A/N: As always, thanks to my beta, Le Chat Noir.
Episode 50: Invasion
By: Elektra
Erik waited impatiently for Nadir to answer his phone. When it was finally picked up, it was not whom he wanted to speak to. "Madeline?"
"Erik! Hello, how are you?"
"Where is Nadir?"
"He's out at the moment. Do you want to leave a message? I heard about that poor girl he found."
Erik frowned. "You were not supposed to know anything about that. He should not have told you."
"Oh no, don't be angry with him. I was in the room when you called about the nasty gift Meg received, so he told me," Madeline replied. "I know you're trying hard to protect her. It makes me proud."
Erik let out a harsh laugh. "Proud? Oh, that means so very much to me, Madeline," he answered sarcastically.
She let out a sigh. "Why are you making things difficult between us, Erik? I'm trying here."
"Twenty-one years too late, Mother."
She was silent a moment, then spoke again. "Fine. I get it. Before you hang up though… I just… if you'll let me… want to give you some advice." She continued before he could protest: "As serious as you are about protecting Meg, don't neglect Christine. She has needs too."
"Yes, thank you, Madeline. I believe I had quite an education about a woman's needs when I was a child... or did you never notice me when you were conducting 'business'?"
"I... oh... " she stopped, and Erik received his answer in her silence.
"As I thought. Perhaps if you had spent one night sober, you WOULD have noticed me. Goodbye, Madeline! Tell Nadir I called." He quickly hung up, fuming at the situation.
Nadir was far too soft, letting that woman leech off him for so long. There could be no practical reason for it.
Erik was starting to wonder if there was something Nadir wasn't telling him.
Laramie Dr.
Adam paced back and forth across his bedroom nervously. "Oh Megan... what will I do?" he asked. "I need you as I've never needed anyone. Don't you understand? What has that boy done to you? Did he harm you? Did he force you from your friends and family?"
He stopped and turned to the chair a few feet away. "I will save you from him, my lovely swan. He could never make you happy. You and I will be blissful. I will show you things he never could. I could please your heart and body if you'll only give me a chance."
He knelt by the chair. "Please, Megan. Let me show you. Just say 'yes', and I will show you!"
The girl sitting gagged and bound before him could only cry.
Guest Wing – DeChagny Residence
Erik opened the door quietly and stepped inside the room. His eyes fell upon a sleeping Christine, curled up with one of Isis's kittens, Odin.
Erik recalled how unhappy DeChagny was that he had decided to bring his pets with, but really – what else could he do? He refused to abandon the poor things.
He knelt beside the bed and studied Christine's sleeping face. Odin lifted his head and let out a soft little mew, then yawned and lay his head on his paw, resuming his catnap.
"Lucky thing you are," Erik spoke to the cat softly as he stroked his little head. "What I would not give to be in your place at this moment."
"Erik?"
Erik turned away from the cat to see Christine's lovely blue eyes regarding him. "I did not mean to wake you, beloved. I just wanted to check on you."
"I haven't seen you all day." She pouted as she reached out to slide her fingers over the edge of his mask. "You were too busy with Giselle's class."
"More specifically, I was keeping on eye on Little Giry," he corrected lightly. "But once DeChagny came to pick her up, I watched your rehearsal from the flies. You are doing very well."
"It's so much work!" Christine replied, then smiled. "But thank you for pushing me into it. I love it, Erik. I never thought I could be good enough to be on stage… but the feeling I get when I'm up there…it's amazing! I can't wait until we open!"
"I will be there, lurking in Box 5 as usual," he replied.
Christine then glanced away, her voice growing soft. "What happens when school starts again?"
"Nothing. You stay with the company. No need to return to Ravelle," Erik replied.
"But… my dad… he wanted me to learn other stuff just in case…"
"The stage WILL work out for you."
"But if it doesn't-"
"If it doesn't, then you have ME," he replied as he took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I will take care of you. Always."
Christine shook her head. "I can't leech off other people all the time."
"You are no leech - but if there is something more practical you wish to learn, I can teach you many things."
