A/N: As always, thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir.
Episode 47: Conflict
By: Elektra
Meg and Christine's Apartment
Meg sat on the couch - Christine on one side, her mother on the other - shaking as she tried to drink the hot cocoa Christine had made for her.
Nadir, Giry, and Erik had just arrived to inform her of a rather unpleasant incident – a fellow ballet student, Meg's biggest competition for success, had been found murdered. For Megan had been written in the girl's blood on the wall above her head.
"I…" Meg began nervously. "I barely knew Michelle," she explained to Nadir, trying not to be distracted by Erik, who was pacing impatiently behind him.
"Giselle – Ms. LeFleur – said that both of us could be principals in the future. That it was just a race to see who got there first. But…" She swallowed hard.
"God… I never would have wanted this! I'd never even… even THOUGHT-" She broke into a sob, and Christine immediately put an arm around her shoulders.
"It's ok. Take a moment." Nadir offered as he put his notebook on his lap.
Meg nodded, and reached out to grab Madame Giry's hand. "Momma, what's going on?" Her voice was small and frightened.
"We do not know, Megan." Giry replied. "As I told you, Erik had an altercation with someone two weeks ago - a man who was watching you in the studio."
Erik, silent up until now, finally spoke. "I am quite certain he was the one killing these girls."
Nadir leaned forward. "Normally, the Guild doesn't get involved in things like this," he explained. "But being that it is starting to affect those close to us, Leroux has asked us to look into it using whatever resources we have to secretly assist the police."
Meg nodded.
Nadir looked over to Giry. "If you are not opposed, Madame Giry, I would like Erik to stay here with the girls. For their own protection."
Giry nodded her approval, then glanced at Erik. "I trust you will be on your guard?" she asked, indicating that she would not tolerate him spending all his time with Christine when her daughter's life could be in danger.
"Yes, Antoinette. I will allow myself no distractions." He offered a quick glance to Christine, then turned back to Giry. "I will stay on the couch."
Populaire Auditorium – the next day
Meg and Christine watched the rehearsals taking place on the large stage before them. The managers, Firmin and André, had granted the girls permission to watch rehearsal.
Truth be told, it was a favour for Giry, who had currently been offered a summer position as Ballet Mistress for the corps. There had been no class today, as Giselle was needed at the rehearsal as well, and Giry hadn't wanted Meg to stay in the apartment. This gave her a chance to keep a protective eye on her daughter.
Jammes and Sorelli had joined Christine and Meg, neither knowing the real reason they had been granted such a privilege.
"Yeesh… no wonder Carlotta teaches during the rest of the year," Meg muttered as she winced at Carlotta's aria. She looked over at Christine. "Thank goodness you had Erik to teach you PROPERLY."
"No kidding." Christine agreed. She glanced briefly up to Box Five, sure he had to be lurking somewhere. But she saw no sign of him.
Her attention was brought back to the stage as Carlotta's note when horribly sour. It was then that she saw the broken sandbag not more than two inches from her former vocal teacher. Carlotta's husband, Ulbado, was by her side in an instant.
Christine quickly looked to the flies above the stage and could have sworn she saw a black shadow making its way across the catwalk. "Erik…" Christine frowned, disapproval clear in her voice.
Meg suddenly jumped to her feet. "OHMIGAWD! It him! It's the OPERA GHOST!" she screamed out, causing Jammes to cry out and clutch Sorelli's arm beside her.
With a laugh, Meg sat down again. "Now THAT was a great stress reliever." She smirked, then leaned in closer to Christine, her voice low. "Don't be too hard on Erik for shutting Carlotta up. I'm going to thank him, actually. Her singing was grating on my already raw nerves."
Christine tried to hide the smile on her face. She secretly wanted to thank Erik for shutting the woman up too.
"That's IT! I QUIT!"
Meg and Christine's attention went back to the stage once again. Carlotta seemed to be having some kind of hissy fit. She was shaking her fists at the flies, at the Managers, and even at her husband – who had the good grace to look embarrassed at his wife's over the top reaction.
"Darling… really… this is crazy! It was only an accident." Piangi tried to calm the irate woman down.
"Crazy? I'm CRAZY now, Ulbaldo? Have you heard what the little ballet girls have been saying these last few weeks? This place is haunted! And now..." she put a dramatic hand to her chest. "Now, the ghost wants me dead! Dead, I tell you! And you stand here saying I'm crazy?"
"My dearest darling…" Piangi took his wife's hand. "It was only a little accident. I know you're superstitious, my bella … but forget what those little girls say!" He glanced over at Meg accusingly.
