Chapter Nine: Visitors from the past

Nadir couldn't help but smile, as he pressed his ear to Erik's door. It was past 9 o'clock in the morning, and his friend was still asleep. He had never known Erik could sleep so long and remain good-tempered as the last three weeks they had spent together under the same roof. The sleeps must have been doing him good. He thought to himself, as he was about moving away from the door. Then, he heard the soft murmur that had escaped Erik's lips. "Oh… Hannah."

Nadir tried to search his mind to see whether he recognized that name, and could not relate the name to any face he knew. He had never heard Erik mention that name. Yet, it seemed that whoever owned that name brought peace to Erik's heart. Perhaps Christine does not have so much power over him any longer. He silently hoped, for his friend's sake. He had been secretly worried that Christine could plunge Erik into the abyss of despair once again. Erik never spoke of Christine after that night, but Nadir suspected that Erik would not give up pursuing her, with or without his help. He only agreed to help Erik, as he believed that his friend indeed intended no harm to Raoul or Christine. He believed that Erik was in better control of himself than before. His help also enabled him to keep closer eyes on Erik's move.

It was nearly 11 o'clock in the morning when Erik finally came into the living room. Nadir smirked, as he saw Erik's elegant form entering the room.

"Slept well, my friend? I invited Madame Giry and her daughter to the opera house, just as you had instructed. We better leave now; otherwise we would be late for the appointment."

"Why did you not wake me up?" Erik glared at Nadir, but soon remembered that Nadir had been told not to disturb his sleep.

"I know your temper improved lately, but I wouldn't willingly provoke it," Nadir replied coolly.

"I hear that it wouldn't be too long before that hopeless fool would join the useless French army," Erik spat, still annoyed about Nadir's all-knowing smirk. "Is the wedding still to take place as planned?"

"That seems to be the case. I heard that the Vicompte had been insistent on it, despite his parents' wishes to delay the wedding, till the rumors die out," Nadir replied, rather puzzled that Erik didn't seem to feel any more than slight annoyance and bitterness towards the wedding. He had thought he could read Erik better than anyone.

"I am glad to hear it," Erik said simply, heading towards the front door. "Now, come with me. We have an appointment to keep."

Madame Giry could not tear her eyes off the new manager of the opera house. He reminded her of her poor Erik, whom she had once saved from a cruel fate worse than death, and had served as his assistance. She had protected him like her own child, and yet betrayed him in the end, for the fear of Christine's safety. When she learned how he had released Christine, she felt deep shame and remorse for her action. Would he ever forgive her? She had visited Erik's lair a few times after the fire, and had been unable to find any trace of him. Last time when she tried to visit him, she had found that all the entries known to her had been blocked. Apparently, it had been done according to the instruction from the new manager whom she had not met then. She had been told that the new manager would not risk letting the phantom influence the opera house any longer, in case he had been still alive.

"Excuse me, Madame and Mademoiselle Giry. But my friend here does not like being stared at, although I find it often being the case that ladies just can't seem to help themselves."

Madame Giry blushed and averted her eyes immediately from Nadir's friend, realizing that Meg must have been admiring his features, while she was thinking about the strange resemblance between the man in front of her and her old friend.

"Yes … Of course. Please do accept my sincere apologies, Monsieur Russell. It was very kind of you, Monsieur Khan, to give us employment here. It had not been easy to find work since the sad event. We can promise that we shall both do our very best to make this place profitable once again. We shall both work very hard."

"Then I shall be pleased, Madame. I was told that you were both very capable. However, I am a hard man to please, and there is a lot of work to be done," Erik replied without betraying any emotions he was feeling. He initially suspected Nadir to have betrayed him, but Nadir had assured him that he had watched the whole affair in safe distance. He had protested that he had not talked to Raoul, let alone leading him to the lair. Erik knew Nadir wasn't lying, and it meant that it was Madame Giry who had abused his trust.

I swear it is the same voice. Without venturing to look at the new manager, Madame Giry thought to herself. This man has the same voice as Erik. She didn't know what to think any more.

"Do I remind you of someone you know, Madame?" Erik spoke again, his eyes cold with contempt. "I was told that you were a lady made of stone, and yet you seem rather uneasy around me. I cannot think what I have done to make you feel that way within the short time of our acquaintance. I can only conclude that I remind you of someone that you would rather forget."

"No woman is made of stone, Monsieur," Madame Giry replied, regaining her composure. "You have some similarities to an old friend of mine who was very dear to me. I fear I have lost him, and I grieve for the loss."

Erik's heart softened slightly, seeing sorrow and what looked like regret in her eyes. She had saved him once and served him faithfully, till doubts had plagued her mind. Still, he knew things between them would never be the same again. Betrayal is a sign of weakness, and only fools would trust those who once committed that act. I may forgive you in time, but I will not trust you again.

"I am sorry to hear that. Thank you for clearing things up, Madame. I would like to hear more about your old friend sometime in future. But now we must discuss our next production."

Erik was about to reveal that he intended to put Così fan tutte (Thus do all [women) on stage when their discussion was disrupted by a soft knock on the door. Nadir went to answer the door, and stood still in disbelief. At last, he managed to squeeze out, "How may I help you, Mademoiselle?"

"I was just wondering whether you have seen …"

That voice. Erik's heart sank as he recognized the owner of the voice. He felt acute pain in his chest, his blood running hot and cold in turn. All his emotions were coming back to him. He was not yet ready for this encounter. He was thankful that Madame Giry was not looking at him, as her attention had turned to her adopted daughter.

Christine could not finish her sentence as Meg squealed with joy, and ran to give her a hug.

"Mademoiselle Giry, we have not finished our discussion yet. Perhaps your friend can wait a little outside before you talk with her," Erik said in a strictly matter-of-fact tone of voice. He was pleased that he could control his emotions so well.

Hearing his voice, Christine turned as white as a ghost. "Angel," she muttered meekly, trying desperately to move forward towards the source of the voice, when her body seemed to have frozen on the spot.

"Don't be silly, Christine," Meg interrupted cheerfully. "Let me introduce you to our new manager, Monsieur Russell."

Erik slowly got up from his chair and turned to face Christine.

"Monsieur Russell. This is my beloved friend, Christine Daae. She used to enchant the audience of this opera house with her beautiful singing."

Christine looked at the man who was staring at her with a slightly amused look on his face. It wasn't just his voice. His eyes and lips reminded her so much of her angel. But this man had a flawless face and wore no mask. Unlike her angel, his brown hair was not neatly combed back, falling freely just above the collar of his shirts. His eye brows were brown perfectly matching his hair color. She could detect no tenderness in his piercing green eyes. She was everything to her angel, and nothing to this man. Without much thinking, she stretched out her hand, which he took and applied his cold lips to.

"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mademoiselle Daae. I have heard about your enchanting voice. I hope the rumors are not true, that you gave up your singing." He turned to Madame Giry and Meg, before Christine could make a reply. "You will all forgive me for my rudeness earlier. I shall leave you for now, and resume our discussion in an hour or so. Perhaps you would like to talk a little with your friend in private."

Erik quickly bowed and left the room, with very much mystified Nadir in tow.