In Deliverance

Of all the actresses to pass through the doors of the Opera Populaire, perhaps there was none so fine as Madame Antoinette Giry. Certainly she possessed a stern disapproving façade which often masked the tenderness in her heart, yet it was the countless years of secrets which had perfected her talent for deception and pretense. It was this talent she called upon during her visit to Inspector Bordeaux at the police station.

"Madame Giry, I hope that all is well. You have not had any unfortunate encounters since I left you last evening?"

"No, no, Inspector. We are all quite well, but I am certain you will understand that your visit did cause quite a bit of discomfort for myself, my daughter and, most especially, Mademoiselle Daae. Which is why I am hoping you might be able to offer me some update that could ease our minds."

The gentleman pursed his lips before nodding slightly. "Indeed, some additional information has come to light during the interviews we conducted last evening, Madame. Although I must take care to warn you that the source of this new report does lack some credibility due to her unfortunate occupation, if you understand my meaning."

Antoinette colored a little, but replied, "Yes, Inspector."

He cleared his throat and continued. "Well, there is a…lady…who claims to be witness to the attack. Indeed, she claims that the victim was in the process of assaulting her when another gentleman happened by and interceded. Of course, the victim denies this story, but it does seem to cast some doubt on his honor, such as it is. The woman also claims that, while she did not recognize the gentleman who rescued her, he certainly could not have been the Phantom." The Inspector paused and chuckled a little. "Says he was a right handsome fellow. That description would seem to count out our infamous Opera Ghost."

Antoinette let out a visible sigh of relief at this. "Then we have nothing to fear."

Inspector Bordeaux smiled warmly. "I think you shall be safe. The investigation is still ongoing, of course, and we will continue to take any reports very seriously, but I see no immediate cause for concern, Madame. I am very sorry that I even had to trouble you, but it is best to be forewarned in cases such as this."

She nodded in approval. "Yes, yes, of course. I thank you for you diligence in this, Inspector."

Bordeaux stood to escort Madame Giry out of his office. "You are most welcome, Madame. Do not hesitate to come to me with any information or concerns in this case."

Antoinette left the station house with a much lighter step than she had entered. The threat of discovery had not entirely passed, but Inspector Bordeaux clearly seemed to believe that the man they were looking for was not the Phantom. Which meant that Erik and Christine might still be able to escape Paris unnoticed. That is, if Christine had managed to keep Erik from doing anything irrational.

xXx

Christine had long stayed wrapped with Erik in the quiet of his underground world. They spoke more of what had happened that night…how he had followed her to the café and watched her with Raoul…how his jealousy had made him murderous…careless. Upon hearing the whole story, Christine had again reassured him that her love for him had not waned. Yet the incident reminded her once again that her life with Erik would be a constant battle. The darkness within him would always be lurking just beneath the surface, and she would need every bit of her newly discovered strength to keep him from succumbing to it.

Erik's strength was unquestionable. Even in the moments he thought himself to be weak, the sheer force of his will was overwhelming. She often thought of the life that would have been his if not for his unfortunate face. He was brilliant, and talented, and capable of such beauty and passion. Had the right side of face been as flawless as the left, he would likely have been a very well respected member of society...perhaps an aristocrat…and someone surely would have loved him long before Christine. A simple chorus girl in the corps de ballet would have never even met a man such as Erik would have been.

And how empty my life would have been without him.

As empty as his had been before me.

Now they would share their life together, in the light if Christine had any say in it…and she certainly intended to. At the moment, they simply sat together, Erik reclined against the wall with his legs stretched out upon the small bed. Christine sat safe and warm in the circle of his arms. He had closed his eyes some time ago, and Christine was surprised to realize he had drifted off to sleep. The experience was quite unique, as she had never before had the pleasure of simply watching him as he slept.

His face was turned slightly away from her, hiding the mask he wore completely from her view. He seemed somehow younger…softer…in his repose, and Christine suddenly found herself thinking again of the child she carried. While she prayed everyday that the baby would be born healthy and free of Erik's deformity, she also found herself fervently hoping that their child would look like his…or her…father in every other way. Perhaps it was slightly selfish of her, but she wanted to give him something that was pure and beautiful and unquestionably his.

Her reverie was interrupted by Erik's sudden movement next to her. The peacefulness of his rest quickly forgotten as he shot up from the bed in the same instant that one of his alarms sounded. He shot a hard look at Christine even as he moved towards the other side of the chamber. "Stay here."

He reached for his lasso, and her heart pounded in fear. She obeyed his command, praying that their intruder wasn't a threat, for she had no desire to be witness to whatever Erik would do if they were discovered here. A moment later, she heard the sound of the wall sliding open, then a moment of charged silence.

"Erik…quite a mess you've managed to make."

Christine sighed in relief at the stern voice of Madame Giry floating through the chamber, and then Erik's clipped response.

"An unfortunate accident."

Christine slid from the bed and slipped into the connecting room to see Madame standing with arms crossed and a disapproving frown upon her face. The older woman glanced to Christine, and her frown faded into a soft smile. In no time at all, Antoinette was relaying all she had learned from her visit to the police station. Erik was visibly surprised at hearing that the woman he had saved had not betrayed his true identity, and Christine clasped his hand in relief. She asked Madame, "Do you think we shall be able to leave tomorrow as we'd planned?"

Antoinette looked to Erik. "I am not certain. Do you think you can make it to the Marseille House…?"

He nodded firmly. "I will." He glanced to Christine, his face set in determination. "By whatever means necessary."

Christine drew a ragged breath and closed her eyes, willing herself to accept the possibility that he may need to break his promise to her. Antoinette nodded to Erik, "The coachman I have hired is reliable. He will say nothing of what he sees…as long as he is well paid. I believe Jerome has done some errands for you in the past, Erik."

Erik drew a breath, not comfortable with trusting anyone apart from Christine and the Girys. Yet he had no wish to send the ladies alone to Chantilly while he made his own way there. Too many things could go awry, and he felt far safer keeping Christine under his watchful eye. "I will make certain Jerome is very well paid."

And I will also make certain he knows what will happen to him if he dares betray me.

With the final details arranged, Erik sent Christine off with a quick kiss and a promise that this would be the last time they would part. The two ladies carefully made their way back into the Paris streets, and Christine measured every step with a memory. Tomorrow the city would fade away, and a lifetime would be waiting with the dawn.

A/N: Looks like Erik caught a little break for the moment. I managed to get this update in...a little later than usual...but here it is. I'll be out of town tomorrow and away from my computer. So the next update will be Wednesday. See you then.