"I wish I had your mind," she smiled.
"I would never wish my mind on anyone, angel. It is very dark in there." He made to stand but Christine quickly grasped his hand and looked up at him expectantly. He crouched beside her bed again and kissed her gently. "Good night, Christine."
"Goodnight, Erik."
Laramie Dr.
Adam held the girl in his arms as they lay in bed. "Isn't this nice, my little swan? Oh now… don't cry, Megan. I promised you I would wait until we were married. But I do love to hold you…"
The bound girl cried out and tried to pull away, but Adam only grasped her tighter as he brushed his lips against her cheek.
"Ahhh… so sweet," he sighed. "That was my first kiss, swan. Did you know that? I'm sure it must have been yours as well. You've been waiting for me all your life, haven't you? I know you have. You're pure and innocent. I promise I will keep you that way."
He kissed her cheek again and spooned closer. "Oh how I love you Megan. So very, very much."
Martine sighed as she stood on the other side of Adam's door. She heard the other girl's muffled cries and knew the poor thing was terrified.
Things were getting far out of hand. The girl was going to be missed, and the authorities would start looking for her. The last thing Martine wanted was for someone to find the child HERE.
She crossed her arms and frowned. There was only one thing to do – allow the girl to return home BEFORE anyone started searching.
Of course, there was only one person whom she could rely on to see the girl to safety, and it was neither Sytri nor Adam.
DeChagny Residence
Meg walked aimlessly through the DeChagny mansion. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong – something aside from the usual.
She hugged herself as she recalled her class earlier today. Someone was missing: A fellow classmate – Sara - that had not been seen all day. She had not called in sick, which would have been the appropriate thing to do if one was to miss a class.
Most thought she had simply quit, finding the life of a dancer too difficult. But after what had happened to Michelle, Meg wondered if there was more to it.
"Meg? What are you doing up?" Meg turned to see Raoul rubbing his eyes as he walked towards her.
"Can't sleep…" she muttered.
"That's been happening to a lot of us," Raoul replied with a crooked little smile.
Meg thought he looked absolutely precious, disheveled hair and all. She bit her lip and looked away. Would he freak out if she asked him for a hug right now? She could definitely use one.
"I'm sorry, Ray," she said instead.
"About what?" he asked, not minding her use of his nickname.
"About all this. It's my fault you haven't been sleeping. And I've put you in danger too."
Raoul let out a small laugh. "Last I checked, it was some crazy man that caused all this." He shrugged. "Well, the crazy man that ISN'T named Erik."
He was about to say more, but froze upon feeling a cold shiver down his back. He slowly turned around, only to see Erik himself glaring down at him with glowing yellow eyes. "Where the hell did YOU come from?" Raoul sputtered.
A smirk played across Erik's pale-white lips. "I'm everywhere, DeChagny."
Raoul took a step back. "You're one incredibly creepy bastard, you know that?"
Erik offered a mock bow. "Why thank you."
Without another word, Erik disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Meg and Raoul alone once again.
Erik stepped outside and went around the front of the mansion. The guards at the gate indicated a woman standing a few feet away. They had called Erik earlier and informed him there was someone outside waiting to see him. When they told him her description, he informed them not to let her in.
"My, quite the security you have here, Mr. Garner," Martine Robichaux began as Erik came up to her.
He frowned. "Why are you here and why shouldn't I kill you?"
She held her hands out helplessly. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I simply thought you should know something about Meg Giry's secret admirer. He's staying at Laramie Drive."
Erik studied her curiously. "How do you know this?"
"Because I'm currently a guest there. And I'm telling you because I'd rather not have the authorities beating down the door when they find out about the young lady Adam kidnapped." She met Erik's eyes. "And if you wish to confront your father, he will NOT be around when you come claim the lady."
"Why should I believe you?" he asked.
"Believe me or don't, Mr. Garner. But an innocent girl will die if you hesitate." Martine raised an eyebrow. "And I've a feeling you'd rather not have any more blood on your hands."
