Discovery

Gabrielle's eyes:

I rushed down the stairs, my heart beating hard against my chest. I could nearly feel the anxiety thrumming through Erik who was following behind me, almost stepping on my heels in an attempt to remain as close as possible. My mind raced, attempting to rationalize this late visit from some unknown guest. Finding no sensible answer, I tore my thoughts away from that subject and simply allowed my mind to go blank. Before I had realized it, I was standing in front of the large wooden door at the entrance to the manor. I stopped dead. The knocking continued but I was frozen until suddenly, my mind began to work overtime. I spun around and took a strong hold of Erik's shoulders, so that he was walking backward and he would have no option but to let me guide him. Once I finally had him far enough away from the door so that no one would be able to hear our voices, I let go of him and stared into his eyes.

"Gabby!" He looked at me, immensely concerned at my odd behavior.

"Erik…I cannot think of any rational reason why we would have someone visiting this late at night, unless something unusual was going on…you must hide yourself…NOW!"

"Gabrielle…that is the reason I must not leave you alone…I cannot protect you if I am hidden!"

"Erik…please…I will not loose you because of some stupid late night visitor!"

"Be reasonable…!"

"I am…and I DEMAND that you hide yourself…for all of our sakes, please!"

His body slumped slightly, but he nodded and backed up into the darkness, completely disappearing from sight. My heart skipped a beat as I solemnly noted how easily it was for him to make it seem like he did not exist. After making one last heartfelt search of the darkness in which he appeared, I turned, straightened my robe and nightshift, then plastered a bright smile on my face as I opened the door.

My eyes met two faces belonging to men in uniforms. It took a moment for my mind to acknowledge that these men were in fact police, but the minute I realized this, I felt my fake smile disintegrate and the color drain from my cheeks.

"Can…can I…help you gentlemen?" I managed to squeak out.

"Sorry for waking you so late Madame, but we would like to have a word with the Monsieur Vicomte!"

I took a calming breath, attempting to calm the racing of my heart. I was nearly positive that if it did not cease, they would surely hear it and know that I was agitated. "Is there something wrong, officers?"

"Well, Madame…we have a young boy in our custody who claims that he was on his way here, and that Monsieur Vicomte hired him as a stable hand, and we simply wanted to make sure that this was indeed true…because otherwise this young man may be suspected of doing wrong this evening, if he was not truly expected here…"

It was then that two other police man came towards our door, pushing on prodding a young boy along the pathway, with the ends of their rifles. My eyes were riveted on the boy who was shivering uncontrollably. I could not tell whether his trembling was from the state of his dress since it was thin and torn in many places, or whether he was frightened of the men with weapons, but either way, the sight of him immediately softened my heart.

"Do you recognize this boy, Ma'am?"

"Oh…well…" I desperately tried to think of a way to help the boy. "Monsieurs, my husband does not concern me with the hiring a simple servant…I would hardly recognize him, even if he had been working here for weeks…please…all five of you, come inside…I shall pour you some brandy or if you prefer some hot tea and then retrieve my husband to settle the matter."

The men nodded and followed me inside. I led them to our living room and as the congregated in the room, I started a fire in the fireplace.

"Please, make yourself comfortable…" I said, gesturing to the large armchairs gathered around the fireplace. I watched wearily as each man took his seat, all the while watching the shadows for any sign of movement. Finding none, my attention turned to the boy, who had been forced to sit on the floor in front of the men, like a dog. The officers continued to shove the boy around, now using their feet. I saw him flinch each time, but remarkably, he said nothing. I sighed once and then plastered a dazzling smile on my face.

"Gentlemen, please…I will not have anyone treated in such a way in my house…please…leave the poor boy alone…he is obviously not going anywhere…do not treat him as if he is a dog…"

After a moment of hesitation, they complied. The boy stood and straightened, giving me a sad and appreciative look that nearly reduced me to tears. I grabbed a blanket off of the spare armchair and approached him. His eyes immediately fled to the floor and his body language spoke of both disgrace and fear. He actually feared me as well! I wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and laid my hand on his back. It was only then that he looked up at my face. I nearly gasped at the bright shocking green of his eyes.

"You INGRATE! How DARE you look this good woman in the eyes like an equal! Is this how you show your gratitude?" One officer yelled.

"Please monsieur…He need not treat me so formally in MY house…and you will not raise your voice…My children are also in this house and I will not have you wake them simply because you felt like you had to reprimand a boy for doing nothing wrong…so please…keep your voice in check, Monsieur."

"I am sorry, my Lady, I just…"

"No excuses…simply do not repeat the offense…"

"Of course, Madame…my apologies."

With that, I led the boy over to a remaining armchair and gently eased him down into it. The officers had begun to talk amongst themselves and so the boy snatched the opportunity to speak.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because, I know how the police can treat an innocent, even if they know he is not guilty…and so, I am giving you the benefit of the doubt in this situation…and defending you…am I acting correctly?"

