Chapter 22: Meeting the neighbor
Less than a week after Christine's supernatural vision, the de Chagnys and the Pages found themselves in a carriage overloaded with luggage, making its way toward Lucien's home. Christine had told Raoul, Marie, and Arthur the details of what her father had said. And though the words brought a sense of comfort and optimism for the future, it still brought a sense of uneasiness, for what disaster would occur for peace to be permanently restored?
But still, a happy, relaxed, banter filled the carriage, for the whole group was gladly anticipating the week long stay at Lucien's. Chester's merry barking also filled the carriage as he sat upon Felix's lap. Then, after about a fourty minute ride, the carriage, pulled by white horses, pulled up in front of a cheery looking house. It was a white victorian model, and Lucien, at seeing the de Chagny crest on the carriage, jumped up from the wraparound porch, and excited grin on his face.
"Well hello there everyone!" he said, greeting them enthusiastically. " How was the trip?"
"It was just fine," said Raoul, as he surveyed the house in front of him. "This is an amazing place Lucien."
"Thankyou, I quite like it myself. Its so peaceful and quiet here." responded Lucien thoughtfully. But come you all must be tired, and you need to rest and freshen up before we go to my neighbor's for tea."
The large group came in, Lucien showing them to their rooms. The house was charming, furnished most comfortably in the fashion of the French countryside. After everyone was rested, they all gathered downstairs. As Christine looked around, a thought occured to her.
"Lucien, I don't mean to be forward, but do you think that you will ever rid yourself of your bachelor ways?" she asked a small grin on her face.
Lucien blushed slightly, a small smile appearing on his handsome features. "Well, actually there is someone that I met not too long ago, at the opera actually. You lot will be meeting her in a few days. But anyway." he said in a rush, as though shy to discuss the situation. "I'll tell you more later, we had best go or we'll be late." he said, grabbing his coat and ushering them out the door.
The whole group found it hard not to laugh at the look on Lucien's face. They decided to ride their horses down to Louis(Erik's) house seeing as, though it was cold, it was a clear and beautiful day. They rode at a pleasant and leisurely pace towards the somewhat looming house ahead. It was of the darkest red brick, and their was an overbearing fence around the majority of it. It wouldn't have seemed like a very welcoming place if it weren't for the majestic picture of the sunset over the roof. The group reached the house, and took their horses in the stable, talking, as was the norm now about the twins to come in a few months. It was clear in the faces of Marie and Arthur how much joy this event was bringing into their lives.
The group walked up the staircase to the front door, and Lucien rang the doorbell. It took a minute, but then Erik, fully and completely disguised answered the door. He had covered his face in layers of stage makeup, leaving a bandage over a part of his forehead, looking as though he had merely fallen and cut himself. He looked nothing like Moncharmin or himself. He wore khaki colored pants, as light brown shirt and a dark brown jacket.
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, Lucien. I am pleased to introduce you into my home. I am Louis Anderson, a retured banker." said Erik, with a real smile, for he simply could not believe his luck. "You must be the de Chagnys?" said Erik, shaking hands with Raoul, kissing Christine's hand lightly, and smiling at Felix. "And the Pages?" he said, doing the same with Marie Claire and Arthur.
"Thankyou for inviting us for tea," said Marie Claire as they stepped into the house.
"It is no trouble Madame. I've heard Lucien talk about all of you so much that I really wanted to meet you." said Erik, finding it hard to believe what a good facade he was keeping up. "Let me give you a tour of the house before we sit down."
All agreed, and eagerly started the tour of the house. There was something about the house that seemed to spark people's curiosity, which was why Erik had bought it. But as the door closed behind them, all, no one noticed the clouds gathering in the distance, over the pink and purple sunset. As Erik toured them around the living room, Arthur was the first to spot the grand piano in the corner.
"You play the piano monsieur?" asked Arthur with interest as he went over to the piano, which was one of the newest models.
"Music is a... small hobby of mine." said Erik, "I play every so often."
