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.
lucifer's love
awake and bring forth hell's choir
lucifer's love burns with desire
for lilith's lust unchained
shall bring upon earth its bane
Nyasia A. Maire – 2007
Chapter Forty-Three – Lucifer's Love
She threw her head back and laughed.
"You do not know, nor will I make any concession other than this … you amuse me, Erik. Also, you are not afraid of me. I do not believe that I have ever known a mortal man that foolish or that brave. This intrigues me, so I will give you this. I shall heal your face and allow you use of this body whenever you desire. In return, you shall ally yourself with me and renounce the Angel of Music. That seems a fair trade to me … what answer do you give me?"
"Well, it seems to me that I cannot dare trust you either way. That no matter what I choose, I can do naught but lose."
The man hefted the unconscious body of his beloved into his arms and he walked to the room's armoire. He gazed into the mirror, which hung on the wall above it and appeared to study his face. The creature crept closer to the man, her hand hesitantly reaching to touch him. He drew away slightly and turned to look at her as she came into view in the mirror. Erik suppressed a gasp of horror as the mirror revealed the true face of Lilith and he quickly averted his eyes from the reflection to look upon the Lilith-Christine thing next to him. Using all of the control, he learned during the last four months, he steadied his voice and continued his conversation with the demoness.
"You seem to offer me your hand in partnership. Am I to act as your consort here on earth?"
Her smirk grew wider and she replied with a shrug of her shoulder.
"Hmmm … well, yes, why not? You are a most passionate lover as I have seen in your couplings with the woman you hold in your arms. I suppose I can find someone better than you are, but I know that I could do much worse. I can always teach you how to live up to your full potential. You could act as my Angel of Death. I think that might amuse me for a time. However, man, you must remember that I bore easily, so do not take my current favor as permanently granted. I am a demanding mistress."
"If I agree to your terms, which as of this moment, I have not, I shall most definitely keep everything you have said very much in the front of my mind. So, if I agree to give you Christine's body, will you be free to roam the earth? Will you be able to come and go wherever and whenever you please? Why is it that in Christine, you have found the one human that can set you free? Why Christine? Surely, there must be others? If I allow you to have her, you shall truly become earth's queen. All of the world shall be yours and everyone in it shall worship you or suffer whatever consequences you see fit."
Erik braced himself and looked back into the mirror to watch the hideous hag move closer to him. He thought that he saw the mirror begin to darken, to turn a smoky red at the edges. He hid the smirk, which threaten to spread across his lips.
"Lilith, is that what you intend? Do you intend to forever leave your cave and establish yourself here as queen of all mortals? I would think that your demonic consort would be most displeased over this turn of events."
"So many questions … you need not trouble your pretty little head over such weighty matters, Erik. Suffice it to say that once I inhabit Christine's corporeal form, Lucifer shall hold no power over me. Fool! He contents himself to rule only the ninth level of hell. I have always told him that the mortal realm holds the promise of so much more, but he refuses to listen. Well, soon there will be little he can do, but to sit on his throne and watch me rule the Earth!"
She chuckled softly.
"All men shall fall down and worship me. I shall control their lives as easily as a puppeteer controls his puppets. All mortals shall live to please me. It will be wonderful! A devilish dance of the damned!"
Erik felt stunned as Lilith-Christine actually giggled, which soon gave way to his disgust. She reached out her hand to Erik's face and he snapped away from her.
"Just think, Erik, as soon as you release your hold on that body, your face will be whole and handsome. We can rule together! Just think of the fun we shall have. All of those that wronged you in the past, we can incinerate them with a thought or, if it pleases you more, they shall become fly dung. Whatever you like … just give me the girl and I shall take form and substance here at last!"
Suddenly, Erik clutched Christine's limp form closer to his chest as sulphurous fumes assailed his nostrils and his mind felt as if bogged down in a mire of quicksand. He choked and frantically backed away from the heat he felt emanating from the room's mirror. He retreated to sit on Gustave's bed, next to the body of the man he had come to respect so very much and prayed that his inspiration did not damn him and Christine to the ninth level of hell.
"Oh, no!" Lilith whimpered. "What have you done, Erik?"
"Done?" He whispered. "I did nothing, Madame. I merely allowed your husband to take note of your intentions to leave him."
"You stupid man! He shall kill you and that woman you hold so dear and I shall simply go back to my cave and wait for another."
"SILENCE, LILITH! I somehow think that you shall do no such thing. I have been much too lenient with you. Perhaps, it is time for you to leave your cave and rule at my side …."
