Gabrielle arrived at the Opera House before Raoul, slowly working her way through the crowds to their box…surprisingly, box 5 again. She seated herself and waited for her brother to join her. Thankfully she didn't have to wait very long.
"Sorry, I had to speak to the managers before the performance started," he said to her upon seating himself while casting a worried glance at the stage.
"Is everything alright?" she asked softly.
He looked distracted as he nodded.
"Yes, everything is fine. Nothing to worry about." He glanced at her and smiled, she looked beautiful. He kissed her cheek and told her so.
"You are a terrible liar…but I suppose you will tell me when you are ready." Feeling apprehensive, she turned her attention to the stage where the opera was beginning.
She sat there nervously, folding and unfolding her program absently. Raoul reached over and took her hand. She jumped at the unexpected contact, the tension in her brother was starting to crack her calm. She pulled her hand away and turned her attention back to the opera, getting so wrapped up in the music that she nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a voice booming through the auditorium.
"Did I not instruct that box 5 was to be kept empty?" the voice spat angrily.
Gabrielle looked over at Raoul in shock; he shook his head in warning. She glared at him, but her attention quickly snapped back to the stage where it sounded as though La Carlotta's loud singing suddenly changed to frog like croaking.
'No, it must be my imagination!' she thought.
Then it happened again, and again. Gabrielle's look of horror matched that of La Carlotta as the sobbing diva was ushered off the stage. The managers announced that the opera would begin again shortly with Christine playing the role of the Countess in La Carlotta's place. There would be a short interlude of ballet in the meantime, so Gabrielle settled back into her seat and tried to enjoy the ballet even though Raoul was on his feet, his fists clenching for a moment before he took his seat next to her.
She heard a scream, and suddenly saw the body of Joseph Buquet hanging by a rope from the rafters above the dancers. She leapt to her feet, stifling a scream, as the rope loosened and the body fell to the stage floor. Raoul was on his feet as well, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to him as he shouted for his footman "Make sure Lady De Chagney returns home safely" he ordered before running out the door. The footman took her elbow and began leading her out the door, but the rush of people knocked her away and she lost him in the crowd.
She made her way backstage in the hopes of finding her brother but to no avail. She saw the winding staircase to the roof and hoped upon hope that Raoul and Christine had stepped outside for some air as she climbed the stairs carefully.
Victoria stood there in shock, the back of her hand tingling from the feather light kiss he had left upon it. She shook herself before she realized she was still wearing his cloak and standing on the roof of the Opera house. She hurried off the roof, and collected her own cloak before she departed the Opera House. She had looked briefly for Raoul, but no one knew where he had gone. He wasn't in their box nor had she seen him backstage.
She pulled her cloak tighter around her as she stepped out into the winter air, there was no sign of anyone out there. Something caught her eye, it was a single rose laying in the snow. Carefully Gabrielle approached it and picked it up, looking around for the owner of the forgotten bloom. She didn't see the dark figure watching her with narrowed eyes as she hurried off the roof.
Once she was safely at home she dismissed her servants for the evening and began to dress for bed, as she was pulling on a robe over her nightgown, a splash of blue caught her eye from her nightstand, closer inspection showed it was a tattered, dirty ribbon.
With a gasp she picked it up and held it in her hands when she got the feeling she wasn't alone. Sure enough there was a form seated in one of her chairs, menacing and dangerous.
"Erik?" she breathed, holding the ribbon to her chest as her breath came in sharp gasps.
With a single nod Erik rose and approached her, when she caught sight of his face….a face that was much changed over the last 20 or so years except that he now wore a white porcelain mask. The exposed side of his face was still devastatingly handsome, green eyes watched her closely, full lips pursed in thought.
"I believe this belongs to you" he said finally, motioning to the ribbon in her hand. He was standing before her, watching her breast rise and fall with her gasping breaths.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked reaching out to touch him, jumping when he started and moved out of reach, still afraid to be touched.
His form was tense and danger emanated from him but she was certain he would not hurt her.
"I would be eternally grateful if you do not tell Christine about our previous acquaintance" he demanded agitatedly.
