Chapter 7: A White Rose with a Red Ribbon
A/N: Time for shout outs before I begin this next chapter:
Lady Nessa: I'm glad you're enjoying this!
There is more humor, action, adventure and romance headed your way, so stay tuned! And now on with the story.
"What do mean that's your Angel of Music?" Raphael asked, annoyed.
"Exactly what I said. He was my mother's Angel before she died. She told me that when she was in heaven, she would send me her Angel of Music. He's the one that's been teaching me how to sing," the words flooded out of Meg's mouth. Raphael stared at her, wide-eyed and open-jawed.
"Raphael, say something," Meg whispered, poking his shoulder with her index finger.
"What is there to say?" he asked, gathering up his coat and heading towards the door.
"Raphael, where are you going?" Meg questioned.
"I can't stay. Meg, you lied to me," he said, angrily.
"No, I didn't. I'm sorry I should have told you sooner about my Angel. Raphael, don't leave me. I love you more than anything in the world, even more than dancing," by this time, Meg had tears streaming down her cheeks. Raphael swiftly walked over to her and hugged her. Meg cried into his crisp-white poet shirt. As she did this, Raphael stroked her hair and soothed her. There was a knock on the door; it was older Meg.
"There you are, Raphael. Let's go," Meg told her son. Raphael shook his head.
"Mother, can I stay with Meg tonight? She needs someone to comfort her. Please, may I stay?" Meg nodded her head and looked at Raoul, who had walked up next to her.
"Yes, that's okay with me. But on one condition, they each get their own rooms,"
"Fine with me," Raphael and Meg said together. Raoul chuckled and departed from the room, older Meg following him.
"I shall drive him home in my carriage tomorrow around noon," Raoul told older Meg. She smiled and nodded her head, knowing she could trust Raphael.
It was later that night and Meg was having trouble sleeping. She got up from her bed and made her way across the hall to where Raphael was sleeping. She opened the door without making a sound and tip-toed to Raphael's side, trying so hard not to wake him. As Meg climbed into bed with him, Raphael woke up with a start and turned on his bedside lamp.
"Meg! What in the name of your Angel of Music are you doing here? Your father will kill me if he found out you were here," Raphael whispered loudly.
"I know, but I couldn't sleep so I was wondering if I could spend the night here, if that's okay with you," Meg told him.
"Be my guest," Raphael said. Meg closed her eyes and fell asleep, head resting against Raphael's shoulder. Raphael sighed and fell back asleep.
The next morning came too quickly. Meg woke up before the first light and snuck quietly back to her room. Hopefully, her father wouldn't know of her spending the night with Raphael. At least, Meg hoped he didn't find out about that.
"Morning Papa," Meg said as she joined her father for breakfast. Madame Giry, Monsieur Firmin, Monsieur Andre and Raphael were already seated in the main hall. Meg smiled and said hello before sitting down next to Raphael. Borrowing her father's pen and a napkin, she wrote:
After ballet rehearsal, meet me in my mother's dressing room.
I'm sure we can be alone, just you and I.
She folded up the napkin and handed it to Raphael. After reading it, he stared at her open-jawed.
"Well, I must be going to my ballet rehearsal. See you later, Raphael," Meg smiled and followed Madame Giry obediently to the stage. Looking over her shoulder and smiled at him.
It was after ballet rehearsal and Meg was changing out of her ballet outfit and into her nightdress. A few minutes later, there was a sharp knock on the door. Before Meg answered it, she went to the mirror in the corner and brushed her hair. Making her way towards the door, she straightened the wrinkles out of the dress and opened the door. Before her was Raphael, wearing a gray poet shirt, black pants, white socks and a smile.
"What are you doing still dressed in your nightdress?" he asked as he made his way inside. Meg looked out the door to see if anyone was coming. It looked clear, so she locked the door and turned to Raphael. Meg was so happy to have him all to herself at last. As the two lovers gazed into each other's eyes, Erik's angelic voice was heard above them. Meg wasn't sure what he was singing, so she tried singing to him.
"Angel I hear you speak, I listen. Stay by my side, guide me. Angel my soul was weak, forgive me. Enter at last, master," Erik didn't respond, so Raphael tried to sing to him.
"Learn to find your way in darkness. Who will be there for you? Comfort and care for you? Learn to be lonely, learn to be your one companion. . ." Meg stared at Raphael in amazement as Erik stopped his singing and carefully climbed down from the rafters. As he landed in front of Meg, Raphael stared at him, jaw dropped and eyes wide. Erik glared at the young man's gawking expression and turned to Meg.
"This is the fool you're seeing?" Erik asked her, turning back to Raphael.
"Yes, Erik. This is Raphael De Jean. He's the son of my mother's best friend, Meg Giry or Meg De Jean as she's now called. She's been raising him by herself since her husband died when Raphael was four," Meg explained. Suddenly, the door handle started rattling and Raoul's voice was heard from the other side. Meg looked from the door to Raphael to Erik and back to the door.
"What am I to do?" she asked Raphael and Erik.
"You two can go to my labyrinth, if you want," Erik told them. Meg looked at Raphael with a pleading look in her eyes. Raphael nodded and together, he and Meg stepped through the mirror and followed Erik to his labyrinth. As Meg stepped through the mirror, she glanced at Erik to thank him, but Raphael hurriedly pushed her through the mirror. That's when Raoul stepped into the empty room. Noticing a flower on the ground, he picked it up. It was a white rose tied with a red ribbon.