Chapter Ten
DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple
"Meg, where is Karen?" Madam Giry asked after she saw Karen was not in her bed. Meg sat up and remembered what Karen wanted people to know.
"She's with Raphael. She said they were going to try and work out what had happened 13 years ago." Meg hated lying to her mother; but she was Karen's best friend; so she did what she was asked.
"Do you know where they went?" Meg shook her head. "OK. Goodnight Meg."
"Goodnight Mom."
Karen sat up with him; stroking his hair. His mask sat on the end table; and Karen sat on the side of his bed. He sat up while she sat beside him; and soon; he asked when she'd have to return.
"I'm not sure." She answered. "with any luck no one has noticed I'm not there. But if they did; then Meg said I was with Raphael, if I stay out all night; they'll begin to think he and I are getting back together; but if I do go back and no one has noticed; I'd have left for nothing." She rested her hand on his shoulder and leaned on him.
"We better take you back. So no one will think that you and Raphael are getting back together." Karen nodded and stood up. Erik grabbed his mask; put it back on his face; then escorted her to the boat and back to the mirror. Before she left; she hugged him; and said she'd be back when she could.
"I need to ask you something first." Erik stopped her. "Why did you come back?"
"I didn't want you to be mad. It's a good thing I did too. I wanted to tell you it wasn't such a big deal; it's not as bad as people say." She gave him a quick smile before leaving. He stood there long after she was gone; watching her through the one-way mirror. After she vanished behind the door; he returned home; unsure of what to make of what she said.
Meg and Karen went to ballet practice the next morning; Karen was tired; due to her lack of sleep. But she kept dancing. She just rembered that after practice; she'd meet up with Erik again; and she was thinking of introducing him to Meg and Iris soon. The two other most important people in her life. But as practice came to an end; and she started to leave for the mirror; Madam Giry kept her behind.
"Yes Madam Giry?" Karen asked. Madam Giry waited until everyone except Karen and herself had left the theater before continuing.
"You know of Erik don't you child? The Opera ghost." Karen was hesitant; but then nodded. "I want you to stay away from him. He has a thirst for blood."
"Madam Giry. Erik isn't bad. He's just- he's just been through a lot. He hasn't had anyone to talk to for so long; and I think he's just lonely." Karen protested; wanting to leave and see Erik again.
"Trust me I know more than anyone.If you can't give him what he wants; he'll lose his temper and kill." Karen was shaking her head when Madam Giry finished.
"No. No I know better; Erik wouldn't ever hurt me. Besides; it was Christine's fault."Madam Giry growled and forbade her from ever seeing him again. "I'm 22 years old. I'm old enough to be able to make my own decisions. You might not think there is any good in him; but I do. I know I can find the man behind the face." Karen stormed off; still angry about Madam Giry treating her like a child.
But as she reached Christine's old dressing room with the one-way mirror; she found the door to be locked. Madam Giry stood there with the key.
"I may not be able to control you; but I can prevent you from being able to see him."
"Why is this so important to you Madam Giry? Erik isn't a bad guy."
"I'm protecting you." Karen crossed her arms and pouted like a child; and when Madam Giry left; she smirked. That wasn't the only way in. It was just the only safe way in. She went after Meg and Iris; telling them she wanted them to meet someone.
They walked down the long spiral staircase; and Karen watched for the trap door she fell through the last time. Meg carried Iris on her back; and followed Karen to where she was leading them. Soon; Karen missed the trap door and they went plummeting down. That however; was part of Karen's plan. She did as she did last time; Keeping Meg and Iris near; she got all three of them out and on the right track to Erik's laire.
Erik had returned to his laire after Karen didn't come; and he was sitting at the organ when she called his name. He turned and saw she had brought two other people with her. He said hello to her; but he did not say anything to the others.
"This is Meg Giry; and my sister Iris." Karen introduced them to him. Erik nodded twords him; showing that he knew they were there. Meg whispered to Karen.
"You were right. He is handsome." Meg looked at Erik and smiled. "I've heard so much about you. You taught Karen magic didn't you? The magic to join two pictures."
"It isn't Magic." Erik said for what seemed the billionth time. "It's optics."
"Well. It's still amazing." Erik rose from his organ bench and asked to speak to Karen privately.
"You two make yourselves at home. Karen; a word please?" Karen nodded and left Meg and Iris to look around at the lair. Erik took her into the bedroom and gave her a cross look. "Why did you bring them? Did I not tell you not to tell anyone? I thought you cared about my well-being." Karen grabbed his hands and held them.
"Erik I do. Meg is my very best friend; we can trust her. Iris too.Meg wouldn't tell anyone; not even if they bound and gagged her in a pit of fire snakes. I told her because she is the most trustworthy person I know."
"What were you thinking?" Erik asked. Karen smiled and slid her hands off of his.
"I was thinking that I want the three most important people in the world to me to meet eachother.Erik; you needn't worry about anything. Meg and Iris can be trusted; they have been wanting to meet you for some time."
"How do you know they can be trusted?"
"Meg knows every single thing about me. She knows when I'm really sick or when I'm faking it to go sneak into the phantom of the Opera's lair and steal a skull. She's known you were here since I did.Erik. Just trust me." Erik looked at her strangely for a moment; and then nodded. Karen smiled and walked with him back out to where Meg and Iris were. Meg was looking through his paintings while Iris was tapping some keys on the organ.
"Your some painter." Meg commented. "These are all very good."
"I've had a lot of free time." Erik replied. Karen smiled at him; a smile that said 'thank you, for being nice to my sister and friend'. "Back there are a few sculptures too." Meg rose and followed his finger to where the sculptures were. Iris got off the bench and asked him to play. He nodded and started playing.
