The Whispered Word, Lenore Chapter 20, a phantom of the opera fanfic

Wow, long chapter here…but it's a very good one, if you ask me.

I'm sure you all know the spiel by now, I don't own Phantom, fic takes place in present day, blah blah blah, REVIEW…

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Lenore sighed contentedly as she shut the door to the room Felix had provided her. She had spent a month with him at this country estate in Italy. Sebastian said it would be a good idea to get away for awhile, so when Felix offered to take her to Italy, she had jumped at it. The estate was situated not far from Rome, and Felix had shown her all the sights of the city.

She occasionally received letters from her mother asking how she was, and she sent replies detailing what she and Felix had been doing since the last time she wrote. Today, Felix had taken her horseback riding through the country, stopping at a quaint little place for lunch before turning and heading back.

Lenore sat down at her desk, where she found an envelope addressed to her. As she opened it, she remembered the first week she had spent here with Felix. She had jumped a mile anytime there was a knock on the door, afraid it would be that madman who had drugged her, coming to kill her or take her back for more experimentation. Felix had been absolutely wonderful, reassuring her everything was alright and making sure she took her depression and anxiety pills.

The envelope contained an invitation to a masked ball at the Opera House. Ember had asked if she would attend, then move back in with them afterwards. Lenore thought about it for a moment. I don't know if I'm ready to move back in. Maybe a short visit, for the ball, but…I just don't know.

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"She agreed to come to the ball, but she's not sure about moving back in," Ember said. "She said if she didn't have any panic attacks at the ball, she'd think about it."

"I really wish she'd just come back," Rosalyn grumbled. "Her absence is costing us a mint."

"I know," Ember sighed. Rosalyn and Ember had denied Lenore's story when she first told it, saying that they'd never seen the man till the night before she escaped him. They also said she'd gone off into the cellars claiming she was mapping out the tunnels so they could install lights. I'm sorry we lied…but if we hadn't, we'd have been in the psych ward with her, having pills shoved down our throats. Mrs. Parker had promised not to mention their secret confession in the office, claiming that Lenore must have introduced him as such, persuaded them into thinking that's who he was. For once, Ember didn't care that her mother was implying that she had been gullible enough to believe such a cockamamie story.

When the French police went in to find the missing Navy SEALs, they came across an abandoned cavern on the lake and found the SEALs hiding in a niche, murmuring about a monster. Those poor men were committed to the same institution Lenore had been in and had yet to be released.

And then the letter from Erik had appeared in Ember's desk. Ember had read it over and over until she had it memorized.

Mademoiselles Kendall and Parker,

I quite regret having caused you any problems, but you must realize that any such problems I have caused are direct results of your own carelessness. Those poor men found in the lair by the police will never regain their sanity; I have made quite sure of that. Perhaps you should have advised Madam Parker to forget Lenore and return to the United States.

Speaking of Lenore, I am quite perturbed by her absence. Until she returns, I will require an increase in my salary. I expect seven hundred seventy thousands francs from this point forward.

Should either of you attempt to bring my presence to the attention of authorities, I will see to it that a good number of the human race suffers for your inability to keep a secret.

O.G.

She knew exactly why he wanted an increase in salary; if Lenore wouldn't return, he intended to bankrupt them and have them out of his Opera House.

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Erik sat in the chair in front of the fireplace, in a foul mood once again. Even after he had discovered Lenore was gone, Erik had taken great care in arranging the knickknacks she had brought down, placing them on the mantelpiece for the most part. His eyes looked through them tonight, for he didn't need to see them anymore; he had memorized each one. The clear crystal cat, the three ballerina statuettes, the castle, the glass rose, the dark seductive fairy dressed in red. His fingers had caressed each one countless times, as if his touches could reach her through her trinkets.

