Thank you for my reviews! I am so glad you were able to forgive Meg. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I plan my next update to be very soon. You are all the best, and thanks again!
Chapter 21
The heavy hooves of Erik's ebony horse thundered across the ground as he rode as fast as he could through the streets of Paris in the fading daylight. He avoided main streets whenever possible so as not to draw any unnecessary attention to himself. He had hoped to get to the outskirts of the city before dark, but he still had a few miles to go, and the last rays of sun were already disappearing from the sky.
Erik realized the moment he even thought about marrying Meg that he would have to enlist the help of someone who could walk the streets of Paris during the day inconspicuously. There were many things that would have to be done in order for everything to run smoothly, and Erik would accept nothing less than perfection for Meg. He wanted to give her everything that her heart desired and more. Although he had vowed to make himself dead to all those who lived in the light of day, marrying Meg was more than enough of a reason to come back to world of the living.
Just as it became almost completely dark, Erik spotted his destination. The small cottage surrounded by a dilapidated stone wall was exactly how he remembered it. He hated to arrive unannounced, but there was really no other way. He tied up his winded black horse and headed up pebbled walkway to the door of his old friend's modest home.
Before Erik had even raised his hand to knock, the door swung open quickly to reveal the face of a dark-skinned man that he had not seen in almost two years. Nadir looked exactly the same to him as he had the last time they had spoken in this same tiny cottage. It was then that Nadir had just recently moved to this house, and he having lost Christine, swore he would never again make contact with the outside world again.
"Erik…I can hardly believe it is you! I heard someone riding up outside, but you were the last person I would have expected," Nadir said in disbelief of the masked man who stood in his doorway.
"Good evening Nadir, it is a pleasure to finally see you again," Erik said slightly bowing in his usual overly proper manner.
"Yes, yes…please do come inside," he said shirking off Erik's formal greeting. Nadir knew this man much too well for small talk or formalities, but he also knew this was just Erik's way.
The inside of Nadir's home was warm with a crackling fire. He and Erik walked into the front room that was sparsely yet tastefully decorated. Nadir looked inquisitively at him for a few moments before he spoke.
"I am so glad to see you looking so healthy and well. The last time I saw you...oh, you were an awful fright, just terrible really, and,"
"Nadir," Erik said cutting him off, "I am completely aware of my state when we saw each other last, and I would rather not discuss the details."
"Of course, of course, my apologies," Nadir said feeling slightly guilty. "But Erik, you told me then never to attempt to contact you ever again. You said that you would remain dead to the world as they assumed you were."
"I know what I said Nadir, and I was dead for almost two years. However, the past few months have breathed new life into my wretched soul. I feel as though I am starting anew and nothing is as it once was. I suddenly have everything in the world to live for, and it is a feeling that is extremely foreign to me."
"You do seem quite different. It is very comforting to hear you talking about something other than darkness and death. I have worried about you in that dungeon of a home, all alone in the darkness day in and day out. I hated to think of you spending all your time obsessing over your lost love. But do tell me…what is that has brought such a miraculous change in you?" Nadir asked still stunned by Erik's behavior.
"I have found a new love, a real love, Nadir. I love a woman whose beauty and kindness are indescribable. She is incredibly talented and passionate, and by some strange twist of fate she has agreed to marry me. This is why I have come here, Nadir. I cannot make all the necessary preparations if I am to remain dead to this dreadful city. So I fear I have come to ask for your help," Erik said with urgency in his voice.
"Married? Married? You're getting married?" Nadir said in utter shock. He suddenly realized how rude his reaction was and tried to cover up his indiscretion. "Erik, I will be honored to help in whatever way I possibly can. I am completely at your disposal. Tell me, who is the wonderful woman that has stolen your heart?"
"Her name is Marguerite Giry," Erik said, adoring even the sound of her name on his lips.
Nadir's face went suddenly pale and still. Erik saw his look of pure shock and waited for him to say something. After a few moments he finally spoke.
"I should have known," he whispered as though he were trying to keep someone from overhearing him.
