Chapter 17

"Very well, Erik." Nadir gave him a cursory glance before settling himself against one of the walls. "But would you please cease that incessant pacing, it tends to give the observer a headache."

"The pacing, Daroga or the lovely visage before you?" The scars pulled into a macabre smile.

"If you wish to be snide Erik, I have other things that I can be doing, certainly at a smaller risk to myself or those few friends that you claim."

"Ah the voice of wisdom speaks...but you are correct Nadir. I suppose my horrendous manners can be attributed to the small confines of this," here Erik paused to motion about the room. "but it is no excuse, especially when someone seems fool enough to attempt to save this carcass of mine."

Erik sat slowly, careful of the wounded shoulder, before continuing in a voice so soft that Nadir had to strain to hear. "Indeed...were it not for Christine I should be sorely tempted to let the gendarmes have their fun."

Nadir watched the conflicting emotions play over the marred face, letting the man in front of him attempt to deal with the wars raging within him. The desire for revenge...the temptation to charge out and kill all those who have wounded you...Erik will you never be given the chance to find some peace?

"So Daroga, explain this plan to me." Erik's green eyes held his unerringly, the depths of his angers and desires reflected plainly to Nadir.

Nadir sighed. "The entire Opera is still populated by desperate gendarmes, from the lake to the roof. Anyone entering or leaving is checked. The Vicompte is most endeavored to find you, dead or alive."

"This is not news to me Daroga."

"I am aware of that Erik. Have you heard of Alexandre Dumas?"

"The newspaper serialist? I prefer more serious works, Nadir, rather than that light drivel."

"I am not asking about your preferences in literature Erik, merely if you had heard of him before."

"Then the answer to that is yes, I have. Why?"

"What about his story Le comte de Monte Cristo?"

"Must everything now relate back to some bloody member of nobility?" Erik huffed impatiently. "What the hell does this have to do with..."

Nadir watched with a smug smile as the realization hit Erik.

"So the Living Corpse is going to exit the Opera as a dead one?"

"In a way."

"Explain."

"We have no dead bodies and even if we did the coffins would be searched. But an animal carcass, particularly one that is ripe shall we say, should be hurried out as quickly as possible. Once we get clear of the Opera then you will come to my home and we will wait for nightfall to get you out of Paris."

I am not leaving Paris without her. Erik kept the thought to himself and his face devoid of emotion. "It could work. Are we to sacrifice some poor animal for my freedom?"

"No. Madame informed me that one of the milch cows from the Opera stables has died overnight. With all the hysteria over the shooting no one has bothered with it. So if we are to do this, it must be quickly, and that is assuming you can use your passageways to get to the stables unseen."

"Of course I can."

Rising, Nadir continued. "Then we should prepare to move on as quickly as possible. I will go and inform Madame that you agree to the plan and then move to the stables. I will meet you in half an hour." He helped Erik to his feet. "Anything else?"

"Do you know where my mask is? Or perhaps some spare dressings?" Erik motioned to his face. "It may not bother you, Nadir but even escaping in a carcass I would prefer to..."

"I understand, but I do not know where Antoinette hid it. We will lose time if we wait for her to come back and find it." He handed Erik a roll of linen bandages. "It is perhaps your best bet for now."

Erik took the offered coverings without a word and began his work.

"Do you need any help? Or a ..." Nadir cut himself off quickly.

"Mirror? No thank you Daroga the day has been painful enough, and though I daresay it may get a trifle worse, looking at this is not a wound I wish to self inflict at this time. Now go on, I will meet you at the appointed time." He returned to his bandages as Nadir opened the hidden panel and ducked down.

The man had began closing the door before he was suddenly stopped by the call of his name from within. His dark head poked through the opening, a questioning look upon his face. "Yes Erik?"

The half covered face turned to his. "Thank you."

Though the door opened softly Raoul was on in his feet in an instant, pistol aimed towards the unknown intruder. The physician's face paled, his dark mustache a stark contrast as it twitched in nervousness.

"A thousand pardons good m'seiur." He held his hands up in appeasement. "I did not mean to startle you."

"Have you ever thought of knocking?" Raoul retorted as he relaxed his arm.

"I did knock m'seiur but you must have fallen asleep."

