Christine looked alarmed. "Erik? What do you mean 'Oh no'?"
"We have to leave here at once!" Erik ordered.
"Erik, explain what is going on?" Daroga cut in. What ever was happening had taken his mind off his throbbing hand.
It seems I have underestimated my mother. "Catherine has managed to find a way to get into one of the passages. All of them end up here." He said quickly.
"Can't you stop her?" Christine asked.
"Yes, but if I did then she would know that someone was down here. Think about it; if I am supposed to be dead there would be no need for anyone to be down here. Christine you must return to the surface immediately." He said gathering a few things off the piano. "There is no time to explain. Porsche will take you back up to the surface avoiding the route my mother is using."
Christine looked around. If she goes into the rooms she might think someone has been living here. "But what about you? Where will you go?" She asked.
"Do not worry about me. Just leave now." He commanded. Taking the items he had in his arms into the library. He re-emerged, looking around for any other items he had missed.
"No." She said firmly. "I want to know that you're going to be safe."
Erik walked over to her and gently put his hand on her shoulders. "Christine. I will be fine. I am not going to let my mother find me. You have to trust me." I want revenge on her as much as you do. I am not about to let her discover me.
Christine nodded. She then threw her arms around his neck and embraced him. He held her for a moment before planting a kiss on her cheek.
"Go. Daroga and I will gather what we need. It will be a while before she reaches here. She needs to make her way through complete darkness, which will slow her down a bit."
It's too much wishful thinking that she will end up in one of my traps. She seems to be a little too clever for her own good.
Porsche plodded off around the lake while Christine rowed the gondola to the other side. Erik watched her disappear then turned to Daroga who picked up the scores of music that were on the piano and handed them to him along with a leather bound one. "I thought you might want to keep these with you."
Erik took them and marched off to the library. He returned and pulled out a small key and locked it then placed it back in his cloak. He was still carrying his 'Don Juan'. "This is all I need. I have not dedicated the last several years of my life to writing this and have anything happen to it the second it has been completed." I also need to go through it again just to be sure.
Daroga smiled but also he looked at a loss. "How is Christine going to get the boat back to us? There is no other way out, is there?" He asked Erik.
He smiled. "That's where your wrong my friend." Erik heard a noise and his head snapped over to the direction of the lake. She has made it then. "Come, quickly, this way." He ran over to a mirror nearby with Daroga following him. He pulled the curtain back and then thrusted the Don Juan score into Daroga's hands. "Hold this please." He asked as he grabbed the mirror and dragged it out of the way, revealing a passage behind it.
"I never knew that was there." The Persian said in surprise as he stepped through. Erik stepped in dragging the mirror back into place. Tilting it over slightly so he could reach a cord; he pulled on it making the curtain fall back into place.
"That's because I never told you. I didn't tell anyone. This was only to be used if I needed a quick escape." He whispered. "Come on, this is a straight passageway."
Daroga turned and headed deeper into the passage, Erik behind him. "Where does this lead?" Daroga asked.
"Outside the Opera House. Keep going." He instructed. He was thankful it was nighttime; that way no one could see him.
I cannot return for a while. I will wait a few days. I just hope that she continues to believe I'm dead.
-
Catherine had finally made it to the end of the passage. She stopped as she saw a little boat sitting on a lake. I have to row across?
As there did not seem any other way to get across Catherine carefully slid into the boat and sat down. Afraid she might capsize it if she stood up and rowed it. She positioned herself in the middle and picked up the oar that was leaning against the side and began to row.
She found it difficult sitting down. She had been rowing for what seemed like ages. There is nothing here. She thought despairingly. She looked down for a moment sighing. I didn't travel down that long tunnel for nothing. I will find my dead son's home. She thought and continued.
She felt her excitement rise when she saw what looked like land in front of her. She began to quicken the rowing. The gondola hit the shore. Catherine carefully balancing herself, stood up and got out of the boat. Her eyes stared in wonder. You certainly did well for yourself when you were alive.
Her eyes caught a glimpse of the grand piano. She walked over to it and studied it carefully. You always did like music, even when you were young. Too bad you could not take this to hell with you. A wicked smile spread overCatherine's face.
She got up and had a wander round, looking in the rooms. The room with the swan bed caught her interest. You must have really worshipped her. Treated her like a queen and look at how she repays you; She takes your life... Well that is half true.