His right hand cradled the necklace he had given her; Cristoph had brought it to him, having found it a day after she had left. The chain had broken when Lenore made her escape, so that the only material symbol of his affection was left lying on the cold stone floor. She must have felt the chain snap, should have heard it hit the floor, but she had left it behind. It was horribly scratched now, and a piece of the pearl had even chipped off.

His left hand stroked Cristoph absently, while his thoughts collided with each other in his head. Why did you have to tell her she was your possession? Because I had to make her understand that she was made for me, that she belonged here with me. You should never have told her that you were immortal. But I wanted to be honest with her. Why did you go and scare her by showing her that you could make her yours with a simple thought? I wanted her to know how kind and generous I was being, not forcing her devotion…I just wanted her, that's all. You can't have her, you can't have any woman! I thought, just this once…that she might be able to love me. No woman would ever love you, just look at your face in a mirror!

Erik heaved a sigh. He should probably get up. He'd been sitting in this chair for almost two weeks now, since he'd retrieved his doubled salary at the beginning of August (not that the extra money made him feel better, as he had hoped). He hadn't had a bath in God knew how long, nor had he eaten at all. Every time he fell asleep, which thankfully wasn't often, he had dreamed about Lenore. She always had some sarcastic comment about how long he'd kept her waiting and demanding that he start paying more attention to her.

Erik's front door swung open and Darius ducked inside. Most people would have complained that Darius hadn't knocked, but Erik had ceased answering the door, so Darius just waltzed in at his leisure now. "You accomplish nothing sitting there moping," Darius commented, taking a seat on the sofa.

"You know nothing," Erik hissed. If Nadir hadn't been such a faithful, religious man, Erik would have made him immortal. But Nadir had refused, seeming scandalized that Erik had even brought it up. Darius, on the other hand, was uncertain about his faith at the time, and had jumped at the idea.

"I know that you will want to attend the masked ball tomorrow night," Darius contradicted.

"I detest social gatherings. I detest humans in general and prefer to keep as much distance between myself and that species as possible," Erik grumbled.

"Well, I suppose if that's the case, it won't matter to you that Lenore will be attending," Darius said casually.

"Well, perhaps I could be bothered to attend," Erik responded nonchalantly. Look at that, she's coming back! You see? She loves me. She's realized that she belongs here with me. Damn, I've got so much to do before she gets here. I'll need a bath and a shave, and I'll have to come up with a costume. I'll need new sheets and blankets for the bed…oh, and food. She can't live without food, how ridiculous of me to forget something so simple. Flowers would make a nice decorative touch too…

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Lenore took the hand Felix offered, letting him help her out of the car in front of the Opera House. He had chosen to come as Orpheus, a sweet gesture on his part for it symbolized that he was willing to go to Hell to get her back should she be taken from him. Of course, she was also quite afraid that he wouldn't be able to follow the rules required to bring her back, as Orpheus looked back for his Eurydice and lost her for disobeying Hades. When she had pointed that out, Felix said that if that should happen, then he could only hope he would be as lucky as Orpheus was and be taken away to a place where he could gaze upon her form in the stars for eternity. His costume was a simple Grecian tunic with a sword strapped to his side, for "no man would face Hades without a sword."

As for Lenore, she had decided to go as a geisha. Her face was painted white, with heavy mascara on her lashes and brilliant red lipstick to draw attention to her lips. She wore a jade green kimono with a black obi, a Japanese fan tucked into it. She pulled out the fan, spreading it out and bringing it up to cover the lower half of her face as Felix led her into the entrance hall.

Only moments after entering the building, Ember, Patrick and Rosalyn were upon them. Ember was a fairy, wearing a very short and revealing dress of greens and browns, gorgeous wings attached to her back fluttering as she walked around in bare feet. Patrick was a leprechaun, and Rosalyn was a wood elf, and obviously a warrior elf at that, for she wore brown leather pants and a brown shirt, a green cloak around her shoulders, and a quiver of arrows on her back, a strung bow in hand.

"Where's Sebastian?" Lenore inquired after pleasantries had been exchanged.

