The Perfect Solution
An Alternate Universe – Phantom of the Opera Story
Nyasia A. Maire
© 2007
DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the rights nor did I create any characters found in The Phantom of the Opera or Phantom, nor have I received monetary compensation for writing this story.
of comfort
amid dreams of green and gold
and spilling flowers on the breeze
i float along and wait
to hear heaven's voice
touch me with your song
Nyasia A. Maire – 2007
Chapter Forty – To Hear Heaven's Voice
"Well, how do we help her remember Lilith?" Erik interrupted.
The Angel frowned and turned away.
"Come, now. What must we do to help Christine? You must tell me."
He watched as the Angel of Music aged and became a man once more. Erik felt his body change and he realized he was once again 17 years old.
"In order for Christine to remember, I must die again."
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
"What do you mean? They are most definitely not fine! Look at them! And you, Madame, what have you been doing since that unearthly light shone about the Mistress? You have been conversing with the ceiling. If we were back in my beloved England, I would suggest a tour of Bedlam for the lot of you!"
A sharp intake of breath hissed through the room and an icy silence lingered briefly, before even colder words sounded.
"Elaine Mallery! Speak not of that which you do not understand."
Another silence.
"Things happen here which defy all reason. I cannot explain to you about things that I do not fully understand. Please trust me when I say that if I believed either Christine or Erik were in danger, I would be the first to send for a physician. We do not require a man of medicine here, but a man of God. Please watch over them. I shall not be gone long."
"Wait! Are you leaving right now? Where are you going? Why?"
"I do not have the luxury of time for I do not know when Erik and Christine will awake. Suffice it to say, I go to fetch a priest. Adieu."
Antoinette swept past the dumbfounded woman. The quiet tapping of her cane on the hardwood floor receded down the hall and faded into silence. Elaine stared at the open bedroom door, her eyes glazed in shock. After a moment, she shook her head and gently closed the door. Turning, she walked to the side of her employer's bed and looked down upon the seemingly sleeping couple. If not for the events of earlier that night, Elaine would feel embarrassed by her presence in the master's bedroom and even more so looking at the two lying together, holding each other tightly.
"Oh, Erik! What on earth is happening? I thought you marrying Christine the best thing that could ever happen to you, but it seems I was wrong. Am I making another mistake by waiting? Should I trust this woman, Antoinette? What is the right thing for me to do?"
She shook her head sadly and pulled a chair close to the side of the bed. She anxiously sat to wait for whatever the future had in store for the man she loved as a son and the woman he so obviously adored. She bit her lower lip and silently began to pray.
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
The young man's face registered shock and then quickly became highly agitated.
"Monsieur Daae … oh, pardon moi … I mean, Gustave … please, I do not understand …."
The older man stood and walked to the young man. He laid a comforting hand upon Erik's shoulder.
"Relax, Erik. Take a deep breath. I need you to be calm. As long as you allow yourself to be upset, your memory will not become clear. I need you to remember. Only then can you help Christine."
Erik raised his head and turned to look at Gustave.
"Christine is in trouble? She needs me? What must I do?"
"Oui, Erik. Now, close your eyes. Breathe. That is good. Breathe. Excellent. Breathe. Let your mind take you to the place you feel safest. Picture that place in your mind. Are you there?"
The young man gave a small nod of his head.
"Good. Breathe. Do not forget to breathe. You are there, in your secret place. You are safe. You are neither too hot nor too cold. You are comfortable. You are relaxed. Nothing can harm you. Empty your mind. Let this moment of peace fill your soul. Breathe in the calm around you and let it enter into your mind. Perfect."
The older man removed his hand from the young man's shoulder and gently laid his palm to Erik's forehead. He bent down and whispered into Erik's ear.
"Erik …. Christine. Remember, Christine."
Erik's body froze and his eyelids began to twitch. Images of Christine flooded his mind. A first glimpse of sparkling brown eyes glimpsed over Raoul's shoulder, a small booted foot clad in blue stepping down from a carriage, a pair of passion swollen lips rising up to meet his, the fingers of a dainty hand tenderly caressing the deformed side of his face, Christine clad all in white walking down the aisle of a church towards him and then her naked body lying beneath him as their bodies joined together into one. His eyes flew open.
"Oh! I remember! Mon Dieu! I remember! Oh, Christine …. My wife!"
The older man instantly hissed. His head swung in the direction of his daughter's bedroom and then returned to whisper furiously at Erik.
"Silence! Do you wish to ruin this chance to help her? If she remembers anything of her adult life, we will lose this one opportunity to make things right. Lilith may no longer be able to take her body, but she can still steal her soul. We must not allow that to happen."
