I can't believe I'm already in the Twenties! If I keep posting daily like I have been doing, we should be over pretty soon. It's too sad to think about! I'm pretty sure this chapter has been shorter than the others, so my apologies are sent out! I also had no idea what to name this chapter.
Ethalas Tuath'an: Yes, I also find Vincent a source of entertainment!
demonmyst: I did want Loralee to slap Vincent, but I have to remember that they're in the nineteenth century and basically just met. Thanks for the review!
HiddenOperaAngel: Wow, you make me feel soooo honored! I suppose you'll like this chapter seeing as you want more "fop bashing".
PhantomLover05: I'm with you on that! Thanks so much!
AngelicFlutist: I know! Ventriloquism is an awesome characteristic to have. I'd die to learn how to do ventriloquism. Yes - I do give you permission to call Vincent a "silly fop." Ah, a list of words for Vincent. Yes, they do all seem to fit except, of course, for "blonde." But I agree - let's just stick with "Hopeless Romantic". Thanks so much for reviewing!
WildPixieChild: Thanks so much for the encouragement and review!
Chapter Twenty: Brava, My Dear!
Erik followed Loralee most of the way to his lair until she forgot the direction, so then Erik took over leading her. Yawns from Loralee were the only sound that punctured the silence besides their soft footsteps. As soon as they got to Erik's house, Loralee flopped down onto a chair where as Erik gracefully slid onto the organ bench.
"Why did you want me to go with Vincent, Erik?" Loralee asked him. From behind, even, she could tell he was at least smirking if not smiling.
"Just for entertainment, I guess."
"Oh, so I'm you're entertainment? Like an object to be used? Wonderful. . ."
Erik looked at her.
"Well, you'd be doing the same thing if a girl as naive as Vincent came to me and asked to court. You'd want me to go and make a fool of myself."
Loralee pondered this for a moment but then shrugged, defeated.
"So I would, so I would. . ."
A yawn issued forth from her mouth right after the sentence and her eyelids fluttered shut for longer than Loralee would have liked.
"Come on, you're tired. I'll wake you up in time for practices tomorrow."
She barely heard and understood what Erik just said because she was already half sleeping. In that drowsy state, Loralee didn't fight when Erik picked her up and carried her to Christine's bed, forgetting everything when her head hit the pillow.
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"Mademoiselle McLay?"
It was practice four days after the encounter with Vincent Badeau. She was just teaching the corps de ballet a rather easy sequence in the last ballet performance of the upcoming opera.
Over the past few days, Erik had visited often to speak as friends would do. Sometimes she would have to go out and get him items he needed for his lair, but most visits were just friendly talks with each other.
Loralee recognized the voice shouting out to her and acknowledged the person without taking her eyes of the dancing corps de ballet.
"Yes, Madame Giry?"
"Someone is here to visit you."
"Who?" Loralee asked, not in the mood to go away from teaching the ballet.
"Monsieur Vincent Badeau."
Loralee turned sharply around to face Madame Giry.
"Are you serious?"
Madame Giry only nodded, surprised at Loralee's annoyed face.
"Tell him that I am teaching and do not wish to be disturbed."
Madame Giry nodded and turned to leave but stopped half way through her turn.
"Do you know him?"
"Unfortunately so. I met him after the Opera four days ago. I hate to say such terrible things, but he's an incredibly naive boy and doesn't take no for an answer."
"What do you mean?" asked Madame Giry, getting interested.
"He asked me to court him and go out to dinner with him, and wouldn't allow me to decline. Monsieur Badeau just has no clue in the world of what is happening around him to other people."
"You didn't tell me you went out to dinner with Monsieur Badeau."
"I didn't because Erik was there all throughout the conversation, and after much debating he took me down to his home to get away from Vincent."
"After much debating?" Madame Giry asked, clearly entertained at the story.
"Yes, because at first Erik almost forced me to go out to dinner with Monsieur Badeau. He only stopped bugging me after I claimed I'd wear my mourning dress to the dinner."
"Well, I shall go and tell this interesting boy that you are busy and do not want to be disturbed."
"Thank you, Madame."
The message that Madame Giry told Vincent didn't seem enough for him, though. There was a short wait before Loralee felt another tap on her shoulder.
"Madame Giry, if he is causing you any more trouble, just tell him to go and mind his own-"
Loralee turned around to face Madame Giry as she spoke, but stopped short when she saw Monsieur Badeau behind her. She finished off the sentence in a voice below a whisper.
". . . business. . ."
"It's an honor to see you, Mademoiselle McLay," he said, bowing to her and taking her hand. Instead of having him kiss her hand, she crossed her arms and looked at him.
