Author's note:
Sorry I was not able to update lately. I was suffering from a severe case of writer's block. But now I am back an I hope you enjoy this newest installment of the story. Thanks again for all you reviews on this story so far.
Chapter 7
Jones walked over to Connor's side and opened the door. He stepped and Lexi followed as he held his hand out to help her of the car. They were now on the sidewalk of the concert hall as Jones stepped back inside of the vehicle. Conner gave him a nod as Jones nodded back.
"Have a good time sir." Jones said.
"Thank you." Connor responded.
They watched as Jones got back in the limo and pulled away, a few moments later Connor offered his arm to Lexi.
"Shall we?" He asked.
"We shall." She responded with a smile.
At that moment they interlocked arms and walked inside of the concert hall where they were greeted by The Architect.
"Lexi, how lovely it is to see you again." The old man said with a cheerful tone in his voice.
"Likewise." She answered him.
Next to The Architect was a very attractive couple. The man was dressed in a black Versace tuxedo with tails with a red vest and a matching red tie. He had a smile that could charm any woman in the place. His female companion was a very elegant woman with long black hair and deep dark eyes, she looked quite exotic in her form fitting red strapless gown that accentuated her womanly curves.
"Hello Connor. It's been a long time." The man said with a thick french accent.
"Hello Mero. Hello Persephone." He answered.
"We are excited to have your work shown at our gallery next week." Persephone told him.
"Yes, me too." Connor answered.
"I didn't know you were to be showing your work." Lexi said.
"Connor why didn't you introduce us to this charming young creature?" Mero asked as he looked directly at Connor's date.
"Oh this is Lexi, she's posing for me."
"Really?" Persephone chimed in. "So this is the young woman your grandfather was telling us about. You are quite lovely my dear." She said with a smile.
Lexi could feel herself blushing at Persephone's compliment. Mero took her hand and kissed it.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Lexi." He said.
"Nice to meet you both too." She answered.
A few moments later the lights in the lobby flashed as a signal that the show would be starting soon.
"It looks like we better get to our seats." The Architect said.
"Yes, where are we sitting again grandfather?" Connor asked.
"The Phantom's box." He answered with a slight smile.
"Ah number five." Connor said.
Persephone and Mero excused themselves and made their way to their inside. Lexi, The Architect, and Connor made their way to box number five. A few moments later the show had started and they sat as they watched the story unfold. The show went on and as Connor watched, tears started to form in his eyes when he heard the song that his father sang to him as a little boy. He closed his eyes and pictured his father right there singing to him softly and for that moment he was a little boy again. He closed his eyes as he heard his father's voice. As a child the way his father sung this song always calmed him when he was scared. As Connor's eye were closed, slight smile crossed his lips.
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendour
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away
From the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night
Close your eyes, and surrender to your darkest fear
put your thoughts of the life you knew before
close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
and you'll live, as you've never lived before
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness that you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be
Only then can you belong to me
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
As the song ended he opened his eyes as the crowd gave The Phantom a thunderous applause. Lexi turned to him and it was obvious there were tears in his eyes.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
"Yes." He nodded.
She handed him a tissue and The Architect out the corner of his eye looked over at them. He couldn't help but think that she was the best thing that ever happened to his grandson. He noticed that ever since meeting her, he was now smiling and it was a good thing. Finally, the play was over and they made their way out of the theater.
Just outside Jones was waiting for them outside in the limo. As they made their way to the car, an old Cadillac with about two women and three men and two women pulled up beside Jones. All were wearing sunglasses and were dressed in black. They pulled out machine guns and opened fire on the crowd. Out of instinct, Connor pushed Lexi to the ground and covered her as bullets whizzed past them. The shooting seemed like it lasted forever and then finally it stopped. Not too long after that the Cadillac with a high screech, pulled away. Connor was still on top of her.
"Are you okay?" He asked.
"What the hell was that all about?" Lexi was shaken.
"Grampa?" He looked over at the old man.
"I'm alright son." He reassured him.
"Is everyone alright?" It was Jones.
Everyone got up and Lexi was still in shock over what had just went on. A few moments later, the police arrived to question everyone. After the conversation with the officer on duty and the exchange of business cards, Lexi, Connor and The Architect made their way to the limo with Jones close behind them. Once they were all inside the limo pulled out and headed down the road.
"I am so sorry about this." Connor apologized.
"It's not your fault." She told him.
"I hope this won't ruin our professional relationship." He said with a worried tone.
"No, it won't. Besides I enjoy being in your company."
He gave her a smile.
"I am glad to hear that." He told her.
Finally the car pulled into the driveway of her apartment building. The Architect stayed inside the limo as Connor walked her to the door. They said their goodnights as she kissed him on the cheek. He seemed quite surprised by the gesture.
"Good night." She said as she stepped inside.
"Good night Miss Morgan." He said as he left.
As he made his way back to the limo, The Architect noticed his grandson was smiling. He hadn't smiled like that since he was a boy.
Meanwhile, the group that had shot at the opera patrons earlier, were driving to an unknown destination. The driver was talking on his cell phone.
"Operator." Said the voice on the other end.
"Yeah Shocker here. Our mission to kill Connor Smith failed, we need an exit."
"Coming right up."
A few moments later they arrived at an abandoned building where a lone phone was ringing.
Once Lexi was inside her apartment, she opened a large manila envelope and looked at the pictures of her mother who had recently passed away. It had been over a year, but it still hurt like hell. She had lost her mother to breast cancer. She remembered growing up when it was just her and her mom and no one else. As she grew up, there really was no mention of her father whatsoever. She had been told that he left them before she was born so she grew up never knowing him at all. She looked like her mother through and through except in the eyes. Where her mother's eyes were blue, hers were brown. But the rest of her DNA was from her mother. Lexi continued looking through the photographs and came across one of her mother in her younger days and a man with hair as black as night and with the same color eyes as she had. They both looked happy, so she wondered if this was the man that broke her mother's heart all those many years ago. She flipped the photo over and read the caption.
"Me and Tommy Anderson - Club Hel 1997"
Lexi couldn't help but wonder...
Back at the mansion, Connor had wondered why of all nights a bunch of strangers would shoot at them outside of a concert hall. The Architect could tell something was troubling him and eventually he would have to learn the truth about his father and eventually himself. The old man had hoped that he could raise him without incident and that Connor would be like everyone else. But in his heart he knew that Connor could never be like everyone else no matter how hard he tried. Unfortunately he was his father's son.