"Indeed. It has been a rather exhausting day." He ran his hand over his face in an effort to clear the fog of sleep from his person. "So what do you need?"

"I was going to look in on the patient and also inform you that the managers wondered if you could meet them in their office. The chief of the gendarmes has requested a meeting."

That roused his curiosity. "About?"

"I am afraid I am not privy to that information, sir. They simply asked me to convey the message since I was coming here anyway." Dr. Leroux walked in, leaving as wide a berth between the Viscount and himself as possible in the small room.

"May I suggest Monsieur le Vicompte, that after the meeting you retire to your home and get some rest. I don't believe Mademoiselle Daae will be able to travel for another two days minimum."

"You can suggest it, and I can damn well ignore it." Raoul stated as he donned his coat. "I am not leaving her alone in this building until that thing is on the end of a rope."

"Of course, M'seuir." The doctor replied as he placed his hand upon Christine's forehead. "If that is your decision."

"And I expect you to remain here until I return."

"There are guards posted sir."

"I don't give a damn about how many guards are here. There were guards posted all over the place and what happened?" He pushed aside the physician and caressed Christine's hairline. "This is what happened and I swear that thing will pay for what it has done. and until I return you are to stay here."

Deciding silence was the more prudent route, the physician simply nodded as Raoul made his exit and then turned back to his patient.

"And so mademoiselle, let us see how things are faring thus far." There was no response from the figure upon the cot. He made quick work of checking vital signs before carefully peeling back the dressing, only to be greeted by an angry red wound and the sickly sweet smell of infection.

"This is not good...not good at all."

"He is not going to like this Andre, not one damnable bit." Firmin swallowed the brandy in one large gulp.

"Well what the hell are we supposed to do about it? We are losing money every minute that rehearsals aren't resumed! The gendarmes said they found..."

"Found what gentlemen?" Raoul burst through the door with little decorum. "What is the progress?" He looked around the room. "Where is the chief? I was told that he was to update me on the hunt."

Eyes shifted nervously as the managers each tried to avoid being the one to explain the situation. Firmin motioned with his glass. "Have a seat Monsieur. May I offer you a brandy?"

In two steps Raoul snatched the glass from the man's hands. It shattered into a thousand fragments upon impact with the marble fireplace, before the irate Vicompte grabbed Firmin's collar. "I am not here to exchange pleasantries you bumbling fool! I am here to find out why that thing is not yet before me, and it upsets me greatly to be surrounded by complacent fools!"

"Please calm yourself, sir." Andre's short stature made his effort at disentangling the two larger men slightly ridiculous. "I assure you we are all on the same side here. Divisions will only weaken our efforts."

Raoul pushed the man away in a huff. "Efforts? I have seen greater efforts from prostitutes pretending pleasure on the ..."

"So..." Andre interrupted. "Shall we quit wasting time and update you on the Captain's report?"

"By all means." Raoul cast a sarcastic bow to the managers before taking the vacant chair.

"You are already well aware of the thoroughness of the gendarmes' search. The home of the Opera Ghost has been destroyed and no sign of him has been discovered since the...accident."

"Is that the term du jour? Accident? How can it be an accident when it is obvious what this thing had planned! Does Monsieur Piangi consider his near strangulation an accident?"

"I am sure he does not," Firmin interceded. "It was merely a poor choice of words. But since the gendarmes have not found any trace..."

"Do not vocalize what I think you are about to tell me, because I will not have it!"

"Monsieur, they have other duties, other posts in the city that they are required to return to."

"So the capture of a madman, a murderer, a blackmailer, and extortionist is the least of their concerns?"

"As the captain explained to us, if this person is still alive there is no where for him to go. His home is destroyed, and all of Paris is aware of the umm...distinctive features possessed by this man so he cannot hide."

Raoul stood slowly, a look of utter contempt upon his face. "Gentlemen, I can assure you that until that thing meets its end, I know exactly where he will try to go."

His steps were heavy as he walked to the door. "And I will burn in hell myself before I let it near my fiancee again. Good day gentlemen."

A/N- My humblest apologies...ducks from Punjab lasso. I have been blocked on this for so long, and finally the light at the end of the tunnel LOL. This will be updated at least once a week until its completion. Thanks for reading...your obedient servant.