That Face in the Mask

Chapter Nineteen: The Music of Her Life: Part One


A/N: Hello everybody. Okay, a few things before you begin reading:

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, hope you weren't left in too much suspense (or confusion)

This is the second to last chap, so enjoy it. I'm so sad, this story's almost fininshed and I loved every minute of writing it!

I am taking the liberty of using Bizet's Carmen in these final two chaps, since I need an opera for the Opus to put on and I liked some similar plot elements. I know it's an anarcharisim, since this fic takes place in 1871, and Carmen wasn't written until 1875, but i didn't think that would bother anyone too much.

And finially (of course) review and let me know of any grammer/spelling errors, OOC or dialogue issues.

Begin reading :)


Meg bit her bottom lip furiously as she stormed away from Cedric's murder site. She hoped Erik was happy now. He had gotten his way, once and for all. She tried to hold back the fresh flood of tears from running down her face as she recalled all her wonderful times spent with Cedric. They'd never again have those long, intellectual conversations, or fool around during rehearsals, or any of the other quirky, sweet things she had loved doing with her old friend. Even if she had refused his hand, they would have still been friends. It may have been a little strange at first, but she was sure the wounds would heal over time, and their friendship could go back to normal. Now that could never be. Erik had made sure of that.

She strode into the Opus Majestique, bustling with activity in preparation for the company's new production of Carmen tonight. Meg had been notified only yesterday that her hard work and practice had at last paid off when she'd been promoted to one of the main gypsy dancers, in almost every scene. But that hardly seemed to matter now. She was in a fog. She dreaded what she was about to do, but she couldn't avoid it. She would hear news of it sooner or later.

Mme. Giry knew instantly that something was wrong when Meg barged rudely into the directors office without even knocking. Normally, she would have instantly received a sharp scolding for her lack of manners towards her betters, but Mme. Giry was rendered speechless when she saw her daughter's red, tear streaked face and hollow voice as she asked to speak to her mother in private.

She was instantly concerned

"Meg, what is wrong? Are you well? Did something happen? Come, sit down and tell me"

She guided Meg to a nearby chair, where she sank down in a near state of shock

"Mother, it's horrible. I hate to have to tell you, but you'll hear of it sooner or later"

She glanced up at her mother's anxious face

"Cedric's dead"

She watched Mme. Giry's face slowly turn ashen and her hand clutch at her heart. She looked up at Meg

"You're certain?"

She nodded "I saw it with my own eyes. But that isn't the worst part"

Meg paused until her mother weakly motioned to continue

"He was murdered"

This news got her attention at once

"What! Meg Giry, this is ridiculous! Are you truly that delirious, or is this some childish joke you both are pulling?"

She shook her head desperately

"Mother, I swear. He was murdered. Punjabbed to be specific. By Erik"

Her mother looked at her straight in the eyes

"What? How do you know about that?"

"Mother, I have to confess. I can't keep it secret any longer. I've met Erik before. I know him, and I am, well, I was in love with him"

Her mother's eyes clouded over with foggy memories and stories of Erik's past she tried to clear while asking Meg

'How long have you known?"

"Ever since the fire and Don Juan. I led that mob down there, and I found his mask. That was when I met him, and I've been sneaking off to meet him in secret ever since. I've been lying and fooling everyone for all this time, especially myself. All those times I said I was out shopping or at the cafe or rehearsal, or even the tavern, I lied. I wasn't. I was with him, down in the basement of the ruined Opera House. We were great friends and started becoming...closer" she said, the pain evident in her voice

Her mother embraced her in a soft hug for a moment, stroking her hair.

"Meg, you've been through so much, and I haven't even realized that all this time- You became a woman, before my eyes. Oh dear, I wish you had told me sooner. But now, Meg, I really don't think there's anything I could do for you, and there isn't much I can advise you to help heal the pain. Nothing can ever really heal a broken heart, or loss, except time. And now you have to face both things at once, as I did when I was a bit older than you, when I lost your dear father. But Meg, I am proud of you"

Meg broke apart, looking at her mother's face

"Proud? Why would you be proud of me?" she asked, amazed "I lied, went behind your back, snuck off to meet a strange man, what is there to be proud of?"

Her mother gave her a rare smile

"Because you had the strength and the maturity you needed to realize and admit your mistakes. and to tell me. And that, Mon Cherie-"

She stopped, her voice choked with emotion

"That is what I am so proud of "


Mme. Giry watched her daughter slowly walk off to rehearsal. She had a harder time believing the news than Meg did.

Cedric was dead.

And he had been murdered by Erik

It was all to unimaginable to be true.

She couldn't really believe Cedric was dead. He was like a sturdy rock; occasionally worn down by wind or weather, but always there when Meg needed a friend or comfort, always there to be the awkward male peacemaker between the furious mother and daughter and an occasional advisor. Of course, he still had a few childish traits about him, but those disappeared quickly enough when he began courting Meg. The fact that her daughter was courting took her months to accept, and when she at last did, her courtier was dead. Murdered by Meg's lover.

