Disclaimer: He's not mine no matter how hard I try.
The Opera Ghost
There was to be a performance that night at La Fenice, and Erik planned on being there, but not as a spectator. He crouched up in the flies watching and listening. Many of the performers were speaking of the fact that someone had broken in and ransacked the house the night before, but none had any idea that the person they were speaking of was still there, waiting to hear any clue he could to finding his love.
The performers of La Fenice were not very unlike the ones he had become accustomed to at the Opera Populaire. They had a leading diva, Marabella, who reminded him of the screeching La Carlotta. Their leading man was a young, slightly inexperienced man by the name of Marcus, who he learned had taken the role over after the unfortunate events befalling Philippe LaChance. The young man reminded him of the boy Lily had been working with back in Paris, Anton. Then there were always the ballet rats. To him ballet rats would be the same all around the world. There was always one particular rat that led the pack, and the rest followed in line doing as they were told. This particular rat was named Anna. Erik thought she was rather plain to be the one who the others followed. Usually the leader would be slightly beautiful, but that mattered not to him.
He was concerned with one thing alone. Listening to the gossip they spoke of. And gossip they did. Two of the ballet rats were standing off to the side speaking in words slightly above a whisper, which with the acoustics of the building, traveled up to Erik's position.
"I miss Philippe. He was so much more talented than Marcus." One of them said longingly.
"You mean, you miss bedding Philippe." The other said giggling.
The first girl looked around in concern. "Shhh. She might hear you. I don't want to go through another of her tantrums." When she saw that they weren't being overheard she continued. "But, do you blame me? You had him too." She giggled also.
"What did you hear about what went on in Paris?" The second girl asked.
"Just what She told us." The girl emphasized the word She, making Erik wonder who exactly She was. "Philippe went to Paris to try to convince their leading diva to come back to La Fenice. She was one of ours several years ago, you know. But she had a jealous lover, who had something to do with getting his neck stretched." She answered.
"You know what I heard about the lover? They say he was really some kind of monster. His face was disfigured, or burnt, or something like that. They were going to hang him, but the girl, Lily, confessed to save him." The other girl said with pride, knowing she would be very popular since she had new gossip to tell.
"But why would she confess? If he were some sort of monster why would she risk her neck? And why did they not stretch her neck for it?" The first girl said in disbelief.
"They say she was entranced by him. They say she would do anything for him. It's quite sad, you know. Anyway the magistrate ruled it as an accident. Maybe he pitied her. I'm not sure." The second girl answered then they left to see what kind of mischief they could cause.
Erik listened to the girls' words, and wondered if that was how everyone saw their romance. Was Lily the innocent victim of his charms, to all their eyes? Did they all pity her for falling in love with a beast? Did no one truly understand how they felt for each other? These thoughts brought back his ire, but this time it was directed at the ballet rats. They had no business gossiping about something they could not understand.
He knew he should calm his temper, and continue to listen, hoping to catch just a small, overheard clue as to where Lily was. But then again, maybe this opera house could use a shaking up to get the tongues wagging a little more freely, he wondered.
He watched as the ballet rats took the stage performing a graceful number. It was the perfect time. He made his way to just above them and smiled as he saw what he wanted. Moments later a piece of scenery came crashing down in the middle of the ballet rats. He smiled noticing that he had just missed the two girls he had overheard before. He slipped back in the shadows watching the chaos that ensued upon stage.
Most of the performers where going into hysterics, which caused him to chuckle. Performers always had to be so dramatic, but he guessed it was in their nature. But he did notice one set of eyes staring into the flies. The lead ballet rat, Anna, was not screaming hysterically like the others. She was searching the flies for any sign of an intruder. He thought to himself that he would have to keep an eye on that one. She was smarter than the rest. Maybe too smart for her own good. And just maybe she would be the key to finding his Lily.
"How long will it take us to get to Venice?" Meg asked her mother staring out the carriage window.
"It is several hundred miles from Paris. It will take five days." Antoinette answered.
"Mother, may I ask you something?" Meg asked daring to ask what she wondered the most.
"Yes." Antoinette had been staring out the window absorbed in memories from the past.
"There is history between you and the Phantom. I am young, but I am not blind. When will you tell me the truth?" Meg asked.
Antoinette had wondered when her daughter would ask her that question. She paused for a moment making Meg think she would not talk, but then she began her story. "His name is Erik. He is no monster. He is no ghost. And he is no phantom. He is a man of flesh and blood, and feelings and emotions, the same as you or I. That is something that few consider before they judge him."
