Rekindling the Music of the Night
By: K.C. Vaillancourt
Disclaimer - You know the drill…I do not own anything associated with The Phantom of the Opera or lyrics of any songs I use.
Author Note – Again thank you for the reviews, follows, and favorites.
Just as a quick warning I do edit all my work before I post and have people read my work but there still may be some grammar mistakes. I apologize for them in advance.
A New Beginning
Meg continued to ride Cecile at a full gallop pushing her as hard as she could. She felt bad when she heard Cecile panting due to the pace they were keeping with no stops but she would make it up to her when they arrived at their stables. She smiled when they rode into the field and she saw her mother's home in the distance. She stopped Cecile and walked her to the stables before going to see her mother. She stopped when she entered and immediately became concerned when she didn't see Cesar.
Did Raoul get to her already? She wondered to herself. She shook her head. No, no one had seen her leave and even if they did there were few horses that could keep pace with Cesar. Maybe Christine had stopped somewhere even though she had told her not to. She knew word of the reward was going to spread quickly but it couldn't have spread fast enough to hinder her departure from Paris even if she had stopped.
She put Cecile in a stall making sure she had plenty of food and water. She gave her a thorough brushing and left the stables making her way to the house. She riffled through her bag and cursed at herself when she couldn't find her key. She knew how late it was and didn't want to wake her mother but this was too important to wait until morning. Not to mention she didn't really relish the idea of sleeping in the stables. Her mind made up she knocked on the door as hard as she could.
Madame Giry had tried to go to bed after Christine left but found it to be futile. She knew sleep would not come to her until she knew what had happened between Erik and Christine. She sat watching the fire sipping tea hoping that everything was alright. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard frantic knocking on her front door. She sighed instantly thinking that their reunion had not gone the way Christine wanted.
She opened the door and was surprised to see her daughter on the other side. "Meg!" She exclaimed with a smile at her daughter's surprise visit and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Why were you knocking?"
"I lost my key." Meg told her and hoped that Raoul wouldn't go back into Erik's home to explore further and find it. She figured even if he did he would most likely toss it aside since he wouldn't know what it went to.
"How did you get here?" Her mother asked when she didn't see a horse behind her.
"I rode Christine's horse. She is back in the stables. Maman I didn't see Cesar in there." She said with obvious concern. "Did you see Christine this evening?"
"Yes I did." Madame Giry said. "To say I was surprised to see her would be an understatement. We talked for a little bit and as you must have known I would I told her where Erik was."
Meg couldn't hold back her smile. "I wasn't completely sure you would tell her given how protective you are of him but I knew if you heard Christine out there was a good chance."
"I told her to take Cesar with her to see him." Madame Giry explained. "You told me when you were last here that you wouldn't be back for a few months. Not that I am not happy to see my daughter but what are you doing here and at this ungodly hour no less?"
"I had to leave Paris and get here as fast as I could to warn you all." Meg told her.
Madame Giry was immediately alarmed. "Warn us? About what?"
"Since you spoke with Christine you know that she left Raoul and her reasons for doing so. When I told her I would help her get out of Paris safely I came up with a plan for her and me to switch places."
"That explains her shorter blonde hair and why you have the same cut as she does but are now a brunette. Meg do you have any idea how dangerous your plan was?" Madame Giry said as she led her daughter inside and they sat by the fire.
"Maman I can take care of myself." Meg insisted trying not to roll her eyes. After living in Paris on her own all these years her mother still had a tendency to treat her like a child. "She probably tried to hide it but I am sure you saw what that wretch did to her." Madame Giry nodded. "She didn't tell me the details but we can guess what the rest of her life with him was like. I had to do whatever I could to help her."
"I suppose if it were me I would have done the same." Her mother admitted. "What happened in Paris tonight that made you feel the need to come here so urgently?"
Meg decided to tell her the shortest version of the story as possible. "After Christine left I encountered one of Raoul's men on the street. He immediately thought I was Christine but I was able to convince him I was someone else. I wasn't completely sure that he believed me so I went to the opera house to pack a few things. Just as I was about to leave I came face to face with Raoul…"
"Are you alright?" Madame Giry interrupted thinking back to the bruise she saw on Christine's face. She got up and began to look her daughter over for wounds.
