I have neglected story after story! Shame on me!
Ch.9: Perros at Dawn
As Chris lay awake in his bed, listening to the rhythmic snoring of his bunkmates, the curiosity invoked in the phantom's kiss the previous night would not die. In fact, he almost yearned for the one who was his best friend for many years. No doubt, she had left him, never to return after hearing him talk love talk with Riley, so why couldn't he forget her? Without another thought, he tiptoed from the dormitory to the stables, ever silent. Riley was camped outside the door, slumbering fitfully. He was sure nobody had seen him go, but uncertain whether or not he was being followed by a shape in the shadows.
"To my father's grave, please," He murmured as a bag of coins was passed in the stable hand's direction. The stout man emptied the bag, finding a good twenty francs in there. " Right then." As Chris dressed in his mourning suit, a loud cry failed to startle him, but woke a sleeping Riley almost half a mile away.
The girl sat straight up, then jumped to her feet as she glanced into the dormitory to find Chris's bed vacant. With a look out the window, she caught sight of Chris clattering away in a black carriage driven by a mysteriously cloaked driver. " Chris!" She cried, sprinting down to the stables. A dazed stable hand rubbed a newfound lump on the back of his head as the girl ran into the vicinity, staring at the figure garbed in breeches and a men's shirt.
"Where did they go?" She said feverishly, a wild look in her eye. The stout man continued to nurse his head, his gaze testy. "To his father's grave, miss. Why do y-" He never got to finish, for the girl was already mounted on a white steed, taking off at a bat-out-of-hell pace for the countryside.
As the motley pair raced through the mud of the early winter, the driver said not a word, but he could tell it was a woman driving, the figure small and dainty. When they arrived, he hopped out of the carriage, roses in hand. "Thank you, miss," he bowed politely. " Two jade green eyes stared at him from the confines of the cloak. " It was my pleasure, monsieur." She muttered, then whipping the horses back into high gear.
As Chris stalked off into the mist of the graveyard, Erika cackled under her breath. It was like shooting a fish in a barrel. She quickly tethered the horses to a large tree, and then set off at a sprint to the site of the trap, laughing like a maniac all the way.
The graves of hundreds of people surrounded him, but there was only one that was special to him. His father had died when he was seven, leaving him alone in the world. Gustav Daae's untimely death had shattered his world, the angel of death taking both a father and a friend. When the mausoleum came into view, his vision swam with tears of anger. Every day he would ask himself " Why? Why did he abandon me?" receiving no answers and a consoling hug from Meg.
He lay the roses down on the steps to the crypt, kneeling alongside the flowers. After a while, he lost track of time, only brought back to reality by music, the most beautiful music he had ever heard. The Resurrection of Lazarus floated through the morning, filling every corner of his soul, all from four strings on a violin. The angel of music had returned to him.
A voice, as if from the throat of a seraph, came to him then, singing:
Child of lightOf wind, of shadows
Desiring my consol
Chris answered, uncertain:
Divine protector,
Girl or phantom
Who begs for my will this time?
The heavenly voice paused, although uncertain of its own identity, then sang:
Too long you've gone without guidanceWandering out in the snow
Allow me to take you away
Let your spirit just go!
The violin music began again, its serenade ghostly and haunting. Then, as the doors to the tomb opened, the voice sang:
I am your angelCome to me, angel of music!
Come to me angel of music!
As if by hypnosis, Chris dropped his scarf and began to slowly walk toward the tomb. The violin music mingled with the voice, creating an almost unearthly sound.
"Chris! Wait!" The euphoria was shattered when Riley galloped up on her horse, drawing a sword from her belt. " Chris," She said sternly, gripping both his forearms, " this is no angel. She is the phanto-" She was cut off when a dark figure emerged from the shadows, its sword sending sparks into the air.
Riley fell to the ground, fumbling with the sword, poised to defend. The masked girl leered, taking another stab at her, missing by only centimeters. Chris cried out as the two women fought viciously, lethal weapon for lethal weapon. Erika lunged in a fancy manner, succeeding in making a huge gash in Riley's right arm. Riley screamed, then, baring her teeth returned the blow, catching the phantom by surprise. Stumbling, Erika fell to the ground, the sword useless ten feet away. Riley held her sword high over her head, preparing to rid the world of this evil girl. She was shocked speechless when Chris stopped her.
" No Riley. Not like this." He muttered as he gazed at the girl garbed in men's attire that lay helpless in the snow. He then took Riley's hand and perched her on the horse that was waiting patiently by a headstone, cantering off into the mist.
Erika jumped to her feet, airily brushing snow from her boots. " Now, let it be war upon you both!" Her vow of vengeance was made, remaining with the deceased as she sprinted off. There was much planning to be done.
