Chapter 15: A dark figure in the light
Christine's POV
I stood absolutely still, my hand still resting on the door knob as I stared with wide brown eyes at the pair before my eyes. I tried to speak, but my throat was constricted, my mouth dry. My emotions at that instant in time were hard to explain. Here in front of me stood the woman who had become my only parental figure after I had been left orphaned. She had been there for me when my father had died and throughout the remainder of my childhood. She had been there for my marriage; she had always been there for me to lean on. But now here she stood, beside the man who had decieved me beyond belief, the man who had taken advantage of the navie and childlike trust that I had placed in him. It was rather ironic to say the least. And now here he stood on my doorstep, looking no different than he had since the last time I had been face to face with him, just after Raoul and I had returned to Paris. I wanted to shut the door, but something wouldn't let me.
Madame seemed to sense my obvious predicament and put a hand on my shoulder, a serious expression in her hazel eyes.
"Christine I know that this may feel strange to you, but Erik may have some crucial information on the gypsies who attacked you last night." she said quietly.
I tore my gaze from her face and looked at Erik. He was leaning against the doorframe, the ever present grimace on his face. Indeed, as he stood now he looked much more like the Phantom he had been than the man who had allowed Raoul and I to go free. He looked up and his grey, almost silver eyes ,et mine. I didn't avert my gaze, trying to let him know that he no longer had power over me. I felt a mixture of unexplainable compassion, anger, and pity flooding through my veins like electricity.
I had worked hard over the past year to try and forgive and understand his actions, to try and forget what had happened in those last months at the opera. I had once believed he had been an angel, some had said that he was a demon, but now I saw that he was simply a man, just a man. I pitied him, yes, would have offered the hand of friendship is he hadn't manipulated me so. I had cared for him as a student cares for a teacher. I was thankful for his teaching, but that last night down in his lair, with him tying that rope around Raoul's neck, and the choice that he had tried to force me to make, still seared my memory. He had tried to force upon me a love that I could not return, for I loved Raoul with my whole heart and soul, and he sat now, just in the next room, injured from trying to protect me. But if my former teacher was here to help, I had no choice but to give in.
" Come in," I said reluctantly as I closed the door behind them.
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Raoul's POV
Christine seemed to be taking quite a while answering the door, and began to be curious about who it was that had come to call. Not that I ever could have guessed. I smiled as I saw Christine enter with Madame Giry, but I felt my face fall as I set eyes on the third member of the party. He was skeletal and dressed all in black, a half mask covering the right side of his face. I was so shocked to see this man in my house at first, that I could scarcely move. I had tried to rid myself of my intense dislike for the man, had tried to find sympathy for the hard life that he had experienced. But there was something about him standing in the parlour, intruding upon the life that Christine and I had built together, that brought old feelings to the surface.
My mind became consumed with flashbacks; the rope taking the breath of life from me, the clash of our swords, his voice singing mine and Christine's song, and him kidnapping Christine before my very eyes while setting the Opera Populaire aflame. I looked over at Phillipe and Lucien, who both had looks of intense anger on their faces. Against my better judgement, I stood up fast trying to ignore the excrutiating pain that shot through my body as I did so. The man's piercing eyes looked upon me as I stood.
"Get out! I don't know why you're here, but get out." I said as I tried to catch my breath, shaking from both my determination to keep standing and from my anger.
Christine came over to me as I spoke and put her hand on my shoulder, trying to make me sit down. "Raoul you musn't stand! You must sit down or you will cause the would to reopen and that could cause infection." she insisted.
I did as she requested, not wanting to cause her more anguish that she was already feeling at her former teacher's presence. She sat beside me and I took her hand firmly in mine. She moved closer to me and I could see in her eyes all of the things I knew we were both feeling. The man they called Phantom gave me an infurating smirk as his gaze rested upon the newly changed but still bloodied bandage that was wrapped around my chest.
"And who's going to make me de Chagny? You?" he said sarcastically.
I vainly tried to get up again, but with Christine, Lucien, and Phillipe holding me down, it was quite impossible.
"I'll make you," growled Phillipe menacingly.
"Go ahead Monsieur le Comte, I dare you." responded Erik.
Christine stroked my hand, trying to calm me, but I noticed that there was a rather severe look on her face. She directed her first comment to Phillipe and myself. "He is here to help, so try to calm yourselves. You especially Raoul," she said as she kissed my cheek ." I don't want to see you get any more hurt that you already are." She then turned to Erik. "Do not attempt to start a fight Erik, or you will leave." she said sternly, though I saw she was shaking, and I squeezed her hand.
The man looked as though he were about to do as Christine had threatned until a sharp thawck was heard as Madame Giry gave him a hit on the back on the back of the leg with her cane.
"You have come to offer you information on these gypsies Erik, and you shall. I understand there is an unbearable amount of tension among you, but if we are to win against this enemy, we must have all the information." she said bluntly. "Now do try and be civil, all of you." she said as she gazed around at us all, We would have been insane to refuse her.
