Chapter Three

The Stages of Planning

Madame Giry had been pacing the floor all night as the storm raged outside. She recalled the image of Christine rushing out the door, and then the shadow that had disappeared into the night after her.

Meg had gasped and pointed, "Mother! It's Erik!"

"Let us pray he has no ill intent." Was all she managed to say as she continued to pace.

Now they waited, it had been an hour and still no sign of Christine or Erik, the storm made Madame Giry nervous, any thing could happen in this weather and since this house was not in a very good side of the city who knew what problems could befall Christine.

Thieves, rapists, wild dogs, drunken men, beggars, and more waited around every corner. That is why Erik chose this house, as it had sat abandoned it was in the worst part of town and the police never came down this way.

Meg sat next to the now blazing fire, most of the lamps had been lit, all the candles sat ablaze and Madame Giry still paced. Damn Erik and his rules about the light. Madame Giry had once understood his hatred for light when there was a mirror or picture with glass in front of it. The man hated his reflection with a passion.

But there was no excuse for the darkness now, Madame Giry and Meg had removed all the mirrors and glass and other such reflective surfaces long ago. The house was all but gutted in actuality. She may have to stay in this horribly gruesome house but she was through with putting up with Erik's temper tantrums.

Suddenly the front door burst open and there stood a soaking wet Erik and Christine. Erik carried the now unconscious girl, and Madame Giry gasped at the sight. Not just of Christine in the man's arms unconscious and bruised up but of Erik and the large red spot on his vest.

"What in Hell happened?" Madame Giry inquired as Erik instantly marched forward taking Christine up the stairs.

Meg trailed behind Madame Giry who trailed behind Erik who was on a mission, "The stubborn little brat ran into the reservoir. At least fifteen feet down, she would be dead had I not caught her."

"What happened to you?" Meg asked looking at the bloodstain.

"I was jumped. They wanted what ever money I had and Christine."

"Where are they now?" Meg asked.

"I threw the dead ones into the reservoir. The one that lived won't say a word to anyone anymore."

Erik lay Christine down on his bed and started to strip her, "EH! EH!" Madame Giry barked in protest, "I shall undress the girl, you go with Meg and let her bandage you up."

Erik did not move from the girl's side at first, but Madame Giry pointed her finger with a stern stomp of her foot, "OUT!" She all but shouted.

Erik finally turned to go but gave one last look back at the unconscious girl as Meg pulled him from the room.

Erik hated playing the waiting game; surely it would not take this long to remove the clothes from Christine. Erik had done it before in less then a minute. He smiled evilly at the image and then was pulled back from his thoughts do to a sharp pain.

"Well if you stop slouching this won't hurt as bad." Meg bit.

Reluctantly Erik sat up straight and the chunk of glass that had been in his side slid right out from between his ribs. "You and Christine are lucky you didn't get yourselves killed running into the storm like that. It's plain stupidity." Meg protested.

"You sound just like your mother." Erik said.

That comment made Meg fall into silent.

"You are much like she was at your age." Meg nodded a little but said nothing else.

Erik could see he was not going to get much conversation out of her tonight. Normally it was the other way around, Meg was a curious girl full of questions and he often had trouble keeping his temper with her. She asked questions about everything, about music, and literature, and art. Erik had once prayed for the day when Meg Giry could answer her own questions. Now he wished she would just say something.

He wanted to talk to keep his mind off of the girl upstairs; Erik had intended to scare the girl, to make her fear him as she once did. Not to mention his concern for the girl had been replaced by annoyance once she was no longer in harms way. But upon pulling her close and seeing Christine's face he could not believe what he saw. A skeleton stared back at him.

His Christine looked half starved! She looked like she hadn't been taken care of, his hair all knotted, her skin pale and blotchy. Her eyes sunken and dead. Erik's heart had stopped in that moment of seeing her before she passed out. And now he ached to fix what ever had caused her to have such a horrible state of being.