"Yes Ma'am…I can assure you that my alibi is true…please believe me…"

"You give me your word?"

"Yes, good lady, I do…"

"Very well….from now on, we are a team… and we'll get you out of this mess, together…" I straightened and addressed the men. "Give me a moment and I will return with some drinks, gentlemen…"

With that I went to the doors that led to the kitchen. I opened the door, slipped in and then shut it quickly, for there, in the middle of the room was Erik, dressed in black silk pants and a matching robe that allowed me a small glimpse of his broad chest beneath its fabric. His mask glowed in the complete darkness of the room and my breath left me for a fleeting moment as I recalled the first time I saw him in the stables of the Opera House. I walked towards him, but soon was almost running. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. He pulled me back after a few moments.

"Oh Erik, I despise this! Hiding you from the world seems like such a sin!"

"Hush…" He kissed my lightly on the lips once more, "Now, make the annoying, imposing, gentlemen their drinks…So my hand that holds a bottle of poison can slip…" he said with a malicious smile.

I rolled my eyes at him and his smile transformed into a grin. "Very funny…then I would be known as the woman in the insane asylum who murdered an entire police force, all the while claiming that it was the Phantom of the Opera who did it…Oh yes, wouldn't I be the talk of the city!" I joked, placing my hand on his left cheek.

Just then, the door to the kitchen flew open as the boy walked in. We both were frozen on the spot after I Instinctively turned so that I stood in front of Erik. The boy's eyes widened as they encountered the mask upon Erik's right cheek. In a flash, Erik was blocking the boy's only exit into the living room. I watched as he snibbed the lock on the kitchen door. The boy's eyes filled with fear as he backed away from where Erik stood, his gaze locked on Erik's mask. I came up behind the boy and placed my hands on his shoulders. He jumped and turned, looking at me pleadingly.

"I thought you said we were a team? I thought you would protect me!"

"We are, and I plan on it!" I said softly.

His voice grew with his panic. "Do you not know who that man is! He will kill us, we must call the police in here!"

I gabbed his arms forcefully. "NO! Do not fear him, he will not harm you!"

"But…But…It's the Phantom that they talk about! The murderer! He is the only man to wear a mask like that! Don't you know who he is?"

"Calm down boy!" Erik hissed, making the boy once again shake from fear.

I turned his attention back to me. "Do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes…"

"Then believe me when I say this man is no more dangerous to you than I am…"

The boy gave me an unsure look.

I sighed. "May I introduce you to Erik…my husband…"

"But I thought Monsieur Raoul-"

"NO!…No…that is only our cover…Erik is the only man I love…" Erik smiled and walked towards the boy and myself. "Listen, Erik may have once been that man the police searched for…But he is a different man now…he saved my life many times and I love him more than life itself…and I will not have the police kill him for crimes that he has repented for already…"

"I understand. You have showed me more kindness tonight than I could have ever hoped for…and I will trust whatever you say, and obey any command you give me…I owe you that."

"Listen to me, BOY!" Erik's voice broke into our gentle exchange of words. "You will not tell the police of me, or you will never have a moment of peace again, until the day you die! However, if you do as we say, and we take you in as a 'stable hand' I will treat you better than I would a King. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir…"

"Now there's a gentlemen! My appreciation…" Erik bowed to the boy, gracefully. I then felt a pair of hands on my own shoulders. I turned around to look into Erik's eyes, that danced with both love and worry. He kissed my temple tenderly and whispered an I-love-you before disappearing into the darkness. I took a calming breath then proceeded in pouring out drinks for the officers.

"Madame…?"

"Yes?"

"Have I angered your husband too badly?"

"Oh no, my dear…we both feared for his life…he will get over his initial anxiety…"

"I thought he was supposed to be dead…"

"For the longest time he was dead to the world…four years…but now he is not…he remains alive and hidden here, but dead to the rest of the world…which is a tragedy in my opinion…"

"The police would kill him if they found him?"

"Yes…hang him…and I would die if that happened…I already had to see him die once…never again will I allow that to happen!"

"I promise that my loyalty remains yours…You gave me back a shred of my dignity tonight and I thank you…I've always wanted more in life than a serving job…I wanted to at least be a dignified 'assistant' to a wealthy house…but tonight I found out what awaits me if I do not find such a job…"

"Do not worry so…I will see to it that you remain here…but you must accept that living under our roof makes you a part of this family in my eyes…and this family has many secrets to keep…"

"Yes Ma'am…you have my word…If you consider me a part of this family, then I will forever remain your son, even if the worst should occur…"

In near tears, I took him in my arms. After a moment, he hesitantly hugged me back. I then eased back gently, stifling the few tears that somehow managed to sneak down my face.

"Now…let's go put on a performance that is stage worthy!"

He smiled and followed me into the living room, carrying the tray of drinks for me like a true gentleman.