"Couldn't get away for the evening," Patrick responded. "Seems a few of his patients tried to escape and kill the other inmates. Claimed the other inmates were minions of the fiendish monster that lived in the ground, they did."

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Erik smiled the moment Lenore stepped through the doors. The jade kimono made her hair seem all the more golden. However, his smile slipped when he saw that damn Deville boy on her arm. Hiding within the walls, he knew he would have to bide his time. He must enter at precisely the right moment. Trying to ignore Deville's presence, Erik concentrated on the music in the background, despite the fact that it wasn't a good classical song.

Oh Vivica, I wish you well.
I watch you burn in humid hell.
No sleeping pills, no old tattoos
Will save you now.

He'll never change, he's just too vague
He'll never say you're beautiful.
Oh Vivica I wish you well, I really do.
I really do.

Deville would never tell Lenore she was beautiful…and if she had chosen that ridiculous boy over him, then he truly did wish her well, for it wouldn't be easy for her.

The apple falls far from the tree.
She's rotten and so beautiful.
I'd like to keep her here with me
And tell her that she's beautiful.
She takes the pills to fall asleep
And dreams that she's invisible.
Tormented dreams, she stays awake
Recalls when she was capable.

Yes, I'd love to keep you with me and tell you how beautiful you truly are. And your tormented dreams do keep you awake, ma chérie, and all you can remember is how capable you were before the accident.

Oh Vivica, I wish you well.
I watch you sit, I watch you dwell.
No crooked spine, no torn up rag
Will save you now.
He'll never change, he's not that brave.
He'll never say you're beautiful.
Oh Vivica, I wish you well, I really do.
I really do.

The apple falls far from the tree.
She's rotten and so beautiful.
I'd like to keep her here with me
And tell her that she's beautiful.
She takes the pills to fall asleep
And dream that she's invisible.
Tormented dreams, she stays awake
Recalls when she was capable.

I wish you well…
I wish you well…
I wish you well…
I wish you well…

Oh Vivica, I wish you well.
I'll sit right here, I'll never tell.
No tender scar, no twist of fate
Will save you now.
He'll never change, he's just not there.
He'll never say you're beautiful.
Oh Vivica, I wish you well, I really do.
I really do.

She's empty and so beautiful
I'll keep her here with me.

Yes, I'll keep you here with me…I have to, for your own good, and for my sanity.

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Lenore spent a good two hours dancing with Felix before she asked for a breather. Not that they actually breathed during that time, because Felix had decided it was the perfect time for them to make out. It was something they'd done quite frequently over the past week, and she wasn't against it. Felix's tongue slipped into her mouth in an unguarded moment.

I've kissed like this before. A tongue, gently yet eagerly tasting her mouth. Hands, tangling in her hair. Sitting on a table in a cold, damp, candlelit room.

She ripped away from Felix quickly. "I'm sorry," she said. "I just"-

"It's alright," Felix assured her. "Per'aps ve should return to zee dance floor."

"Sounds good," Lenore consented, giving him a small smile. They made their way through a myriad of dancing couples as the El Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge began.

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Erik prided himself on how well he controlled his rage as he watched Deville kiss Lenore so familiarly. But, they'd had plenty of time to become familiar.

His eyes upon your face.

His hand upon your hand.

His lips caress your skin.

It's more than I can stand!

How true that was. Insolent boy, touching what is mine! I was quite right then in the Louvre; somehow, I just knew that the next time you came into this building it would be your grave.

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Lenore was leaning in for a kiss with Felix at the end of El Tango de Roxanne when the room was suddenly plunged into darkness. Just stay calm, nothing's going to happen, it's just some fluke or something.

