as he was, the weight of his body against hers was almost too much for the little dancer to support.
He let her lead him back to the bed, collapsing heavily onto it.
"You shouldn't have done that," Meg reprimanded him gently as she eased him onto the pillows and once again spread the blanket over him.
"Why didn't you go with your mother?"
Meg straightened and put her hands on her hips.
"And leave you here," she snapped, "like this? We are not going to argue about this again!"
"I heard everything. You'll lose your position…a position that I secured for you!"
"You?"
He tipped his head a little and his mask shone softly in the candlelight. She could see that sleep had pressed the edges of it into his skin leaving a red outline in his skin.
"It was a small matter, a little gratitude to your mother for delivering my messages. A few notes to my managers, a subtle threat or two."
So that's how it happened!
Meg knew her mother had not recommended her promotion, showing no favoritism to her only child. And the managers had never seemed to notice her before.
"Thank you. If I lose it, though, I lose it. It can't be helped. After all, I'm just one of many."
She bent over and, before he could move or protest, slipped the mask off his face.
"Meg Giry! Give me back the mask," he snarled.
She ignored him and took the mask with her when she left the room.