They both looked up then at the sound of someone entering the room, "Mother, will Christine be alright?" Meg asked with worry.

"I cannot say with out the advise of a doctor. I know some herbs that could help her but we do not have them here nor do they have the items in the shops on this side of town."

"I can go tomorrow where ever is needed. I will cross Paris if I must." Meg said looking to her mother for a sign of hope.

"We shall worry about it in the morning… you and I must rest. Erik, you may go and see her if you like but I will be waiting for you to come back down stairs and into the guest room."

Erik was about to protest but Madame Giry cut him off, "Whether you like it or not she is a married woman Erik and I will not have her virtue questioned because I was irresponsible with her."

Erik sat in silence at this statement and then pulled from his boot a white letter, "Her virtue is already in question Nettie. You have no fear from me." He slammed the letter down on the table in front of her and stood just as Meg had finished wrapping his chest wound.

"Good night Antoinette."

He left with out another word and they heard him climb the stairs. They eyed the letter and then finally Meg took it up and read it out loud for her and her mother to hear. From the sounds of it Christine was losing her mind and it wasn't just Raoul who noticed.

Erik stood over the bed and stared at the ghostly figure before him. His Angel of music had turned to ash. He sank to his knees and took hold of her hand, from his eyes tears streamed.

"Oh Christine. My Christine!" He silently cried.

He stroked her hair and brushed his lips against her hand and in his own way silently prayed for her recovery. Everyone had always seen him as the Devil's child or the Phantom of the Opera, a monster who was evil and disfigured and unholy. Only she had ever seen him as an angel of music. Only she had ever seen his beauty and his abilities.

If he had known of her physical state when he caught her perhaps he wouldn't have been so cruel with her. But he had been shocked to discover her return, shocked to realize she would be so close to him now. He wanted her to sing for him, it had been so long since he had heard her voice. Only she could calm him, her voice and her voice alone could bring his inner fire to it's full heat.

Only she had ever kissed him, and only she had ever given her body and mind so completely to him. No matter how she hurt him, how she betrayed him, he would always love her and he would always come back to her should she need him.

She was his angel of music as he was forever her guardian for she was also his savior. What would happen when she woke to find him here? How would he have to treat her now that she was married?

Why treat her any differently? Came the voice from his mind.

Why treat her the same? It didn't work before? And she is no longer my student.

She could be. You could seduce her again, take her under your wing, and make her your diva.

That is not the life she wants it never was and never will be. She wanted to be married, to have children.

She did what Raoul wanted; use that to your advantage. Offer her what she truly wants. Fame, glory, the stage! Music is her true master and you are the music.

I have no music left, what I write now is wretched in even my best moods, I can write nothing. I have no inspiration.

Your inspiration is right in front of you. She alone can make your songs take flight! Let her be your guide to make the music of the night.

I cannot. Not anymore, I have not the strength, and I know the outcome. She will not have me ever. She will not love me ever… she will see me as nothing but a monster.

Take her mind! Take her soul! Raoul is out of her reach for now and as long as you keep him that way you have a chance to take her! You have the chance to break down her defenses and make her obey you again!

I could never force her… I want her to be happy, I want her happiness first and for most.

Listen to you! You are pathetic and weak, putting others before your own needs and wants. You gave Raoul a chance, you let him have her and look what has become of her! She isn't even a shell of the woman she was when she left you! She looks like death and moves like a ghost! He destroyed your beautiful angel and now you have a chance to prove how much better then him you are!

Erik looked up at that thought, would it be possible to prove that he was more worthy then Raoul? Would it be possible to show her how much he truly cared, show her how cruel and yet loving he could really be?

She moaned and her brow furrowed, a coughing fit followed and Erik tensed. He could do nothing to easer her suffering. Nothing except sing, would his music still have the same effect? Or would it not help at all? Only one way to find out.