"But not you. You don't judge him, not even for past sins." Meg wondered aloud.
"No, I do not. It is not my place. Meg, he was just a boy when I first met him. Everyone he came in contact with cruelly mistreated him. I felt pity for him. So I helped him, and I hid him." Antoinette continued.
"You are the one that brought him to the opera house?" Meg asked in shock. She had not expected her mother's secrets to be so complicated.
"Yes. I helped him to create his underground lair. I was his only true friend for a short time." Antoinette paused as a deep sigh escaped her.
"What happened? You said for a short time." Meg asked sensing that her mother was holding something back.
"I was the first person to ever show him compassion, Meg. He became infatuated with me, but my heart already belonged to your father. Erik would never hurt me, no matter how much I disappointed him. But he also could no longer be as close to me as we had been. We drifted apart. I became Madame Giry, the head ballet coach, and he became the Opera Ghost, or the Phantom." Antoinette explained with a touch of sorrow edging her voice. "I still care for him, Meg. I always will. I feel responsible for him in a way. I will do whatever it takes to help him. Do you understand now?"
"Yes, I believe I do. And Lily?" Meg asked.
"Lily is rare, little one. She has given to Erik what no other could. At first I warned her away from him, under the ruse of protecting her, but truthfully it was he that I was concerned for." She admitted.
"What will happen if he loses her?" Meg asked thinking of all the horrible things, it was said that the Phantom had done.
"That is something I don't want to even imagine happening. His love is so deep. He feels emotions deeper than anyone I have ever known. And the restraints of normal society have never concerned him. If he loses her, I fear what he would do." Her words caused a shiver to run down Meg's spine.
"Then pray we are able to help him, Mother." Meg whispered closing her eyes and saying a prayer of her own, for her friend that was now lost.
Lily hated to remember the most painful time of her life, but she knew she would have to determine a way to out-think Anna. And the only way to do that was to try to remember everything about the girl she possibly could. She remembered the dark looks the girl had always given her, as she rehearsed with Philippe. She remembered the strange pranks; she had put down to the other ballet rats. She had received dead roses delivered to her after a performance. Sometimes her food would taste funny after it was brought to her. And there were many other pranks, she had dismissed as jealousy from the others. She had always thought jealousy was a huge waste of time. But now as she thought back she wondered, just how many of those pranks were orchestrated by Anna, who was now going way beyond harmless pranks.
But the memories of Anna also brought up the painful memories of Philippe. Even after his death, the thought of him struck fear into her heart and soul.
She raised her head at the sound of the door opening again. This time she closed her eyes as the lantern was lit.
"And how are you tonight, Lily?" Anna's smooth voice purred. Apparently she was able to control her rage for the time being.
"I've been better." Lily answered sarcastically.
"I bet you have. A have a friend that will be joining us shortly. When he does we can untie you, so you can regain feeling in your arms and legs." Anna said setting the lantern down on an empty shelf.
"I don't see why you can't untie me. I won't be able to move my arms and legs for a while anyway. It isn't like I could escape." Lily said sounding dejected, hoping Anna would fall for it.
"No, we can wait a few moments more. We can talk until then." Anna answered in a conversational tone. "You won't believe what your Phantom did tonight."
At her words Lily's head flew up and Anna could see the desperate look in her eyes. "You saw Erik."
"No. No one saw him. But he was at La Fenice. He dropped a piece of scenery on some of the ballet rats. He must have been very amused by the spectacle it caused." Anna said smiling to herself. She hated the ballet rats herself, and rather enjoyed the scene herself.
Lily wondered what Erik was trying to accomplish by causing trouble at the opera house. "Are you sure it wasn't just an accident?" She asked.
"Maybe. If accidents can cut ropes with a sharp blade. No, Lily, it was he. I'm not sure what he is up to. But very soon, my trap will be set, and he will fall into it." She warned in a silky voice.
"Anna, why do you have to do this to us? Philippe brought about his own death. We are not to blame." Lily pleaded with her.
She could see the change on the other woman's face. "You killed him. You and your freak lover. I must avenge the man I love."
"Your love. Philippe was your love. Tell me then if he was your love, why was he in Paris trying to seduce me?" Lily asked as her anger began to build.
