I have an update. Shocked? What? I updated on time. Sort of . . .
Chapter 4
Chaperons
"This is insane." Christine whispered. It was latter that evening and she now joined Erik in the large crowd of people currently streaming inside the Opera House. "Utterly insane."
Erik didn't reply, just brushed off her comments as he had been doing all night. His eyes were currently scanning the crowd for her daughter and the Fop de Junior. He cursed when he couldn't find them in the stand still line. Christine buried her head in her hands as she started to realize that her husband wasn't planning on going anywhere. Her head snapped up as she finally realized something. "Erik, how do you expect to get in? We don't even have tickets."
Erik turned to her. "I have my ways."
"A little late to start being the Opera Ghost all over again."
"You underestimate me." Erik said, his perfected tone of mock pain settling into his voice.
"I don't underestimate you. I just know you better than that. I'm just here to make sure that you don't get arrested. Do you know what will happen if one person recognizes you? One person Erik!" Christine's eyes were darting around nervously as she expected someone to jump out of the shadows and get them. This was horrible . . .
"How can they recognize me?" Erik asked. "I'm perfectly inconspicuous." As he spoke the flickering flames from the torches outside the theater cast a shadow across half of his face. Perfectly illuminating the full black mask he had chosen to wear.
Christine arched an eyebrow at him, yet said nothing. She had learned at this point in the game, words were pointless.
After a awkward moment Erik pulled out his pocket watch, when he saw the time he scowled and shoved it back in with a vengeance. "At this rate we'll be lucky to make it in by the end of the first act."
Christine tried to look sympathetic, but failed miserably. She just hoped that he would forget this crazy plot and go home before anyone got hurt. She thought for a moment. Or arrested, or strangled, or anything else like that. She found her hopes to be in vain. With a frustrated sigh, and dramatic swirl of his cape he was gone, quietly streaking across the plaza outside of the Garnier. She sighed in frustration before scrambling after him. "Erik? Where are you going? We just lost our place in line. Now it will take forever-"
Erik turned to face her in annoyance, then his eyes focused on a point behind her. He whispered a curse. Before she could demand to know what had caught his attention she turned to look behind her. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Nadir!"
"Madame." he greeted her warmly, a old trusted friend of the family. His jade eyes were warm as he looked past her at the annoyed Phantom. "Erik, I had thought that I had seen you. Although I am not sure why you are leaving so soon."
Erik's mind was working furiously. If Nadir knew why he was here . . . He could ruin everything. He already knew about the trap door by the fountain, or else he wouldn't be pointing out that I am leaving. Was everything destined to go wrong this night? He chose his words very carefully. "Well you know my patience Daroga. I absolutely hate long lines."
Nadir cocked a dark eyebrow. Clearly not believing him. "So you finally manage to return after a eighteen year absence. What's the occasion."
Erik seethed silently. To tell the truth, or to not tell the truth . . . he decided to gamble.
"Nothing special," He said in a nonchalant voice. "Just reminiscing, looking back on old times."
"Such happy times, weren't they?" The Persian said, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
Erik looked indignant. "They were very happy." Christine snickered. "OK well they were happy if you compare them to Mazenderan."
Nadir looked as if he actually agreed. "Why are you leaving?"
"Well the detective in you certainly hasn't died."
Nadir just looked patiently at his old friend. More than ready to wait the insufferable man out. The minutes to the opening act were ticking away, and he knew how much Erik hated to be late for a performance.
Finally Erik let up. "Aria's on her first date."
Nadir had been prepared for any explanation, but this one took him by surprise. A looked of stunned expression crossed his face. "She's on a date?"
"I believe I said that."
"You let her date live?"
"Barely." Christine mumbled, Erik glared.
"Why does everyone always assume the worst?" Erik sighed irritably."I'm a respectable member of society now."
Nadir and Christine laughed. Erik glared some more.
"Funny. I couldn't just strangle him. Not when Aria's perfect taste choose none other then the Vicomte Phillipe de Chagny." Erik illuminated this new piece of information, enjoying the look that crossed Nadir's face.
"Oh Allah." He breathed in disbelief. "You let him live."
