That Face in the Mask
Chapter Fourteen: Warm Unspoken Secrets
A/N: Sorry for the slow update, I just got back from an exhausting trip in NYC.
First, thanks again to all the readers that reviewed (and did not flame, thank you again)last chap. My computer is STILL down and not letting me respond, but very big thank-yous to everyone who reviewed, it's very appreciated, believe me.
Second, I realize some readers probably weren't very happy with the last chap, but this is a Phantom of the Opera fanfic. Do you think there will be a happy ending without some plot twists and major surprises? No, how boring would that be? Meg's going through some very conflicting emotions in this story (as Christine did in POTO) and her heart's torn between two men she thinks she loves. If you prefer to hate foppy-likeCedric, go ahead, by all means, hate him and keep rooting for Erik. I just threw the love triangle thing in there to spice the story up.
Okay, please read and enjoy.
Disclaimer: I'm too exhausted to make up a witty disclaimer. Don't own it.
Erik sat with his head in his hands at his desk. He listened to the slow, rippling waves coming in from the lake, trying to steady his breathing and calm himself down. He felt the small sense of panic welling up inside him and fought to control it. It was okay. He was safe. For now, at least.
Ever since construction had begun to refurnish the Opera House, Erik had felt a tad bit uncomfortable and nervous. Hundreds of workmen stomped about for hours, hammering and pounding all over the place. He was constantly suffering from headaches, and the fact that he couldn't work on his music during the day because the workmen sometimes came underground and would hear him.But, that wasn't the worst of his problems.
A week ago, the workers were intent on clearing out some of the damages and wreckage in the orchestra pit. While they were down there, apparently two of them had found some of the tunnels leading to Erik's lair he had thought no one knew about, and decided to explore. Erik had barely had enough time to hide in the crawlspace beneath his pipe organ before the workmen had come stomping into his lair. He heard their gasps of disbelief and atonishing comments as they explored and ruffled through his things. The next day, they came back, bringing along some others with them. Barely a day passed now when those workers and others weren't down here disturbing his home. Erik was now becoming paranoid at the ever looming threat of discovery. They would discover him down there one day, he just knew it. He wouldn't be able to hide in time, or they'd catch him off guard and find him down here. He was becoming more paranoid by the day.
Thank god today was Sunday, and he could get some rest and maybe relax a bit.Or so he thought, before he heard one of the tunnel doors becoming unlatched. He was immediately moving behind his organ back to the secret door that led to his crawlspace. He got in, locked the door securely and put his head between his knees, trying to slow his racing heartbeat andfight off the panic attack he could feel coming on.
He heard whoever it was in his lair walking around a bit, in soft, gentle pattering footsteps, a sharp contrast to the heavy stomping of workmen's boots he'd become accoustumed to. The footsteps were now directly over his head for a brief second, before moving down off his organ platform and down the steps. His instantly felt his worries dissapate when he heard a warm, gentle voice call out softly
"Erik? Erik, are you here? I really need to speak to you"
It was Meg! Oh, thank god.
Meg nearly jumped out of her skin when she hearda muffled voice call out from below her
"Meg? Isthat you?"
She screamed for a brief second as Erik unlocked the door and crawled out of his hiding place below the organ. He stood up, letting his eyes adjust to the light and smoothed back his hair and brushed off his jacket and pants. He gave her a weak smile
"Surprise"
She swatted his arm "Erik, that wasn't funny! You nearly frightened me to death"
"You did too"
She looked at him clearly "How? You said I could come in anytime I wished to. Is there a problem with that?"
"There may be"
He gestured to his study, motioning to go in. She sat down in one of his plush, comfortable chairs and watched as he quietly shut the door and locked it. She began to feel a bit uneasy.
"Um, Erik? Is there anything wrong?"
He sighed, sinking down intoachair near her,burrying his head in his hands with a low moan. She was instantly alarmed
"Erik, are you feeling well? Are you sick? What's wrong?"
"Everything" he said. He looked up at her, and she could see dark circles under his eyes and how ghastly pale and sickly his skin looked.
"Meg, they're gonna find me here. I know they will eventually. I won't even be safe hiding anymore!" he exclaimed suddenly
She moved over closer to him, stroking his hair "Shhh, Erik, calm down. I don't understand what you're saying, you're so upset. Just calm down and start from the beginning"
He felt much less worried with her gentle, warm arms around him and her comforting, soft voice. He exhaled deeply and began
"Ever since that reconstruction began with the Opera House, there have been workmen all over the place, pounding and stomping around. Well, they've found their way down here, Meg. They found my lair, and they keep coming in here, every day, bringing more and more people with them each time they do. I barely get time toget out of sight before they're down here, and I know they're eventually going to discover me down here. I can't take this anymore!" he exclaimed, jumping up from the couch.
Meg was taken aback by his sudden outburst. This had to be gravely serious for him to be so upset.
"Erik, calm down and take a breath for a moment. No one will find you right now. It's Sunday, remember? They won't be working today. You're fine. It's-"
She stopped suddenly, looking at him shockingly. Her eyes looked glazed and she had become deathly pale.
"Meg, what's wrong? What's the matter?"
"I did this" she said in a low voice
"Did what?"
