XXVII

"Have you heard?" Monsieur Reyer asked, rushing up beside Antoinette.

"Heard what Monsieur?" she asked irritably, "I am going to see my daughter, we were to go out today."

"This," he replied, shoving a paper into her hands, "I got it on my way here."

Antoinette frowned slightly and read the heading on the page in front of her: Meurtre! The single word was bold and the article beneath told of the murder of two men, something that, though terrible, did not immediately catch Antoinette's attention. It was the report on the one man's death that caught her attention, a broken neck with injuries that resembled rope burn received prior to his death.

"I should let you go," Monsieur Reyer said, "I wouldn't want to deprive you of time with your daughter."

"Merci Monsieur Reyer and merry Christmas…would you mind if I kept this?"

"Mot at all. Merry Christmas Madame Giry."

Antoinette folded the paper in half and made her way to the dormitory; on her way she met Christine, who was hurrying in the other direction. The girl gave a small curtsey and said a quick hello before hurrying off down the hall.

"Christine!"

"Yes Madame?" she asked, turning her head.

"Hurry back, I am taking Meg out and she wanted you to come."

"Thank you Madame, I will hurry."

Antoinette smiled and pushed and finished the walk to the dormitory. Many of the girls had gone home for the rest of the week and some would not return until after the new years. It didn't matter though; the next performance was not due to start rehearsals until two days after the Bal Masque.

"Maman!" Meg exclaimed.

"Meg," she replied and took out the small gift she had for her daughter, "Merry Christmas."

"Oh thank you maman!" she exclaimed, unwrapping the small box and pulling out the hair ribbon and small silver chain, "they're so pretty maman, thank you so much."

"You're welcome my dear. Now get ready, I promised to take you and Christine out for the afternoon non?"

"Where are we going maman?"

"I though perhaps we could go skating?"

"Really?"

"If you hurry."

Meg smiled widely and quickly gathered her clothes for the day. Antoinette smiled as Meg bounced behind the dressing screen and turned to leave. She wanted to speak with Erik before she left and hoped that he would be somewhere where he could hear her. She headed towards the chapel, hoping that he would be there.


Christine lit a candle for her father and said a quick prayer, and then she waited patiently for her Angel, smoothing her skirts before her and looking around the small room.

"Christine," his voice sounded warm and cheerful, "Merry Christmas my dear."

"Angel!" she exclaimed cheerfully, "merry Christmas. I can't stay long, Madame is taking Meg and I out for the afternoon."

"How kind of her."

"It should be fun," she replied, smiling at the thought. Two years ago Madame had taken her and Meg skating in the Bois de Boulogne. She hoped that they would do that again, "I hope we go skating."

"Christine, did you get anything for Christmas?"

"No…but I didn't think I would so…"

"I have something for you Christine."

"Angel?" she asked, unsure of how an Angel would be able to get her a present, "is it a song Angel?"

"No my dear, look on the seat by the window, it is there."

Christine turned her head and noticed the small box sitting on the seat. Very carefully she picked it up and examined it before opening. Her eyes widened and a smile graced her face when she saw the necklace that rested in the box. She pulled it out and quickly put it on. Adjusting it so that the small gold music note rested straight.

"Oh, thank you Angel, thank you so much!"

"It was my pleasure Christine, you look beautiful."

"Thank you…really, I love it."

"You should go Christine, I would not want you to be late."

Christine nodded her head slowly and turned to leave. On her way back up to the dormitory she met Antoinette going the other way. She gave a quick curtsey and hurried up to see Meg. She wanted to know what her friend had received from her mother.


Erik stood up and stretched, he had been sitting in the chapel and waiting since before the sun had risen. He was about to leave when he heard the door of the chapel slam open and Antoinette's voice cut sharply through the air.

"Erik! Erik if you are there then come out here now!"

"My, my Madame, what have I done now?" he asked silkily.

"So you are here, come out here now Erik."

"One moment Madame," he growled and made his way to the door, opening it he stepped out into the small room, "what is it now Madame?"

He was surprised when a newspaper collided with his chest and fell to the floor. Rubbing the spot where the paper had hit he looked at the scattered pages that now littered the chapel floor. Meurtre stared back at his in bold black letters.

"Rope burns?" Antoinette asked, "That is what it says in the paper. How many people have rope burns when they suffer a broken neck?"

"How should I know," he replied, turning away from her and the paper.

"Why were you even out there Erik? You almost never leave the theatre, you haven't in years."

Erik kicked the floor absently, "You assume that I am the one who killed them."

"Erik do not innocent and answer my question."

"I was just out, is that so hard to believe? Perhaps I got tired of constantly wandering the empty hallways and secret passages of the theatre!" he snapped, "Maybe for once I wanted to get out."