"Maman stop! I am fine." Meg insisted and got her mother to sit back down. "He tried to plaster on a mask of politeness but when I wouldn't give him any information he became threatening so…" Meg tried hard not to smile as she relived what she did to Raoul in her mind. "I kneed him in the…"
"Meg!" Her mother exclaimed.
"I know. I know. It's not lady like and you detest violence but what else was I supposed to do? After he fell to the ground I ran out through the tunnel and jumped on Christine's horse." Meg explained. "I was about to ride out of town but something told me to turn around. I waited for Raoul to make his way out of the opera house. When he did he met up with a man named Anton. I am pretty sure it was the same man I encountered on the street. He told Anton to spread the word that he was offering fifty-thousand francs to anyone who knew your location. If that information lead him to Erik, who I am certain he thinks Christine will be with, he would give them one hundred-thousand francs. When I heard that I knew I had to come to warn the three of you right away."
Madame Giry thought for a moment. "Your instincts were right. With that kind of reward offered word will spread quickly not only through Paris but most of France. I know my friends are loyal to me but even they may not be able to resist that."
Meg nodded in agreement. "What are we going to do?"
Madame Giry sighed. "The only thing I can think of to do is try to disappear. Not only from this house but from France. The Vicomte's influence can only get him so far and he knows it. I have a feeling that's why he is offering such a lofty reward. I have heard wonderful things about London from people in town."
Meg's eye lit up at the thought. "I have always dreamed of going to London."
"You may want to tone down your enthusiasm when you see Christine." Madame Giry suggested.
"Right." Meg said feeling the warmth enter her cheeks as they turned a bit pink.
Madame Giry smiled at her. "I know you have always wanted to leave Paris and explore the world but you know Christine. She will not like that you are forced to live that dream because of her."
"I know Maman but you're right. If we can all get out of France we should be free of the Vicomte."
"It will not be as easy as it sounds." Madame Giry noticed Meg trying to stifle a yawn. "It has been a long night. We both should get some rest."
"What about Christine and Erik?" Meg wondered. "Shouldn't we go tell them?"
"Christine has been at his cabin for a while now." Madame Giry told her. "I do not want to interrupt them. I will go and see him in the morning."
"I was right." Meg said with a smile. "I never asked because I figured you wouldn't tell me but he lives right behind our home doesn't he?" Her mother nodded. "Will we all travel together?"
Madame Giry shook her head. "People will be looking for the four of us and expect that."
"What about Christine?"
"I guess that will depend on what I find in the morning." Madame Giry told her with a smile. "Now off to bed. We will have a lot to figure out in a few hours."
Meg gave her mother a kiss before going upstairs to her room. She took off her cloak but was so tired she didn't bother changing and curled up on her bed. She was asleep as soon as her head hit her soft pillow.
Madame Giry watched Meg disappear upstairs and sat back down. She knew it would be a matter of time before strangers began showing up at her home or worse the Vicomte himself. She sighed as she got up and went up to her room. As she laid down she realized even though the plan Meg had come up with to help Christine in Paris was dangerous it might be exactly what she and Meg would have to do to make sure not only Erik but Christine stayed safe.
While Meg and Madame Giry were talking, at the cabin Christine smiled as Erik held her in his arms pulling her as close to him as he could. She could tell he was trying not to hurt her healing body as he held her. She thought back but couldn't remember the last time she had been this truly happy. They stayed together on the floor in silence enjoying the feeling of being together.
Erik thought his heart might leap out of his chest from pure joy. As he held Christine he caressed her bare lower back trying not to let anger overshadow the joy as he felt the scars that marred her once perfect skin.
As she felt his hands on her back Christine suddenly became aware that she was only in her upper undergarment. She felt her cheeks begin to get warm as she felt embarrassment set in at what she had done to her clothes. She unwrapped herself from him and rewrapped herself in his cloak. "I'm sorry for…"
"You have nothing to apologize for." Erik told her pulling her back in his arms. "I understand why you did what you felt you had to do. I'm sorry you had to live through such pain."
Christine smiled as she made herself comfortable in his arms and laid her head on his chest. "Anything I had to go through was worth it to be in your arms now."