Meg glanced back at Christine and shrugged sheepishly. "I didn't mean for the woman to go ape-shit."
"It's true!" Jammes jumped up, not hearing Meg's comment. "I've seen it too!" Jammes insisted. "His face… it's horrible! Like a giant flaming skull!"
Christine raised an eyebrow. "Erik looked like Ghost Rider when she saw him?" she muttered to Meg
Meg chuckled in response. "Jammes was always a bit imaginative."
Carlotta was still ranting. "I will NOT perform here! I WILL NOT!"
Firmin and André seemed at a loss, the former stepping forward hesitantly. "But… you can't just walk out! We have no understudy!" Firmin beseeched Carlotta.
"Get HER to do it!" Carlotta snapped, pointing at Christine. "You seemed to like her so much last time!"
Christine blinked in response. "WHAT?" she sputtered. "No… oh… no no no!"
A piece of paper suddenly fluttered down from the rafters, landing on Carlotta's rather large head. She grabbed it and read it, then shrieked and dropped the paper to the floor.
Piangi quickly picked it up and read it aloud. "M. Firmin, M. André. Ms. Christine Daaé is quite capable of taking over Carlotta Gudicelli's roles. Please see that she is properly fitted for her costume as soon as possible. Your humble servant, the Opera Ghost."
"Ha! Erik likes my nickname for him!" Meg smiled proudly at Christine, then spoke up so the others could hear. "Chrissy would do a GREAT job!"
Christine looked at Meg, shaking her head desperately, blue eyes wide with terror. "But… but… the workshop, Meggy! I can't just-"
Meg waved her hand dismisively. "You're better with the singing. Seriously. Go for it. This is your big chance!"
Christine quickly buried her face in her hands with a groan.
Erik was going to get a piece of her mind as soon as they returned home.
Outside the Populaire dance studio – Later
Adam watched his little swan practicing once again, frowning at the visitor she seemed to have sitting in the corner, blabbing away with his lovely dancer.
This girl was his brother's lover. Why was she here? He had planned to make his presence known to Megan tonight. Now this twit would ruin it all.
He would have to find a way to keep Christine from his swan without raising the ire of his older brother.
Adam made his way to Martine's house to make his request known.
Later that night
Erik stared up at the ceiling as he lay on the pullout couch. He had not been able to sleep very well. His beloved angel had given him quite the chewing out when her and Meg had returned from their classes at the Populaire – but my… she was so very desirable when she was angry.
No matter. He could not act upon his increased attraction in her heated state. He was quite sure he would deeply regret it.
He replayed the conversation in his head:
"Why did you do that?" Christine had demanded. "You've just painted this huge target on my butt!"
And what a lovely butt it is…. "I did not expect Carlotta to walk out in such a huff." Erik spoke aloud. "But it seemed to work for the better, no? I HAVE been teaching you her role these last few weeks. Of course, your lessons are not complete yet but-"
"Stop it!" Christine had interrupted. "I don't want to win a role ONLY because you scared off the star and started leaving freaky notes for the managers!"
Erik had laughed at that. "André and Firmin are quite aware it was me, Christine. I did them a favour, actually. They were getting tired of Carlotta's outrageous demands. They HAD been trying to find a way out of their summer contract with her, but legalities prevented it. Better that she quit. They were more than happy to accept you as a suitable replacement. I spoke to them of it BEFORE Carlotta rushed off."
"But I'm not like Carlotta! I can't sing her parts!"
Erik had dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. "Your voice will be a most welcomed change. Trust me on this, beloved. Now go to sleep. I must take my usual vigil on the couch."
Christine had said no more, but made it quite obvious she wasn't happy when she headed into her room and slammed the door behind her.
Erik now pushed himself off the pullout and stood up to stretch. Christine was angry with him, and he couldn't even spend the night regaining her favour. He needed to be at the ready, should circumstances call for it.
He would never begrudge Little Giry her safety, but it was starting to have an effect on his relations with Christine – physical and otherwise.
Had it really been over a week since he last spent a night in his angel's arms?
Off to the left, Meg's door opened. The girl walked out in a pair of sweats and a tank top. "Hey…" she muttered sleepily as she headed into the kitchenette to fill and plug in the kettle.
"Is something wrong?" Erik asked.
She shook her head as she poured the hot water and fumbled around in the cupboards for some chamomile tea. "Couldn't sleep. Thought this might help." She dropped a teabag in her Ballerinas do it en pointe mug, watching it steep silently. "I wish Raoul was here..." she muttered to herself.