"Then why Erik?" she asked, "Please tell me there was a reason."

"There was," Erik replied defensively, "do you think I would simply kill for the pleasure of it? They threatened me Madame, and that is all you need to know. There has always been a reason!"

He turned away and headed for the door, he was nearly there when Antoinette caught his sleeve and turned him back to face her. He could feel his heart sink when he met her eyes, she was disappointed and he quickly averted his gaze.

"Erik," she said gently, "please do not storm out like this. I do not want to be your enemy, just your friend…look at me Erik, please promise me that there will be no more murders."

"Madame…" he murmured.

"Look at me and promise."

"I promise," he said, looking her in the eyes.

"No more murders?"

"No more murders," he repeated and turned away again, he could feel the tears burning his eyes, "I promise…merry Christmas Madame."

He heard the door of the chapel close and picked the paper up from the floor. He folded the pages neatly and lay it on the seat by the window. Wiping irritably at his eyes he entered the secret passage and made his way back to his lair.


Christine and Meg were both ready when Antoinette returned. They bobbed up and down excitedly. Antoinette led the girls out onto the streets and summoned a cab.

"The Bois de Boulognes please."

"Yes Madame."

The driver flicked the reins and the carriage jostled forwards. Christine and Meg both watched out the small glass windows at the passing stores and apartments. The drive was long though, and by the time they arrived and the Bois both Meg and Christine were half asleep in their seats.

"We are here," Antoinette, said, "come girls, get out."

Antoinette spent most of the afternoon watching the two girls playing on the ice. She didn't care for skating all that much, but they found it terribly amusing. For nearly an hour the two chased each other around on the ice, the cold didn't even seem to bother them. It wasn't until mid-afternoon that they finally came off the ice.

"Are you ready to leave now?" Antoinette asked as they came over.

"Yes maman," Meg replied.

"And did you have fun?"

"Oh yes," Christine replied, "Thank you Madame."

"Thank you maman."

"You are welcome my dears. Come, we must find a cab."


Erik sat in Box Five and watched as the theatre was cleaned. The theatre was extremely boring over the days between Christmas and New Years. The theatre seemed to do nothing but practise and clean. He hadn't even worried about being caught sitting in the box, after all it had already been cleaned. In fact he found that he could see his face in the polished wood.

"Well, at least they are keeping my theatre clean…sickeningly so," he added after drawing his finger across the wood and hearing it squeak.

He finally became tired of sitting and stood up with the intent of returning to his lair. On his way back he stopped by the chapel, Christine was not there and he continued his way back through to the cellars. He was in no rush and leaned against the wall, watching the boat bob up and down on the water, he considered attending the masquerade the next day and decided that he did not really feel like it.

Morning dawned pale and cold, or at least Erik assumed that, it was hard to tell when one lived so far underground. Still, the lair was cold and he quickly dawned a robe to try and dull the chill. He thought about going up to see if Christine was in the chapel and decided against it, he did not feel like making the long journey up to the theatre and besides, he had music in his mind and needed to get it out.

The hours slipped away as he played, they often did and he only stopped when his hand cramped terribly from the playing. With a resolved sigh he stood up and paced his home, he knew that he couldn't play any longer and wanted for something to do. Anything but sit idle and watch the water lap at the lake shore. The masquerade! The idea struck him and he nearly gave a cry of delight.

He grabbed his cloak and put it on before searching for a mask. He didn't want to wear the same white half mask as he did everyday to the masquerade. It seemed unoriginal. He finally found a full faced black mask with flames painted around the eyes.

"Perfect," he whispered and replaced his mask with the other.

He checked in the mirror before leaving his lair and making his way up to the main level and main hall of the Opera Populaire. He could hear the music long before he reached his destination. The hall spread out before him and he quickly picked Antoinette out of the crowd. With a small smirk he made his way over to her.


Antoinette stood with Messieurs Reyer and Lefevre and listened as the two men discussed the theatres financial situation. It seemed, although they paid such a large sum to the Opera Ghost, that the theatre was doing well and that they had had a strong year. Monsieur Reyer was considering the purchase of some new instruments and Monsieur Lefevre was inclined to allow him to do so.

"Madame Giry, I fear we are boring you," Monsieur Lefevre chuckled at length.

"Not at all, the affairs of the theatre are as important to me as to anyone. After all the salaries of my girls and I are all paid by you."

"Too true Madame, too true," he laughed, raising his glass of champagne, "and what is it you would like for the New Year? I'm sure there is something you would like for the dancers. Raises perhaps?"

"We all get along on our salaries and I am not inclined to asked for more money."

