Chapter 23- Paternal Switch

Erik had removed his makeup and sat at his dressing table in his black satin robe. Christine had made the final gesture to shut him out of her life. He could not handle her inability to make a decision about her life, or Rosalie's life. Rosalie deserved to know where she came from but he did not want to risk losing her. The decision weighed on his heart hard and gave him pangs of loneliness from time to time.

There was a knock at his door and he opened it. His little eight year old daughter rushed into his arms and gave him a huge hug. It was all he could do to not cry from emotion. Her little arms wrapped tight around his neck, and he wished more than ever that he could tell her that he was her true father. Rosalie whispered softly into his ear,

"Maestro, I heard what you said to Mama."

Erik paled but maintained a strong persona to protect Christine, "What's that ma cherie?"

Rosalie smiled coyly, "I heard when you called me your daughter."

Erik looked at Rosalie quizzically but she did not look upset, rather like a piece of her life had just come into the correct space. Erik could not deny his daughter anymore and hugged her for the first time, not as her Maestro, but as her father. Suddenly Raoul came barging into Erik's dressing room frightening Rosalie.

"Sir, you will step outside!" Christine trailed him clutching her dressing gown and clearing her makeup with tears.

"Raoul! Raoul, stop!"

Erik swiftly put little Rosalie down and commanded her for the first time as her
father, "Ma petite, go outside and close the door. Go explore for awhile, hurry now." Rosalie quivered for a second and then escaped the ugly brawl.

With her absence, Raoul grabbed Erik's throat and pressed him against the wall. For Christine's sake, Erik tolerated the Vicomte's pathetic attempts at violence. Raoul gripped his throat and spat words in his face,

"You… you take everyone in this world I love and taint them with your blackness. I didn't see through this charming mask though." Raoul poked Erik's face with his finger, sending a familiar fury through Erik's soul. He controlled him self for a little while longer. Raoul continued his bitter recount,

"Well then, monster turns angel once again, Monsieur. I knew there was something about you that I despised from the moment I met you. And I have not even begun to discuss you fathering MY child!" He punched Erik in the face and attempted to rip off, what he thought, was a mask.

Erik retaliated by pinning the Vicomte to the wall in similar fashion this time keeping Raoul's face to the wall, "You will keep your distance sir. And don't bother trying to remove my mask. You'll find it is a permanent one, amazing what doctor's today can do." Raoul's eyebrows rose in surprise but he kept quiet for a moment. Erik continued, "I trust you have not forgotten what I am capable of. Despite my…fairy-like appearance, similar to your own," Erik fought back a laugh here, "I have the same instincts in me, and I beg of you not bring them out of me, for Christine's sake." He turned towards her, and she stood frozen in anticipation.

"Now, Vicomte, I trust that you and I can have a civilized conversation about this. We have all grown up some these past years and hopefully gained more mature wisdom." At this Erik released Raoul and prayed this story would end differently from the other one.