CHAPTER 21

The Comte de Chagny felt it was time to visit with his brother Raoul. After the events with Christine, he figured it would be amusing to let his brother know how he had defended the de Chagny good name. Philippe was rather proud of his tirade. He was certain his brother would undoubtedly be as well. As he exited his carriage, he came across a messenger headed for the front door.

"You there, what news do you bring?" Philippe asked as he walked up to him.

"It is addressed to le Vicomte, Monsieur," the messenger said simply.

"I shall have it, boy. I am le Vicomte's brother," Philippe announced, holding out his hand.

The messenger complied then went about his way.

As he reached the front door, Philippe studied the envelope. It didn't appear to be anything of a business nature and he noted that the writing was most definitely female. "Perhaps it is from that conniving harlot! I will not subject my brother to her manipulations," he thought as he tore the seal, gaining access to its contents.

Dear Raoul,

I had a wonderful time last night. I am glad we were able to spend time together. I wanted to thank you for a wonderful dinner and for inviting me into your beautiful home.

Maman was not nearly as upset as I thought she would be. At least I am not in the nunnery, no? Maybe she will just work me harder during rehearsals when I return. C'est la vie!

I look forward to seeing you again, mon ami.

Fondly,
Meg

Philippe couldn't believe what he saw. "Surely he would not entertain such foolishness with yet another common chorus girl?" he questioned. He wondered how this could be happening again, after what Christine put Raoul through. "Have I not mentored him better than this?" Philippe decided it was time to put an end to this nonsense.

Raoul sat in his study going over several business documents he had neglected over the past several days. He leaned back into his leather chair and placed his hands to his temples. He felt a headache building through the sea of white sheets before him. As he studied the paperwork regarding the reconstruction of the Opera Populaire, he was interrupted by his frantic brother Philippe, storming towards him.

"Raoul! What is the meaning of this?" Philippe demanded, as he threw the letter at him.

Raoul scanned the contents before answering. "This was my personal correspondence, brother. Why would you go through it? You had no right…" Raoul was interrupted.

"I have every right, Raoul! I have always looked after you. It is a good thing I did open that letter, dear brother. I could not prevent your mistake with Christine, but I will be damned if I stand here and do nothing about this new affection of yours. Another commoner, Raoul…? Why would you disgrace our family? There are many available debutants worthy of carrying the de Chagny name. Why not take this stage tramp as a mistress, if you feel so compelled?" Philippe argued.

"ENOUGH! I will not have you speak of Mademoiselle Giry in that manner, brother! You need not worry about her. We are just friends, but I find her company much more pleasing than those socialite snobs. I have never been one for propriety, Philippe, but I behave accordingly when I must. That, however, does not mean it is who I am." Raoul justified.

Philippe sighed at shook his head. "Heaven forbid you go around town with that trollop! Speaking of which, I ran into your beloved Christine. It seems she is now whoring around with some foreign fellow. I'm glad that you were wise enough to call off the engagement to that untitled wench. She was only after your fortune, Raoul. Seeing her with that strange man at the bank today only proves my theory."

Raoul rubbed at his temples. The headache was present now and only worsened as Philippe continued speaking. Unable to subside the pounding in his head, Raoul warned, "Your presence is most unsettling at the moment, brother. My personal life is my own and I thank you not to interfere. It's over between Christine and I. You need not concern yourself with her affairs. I will not tolerate it, Philippe. Now, I ask that you leave me to my business. There is much to be done concerning the reconstruction of the opera house."

"Actually, that is no longer yours to oversee, little brother," Philippe smirked. "Father wishes me to handle the negotiations regarding the opera house due to your poor mismanagement of it and the chaos that brought it down in the first place. I will need those documents, Raoul," Philippe stated as he pointed to the pile on the desk.

With a puzzled look on his face, Raoul reluctantly handed the opera documents to his brother. "Leave me now, Philippe. I wish to be alone." Raoul walked over to his settee and leaned his head back against it.

"Very well. I need to head to the Opera Populaire in any case," Philippe said, annoyed with his dismissal.

With Philippe gone, Raoul's headache subsided to a dull throb. He called for his maid Therese to bring him some tea so he could enjoy a brief nap before sending Meg a message.

He drank two cups and then resumed his position on the settee, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath before exhaling and falling asleep.

Raoul fell into a trap as he made his way down the staircase where Madame Giry had brought him. Thoughts of Christine and her safety was all he could think of as he tried desperately to free himself from his watery prison. He was quickly running out of breath, trying in vain to turn the iron wheel that would stop the grate from coming down on him. It wouldn't budge. As he lost consciousness, he prayed to God to forgive him for not being able to get to Christine.

He opened his eyes to someone kissing him. He could not make out a face nor could he understand why he was still able to breath underwater. He could see hairs of gold floating against the water as well as, "A tail? A mermaid!" Raoul thought with disbelief as this maiden savior pulled him by the arm to bring him to the surface.

"Follow your heart and there you shall find her," the soothing voice said.

"I don't understand… wait!" Raoul caught a glimpse of her face as she returned to the depths of whence she came.

In complete shock at the sight, Raoul uttered, "Meg?"

Raoul sat up in a panic. He didn't understand why his dreams would always go from Christine to Meg in such a strange fashion. He thought he was slowly losing his mind, but he shook that idea off as just being silly. "I simply must not drink this anymore," he spoke to himself as he lifted the teacup from the table and swirled the remainder of its contents around in amusement.

Author's Note
I know this wasn't the update people were anticipating. -grins- Trust me, Erik and Christine will get together in just a few more Chapters. Hang in there everyone! To My Newest Readers: TERRY-crazy italian, Dracula's Love Slave, and EriksMezzoSoprano. Your reviews were phantastic! Thanks for the support and I hope you continue to enjoy my first fic as it progresses. Super Phantabulous Erik Smooches: To All My Faithful Readers still hanging out in the opera rafters! -smiles-