Chapter 32 – The Aftermath
Christine brought the sword down. Just before it reached Erik's heart, a foot came out of nowhere and kicked her hand, sending the sword straight across the floor. Erik looked up to see Daroga. He removed a small bottle containing a clear liquid and splashed some into Christine's face.
She still had the blank expression on her face, but closed her eyes as she fell onto the floor beside Erik. He looked at her knowing that whatever Daroga had done had stopped her. Then Erik surrendered to the overwhelming pain and blacked out.
-
Catherine was sitting down having a talk with Ivan. Her mind did not seem to be on the conversation however. Her thoughts carried her off to her world of fantasies. She pictured Christine killing Erik, then not being able to live with herself. And there was no way it could ever be traced back to her. It made her shiver with excitement.
"…Don't know what has gotten into her." Ivan finished.
"Hmm?" She replied. "Sorry darling, I didn't catch that."
Ivan sighed. "I said, I don't know what has gotten into Zurie. She seems very withdrawn. I have tried to talk to her but she just won't tell me what's wrong."
"Oh, maybe you're just being paranoid. She is growing up; she won't want to tell you everything." She said quite harshly.
"How would you know? You have never had any children of your own!" He snapped back.
Catherine just sat there. Not happy with being snapped at; she put on an upset expression. Ivan's face fell.
"I'm sorry my dear. I just don't want to drift away from her. I didn't mean to say that."
They were both unaware that Zurie was listening at the door. She wanted to find out for sure if her father knew what kind of woman Catherine really was.
You would be surprised at the things she hasn't told you father. If only you knew.
Ever since Zurie had been told about what happened to Erik, she wanted to get back at Catherine. Yet she hadn't been able to think of any way to do so. She decided to go back to the dormitory and continue to think it over. With that she headed off, leaving Catherine and Ivan still talking.
"…and I don't understand what is causing your mood swing. You were attacked by a person who calls himself the Phantom of the Opera. Then you're suddenly cheerful."
Catherine pouted. "Don't I have the right to be cheerful?"
"No, it's not that, Catherine; I just wondered what has brought it on." He said exasperated.
"Nothing in particular. I suppose that being the new patron of the Populaire has excited me but now I believe we should go and discuss more plans for the ball with the managers." She said trying to put an end to Ivan's prying.
"Alright then, I will go to find Zurie and have another attempt at talking to her." Catherine smiled and they walked off to the managers' office.
-
Erik groaned as he began to open his eyes. He tried to sit up but a hand was placed on his shoulder and pushed him back down.
"Glad to see you're awake. You took a bit of a thrashing." Said the Persian.
"Daroga?" Erik mumbled. "Where is Christine?"
The Persian chuckled. "She is fine. I put her in the other room. You cannot see her yet. You need time to recover. You have sustained a fairly serious injury."
"W – What happened, why was she like that?" Erik moaned.
"I will explain it later; right now you need to rest. Luckily your wounds were not too deep. But they will be very sore for two or three days." He disappeared for a moment then came back with a cloth. "Here, this will cool you down." He placed the damp cloth on his forehead.
"I need to see her, please."
"And I say no. Not yet anyhow." He chuckled slightly. "You never change Erik; you can't sit still for long but I'm afraid you're going to have to, for at least a week or two maybe three." He said calmly.
"What!" Erik almost shouted sitting bolt upright. "Two to three weeks? I have things to do Daroga. I can't just sit here!"
"Well you can't do them if you're ill can you? The more you rest the faster you will recover. Now lie back down!" He instructed firmly.
Erik muttered something, and carefully lowered himself onto his back. He felt so weak.
"Daroga, please explain to me what happened. I need to know." Erik asked in a polite tone.
The Persian nodded. "First you must let me tend to your cat. I think she is alright, but I need to give her a check over as she was out cold when I arrived."
Erik had forgotten about Porsche and that she had tried to stop Christine from attacking him. He smiled at the thought; she indeed was a brave cat.
"I noticed on Christine's hand there were bite marks. Was that Porsche?" Daroga asked.
Erik nodded. "She was only trying to stop Christine from hurting me." He said weakly.
He smiled. "I will be back in a moment." He said, before swiftly exiting the room.
Erik lay there, thinking about what had happened. That was not Christine, but what could have possessed her to do that? She is so kind and gentle and would never hurt anyone intentionally, not even me but she didn't know what she was doing. Her face was expressionless. And what did Daroga throw at her to make her stop? I certainly hope it was nothing that can affect her permanently.
The door reopened and Daroga came back in, Porsche cradled in his arms.
