Opera Ghost
Chapter Twenty-Six

Jessalyn circled around Claudine's chair, letting her see her face. "Ssshhh. It's only me," she told her, and was relived to see the panic on her face fade.

"Oh God, I'm so happy to see you!" she exclaimed. She turned to the wall and shouted, "It's only Jess!"

"Well thank God for that," a voice called back, followed by the sound of more voices.

"Dan, is that you?" Jess asked.

"Yeah, Tony and I fell into the torture chamber and…" he started.

"Whatever. I need you to be quiet. Okay?" she instructed. She bent behind Claudine's chair and fumbled for her multi-tool, which she had stored in the cargo part of her pants.

"Oh, but how did you get in?" Dan inquired in a whisper.

"Well Tony you remember that hole you found in the bottom of the lake? Its leads to a passageway. If you're quick enough, you can unlock the mechanics, slip in and close the opening before too much water gets in. Then I followed the flooded passage up to another gate, and I ended up in the wine cellar, right under Erik's house," she explained.

"Erik?" Claudine asked.

"You mean it was that easy to open up the gate and get inside the passageway?" Dan called from inside the torture chamber.

Jess ignored her, her wet fingers having difficulty opening her multi-tool to pull out the blade. "Surprisingly yes. I mean who would look of a hidden passage that would be also underwater?"

"Wow, so that's how he was able to flood the torture chamber and the gun powder in the cellars like Leroux described," Dan murmured.

"Dan, please be quiet," Jess told him again. She finally managed to pull out her blade and moved to cut the ropes that held Claudine in place. She started carving away at them, the knife shaking in her hand. Freeing Claudine was one thing, but now rescuing Dan and the others from the torture chamber was another. The cord finally snapped in half under her blade and Claudine immediately stood up and shoved the chair over on its side. She turned to face Jess and then she got a good look at her, still covered in blood. Even the dark water of the lake had failed to wash all of it from her skin and clothes.

"God, who did this to you?" she asked.

Jess lowered her head, speechless.

"So mademoiselle, how does it feel to be a murderer and hunted down as one?" Erik's cold voice stabbed at her. She turned around to see he had entered his home undetected. She backpedaled and grabbed Claudine, shielding the other woman with her own body.

"I didn't kill anyone. You're a liar," she spat at him. Erik seemed unfazed as he looked at her, removing his long velvet cape and letting it drop to the floor. She felt Claudine clutch harder at her hand in fear.

"I see that time has changed you, Christine, and that we are now truly…equals," he intoned. Jess still had her blade out. Erik smiled in triumph and then turned his back on her, but it was all she needed.

"Never!" She ran and jumped at his back. She knew Erik would not hurt or kill her, but if she was reckless, she could draw all his focus to her. Of course she was uncertain if Erik had anticipated her actions.

She got her answer quickly. Erik swiftly grabbed her, overpowering her efforts. He managed to grip her by her shirt and her pant legs, flipping her over his head, and not so gently letting her fall to the ground. Jess felt and heard several hard cracks against her back and arms as she landed and within seconds Erik had her pinned. His thin fingers wrapped around her wrists like shackles, but he knew she was strong enough to withstand it. From Claudine's point of view it looked like Erik meant to kill her for striking him, but from under Erik's gloating face, Jess knew it was nothing but a display.

Erik smiled. "I rest my case"

"Please, don't hurt her!" Claudine pleaded.

"Let her go, you monster!" called another muffled voice. Jessalyn's heart sank. Daniel, no. Erik's smile grew even larger under the line of his mask.

"Ah. I see that there is much more here than what can be seen." Erik looked over at the wall were Daniel's voice had come from. He kept Jess's right wrist in an iron grip as he dragged her over. Claudine had dropped to her knees and cowered as they passed. Her innocent eyes were dazed and her posture wretched at being unable to help Jess or escape herself. After a few seconds of locking gazes, Jess turned away from Claudine. Erik depressed a mechanism hidden in the wall, so fast Jess could barely see where it was. There was a click and a sizzle, and the wall seemed to illuminate itself. The bright light and the heat from inside the torture chamber was so intense she could see the shapes of the people inside, three figures crouching in pain and shock at the sudden change of atmosphere.

Jess couldn't stop her reaction as she brought her hands up to her mouth in dismay and murmured, "No."

"Ah, my dear this is a record," Erik gloated, now sounding quite mad. "Three rats caught in my trap. Were you trying to hide them from me, my dear?"

Jess shook her head, trying to wrench herself free of his grip. "I didn't know that they were all there." She looked back at Claudine who was weeping.

"Ah, but you are lying to me. I can tell. I told you many times Christine; you are not very good at lying." Erik started to pull her away from the wall. She could still see the figures inside.

"What does it matter Erik?" Jessalyn challenged desperately. "I'll do what ever you say just let them go. They have nothing to do with this," she pleaded.

"I'm afraid it's not that simple, my sweet Christine. They are guilty of trespassing…" He turned to Claudine and hissed, "And conspiracy. They are too dangerous to keep around here, for much longer." Jessalyn looked up at him. His hair was thin and matted, but not from the lake water like hers, but because of sweat and pure rage. His eyes behind the black mask appeared to glow red now, like the blood he had spilled. She shuddered, seeing even Erik's finger's quiver in his grip as she did.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked.

He smiled sinisterly. "Well I suppose I shall have to show you." He then dragged her with twice as much force as he had before. She could feel her hand start to bruise, and knew Erik no longer cared if he was hurting her, as his tender compassion of before slipped further into insanity.

It had not been the first time Erik had done this.

