XI
Erik heard the cough before he saw the source. The violinist with the little girl practically doubled over as the violent cough wracked his body. He watched with curiosity and concern when the man pulled the handkerchief away from his mouth to reveal tiny red flecks.
Then it started again, the horrible hacking cough. Without thinking Erik stepped out of the shadows and wrapped a hand around the man's middle, supporting him so he wouldn't fall over. Gustave, that was his name, Gustave Daae, the man Antoinette seemed to like so much.
"Blood," Erik murmured, looking at the once pure white handkerchief, "that is not a good sign Monsieur Daae."
"No," he rasped, "I don't suppose it is."
"I suggest you see a doctor, the Opera Populaire will no longer need your services so needn't worry about having time."
"And who are you to decide that?" Gustave asked, turning to see the face of his helper.
Erik waited a moment and recognition dawned on the other man's face, "I am who I am," Erik replied.
"You're Antoinette's friend," Gustave coughed, "the one from the masquerade…Erik?"
"You have a good memory Monsieur Daae, however I think you may have gotten my name wrong…I will leave you now, please see a doctor, it would be terrible to leave a young girl alone in the world. As I said, your services at the Opera Populaire are no longer needed. I remain, monsieur, your obedient servant, O.G."
Erik started to back into the shadows again but paused, "Oh and it would be most unfortunate for you if anyone should hear about our little encounter, after all I have an unusual skill at causing accidents."
Erik made his way through the passages, down through the cellars until he reached the lake. Then man would not listen, he knew that, therefore a note would be needed. He laughed to himself, a note that demanded the firing of the best violinist the theatre had ever or would ever have, the manager wouldn't listen either. Still, he would try.
The next day at rehearsal Gustave waited impatiently for the inevitable note that would demand his resignation. Sure enough Antoinette came across the stage looking grave, an envelope in one hand.
"A note?" he croaked.
"You sound quite ill today Monsieur Daae," Monsieur Reyer commented, he had noticed the man's serious decline in health.
"A note," Antoinette replied, prying open the envelope. Monsieur Lefevre came up behind her.
"Outrageous!" he cried, "Has he gone completely off his rocker?"
"What does it say?" Monsieur Reyer demanded.
"He wants us to fire Monsieur Daae! No, I refuse and I do not care what happens. For once we must ignore the demands of our resident ghost."
"What does it say," Gustave began, "if I don't leave?"
"Nothing," Antoinette replied, looking shocked, "no threats, nothing. Simply that he suggests you leave."
Erik watched from the flies in mild disgust, no one seemed to notice the man's poor health. In fact he was a little confused as to why he, himself, cared about it. Perhaps it was because he had that little girl, though he could not remember when he had discovered that. Either way he hadn't even been able to threaten him, after all it would be terribly hypocritical to make him leave because of his health and then threaten to kill him.
"I'm getting soft," he said to himself and then with a small swish of his cloak began to make his way back to the lair.
"What's wrong Christine?" Meg asked, her friend seemed sad and she wanted to know why.
"I dunno," she replied sulkily, "papa hasn't been feeling good, he can't even play with me anymore."
"Oh…he'll get better," Meg encouraged.
"I hope so."
Meg got up and hugged her friend tightly. She didn't want Christine to be sad, "Why don't you sing for him? That would make him feel good."
Christine brightened up at the idea, "That's a good idea! I'll sing him the prettiest song I know."
Meg giggled and nodded her head, "Sing it for me first, that way you'll have some practise."
Christine nodded and stood up beside Meg. Clearing her throat and taking a deep breath she began to sing a Swedish folk song her father had taught her. Meg listened attentively; she liked Christine's voice, though she didn't understand the words.
"You're really good," she said confidently, "some day you should be an opera singer!"
Christine blushed slightly at the compliment, "Thank you."
"Hurry, we'll go find my maman and your papa and you can sign for them!" Meg exclaimed.
The two girls dashed from the room, hurrying towards the stage where they thought their parents would be. Neither of them noticed the eyes that seemed to glow from the shadows.
Whew, another chapter done and posted. Lotte Rose 37, don't worry about being a pain in the neck, I need to hear some complaints to know what to improve upon, and I am glad you liked the chapter, I hope the latest has given you a bit of an Erik dose and I plan to develop Meg and Christine's friendship over the next few chapters. Chibi, yes time is evil and Gustave will be dying...I think in the next chapter, as for the sequel (grins) well I have posted the first few chapter, though they are rather short. Thanks for all the reviews, keep them coming and yay cookies!