"Of course not, I won't say a word to her" Gabrielle was still in shock that the little boy of so many of her dreams was standing in her bedroom, looking so handsome and so broken. She could see the sadness in his eyes, she so desperately wanted to hold him as she had so many years ago.
"Thank you" he turned to leave. "You should not return to the opera house, it is not safe for you" he said as he glanced over his shoulder. For all he hated this world, he grudgingly admitted that Gabrielle and Giovanni's kindnesses had helped him preserve one last spark of humanity, he didn't want to see her hurt.
"Why, what are you going to do?"
But he was already gone. She slumped back onto her bed, clutching the ribbon in her hand.
Gabrielle awoke early the next morning, feeling quite out of sorts. She dressed for the day mechanically and went downstairs to her breakfast. She was surprised to see the Eldest De Chagny waiting for her.
"Phillipe, what are you doing here?" she asked as she tucked into his open arms for a hug, his calming presence eased her tension exponentially.
He smiled down at her head and pulled away to press a kiss to her cheek before answering "Can't an older brother stop by to see how his sister is faring?" he replied as he sat down on the divan.
Gabrielle pursed her lips as she poured some tea and handed the Comte a cup "Perhaps, though I feel you are here for more than that"
Philippe knew his sister was very intelligent and wouldn't appreciate being treated like a simpering fool, like most female members of the nobility were.
"I heard some…disturbing news, regarding our brother."
She raised an eyebrow. "What news?" she asked, with an innocent look in her eyes.
Her brother narrowed his eyes at her, the little cat was clearly hiding something; then he softened his expression. It was not Gabrielle with whom he was angry, after all!
"I understand that Raoul has been seeing a young chorus girl from the Opera Populaire, and I am told they are quite serious about one another. There have been rumors of an engagement." He looked at her pointedly. "Would you know anything about this?"
"No, Raoul hasn't said anything to me about it. I do know that he had been having lunch occasionally with Christine Daae. You remember her, Philippe…Gustav's daughter?"
He thought for a moment before recognition spread on his face.
"Ah yes, the little Swedish girl…but it is most scandalous!" His expression darkened again. "Bringing such common blood into the De Chagny line!"
She sighed.
"Philippe…I believe that he loves her, and she loves him as well. Is that not what Mother and Father would want for him?"
"Yes," he conceded. "But he is a De Chagny! Our family is very old and distinguished. To marry a mere chorus girl!" He stopped, frustration showing on his handsome face.
Gabrielle sat forward in her chair, taking his hands in hers as she said "Philippe, Christine is a sweet girl, she cares for Raoul very deeply. True her birth is not noble but we have always known that Raoul has been infatuated with her since we were children, she will be a good wife for him. We have you to keep the noble bloodlines pure" she joked.
He sighed in resignation. Somehow Gabrielle always ended up in the middle of the two brothers and she almost always sided with Raoul, rightfully so.
"I should have known better than to come here hoping you would be on my side. Very well…I shall stay out of it." He ran a hand distractedly through his dark hair, much as their father used to when he was frustrated. "Just, for the love of God, try to keep him out of trouble!"
The young woman nodded.
"I will try. Philippe. It is the best I can offer for the moment!"
Nodding, the Comte rose to his fee. Drawing his sister into his arms he kissed the top of her head.
"I know it is, but please have a care." He looked down at her. "I don't like what I've been hearing about a madman roaming about the opera house. I don't want anything to happen to you or to Raoul."
Gabrielle smiled up at him. "Don't worry. I promise we'll be cautious."
"I know you will. Take care of yourself, sister." With a last kiss upon her cheek, he left the room.
When she sat down to her breakfast finally, Henri delivered the post; which included a dark red rose with a brand new blue ribbon tied around it. Her heart sped up for a moment before she commanded it to behave. She had a very bad feeling about all of this. She dared not think how twisted Erik might have become, he was well on his way as a child.
Suddenly her appetite fled and she pushed away her plate after only a few bites.
Erik watched her, smiling to himself when she lifted the rose. Still unsure what he was doing playing these games with Gabrielle while there was work to be done he turned and hurried home. A part of him cried to use Gabrielle in his plot to marry Christine but another part balked at using her so shamefully when she had been so kind to him.
Temptation won out as he wrote her a note with a set of instructions.
