Disclaimer: Erik and the real town of Manistee are not mine. Only original creations belong to me.

AN: I know people are mad at me for having another guy enter the picture last chapter, but fear not! Erik reunites with Clara in this part, so don't worry about anything. And no, I'm not going to kill the suitor off in this story, though there might be some threats from our beloved Phantom! Also, this entire chapter takes place on the same day, so try not to be confused as to the passing of time or whatever: it's all the same day and night. Enjoy, and please review!

Chapter 17: A Shadow in the Night:

"Clara, Clara, wake up!" cried a voice from outside my door. "Wake up, Clara!"

Managing to both yawn and groan at the same time, I hid my head under my pillow to drown out the sounds of my little cousins. Well, one cousin; Kari had taken it upon herself to show and tell me everything there was to know about her hometown, which was the cause of my early-morning wakeup call. I hadn't had a peaceful morning since my arrival two weeks ago, and it was beginning to drive me slightly insane. Much to my dismay, Aunt Mary refused to interfere, so I was forced to wake up and do whatever was planned out for me for the day.

"Come on, Clara!" Kari called through the door. "Mama says we need to eat breakfast before we go into town to shop!"

I sighed and pulled my head out from under my pillow. "I'm awake, Kari, I'm awake!"

Even though there was a great deal of space between me and the door, I could hear her cheering as footsteps approached my room. Apparently Penny had been sent up here to help me dress, so now I would have to get up, willing or not. Rolling my eyes, I slid out of bed and went over to the clothes closet that held my dresses, both old and new. I couldn't hold back a chuckle as I searched through the numerous outfits I had acquired so far during my stay.

Two days after I'd arrived, my aunt had decided that my dresses, though lovely, needed to have more color and 'texture' than they already had. My personal tastes had leaned towards things that were simple, but elegant; Aunt Mary wanted me in something much bolder and with a wider variety of colors. Now I had outfits that held at least two or three different colored cloths creating it, and they made me feel slightly uncomfortable while I was wearing them. I loved my white dresses, as they kept off the Southern heat, but here on the shores of the Great Lakes, they were not necessary.

At that moment, Penny came in and rolled her eyes at the sight of my new wardrobe. She did not agree with my aunt's tastes in colors for me, especially not after Aunt Mary had tried to force me into having a seamstress fashion a repulsive blue dress that had a great deal of pale yellow in it. I looked horrible in yellow of any shade and knew it, which was why it took me an hour to persuade my aunt that there was a good reason yellow was nonexistent in any of my clothes. She had agreed, but Penny had never forgiven her for that occasion, or for any of my other new dresses, as some of them were completely wrong for me. In the end, Penny and I agreed that, when it came to dressing someone other than her daughters, my aunt's taste in fashion was…somewhat lacking.

"Which of these circus tents will you be wearing today, Miss Clara?" Penny asked me in a quiet voice. The two of us privately called my new dresses 'circus tents,' as they closely resembled those colorful materials.

I laughed and pointed at a sea-green dress with white silk on the bodice and in a few underskirts. It was one of the few new dresses that I liked, since I had picked out the colors and materials myself. It was also light and airy, perfect for walking along the sunny streets. I also had a new parasol of matching white silk, and was looking forward to using it for the day. Biting my lip, I slid into my corset and let Penny pull the strings tight. Thankfully, she left me plenty of room to breathe, as I had no intention of trying to appear thinner than I actually was. Some women liked to have their corsets tightened as far as they could go, thus giving up the right to breathe; I, however, knew that if I attempted such an act, I would not look as I hoped to. Instead, I preferred the ability to fill my lungs with air than appear like an awkwardly-shaped woman trying to look like something she was not.

When the last string had been tied off, I slipped into my dress and let Penny braid my hair before pinning it up into a knot at the top of my head. Any stray hairs were pulled together and curled so that they framed my forehead and face, and a pair of lovely green ribbons were woven into place to keep my hair from coming loose. I was handed a fan and a small satchel to tuck my money into, and was gently pushed towards the door by a very pleased maid.

"You look lovely, Miss," Penny said, grinning at me. "It's likely that the elder Miss Pine will be wanting to copy you before you leave."

I laughed at the thought of little Kari trying to dress like me. Ever since I had arrived, Kari had been doing her best to imitate me in dress and manners, which her mother thought was a good thing. It wouldn't surprise me in the least of my dear little cousin raced to her bedroom and tore it apart to find a dress that matched mine. So far, the townsfolk thought it was adorable, and would often smile upon seeing me lead a small, blonde copy of myself around the shops.

