A/N- Now I have to thank folks who pushed me over fifty reviews. (Ok, I know that is small compared to the thousands that An Eternity of This and Demons receive- btw read those excellent pieces - ) but this ol' Southern girl is happy, happy, happy. So here are the thanks to those:
Lilymunster- a tempting idea, see note below.
Starnat-More cookies to you o faithful reviewer
Clayphan16-You aren't the only one dreaming up those ideas! I hope he drowns each time I see the movie.
Elizabeth-Thank you
Skbar-Thanks for being patient…munching cookies helps a little huh?
LostSchizophrenic- Thank you. Typing as fast as my brain and life will allow.
Soofija-You are welcome…thanks for reading my drabble!
And a super huge thank you to spikesbint, who is brave enough to beta this for me. If you haven't read her version of Past the Point of No Return I suggest you do so immediately!
Now several of you are wishing, hoping, and waiting for something to happen to our beloved fop. Be patient, I am no fan of Monsieur le Vicomte, but he serves a necessity at this point. Plus I promise that there will be Erik aplenty in the next chapter (he owns Chapter 12) And on we go….
Chapter 11-
Raoul followed the man back down the main corridor, pausing only to take a pistol from one of the stationed guards.
"What have your men found?"
"There is a portcullis cutting off a section of the lake in the fifth cellar. Four men found it, two remained while the other pair returned above to get the word out and gather some reinforcements."
"Just a moment" Stopping at Christine's room, he looked in, and was slightly surprised to see Meg sitting beside the bed. "Any change Doctor?"
"None monsieur, she has been resting quietly since Mademoiselle Giry arrived."
"Of course." Raoul sent a calculating look at Meg. "I am sure that the mademoiselle has other things to attend to since Christine obviously needs her rest." He looked back at the physician. "I am sure you would agree on that."
Meg took the less than subtle hint, and rose to leave. "Thank you doctor, for letting me check on my friend. I will see her again when she is more…" she looked directly at Raoul. "rested."
"Bonsoir, mademoiselle. I am sure she knew you were here." The kindly doctor patted Meg's arm as he opened the door for her.
"Pardonnez-moi." Meg was curious as to the reason ten gendarmes were now outside the dressing room door. "I would think one posted guard would be enough." She stated this to no one in particular.
The men parted to make way for her to pass. One gendarme, having apparently overheard Meg's comment, decided to answer. "We're not the posted guards' mam'selle."
"Oh. So this is what….the most popular gathering place?"
"No, mademoiselle. We are waiting on the Vicomte to join us." He grinned almost sadistically. "We're the hunting party. We've found the monster's home."
Meg shivered at his words, and headed back to her mother's quarters.
Back inside the dressing room, Raoul kissed Christine's forehead. "I will return soon my love and when I get back, we'll be able to put this all behind us. I promise." He stood and turned to the doctor. "Make sure she remains undisturbed. I will return as soon as we have that thing." He opened the door and joined the group of men. Finding the officer that had originally notified him, Raoul nodded curtly. "Let the hunt begin. Lead the way."
Meg very nearly crashed into Nadir as she rounded the last corner to her mother's rooms. "Monsieur are you leaving? What about .."
He cut her off as he looked around the hallway. "Keep quiet child. Your mother is still in there. I have to take care of an errand of sorts."
"Be careful monsieur, for if your errand carries you underground, you are likely to have company." Meg looked down the hall before whispering, "They have found his home."
"Thank you for the warning, now I must truly hurry on. Go to your mother, tell her what you know and she will explain the rest to you." Nadir quickly continued on his way.
Knowing the secret her mother was harboring, Meg knocked softly so as not to startle her. An exhausted looking Antoinette Giry met her daughter's eyes when she opened the door.
"Come in and rest, little love."
"I can't, Maman." Meg scooted into the room and began wringing her hands nervously. Her mother locked the door back before turning to listen to her daughter. "I must tell you what I heard. The gendarmes have found the house by the lake. They are headed down there now, with the Vicomte in the lead. Oh, Maman, he is so angry, he will destroy everything."
"Things can be replaced child, lives cannot." Madame Giry hugged her daughter close. "Now how is Christine?"
Meg relayed a report of the fit Christine had suffered, that the cause was still unknown and how the doctor had to sedate her again. "She looks awful, Maman. Her neck is swollen so, and the doctor said it might cut off her air if…." Unable to finish the thought, Meg burst into tears on her mother's shoulder.
"Shh my child. Calm yourself."
"But the Vicomte won't let me visit again, she's like my sister, Maman."
"And Christine certainly wouldn't want you in this state." Madame Giry handed her daughter a kerchief. "You don't have to be by her side for prayer to help. We will do all we can, for them both."
Meg wiped her eyes and nose. "How is he?"
"Still asleep since he spoke to Nadir, and he wasn't sure then if Erik was aware of what he was saying or not."
"Monsieur Nadir said something of a plan."
"I would rather that you stay unaware of the details, ma petite. If something should go wrong, it will be better for you to truly not have an idea of what was planned." Madame Giry rechecked the locked door before going over to the hidden panel. "Lie down and rest awhile Meg. I must check on Erik. But remember Meg," she paused as she slid the panel open. "Do not open the door for anyone without alerting me first."
