Chapter 42

They are back! My muses are back! I can write better now. I hate when they leave me alone. Damn mean asses. Enough! Lets get on with the chapter.

Erik made his way up to the Opera house. As he got closer, he could smell brunt wood and cloth.He took a slight detour so that he could see if anything was being done to fix the damage. When he got there, staying in the shadows, Erik saw that there was no one working on the stage and the few rows of seats that were ruined. The idiots. The longer they wait to fix the damage, the harder it will be to fix it. The water stains can damage any wood that was not burned. Shaking his head, Erik slipped into a hollow pillar. Walking behind the walls he made his way up to the mangers office. Behind the walls, he heard Firmin and Andre arguing.

"This is too much! When we signed on as owners and mangers, I didn't think that it would be this complicated!"

"You knew exactly what to expect! Running a opera house is not like running a junk business."

"Scrap metal."

"Scrap metal. Junk. It does not matter now! A broken rib and a half burned Opera house are too much for me. If we hadn't sunk everything into this place, I would just hand over the deed to any old bastard." Firmin yelled, and then in a normal voice continued, "What I'm planning to do just may help us all."

"What?" Andre inquired.

"I may-" he was interrupted when Erik's voice rang out.

"What was it you wanted? I have other businesses to attain to."

Andre went white. His jaw dropped. Glancing over at Firmin, he began to shake. Firmin paled, but got his self under control.

Swallowing hard, he prepared to throw the deal to this 'ghost'. "Monsieur, I am extremely grateful for you saving the Opera House."

The voice sighed impatiently, "Is that all?"

Firmin shook his head not sure whether or not he could see him do so, "No. Andre and I are leaving the Opera House. We would resale it, but money wise, we cannot. Therefore, we are going to in— I can't talk to an empty room. If you may, Monsieur, can you show yourself?"

There was a long period of silence. At first Firmin thought, he was gone.

"He's gone—" Andre whispered fearfully. He didn't get to finish when a tall shadowy figure became apparent in a dark corner. Two yellow eyes glared out from behind a white mask.

"I never have shown myself to Lefever, and he was less of a fool then you two. I do not make such appearances as if I'm some trained dog. Speak now, or I shall leave," He told them coldly.

Firmin nodded nervously, "Yes, I understand—"

"Do you now?" came the challenge.

"Monsieur, we are going to instate a new manger. I was hoping that you would take the position."

"What? Him? Are you crazy? Do you not know who he is? He's the bloodly Phantom! The one that has been making all the insane demands! It is unacceptable!" André shrieked.

"Do you want to run this madhouse any more? Put up with Carlotta? He can deal with her. He knows more about the Opera House then we could ever hope to know. Better to leave it in the hands of a 'ghost' then in the hands of one that well not know what he is doing."

André opened his mouth to protest some more, but then decided against it. "Fine. You do want you think is passable. I just want to leave this place and never look back."

Firmin turned to Erik. "Do you agree? Will you take the position?"

Erik didn't answer at first. He was too shocked. Them leaving and leaving the Opera house to him. To run it as he sees fit. "If I do…. I will run it as I see fit."

Firmin nodded, "You…"

Erik held a hand up, "No questions as to how I would run it. No hows. No whys."

"Yes."

Erik closed his eyes, thinking. "I will take the position. Few things though." He opened his eyes, "you may still own it, but I will not tolerate any put in. All decisions will be mine. Anything that has to do with the welfare of the Opera Populaire will be approved by me. Do you understand?"

André huffed, but nodded, as did Firmin.

"Good. Now you must make it legal. I will have enough problems with out the law crawling around here."

Pulling out several documents, Firmin quickly scribbled down his name, pushing the papers to André, "Sign."

As he signed the paper, he kept muttering, "This is a bad idea. I believe this is a terrible mistake."

Gathering up the documents, he handed then to Erik to sign. He scrawled his name down.

Firmin looked down at the familiar childish writing. Erik Leroux.

"Erik Leroux?" Firmin inquired.

"Yes. You surprised that I had a name?" his voice held warning.

"I-I-You Monsieur Erik Leroux, are now the sole manger to the Opera Populaire."

(Grins.) Did any of you guess at want was going to happen? Was this chapter a surprise to any of you? Wow. Would you look at that? 42 chapters. When I started writing this story, I didn't think that it'd be this long. And I still have some more chapters. Please Review!