"No, Lucifer! Please? I do not want …."
"Have a care, wife! Since when have I heeded what you want? Perhaps, now would be an opportune moment for you to beg that I do not assign you to a level of hell that does not hold any mirrors."
"There is no such level." She scoffed.
"With all of the sarcasm that I can muster, I say to you, wife …pray that I do not create one just for you."
"You would never do such a thing." She whined.
He chuckled. The horror of the sound caused Erik to bury his face in the pillows.
"Oh! Doubt it not, wife!"
"Husband, please!"
"SILENCE! Now, come before I lose my good temper."
Erik peeked over the top of the pillow at the scene before him only to see the true form of Lilith turn and hiss at him. Her face seemed to bubble and churn as it transformed into the visage he had seen in the mirror.
"Mortal, you impudent swine! Think not that you have won. You could have ruled at the side of an immortal and instead, you choose that …."
"Lilith, enough! No more! I forbid you to speak! You have failed in your machinations … come!"
She nodded. Erik watched as the hag faded into shadows of the mirror and the burning presence went with her. He sat up, looked about the now empty bedchamber and sighed then promptly fainted as his fear finally overtook his mind. And, for a time, he knew no more.
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
"Oh! Look! I do believe that they awaken. Thank God! I thought we were going to lose both of them. I have never been so glad to find myself proven wrong."
Christine groaned as the shapes behind the voices solidified and took recognizable shape before her sleep encrusted eyes.
"What on earth is going on here? Why is everyone in our bedroom? Why are you all staring? Where is Erik?"
She thrust herself upright and as a wave of dizziness swept over her, she fell back onto a firm shape next to her.
"Erik! Mon Dieu!"
"Is someone going to answer me?"
She felt the firm form of her husband move beneath her and her words caught in her throat as a wave of warmth spread throughout her body as she both heard and felt his voice caress her.
"Well, if you ever decide to climb off of me, perhaps I can answer all of your questions, ma chéri. Now, if you would …."
Her body thrilled as the rich vibrations of his tenor voice ran along the length of her body, adding confusion to her already addled mind.
"If I would what?" She stammered.
He chuckled.
"If you would be so kind as to sit up, you make it very difficult for me to draw breath."
His voice began in a normal, casual tone before lowering for her ears only.
"Besides, you make it hard for me to maintain my body in a decorous manner. We, after all, have an audience, ma chéri."
She gasped and felt her face go scarlet.
"Madame? Elaine? Père? Would you please excuse us for a few moments? I would like to speak with my husband … privately. Thank you."
Madame turned and with a wave of her arms, ushered the group out of the master suite.
"Erik?"
"Yes, ma chéri?"
"What on earth just happened? Why were all of those people in our bedroom? Please! Tell me that I have been ill with a fever and not that the dream I just had was real. It could not be real, could it? Was it?"
Erik's smile slid from his face and he looked at her with all of the compassion in his soul.
"I would give anything to tell you it was but a dream, but I think you know better than that, Christine. And, it is necessary that you remember it all. Do you? Do you remember everything now?"
She closed her eyes and bit her lower lip for a moment before replying.
"Well, if remembering everything means do I remember Lilith and my life as the Opera Ghost, then, yes, I do. Yet, I wish I could remain oblivious to that life. I know I cannot, no, must not, but I wish it none the less for now I must confess all."
"Well, confession is good for the soul, ma amour."
She smiled bitterly.
"That is what they say, but they never had to admit to all that I allowed to happen in my name."
She closed her eyes to fight off the tears that threatened to fall.
"I only hope that you can still find it in your heart to love me when you know all, Erik. But, I am afraid."
The man gathered the trembling woman into his strong arms and gently kissed her lips.
"Christine, I just looked upon the true face of Lilith and lived to tell the tale after hearing the voice of Lucifer. And, I did it all for you. Do you truly believe I would desert you now?"
He smiled lovingly at her.
"Now, ma chéri, tell me all. I promise I will love you no less."
She sighed deeply.
"Very well, Erik. I believe that you know how all of this began, so where exactly should I begin?"
"At the beginning, of course. Tell me everything, Christine and then I shall fetch the priest and we can bury the Opera Ghost for once and for all time."
She nodded.
"I think I shall never be so happy as to know that specter is no more and I can truly live my life. Erik, you set me free! You saved me! I love you, ma amour. I love you."
"I love you, too, Christine. And, I always will."
Author's Note: The kitty is restless! Give it a scratch behind the ears, a bit of catnip and a nice, juicy review! Thanks! --ny