"Someone to see you, Erik." He said placing the cat down on top of him. Porsche went up to his face and gave him a lick on the nose, before putting her head against his. Erik scratched the cat behind her ears and she lay down purring softly.
"Thank you Porsche." Erik whispered hoarsely. The cat mewed and gave him another lick.
"She has a slight limp in her right back leg; it must have been injured when she hit the wall. But apart from that nothing is broken. She will be able to walk normally soon." Daroga explained.
"I'm glad it's nothing serious." Erik smiled at the cat.
Daroga placed a chair down beside the bed and sat down, his legs crossed and his hands folded in his lap. Erik looked at him patiently. "Daroga, please tell me what you know."
The Persian's jade eyes looked down at the floor for a moment and then back at Erik. "When I was examining Christine I found a huge gash in one of her arms. The wound smelled… rather peculiar." He paused as Erik nodded. "I have only encountered this once before in Persia. It is a very rare substance and only to be used by certain people. It is often used as a potion for witchcraft." He paused again to make sure Erik was listening. "It goes by the name of Narkèsado. It is a drug which is absorbed through an open wound in the skin so that the blood stream absorbs it quicker. Drinking it has no effect as it loses its power by the time the blood absorbs it. It will just make someone feel very sick. But when absorbed directly into the bloodstream it causes the victim to attack the first person they see. It is like they are in a trance. They sometimes can see what they are doing but cannot fight it because the drug is in control of them. Other times they cannot remember it at all." He finished.
Before he could resume Erik interrupted. "What was that liquid you threw at her?"
"Just water." He said simply. Erik's eyes widened a little. "Say for example you are sleeping heavily, or are awake but have not woken up properly. What do people do to make themselves more awake?"
"Splash their face with water." Erik finished. Understanding how it worked now. "But how did you know what it was?"
"Call it instinct. Back in Persia I studied medicines and potions. And, as I said, I had seen a similar thing once before." He said coolly.
"What were you doing down here anyway?" Erik asked curiously.
"I wished to pay you a visit. Besides it's a good thing I was here, or she would have killed you. She wouldn't have stopped until the job was done." He finished on a serious note.
"What would I do without you Daroga?" Erik said on a positive note. "I owe you agreat deal for this."
Daroga smiled. "You're a friend Erik. You owe me nothing." He paused and thought for a moment. "But if you want to do me a favour then you can promise me that you will stay in bed until I tell you, and allow me to take care of you until you are well enough."
Erik rolled his eyes. And Daroga expected the next sentence to be something along the lines of: 'Not a hope in hell am I going to be able to do that.'
"If those are the doctor's orders. Then consider me bedridden for as long as necessary." Erik said in a light voice.
Daroga's eyes widened in surprise. "You know I never thought I would see the day when Erik, The Phantom of the Opera would do as he was told." He began to laugh, and Erik chuckled along with him.
The laughing died down. "Will you please go and check on Christine for me?" Erik was still concerned about her. As she had also had a few cuts, but not nearly as bad as his were.
Daroga again disappeared for a moment and came back. "She is still sleeping. I don't know for how long though, however I will go and check on her in the next half hour."
"Thank you."
Daroga shook his head. "I just don't understand who would have done that to her."
Erik's eyes flashed, and his teeth clenched very tightly. I know exactly who. And she will pay for this. I didn't care for the fact that she would be around the opera house but for this I can never forgive! She is no mother of mine. She gave up that role all those years ago when she sold me to Javert!
Erik hadn't realised but thinking about this, his temperature had risen even though Daroga had removed all of his top layers so he could clean and stitch the wounds. Although the room was cool he felt like his insides were on fire.
"Erik?" Daroga whispered. "Erik what is wrong?"
"She may have tried to end my life through Christine, but it has failed. She will get what she deserves. In the harshest way possible." He hissed through gritted teeth, more to himself than the Persian. "Now it is my turn to put her through hell and back!"
-
Zurie was walking down a corridor when a male voice called after her. "Zurie, sweetheart."
Now what does he want?
"Yes?" She said irritated.
"I was wondering if we could have a chat." He asked.
"What for father? There is nothing to talk about."
"There is. I want to know what is bothering you. You know I care about you."
"If I told you the truth, you wouldn't believe me, you would only hate me."
"You know that's not true. Zurie please tell me what is bothering you."
"No." She continued to walk.
He reached out and put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. This was a mistake and it only made her more angry. She swung round and hit his arm off of her.
"Alright, you want to know?" She spat. "Ask the wicked witch, also known as Catherine."
"What has Catherine got to do with this? She has done nothing wrong." He asked puzzled.
"Shows what you really know about her and how long you have been kept in the dark." She continued, her voice rising with every sentence.