The lights flashed back to life, leaving the guests stunned by the sudden change. Once eyes adjusted, the guests found themselves staring up the main stairs to see an imposing figure. Forest green pants were tucked into the tops of knee-high black leather boots. The shirt was a few shades lighter than the pants, whereas the floor-length leather jacket was a few shades darker. The gloves were black leather, and a black mask covered his face. His right hand rested on the sword at his hip, and his stormy blue eyes told everyone exactly what he had come as. The fourth of the Seven Deadly Sins, Envy. And those furiously jealous eyes were fixed on a geisha in jade, who was in the arms of a Grecian hero.

"Lenore," Felix whispered softly, "is zat who I think it is?"

She couldn't reply; it was a challenge just to breathe. Pills…need the pills…get the pills… Her hand refused to move to her obi, where her pills where hidden in a little tin. Pills…pills…PILLS! The need for said pills dramatically increased when Envy took a step down, bringing him closer. It's not him, it's just not possible. They said he'd left, that he was long gone. I'm having an anxiety attack, I'm hallucinating him.

"Lenore?" Felix persisted.

"It…it…no, no, I just need to take my pills," she mumbled.

"How rude of the management to throw a ball without inviting me," the all too familiar voice rang out. "I hope my presence is no inconvenience to them." That last line was delivered dripping with sarcasm.

"Who are you to think zat zee management vould vant you here?" Felix challenged. "Take off zee mask, show us who you are!"

Lenore had finally recovered herself enough to speak about something other than the pills and yelled, "Don't you touch me! I'll call the police!"

Envy continued his slow pace down the stairs, entirely unconcerned by her words. "What an interesting choice in costume, Lenore. The boy must be paying for your services. So what are we to have? A traditional Japanese dance? Or perhaps a song?" he remarked. "Don't keep us waiting, little geisha."

"Leave 'er alone, you monster," Felix snarled, stepping in front of Lenore and drawing his sword out of the sheath a few inches, the short amount of the blade that was exposed shimmering threateningly. Envy had just reached the bottom of the stairs, and was consequently only twenty feet away from them. The guests had long since shrank back as far as they could, leaving Lenore and Felix alone to deal with this man. Ember and Rosalyn stood on the edges of the crowd, ready to rush out should their help be required.

"If it's a duel you want, Monsieur, I'm more than happy to oblige," Envy replied, his left hand drawing his own rapier with lightning speed.

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Felix drew his sword. He taken fencing classes since he was a boy, this should be a breeze. Many men waved a sword around as if they knew how to handle it, but when it came down to it very few knew anything about swordsmanship.

A few minutes later, Felix was reassessing his first impression of his opponent. The man wasn't following the rules of fencing at all. He even took cheap shots. At one point, the man had managed to hook his foot behind Felix's and with a quick movement, had Felix on his back on the floor. Fortunately, Felix had gotten his sword up in time to save him from a lethal down stroke.

This wasn't fencing as Felix knew it at all. The man was supposed to let him attack if he successfully parried the blow aimed him. But this monster relentlessly struck out in offense, putting Felix entirely on the defensive. Felix's arms ached from parrying, his legs were almost quivering from having jumped around wildly to dodge the relentless attacks.

What type of strikes can he be using? There's so much force behind each blow, it's like he's using a sledgehammer instead of a sword. Certainly it's some form of technique. But which one?

They could only have been dueling for ten minutes when Felix felt his arms going weak. He couldn't push himself any further than he already had. And that was the moment when Felix realized this wasn't a duel about honor, this wasn't some game that would end when one of them couldn't continue. This was a fight to the death, and unless God granted a miracle, the death would be his own.

The man stumbled suddenly, and Felix threw everything he had into a side stroke. His opponent parried just in time, stumbling back a few steps from the force of Felix's blow. "Ungrateful shrew, you would protect this boy?" the man snarled, glaring at Lenore.

Felix saw one of Lenore's shoes on the floor a foot away, and realized that the man had stumbled because Lenore's shoe managed to find its mark. Maybe God would grant him a miracle after all. If only I wasn't so exhausted. I don't think I can keep this up. Felix knew he should be using his opponent's distraction to his advantage, but it was all Felix could do to stand there and try to get his breath back.