"Actually," said Lucien, "Now that I think of it, I saw you at the opera Louis, but you were gone before I could get to you."
"Yes, I was there, but I had to leave for another obligation. But I must say that it was one of the most astonishing performances that I have ever heard." said Erik, not being able to stop himself from looking over at Christine and Marie Claire for a moment. "It seems that the opera is back in business."
"Yes, It really is exciting." said Christine,smiling happily at the thought.
Erik continued to tour the family around the magnificent house, and showing them all of the downstairs and the gardens. But Lucien, who said he felt a slight headache coming on, decided to stay inside while the rest toured the gardens.
"This is an amazing area of land that you have monsieur," said Raoul, smiling. "You have done such a good job with it."
"Thankyou Vicomte." said Erik, trying to keep the grudge out of his voice. But as he observed the family as they walked, he felt something that he didn'te really recognize building up in his emotion. He felt a small twinge of guilt for what he was doing. But nonetheless he continued to walk, leading them around the gardens.
Felix, who was beginning to feel cold, told them that he was going to sit inside with Lucien and wait for tea. He walked in the house, trying to remember the way to the sitting room, which was difficult considering the sheer size of the house. As he passed the various rooms, he passed by an open door, that he could not help but enter out of pure curiosity. He pushed the door open, and saw a mahogany desk, and upon the desk lie an envelope. An envelope with the crimson seal of a skull. And beside it sat a ring, with a blue stone. A ring that Felix had heard his parents talk about. A cold shock hit Felix in the chest. This was the home of the Phantom of the Opera. He had tricked Lucien and his family, having moved from the opera house to this house.
He knew that he had to tell someone, and seeing as it would not be wise to say anything in front of the Phantom, Felix ran to the sitting room, envelope in hand, to find Lucien. He only hoped that he could get there before the Phantom did. As Felix ran in, Lucien started at the look on his face.
"Felix, my boy is something wrong? Is somebody hurt?" asked Lucien with concern.
Felix shook his head. "But somebody could be. Uncled Lucien, we have been tricked. This house belongs to the Phantom of the Opera." he said in a frantic whisper, afraid of being overheard.
"Felix, what are you talking about? Louis is a retired banker who just moved back to France from London." said Lucien, very confused as to why Felix would talk this way.
"Trust me Uncle Lucien. I found this in a room across the hall." he pulled out the envelope, his young hand shaking slightly at the sight of the skull.
Lucien stared incredulously at the envelope, hardly daring to believe that it was true. He couldn't believe that he had been so decieved. But he just couln't see how he could have seen through it. But now, he realized was not the time for that. Something had to be done.
"Go for help Uncle Lucien. Sneak out before he comes back." said Felix, sounding wise beyond his years.
"But how can I just leave you all here, something could happen!" said Lucien, his voice filled with desperate worry.
"It would be better if you went. And do not go for the police it won't help." said Felix.
Lucien nodded and hugged Felix, bidding him to try and warn his family. He told him to tell the group that he had felt ill and had had to go home. And as he crept silently out the front door, he heard them coming in from the gardens, and he made his way rapidly down the stairs. He jumped on his horse and galloped down the lane. He knew where he had to go, it was the only place that would do any good. He was heading for the Opera and Madame Giry.
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Meanwhile, the family and Erik were sitting down for tea in front of the warm fire, and Felix was trying desperately to find a way to warn them without Erik knowing. Raoul seemed rather worried about Lucien when Felix said that he had felt ill, but Felix noticed that Erik looked disgruntled by the news. Light conversation ensued as they sipped their tea. At one point, when Erik had become involved in a conversation with Christine and Raoul, Felix slowly eased the envelope out of his pocket, so that Marie and Arthur who were sitting next to him, saw the edge. Marie drew in a sharp breath, causing Erik, Christine, and Raoul to look over at her.
"Are you alright darling?" asked Raoul.
But before Marie could answer, everyone turned to look at Erik, who had begun to laugh. A laugh that sent chills down their spines, for you see, he had seen the corner of the letter before Felix could put it back in his pocket. And it was then they knew what was going on, before Erik even said a word.