Erik watched Martine as she walked away, wondering why he wasn't going after her with his rope.
No matter. It seemed his rope was better saved for Adam instead.
Laramie Dr.
Following the tunnels beneath the large looming house, Erik carefully made his way into 66 Laramie Drive. He remembered the last time he had been here – and wished to forget just as easily. His angel had been locked down here with several other poor souls.
Not wanting to think of that any longer, he slowly made his way into the house proper .
True to Martine's word, Shay was no where to be found, but Erik knew the house was not empty. He walked along each floor and placed an ear to each door.
As he continued to search, he heard sobbing down the hall and slowly began to walk towards it. When he came to the door, he crouched down before it, pulled a small kit of tools out of his duster, and proceeded to pick the lock.
Upon entering the room, Erik was greeted with a wide pair of frightened green eyes. The girl, who not surprisingly bore a passing resemblance to Meg Giry, began to scream through the cloth in her mouth, desperately trying to break free from the ropes that tied her to the chair she was sitting on.
Erik swore under his breath and quickly went up to her. She tried to jump away, but the chair was unforgiving and ended up sending her to the floor.
"Shut up!" he snapped as he yanked the gag from her mouth.
He hated it when women screamed.
The girl quickly silenced herself as Erik reached for her wrist and tore the rope apart. He freed her legs and grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet. She stared up at him, terrified eyes rimmed with red.
Her legs were shaky beneath her, but Erik didn't have the time nor patience to let her recover. He quickly dragged her out of the room and down the hall.
"What is your name?" he demanded.
"Sara," she replied meekly.
Erik said nothing more, trying to understand Martine's motives. That woman was difficult to figure out.
"Um… are you… some kind of superhero?" Sara asked. "Like… hiding your secret identity and stuff?"
"Hardly," Erik muttered. He tugged out his cell phone and called Nadir, informing him of what had transpired.
No sooner had he hung up then he heard the voices down the hall. One he realized was Adam's, another was Martine's, and the third…
Father…
He quickly tugged Sara into another room and shut the door, leaving them both in darkness. "Oh God… he's back!" She gasped. "Oh God oh God oh-"
Erik slid a leather-clad palm over her mouth, his bared fingers clamping down against her cheek. "I believe I told you to SHUT UP," he whispered harshly. She let out a little whimper but silenced herself quickly. "Don't you dare start crying!" Erik warned as her tears slid over his fingertips.
He could feel her shaking and knew she was frightened, but he did not know the first thing about comforting her. Nor did he have the time to try as he heard Shay and Adam's voices down the hall and coming closer.
Sara stiffened against Erik, no doubt aware of whose voice it was echoing past the room.
"Father?" That was Adam. "Why are you stopping?" Erik saw the shadow of two feet beneath the crack at the bottom of the door.
Shay.
Erik couldn't help but wonder why Adam was calling him 'father.'
"I have a feeling we're not alone," Shay answered, his voice betraying that it was more than a simple feeling.
"Fools," Martine spoke up. "Who else would be here?"
"I don't know, Martine," Shay continued knowingly. "Who WOULD have come here? Surely no one knows I'm still around. Surely my SON doesn't know." Shay's voice was filled with accusation.
"Of course I know, father," Adam spoke. "Unless… you mean… HIM." He then grew angry. "Why must you always bring up my ungrateful older brother! WHY?"
Erik had never heard an adult male screech like a little child before.
He pushed away from the door and weighed his options. He could come out of the room and attack both men, but that would mean abandoning the girl and perhaps leaving her to their mercies should he fail.
I've a feeling you'd rather not have any more blood on your hands.
Martine's words came back to haunt him.
No, he did NOT want to have more blood on his hands. But while Erik knew he would have to soil himself with Adam's blood eventually, he could delay it long enough to see Sara to safety.
"I am going to let go of you, Sara," Erik whispered in her ear. "But if you want to live, you must remain silent and do what I tell you, else you will put BOTH of us at the mercy of the two men we just heard down the hall. I'm quite sure you don't want that."
