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Anne sighed tearfully as she exited the bathroom. She jumped slightly when she saw Erik sitting next to her bed.
"I was beginning to worry," he said, in a monotone voice. "I thought something might have happened to you."
Anne glared at him. "I had to get rid of all the filth that I had on me," she hissed.
Erik got up onto his feet in a flash, marching up to her. "Don't provoke me. Don't insist on getting the worst out of me." She brushed away from him and headed towards her bed. "I told the maids to bring you something to eat."
"I'm not hungry," she replied.
Erik snatched the glass of milk from the table and placed it in front of her face. "It's been two days since you've eaten anything." Anne just turned her head. "Don't make me force you," he warned.
"You always have to get everything by force, don't you?"
Erik pressed his lips tightly together in anger and harshly placed the glass back down. Anne eyed him as he stomped out of the room. She let out a breath of relief and dropped her head onto the pillow. Hopefully, she could finally get a decent night's sleep.
During the middle of the night, Erik went again to check on his wife and found her in a dead sleep. He smiled slightly looking at her. She looked innocent, incapable of harming anyone or anything, but she already hurt him deeply. He turned his head and noticed that her food hadn't been eaten. He shook his head and left her room. He made his way into the music room. Maybe an inspiration will get him to compose again.
The next day
"Bonjour, Monsieur Levesque," said Marie as she climbed down the stairs along with Mae. "You woke early."
Erik nodded. "I have things to do," he simply said.
"Look, this is my nanny from when I was a child, Mae," she said.
"It's an honor to meet you, Monsieur," said Mae.
Erik nodded. "The pleasure is mine. Excuse-moi, I must be heading now."
"A-Are you coming back for lunch?" asked Marie, hastily.
Erik looked back at them. "Non, I'm going to stay a few days at Lumiere Plantation." A time away from Anne might cool down the relationship, plus he needed to see how it was progressing.
Marie frowned as he walked away. "Did you hear? He's going to stay in the other plantation. How is that possible? He just got married. Why didn't he take her with him?"
"It's obvious, Marie," said Mae with a smile. "He's had a fight with her and it must have been a big fight for him to leave after three days of marriage."
Marie sighed. "That's logical."
"Maybe he found out that she's not as innocent as he thought she was."
Marie looked at her with wide eyes. "You think so?"
"Of course! For men, a woman's virginity is the most important thing! You're a virgin, aren't you?" asked Mae.
Marie nodded. "Of course, I am."
Mae smirked. She wondered, since the marriage is already shaky, if she could push Marie closer to Erik and then she'll be the new woman in his life.
Anne woke up the next morning with the morning light hitting her face. She nudged her eyes open and saw Lucy, smiling at her. "Good morning, Madame," she greeted.
Anne smiled back and got up from the bed. "Good morning."
"Monsieur Levesque asked us to take good care of you and make sure you eat properly while he was gone," said Lucy.
Anne frowned. "Where did he go?"
"To Lumiere Plantation," responded Lucy. "It's about an hour away here. He said he was going to stay a few days over there."
Anne bit her lip. "Did he really?"
"Oui, would you like me to bring you your breakfast?"
"Non, I'll go down in a while," she said quickly.
Lucy nodded. "Alright, Madame," she said, excusing herself.
Anne quickly opened one of her suitcases and found a box full with jewelry. It was a lucky break for her to escape. She had to before Erik came back. She quickly dressed and made her way to the stables without being noticed. "Bonjour, c-could one of you take me into town?" she asked out of breath.
The head administrator looked at her curiously. "Monsieur Levesque didn't tell me anything," said Lamar.
"And what?" demanded Anne. "I'm ordering you to do so." She didn't have much confidence in this man. He was rude and talked back. She didn't know why Erik would have such a man working for him.
"Fine, I'll take you myself," he said.
"Non!" she said, quickly. "You have duties to attend here. Let someone else take me."
Lamar sighed. "What ever you say Ma'am."
Father Alexandre froze as he walked into his office. He saw Erik slouched on the couch, his head hung low. "What happened? Didn't you get married?" he asked.
Erik scowled. "Yes, dammit, I did and at the wrong time!" Father Alexandre gave him a disapproving look when he cursed, but he kept on going. "All the sins I have committed are catching up to me."
"What happened?" wondered Father Alexandre.
Erik looked up at him. His words blurted out all that happened this past week. The sorrow and anger in his voice made him pitiful and that's how he felt. Father Alexandre shook his head as Erik finished. "I never thought that you could go back to your old ways. It was the devil himself that tempted you to lay your eyes on that woman."
