Chapter Nineteen
A Trip to the Cemetery
Maria awoke before dawn broke. She got up and pulled a heavy shawl around her shoulders. The drafty opera house had turned deathly cold during the night. She walked over to the window; a light snow covered the ground. She sighed and walked over to her cedar chest. She lifted the top and pulled out her black dress. The sun was starting as she got dressed. She stepped into the cool hallway, never making a sound and noticed a bouquet of roses. She took them to her room and grabbed her black cloak off the bed. She pulled the hood up and walked down to the stables.
Maria walked in, looking for the grooms. It was early, but everyone should have been up. She walked over to the stall of a big, black horse named Caesar.
"Good morning, Caesar," Maria said, patting the horse that carried her to Erik's lair.
The horse nudged her gently. She slowly pushed back her hood and went over to the tack room. She got Caesar's bridle when she heard someone moving behind her.
"Can I help you, Mademoiselle?" the scruffy but gentle stable hand asked.
Maria turned and pulled out a small bag of gold. She saw the man's eyes brighten when he saw the small change purse.
"I would like to take Caesar for a ride this morning," Maria replied.
The groom looked over at the young stallion. He then turned to Maria. She was dressed in a beautiful, black gown with long sleeves and a black cloak with a red inside. She was also holding a bundle of roses. He knew what that meant.
"I will saddle him for you," the man said, taking the bridle from her.
Maria went to hand him the money. The man pushed Maria's hand over the coins.
"I don't want you money, Maria," he said with a sweet smile.
Maria nodded. She walked outside and waited for Caesar. She pulled her hood back up as the snow started to fall again.
The stable man emerged with Caesar saddled. He assisted Maria onto the sidesaddle and walked inside.
Maria made a small clicking noise with her tongue. Caesar started forward at a smooth trot. Maria quickly sped him up. She wanted to get to the cemetery.
Erik watched as Maria rode away. He wondered where she was going at such an early hour. It was a cold day and there was probably ice on the streets. He snuck down to the stables. The old groom was busying himself with some saddles that needed new polish. Erik walked over and took out another horse. He saddled it quickly and chased after Maria.
Once they got out of the city, it wasn't hard to see where Maria was heading. He pulled back to watch and not intrude. He saw the large cemetery come into view and sighed. It was the day he had almost forgotten.
Raoul walked into Maria's room and froze. Her bed was made, the lamps were extinguished, and she was nowhere around. His mind thought about last night and all the things that had happened. He swore as he walked down the hall. He went to the window and saw a hooded figure riding out of the stable. He didn't need to be told who that was. He rushed down to the stable and heard another horse go out.
The stable hand was staring as the second rider went out. He turned at hearing someone else enter.
"Where did that rider go?" Raoul demanded.
The stable hand could only shrug. He didn't know which way for certain the rider had gone once he rode out of the city.
"I assume that he followed the young woman," the groom finally admitted.
Raoul's eyes widened. It was as he feared. The hooded figure had been Maria.
"Where was she going?" Raoul asked, grabbing the man by the arm.
"The cemetery, I think," the groom said, pulling away.
Raoul rushed over to one of his white carriage horses. He mounted and spurred the horse. Luckily he had left his sword on from the sleepless night before. He rode hard, knowing he wasn't going to catch Maria, but he might catch the Phantom.
Maria dismounted Caesar at the huge iron gate of the old cemetery. The snow was coming down harder, but she didn't care. She pushed the heavy steel gate and walked in with Caesar trailing on a loose rein. She walked down the main path, her mind wondering. She glanced at passing tombstones and angel statues. Some made her smile while others made her tears seem so much closer. She paused at one of the graves.
The grave was small and had not been tended to in years. She wiped the snow away and read the name out loud.
"Danielle Laraque, beloved mother," Maria sighed.
She pulled one of the roses from the bouquet and dropped it on the grave. Maria remembered the old woman from the hospital so vividly. She could still hear the woman telling her how to pull a needle through certain materials. Maria collapses on the ground and began to sob deeply. This was not even the reason she was here. She finished her weeping and started on. She passed many more graves that she knew from her stay in the hospital. Finally she stopped in front of an old, large mausoleum.
The building was grand and sat at the top of the hill. The iron doors were shut and locked like always. The name Leroux was carved at the top a long with a likeness of her father. She climbed the stairs and sat down heavily.
"Father," she whispered. "I miss you so much. I can't believe that it has been twelve years this day that you left me."
She looked up at the likeness and saw how cold it looked. It was nothing like her father. He had been warm, kind, gentle, and loving man. He never got angry, and yet the likeness made him look so stern.
"Father, I found Erik, or he found me," Maria wiped a tear away. "He told me of your promise to bring him back home. I wish you had."
Maria heard Caesar snort and looked around. The day was so cold and lonely. It was just as it was the day her father had died. She looked down at the roses and saw a tear fall onto one of the perfect blooms.
"I love him so much, Papa," Maria sighed. "There is another man who loves me though. I don't love him. He is a Viscount, and he thinks that that impresses me."
Caesar snorted again. This time it was louder. Maria looked out at the open graveyard. There was no one there.
"Father," Maria whispered. "I know you would approve of Erik, but no one sees him the way you did, except me."
Maria had started to weep again. It didn't matter to her if the whole world knew she loved Erik. All she wanted to do was be with him. Yet everyone told her Raoul was the better choice. She shook her head.
Suddenly a soft voice called to her, "wandering child, so lost, so helpless, yearning for my guidance."
Maria looked up at hearing the familiar voice. The cemetery was still deserted.
"Angel or Father, friend or Phantom, who is it there starting?"
"Have you forgotten your Angel?"
With that a cloaked figure stepped out from a maze of gravestones. Maria stood up at seeing Erik. He started toward her slowly.
"Angel, please speak. What endless longings echo in this whisper?" Maria called to him.
"Too long you've wondered in winter," Erik stopped at the bottom of the stairs, "far from my loving gaze."
"Wildly my mind beats against this," Maria started toward him.
"You
resist?"
"Yet my/your soul obeys," Maria and Erik said
together. "Angel of Music, I denied you, turning from true beauty."
"Angel of Music, my protector," Maria whispered as she stepped into Erik's arms.
"Do not shun me," he whispered.
"Never," Maria said, kissing him.
Erik held her tightly, pressing his lips against hers. Maria held onto him as if she never wanted him to leave her.
"I love you," she whispered.
Suddenly they both heard the sound of pounding hooves. Erik turned and saw Raoul riding up. He pushed Maria behind him and pulled his sword. Raoul jerked his horses to a stop and jumped off.
"Get away from her," Raoul warned.
"Raoul, don't do this," Maria pleaded.
Raoul yanked his sword out. In one quick motion he lunged at Erik. Erik blocked the ill-aimed blow and advanced on him.
"No!" Maria screamed as the desperate swordfight started.