Erik cleared his throat and sat next to her sleeping form on the bed. He pulled the covers tightly around her, and then he moved the hair from her face and gently brushed her cheek with his hand.

No one would listen
No one but you
Heard as the outcast hears.

Shamed into solitude
Shunned by the multitude
I learned to listen
In my dark, my heart heard music.

I longed to teach the world
Rise up and reach the world
No one would listen
I alone could hear the music

Then at last, a voice in the gloom
Seemed to cry "I hear you;
I hear your fears,
Your torment and your tears."

You saw my loneliness
Shared in my emptiness
No one would listen
No one but you
Heard as the outcast hears

No one would listen
No one but you
Heard as the outcast hears...

Christine's head groggily moved and from her lips the most beautiful thing spouted, "Erik." It was hardly audible, and perhaps he had misheard her, after all it was just a murmur. But in that moment Erik's tears had slowly ceased, his sobs turned to soft laughs of joy. He knew she would be all right and all because of his song.

Erik felt like he was alive again, he felt like his soul had a purpose. Rising from beside his sleeping angel he walked to the desk at the far side of the room and took up a pen and paper. It had not been long since he had tried to write something, anything at all. However it had been a long time since he had written anything worth keeping.

He placed his pen in the ink and then attacked the paper with a vicious smirk, "Let my music begin." He whispered.

Erick sat on the table with Meg and Madame Giry; it had been a few hours now that Christine lay sleeping. Erik had written for quite a few of those hours before he descended the stairs and woke the two women from their restless sleep.

He had told them to meet him in the kitchen in ten minutes but they met him in five. He smirked at them with intentions they had yet to know of.

"We shall take her away from here. You told me once your grandfather left you a house in the country?" Erik asked looking at Madame Giry.

"He did… but Erik… why take her away? Surely she will not want to go now that she knows you are here."

Erik leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, "This house is fine for the three of us in good health, but she is sick and very weak. This drafty house, all broken and rotted will surely be the death of her. We will keep her in bed until she is strong enough to make the journey and then we shall leave. I will sell this house to the city and with that money plus the money I already have we can easily last out there as long as we need until she is ready to return. As for her refusing to go once she is made aware of my presence, allow me to talk to her privately once she wakes. I will ensure she understands I mean her no harm. But I do need you, Nettie, to reassure her that relocating is in her best interest."

Madame Giry nodded and Meg stared off into space, "Erik there is something you need to know." Meg started. But before she could finish a scream ripped through the house.

Madame Giry shook the girl gently awake as she thrashed in the bed, "No! DO NOT TAKE HIM PLEASE! GOD NO!" Christine screamed.

"CHILD! CHILD WAKE UP!" Madame Giry yelled.

Christine's eyes shot open and she looked around her in shock, "Oh Antoinette." She buried her face into the woman's chest and sobbed.

"Your dreams are so vivid, come now do not be so frightened. You should not allow such silly things as these dreams to make you look so childish."

Christine pulled back and looked at her, "Every night I dream of the child, of the child that I…" before Christine could finish the lamp in the corner was slowly turned up. She glanced nervously towards the light expecting Meg to be there but to her horror it was not Meg but the phantom that glanced towards her.

Christine tugged the covers up and spoke quickly, "What are you doing here?"

"He saved your life child. You owe him your gratitude." Madame Giry said softly.

Christine tried to recall what had happened only hours ago but all she could recall was rain and darkness and Erik yelling at her.

"He wants to speak with you. I suggest you listen to what he has to say. It could help you both." Madame Giry added.

"Please don't make me talk to him. His current state is partially my doing. I cannot face the damage that I have done."

To what Christine meant by this comment Madame Giry did not know, but she figured soon enough the girl would tell her the entire story. Only bits and pieces had come fourth so far, some of it Meg knew and some Madame Giry knew but they had yet to create a full story.