She looked straight up at him with hallow eyes "I led those people down here. AfterDon Juan and the chandilier crashed. I led that mob down here to you, led all those furious people that wanted revenge. There were some staff members and patrons and-"
"Stage hands. The same stage hands and workmen working on the construction now" he finished dully for her.
She nodded slowly as the realization hit her "They must have remembered how to get back down here, and now they're coming back to explore and steal after their work"
She looked at him for a moment, silent and possibly shocked, andthen burst into tears "Oh, Erik, I'm so sorry! I never meant to cause you this. You'll be found out and sent to prison and it will be all my fault. I'm so sorry, so sorry I'm causing you all this! Oh, what have I done?" she wailed
Erik felt the stern expression on his face fall into one of pity. She never meant any of this to happen, and she was so upset about it.He sank down onto the couch next to her, rubbing her arms and wiping the tears from her face
"Hey, Meg, shhhh, it's fine. I know you didn't mean for this too happen. It isn't all your fault. It's all right."
She looked up at him, fighting back a few more tears threatening to spill out from beneath her pale lashes "Really?"
"Really. It will be fine, I promise you. I probably just overreacted since I'm not used to having this many houseguests"
She giggled "Are you sure you'll be all right?"
"Oui, ma chere"
She smiled, laying her head on his broad shoulder, feeling his warm, strong arms closing in protectively around here. Oh, if only she could stay here with him like this forever. If only she didn't have to tell him about Cedric, though she knew she had to. She couldn't hide it from him . Still, her mother had been so pleased when she'd told her about courting, and she and Cedric had been the talk of the Opus all week. And, she had to admit, it made her feel special feelingthe enviouseyesof other girls upon her when Cedric arrived to escort her home or to work, or when they went out strolling about town in the evenings holding handsand saw the approving, pleased glances from passerbys and older couples. That was something she could never do in public with Erik. Still, it wasn't right to be courting Cedric and still leading Erik on so. Eventually, she'd have to make a desicion.
But, for now though, she had to tell him. She wouldn't be able to lie any longer, though she couldn't begin to predict his reaction. What if he was so angry at her he wouldn't wish to see her again? What if she broke his heart?What if he let his temper gain control of him and harmed Cedric out of spite? There was no telling what he'd do. She'd just have to tell him and hope he wouldn't overreact.
She reluctantly broke away from his warm embrace. Smoothing her hair back into place with trembling hands, she took a deep breath and turned to face him
"Erik, I have something to tell you, and it isn't easy"
"What is it?"
She let out a deep breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding "Well, I never meant for anything to progress this far. It's all so complicated and I-"
She stared at him in shock as he pressed his roughhand against her mouth, muffling her words. He motioned hastily to be silent and whispered horsely
" My dear, I think we have more unexpected company"
She had to resist an urge toroll her eyes. He truly was paranoid. Or so she though, until she heard a loud noise from the lake and a crash, and a male voice say
" Truly, Andre, you don't need to be so clumsey.Forget the ghost,the entire house will know we're down here. Now you've done it"
'Really, Firmin, I don't mean for things of this sort to happen. You wanted to explore this place after hoursmore than I did. I just got a little anxious and stumbled. You don't need to scold"
While the two managers were conversing, Erik had grabbed Meg's hands, pulling her off the couch and pushing her in front of him through a door hidden in the wall, and then down a long, darknarrow hallway. He turned around in front of her, still motioning to be silent, and took the lead, since Meg had no idea where she was going.Shewould screamed when he pulled her right through a cobweb and two rats scurried over their feet if he hadn't quickly covered hermouth with his hand again just in time.After they turned a few more corners and hallways, he whispered to her franctically in such a low voice she could scarceley hear him
"You see? That's the sort of thing that's always happening, and I couldn't let them find you, of all people down there with me."
"What will we do?"
"Well, I know I'll have to stay down there until I'm certain they're gone, and then check to see if they've stolen anything. You, my dear, can leave through the tunnel on your right, which after a few flights of stairs, will put you up in Box Five, and I assume you know where to go from there?"
She nodded
"Good. Then you must go. Quickly now" he said urging her along.
She stopped "Erik, no, I have to tell you something-"
"It will have to wait. We can't waste any more time.I can't risk anyone finding you down here with me, and besides, if I'm correct,I believeyour mother will be expecting you in a few minutes for evening services, will she not?"
She nodded sadly. He gestured for her to go, stealing a quick second to kiss her hand.
She looked back at him as she turned the corner to blow him a kiss. He returned it, and motioned impatiently for her to go. She did, turning to glance behind at his majesticfigure, his white mask nearly illuminated andgrowing smaller and smaller in the dim lightas she climbed the flights of stairs to Box Five.
Her chanceto confess to himhad been unfairly stolen, for now at least. She had to admit, she almost felt relieved, but dreaded having to put off confessing. It had to be done though. You got in this mess, and you have to get out of it Meg Giry she silently scolded herself. It's not doing anyone any good hurting two men you're found of and especially hurting yourself in the process.
Oh well. There was always her next visit to Erik tolook forward to, or dread. She recalled the lyrics to that passionatelove song Erik had written in his opera all those months ago. The melody was faint, and she couldn't quite remember all the lyrics, but she recalled something about warm, unspoken secrets. She wondered if Erik realized howhis lyricsperfectly described her situation now.
Well, this secret would have to be spoken. And Meg dreaded having to tell it...
