A/N: As always, thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir (and another big thanks for her help)
Erik: the Vampire Hunter
Episode 29: Seeking
By: Elektra
Dean Giry's Office
Giry offered the distraught girl another cup of herbal tea. Christine absently took the mug and sipped at it, "I don't know WHY they took him," she spoke softly, having told Giry the events of the previous night.
"Erik would not allow himself to be taken, Christine. No doubt he went with them willingly." Giry replied. She looked at Christine. "And I am sure the foolish man has his foolish reasons." Her voice then grew quiet. "Sadly, I do not expect him to be back any time soon."
Christine shook her head. "No. He has to. Even if I have to get him myself," she looked up at the older lady, her eyes desperate. "Do you know where they took him? Please, Madame… if you have any idea, tell me!
"And what?" Giry raised an eyebrow, "Have you go after him? What do you know about fighting the Leader and his people? This is a matter better saved for professionals, dear. It is OUR territory… "
"You DO know where he is, don't you?" Christine demanded.
Giry shook her head. "Whether I do or not does not matter. It is NOT a place where you should be."
"I don't CARE!" Christine snapped. "If I was dragged away, he'd come racing after ME!"
"He would not want you to risk your life." Giry replied calmly.
Christine slammed the mug down on the table, "I need to find him!" she shouted. "I will NOT lose someone else I love!"
"Christine…?" Giry's voice was soft with surprise. "When did you-"
"I don't know…" Christine interrupted quietly, "For a while now… I suppose." She took a deep breath. "I only realized it recently." She glanced away. "We've been together since the summer, but I've never told him." She looked ashamed. "I've tried… but every time I start, I let something stop me."
"Your apprehension is understandable. Erik has not exactly the best choice in suitors as of late, you understand?" Giry explained.
"I know, Madame." Christine looked at the older woman. "And no doubt my feelings for him would have everyone else thinking I be highly medicated and strapped to a bed."
She glanced away. "Though maybe I should be, considering how desperate I am to walk into the Leader's world and drag him back." She met Giry's eyes. "But I can't do that without help! Please? Will you help me find my ghost?"
"Return to your dorm, my dear. I have no doubt he would not want you to follow him." Giry glanced away. "But to leave him in the hands of the Leader is a troublesome thing indeed. It is a problem that needs to be taken care of."
Christine studied the woman before her, not sure what taken care of implied.
"Madame?" she asked softly. "The… the Hunters aren't going to hurt them, are they?"
"We would certainly not want to, Christine. But… if we are left with no choice…"
Christine stared at the woman before her, her jaw set in determination. "I'M your choice!"
Laramie Drive
Erik yanked the rope tight around his enemy's neck. "Why did you attack me!" he demanded.
The mindless man had no answer as his life slowly ebbed from his body. With one final yank, Erik heard the crack of vertebrae, the Leader's lackey falling to the ground lifeless.
Erik calmly coiled his rope back up and was immediately joined by Laura, seeing no reason why the lovely pale woman should be smiling so proudly at such a gruesome kill.
"Just as we thought," she began. "You certainly are Shay's son,"
"I was defending myself." Erik replied. "Why did one of the Leader's mindless drones try to assassinate me?" He hissed as he kicked the dead man at his feet.
"I told him too," Laura replied.
"Then perhaps it was YOU I should have killed!" Erik snapped, grabbing her by the throat.
"It was a test…" came another voice - a voice that had not long ago been in his head, telling him to stop denying what he was. Telling him to come home. "Let go of her now, son."
Erik glared back at Laura, ignoring his father's command.
"I attack threats," Erik hissed, "And if Laura is the one who sent a lackey to kill me then SHE is a threat!" He narrowed his eyes. "And I promise, Lovely Laura, I will not regret ending your miserable un-life!" Laura simply smirked at him, rather excited by the rough attention and threats. He quickly let go of her, disgusted.
"She was merely following my order. Would that make me a threat too?" The Leader replied.
Erik studied him. "Since I am of your blood, unfortunately, I will give you a chance to explain yourself. But do not fail to understand that I am here only to keep others SAFE." He tucked his rope back into the inner pocket of the long black cloak he had taken to wearing since his arrival there.
The leader raised an eyebrow. "Safe from me or yourself?" he asked. Erik glanced away and said nothing. This seemed to please Shay.
"As I said," Shay continued, "it was a test. You have proved yourself in the last week. I'm impressed at the skills you have," the Leader said. "No more tests for now. Have some fun with this lovely lady here." He indicated Laura. "You can join us for dinner in the banquet room later."
