Chapter 13: Rekindling friendships and learning lessons?
Erik didn't know how long he slept, but he awoke feeling slightly refreshed. He didn't normally didn't sleep very much, so the feeling was strange. But he was no less bitter, angry, or frustrated as he had been the night before. But sleep, he found, at least toned down the fiery intensity of his emotions. He eyed his Moncharmin disguise with flaming eyes. He no longer desired to look at it, and so promptly threw it in the lake, watching with satisfaction as it sank to the murky bottom.
For a moment though, as he watched it, he thought about his time as Moncharmin. It had definitely been a rather bittersweet experience for him. He had gotten to see Christine and Marie often, but he also had to see the Vicomte and Arthur. And he had seen how happy they all clearly were together. But they had treated him as they would any normal man, as even a friend perhaps, despite his 'burns.' It had been rather odd, acting normal and interacting with the people he had haunted and wreaked havoc on for all of those years. He had acted with civilty, even politness toward the people whom he swore that he hated. And yet the strangest thing to Erik, was the fact that these people, the very people who had shown such fear of him, had actually liked him. And he had gotten to work firsthand in an opera, which was invigorating. But it wasn't enough. And it wouldn't be enough until Christine and Marie were his. And then they would be the family of the music of the night.
Butother than a few curious questions about the circumstances in which he had recieved his 'burns', they had simply appreciated his musical talents. But those thoughts were also over shadowed by the fact that his plan, his ingenious plan that he had worked on for months, had failed. And it was all because he had allowed Marie Claire to slip through his fingers. He let out a scream of rage, kicking over a nearby chair in frustration. He couldn't believe that he had let this happen! He sat down at his organ, running his fingers over the smooth ivory keys. Had this been his last chance? Would it always be just he and the Music of the Night? But, much to Erik's chagrin, he was not left to ponder these thoughts. For to his surprise, he heard a pair of footsteps outside the gate. He picked up his punjab lasso out of instinct, not bothering to look up.
"If you care for your own life, I'd advise you to leave. I am not in the most merciful mood at the moment, and you have come down to my home uninvited." he said, his voice stony.
"Well, I myself am not in the best of moods either monsieur, so I believe that makes us even." said the heavy French accent.
Erik looked up at the sound of the familiar voice, and his hazel grey eyes widened slightly. He dropped the lasso to the floor, though his fingers seemed reluctant to let go. But he had no wish to harm Madame Giry. "How did you know that I was here Madame?" he asked in an emotionless tone. "This opera house has been vacant for over twenty years."
"And therefore the exact place for you to be." she answered. "Could you possibly allow me inside?" she asked, tapping her black walking cane on the stone floor. Without answering, Erik got up and pulled the lever, and the portcullis came up slowly and with a great creak. "Hello Erik." she said as she handed him the newspaper that was in her hand. "I thought that you might want to see this."
Erik took the newpaper from her hand, noticing that there was concern in her eyes, that shone through the anger that was in her voice. As he unfolded the newpaper, a huge headline came up to meet him, along with a picture of himself, Arthur, and the Vicomte. He threw it aside as he gestured for Madame Giry to sit down. He wasn't concerned about what the Parisian public wrote about him.
"This is all over almost every Parisian paper," she began, "The opera house, and " she paused ,"Certain people in it will suffer greatly from this." she said, her green eyes boring into his masked face.
He looked back at her, his face trying to hide any emotion that he might feel. "Are you asking for some sort of apology?" he asked her, his voice curious, as much as he tried to hide it.
She shook her long auburn braid and sighed. "No Erik, I know better than to ask that of you. But I would like to know why you lied and decieved us all, and caused all of that havoc last night."she said in voice full of calm frustration.
He glared at her, his hands clenched in fists on top of his black dress pants. "It was the only way to have any real influence on an opera, and..." he trailed off , "Well there's really no need for me to explain my other reasons is there Catherine? As you most likely already know what they are." he said bitterly.
"No," she said softly, "There is not. But I must warn you Erik, that the authorities have a hunch that you are here, and I am sure that within a few days they will come looking for you here." she said, worry in her normally stern voice. "I know that you have saved money from the funds you collected from the managers over the years. Perhaps you could buy a house of your own." she said, seeming a bit apprenhensive at her own suggestion.
Erik gazed at her, this woman who had saved him from the gypsies. Buy his own house? It suddenly sounded like an idea. It would at least, mean even less contact with the world which he despised. But still, the thought of leaving the opera house baffled him. "Is that why you came here, to warn me?" he asked, his voice still not completely trusting her, and there was still a hint of anger there.
"Yes. And because you are my friend, Erik." she said, smiling her mysterious smile.
He stared at her in shock. She really did seem to care. He stood up and began to pace the room. "How is it possible?" he asked slowly, "For you to care about both myself and... them?" he asked, glaring.
She didn't even flinch under his frightening gaze. "Because it simply is. Caring and friendship dosen't take sides. I care for you and I care for the de Chagnys and the Pages. And I want nothing more than to see all of you happy?"
He grunted, as though not believing her words. But there was no doubt in his mind, that he had to leave this opera house. And going back to the new one was obviously out of the question. A house just outside of Paris perhaps, one where no one would disturb him. He could perhaps write a new opera, and perhaps another plan for revenge...
"Alright." he said, stopping his pacing and sitting back down. "I shall take your advice and leave this opera house. But I know what else that you wish to ask of me, and I do not think that I can grant it."
"And what is it that you think I will ask?" she said, her eyes squinting curiously.
"You wish for me to leave the Christine and her family alone, do you not?" he asked his face serious.
"I do wish it." she said sadly. "I wish it, for it will make her happy, and if you truly care, you will do it. And it will also cause you less pain. And then, just maybe, you can earn their forgiveness. There is happiness out there for you Erik. Christine has found hers, with Raoul and her children. And if you do what I ask, you will find yours. For you will find that it is closer than you think." she stopped, letting her words sink in.
Erik sighed. He couldn't give up just yet. But still, even if it wasn't to his knowledge, her words would come back to haunt him. "Like I said, I shall leave this opera house and find a house of my own. But I shall not promise to do the other that you asked. For if I break it, then that would be lying to you. And since you are being honest with me, I shall be honest with you." he said nodding his head.
"Very well then," she said, rising to go. "It was nice to see you Erik." she said as she began to walk towards the gate.
Erik watched her go, feeling a sense that she really did care about him. He didn't understand how she could care for both him and his enemies, but she did, and he would not question her. He could admit, that she, even if in the strangest way, she was his friend. "Catherine?" he said, a slight smirk on his face, "Thankyou, my... friend."
She turned her face towards him. "Your welcome Erik." And with that, she walked out the gate, feeling at least, a small sense of accomplishment. Erik would have his own house and not be in danger at the decrepid old opera house. But she still worried immensly about Christine, Raoul, Marie, and Arthur, for Erik would not promise to leave them alone. She cared so much for them, and she didn't want to see them hurt anymore. They had been through enough already. But she still held out some hope, that another disaster would not occur.
A/N: Hello everyone, hope that you like this, for I found it hard to write. It is sometimes hard to keep these two characters in character. Anyway, please read and review! I really tried to look at a different side of Erik, as he is being forced to change the way he lives. The true human emotion inside him that he dosen't like to show. And yay for Madame Giry, I've always thought that she was cool.
And thanks Samantha, ya it does seem like Marie and Arthur are the next generation of Christine and Raoul, that's really how I wanted it to be. Yay for Marie and Arthur and Raoul and Christine, and their love! I am such a romantic sap, but that's okay, I love it!