"DeChagny?" Erik asked, not quite sure he had heard right.
Meg turned to Erik. "Believe it or not, I don't share your utter hatred of him. The complete opposite, in fact." She slumped against the counter and took a sip of her drink. "Never mind. Whatever chance I had is gone now."
"Why?" Erik asked.
Meg shrugged. "Damned if I know. He's cut off communication with me. Keeps saying that Philip is keeping him too busy with… well… whatever the hell Philip does for a living." She pouted. "I really could use Raoul's company right now. He's good at cheering me up - I appreciate that in a guy."
Erik regarded her carefully, and grunted before returning to the couch. "Go to sleep, Little Giry."
Meg shook her head stubbornly. "Can't sleep. Still freaked out over my psycho stalker."
"Do you have a song that calms you? You could listen to it on repeat. It might help." Erik suggested.
Meg nodded. "'Over the Rainbow'. But my CDs are in one of the boxes I was too lazy to unpack. Haven't had a chance to listen to CDs since I got here anyway." She let out a soft sigh. "I'll just go lie down and stare at the ceiling - and try not to puke."
Saying nothing more, she headed into her room, keeping the door opened a crack.
Erik frowned when, after several minutes, he continued to hear the constant squeak of bedsprings, indicating Meg was have a great deal of trouble resting.
Perhaps there was another way to calm her…
Meg's Bedroom
Meg tossed and turned, desperately trying to sleep. The troubling thoughts in her head would not go away.
Someone had killed a classmate, and dedicated it to her.
"Oh god… oh god oh god…" she muttered to herself, feeling nauseous as her body began to shake. "Calm down, Meg… calm down," she chanted softly, trying to steady her breathing. "You'll be ok… he won't get near you. The guild won't let him… oh god…"
She curled up in the fetal position, hugging herself tightly. "Have to calm down… have to… have to…"
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high…
There's a land that I've heard of, once in a lullaby…
Meg gasped as she looked to the door, hearing a heavenly operatic tenor singing ever so gently.
She blinked. "I'm going crazy…." She turned on her side to stare at the wall.
Somewhere over the rainbow, Skies are blue…
And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true…
The voice was right beside her now. And as out-of-place as it sounded, she could not deny it was incredibly soothing.
If she had still been staring at the door, she would have seen a masked face staring through the small opening, pale lips moving effortlessly as the ethereal disembodied voice moved near her ear.
Some day I'll wish upon a star, and wake up where the clouds are far behind me…
Where troubles melt like lemon drops, way above the chimney tops…
That's where you'll find me…
Meg felt her eyelids grow heavy, almost as if an angel himself was singing to her.
Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow, why then, oh why can't I?
She was fast asleep before the song ended.
DeChagny Residence – Raoul's Bedroom (2 hours later)
At first, Raoul thought the white face hovering above him was another dream from Hell. He had been having far too many of those lately.
"You are a wretched recreant boy." A voice hissed as strong slender fingers grabbed at Raoul's tank top and pulled him into a sitting position. "Leaving Little Giry pining for you while you make up pathetic excuses to avoid her!"
Raoul shut his eyes tightly. "Go away… go away… a dream... only a dream…"
"THIS is not a dream, DeChagny!"
Raoul opened his eyes again, the vision growing clearer. The white face was actually a mask, with two golden orbs of fire where eyes should be.
"Get out of bed!" the mask demanded. "You are coming with ME!"
Raoul had heard that voice before… and it always seemed to sound perpetually pissed off.
It took a few moments before his mind put two and two together. "Erik!" he gasped as he now had a better view of the shadowy figure crouched in front of him.
"Do you know any other masked men who are skillful enough to break into a highly-secured mansion?" Erik snapped as he let go of Raoul. "Get dressed. Grab yourself some toiletries and a few changes of clothing. We are leaving."
Raoul let out a harsh laugh. "You really ARE crazy! I'm not going anywhere with you!"
Erik smirked coldly. "You need not be conscious for me to take you where you need to be."
Raoul frowned. "And where, exactly, do I need to be?"
"You need to be holding Little Giry's hand. The girl is scared out of her mind!"
Raoul refused to admit how intimidating the larger man looked at the moment. "Why is she so scared? Did she have the misfortune of seeing your face?"
Erik scowled beneath the mask. "You fancy yourself a comedian?"
"I'm not going!" Raoul answered. "I can't see her! I CAN'T!" he stressed. He looked away from the man before him, muttering quietly. "Money. They all want money. Or my name… no one cares. Just my name. Just my money. Want to be a DeChagny!"
