Blackmail Part II

I stepped into the dining room and looked around for Miss Sherry. There weren't too many people in the dining room. Meg used to come in here allot to stare at all the handsome dancers, but now that she's engaged she's stopped that habit. I spotted Miss Sherry at a table towards the back of the room. She was applying powder to her nose, so she hadn't seen me yet. I took a deep breath and began walking to her table. She placed her make up back into her purse and lifted her head. Her eyes seemed to close into slits, like a cat's eyes, when she saw me. It made cold shivers go down my spine.

"Hello, Rachel, I'm so glad you could come. Please, have a seat." She pointed to the chair across from her, so I slowly sat down. I placed my hands out in front of me and gazed at her.

"You knew I would come. Now, what is this really all about, Miss Sherry?" She leaned back in her chair and gave a little chuckle.

"Oh, Rachel, you know what it's about. Do you not believe me when I tell you that I only want to please my father? He expects great things of me, and so do I! Now, I am willing to help you if you only help me. So, do you agree or not?" I placed both of my hands into my lap and clasped them together so tightly that my knuckles began to turn white. What should I tell her? I don't want her controlling me like I'm a puppet, but I don't want to cause any harm to Erik, either! God, please help me! The hitting of her hands on the table brought me out of my thoughts. Miss Sherry had firmly placed her hands, palms facing down, onto the table.

"So, what's it going to be, Rachel? I do not have all day." What was it going to be? I know Erik would hate me for this if I gave up my position to Miss Sherry, of all people! I wonder if she's just pulling my leg. What if I do give her my position, but she gives away Erik's hide out anyway? Or what if she does try to persuade Firmin and Andre' that the Phantom doesn't really exist, but they don't believe her like she thinks they will? There are so many things that could go wrong, and all I'm doing is selling myself over to her if I agree!

I raised my head and looked her in the eyes.

"Yes, I have made my decision." She smiled after hearing that. Don't get too confident. "I've decided to keep my position and not to help you."

I could tell she wasn't expecting to hear that. Her eyes got big and her cheeks turned bright pink. She clamped her teeth together and stood up abruptly.

"You are making a big mistake, Rachel. I tried to be nice, but now you leave me no choice. I hope you spend allot of time with your Phantom for the next couple of days, because you will never see him again after that!"With that said, she marched out the door with a very stiff back. I let out a sigh that I had been holding inside the whole time. I hope I did the right thing!


That night I lay curled up on my bed reading a book. I had stayed in my room most of the day since my meeting with Miss Sherry. Madame Giry was too busy helping Meg with the wedding preparations, so I really didn't have anyone to talk to. I had no idea where Erik was or what he might be doing. I hadn't seen him in 3 days. All the contact I had with him was the single rose he had given me when I wasn't even in the room. I wonder if he's mad at me? I was so sure that after my illness he would have come to trust me. I guess I was just imagining the whole thing, though.

I still couldn't get his little boy self out of my mind, I guess. It just seemed that he should act the same way he did when he was younger. I know that I'm more mature now than I was when I was nine, but I'm still pretty much the same. Of course, I wasn't kidnaped, beaten with a shovel, and living under an Opera House for many years like him. I just don't understand why it's so hard for him to trust me! I haven't done anything for him not to trust me. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I marked the place where I had stopped reading, and placed the book onto my night stand beside the bed. It was almost 10:00 and we had rehearsals tomorrow, so I decided it would be a good idea to go to bed. Maybe a little sleep will make me feel better.

I undressed and pulled my night gown over my head. I walked over to my bed and pulled the covers back. After I had gotten settled in, I leaned over to my night stand and blew the candle out.

I couldn't go to bed at first, though. I just laid there in the dark staring at nothing in particular. Ever since my meeting with Miss Sherry I have felt this cold ache in my stomach. I just couldn't help but think that I had done the wrong thing. I know she probably just said all of that stuff to trick me, but I wasn't so sure anymore. She has come to show that she's much more mischievous than I thought. Trying to push all thoughts out of my mind, I closed my eyes and snuggled deeper into the warm sheets. After about two hours of laying awake, I finally fell asleep.

That didn't last for too long, though, for I awoke to hear a low, sliding noise. I sleepily sat up and looked around my room. My eyes began to focus to the darkness and I could make out an object close to my mirror. It was rather large and seemed to just stay where it was. At first I thought I was still asleep until I heard the object whisper my name.

"Rachel, I need you to come with me." I blinked again, this time from pure shock. That voice...

"Erik, is that you?"

"Yes, it's me, Rachel. Now, I need you to come with me. Hurry, it's very urgent! I'll explain when we get down to the lair." I just couldn't believe it! He was back and talking to me! I pinched myself as I got out of bed, just to make sure this really wasn't a dream. Everything seemed too perfect until I reached his side and got a closer look at his face. There was a frown and several worry lines on his forehead. I wonder what's wrong.

He took my hand in his larger, gloved one and led me thru the mirror.

(Author's Note: Okay, so I know it might have seemed that Rachel was getting wimpy, but she's really not. She was just worrying about Erik's well being. So, something is about to happen. It will be in the next chapter and let's just say it will be both good and bad. Okay, now that I have you wondering, I'll see you later! Love you lots!)