"Madame Giry is far more sensible then me then," Monsieur Reyer chuckled, "new instruments and the like and here she is saying that she does not want anything."

"I believe I like her better for it," Monsieur Lefevre jested.

"Just as you should," Madame Giry said jokingly.

"Oh, I wanted to compliment you on the gown," Monsieur Lefevre said, "It is quite lovely."

"Merci Monsieur," she replied glancing down at the deep green skirts, "if you would believe it was my girls who chose it. Something about it being pretty."

"They have good eyes then," Monsieur Reyer said.

Antoinette continued her discussion with the two men and did not notice the shadow that crept up behind her. When two cold gloved hand rested themselves on her shoulders she gave a small gasp and wheeled around to meet murky blue eyes engulfed in flames. Realization dawned on her and before she could help her self her fist collided with the man's chest.

"Oh," Erik said in mock agony, "that certainly is not the way to greet a gentleman."

"A gentleman should not sneak up on people," she countered.

"I? Sneak up?" he asked, a devilish smirk forming on his lips, "I would never sneak up on you Madame."

"Is that so?" she asked, "what about all the other times."

"I have never suck up on you," Erik said, rolling his eyes for effect, "is it my fault that you were not paying attention?"

Behind Antoinette's back Erik saw Messieurs Reyer and Lefevre exchanging curious glances. After all it was not every day that mysterious men snuck up on their ballet mistress and started to jest with her as if they were old friends or even young lovers.

"Why Madame, have you lost your manners in the time since I last saw you?" Erik asked "introduce be to your friends."

"Erik, Monsieur Reyer and Monsieur Lefevre," she said, motioning to each in turn, "Messieurs, a very old and dear friend of mine. Erik."

"A pleasure to meet you Monsieur…" Monsieur Lefevre trailed off.

"It is simply Erik," Erik replied, "and that is what you may call me. No 'monsieur' needed."

'"Very well then, a pleasure to meet you, Erik."

Erik did not move off after the introduction, as Antoinette had expected. Instead, quite to her surprise, he stayed and socialized with them. It was shocking to her just how social he was capable of being in the right mood. Of course she knew that that mood could change at any moment and kept a watch out for the signs that he was becoming agitated.

"So what is your profession Erik?" Monsieur Reyer asked after a while.

"Oh, I am a murderer, a thief and a madman," Erik replied in a tone just light enough that it could be taken as either a joke or the truth.

"You have wit," Monsieur Lefevre rumbled, "but what is your real profession?"

"I am a composer Monsieur," he replied, "and a bit of an architect as well."

"A composer?" Monsieur Reyer asked cheerfully, "how wonderful."

"Isn't it though?" Erik asked, eyes taking on a distant look.

"Has any of your work been published?" Monsieur Reyer persisted.

"No," Erik replied, eyes refocusing, "it is really more of a hobby."

The night continued and it wasn't long before Antoinette noticed the tell tale signs of boredom claim Erik. His eyes wandered and his answers to question became more vague. At one point it had taken three Monsieur Reyer three tries before he even got an answer. He began to shift back and forth and finally began to hum absently.

"Are we boring you?" Monsieur Lefevre asked.

"Hmm?" Erik frowned slightly, "oh, pardon my manners. I did not mean to act so distracted."

"Well I think that perhaps we have kept the young man in one place for too long," Monsieur Reyer said, "please, we would not be insulted if you left."

"In that case, good night Messieurs, Madame."

"I was actually about to leave as well," Antoinette said, "I have classes to teach tomorrow and would like to be awake enough to do so effectively."

She followed Erik back into one of the deserted halls and shook her head. She was truthfully amazed that he had lasted as long as he had.

"So did you enjoy your evening?" she asked.

"Yes Madame, it was thrilling. I was at least hoping to terrorize someone."

"Well if it is any consolation, I think that they were quite taken with you."

"Wonderful, I have made friends," he replied sarcastically, "if only they knew who I really was. Then they might not think me such a 'nice young man.'"

"Well have a good night Erik, I really must get to bed."

"Very well Madame, good night."

Antoinette clucked her tongue and made her way back to her room. It was amusing that the two people who were hit the hardest by Erik's demands seemed so taken with him. But then again why shouldn't they be? If Erik did not live underground he could have been an amazing man. He was talented beyond all reasoning and seemed to have an endless wit, no matter how annoying it could be.

With a final sigh she began to undo her dress and prepare for bed. There was always something to do in the theatre. Even while there were no rehearsals. Lesson to be taught and of course if there was nothing else there was usually some sort of paper work.


Hope you enjoyed the chapter and...I'm going to bed. Ha, well uh, yeah, review if you are reading, always love reviews, reviews are wonderful...wow I'm tired so don't mind my ramblings and simply enjoy the story.