He managed to haul her into Christine's bedroom, promptly throwing her against the bed. Erik knew that she did not posses Christine's frail body, and she could withstand his cruelness. The real Christine would have fainted by now or given in. Jess was not so quick to give up, usually, but now her friends were in mortal danger and she now had to face a madman, unarmed. Erik angrily charged at the large wooden closet flinging it open, the doors slamming against the walls. The dresses that Jess had discovered in there the first time Erik had brought her, were gone. There was only one dress now, a slim white one, which Erik grabbed and flung at her. "Put this on now!" he commanded.

Jess sat up on the bed and examined the dress that he had thrown at her. It was a beautiful piece adorned with faux jewels and décor to make the shoulders and torso shimmer and shine. It was actually more of a cream than a white with a flowing full skirt.

"Put it on. I'm sorry I don't have a wedding dress in your size, and I burned all the other gowns. Now change," he informed her.

Jess gasped as understanding hit her. "I…won't," she choked out.

"It's your time that you are wasting, and the temperature in your friends' cell is growing hotter by the moment," he told her. Jess stood up and walked to him, trying to look him straight in the eye. He didn't stop her, but stood perfectly still as she had to stretch her neck up in an attempt to stare him down. "I'm not going to leave the room, Christine. If I leave you alone for even a moment, you might try to do something stupid." He reached up his long pale fingers to her face. "Like last time, remember last time, Christine." Two cold fingertips grazed across her forehead. "You tried to kill yourself. I can't take that chance again." He took several steps backwards, giving a small graceful bow to her. "But if it would please your vanity, I'll turn my back."

She had lost to him again. No matter how hard she tried to be strong, he only met her with mockery. Reluctantly, she turned away from him and cowered in one of the dark corners of the room. She stood there for an endless moments holding the dress in her hands and shaking. Then she finally lifted her dripping shirt over her head. Her back and chest were still damp and her bra was soaked, so that it was nearly transparent. She was too afraid to even turn around to make sure that Erik was not looking at her. She rolled up her pants legs and then slipped into the dress. It fell to her ankles, its soft fabric caressing her thighs. Still shaking she reached around to start on the buttons. She could feel many more buttons than she expected and knew it would be a challenge to fasten them. Jess decided to start in the middle were she could reach. Slowly she managed to push one button into place and her slippery fingers moved up to the next one.

There was already another set of hands there. Jess froze, her elbows locking as her fingers came in contact with Erik's. Her lips started to tremble, and Erik without a word, began to close the buttons up her neck. When she didn't move her stiff limbs, Erik gently pushed a hand down on her lower arms to push them to her sides. He was inches away from her and Jess felt completely engulfed in his presence. Her skin did not quiver or shake when his fingers touched her slick back, but instead she relished his contact as if he was actually warming her. She didn't understand his calmness. Just a moment ago he had been mad with rage and jealousy. He could have simply ripped the dress off and overpowered her.

Her hair dripped all over the back of the dress, soaking it to the skin. Erik had to brush it to the side and he finally fastened the top button on her neck. The dress now felt tight around her throat, and she realized this gown was just like everything else Erik offered to her: a prison. Jess felt two fingers graze the small of her back that was still exposed as Erik savored the sensation of touching her, one that he was not accustomed to.

"I know why you came back," Erik said, finally finishing the last buttons. She turned to face him, her eyes lowered but still anxious to hear what he had to say. Erik sighed when he saw her, dressed in a gown he had intended for Christine long ago. He reached out for her left hand and she let him take it. He gazed down at the gold ring on her finger, giving a dry chuckle. "You didn't lose it this time," he exclaimed and then looked at her. She could see no more anger in his eyes, but tenderness, and she pitied him. Only in his mind were things going as he had planned. "You didn't come back to rescue them, but to stay."

He knew she was close to giving in and giving herself up to him. He knew that she could be desperate enough and agree to stay with him just to save her friends. Jess didn't want to say it though, and she didn't want the others to know. She had to convince him that she was still defiant at least until she helped everyone escape.

"My living bride," he whispered.

"No. I'd rather be raped by a monster than go to bed willingly with a murderer," she snapped back at him. She knew that would set him off.

Erik bit back on his lip. "Fine. You may have it your way!" he shouted, grabbing her forcefully by her upper arm. This time she shook him off, and stood on her own. He stormed out and Jess followed him He had darted through the room, and was staring at the half-illuminated wall. Jess walked carefully towards him, praying that her plan would work.

"Please Erik, just let them go…" she started.

Erik shot out both of his hands and grabbed her by the shoulders. With one swift movement, he pulled her in front of him, pressing her damp dress and body against his torso, which now felt more than ever hard and real.

"Monsieur Payne," Erik addressed into the torture chamber. "I regret… or perhaps I relish to inform you that mademoiselle's actions here tonight are nobler than they appear. I believe my wife has something to tell you." His fingers gripped fiercely, digging into the flesh of her shoulders when he said "my wife."

Jess stood there blankly. What did Erik mean by that? What could she tell Dan now? That she was sorry, sorry for being so stupid, sorry for not being strong enough. Sorry that this was the only way out.

Then she realized. She saw the outline of the fingers in the torture chamber, suffering as the heat increased with every second, but one figure stood still. Jess saw Dan lift his hands next to his head, wanting to press his palms against the wall, but stopping short because of the hot glass wall. She wanted to see him and tears started to trickle at that thought. Jessalyn closed her eyes and could imagine Dan's face before, confusion plastered over his features, and hurt. Now she knew what she wanted to say, and what she should have said a long time ago.

"Daniel…I love you," she whispered through her tears.

A/N: If I ever take that long writing another chapter I give you my readers the permission to kick me. Sorry I just moved into my new place and started up a new job. But I do have more time now then when I was trapped in school.