Gabrielle pulled her cloak tighter around her to ward off the chill. She felt ridiculous loitering by a sewer gate under the Opera House. But this is where Erik instructed her to be. When a pair of leather clad hands reached out of the darkness to drop a heavy velvet cloak around her shoulders she nearly screamed.
"Ah ah, there's no need for that" Erik chided "Shall we?" he asked as he gestured to the darkness. She took his outstretched hand, gripping it tighter as the darkness enveloped her, soon she was pressed against him. This was a bad idea.
After what felt like forever they walked through a doorway into a lushly appointed house, the foyer was well lit and off to the side she could see a study or library of some kind with a roaring fire. Erik relieved her of her cloak and pointed her into the library. Very hesitantly she sunk into the proffered chair, watching her host very carefully.
"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting Gabrielle. I assure you I mean you no harm" he said as he steepled his hands in front of his face.
"What is it you want from me Erik?" she asked firmly.
"I merely wish to ask you some questions"
Gabrielle sank back against the chair and waited anxiously.
"I'm assuming Christine told you about me?"
She nodded "Yes, she told me that you brought her here, that she removed your mask and you became very angry"
His cheeks flushed with shame "Yes, I did" he sat forward "She didn't tell you anything else? How to get here?"
"No, nothing" Gabrielle reassured him.
Gabrielle watched him for a few moments while he pondered his next question, she wanted to know what had happened to him. Where he had gone after he got away from the gypsies. After so many long years of wondering what had happened to him, dreaming about him, wishing she'd been brave enough to rescue him that night it pained her to see him still so aloof.
Curiosity got the best of her as she asked "What happened to you…after…well after that night?"
With a start Erik glared at her for a moment, wondering what she was up to before remembering she had been nothing but kind to him.
"I killed my gypsy master and escaped. From there I travelled the world from Italy to Russia to Persia. I ended up back in France 10 years ago and have been here ever since"
"You mean here under the opera house?" Gabrielle asked with dawning sadness that this man felt the need to hide away from the world. She couldn't even imagine what that would feel like.
"Yes" Erik sneered "I've made this my home. I shall never attempt to live amongst humans again"
"But Erik, you are human" she protested.
Erik shot to his feet, his eyes flashing angrily "That Mamselle is open for debate! No one has ever treated me as more than a monster"
In the face of Erik's anger Gabrielle cautiously stood as well before saying "I did Erik" she took a hesitant step towards him "I never…" she stopped unsure what else to say "I wish I'd been braver, I wish I'd been strong enough to save you"
If she had slapped him she couldn't have surprised him more, her tone stopped his angry rebuttal short. His expression softened for a moment as he remembered the little girl with the bouncing curls and the pretty smile who snuck him food and gave him his third gift of his life…the ribbon from her hair.
"I was not a thing worth saving" he whispered finally.
"That's not true Erik, not true at all" she slowly reached for his hand, when he felt the pressure of her fingers on the leather he tried to pull away from her but she wouldn't relinquish her grip on him and took his hand in hers "Please don't say that. You are not a thing and you are worth saving, everyone is" she took another step closer, watching as he clearly struggled with himself, fighting the fight or flee instinct that was screaming at him.
With a blush she dropped his hand and stepped away from him, giving him the space he wanted.
"I should return you to your home" he said with a quivering voice.
Silently they wound their way through the underground caverns until she heard the bustle from the street. Once she was safely tucked into her carriage Erik pivoted around and hurried back to his sanctuary. When the interview had spiraled out of his control he couldn't pin point, but as she had before, took the wind right out of his sails and made him feel…he couldn't identify the feelings but he knew they were good.
She'd been a wide eyed, innocent young girl with a heart she wore on her sleeve. He'd seen the way she had fed the dogs around the camp as she and her friends wandered about, she'd been very careful to make sure no one had seen her do it. He could tell she was very tender hearted. He'd seen her face every night in his dreams until Persia…by then he'd become so demented and monstrous that all the good in his life became a blur. Perhaps he'd smoked too much opium.
The strain of seeing her again and her propensity with touching him made him yearn for his morphine. He'd thought only Christine could ignite the fire of lust in him, Gabrielle could end up being his undoing.