She looked in all the other rooms and had taken no particular interest in them. She came to the last room and tried to open the door. It was the library; the one that Erik had locked. His books that he had collected over the years held a lot of sentimental value for him. That was also where his music was kept. They meant more to him than any other items and so did the grand piano.
So what did you keep behind here? Probably nothing of importance. Oh well I don't suppose there is anything to do with your property. As I am your next of kin I will do as I see fit with this place.
-
Christine continued to act like she had done for the past week. Slightly depressed as she was pretending Erik was dead. She had not spoken to anyone about her incident and decided it would be best not to, as everyone was busy now preparing for the masquerade ball. However she was sure that Madame Giry knew what was going on. Erik always kept her informed.
Catherine seemed even more cheerful at breakfast that morning. Christine knew she had found her way down. She just prayed to god that Erik had got out in time. She felt her heart begin to race. She had used the gondola and they would have been trapped and unable to leave. "Christine. I will be fine; I am not going to let my mother find me. You have to trust me." Erik's voice ran through her head. But she was still unsure. She had to find out. Maybe Madame Giry knew.
"Meg." She elbowed her friend who was sitting in between her and Byron. As usual Meg and Byron were too busy talking and so Meg was totally unaware that her friend was trying to get her attention. "Meg." Christine tried again. Meg still did not respond. Christine cupped her hands round her mouth and placed them near Meg's right ear.
"MEG!" Christine shouted. This time Meg did hear her.
She whirled round. "What!" Meg seemed a little annoyed at being interrupted.
"I called your name twice before but you were so deep in conversation that you did not hear me!" Christine retorted.
Meg hung her head and her cheeks were pink with a mixture of shame and embarrassment. "Sorry Christine, What were you going to ask me?"
Christine gave a weak smile to show she wasn't upset with her friend. "I just wanted to know where your mother would be. I need to have a talk with her about the ball." Christine lied.
She knew if she didn't give a reason as to why she was going to see her mother then Meg would have probably put her foot in it by saying something along the lines of 'Is it to do with Erik?' As Catherine was near by, she didn't want to risk her overhearing his name.
In fact ever since Byron had courted Meg all she had ever done was go on about how 'wonderful' he was. She hadn't mentioned Erik at all, so Christine was not so worried but still couldn't risk it.
"I think she is in her office. She hasn't got her class until this afternoon." Meg replied.
Christine got up. "Thank you. Have a good day both of you and I'll catch up with you later." She said giving a sweet smile. They nodded, thanked her and told her they would look forward to it.
Christine caught Catherine looking at her out of the corner of her eye. She hated the fact that she was always giving her snide, sideways glances. Christine felt a shiver run down her spine and she quickly headed out of the dining room.
-
Madame Giry again had her head buried in paperwork, this now consumed half of her time, the other half she spent teaching. She hated to be interrupted, as there was far too much paperwork for her to get done. She was indeed a very busy woman.
She looked up from her work in annoyance as she heard a knock at the door.
I don't have time… "Come in." She called. Antoinette was expecting one of the managers again.
Her slight scowl disappeared as Christine peeked her head round the door. "Bonjour Madame." Christine smiled.
"Good morning dear." Madame Giry replied. She was always happy to see Christine.
Christine shut the door behind her and sat down opposite Madame Giry. "Madame, I was wondering if you had heard anything from Erik?"
Madame Giry did not say anything for a moment; she just stood up and looked behind where Christine was sitting. That blasted cat is not with her. Thank heavens.
Christine glanced behind her, wondering what Madame Giry could be looking for, then it occurred to her: Porsche. "Madame, don't worry, she is not with me. I left her in my room."
"That's good to hear… now then… Erik, ah yes, he had the impertinence to come and wake me from my sleep, to tell me what happened last night." She sighed. I can't ever seem to get any peace, let alone a decent night's sleep sometimes.
"Do you know where he is?" Christine asked. At least he escaped in time. Her tension dropped a little now she knew he was all right.
"He told me to tell you not to worry, and he will be back in a few nights, and also said that under no circumstances are you to return to his home. Not until he has been and checked for himself." She told her.
"Alright, but Madame, where is he?" Christine repeated.
"I expect he is staying with his friend the Persian somewhere. I know that he is staying somewhere nearby, possibly out of town. But that is all that I can tell you." Antoinette replied.
"Alright, thank you all the same. I will see you later then, and if you hear anything from Erik will you let me know?"
