A/N- I know y'all want to know what's up with Erik, but I have to include some plot development in the other areas as well. (Begs patience from faithful readers.) I want to do my best with his character and my muse is being stubborn in that area, so for the moment here is what's happening in the rest of the Opera House.

Chapter 10

The atmosphere in the manager's office was comparable to London's worst fog. Both of the Opera Populaire's managers were at a loss for ideas to remedy the latest catastrophe upon them. Contemplation took different forms for the two men. Andre impatiently chewed through his fourth cigar while watching Firmin pace the length of the room from desk to door for the hundredth time.

"What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?" Firmin stopped pacing for a moment in front of the window. This madness made it almost tempting to take a leap. "It's been less than a year and we're ready to go bottoms up. By the time the papers crucify us later this morning…." He shuddered at the thoughts running through his head.

Andre regarded his business partner. "Well this was your idea if you remember."

"Excuse me?"

" I believe the reasoning was, and I paraphrase from the exact quote, was that since there was no more money to be had in junk, let's at least do something where there are women involved. Well your wish was granted, mon ami."

" I don't believe you protested the idea, mon ami, particularly after the Vicomte's patronage was assured. As for women involved, it certainly has not been me wining, dining, and bedding the majority of the ballet corps."

"Hah!" Andre threw the stump of the chewed cigar into the receptacle beside his desk. Grabbing fresh cigars from the box, he strode over to Firmin. "Those were business engagements as you are well aware of. Someone had to take care of managing the personnel of this place."

"That's a new term for it." Firmin remarked sarcastically as he turned to resume his pacing. Snatching one of the cigars from the shorter man he was about to continue on his tirade when a knock interrupted.

"Pardonnez-moi, messieurs, but this," the errand boy poked his head in the door and motioned to the letter he carried. "was to be delivered to you immediately." He came into the room and handed the missive over to Firmin. "There is no need to reply. Bon nuit, messieurs." With a short bow he turned and was quickly gone. Firmin quickly turned the letter over to view the seal.

"Not another note from O.G.!" Andre shoved the remaining cigar in his mouth and began to chew vigorously.

The absence of the red wax skull allowed Firmin to release the breath he didn't realize he had been holding. He opened the letter and quickly scanned the contents.

"No, Andre this is not from O.G. However," that word brought the bushy eyebrows of his partner up. "since this matter involves your area of opera personnel maybe you should handle it." He tossed the letter onto the desk.

Andre's face turned a shade paler as he read.

Messieurs Andre and Firmin,

This letter is to inform you that I resign from the Opera Populaire as of tonight. I refuse to work in such a dangerous and unstable place. Two bigger idiots I have never known. My sweet Fifi could manage the place better. I will be departing for Rome in five days, and I expect the remainder of my contracted salary to be paid before then. Considering the chain of events leading to my resignation, I am sure you gentlemen will find that reasonable compensation for my willing silence to the news reporters.

Ciao,

Signora Carlotta Giudicelli

"Can't wine and dine out of this one, eh Andre?" Firmin's reply was muffled by the presence of the cigar.

"Oh shut up you pompous ass! This is as much your problem- partner, as it is mine. If we don't pay this demented diva you will have more than enough of your blessed publicity. But the take will not be vast for us, I can guarantee that. And for God's sake stand still when someone is speaking to you!"

Firmin obliged by promptly sitting on the edge of the desk. "How is that, oh wise one? So...what is your grand plan for getting out of this disaster?"

"Well our patron didn't think much of compensation for the injured, I can imagine how he would respond to the idea of paying off the ex-diva."

"Certainly. So what do you recommend?"

"Blackmail, what else?"

"You think that a wise thing to try, my dear managers?" Raoul's voice was as icy as his entrance was silent. Andre, startled at the presence of the Vicomte, stuttered to cover his tracks.

" No, no monsieur we , I mean I …" Andre took a breath to compose himself. "I was simply trying to devise a way to keep Carlotta quiet. If she is looking for a new position it would be very easy to let word escape on how difficult she is to work with."

Raoul smirked as he took a seat in the leather chair opposite the desk. "I am sure that is precisely what you had in mind. However, I am in here on a much more important matter."

Firmin interrupted. "Excuse me, monsieur but may we inquire after Mlle. Daae's condition?"

"That is one of the things of which I need to inform you. Mlle. Daae just had to be sedated due to some kind of episode. The physician advises against her being moved at the moment. A guard has been posted, but gentlemen…." He paused to look at both men directly. "I am deeply concerned for her safety while that thing is still loose. Has there been any word?"

"As of yet the gendarmes have found nothing on the upper levels or the main auditorium level." Firmin shrugged. "The men searching the lower levels have not yet reported. I am afraid it will take some time."

"I meant what I said earlier, messieurs. Take all the time you wish, but you will not get a single franc of sponsorship from my family again until that thing is caught and dead."

"But Monsieur le Vicomte, how do we know if he is even in the Opera still?" Andre's evening seemed to be headed from bad to worse as he helped himself to another cigar.

"Such a thing would only head to the depths of the hell that spawned it. Where else could he hide?"

A breathless soldier burst into the office. "Messieurs we have found a dwelling of sorts in the fifth cellar, beyond the lake."

Raoul jumped up. "Take me there immediately."

As the two men exited Andre looked at Firmin incredulously. "We have a lake?"

A/N- Thanks to those wonderful reviewers- aka starnat, gondoriangurl, orpheliarose, LostSchizophrenic,WildPixieChild16, and sbkar. Hands out cookies to all of you!