"For God's sake, Nadir, what is the matter with you? What should you have known?" Erik demanded not understanding his odd reaction to Meg's name.
"I should have known that when a young woman went missing from the Opera that you would be responsible. It is her, is it not….the prima ballerina…the petite blond?" he asked accusingly.
"I had nothing to do with her getting kidnapped," Erik snapped defensively, "and how would you know she is missing anyway?"
"Everyone in Paris knows Erik! The Marquis….the Marquis de Condorcet, he has been sending out hoards of men searching for her all over the city. He has a huge reward up for her return. He has vowed to slaughter whoever is responsible for her abduction. It has been in the papers, and people are speaking of it all over town. All anyone is talking about is the poor Marquis who has lost his one true love," he spouted out seemingly becoming more distressed with every word.
Erik's head began to throb, and he started to become filled with an overwhelming jealous fury. Just the idea of another man thinking of Meg, and trying to make a claim to her enraged him. She belonged to him, and she was going to be his wife. Erik's mind was swarming with a million images of the many ways he could easily, yet painfully murder the Marquis.
I knew I should have killed him from the moment I heard his arrogant voice, Erik thought as he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"Erik, that is not all," Nadir said quietly, terrified to tell him anything more, "the Marquis has been offering the reward for the return of his… fiancé."
Nadir winced trying to prepare himself for what he knew was going to be an outburst of sheer violent rage. He did not have to wait long. Erik picked up a small wooden chair from beside a round marble table and threw it ferociously against the wall where it smashed into several pieces and fell to the floor. Fearing for the rest of his furniture and his home, Nadir decided he needed to try to calm Erik as quickly as he could.
"Erik, please…listen to me. You say Marguerite has agreed to marry you, correct?"
"Yes," he snarled.
"You are sure she is marrying you out of love?" he asked, hoping the answer would also be a "yes."
Erik looked his old friend straight in the eyes, "Nadir, she knows I am just a man with a distorted face living beneath the opera. She does not fear me, nor does she believe me to be an angel or ghost," he said sounding defeated. "I don't know why she cares about me in the least, but I swear to you she does."
Nadir could see the sincerity in Erik's cool green eyes. Although he could be brutal and impetuous, he was not one to lie when it came to matters of love.
"Then you should rest your mind my friend. The Marquis must be claiming she is his fiancé, so that he has a reason to search for her so relentlessly," Nadir offered, praying Erik would accept this explanation instead of destroying more of his belongings.
"He must be lying," Erik said aloud trying to convince himself as well as Nadir, "she told me she did not even like him. I told her not to see him again, and she didn't. She told me she loved me, Nadir. I am certain that she meant it."
"Erik if you truly love her, and you are sure she loves you, I will do whatever I can to help you marry. You more than anyone deserve to feel some happiness in this life. But we must be very cautious; the Marquis is not a man to be toyed with. He has men everywhere searching for any sign of Marguerite," Nadir said with grave seriousness.
"Perhaps, I will just dispose of this vile lying demon before he becomes any more of an obstacle for me," Erik said angrily.
"I thought you had enough of being hunted by angry mobs of people demanding your head in a noose," Nadir responded sarcastically. "Tell me what you need me to do to help you, Erik. You have had enough blood and death for many lifetimes; let us focus on getting you married to the woman you love."
Nadir saw Erik's angry face instantly soften at the idea of marrying Meg.
"Thank you for agreeing to help me, Nadir. Forgive me for my behavior, and please allow me to replace the chair. I will be forever in your debt if I am able to make Marguerite my wife, " Erik said as he immediately reverted back to his normal refined manner.
He new that Nadir was right. He refused to allow himself to believe that Meg had agreed to marry the Marquis. She had never given him any reason to believe that she had feelings for anyone else. He sat down on Nadir's sofa and took out a large bag of gold coins. His old friend sat down next to him, and they began to make all the arrangements necessary for Erik's well devised plan for his marriage to Meg. The Marquis could be dealt with later; right now the most important thing in his world was making certain that he would have Meg forever.