Mme. Giry was stunned to learn what had occurred without her knowledge all this time. Meg had told her everything. Well, at least all she wanted to know. She couldn't believe that Erik, reclusive, eccentric, moody Erik, had actually fallen in love with her little girl and was spending all his time with her! She almost fainted when Meg told her of what they had done together, and that Meg had been dishonestly leading two men on at once. Well, at least she was finally being honest now.

She had an even harder time believing Erik had murdered Cedric. She, too, thought Erik had finally changed. She knew Meg was completely distraught right now, so maybe she wasn't being told the whole story, but the facts didn't agree. How did Erik know of Cedric? When, in that short time frame this morning, could he have possibly killed him? And she knew enough about Erik's foreign death methods to know that when someone died from a Punjab lasso, it never caused the victim to bleed. But Meg swore that there was blood everywhere. How could that be?

She didn't think anything else could shock her today.

She sat there until late hours until the night, eventually falling asleep. Only the noise and activity from down in the main lobby awoke her during the Opera's intermission. She realized with a start that she had been asleep for five hours, and now had missed the first act of the Opera. Cursing at no one in particular, she slowly stumbled into the main lobby, turning around the corner to backstage

When Mme. Giry thought that nothing else could shock her today, she was obviously wrong. Erik strode right by her, in a grand tuxedo, his mask in full view. She could almost feel her jaw dropping.

This was soon becoming too impossible to believe.

"Erik" she hissed

He didn't respond, just quickened his pace down the hall towards the dressing area

"Oh for the love of God" she muttered under her breath as she leaped up and raced after him. How long did she have to be his caretaker?

"Erik" she said, a bit too loudly, grabbing his coat sleeve when she finally caught up to him

"Annette! What the-"

"Just where do you think you are going? And why the hell are you here? With all these people? Are you that much of a fool? How could you-?"

"Do you ever give anyone else a chance to speak?" he interrupted coldly

She fell silent at his harsh tone of voice she seldom heard him use

"So, I see you're looking well" he said, referring to her messy, distorted hair and pale face

"Erik, this isn't funny at all. What are you doing here?"

"If you must know, Annette, I had to speak to...someone"

"Would that someone by any chance be my daughter?"

She stared at him. He felt a hot flush of shame creeping up his neck

Oh shit, how much does she know?

"Uh, Annette, how much did-"

"Everything. Every little bit of it Erik. Meg told me all about what's happened between you two. Including what happened last night"

Erik, momentarily forgetting his reasons for coming here, knew his face was beet red. He felt like he was going back in time to when he was thirteen and Annette was fifteen, and had slapped him after scolding him soundly for taking the glass mirror and mechanical gears out of her music box to use as an ingeniously designed instrument for spying on the ballet girl's dormitories during dress changes.

He hated the fact that she could still embarrass him now as she did then

"Erik, I don't even know where to begin! You lied to me, kept this from me, and it's about my own damn daughter. I don't know which one of you I should be more furious at, but be assured, I'm furious enough at both of you right now! And now you've killed a man, for God's sake. How could you do this again? Didn't' you learn your lesson before?"

"Oh, god, please don't tell me you're as bullheaded as your daughter. You honestly don't think I did this, do you?" he groaned

Her lips were set in a firm, straight line

"Yes, I do."

He sighed, grabbing hold of her arm and lead her towards his balcony seat as the entr'acte began .

"What do you think you're doing?" she whispered

"As of now, I'm your new escort for the rest of this evening, so just go along with it" he hissed in her ear, smiling nervously at another couple starring at them

She settled into the plush balcony seats as the theater dimmed, thoroughly confused by now

'Erik, I-"

"Annette, please, for once in your life, just be quiet and let me do the talking. There are a lot of things I need to explain to you and your daughter in a very little amount of time, and there's so much else you need to know. Now, settle down and let me explain"
Mme. Giry couldn't believe the whispered fragments of information she was receiving as the curtain went up. He was right.

There was so much more Meg needed to know before it was too late


He watched her from behind the mirror as she stumbled in to the dressing area, obviously exhausted. Don't worry Meg he thought It will all be over in time

He watched her throw on the black wig and drastic dark makeup she needed for the final act, and feasted his eyes on her gorgeous legs in her seductive fishnet stockings as she added more petticoats to her skimpy Gypsy dancer skirt. That much beauty in one woman should be outlawed. He smiled to himself as he knew in a few more moments, she'd be his. Forever.

He didn't blame her for all she'd done to him. He understood perfectly. And she would too. In time. But, he had to act now, or he'd lose her again.

Waiting until she was at the door, he thrust aside the mirror and swiftly came up behind her. He could feel the cold, steel blade pressed against his thigh. Just in case he would soon need it.

He grabbed her arms, pinning them behind her and covered her mouth with his large hand, muffling her weak screams. He forced her against his body, pressing her struggling arms against his chest and sliding his free hand around her waist as she dragged her up to the stage bridge with him out of sight from the audience.

Meg Giry had always loved the drama involved in the stage. But she never imagined the drama about to unfold before her would be real.