Chapter 6: Telling Truths
A/N: Hello everyone! Hope you liked the reception chapter. Thankyou for reviewing!
I am the Angel of Music: I'm glad you liked it. And, I do try to show Erik compassion, he's just a very difficult character to write. But I shall try harder in the future.
Guitarprincess: I'm glad you like it! I try to update fast. By the way, I loved your story, 'Love me Forever, that's all I ask of you.' It was beautiful! Its great to find other RC fans out there, cause RC rocks! I love it!
Samantha: Suspense around every corner! I'm glad you like it. Thankyou so much for your continued support!
Asia1st: I'm glad you like it. And sorry for the cheesiness, my characters aren't normally cheesy. I think it was just because there was a wedding, and weddings are cheesy. And thankyou for your idea. I've considered it before, and may decide to use, just not completely sure.
Chapter 6: Telling Truths
Erik's icy reserve and composure seemed to drop for a moment as he stared in shock at Madame Giry's furious face. Even to him, the Phantom of the Opera, her angry face looked formidable. He swished his black cloak behind him and looked at her, his face expressionless.
"Do you want something Catherine?" he asked stonily, his grayish eyes staring at her through his stark white mask.
"Yes Erik, in fact I do." she said, her voice eerily calm, and contrasting sharply from the look on her face. "Why have you done this, in the middle of Marie Claire's reception?"
"Well," he said smirking, "I thought it best to warn them. After all, they knew this was coming."
She glared at him, her green- grey eyes seemingly penetrating his mind.
"Why do you keep doing this Erik? You are only hurting both yourself and them! Why don't you try and look deeper and look to find what you are truly searching for to make you happy? I don't like seeing any of you hurt!" she said her voice shaky, but still rising ever so slightly.
"Since when do you care if I get hurt?" he whispered, his voice hard. But at seeing the look on her face he regretted his words slightly.
Madame Giry's heart and eyes blazed with both fury and pity.
"How can you say that to me? After I rescued you from those gypsies? After I befriended you?" she breathed, "I did not expect you to act this way." she said, the anger and sadness becoming clear in her voice.
"You betrayed me when you helped the Vicomte." he said turning from her.
"I simply wanted to help him Erik, he loves Christine and you had gone completely insane! Yes, I care for the de Chagny's very deeply, but I care for you to!" she yelled furious at him. "You speak of betrayal, when you betrayed me by acting the way you do and wreaking havoc on the opera house!" she said, trying to make him understand.
He didn't answer her, but stared at the wall in a tense silence.
"You say that there is no one who cares for you, but it isn't true. I do. And perhaps if you didn't treat people the way you do, they would understand you. I know the world has not been kind to you Erik, and you deserve to be happy, but you won't find happiness in trying to make others unhappy." she said, reganing her cool.
Her words struck him, but he didn't want to let her know that. It would indeed be a while before he took to heart the lesson that she was trying to teach him.
"You cannot be on both sides, you must choose. Good evening Madame." he said as he stalked past her, pulling his cloak up over his head.
She fumed and stared after him as she banged her came on the floor. Would he ever learn to listen? She shook her head, her heart filled with worry as she returned to the reception room to check on everyone else.
An uneasy air hung over the room as the lights came slowly back on. Everyone looked around to see if the source of the voice was anywhere to be found. But of course it wasn't, Erik had dissappeared into the night, without a trace. Needless to say the celebration ended quite abruptly after that. There were few more dances, in order not to end the party on such a negative note for Marie and Arthur, but they went by quickly, for everyone was rather shaken up. And as Raoul and Christine bid the guests goodbye, they watched Arthur and Marie, who were being congratulated by several people. Their faces were white, but they still had smiles on their face. As the last guests left, Christine turned to her husband, a serious look on her face.
"We have to tell them about the letter." she said as she leaned into him, needing to feel the warmth and security that she felt in his arms.
"I know, we obviously can't delay any longer." he said, pulling her close and holding her tightly for a moment. "I'll go talk to Arthur, while you go and tell Marie while you help her change. I'll see you in a bit." he said as he squeezed her hand gently.