"So far all you talk about is this young man's death. Are you really trying to make me go back on my promise after all of these years?' Erik noted with amusement. "I'm just here for some very discreet, unintrusive chaperoning."
"Unintrusive?"
"Very discreet." Erik assured him.
Christine groaned. "Now I'm just here to see how long he upholds this new policy."
Nadir nodded in understanding. "So." He said at length. "The trapdoor by the fountain?"
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Erik and Nadir moved nimbly threw the catacombs that laced the bowls of the Opera Populair. The dark, musty corridors were still so familiar all og these years later. No time to pause and remember though. She was still to busy trying to keep up with the Phantom and the Daroga of Mazenderan. She glared at their backs as she pushed frills of cob webs out of her way. Her molten blue eyes were furious as they kept up with her husband. They spoke rapidly to each other in Persian. Completely ignoring her presence.
She hated being ignored.
"Erik." She called. "Would you mind cluing me in on your plans yet?"
Erik paused and waited for her to catch up. "I can't do anything without some information. I need to know where they are sitting, who they're next to, ect."
Christine sighed. "If that was all that you were saying, then you wouldn't be speaking in Persian."
Erik shrugged. "We could be talking in Russian."
"Arabic." nadir suggested.
"Italian." Erik said. "You know how much she would love that."
Christine glared. "You two are hilarious."
"Thank you." Erik said, and didn't continue their conversation as his attention was drawn to a small access door at the end of the tunnel. Christine looked curiously as the small corridor widened into a small chamber. Chains latched onto hooks and pulleys firmly attached to the walls and ceiling formed one giant counter weight. The floor of the chamber vaulted up in the center to form a vague upraised structure. Through a small foggy glass window crystals glittered and glowed against the muralised backdrop of heavenly angels . . .
Realization struck. "The chandelier." She whispered. "We're above the chandelier."
Erik turned to glance at Nadir. "We'll make a detective out of her yet."
Christine glared as the two men turned to the small door at the end of the chamber. Before they entered Erik turned to look at her. "Make sure you are silent. Sounds echo easily up here."
She looked curious spite herself as they made their way onto the small balcony outside the maintenance chamber, and she found herself looking at a scene out of her memories. They were on a ledge at the very top of the theater, above even the gilded angels whews outstretched arms reached out to encompass the audience below. In front of them the reconstructed chandelier hung in all of its sparkling splendor. Wide blue eyes took in her old home in a view she knew only a few human eyes have ever seen.
Nadir smiled at the expression on her face as Erik leaned in to whisper, "The best view in the house besides Box 5."
She smiled as she leaned back against him, feeling his arms wrap around her in a familiar position. Her daughter, and her date temporarily forgotten. As he held her his eyes swept over the familiar boxes that lined the auditorium. His eyes narrowed as he saw a girl with long ebony hair, and a very flattering crimson dress. Besides her an implacably dressed young man with wheat colored hair hanging down to his shoulders.
He had found them! They were both on the left side of the theater in a very dark secluded box. very dark. Too dark . . .
His golden eyes turned molten as he saw the Vicomte put an arm around his daughter. Miserable punk. He mentally snarled. You can move right back over, and keep your perfumed, manicured hands to yourself! He saw red when he saw him lean over to capture her lips in a soft kiss. Soft not for long though . . .
With a snarl of rage he flung away from Christine, and shot back into the dark passage. His cloak streaming behind him like a vengeful demon as Christine called for him to wait. When the lasso appeared in his hands she took off after him furiously. Yelling something about 'no more murders.' Nadir cocked an eyebrow at the fleeing couple as he looked to where Erik had been looking before his arupt departure. Oh Allah! This really was not good!
He muttered a quick prayer as he hoped that the suicidal Vicomte had enough sense to keep his hands ay the level of his eyes . . .
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Wow!A update! Yay. It sure took me long enough. Oh well, it was my longest chapter yet. I sure hope you enjoyed it. And I brought nadir in! Yay. He has always been one of my favorite characters, I had to add him.
So review, and tell me what you think about my latest development.
Who's for a strangled Vicomte?
Any takers? Hmmm?
Just kidding. I need to keep him around . . . for now.