Erik studied the boy as he rambled, noticing that he looked as if he hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a while and was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
"DeChagny…" Erik attempted to speak, but Raoul would not be silenced.
"Should have locked the money away! Should have hidden MYSELF away. Like you! I should have stayed in some basement." Raoul was shaking now. "They don't want me. They never want me. Always something else. Something tangible. Money. Power. Pretty things. Nice parties. Mom and Dad told me! They TOLD me Meg just wanted my name… she… she just wanted my name. She doesn't like me. She doesn't care about me. She's just like the others. Just like-"
Raoul's rant was interrupted by the hardness of Erik's fist, leaving the boy flat on the floor, his jaw throbbing. He looked up at the man hovering over him.
Erik's eyes were practically glowing, his patience and temper gone.
Grabbing Raoul's top again, he yanked the boy up, filling DeChagny's hazy vision with his exposed visage as he tore off his mask. "Do not bitch to me about your poor privileged pretty-boy existence!" he hissed. "And do not INSULT Little Giry! Especially when the girl's life is in danger!"
Raoul blinked quickly, the pain in his jaw and the hideous close-up of Erik's face snapping him out of whatever confusion he had been in. He quickly looked away from the unpleasant sight before him. "Meg's life is in danger?"
"Yes." Erik replied. Raoul could feel the man's eyes practically burning him. "She has gained an unwanted admirer who likes to dedicate his victims to her."
Raoul paled, still making a great effort not to look at the man before him. "You're serious, aren't you?" He need not have asked. "Shit… Meg…"
"I believe he has been watching her for a while now. During her nighttime practices." Erik explained as he let go of Raoul and slipped his mask back on.
"Oh god…" Raoul whispered. "I never should have let her practice alone! I meant to meet her every night, but…." He let the sentence trail.
"But what?" Erik asked, narrowing his eyes. "Why have you been avoiding the girl?"
Raoul shook his head. "Dreams. Nightmares. Told me to stay away. Started bringing up doubts, and questions, and-" He stopped, feeling like a complete villain.
"THAT is the reason?" Erik asked. "You have been running from Little Giry because you've been having bad dreams? You went on an insane rant minutes ago because of bad dreams?" Erik's voice was filled with disdain.
Raoul glared back at him, a frown on his handsome face. "You don't need to be an asshole! You have NO idea how real these dreams were! My dead parents… they kept haunting me! Telling me-"
"Telling you to stay away from Little Giry!" Erik finished for the boy, then let out a derisive laugh, further causing Raoul to question why Christine was attracted to such a cold-hearted bastard. "Really, DeChagny… I cannot imagine what would happen if you ever had to bear witness to MY nightmares!"
Meg and Christine's apartment
Christine walked out of her bedroom to see Nadir sitting on the couch Erik usually inhabited.
"Mr. Khan?" she began. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Ah, yes… Erik had some temporary business to tend to," he explained. "He should be back soon."
"Crazy! You're crazy!" A voice shouted behind Erik as the hunter burst through the door, a scowl on his masked face. "Were you trying to KILL us?"
"Stop whining, DeChagny!" Erik snapped in response.
"I hate bikers." Raoul muttered as he shut the door behind him.
"I am NOT a biker." Erik replied. "I simply find it a convenient form of transportation."
"Great! Wonderful! The NEXT time you feel like riding your bike through a bunch of trees, LET ME OFF FIRST!" Raoul answered.
"And what makes you think you will ever be ON it again!" Erik growled in response. "It was a SHORTCUT, DeChagny! Else we would have another twenty minutes ride! And personally, I could not stand you embracing me for much longer!"
"I was not EMBRACING you!" Raoul protested.
"HOLDING me, then?" Erik asked.
"What's all the noise?" Meg muttered as she came out of her room, silencing Raoul's rebuttal. She suddenly froze, eyes going wide when she saw the handsome blond man only a few feet away. "Raoul?" She quickly looked at herself, let out an embarrassed squeal, and ran back into her room.
"Well," Nadir finally spoke up. "She seems rather happy to see you." He smirked, then glanced over to see Christine had disappeared into her room as well. "Ah, women." He sighed.
Raoul went over to Meg's door and knocked softly, ignoring his argument with Erik for the moment. "Meg?" His voice was gentle. "I heard what happened. Are… are you ok?"
"Yeah… I'll be right out," she replied from the other side, then her voice grew quiet. "Raoul?"
"Yes, Meg?"
She was silent a moment, then spoke again, the emotion clear in her tone. "I … I'm really glad you're here."
END OF EPISODE 47