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"I'll deal with you shortly," Envy hissed, turning his attention back to Felix.

You'll deal with me now! Lenore rushed over to Rosalyn, stealing the bow and an arrow before Rosalyn could protest. Lenore had always been a failure in gym class, never good at running or catching or throwing or anything physically inclined. Until they taught archery. She just had a knack for it. Out of her entire class, she had been the only one to hit the target on her first attempt, and she had managed to land her arrow in the inner red circle.

She quickly placed the arrow, lifted the bow as she drew the arrow back, and took aim. Praying for divine intervention, she left it fly. Of course, Envy had resumed his battle with a rather haggard looking Felix, and a moving target is rather easy to miss.

The arrow sailed behind him, landing on the floor a few moments later with a clatter. But it had come so close to grazing him that Lenore was encouraged to try again. Grabbing another arrow from Rosalyn's quiver, she ran forward a few feet, knowing that closing the distance between her and the target would increase chances of actually hitting him.

Lenore had his heart in her sights. Right between the shoulders, she thought, her fingers slipping off the bowstring. Just before her fingers cleared it, however, someone grabbed her from behind, and her grip on the bow slipped, causing her arrow to go off target.

Envy cried out when the arrow pierced his right shoulder, not realizing that he had been spared. Felix threw a wild strike at his opponent, but Envy parried. It was a sloppy parry, but effective enough. Envy was left-handed, not right, so the wound wouldn't directly affect his ability to duel.

Lenore ripped herself free from the person behind her, vaguely realizing it was Ember. Without any arrows, the bow was useless. Tossing it aside, Lenore darted forward. If she could get her hands on the arrow in his shoulder, she could twist it, cause him so much pain that Felix would be able to catch his breath. This madman, this cruel awful monster who had tricked her and drugged her, didn't deserve mercy, and if she had to maim or kill him for her own safety, so be it.

The man was so absorbed in his sword fight that he didn't hear her approach. But just as she was reaching out for the arrow in his shoulder, he quickly stepped aside. Warm liquid splattered Lenore's face and kimono, as Felix, eyes glazing over, began to fall forward. There was a telltale gash across his throat, covered in crimson. Lenore began to scream uncontrollably, realizing she was covered in his blood.

Her screams were cut off when she was roughly jerked out of the way of the falling corpse. The strong, left arm was wrapped around her upper torso, just under her breasts, and a bloodied sword was almost dangling from the fingertips of her captor. "I wonder if you'd be so kind to hold that for me, mademoiselle," he inquired politely, as though all that had happened were normal, everyday occurrences.

The hilt was pressed into her right hand, and she took hold of it, staring at the crimson blade stupidly. It all seemed surreal…it could just be a dream, a nightmare. And there was no harm in a nightmare, because it wasn't real. You'll wake up any minute now, sweating yourself silly and close to tears.

Envy let go of her, reaching over his right shoulder with his left hand and wrenching the arrow out with a grunt. The moment he had removed it, he snapped it in half and threw it disdainfully on the floor.

Wake up, Lenore, wake up! Deciding it couldn't hurt her because it was a dream, Lenore pinched herself on the arm holding the sword. Sharp, stinging pain laughed at her, and she tried to scream. But her voice wouldn't cooperate, seemed to be stuck in her throat.

Felix lay dead in front of her on the marble floor, a pool of blood quickly growing around him. The sword in her hand rid itself of a few drops of his blood, somehow managing to look proud of its horrible misdeeds. It was deftly snatched from her fingers by a black gloved hand, returned to its sheath now that it had served its purpose.

Envy – No, Erik (she must call him by his name, lest she increase her fear of him by referring to him as anything else) – grabbed her arm and dragged her up the stairs to the central landing. Her eyes stayed on the fallen man who had battled to protect her against an inhumanly strong monster. Stopping the trap door, green flames flared up around them as they plunged back into darkness, and Lenore lost consciousness.