Erik was about to argue the point but decided to let it go when another question came to his mind. "Why do you love me Christine?"
"What?" Christine asked as she looked up at him.
He looked away from her staring intently at his front door. "Why do you love me? How could you? As you said I lied to you. I kidnapped you. I tried to force you to marry me. Lastly, I am a murderer. A monster?"
Christine placed her hand on the back of his neck and gently forced him to look down at her. "You are not a monster. I understand you did what you had to do to survive when you killed those men and whoever came before them. As for what you did to me. You lived your life alone and never knew love before me. It overwhelmed you and you didn't know what to do. As I said you are not the only one responsible for what happened between us at the opera house. The night you opened the mirror and showed me your home was one of the happiest of my life. Even wearing your mask you showed me your heart and soul through your music. You are a beautiful man with an amazing soul. How could I not love you?"
Erik was silent for a few moments as he starred down at her. Christine noticed a tear slide down his cheek. "No one has ever called me beautiful before."
"You are, inside and out. It is sad that no one can look past your exterior to see that beauty."
"You have and that is all I care about. No one else's opinion matters to me anymore." Erik told her as he leaned down to kiss her once more. As they parted he saw her trying to hide a yawn and smiled at the beauty in his arms as she was fighting to keep her eyes open. "Christine you're exhausted. Let me show you to the guest room so you can get some rest."
Christine was about to get up when Erik carefully stood cradling her in his arms. She looked up at him. "I need to get my things off of Cesar."
"I can get them for you after you have laid down if you like." Erik offered. Christine nodded laying her head back on his chest. He walked passed the front door down a short hallway. He stopped and carefully opened the guest room door. As he walked into the room he was about to say something when he looked down. He smiled as he saw Christine had fallen asleep in his arms. He walked to the full sized wooden and black velvet canopy bed in the center of the room. He gently laid her down on the maroon silk sheets leaving his cloak wrapped around her. He covered her with a matching down blanket and left the room.
After picking up her clothes from the floor and placing them on a chair he walked outside. He stood for a moment petting Cesar who gladly accepted the attention from his master. He took her satchels from his back and brought them into the guest room. He placed them on the wooden bench at the end of the bed. He looked up at Christine who was still asleep and smiled when he saw her lips were curled into a smile. He walked up to her and bent down gently kissing her on the cheek. "Sleep well. Je t'aime, ma cherie."
He left the room and walked back into the sitting room. He didn't know what to do with himself. Part of him still couldn't believe what had happened tonight. He thought any moment he was going to wake up and find himself alone in his bed. He looked at his organ and decided to sit down. He sifted through the blank sheets of music until he found what he was looking for. It was the first piece of music he had ever written.
He placed the sheet music on the music desk and began to play. "Child of the wilderness. Born into emptiness. Learn to be lonely. Learn to find your way in darkness. Who will be there for you? Comfort and care for you. Learn to be lonely. Learn to be your one companion. Never dreamed out in the world. There are arms to hold you. You've always known your heart was on its own. So laugh in your loneliness. Child of the wilderness. Learn to be lonely. Learn how to love life that is lived alone. Learn to be lonely. Life can be lived, life can be loved alone."
Christine had woken up when she felt his lips on her cheek. She had a smile on her face that would not leave. When she heard him start to play she closed her eyes and listened to his music. It sounded familiar to her but in her drowsy state she couldn't place where she had heard it. She closed her eyes and fell back into a peaceful sleep.
As Erik finished playing he smiled at the thought of not having to be lonely anymore. He started looking through the sheet music again. He smiled when he finally found it, the last piece of music he had written since moving to this cabin. "One song glory, one song before I go. Glory, one song to leave behind, find one song, one last refrain, glory, from the ugliest front man. Who wasted opportunity. One song, he had the world at his feet, glory, in the eyes of a young girl, a young girl. Find glory. Beyond the cheap flaming lights. One song, before the sun sets. Glory, on another empty life. Time flies, time dies. Glory, one blaze of glory. One blaze of glory, glory. Find glory in a song that rings true. Truth like a blazing fire, an eternal flame. Find, one song, a song about love, glory, from the soul of a young man. A young man, find the one song, before the sadness takes hold glory, like a sunset. One song to redeem this empty life. Time flies and then no need to endure anymore. Time dies"
His voice faded away and he brought his hand up to his mask. So much had happened tonight he had forgotten he was wearing it. He began to feel anxious at the thought of her seeing him without his mask again. She told him his face didn't frighten her but it had been years since she'd seen it. If she saw me without my mask again it might not frighten her but would she be disgusted when she looked at his face. He wondered. She told me I was beautiful. He reminded himself. She wouldn't have said it if she didn't mean it. As illogical as it was part of him still feared her reaction at seeing him maskless.