"So, what do we do now?" Erik spoke quietly.
"We let life take its course. We allow the days to pass. You and Christine shall become friends, of that I am certain. Heaven has bound your souls as one, so the two of you can do naught else. My illness shall progress and I will die, but you will be here to comfort her and protect her when Lilith tries to make her bargain with Christine. You will not allow the devil's deal to be struck a second time."
"What if I fail and the deal is made?"
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
"Oh! Please hurry, will you?"
Antoinette muttered under her breath barely able to hold the curse from escaping her lips.
"Wonderful! I shall most certainly go to hell if I begin swearing in the house of God … and, at a priest, no less! I am a fine example for my girls! No wonder fate finds them both placed in such uncertainty. If I had only been stronger. More dedicated to my girls, instead of the ballet, we might not be at this place tonight. Damn it! Fine! Stop right now, Antoinette! Get hold of yourself! Berating yourself will not be of any help to Christine and Erik. Concentrate on the matter at hand. Fetch this man and have him waiting for when Gustave needs him."
An elderly man's voice interrupted Antoinette's silent tirade.
"Madame, I do not understand. What exactly is the emergency for which you need me? Is someone ill?"
Making a silent plea for God to forgive her lie, Antoinette spoke urgently.
"Oui, Père. I fear it is most serious. Erik bade me make haste and bring you to his home at once."
The man crossed himself and tugged on his cassock to straighten it. He quickly chose a black stole and placed it around his neck, allowing the ends to hang loosely down to his knees. Lastly, he placed a black manto around his shoulders and tied it at his throat.
"Please, Madame. I need to know. Is someone in need of the rite of extreme unction? I must bring certain things with me if this is the case. The canon requires it."
"Oui, Père. Gather what you require to aide a soul in peril, but whatever you do, please, make haste! Time is short!"
The man nodded, opened a cabinet and grabbed a small, black leather bag. He sighed, kissed his fingertips and pressed them to the small crucifix hanging on the wall next to the door.
"Well, I am ready. Let us go, Madame."
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
"What if I fail, Gustave?" Erik repeated, more insistent this time.
Gustave coughed for a moment and then stood wheezing with his hands on his hips as he caught his breath.
"Do not fail, Erik. Christine's soul is still at risk. My daughter's soul is the prize! I know you love her, Erik. If we fail, you shall lose your wife. Oh, she will live, but her spirit shall die. She will be Christine no longer, but Lilith's plaything. And, that is a thought too horrible for me to consider. No, Christine must not choose Lilith again. We simply cannot allow any other outcome."
The man smiled grimly at Erik.
The young man returned his determine look and nodded. A sudden look of confusion crossed his features.
"What is it, Erik?"
A bemused smile formed on Erik's lips.
"But, I am still but a boy. Where shall I live?"
The man sighed and shook his head with a small grin.
"Well, boy, I guess you shall just have to make do and live with Christine and me."
A shocked look crossed the young man's face.
"That would not be proper! Would people not gossip? I could never do anything to jeopardize Christine's reputation."
"Erik, she is but eight years of age! I hardly think that anyone would give you living as a boarder with a man and his daughter a second thought. Besides, I trust you Erik."
Erik frowned.
"But …."
The older man shook his head.
"Erik, please understand. These bodies are just a facade. We are not back in time. We are revisiting the events of all those years ago, not reliving them. This is not a second chance. Nothing we do here will change the past. Our sole purpose here is to help Christine remember what happened from the moment she found my body to the moment Antoinette arrived here. She must remember her arrangement with Lilith, but we must prevent her from agreeing to it a second time. That is the other reason you are necessary. Lilith cannot hope to compete with the love you two have for each other."
A light of understanding began to dawn in the younger man's eyes and he nodded slowly.
"Very well, Gustave. I believe I understand."
He paused and paled slightly as a thought crossed his mind.
"What is it, boy?"
Erik turned away from the man. He swallowed and stared at his feet.
"Uh, well … that is … how … what happens now?" He finished weakly.
"Oh!"
The man's eyes lit up with his understanding of the young man's silent question. He walked to Erik's side and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"I have about four months before I die and that should be just about enough time …."
The man's voice trailed off and Erik turned to look at him curiously.
"Time enough for what?"
A genuine smile caressed Gustave's careworn features as he met Erik's eyes.
"Why, time enough to teach the two of you to sing properly, of course!"
Author's Note: Hope you like it! I hate to be needy, but, damn it! I guess I am! As always, please read and review! --ny