Meg wearily sat on the bed, its lumpy surface never feeling as good as it had that moment. "Yes Maman." Her eyes were closed before her head fully lay upon the pillow.
Mother regarded daughter for a quiet moment before turning to enter the secret room, the panel closing noiselessly behind her.
The group of men carefully picked their way into the cellars below the Opera Populaire. Even with the torches they carried, the darkness seemed to engulf them. Footsteps echoed and the slightest whisper seemed as a shout. The younger men in the group attempted to bolster one another through promises of what they would do to torture the infamous opera ghost once he was captured.
"You fools will never get close." The lead man stopped. "A deaf man would hear you coming. Now stay quiet and let us keep going. There are another two levels to go down."
With that chastisement complete, the group returned to their steady pace. Continuing down the passageway to the next stairwell proved to be a simple enough task to Raoul. He allowed his mind to roam over the tempting thoughts of what torture he would find suitable for such a devil. Christine obviously hadn't been in her right mind on that stage tonight. I don't know what influence you have, you devil, but you won't get to use it on her again.
"What is that?" The harsh whisper jarred Raoul from his thoughts. Up ahead, in the darkness a small light was floating towards them. Joining the light was a continuous, high-pitched noise that increased in volume as the light moved upon them.
"Get your weapons ready. Move against the wall. Ready…." The commands peppered out.
"Put out your lights…" a hoarse voice moaned about the increased skittering sounds. "Let me pass."
"Stop where you are!" The commanding officer ordered.
"Let me pass."
"I tell you stop!"
"I am the.." the sentence remained incomplete as the echo of gunfire resounded in the corridor. The previously floating light fell to the floor, illuminating the dozens of rodents before the man fell on top of them. Scurrying in panic, the rats ran to the next visible light source. The rodents assailed the gendarmes as they climbed up their boots and pants, biting in their panic.
"You shot the damned rat catcher!" Raoul kicked another pair of rats. "Damned fools!"
The next several minutes continued in the same manner until the remaining rats had fled past the men. One gendarme went to the body. Turning it over, he regarded the filthy man. "It's not the one we're after sir."
"Then let's get moving."
The group resumed their original formation and began anew, starting down the last stairwell.
"After all that noise we should have just sent a card announcing our arrival." Raoul remarked irritably.
"If the man had followed orders, it wouldn't have been a problem. Besides, Monsieur," the officer said smugly. "If he is in that area, he won't have gotten past the stationed guards."
"Yes, yes, your men have shown remarkable aptitude so far." The lead man stopped suddenly and Raoul ran into him. "What now?"
"Sir, we are here."
The stairs ended into a pool of murky water. The leader stepped into the water gingerly, but immediately fell in waist high.
"I thought you had left men stationed here?"
The Vicomte hated the thought of ruining his new shoes, but stepped in anyway.
"They are at the end where the portcullis was found. I hope they have found a way to open it by now."
The men waded single file through the foul water, arms at the ready. Finally reaching the aforementioned gate and guards, Raoul pushed through.
"Is there a way in?"
"We have not been able to access any area past the portcullis sir." The guard nodded to his officer. "With more men here now sir perhaps we can lift it."
"I see no other option." With that simple statement the men lined up along the gate. Reaching under the water they heaved together in an effort to raise the gate. It creaked loudly under the strain, but did not yield. Several more attempts proved to be as futile as the first.
"There has to be some way…" Raoul muttered half to himself. Turning to the men he ordered, "Check the walls, see if there is some other means to open it."
Each of them ran their hands carefully along the stone walls. Several minutes of ineffectual searching ensued.
"Sir!" one of the men called to the lead officer. "I think there is something here."
He motioned for them to bring another torch as he placed his hands to the left of the gate.
"It was right…here…where did it go? Aha!" He smiled as his hands came back in contact with the small lever. "Here sir."
The torches barely illuminated the device, which was the same shade as the stone wall. "Well let us see if it does anything."
The officer flipped the switch and was gratified to see the portcullis begin to rise. None of the men spoke as the chamber beyond came into view. Raoul began to dash forward, but was held back.
"No, Monsieur le Vicomte. The men will search for the wanted party and secure the area first. Please wait here with Pierre." He motioned to one of the original portcullis guards. Raoul nodded curtly as the other men came forward and followed the directives given by their commander.
It seemed to Raoul that he had been waiting for an eternity by the time the captain returned.
"Monsieur, I am sorry to report that after a thorough search there was no sign of the opera ghost." At the clenching of the Vicomte's jaw, he hurriedly continued. "There are some things, related to your…um fiancée…that you may want to see."
Raoul followed the man up out of the water and into the main chamber. Taking one of the offered torches, he walked carefully up the few stone steps. He saw the other men regarding him oddly, and felt his unease grow. "Well what is it?"
"This way Monsieur." The gendarme's voice had a peculiar tone. "Past the entry."
The next room, illuminated from the candles lit by the men, stopped Raoul cold. His jaw dropped as he saw hundreds of images of his Christine everywhere.