"Of course I will. Go and enjoy your day. Though I doubt that you can with that Catherine around all the time. I have noticed the way she looks at you." She told her, a scowl returning to her face.
"Yes, she is not the easiest person to get along with." Christine replied politely. And she definitely is not the easiest person to like! "Thank you Madame, have a good day." With that she walked towards the door and left, leaving Madame Giry to her paperwork.
I wish I could, but paperwork is not that much fun. Antoinette thought as she resumed her writing.
-
The day had passed. Erik thought it would be too soon to return, but he wanted to anyway. It had only been a day and he was anxious to see what had become of his home. Daroga was not with him; Erik had sneaked out and ridden the black stallion back to the Opera Populaire.
-
The previous night, he and Daroga had ended up outside of the Opera Populaire near a dark alleyway. Erik ran round to the stables so they had some transport to where Daroga was staying on the other side of Paris in a small inn. He had saddled Caesar and mounted him. Going round to where Daroga had waited patiently, he slid off the horse's back.
"I'm going to see Antoinette. Wait here. I won't be long." Erik said in a whisper.
While Daroga held onto the horse's bridle, Erik disappeared around the corner. He entered one of his passageways and made his way to Antoinette's room. As there was no secret passageway to get inside he would have to use the door. Fortunately it was unlocked. He guessed she left it unlocked in case something happened in the night.
He crept in and walked over to her 'Should I really wake her? I have a feeling she will get snappy if I do.'
Erik gently shook the sleeping Antoinette Giry awake. "Erik? What are you doing here?" She mumbled.
Erik began to explain what had happened and that he would return to the Populaire in a few days when he was sure it was safe to do so.
"Look after Christine for me please. Tell her not to go down to my home, and that I am fine." He finished, and then swept out of the door, leaving Antoinette to drift back into her sleep.
He rejoined Daroga about ten minutes later. Daroga was shivering. Erik could see his warm breath steam in the chill of the night sky. Erik mounted Caesar. "Come on. Unless you want to freeze to death." The Persian instantly mounted the horse, sitting behind Erik who gave Caesar a sharp kick in the ribs, which sent them galloping off into the night.
-
Erik entered the passageway and made his way along it slowly. It was twice as dark in here as it was outside.
He reached the mirror and pulled it out of the way, holding the curtain to one side while he stepped back into his lair. Things looked almost normal until he saw the charred pile of ash that lay in the middle of the hall near the grand piano. Erik's eyes widened. Catherine had taken what she could and burnt all of it.
He felt his anger rise. She could not leave my things alone! She had to do that to wipe her memory of me completely!
He ran and checked the rooms. Things that had not been burnt had been torn and trashed. Mirrors broken, pillows shredded, clothes ripped. And the rest burnt. He ran to the library and was pleased to find it was still locked and so he knew all that was there was safe. He retuned to his piano and that's when his anger for his mother was well and truly fueled.
She had bashed it with a club of some sort, denting it, snapping the wires and breaking the keys. The damage was beyond repair.
His books and his music scores were really the only items that had been spared and then only because he had locked the door and she had been unable to get into the room.
He sat down on the floor by the piano and buried his head in his hands. This was his world. It had been for most of his life. Here, where he could do as he pleased, he had spent years making this his home and making it the way he wanted. Over the space of a night most of it was gone. As he thought about his mother laughing as she trashed and burnt all his belongings his anger rose and rose.
Part of him wanted to kill her there and then. Another part of him wanted to make her suffer. He would drag her through hell and back if it was the last thing he did.
Erik returned to his feet. Looking around him, the extent of the damage was almost unbearable to look at. He had expected this to happen in a way, but one thing he didn't expect was to find this much in ruins.
There was nothing he could really do for the moment, he would return in a few days to see what he could replace and attempt to clear up the mess. He had some other matters to attend to first.
He skulked back to the passageway. Moving the mirror aside and holding the curtain out of the way, he looked back into his lair once more. His fist clenched in anger. He snarled out loud.
You will curse the day you brought me into this world. I was fine until you walked back into my life all these years after you sold me to the circus. Now you have gone too far. I will make you suffer as much as you made me. It's not an empty threat, it's a promise.
He let the curtain drop and made his way back to where he had left Caesar. He mounted the horse and took off, leaving the Opera House and everyone in it silently sleeping.