Erik said nothing as he turned on his heel and headed down into the tunnels beneath the house…
…alone.
Ravelle College Residence - Erik's Room (Three days later)
Christine sat on the bed and stared at Erik's coat hanging on a nearby chair. He still had not returned.
He had truly meant that good-bye?
"Where are you?" she asked the empty room. No answer was forthcoming, "Of all the lousy times to leave," she muttered, "Just when we were starting to-" she stopped and shook her head.
Everywhere she looked, she was reminded of her angel of music. His violin still lay in its case beneath his desk. His toothbrush was still in his bathroom. Isis and her kittens were still waiting for their daddy to return.
But now Christine realized he wasn't returning.
"Was it because of ME? Is it because I never told you how I felt?" Christine stared at the wall as she was left alone to contemplate her thoughts. The feelings she had finally admitted to herself. "Erik, you are a big dumb stupid… jerk!" she shouted to the empty room.
"Damn it!" she cursed. "You're going to make me come after you, aren't you? FINE! Be that way! I'll drag you back kicking and screaming if I have to!"
Christine quickly jumped to her feet and grabbed Erik's coat as she headed out the door.
She was going to find him. With or without the Guild's help.
De Chagny Residence
"Okay," Raoul started as he sat across from Meg. "Do you want some coffee or tea?" he paused slightly, then raised an eyebrow when he saw how nervous the girl appeared to be, "…or maybe some hard liquor?"
"No, thanks." Meg replied with a smile. She grew serious again. "Really, you think it's okay to just sit in here and talk like this?"
An hour of uninterrupted conversation had done nothing to ease Meg's anxiety over being overheard.
"Why not? It's the study. Phil's working in his office. And believe me, he won't be showing his face outside that room for at least," Raoul checked his watch, "well, if he comes out for dinner, I'll be shocked."
"Work-aholic?"
"After our parents died, he just poured himself into trying to alleviate the mess that was left." Raoul sighed. "I'm grateful. I mean, I don't do anything to help."
Meg watched his face darken. "Are you worried? About what we're doing? Are you concerned Phil's involved in something … bad?"
Raoul met her eyes. "I can't… I won't think that Phil is knowingly doing something illegal or immoral. It's just not possible."
"Well, six months ago I wouldn't have ever believed that my mother was a part of some kind of cult that hunts down supernatural monsters."
Raoul put his head in his hands. "But that's different. And right now, all we have is some connection between this thing Shay and my brother. It doesn't mean that—"
The knock at the front entryway door cut Raoul off. Meg started to stand up, more out of nervousness than actually propriety, and Raoul leapt up to meet her when they heard that voice.
"I have an unexpected appointment with Mr. De Chagny."
Meg started to speak, but Raoul laid and hand on her shoulder and shook his head.
He guided her silently towards to the doors, and turned to lower his face close to Meg's.
"He'll meet with Phil in his office and we can sneak out, upstairs to my room," he whispered into her ear.
She flushed slightly at that, but nodded her consent.
Just as Raoul laid his hand on the knob, he heard Philip enter the foyer.
"Mr. Shay, I didn't know we had an—"
"We didn't. But I've had a few changes in my personal life that call for a few changes in my professional one. And I couldn't bear to wait another moment."
Meg looked up at Raoul, who shook his head and leaned forward to listen.
"Yes, of course. Shall we?"
"Don't you have some scotch in this house? I'm in the mood to celebrate my good fortune of late."
Raoul stiffened and pulled Meg away from the door. He looked side to side, then hustled her towards a door. "Another way out?" she whispered.
"No. The only thing I can think of." He quickly opened the door, revealing a storage closet overflowing with boxes and books. Meg stepped in gingerly with Raoul pressing behind her just as the doors to the study flung open.
"I'll pour you a glass. Have a seat please," said Philip, his voice carrying through the thick closet door. Meg started to stumble backwards; Raoul caught her around the waist and pulled her close to him to steady her.
Trying to stifle her harsh breathing, Meg resigned to let her hand rest on Raoul's chest as she strained to listen.
"It seems my son has finally decided to come home," Shay began. "It took a bit of doing, but I am glad for it…"
Raoul and Meg exchanged glances. Son, Meg mouthed. Raoul shrugged, neither having an idea who Shay could be referring too. They heard the squeak of a chair as the man sat down.
"What can I do for you, sir?" Philip asked.
"Well, we want to merge our funds," Shay said. "Invest together, along with you, of course. My son has made quite a nice living for himself…"
"Really?" Philip seemed interested, "And what does he do?"