"Good luck." she said, as they both tried to give each other a reassuring look.
A few minutes later, as Christine helped Marie into her traveling clothes, Marie's sweet voice broke the tense silence.
"Mama I want you to know that even though Erik has returned, this was still the happiest day of my life." she said quietly.
Christine sighed with apprehension, a tear sliding down her rosy cheek as Marie came up and hugged her tightly. Christine held her now so grown up daughter, her heart filled with such strong mother's love. And each soul was filled with the fear that they had hoped to never feel again.
"Marie sweetie, there is something that I need to tell you." she said as she gently brushed Marie's curls out.
Marie's muscles tensed up, knowing that she wasn't going to like what she was about to hear.
"There was a letter. It was on out doorstep the night that we went out to supper." Christine stopped, giving her daughter a chance to take it in.
Marie's heart beat rapidly at those words and her initial reaction was anger that she had not been told of this. But after thinking for a moment, she realized why her parents had waited to tell her. She wouldn't have wanted to know this before the wedding, it would only have worried her.
"We didn't want anything to overshadow your wedding." said Christine.
Marie nodded, smiling at her mother's concern.
"I understand. I'm actually rather glad I didn't know. Is that why you and Papa have been watching Arthur and I like hawks lately?" asked Marie with a nervous laugh.
Christine too laughed at this, feeling better now that she knew Marie was alright.
"Yes that would be it. Well I daresay that we'd best go outside Madame Page', I believe that your husband is waiting for you." said Christine with a sly smile, the cloudy sadness that had been in her brown eyes lifting for a moment as they returned to their normal brightness.
They walked out, arm in arm, understanding each other as only a mother and daughter could.
Meanwhile, Raoul was trying to talk to Arthur, who was staring at his father in law in shock. The news that the Phantom had already given two warnings was not something he wanted to hear.
"Why did this have to happen now, at such a happy time?" he asked as he began to pace up and down.
Raoul shook his head. "I don't know, but I was afraid that this was going to happen." he said as he rubbed his temples, feeling an oncoming headache." But I don't want you and Marie to spend your honeymoon worrying about this, I want you to enjoy it."
The young man stopped pacing and smiled at Raoul's concerned and kind words.
"You're right. I shouldn't be worrying now. It is after all, my wedding day." he said turning to look at Raoul's kind but distressed face. "Thankyou so much for everything , your family has become so important to me, and I promise to stand by all of you, no matter what happens."
Raoul grinned at these words.
"I know you will. And I know that you will take good care of my daughter. She will need your love, especially now." he said as he clapped Arthur on the shoulder.
"You can count on me." said Arthur, his heart alight at the thought of his beloved new wife, but heavy at the thought of Erik's return.
A few moments later, Marie and Christine emerged, Marie looking lovely in her soft pink traveling gown. She bid everyone a fond farewell, then turned to her parents. She embraced them and they bid each other a heartfelt goodbye.
Then the young couple climbed into the carriage as their dearest friends and family looked on. Both Christine and Madame Page' laughed through happy tears as they looked on. Raoul waved, tears coming to his own eyes as he held Christine in the circle of his arms.
Inside the carriage, Arthur held Marie to his chest, his arms around her small form. She rested against him, a contented feeling in her heart and soul. But as the memory of the Phantoms's harsh voice hit her, she shivered slightly.
"Arthur ," she asked quietly, "Are you afraid of what might happen?"
"Terribly," said Arthur solemnly, "Afraid of you getting hurt. But let us not let it ruin this day. I love you Marie Claire."
"I love you to." she said feeling better as she leaned in to kiss him.
Meanwhile as Christine and Raoul got into their carriage to go home, Felix bombarded them with questions about who the Phantom of the Opera was.
A/N: Hey, hope you like this! Phew, the wedding section is done! I loved writing it, but it was difficult. Anyway, there are many suprises in store, so please keep reading, and by all means please review! And yes I know, this chapter is very fluffy, but like I said before, I am a sap!