Giving my maid a nod, I turned and headed towards the dining room for breakfast.

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After the breakfast dishes were cleared away, Erik found himself restlessly pacing about his cabin on the train. He sorely missed seeing Clara, and it had been well over three weeks since she had left Rockford for her aunt's home. So far, the plan was working; he had managed to take a train up through Virginia and into Maryland before transferring to another train heading west to Michigan.

'Too many days on a train,' he thought. 'Too many days spent in one spot, despite stopping in a few cities to refuel and changed trains.'

Pacing, Erik realized that his impatience was due to his need to see his fiancé. He had left exactly two weeks after Clara had, biding his three servants farewell and wishing them luck in their new lives before leaping into his carriage and leaving Rockford forever. He was going to miss his servants, as they had become friends, but he made them promise to send him letters through Haleigh Winters, who had eagerly agreed to aid in all correspondence involving both Erik and Clara.

Suddenly, Erik found himself jerked off his feet by the train slowing down dramatically and coming to a stop. The sign above the platform outside his window read "Manistee," and he knew that he had arrived. Pulling on his cloak, Erik quickly glanced in a mirror to see if his everything was in place. Ever since his second visit to the Savoy mansion, he had spent hours developing a mask that matched his skin tone and fit to his face like a second skin. With just the right amount of makeup, Erik could pass himself off as any other man in town, making it so no one gave him a second glance.

Unfortunately, the illusion of normalcy did not last long. In his haste to create it, this new mask had been crafted of materials inferior to that of his white mask. Eventually, the combination of the makeup and mask would begin to itch, slowly driving him mad until he found a place to remove both and clean his face. For now, though, he appeared as a normal man should, and would keep that look until he was safely in his hotel room. It had worked thus far on the journey, which raised his hopes that he would be able to approach Clara with little difficulty until they made their flight from America.

A knock on the door signaled that one of the train's staff was here for his luggage. Opening the door, Erik stepped out of his little private cabin and allowed several young men to enter and remove his suitcases, of which there were four. He could not afford to take too much, as it would look suspicious, but Jerry had happily offered to keep the rest of Erik's belongings at his home until it was sent for after the elopement. Everything that could not be removed or were unwanted had been sold with the house, which had been purchased by a newlywed couple moving to the South from Maine. The sale of his home was actually financing the elopement plot for his stay in Manistee and their later escape.

After the bags were taken from the cabin and left on the platform, Erik straightened, stretching his back and enjoying the fresh air that came off of the lake nearby. The breeze coming off the water had a different scent from that of the ocean, as the lake was of fresh and not salt water, but it was still refreshing and cleaner than anything he had ever breathed in his life. If he did not have to run away from here with Clara, there was a chance that he would settle here and raise a family with her.

From behind him came a feminine giggle, causing Erik to turn around. A small group of young ladies, just in their late teenage years, stood there, eyeing him with admiration written all over their faces. He recognized those looks from the ones that the young women in Rockford had thrown at him, and so knew how to handle the situation. A brief, but polite, nod and a smile made the girls erupt into a collection of giggles, some of them fluttering their lashes at him as he waved down someone to help him with his bags.

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An hour after arriving in town, Erik located the small, but comfortable, hotel where he had reserved a room. Given that the town itself was small, he hadn't counted on there being a large hotel with an army of bellboys and maids. The Crystal Water Hotel wasn't large, but it wasn't small, either, and had a decent-sized staff that was happy to cater to Erik's needs. It was a three-level brick building, and took up nearly half of a block. The entrance consisted of a small lobby with a front desk, but was elegantly decorated with a wealth of furniture, dark blue wall-hangings, and mahogany wood panelling. Predictably, the largest and most expensive rooms were on the top floor, reserved for those who had the money to spend on them.

Through his reservation and his wealthy appearance, Erik managed to get the last available of the upstairs suites, and was glad of it; the breathtaking view of the water explained the price of the room, and the cool breeze flowing through the windows was marvelous. Turning towards his luggage, Erik smiled as he went to unpack. Normally, such a chore would have been left to the servant assigned to him by the hotel, but Erik had dismissed the young man so that he could remove his mask and wash away the itchy makeup. The servant had been happy to leave after Erik had given him a generous tip.

Once most of his clothing had been unpacked, Erik began pacing his room, unsure as to what to do next. Haleigh had said that she would write to both him and Clara after she was sure he had arrived in Clara's aunt's town; however, he did not want to wait too long to contact the woman he loved. Right now, it was taking all of his willpower not to run downstairs and ask for directions to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Geoffrey Pine so he could go find Clara. No, he would have to wait for Haleigh to send both of her letters before he could contact his love. Sighing, Erik decided that a long, hot bath was a good idea, as the bathing facilities on the train had been tiny and practically nonexistent.