He noticed the fire beginning to die down and got up to put more wood on it. He sat down starring at the fire and his thoughts began to drift away from his face and to what he had seen on Christine's body.
His hands clenched into tight fists as he thought of what the Vicomte had done to her. He had claimed to love her. The only reason he pushed her away was because he thought the Vicomte was better for her than he was. He thought he would give her a better life and protect her but he had done the complete opposite. He had beaten her. He tried to break her so she would be the perfect wife.
He knew Christine was right when she said he would never stop looking for her. Erik knew they would not be able to stay here long. Every day they did after tonight would put the Giry's in danger. Especially Meg. She lived at the opera house and he knew that would be one of the first places the Vicomte would look for Christine if he hadn't already.
Meg is a smart woman. He thought to himself. If she had planned Christine's departure from Paris she must have had one for herself as well.
He had seen the intense fear in Christine's eyes when she told him that the Vicomte dealt with dangerous men whom he assumed were in his employ. Erik smiled. He may be only one man but he was after all the infamous Phantom of the Opera. If the Vicomte found them before they had a chance to leave no matter how many men he brought with them they would all regret stepping foot near his home.
He loved Christine and she loved him in return. Long ago he had made a promise to protect her and failed. This time he wouldn't. He would protect her no matter what he had to do. Hate burned in his eyes as he looked into the fire. She had been made to endure years of hell. It was only fitting that he return the Vicomte's actions in kind.
He sat thinking for so long he didn't notice the sun beginning to rise. When he saw the light coming in through the windows he got up and prepared himself some coffee. It wasn't uncommon for him to be up through the night into the next day. He sat back down as he began to wonder where Christine and he would go from here.
She wanted to be with him but she was still a married woman and perhaps in the light of day she would feel differently. He forcefully pushed any doubt out of his mind. He knew by the way she spoke and sang last night she wanted to be with him. It was her marriage that was the problem. He heard stories of women wanting to be free of their husbands and how hard it was. Perhaps it was time for him to call in some of the favors that were owed to him.
He was so lost in his thoughts that when he heard the soft knock on his door he nearly jumped. He opened the door and was surprised to see Madame Giry.
"I'm sorry to disturb you at such an early hour." She said.
"Not at all. I was awake already. Please come in."
"Thank you." She said as he closed the door behind her and they sat by the fireplace. She looked around. "I saw Cesar was still outside. Where is Christine?"
"She is asleep." Erik said and couldn't hold back a smile.
"I take it by the renewed glow in your eyes that your reunion with her went well." She said not being able to hold back a smile of her own.
"Not at first." Erik admitted and a thought hit him. "Did you know?"
Madame Giry raised an eyebrow. "Did I know what?"
"How that imbecile was treating her?" Erik whispered trying to keep himself from shaking with pure rage.
"No. I hadn't had contact with her since her wedding day. You must know if I had known I would have found a way to help her long before now." Madame Giry told him.
Erik nodded. She thought of Christine as her own daughter she would never have let her suffer as she did. "I apologize. I know you would have moved heaven and earth to help her."
"There is no need for apologies Erik. You said your reunion did not go well at first. What changed things?"
"She told me she loved me. That she had from the beginning and it was never my face that frightened her. She wanted to be with me but felt trapped by the Vicomte's immediate control over her life. Of course my lies about being an angel sent to her by her father did not help matters." Madame Giry did not say anything but he knew her well enough to see the, I told you as much look in her eyes. "Then everything I did after his arrival." Erik sighed. "It doesn't matter anymore. It's in the past. After we had made our peace with it Christine asked me if we could start a new life, together."