"He's an architect, actually…" Shay replied.
The sliver of light from the bottom of the door allowed Meg to see the surprised look in Raoul's eyes. They both knew a certain architect who had disappeared recently.
Raoul unconsciously tightened his grip on the petite ballerina, but Meg didn't find herself offended by it in any way. Just the opposite, in fact…
"Well," Philip's voice continued on the other side, "There are things to work out, of course. Your son will have to come here on his own to sign the papers and whatnot…"
"Oh, I am afraid that may not be possible. He is rather unwell and I do not know when he'll be able to come. I will take the papers to him and have him sign." Shay said. Meg shivered at the sound of his voice. She had a feeling the man was hiding something.
"I would rather be witness to it, Mr. Shay," Philip countered. She saw a hint of a proud smile on Raoul's face. It seemed Philip, though unaware of the full scope of the situation, was not entirely trusting of Shay after all.
"If he is unwell," Philip continued, "We will merely have to wait until he is better. It is very important he is here in person, or I cannot, in good conscience, invest his money into anything…"
Meg heard the sound of a chair rolling back and a large man slamming his hands against a wall. "If I cannot get what I want from YOU, then I will find someone else to invest with!"
Philip's voice was calm when he replied, "I am sorry, Mr. Shay, if your son is as ill as you say, then how do I know with what mind he is signing legal papers? It is a risk neither of us can afford. It can cause far too many problems should your son choose to go back on the agreement."
"He will NOT go back on it!" Shay insisted.
"But we do not know that," Philip answered logically. "When he is well, bring him with you. Until then, you know my terms."
There was a stomping of feet and the opening of the door. Meg and Raoul breathed a sigh of relief, allowing their bodies to relax a little… and inadvertently knocking over a box beside them.
"What on earth!" they heard Philip's voice. "Who's there!" he demanded.
The two exchanged nervous glances, then heard Philip coming closer to the door.
Thinking fast, Meg grabbed Raoul's face and pulled him into a kiss just as Philip swung the closet open.
"Geez, Ray! Your ex's best friend?" Philip was unimpressed with the sight before him.
Meg broke the kiss immediately, and noted Raoul looked rather shocked and breathless. "Uh… I… ummm…" Raoul quickly focused on his brother, regaining his composure.
"Sorry, Phil…" He continued. "It… well, it was only this one time. A shared moment of weakness. It won't happen again. Ever." Raoul promised. Meg wondered if she should feel insulted, but before she could decide, Raoul took her hand and lead her out of the small confined area, "Come on. I'll see you to the door." He said to her.
With one last glance back at Philip's disapproving face, Meg followed Raoul out.
Elsewhere – a week later
Christine pulled Erik's duster tight around her. She had had to tie the bottom up around the waist, lest the length drag on the floor behind her.
Wherever she was, it was cold.
Cold… and dark.
"We must be careful, Miss Daaé," Nadir began beside her as he held a flashlight aloft. "There is no telling what lurks in these catacombs. I believe we are beneath the Leader's house."
Judging by the stone walls and sheer size of the chamber surrounding her, Nadir's guess seemed correct. The two had found a passage that had led them here while wandering the wide perimeter of the large building. She guessed it had been used as an escape route at some point way back when.
Christine put a hand against the wall and felt mildew, mold, and all other manner of unhealthy spores one wouldn't want to breathe in. "Nasty place. Creepy."
"Yes. Erik seems drawn to places like this. You have seen his room."
Christine let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. He likes basements."
Christine pulled her hands from the wall. She could only imagine Erik's reaction once he saw that touching the wall had left an ugly residue on the sleeves that were far too long for Christine's arms.
"I'm wrecking his coat. He's going to be so angry," she told Nadir, but realized Erik would probably be angrier that she came after him in the first place.
Christine hugged herself as a cold draft came through the spaces the mortar had either not filled in, or had crumbled out of.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of the coat… and the scent of the male who usually wore it. "I can't believe he just left melike that," she muttered as she jammed her hands into the large pockets, furrowing her brow a little when she felt his cell phone still resided there.
No doubt it would be useless in these catacombs, but she pulled it out anyway and turned it on.
No reception. Of course not.
She flipped through the contact list and saw the words "my angel" beside her cellphone number. It made her smile. She then saw the picture accompanying it – it was her, sleeping. Taken by the camera in the phone.
No doubt he had snuck into her dorm room to snatch this picture.