"I admit it. She became my wife in exchange for the debts of her family. I wanted to see if these people really cared if I was the Phantom of the Opera, but their greed was too much and forgot all about it. Now, I'm married."
"Who knows about who you were?"
Erik sighed. "I told her mother and she probably told her son."
"Does your wife know?"
Erik growled standing. "I don't know, but I don't care! Money corrupts people and not only those aristocrats, but me, as well. I felt powerful I could do whatever the hell I wanted without actually scaring people to death, so I choose a fine, distinguished wife with a proper last name, born in that same class which I had always detest and they have always detested me. As you can see, I got what I wanted."
Father Alexandre shook his head. "You were so in love and with such a bright future…"
"Yes, I, too, thought I was marrying an angel, which so happens that the same angel that swore to love and respect me goes into the arms of another man two hours after we married and then tries to run away with him!" he shouted.
"I can't believe it."
"I can't believe it, either. I wish this was just a nightmare that'll I'll soon wake up from," hissed Erik.
"Maybe there's a misunderstanding," said Father Alexandre calmly, trying to reason with him.
"There is no misunderstanding! She had the nerve to tell me in the face! That the man was a gentleman, noble, intelligent with one defect: that he doesn't have money and I do. Do you realize it?"
"And what are you going to do now?"
Erik shook his head. "I'm going to stay a while at Lumiere Plantation. Maybe some time away will help me cool off this rage that I have in me. If I don't, I'm afraid I'll do something irreplaceable."
Father Alexandre patted Erik's back. "Don't say that, son. From what you told me, both of you have the same faults, maybe if you talk…"
"Non! A talk between us is impossible. She's full of hate and anger toward me. She even lashes out at me and I loose my patience quickly." Erik grasped Father Alexandre's hands tightly. "I'm in deep sorrow, Father. I don't think my heart can't take more of this."
"Maybe if you'd be more generous with your wife?"
"It's not about dignity. Even if I swallow my pride, what will matter? She doesn't love me."
Father Alexandre smiled. "Maybe because she doesn't know you."
Erik shook his head. "No, not after I've shown her my unflattering side."
Father Alexandre's smile disappeared. "What do you mean by that?"
Erik nervously stared at him. "Nothing," he said leaving.
"Erik, wait!" he said, going after him, but Erik didn't listen. He marched quickly out of the church before Father Alexandre could even catch up to him.
Erik charged to the streets, but paused when he saw one of his carriages and his driver. "What are you doing here?" demanded Erik.
"I brought your wife, sir, to the church. She's been there a while. I went to look for her, but I can't find her."
"Are you sure?" asked Erik.
"Yes, sir. I've looked through the whole street, but she's nowhere to be seen."
Erik cursed inwardly. "Hurry, give me one of the horses. We need to find her!"
In truth, Anne did go to church, but she quickly escaped when a crowd of villagers exited the church with her. The driver was distracted as she fled. She quickly got a direction of the nearest refuge. They would most likely give her a carriage to send her back to Paris.
"Do you have a carriage to spare me?" asked Anne out of breath once she reached the station. "I need to go to Paris immediately. I'll pay anything! I don't have money, but I have a lot of jewelry!"
The man sighed. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but the last transport left about two hours ago and the next one won't leave until tomorrow morning."
Anne's tears fell without shame. "Please, I need to leave," she said with urgency in her voice.
"Believe me I'm sorry, but there's only one carriage sent out daily and we mostly transport merchandise. You can rent a horse, though."
Anne shook her head. "No. In the name of God, help me, please. I beg you. There must be a single carriage in this town to take me to Paris!"
"Only in one of the manors or plantations. If you'd like, I can go to one of the nearest manor owned by Monsieur Levesque. I'm sure being a lady of your class, he won't deny it."
"N-No," said Anne immediately.
"Well, the only way is if you go to the main road and see if someone comes by and can take you back to Paris."
"Oui, oui, which way is the main road?" The man told her quickly and Anne thanked him. Anne brushed through the streets of Orleans and soon she arrived at the main road.
Meanwhile, Erik was searching all over town, but found nothing. His frustration was getting bigger, but he'll soon unleash it when he gets his hands on Anne.
"If she would have left, she would have taken her things," said Marie as she and her nanny entered Anne's room. It seemed odd that she left to town and hadn't come back in a while, plus they were curious to what she had brought with her.
Mae tisked. "A madam like her wouldn't bring such cheap jewelry here, don't you think?" she asked looking through her jewelry box. "I think she left her suitcase, so that no one would suspect anything, but she did leave with her best jewelry. She left. She returned back to Paris."