"My child, as a woman you must come to terms with the decisions you have made, you must come to realize that through out your life you will have to face every single choice you have made and have the bravery to say it was the right thing to do."

Madame Giry hugged her once and then stood, she walked to the door and Christine watched her go. She looked away as the last sliver of light from the hall disappeared and she was left alone in the dark with the man she had so long ago shattered.

She did not look at him; she stared at the dimly lit ground and waited for the inevitable conversation.

"Why so silent mademoiselle? Have you nothing to say to your angel?"

Christine spoke then with a soft voice, a voice that could have been mistaken for kind had Erik not know her better. "Angel… or Erik?"

"Why not both?" he said placing his fingertips together in front of his face, his eyes stared at her through the mask he wore and she knew he was calculating, thinking twenty steps ahead. He wanted to make sure he won this game, what ever it was they were now playing.

"You cannot have me Erik. I do not belong to you anymore." Christine finally said.

"Do not talk to me as if I do not know the rules of this game." His voice held venom and Christine shut her eyes in nervous anticipation. "You are married, there for you are no longer accessible to me. I can do nothing to you now that you wear that cold ring on your skinny little finger."

Christine's eyes opened at that last comment and she glared at him from under her dark lashes. "Oh, so there is still some spirit left in that frail body of yours. You could have fooled everyone here the way you have been sniveling the last day or so."

"I have not sniveled." Christine barked back.

"Oh but you have. You have carried yourself around like a spoiled brat, whining for things that you can't have. Meg was very found of the idea of you falling down into that reservoir." Erik rebuked.

Christine shook her head, "Meg would never wish something like that."

"Perhaps not." He said.

"I hope you will enlighten me as to how you think I am spoiled."

"I suppose I could place a few examples onto the table, if that is what you really want."

Christine nodded and Erik sneered a very cruel sneer, "You asked for the angel of music and he came to you, then you asked the angel of music to take you and he did. When you grew tired of him you ran off to some petty little boy of fashion and in the cruelest of ways you demanded that the Angel let you leave with the man you suddenly loved. He let you even after everything he gave you; he returned the one thing you promised would belong to him. He gave you your freedom. And now you whine because the marriage you have to this foolish boy is not all that you dreamed. I have no pity on you… it was unwise to run off with him. You were only engaged three months, not a very long time to know someone."

Christine stared at the man in disbelief, "I chose you in the end… I would have gone with you to save his life." Christine said.

"But it would have been a lie…" this remark had been so quick and short it almost sounded like the snap of a whip.

Christine said nothing to this; Erik smirked knowing he had won. He changed the subject not wanting this to be the topic of their conversation. "Now, Christine, I have come to speak with you about some very important matters. I expect you to listen for I will only say it once." Christine nodded and then waited.

"You are sick and injured, Madame Giry has decided that it is in your best interest to move you to her grandfather's house in the country until you are well enough to be returned to the Vicomte."

"You… she wants to return me to Raoul?" Christine asked.

"She has made it clear once you are healthy and ready to return you will be sent on your way."

Christine looked down and started to shake a little, "And if I do not wish to go back?"

This made Erik pause; he had not expected her to not want to return at all. Madame Giry, Meg and himself all expected that this childish desire to runaway would eventually dissipate and Christine would want to return home to her husband.

What would Nettie do if the girl never wanted to return?

"Occording to a letter that your beloved Vicomte sent to Madame Giry, you disappeared with out a trace almost five days ago. He said you seemed unlike yourself and that he had no doubt of your return once you cleared your head from its instabilities."

Christine looked down and put a shaky hand to her eyes, "He does not know everything Erik. He assumes he knows what has wrong with me, but he knows less then all of you."

This was not what Erik had expected to hear, whether or not this bit or information satisfied him or made him even more curious of the girl's mindset he wasn't sure. Silence passed between them for what seemed like hours until Christine finally broke it with a sigh and a question. "Will you be there?"