"He wanted to guard you, my dear." Nadir spoke, startling Christine out of her thoughts as they continued down the tunnel. "That is all he has ever wanted to do."
"It would have been easier if he stayed by my side to guard me," she replied, turning the phone off and slipping it back in the pocket.
"Ah, but Erik never seems to take the easy way," Nadir replied with a smile Christine couldn't see in the dim light the flashlight provided.
Christine stopped dead when she came upon a bolted door. "What's this?" It wasn't made of stone; it was made of thick steel… as was the rest of the wall before her.
Nadir ran the light over it and realized it wasn't just a wall. "It seems to be a room."
Christine had to stop herself from knocking on the door. Whatever was in there would not be something she wanted to see.
The two began to walk away, but a sound coming through a tiny crack in the door stopped her. The voice was young. Female. And very weak.
Christine slowly walked back to the door and spoke hesitantly, "Uh… hello?"
"Whoever's there… let us out," came the soft voice. "They're really sick,"
Christine didn't know what to do or say. In a place like this, wherever it was, the two of them could very well be walking into a trap.
"They won't let us out, Karra. You know that," came a young male voice in response.
Nadir gasped. "Tell me these are not children!"
The two then heard a violent retching from beyond the door. Nadir leaned in closer, and noticed the acrid smell coming through the crack the girl was speaking through. It was enough to make him recoil, glad his own stomach was already empty from missing supper.
"I'm opening the door." Nadir decided. "Stand back. I do not know which way it swings."
Whoever was in there was ill. Trap or no, he would regret it if he didn't try to help.
Christine took the flashlight from Nadir as he lifted the large rusty bar that had been locked in place. He had to tug at the heavy door, stumbling back until it finally opened… and unleashed a smell so foul that Christine had to breathe in the material of the coat so as not to collapse from it.
A young girl crawled out, and Christine could see she was covered in her own filth. "Oh god…" Christine gasped, still unwilling to pull the material away from her face. A boy followed behind her, just as filthy.
"Sweet Allah!" Nadir gasped, then covered his face with a handkerchief as he glanced into the dark empty room.
"There aren't any more," the boy spoke quietly, "they're dead."
The boy appeared to be in his mid teens. Perhaps 14 or 15 and having just gone through a growth spurt. He stood several inches taller then Christine, but that was no surprise – most people did.
Holding her breath, Christine held the flashlight just inside the door. A hand covered her eyes. "No, Miss Daaé. Do not look."
Nadir had seen the sight before her. Three more children lay unmoving in their own mess, several days dead.
He looked at the two before him. No wonder they had grown so sick. They were left in a room with rotting corpses. They were, no doubt, children who had long-since been ill, surrounded by human waste and other things he didn't want to know about.
Nadir quickly forced the door shut, wanting to scream and sob at such cruelty, to bring down curse after curse upon those who had done it… but first, these two children needed their help.
Christine removed the sleeve from her face, able to breathe a bit easier, save for the stench of the children. She knelt beside them, "What are your names?"
"Jason and Karra." The boy replied, indicating himself and the girl respectively.
She nodded. "I'm Christine. This is Nadir. Do you two live around here?" Christine asked. "Did you get lost?"
"We live where all the others live," the boy started to explain. "They made us their servants."
"Servants?" Christine asked as she looked up at him. "Like, cooks and butlers and maids?" she asked.
"Unwillingly, yeah," the boy answered. "They don't pay us. They MAKE us do stuff, and threaten us if we don't."
The girl nodded. "And sometimes… we're their dinner," she answered.
Christine shivered at that. "Who are they?"
"The ones who live in the house." the boy explained. "The Leader, this girl named Laura, and whoever else hangs around. They have others like us carrying out their orders… but… they're kind of NOT like us any more."
Christine nodded. Erik had mentioned once how Bobby was no longer himself when her fellow student had broken into her dorm room. "How did you end up in this place?"
"Me and my mother went on a hike," the girl explained. "We got lost. They found us."
"My aunt and I were coming home from a late movie," the boy replied. "Shouldn't have taken the short cut,"
Christine asked the one question she was dreading, "Do you know where we are?"
The boy nodded. "The haunted house on Laramie drive," he answered. "No one comes here. They're all afraid."
Nadir finally spoke. "And why were you two locked up?"
"I accidentally dropped a plate of food on Miss Laura. She got really angry. It was a heavy plate, but I guess I should have been more careful," the boy offered.
"One of the Leader's guards liked me a little too much. I turned him down and he threw me in here to see if I would change my mind," the girl explained. Christine could see her shiver at the thought.