"Should I bother to ask what your answer was?" Erik couldn't help but laugh but immediately stopped when he saw Madame Giry's face become serious. "There is the not so small issue of her being a married woman."
"I know. That is one of the many things that has kept me up since she fell asleep." Erik told her taking a sip of his coffee.
"Her husband is the reason I am here."
Erik immediately became concerned. "What happened?"
"Meg arrived last night a while after Christine did. She ended up having a small confrontation with the Vicomte…"
"He didn't hurt her did he?"
Madame Giry shook her head. "She is fine. She ended up doing more damage to him before he could do anything to her."
Erik couldn't help but smile at the thought. "Was that what you came to tell me?"
"Once Meg had, dispatched, with the Vicomte she had Christine's horse ready to go and was about to ride her out of the city but decided to stop to do a bit of ease dropping. She heard the Vicomte talking to a man named Anton. He is offering fifty thousand francs to anyone who knows my whereabouts and one hundred thousand if the information leads to you." Madame Giry informed him.
"This is what Christine was afraid of." Erik said shaking his head. He sighed "Last night she was telling me that Raoul had gotten the Surete involved in the search for her along with other dangerous men he knew. She was scared it would put me, you, and Meg in danger. She tried to tell me it was a mistake to come here and was about to leave but I stopped her. Once she hears about this she will insist on leaving to keep us all safe."
Madame Giry could see the panic in Erik's eyes and reached out putting a gentle hand on his arm. "That will be her first instinct but you said yourself she wants to share her life with you. I know you won't just let her walk out your door. Besides, she is safer with you then on her own. Since the Vicomte knows Meg helped her he will be after all of us no matter what. That's why I came over. I think that it would be best if we all left France and traveled to London. The Vicomte would have little to no influence there."
"I have been thinking the same thing. I only hadn't thought of a location. London sounds like a good idea. We will all need to leave as soon as possible. With the reward he is offering it won't be long before he comes knocking on your door."
"You and Christine must go as soon as possible. I feel Meg and I should stay behind for a few days after you leave."
Erik shook his head. "We can't let you do that. If the Vicomte does come here he will do whatever it takes to get either of you to tell him where Christine and I are."
"The Vicomte will not do anything to me or my daughter. Men like him are cowards who hide their true battering nature until no one is looking."
"Madame Giry if he comes here with men in his employ he will have no need to hide. He will have them do it for him." Erik pointed out.
"Erik, there is no choice." Madame Giry said firmly. "If you and Christine are going to have a chance to get away we need to stay behind. It won't be for long and the Vicomte might not even show up. If he does we can lead him in the wrong direction and meet up with you in a location we decide on before you leave."
Erik was about to continue to argue with her that it was too dangerous and he could protect them all but he knew when Madame Giry's mind was made up. "I will talk to Christine and we will come to see you both later today. I have a few friends around France that Raoul's money will have no influence on. They should be able to help us."
"You do?" Madame Giry asked surprised.
"Did you think after you left the opera house when you were younger I stayed there the entire time?"
"I did actually."
Erik shook his head. "I traveled and ended up meeting some acquaintances along the way."
Madame Giry wanted to ask more about this new revelation but noticed how bright the room was becoming and wanted to get back before Meg woke up. "I am sure Christine will be up soon and it would be better if she heard these things from you." She stood up and Erik walked her to the door. She smiled up at him and pulled him into a hug. "I am so happy for you both."
"Thank you." Erik said as they parted.
"Would you like me to take Cesar back to the stables so he can rest and be fed?"
"Yes, I doubt he appreciates that he has stuck there all night."
Madame Giry untied Cesar and began to walk back towards her house. Erik watched them until they were gone. He closed the door and rested his head against it sighing. Christine had said it herself. The Vicomte would never stop hunting for her and would seek out anyone she cared about to find her. He would spread the word through as much of France as he could. Erik returned to his chair as a plan began to form in his mind.
The Vicomte had offered money and would no doubt offer more if he had to but that was all he had. Erik had been the Opera Ghost, keeping people running his opera house the way he wanted for years. Experience and intelligence were his advantages over the Vicomte. Perhaps it was time to dust off his gloves and take up his role as the opera ghost once more. If people knew he was back then they may be more apt to keep what they knew to themselves. He thought those days were behind him but he would do whatever needed to be done to protect Christine and the Giry's even if that meant more bodies fell by his hands.