"I will. But do not fear, I am currently working on a rather large project that will keep me busy most of your stay."

"Why are you with the Giry's?"

"I am sure you are aware of my and Madame Giry's relationship. She saved me as a boy and in return I have continued to protect her and her daughter. I have given them money and a place to stay and eventually when I start my own Opera I will give them work."

"You plan to open up an opera?" Christine asked with more excitement then she intended.

"It is one of my many plans yes. Why so interested?" he asked casually.

Christine caught herself and pulled back, "Why not be interested if something is interesting?"

"It will be very interesting… especially when I find my new star singer. I will have to find a Opera singer with a wide range and a very good acting base."

Christine felt her heart sink a little; she had no right to get excited because she would never be allowed to sing again. If she ever returned to Raoul his family would never let her return to the theater circuit. They had been kind enough to allow Raoul to marry someone of her statues. They would surely not allow her to continue on, a Vicomte simply could not marry a woman who was so far beneath his station if she was not willing to conform to the rules of the aristocracy.

"I wish you luck in that endeavor." Christine whispered, her heart was growing heavy again and she gently clutched at her chest to keep her heart steady.

"That is most kind of you Christine." She shivered; just the way her name rolled off his tongue still had enough power to affect her.

"Madame Giry wishes you to stay in bed for the rest of the week, once this week is over we will head for the country. Is there anything you require for now?"

Christine hesitated to ask anything of this man but perhaps Madame Giry had asked him to inquire about her needs, "Some hot tea perhaps?" Christine managed to say with a somewhat polite tone.

"Very well." He shut the door behind him as he left and Christine was left in the dark.

So Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, was a life long friend of Madame Giry and now Meg as well. When the fire had occurred the three of them had come to this abandoned house and using Erik's money probably bought it.

Christine couldn't believe it, she had been aware of the chance she would have of coming face to face with the Phantom again but never in one hundred years had she expected a circumstance quite as strange as this.

Erik had rescued her from the storm; Christine's own stupidity had caused the need to be rescued to arise. She needed to stop running head long into things. She used to try and avoid danger, now she seemed to seek it out. And what was to happen between her and Erik now that they were to apparently be living together? Christine had left Raoul to come and be around what she considered her family, and yet with them she found her way back into his arms.

Christine shook her head and sighed, she would have to take things one day at a time and hope to God that everything worked out. It seemed that Erik did not plan to try anything with her, and even if he did Christine was sure she could resist better then she had originally thought.

She was strong and she would prove it, to herself and to anyone who tried to tell her otherwise. Christine felt her heart beating quickly with heavy thuds. If Raoul knew how close Erik was, if he could see how well Christine was taking it, many questions would be brought up and once again Raoul or Erik would probably start something just for the sake of starting something.

What bothered Christine the most, and she knew it shouldn't bother her, was that Erik seemed disinterested in her. He seemed like he had finally moved on and was not going to try and win her back. What would wait for her now, who would be with her in the end? Raoul or the Giry's?

Christine could never love a murderer so turning to Erik for anything was out of the question. But could she really turn her back on him again if Raoul was not here to give her strength? Could she really resist his voice, his music, his passion, and his darkness if she had to face it alone?

The true question that Christine needed to find the answer to was why did she really truly come back? She did want to get away from Raoul, but leaving him completely after only two years of marriage seemed abrupt and selfish. The lost of her child had driven her close to madness and death. Perhaps that is what caused her to leave; the echoes of the passed had haunted her. But of all the places she could have gone to escape the passed Paris was the worst choice. Had she just justified it with the excuse of her father's cottage being to far away?

Christine was so confused she didn't even know what her really intentions had been. For now though she would settle with the idea that Raoul had been smothering her since the loss of her child and she needed time away. What ever her real fears were, the fears that she denied, the fears that she refused to recognize, they would come to her and when they did she would face them, come hell or high water, and she would win.

R&R let me know what you think!