"So I see that you have found me out young Felix. Bravo. And I must say, welcome to my home." said Erik, dropping his fake voice and disguise.
Raoul and Arthur stood up simultaneously, their faces filled with an unexplainable mix of emotion. Anger, sick panic, worry. They began to walk towards Erik, shaking with anger. But before they could do so, both felt a tug on their hands from Christine, Marie, and Felix, pulling them back onto the couch.
"Yes, do have seat." said Erik, a smirk appearing on his face. "I believe that we need to have, shall we say, a discussion."
Raoul and Arthur pulled Christine, Marie, and Felix as close as possible to them, still suppressing the urge to stand up, the only thing indeed that kept them sitting was the fact that Christine and Marie wanted them to sit. And again, as Erik watched their actions, their unbreakable and everlasting love for each other so very clear, he felt that twinge of guilt. But he pushed it away, he woud follow through this time. At least, that's what he thought.
"Erik," said Christine in a tone of such sadness that Erik had hardly ever heard from her before, "I cannot believe you." she said, as she squeezed Raoul's and Felix's hands. "I thought that you had found your way." she said, remembering the words that her father had said.
Erik looked at her, trying to stop her words from getting to his heart. She would understand soon enough. "I have a proposition for the lot of you." he said, trying to keep his voice unfeeling as his eyes ran over to where Marie Claire was sitting, with a look of intermingled sadness and absolute dissapointment and anger on her face.
The group only seemed to move closer together at this statement, and trying to hold on to the words that Gustav Daae had said.
"Everything and everyone will be alright, the man who claimed to be your angel of music will find his way..."
"And what would that be?" asked Marie, glaring at Erik.
Erik shifted his gaze to Raoul as he spoke. "My dearest Vicomte," he said sarcastically. "I believe that it is you who will be making this choice for your family. Either you surrender Christine or Marie to me, or your son in law, well let's just say that his time will be up."
Raoul stared at the man, not wanting to believe his words. He looked over at his family, tears gathering in all of their eyes. How was a man to make that kind of decision? He would willing give up his own life rather than let his family suffer.
"I will either gain a wife in Christine, a daughter in Marie, or the life of a foe. It is your decision de Chagny, their fates are in you hands." said Erik in a stony tone.
Christine wrapped her arms around Raoul, trying to conceal her tears, as did Marie, Arthur and Felix.
"There really is no time to waste." said Erik moving over towards them.
"You cannot do this," said Raoul strongly.
"Our love will hold us together, Erik," said Marie. "And I know that there is love out there for you, but you won't find it by doing this!"
And at that moment, the family could trust in nothing more than the words of Gustave Daae, that Lucien would return soon, their love of each other, and the grace of God for all of them, including Erik.
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A/N: Okay so I left a cliffhanger, sorry about that. I am also incredibly sorry about the long wait, I have been so inredibly busy with school, swim practice, and other such things. But I sincerely hope that the next chapter will not be as long of a wait. But I hope you like, and please read and review! Oh, and by the way, I would like to stress my earlier point that there will be happy endings for everyone, I promise with my heart!
Guitarprincess- I am so glad that you liked it, I was really hoping that it would touch someone. Thankyou so much for your support, I love getting your lovely reivews, they truly encourage me! And yay for the twins, glad you liked that. And yay RC, as always, I love it!
Asia1st- To Lucien's house they go, thanks for reviewing!
BlazeLogan Lover- I am so glad that you liked it! Ya the vision was trippy, but It just kind of came to me. Thanks so much!
Samantha- I love the suite life of Zach and Cody, and I'm most excited about the twin Pages! I was glad to see that you liked the part about Christine's father. Thanks so much for all of your support!
I am the Angel of Music- Thanks so much for your support, I really like to get your reivews, they truly encourage and help me to improve. And by the way, your latest stories have been so awseome, and I can't wait to see more! I hope that you like this! And I will keep my promise about the happy endings, you can count on it!