Sara nodded in agreement, and Erik slowly removed his hand from her mouth. He pressed his ear against the door and waited.
"Maybe there IS no one here," Shay said finally, and Erik heard him move on.
He waited a few moments, then led the girl to the window on the other side of the room. He opened it and hoisted her up, as it was far too high for her to reach on her own. "Get out now. Don't let them see you."
The girl looked back at him worriedly, but he shooed her onward and she quickly slid through to the other side, dropping down to the ground.
Erik was about to follow until he heard footsteps return to the door again. "Erik?" came Shay's taunting voice. "I know you're in there. I can sense you, son…"
Shay chuckled. " Oh… you've managed to block me out when you're at a distance, but standing no more than a few feet from me, I can see into your tormented little mind."
Erik closed his eyes, trying to push Shay's presence away. "I give you credit, Erik. You snapped out of my control. That boy— Adam? He's not so bright. I had fun screwing with his head. He thinks I'm his father – and you're his brother! It has provided me no end of amusement."
Shay then grew serious. "Sadistic little bastard, though, isn't he? I imagine you helped his guest escape. Well, all for the best. She was useless to me anyway." He was silent a moment. "Speaking of girls …"
Erik felt his legs go out from under him as a sudden pressure filled his head, almost like a migraine.
Shay's voice pierced through the haze. "Oh now, isn't this interesting? It seems your little angel is not so angelic anymore. Excellent breaching of the maidenhead, my boy!" The creature's laugh was almost deafening. "Awww… but poor untouched Erik had no idea what to do. How very embarrassing for a man your age."
Erik put his hands up to his temples. "Go. Away," he hissed through clenched teeth.
Shay paid no heed. "But you DID learn quickly, the genius that you are. Why, she even started begging for more!"
"Stop!" Erik cried out as he squeezed his eyelids tighter. "You … are not allowed to ... see her! NOT like that! NEVER like that!"
"You are quite protective of her privacy, aren't you?" Shay chuckled. "What a considerate lover you are. And she certainly likes the extra special attention you give her."
"GET OUT!" Erik demanded as his intimate moments with Christine flashed like a slideshow before his eyes - memories that Shay was watching for his own perverse pleasure.
"Flexible little thing, isn't she?"
Erik let out a roar of anger and threw himself against the closed door as if it would strike down the monster standing on the other side of it. "You have… no… NO right! She… she's my… MY… angel! Mine! ONLYmine! You're not ALLOWED!"
The hellish creature let out a mock sigh, unaffected by Erik's frantic yelling. "Yes, yes, that naughty little angel certainly is all yours. And you never fail to please. I'm so very proud!"
"You bastard! You sick… sick bastard! How DARE you?" Erik bellowed as he fought against the crude violation of Christine's privacy. "Don't WATCH! Don't LOOK at her! You defile her with your intrusions!"
"Defile?" Shay asked. "You seemed to be the one defiling the girl. What a shameful perverted creature you are…" He chuckled then. "Just like your dear ol' dad."
"I am… nothing… NOTHING… like YOU!" Erik seethed.
"Oh, you are far more like me than you think!" Shay replied. "Do tell me, son – how loudly do you make her sing?"
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Erik screamed, using all his mental acumen to finally push Shay out.
Erik heard Shay's surprised shout from the other side of the door, followed by the sound of the creature falling to the floor with a painful cry. "How? How did you DO that! You… you half-breed bastard!"
"You VIOLATED my angel!" Erik roared. "I will KILL you for that!"
Erik was quite ready to open the door and deal with his father face to face - until he heard Adam and Martine quickly calling out for Shay, their footsteps thundering down the hall and growing closer.
Despite his burning anger, Erik was quite aware he was in no position to deal with all three of them at the same time.
He quickly leapt through the opened window to make his escape, and found himself colliding with a frightened Sara, who had yet to make her escape.
There was no time to question the girl's hesitation. Instead, Erik tossed Sara ungracefully over his shoulder and spirited them both from Laramie Drive as quickly as he could.
END OF EPISODE 50