"Do you know your way around here?" The guild detective asked again.
"Sort of," Jason replied.
"Sort of enough to bring us to the others?" Nadir asked.
He nodded."My Aunt is there too, and so is Karra's mom,"
"Could you take us there then," Nadir replied. Jason nodded. Nadir handed him the flashlight and the young boy took the lead, glad to have a purpose. Karra walked as close to him as possible.
"So tell me how you children ended up getting so ill?"
"They gave us food," Jason explained as the four huddled close together making their way down in the hall, "It was rotten… but we were hungry. We didn't know."
"We all got sick, and… the room got messy… which made us sicker," Karra replied.
"I can imagine," Christine replied
"That's not yours, is it?" Jason asked, indicating the coat Christine wore as the group walked on.
"It's my boyfriend's. I actually came here to find him, "
"He must be tall," Jason replied.
"Yeah… pretty tall." Christine answered. Jason was going to ask more, but before he could, the boy froze in his tracks.
"Run!" he cried out. "RUN!"
Nadir and Christine spun around to face the two creatures who were attempting to sneak up behind them.
"GO, Christine!" Nadir ordered. "I will take care of this."
The first creature smiled coldly, and immediately shoved Christine out of the way, going after the Hunter. Jason stumbled away and ran down the hall. Christine scrambled to her feet and followed suit, remaining on Jason's heels, urging him to continue running.
It was going well until Jason tripped and fell on the uneven ground. Christine halted in her tracks, taking only a second to cover him, trying to protect the boy from the creature Nadir was not dealing with.
"GO…" she gasped to the boy. "Protect Karra!"
Jason twisted his head to look up at her, then squirmed out from her protection and did as she asked.
The creature ignored the boy and dug a sharp knee into Christine's back as he grabbed her ponytail and yanked. "So pretty!" He hissed. "I love playing with pretty things! Want to play with me?"
"No…" Christine cried out, her voice a painful whimper as he tugged tighter.
"Why not? I could be lots of fun!" He growled, "And just to make sure you can't run away…" He reached back and twisted her ankle hard enough that she could hear a pop, causing Christine to scream out in agony.
Before the creature could do anything more, it turned to dust above her.
"Miss Daaé?" Nadir asked as he knelt before the girl and helped her to her feet.
Christine stumbled awkwardly, Nadir supporting her the best he could as the two staggered in the direction they had seen the children run.
The burning in Christine's ankle was almost unbearable, causing tears to spill down her cheeks from the sheer pain. "Have to find the children..." she muttered. "…Have to make sure they're ok."
"First, we make sure YOU are ok!" Nadir insisted. "There must be an exit here somewhere."
"Christine?" a soft voice spoke. She looked to see Jason standing before her, holding out the flashlight. "I came back to get you…" he paused, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is it gone?"
"Yeah… Nadir… Nadir took care of it." Christine spoke weakly, offering a small smile. Her body was going into shock, she knew that much. Her ankle had gone numb, and she was ready to collapse… but first… first she had to follow Jason.
Jason reached out and put Christine's other arm over his shoulders, trying to help Nadir carry the unsteady girl down three corridors. The three finally came upon a large steel door and Jason knocked rhythmically. A code, Christine realized.
"Verna will take care of you," he replied as the door opened, "I'm so sorry, Christine..." his young voice was filled with regret.
Christine slowly staggered into the torch-lit room and saw several frightened eyes turn to her, sizing her up and deciding whether she was friend of foe.
Christine could speak only one name before she passed out from her pain…
Laramie Drive - Erik's Catacombs
Erik…
It was a whisper in the tunnels where Erik now made his home beneath the house on Laramie Drive.
A voice that wasn't there.
He wanted to forget. To begin anew. To be what he was always meant to be… but… that voice still haunted him. It was not here. Could not be here!
And it was better that way.
He did not want her to see him as he was now – wiping his lasso with a damp cloth after yet another test. The Leader did seem to enjoy giving him those.
Ever since he was a child, he had wanted to find a place to belong. A place where he had parents who wanted him around.
Well, he had found a father. But he knew Shay wanted him for the wrong reasons.
There was someone who DID want him, though. And for the right reasons. She called him her Angel of Music.
But Erik now realized it could never happen. He was… and always would be… a murderer.
The masked man angrily threw the damp cloth against the cavern wall, the candlelight reflecting the red water now dripping down the rock.
He was damned either way.
Forget the Angel of Music.
All that remained was the Angel of Death.
END OF EPISODE 29