Back in Paris, Gerald shook his head as he heard the sound of more glass shattering outside the door of the study. He was sure he would have much more to clean up after his master was done throwing his tantrum.
Inside the study Raoul was pacing back and forth. "How hard is it to find one woman in one city? What do I pay your friends for if they are all useless?"
Anton watched Raoul pace as he sat with his back turned to the fire. He had never seen his friend this upset about anything in his life. He understood how embarrassing it was that his wife left him but he knew there was more to it than that. His fixation on this one woman who in is his opinion was never good enough for his friend in the first place was becoming an obsession that threatened to tear him apart. He was worried for him but decided that was a conversation for another time. "Meg Giry had a pretty good head start on us. A few people were able to give us the general direction she took but after we got outside the city the trail went cold. You can't be surprised we haven't found her. You know what kind of lead she could have gotten riding Cecile."
Raoul nodded. He remembered how many times Christine had beaten him when they would race while riding together. "What about the whereabouts of her mother?"
"No one has come forward with anything useful." Anton told him and waited for the explosion. He didn't have to wait long.
"You are telling me that even with the kind of money I am offering. We have no leads!" Raoul yelled throwing another glass.
Anton shook his head as he watched it hit the dark wooden door and shatter. Perhaps it was time to have that conversation after all. "Raoul, you are beginning to worry me. You need to calm down. It has been less than half a day since you decided to offer a reward, give it time. Someone is going to tell us what we want to know." He took a moment before he continued. "I know I have said this before but why is it so important to you to get Christine back? When you have talked about her with me before she left it sounded like you never held her in the highest regard. To tell you the truth I never did either. There are plenty of other women out there that would make a more suitable wife than her." He thought back to when they were in the phantom's lair at the opera house. "Is this even about Christine? Or is it about your bruised ego and jealousy over the man you think she left you for?"
Raoul stopped pacing and looked at Anton. "I don't think. I know she is with him. Meg and Madame Giry are the key to finding him I am certain of it. Before she left we fought when I discovered she kept a gift he had given her. When I confronted her about it I could see the love and desire for him in her eyes. She tried to deny it but it was there. No one but the Giry's could have helped him evade the mob that was after him six years ago and I bet you anything they have helped keep him hidden. When Christine found Meg she must have helped her get to her mother and her mother helped her get to him."
"So, it is about him." Anton concluded. Raoul tried to rebut but Anton continued. "Have you forgotten that I have known you your whole life? I know you better than you know yourself right now. This frantic search has nothing to do with Christine De Chagny and everything to do with this, phantom. If you're not careful this obsession will tear you apart."
Raoul sat next to Anton and put his head in his hands. "Fine, you're right. Is that what you want to hear?" He said as he looked up at him. "If you had come to the opera house back then you would better understand why I am obsessed with getting her back. He's a monster. He terrorized Christine and everyone else there. At the time I thought she felt the same about him as everyone else. What I can't wrap my head around is if she did, why would she leave me to go back to him? Ever since we escaped the fire at the opera house I have wondered if she ever loved me at all or if she loved him all along." His voice became low and filled with anger. "Now I know. He deserves to hang for what he did and she deserves to watch. Then as I've said she will be taught through whatever means necessary to be an obedient wife and we will have our life together. If you want no part in this I suggest you go now. If you stay you are with me until the end, no matter what that is."
Anton knew what he meant by whatever means necessary, there had been times he was forced to teach his own wife what it meant to be obedient. "You know I am with you Raoul, to the end. I will go put some pressure on our people to get the word of the reward out faster."
Raoul nodded his thanks as Anton left the study. He walked over to a window and watched as the sun continued to rise. He thought about when he had seen Christine when she was on stage during Hannibal. He knew then and there she would be his wife. Then when they had proclaimed their love together on the roof of the opera house he knew she was his. He hadn't counted on another man vying for her hand once he had staked his claim but the phantom had. He shook his head. Reliving the past wasn't going to help him in the present. If Christine had wanted to be with him all this time and was with him now he hoped they enjoyed their time together, because when he found them Christine would come back and he would hang the phantom with his own lasso.