"Zurie what are you talking…" He began.
"HER SON!" She screamed at him. She covered her mouth realising she had said too much.
Ivan just stared at her. "Her son?" He repeated. "But Zurie she has never had any children."
"That's what she told you, but I know different. I know the truth." She breathed heavily. "Now you have a choice. You either believe me, or her."
"Zurie that's not…"
"Shows how blind you are as well as stupid." She cut him off.
"ZURIE!" He bellowed. It rang down the corridor.
"Fine, if you don't believe me, go ask the witch herself. She has never loved you; she only married you for the money." She continued. Zurie was never one to hold her tongue if she was as angry as she was right now.
Ivan's face was like thunder. He opened his mouth to say something back. But was too angry and so spun on his heel and marched back the way he had come down the corridor. Zurie watched her father disappear then ran off in the opposite direction, crying tears of anger and hatred. Not for her father, but for herself and the way she had spoken to him.
-
Christine's eyes fluttered open. Her vision was very blurred and her head was spinning. She lay there for a moment, waiting for her head to feel clearer. She slowly sat upright and yawned a little. Suddenly she realised she was at Erik's.
What am I doing here?
She thought about it when memories of her trying to stab Erik came flooding back to her. She had been able to see what she was doing, but it was like something else controlling her.
Oh my god! ERIK!
She bolted out of bed, and ran into a room opposite hers. She flung open the door to see Erik asleep with Porsche watching him. "Erik?" She whispered, tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"He is alright, Miss Daae." She looked over to the chair where Daroga was sitting. "He is simply asleep. How are you feeling?"
"Awful, what did I do to him? I just remember trying to kill him and I was unable to stop myself like I was possessed." She sank to her knees. Daroga walked over to her and helped her up.
"I have told Erik what happened. It was not your fault but he is very weak. I have done what I can for him; the only thing that is required to get him better is bed rest." He explained.
"For how long?" She asked.
"Two or three weeks."
Christine looked down at the floor. "How bad is it?" She asked, dreading the answer.
"Not as bad as it could have been but don't forget, he is not as young as he once was. The wounds are not deep, however they can easily be infected, and he had a bit of a blow to the head. It may cause him to be a little disoriented for the next few days."
Daroga cleared his throat before he asked the next question. "Did his mother do this to you?"
Tears still streaming down her face she nodded "Yes."
Erik coughed. And opened his eyes. And lifted his head to see Christine and Daroga. "Christine? You're awake."
Christine ran over to him and flung herself onto his chest. Porsche leapt out of the way. Erik made a wheezing noise and a groan. Followed by coughing and spluttering.
"Erik, I'm sorry I'm so sorry." She howled. "What have I done to you?"
"It's alright; you didn't know what you were doing. I will live." He wheezed.
Christine heard Porsche give a soft mew; she looked down at the cat. "I'm sorry I hurt you Porsche." She bent down and stroked the cat. The cat seemed to accept the apology and acted like she would have done normally.
"Well at least she forgives me too."
Erik coughed again. "Cats don't hold grudges." He paused breathing heavily. "Christine did my mother…"
"Yes, it was her." She cut in.
"What happened?"
"After I left you, I returned up to my room to have a nap, but I couldn't settle. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, I called out but no one answered. There was another knock followed by a low whisper. It said 'help me.' I opened the door and Catherine slashed my arm with a knife." She stopped and looked at the bandage on her arm. "She grabbed my wrist and poured some liquid on it. It stung madly, then she pushed me over and I blacked out." She paused to think about what had happened next. "Then I remember trying to attack you. I tried to stop, but it was like something controlling me. And then… then…"
Christine turned so ghostly pale Erik and Daroga thought she would faint.
"I was going to kill you!" She whispered. "… and I would have done, if that sword had not been kicked out of my hand."
Daroga led her to sit down. "Take it easy mademoiselle." He soothed.
Her head was spinning, wild thoughts going round her head. I would have killed him! But that's what she wanted, to poison me against him. This is all her fault! Her breathing became more rapid and heavy. That woman truly has no heart. I knew she was bad news but what she has done is evil. Erik has been seriously wounded, by me, but she was pulling the strings. That's what she has been so happy about; she must have had this planned for a while! With each thought she became angrier and angrier. She made me try to kill the man I love!
Her head suddenly snapped up. She stood up and paced out of the room. "Christine!" Erik called after her. "Where are you going?"
Christine did not reply. She headed out for the boat and began to row across the lake. She got to the other side and continued to march up the passageway towards the lift. All the way back up to the surface there was only one thought in her head.
Revenge!