Humming, he picked up a towel and his white mask and headed for the bathroom.

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By late afternoon, I was more than ready to run to my room and scream into a pillow. My morning with my little cousins had gone smoothly enough, although they had dragged me around town to all of the little shops along the main street. We had purchased some candy for ourselves, as well as some ribbons for our hair and hats and dresses. Our final stop had been the local bookstore, which, though small, had a wide selection of books. By the time we were finished, the three of us were so excited to go home and read that the girls begged for me to read aloud to them as soon as we returned.

However, my aunt had other plans for me. She had truly taken my father's letter to heart, and was determined to find me a 'suitable man' before I left for home. My aunt might have even had the hopes of having me married before the season was over, just so she knew what to do when her own daughters grew up. Frankly, the whole idea sickened me, but since it was her house that I was living in (for the time being), I had no choice but to play along and do what she asked.

This was primarily why I was currently sitting in Aunt Mary's sunny parlor, sipping tea with six other young, available women of marriageable age. I was also bored out of my mind, as none of these girls seemed to have a thought in their head; even my friends in Rockford had more to talk about than just dresses, gossip, and possible husbands! I silently thanked the Lord for my friends back home, all of which had a mind of their own, as well as a bit of Southern spunk and strength. If Haleigh herself had been here, she would have run out of the room, screaming for someone to save her.

Unfortunately, I was not gifted with my friend's streak of rebelliousness, so I forced my temper down and sipped my tea, trying to draw my attention from the whirlwind of gossip floating around my head. However, I kept my ears open, as I knew I would be required to answer any sort of question or comment directed at me. If I didn't behave as I was expected to, my aunt would be angry, and then she would write to my father, which was something I could not afford. Instead, I merely sat there and smiled whenever it was appropriate.

"Oh, Miss Savoy, you are so fortunate to have Mr. Kirkland interested in you!" declared a young woman with black hair, her eyelashes fluttering over blue eyes.

"And isn't he the gentleman!" said another girl, this one with light brown hair and gray eyes. "He's always so attentive to you, always fetching little drinks and food for you. You are so lucky!"

I tried not to snort in disbelief as I put on a polite smile. "Yes, he is quite considerate, isn't he?" I asked, sipping my tea and wishing that they would all just leave me alone. I would much rather be up in my room, thinking about Erik than sitting here and talking about nothing!

"He's naturally considerate, but he pays more attention to your comforts than any others," declared my aunt, who entered the room and took a seat close to me. "You would do well to return his affections, Clara. Charles Kirkland is a good man."

I wanted to tell her that another good man already had my heart, but that would not be a good idea. Inwardly, I sighed and took another sip of tea as I thought about Erik's magnificent presence, how he always seemed to fill the room with an air of mystery that was so enticing it was impossible for any female to resist it. During our courtship, I had noticed many women eyeing him, their gazes turning dark as they followed his movements. I know that Erik never noticed them, nor was he aware of the aura that he projected, and that made him so much dearer to me.

"Oh, Mrs. Pine, I hope that you and your niece will come to the Kirkland's party this evening!" cried a girl sitting behind me. I didn't even turn around, as I had no interest as to see who it was.

"Of course we will be there," Aunt Mary replied. "We wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Biting back another groan, I picked up a biscuit and bit into it, trying not to scream.

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Reading through the note in his hand, Erik did his best not to run out the door and begin strangling every man in the street with his bare hands. A letter from Haleigh had arrived only an hour ago, and the serving man assigned to Erik had brought it straight up. At first, Erik had been excited to see what Haleigh wanted both him and Clara to do, but what he read had boiled his blood in his veins.

Dear Erik,

A letter arrived from Clara a week after you left, and I realized at first glance that it could not be a good one. From the teardrop stains on the ink and paper, to the messy way that it was written, I saw that my dearest friend was afraid of what the future might hold both for her and for you. Apparently, Mr. Kirkland, the young man the one that Jerry told you about, the one that is interested in Clara, has been getting slightly more persistent with each passing day. Clara says that she's overheard the local gossips say that he's never met a more charming young woman, and claims that, at every social event that they attend together, Mr. Kirkland is always there, fussing over her like a mother hen.