"Monsieur Badeau. Didn't I tell you that I am busy and wish not to be disturbed?"
"You did, Mademoiselle, but-"
"Then why are you visiting me?"
"Because the practices should be over."
"They should be what?"
Loralee looked at Monsieur Badeau's pocket watch when he offered it to her and was astounded when she saw the time.
"Bloody hell!" she exclaimed under her breath. Then she said out loud to the corps de ballet, "You can all go now! I'm sorry, I lost track of time. You were all excellent."
They sighed in relieve and immediately went out to get changed. Soon it was just Madame Giry, Vincent, and Loralee standing in the room.
"Madame Giry? Can you do me a favor, please?" Loralee asked.
"Of course."
"Can you get me the sheet on my vanity and bring it to me. You'll know which one I want from the seal."
Madame Giry raised an eyebrow and then nodded.
"Right away."
As soon as Madame Giry went away, Loralee faced Vincent. She noticed how he wasn't that much taller than her and just then she realized how much she liked Erik's tall and lanky frame.
Wait a second! I'm not supposed to think like that. That's Erik. . .
Try as she might, she still had to admit she liked Erik's taller body better.
"Mademoiselle McLay, I have come to discuss something of the most important matter with you."
Loralee just looked at him. As she looked up to him, a flash of white caught her attention in Box 5. Her eyes flitted there for a while just to see Erik come forth to show his mask to signal he was hiding in the Box. Loralee simply smiled quickly up at him before turning her attention back to Vincent, glad that he didn't notice her gestures of friendship to Erik.
"The other night when I asked you to dinner, the Phantom spoke to me."
"Did he now?" Loralee asked, raising her eyebrow, eyes looking at Erik for a split second.
"Yes. He did."
"Well, what did he say?"
"He told me not to court you, but I told him to keep his nose out of our business."
"Our business, Monsieur?" Loralee asked. "Since when has their been and 'our'?"
Vincent couldn't help but look a little taken aback.
"Mademoiselle, remember you agreed to court me?"
Loralee couldn't help but say the next few words which came to the utmost truthful conclusion that she had been spending way too much time around Erik.
"I'm sorry, but I don't remember."
Vincent looked like he was thinking hard.
"By any chance do you know the Phantom?" he asked.
"Well, you could say that. We've met before."
Vincent's eyes widened but Loralee remained innocent and calm.
"You. . . you know him?"
"Yes, I do know him."
"Then there's the answer! The Phantom must have done something to take away me from your memory. I should start over again. Mademoiselle McLay, would you like to go to dinner tonight? It's Friday so it wouldn't matter if we stayed out late."
"I'm sorry, Monsieur, but I am busy. I have some chores to do."
"But Mademoiselle-"
"Beth?"
Loralee and Vincent turned to face Madame Giry who was coming back. Loralee went over, took the black rimmed parchment with the red skull seal, and went back over to Vincent after thanking Madame Giry.
"What is that?" Vincent asked, eyeing the paper and red skull with caution.
"Just some items I have to buy for a dear friend."
Vincent looked quite unnerved at the paper, but soon cleared his throat and looked back up to Loralee.
"As I was saying, Mademoiselle, I could take you out to dinner and you can do the chores tomorrow. I'm sure you wouldn't mind that."
"Terribly sorry, Monsieur Badeau, but I really must do it now. My friend expects theses items later today. Good day, then."
She turned to leave.
"Mademoiselle-"
Loralee smiled up to Box 5 quickly before cutting off Vincent.
"Oh, and one last thing, Monsieur Badeau. I believe I told you not to call me Mademoiselle. The Phantom might have slipped in a word, also. . ."
She exited the room, leaving behind a shocked and quite unnerved Vincent Badeau.
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"Brava, my dear!"
Loralee walked out of the room to be greeted by Erik melting out of the shadows and joining her casual romp down the halls in the shadows.
"The interaction was nothing compared to yours."
"I could teach you how to master playing mind tricks on people," he suggested.
"I'm sorry, Erik, but I'm not that evil. Or at least I hope I'm not."
"Now, are you going out to do your chores or have dinner with Monsieur Badeau?"
"How about neither," Loralee said innocently. After a glare from Erik she threw up her hands in mock defeat.
"Fine then! I'll do my chores. See you later!"
Then after giving Erik a quick hug, Loralee put on her black cloak and went out into the public, fitting on her blonde wig.
Erik watched her go, just now marveling at her. How could one who's encountered so much in their life feel safe with just a wig?
Well that's an easy one, he thought, touching his own wig and mask. With a final smile towards Loralee's receding figure, he disappeared down another corridor and into the shadows.
Unbeknownst to both, Vincent Badeau had watched their whole conversation with a shocked and frightened demeanor.