It was an awkward and tense situation that followed. I lay on the couch in a half lying, half sitting posistion with Christine directly beside me, her hand on my shoulder as though she were just waiting for me to try and get up again, which was indeed what I wanted to do. I wanted this man out of my house and I wanted to whisk Christine away to a place where she would be safe. But as I was badly injured, no one would let me. I was a former French navy man, a trained swordsman, and because of those damnable gypsies I was limited in how I could protect my beloved, and it was infuriating. I longed for the would to heal instantly, which was of course, impossible.
Phillipe sat next to a stern looking Madame Giry, looking as if he were ready to kill. Lucien, by some bad luck was seated directly next to the masked man. He was bobbing up and down nervously and only stopped when Madame whacked him with her cane, as she had done to Erik. The room felt slightly chilly, as though someone had not closed the door properly and had allowed the winter breeze to enter the house. The pleasant fire that had both lit and warmed the room now began to die, and the room was absolutely silent for several minutes. Then Erik broke it with a sarcastic comment.
"I came here to give you the insights that I posses about these gypsies, but perhaps I won't if you are not willing to listen to me de Chagny." he said with a smirk; he was just trying to get at me.
"Do you enjoy kicking a man when he's down?" I asked.
"I don't remember kicking you Vicomte, but that can be easily arranged." he said as he moved towards standing up.
A low growl escaped my mouth, surprising even myself. This man had gone beyond testing my patience. "Do you have nothing better to do than try and pick a fight with me, Opera Ghost?" I asked, fury flooding the logical part of me.
He looked ready to answer with another sarcastic comment, but he was interrupted by Madame Giry.
"Stop this instant! We must cooperate if we are to win against this common enemy, of whom we are ALL in danger of!" At this the doorbell rang and she got up to answer it, clearly exasperated.
This left the room in another awkward silence. This time however, it was Lucien who broke it. He looked so angry and nervous that he looked ready to burst. His light brown eyes kept darting between Christine and myself, and Erik, who sat beside him.
"So, you're the Phantom of the Opera?" he asked, trying to sound casual, as though this were a normal, everyday conversation.
Erik didn't answer, he merely glared.
"Lucien!" called the voice of Madame Giry. "Meg is here and I want the two of you to go and see how Sarah and Jacques are coming along with dinner."
My loyal friend looked quite reluctant to go, obviously not wanting to leave me in a room with a man who had tried to take my life on more than one occassion. It wasn't until Madame called a shrill "Now!" that he consented, with a whispered, "be careful" in mine and Christine's direction.
Madame Giry reentered the room as Lucien exited and the somber mood fell once again on the room.
"Now Erik, please tell us what you know, it grows late." she said.
The man sighed in an irritated fashion, but consented. "These gypsies," he began, "Are viscious and will not relent until thet achieve what they are after. They are sneaky and underhanded and pounce upon you when you least expect it."
"But how can we trust you?" interrupted Phillipe. "How do we know what you say is the truth?"
"Because Monsieur le Comte, I have been among them. "answered Erik coolly.
This seemed to satisfy Phillipe and he fell back in his chair with a grunt. I knew that he, like me, wanted any information he could find on these gypsies. I knew also that Erik, though mad, was a genius and had probably been very observant of the gypsies ways when he had lived with them.
"Because they did not get what they wanted from you the last time, I can assure that they will be back. You must take precautions beforehand, and show them no mercy, for none shall be shone to you."he stopped, his voice containing a bit of melancholy. And I could for a moment, understand and sympathize with him on this enemy that we both shared. "And when they return, there will be a greater number of them. They will not hesistate to kidnap, I have seen them do it."
"That is all, I believe," he said gruffly as he stood. He walked towards the door, Madame accompanying him.
I nodded at him in thanks, and he nodded back, but neither of us would do anything more, our mutual dislike still clearly intact. It was for Christine's safety from these gypsies that we tolerated each other's presence and for Christine alone.
"Thankyou for you help Erik," siad Christine quickly.
"Your welcome Christine," he said as he gave her one last glance, and with that, he was gone as quickly as he had come.
Madame went to escort him back to the opera, and then to check on the ballet girls, promising to be back in an hour. The room was quiet once again as the door closed. I wrapped my tired arms around my beloved and she rested her brown curly head on my shoulder. I knew that that had been a tense situation for the both of us and I wanted her to know that she was safe with me. I planted a kiss on her forehead, and she smiled up at me.
"Well," said Phillipe, "That was most unexpected. But I daresay that we needed the information."
"Yes," said Christine, "We did. I just hope that our fears of the gypsies' return will go unwarranted."
"So do I," I answered. "But we must be on our guard, as he said."
As I spoke, Meg and Lucien announced dinner, and it was served to us in the parlour due to the fact that it was not a good idea for me to be moved frequently. And with that, we put the subject of the gypsies away for a bit and spoke of the succsess of the opera, of nursery plans, and Christmas. And tried, for a while at least, to forget our troubles.
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A/N: Here you go guys, I hope you like this. I even made it extra long! Please read and review! Just to note, I'm following the plotline from the movie/musical, but I may add a few things from Leroux, such as Phillipe's character. I'm currently re- reading the book, so yay! I've also watched the movie several times over the past few days since I have the flu. And good news for me; The stage production of Phantom is coming to my town in May! Thanks for all of your support, the reviews keep me writing!