Erik, I don't want to alarm you, but Clara desperately needs you. I trust you not to do anything…unwise, but please be extremely careful in how and when you appear in public in that town. It is a small place where everyone knows everyone else, or everyone is friends or relatives with someone in town. I highly doubt that Mr. Savoy told his sister what you look like or gave her any sort of information on you, but still, be careful, or else this entire plan will fall apart. You need to find a way to comfort Clara, but in a manner that will not be discovered. I have faith that you will do that. I will write soon, and in the mean time, I wish you luck in your quest to contact our darling girl.

Yours truly,

Haleigh Winters

Despite the spots of rage forming in front of his eyes, Erik made a decision. Tonight would be the night he would try and get word to Clara. If she needed him that much, he would do everything in his power to make it so. For the sake of his future with the woman he loved and who loved him in return, he had to spare her any sort of pain she might be suffering.

And he knew just how to do it.

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The ballroom was amazingly cool with the windows open, allowing the chilled night air from the Great Lake to flow in; however, it did nothing to dispel the scents of a dozen different perfumes and colognes. The candles on the walls had gone out in the evening breezes, but the ones in the large chandelier were still brightly burning, providing all the light we could possibly need. The atmosphere could be considered much nicer than the ones back home, were it not for one thing…

"Really, Mr. Kirkland, I am far too tired to dance this evening," I said, putting on one of my best false smiles. "Perhaps you should ask Miss Olivia Vanton to dance; she is quite a lovely girl."

To myself, I thought, 'Olivia also happens to be one of the girls who are envious of this annoying man courting me.'

For a moment, Charles gave me a pitying look. "Shall I fetch you a drink, then, Miss Savoy?" he asked, acting as if my granting his request would send him straight to heaven.

"No, I think I will get some air in the gardens outside," I said, rising from my chair near the dance floor. "A solitary walk away from any noise and distractions might just be what I need."

Charles Kirkland merely nodded, his flat, mouse-brown hair flopping about as he did so. "Certainly," he said, smiling. "While you are gone, I shall go and speak to your aunt and uncle, then, shall I?"

Before I could protest, he was gone. Finally alone for the first time that evening, I slipped outside and into the gardens. The noise from the party could be heard through the open windows, so I decided to wander deeper into the foliage to escape the chatter coming from indoors. I walked along a brick pathway until a line of small trees hid the Kirkland house from view, successfully blocking out the noise as well. Savoring the cool night air, I fanned myself and sighed with contentment.

"You are still using my gift, I see," declared a voice I would recognize anywhere.

"Erik?" I breathed, whirling around. "Oh, Lord, please be here and not something in my head!"

A shadow moved, and there before me stood Erik, clad completely in black from head to foot. Even his mask was black, covering the top half of his face. I gasped at the magnificent sight he made, my eyes widening in awe. A seductive smirk pulled up the corners of his lips, and I found myself needing to kiss them at once…so I stepped up to him and did so. His strong arms slipped around me and pulled me close as his warm mouth pressed against mine. Against my will, my eyes slipped shut as I savored the taste and feel of Erik's lips against mine, sighing in contentment as I did so.

When the need for air became too great, we separated, but just enough to breathe. Erik's arms continued to hold me close as I buried my face into his neck, taking in the smell of sandalwood and a hint of roses, as well as a musky scent that was purely Erik's. His gloved hands slid up and down my back, offering me comfort as he whispered French words into my ears. It was so beautiful that I never wanted it to end.

"Take me away, Erik," I whispered. "I can't stand it here anymore!"

"Hush, my love," his soft, musical voice murmured. "We will be together soon. I promise you this."

"It must be soon," I softly said, a touch of urgency in my voice. "Charles Kirkland has been pursuing me, and if we do not leave soon…"

"What?" Erik asked, his hand tilting my head back so he could look into my eyes. "Do you fear he will ask to marry you?" I nodded and he pulled me back into his embrace. "I will never let that happen, my love, never. It will be soon, for you know that I would not see you unhappy."

I sighed as he kissed my forehead and released me. When we were an arms' length apart, he blew me a kiss and disappeared into the shadows, leaving me wondering if it was merely a dream. However, I looked down and spotted a single red rose lying in the pathway, a beautiful black ribbon embroidered with gold wrapped around its stem.

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He silently watched as she picked up the rose and inhaled the scent as she turned and walked back towards the mansion. Soon, everything would fall into place, and the two of them would spend the rest of their lives in happiness. Patience was a virtue, but if some fool tried to take Clara from him before then, there would be hell to pay.

Giving his love one last glance, the Phantom vanished into the darkness of the night.

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AN: Wow, can you just picture Erik in all black? Sexy! Please review!