Chapter XII

Erik's Heir

After what had to be several hours, I heard someone enter the room. I slowly pried my eyes open to see who had come in. It was the Phantom, still without a shirt, with a glass of water in his hand. He looked at me and gave a gentle smile as he walked over to the bed. He sat down on the edge and offered me the glass. I took it gladly and gulped down the sweet taste of simple water. Aeron brushed my hair back behind my ear and breathed in deeply.

"I moved your things to your dormitory," Aeron said quietly. I nodded. I wanted to ask him why he had them in the first place, but decided against it.

The Phantom took the now empty glass and set it on the night table beside the bed, then stood up and walked over to the dresser from which he had pulled out my previous gown. He opened the second drawer, pulling out a corset and pantalets, then closed the second and opened the first to pull out a day gown. He walked back over to me and set them on the bed. "After you change, I'll take you back," he said, then walked out of the room, lowering the curtain over the entry as he left.

I moved quickly to put on the pantalets, but as I tried to put on my corset, I found it a bit difficult. I didn't exactly want to ask the Phantom for help, for I thought I might look childish if I did so, but as I tried to tie farther up, my attempts became useless. So, sheepishly, I brushed passed the curtain and gazed around for the Phantom. He was at his organ, composing music, but not playing it. As I moved closer, Aeron must have sensed me, for he turned from his writing and looked at me, almost in question. He must have seen the look on my face and he chuckled and made his way over to me.

"Having a bit of trouble are we?" he asked teasingly.

I had an embarrased grin on my face as I quietly answered him, "It's my corset...I've never been able to put it on myself."

The Phantom motioned for me to turn around, so I did. I felt him run his hands down my back before he began tying and retying each set of strings. After he finished he put his hands on my waist and turned me around. When I looked at him he nodded. He released my waist and I turned to go back and finish dressing.

Aeron took me back by boat, then released me at the door that led out to the stairs that went up to the dorms. I cracked open the hidden door just enough to make sure no one was lurking around somewhere. After I was quite sure it was safe, I quickly moved out from the tunnel and closed the door quietly. I snapped around and when I still didn't see anyone, I headed upstairs to the dorm. I was sure Madison and Milly were having a heart attack wondering where I've been.

As it turned out, everyone was still in their beds...sleeping. I wasn't sure what time it was, but I was almost positive it was well past eight in the morning. The window that led into our dorm had sunlight beaming into the room, and the birds were well awake and singing. I looked around at all the beds, looking for mine.

Just as I found Milly and Madison sleeping on their beds, I found my bed. It was in the very corner of the room, as if shunned off to the side, right next to the window. There were only two beds even near it, and they were empty. It seemed as if everyone chose to keep away from that particular corner of the room. I also noticed a closet near by. I shuddered, instantly remembering Isaiah. I looked at my things and saw that the bed was made perfectly. My things were gracefully put beneath my bed, and atop my pillow there was a red rose with a black ribbon tied around its stem.

I had heard of that sort of rose before. My mother had told me that Erik, the old Phantom, would tie a black ribbon around the stem of the rose whenever he gave one to Christine. There had to be some kind of connection between Aeron and Erik. I had thought that perhaps Aeron was Erik's son, but laughed at the thought. Why would anyone choose to come back to the place that had caused their family and everyone else so much pain? Erik was dead. I knew that for a fact. Everyone knew he was dead, and the thought that he had a son was absolutely ludacrous. Perhaps he was just someone who thought he ought to follow Erik's footsteps and bring back the same horror to the Opera Populaire that had come upon it so many years ago. For some reason, my mind wandered to the thought of his mask. Aeron's mask. What was behind this mask that so carefully hid the right side of his face? I decided that I didn't really want to know. People had called Erik a monster because of his hideous face, but I didn't believe it. I didn't think Aeron was a monster either.

I looked around at all the other girls. They all looked so peaceful, so undisturbed. I wondered if I might have looked that innocent when I slept.

I swiftly climbed into my bed, placing the rose which sat upon my pillow under by bed, carefully hidden so no one would see it. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep, but once I closed my eyes, I immediatly drifted off into slumber.

I woke to someone tapping on my shoulder. Feeling more tired than I should have been, I turned in my bed to face who was waking me up. It was Milly, looking quite fretful...I didn't exactly want to know why.

"Rose...something's happened..."