The shocked look on Anna's face showed Lily that Philippe had been lying to her all along. "He was not. He went there to convince you to come back to La Fenice, to replace that horrible screeching diva we have now. He was doing it for the good of the opera house." Anna insisted.
"No, what he was trying to convince me of, was that when he raped me five years ago it was just a misunderstanding that we should put behind us. Not to mention the fact that it was my father's own fault that he murdered him. That is what he was trying to convince me of." Lily said in bitter words, still feeling the pain as if it had been only days.
"You're lying. Philippe loved only me. He wouldn't have anyone else. You are just saying these things to save your own neck." Anna said shaking her head.
Lily could see that the woman's resolve was beginning to crumble though. A few more words and Anna might break. But then she heard a loud banging sound from the next room. She could see the change in Anna's expression as her friend was drawing near. "Ah, my friend. He knows the truth. He was in Paris with Philippe. He saw that sham of a trial. He knows it all."
Lily's hopes were dashed at Anna's words. She waited staring at the door for the man to enter. But when he did she felt the blood freeze in her veins. Her eyes widened in disbelief, and a small whimpering sound left her throat. "No." She forced out in a whisper, as she shook her head violently back and forth. "You are dead. I saw you die."
"Now, now, Lily. That is no way to talk to a gentleman. Calm yourself." Anna chuckled at the cowering figure Lily had become.
"May I introduce myself." The man said bowing graciously. "My name is Pierre LaChance. I'm afraid all this unpleasantness concerns my dear departed twin brother."
Lily heard his words, but could not believe them. She would have sworn that the ghost of Philippe LaChance had come back from the grave to haunt her. She just continued to shake her head as she tried to melt back into the post behind her.
"Here, let me remove those ropes. We can talk in a more civilized manner." He suggested walking up to her and removing the ropes.
She wanted to lunge away from him the moment the ropes were lose, but her legs and arms would not obey her minds commands, as she began to crumble to the floor. He reached out quickly catching her before she hit the ground.
"Let go of me." She said managing to push numb hands against his chest.
"If I do that, you will hit the ground. That will hurt." He said pulling her up closer to his chest.
"I'd rather feel the pain, than be touched by you, sir." She spat in anger.
He slowly lowered her to the ground, so she sat next to the post. "I'm sorry you feel that way, Mademoiselle." He said in a hurt voice. "I assure you, I am not the ghost of my brother."
"Is the trap almost set, Pierre?" Anna asked eagerly.
"It will be a few more days, Anna. But soon." He answered, turning to the other woman. "You should probably be getting back to the opera house. There will be a lot of gossip floating around after the spectacle from earlier. Your absence might be noticed, by him." Pierre suggested. "Don't worry. I will lock up before I leave."
"All right." Anna agreed reluctantly.
After he heard the outside door close Pierre turned back to Lily. "I'm sorry about this. I had no idea this was what Anna was planning, when she enlisted my help in avenging my brother. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Lily wanted to laugh in his face. How could he stand there, being so polite to her, after all that had happened? "You can get me out of here, and contact the police to arrest that woman, for a start." She said silently adding in her mind. 'And then you can go back to the grave where you belong.' She believed him now that he was Philippe's brother. She could see the difference between them, but she still wished him ill.
"I wish I could, Lily. But she is completely insane. I fear what her retribution might be. At this point she hasn't mentioned trying to kill you, but I hate to think what she would do if you escaped her." He tried to explain.
"I don't care if she tries to kill me, as long as I have the chance to escape." Lily assured him.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot be responsible for your death. We will have to figure a different way to free you." He answered her. "You must be thirsty. Wait a moment. I will be right back." He said going into the next room.
When he returned he held a small cup of water. "I know it's not the coolest, but it will quench your thirst." He said kneeling in front of her and holding out the cup.
She didn't know if she should accept the water or not. Her lips were parched, and her throat was dry. She licked her lips staring at the water. What reason would he have to poison her? They already held her captive. If he wanted her dead it would be very easy to accomplish. So she attempted to reach out and take the cup, but her fingers were still numb and she could not grasp it.
"Here. Let me help." He said placing the cup to her lips.
She wanted so bad to push the cup away and scream at him, but her body's need for nourishment took over and she greedily drank the water.
He pulled the cup back after a few swallows. "Not too fast. You'll get sick. Now was that so bad. I promise you, Lily, the last thing I want to do is hurt you."
She wanted so badly to believe him, but could not. She could not trust anyone like that. She only trusted one man. She wondered where he was at, at that moment.