Marie smiled. "We have to inform Monsieur Levesque."
"Wait!" called Mae.
Marie stopped and looked at her. "Why? We must send someone to Lumiere Plantation."
"But why?
"What do you mean 'but why'?"
Mae smirked. "You're in love with Monsieur Levesque, non?"
Marie turned away. "How could you think such a thing, nana?"
"Please, child, I've known since you started talking about him. I had my suspicions. Only when I first saw him that I realized he was very handsome and the look on your face when you saw him. I know he's gotten deep inside your heart. Don't be ashamed with me, love," she said as Marie sat down.
"I started liking him since the moment I saw him. He's a good master, has his temper and a disfigurement, but I can't help what I feel. He's never shared the same feelings, though."
"If his wife truly abandoned him, then things might change, mon chere," said Mae.
"But he loves her, nana," said Marie.
"Oui, but men care are more about pride then affection. He might have a temper from hell, at first, but as time goes by and wounds heal, he'll softened up and would want comfort and you'll be there for him."
Marie shook her head. "Non, I'm not going to be the lover of a married man, nana."
"Shh, never say that there's nothing to eat in that bowl of soup, my dear."
Anne rushed to the side of the road. Her corset was feeling tight. She was out of breath and it was hot outside. She sat down and waited until a carriage would pass by. She didn't have to wait for long. There was one coming and she immediately got up to signal him to stop.
"Monsieur!" Anne shouted.
The man stopped the carriage and let his passenger out of his carriage. It was a middle-aged woman by the name of Adrianne. She came to Orleans because it was her destiny. She needed to see someone she hadn't seen in years. "Merci, Monsieur." She then noticed Anne. She looked frightened and desperate.
"Monsieur, I need to go to Paris."
The man frowned. "I'm going to Tours, Madame."
"Please, sir, I must go to Paris immediately!" Anne dug into her purse. "Look I have lots of bracelets, rings, and necklaces. For the love of God take me to Paris."
"But…" said the man with hesitation.
Erik looked down the road and froze seeing his new bride trying to get on a carriage.
Adrianne took pity on the poor girl. Someone must have had her scared off. "Please take compassion on the poor girl," she said. "Can't you see she's desperate?"
The man nodded. "Alright, get in," he said holding out his hand for her.
Anne smiled with glee. "Merci, Monsieur, merci."
Adrianne was helping her up, too, but then there was a shout in the distance. She saw Erik on horseback, trying to catch up to them.
"Stop," he shouted.
Anne turned her head and her stomach dropped. She could tell he was upset. Who wouldn't? Erik got off and walked towards them. Adrianne realized that he was the one who had Anne like a frightened mouse.
"Hurry, leave!" she said before Erik could get near them, but it was too late.
"Mind your own damn business," he hissed, pushing Adrianne out of the way and shoved her down. "Get down from there!" he told her. Anne didn't want to, but she didn't want to make a commotion either. Anne shoved his hand away as she got out of the carriage. She gave Adrianne a sad look and started back into Orleans with Erik near her side.
Erik practically dragged her back to her room when they got back to the manor, but not without being noticed first by Marie and Mae.
"They came back together, but why? I thought he left to Lumiere Plantation," said Marie.
"Maybe he caught her on her escape," said Mae deep in thought.
"Yes, I was trying to escape because I can't take it anymore!" cried Anne as she entered her room with a steaming Erik behind her.
"Escape to where? To the arms of your lover?" growled Erik.
"Non, to my home."
"This is your home now!" roared Erik.
"No, it's not and it never will be!" she shouted back. "Can't you see that I hate and despise you? You've treated me like the asshole that you are and yet you insist on making me stay here so that you can torture me some more! You want embarrass me," she said, letting out a sob.
"You're the one who embarrassed me! You lied and lied about all the emotions you supposedly had for me. How many times did I give you the opportunity to break off our engagement?" Anne turned away, but Erik marched in front of her. "If I had known, I would have never married you. Not even with your beauty or the pleas of your family would I have taken your hand in marriage. I did it because I thought you felt something for me. That's what you and your people made me think!"
Anne sighed. "I never said that I loved you."
"No, but you never denied it either! You would stay quiet all the time without opening your mouth, thinking of the other man. Why the hell didn't you leave with him in the first place?" he barked, shaking her. "Why?! Why did you do this to me?" Anne said nothing. "Fine," he said, letting her go. "I was a fool for letting you get to me, but we're already married and there's nothing that can be done."
"You could do something if you wanted to," said Anne.
"What's wrong? Just a few minutes ago you were yelling at me."
"Please, let me go," begged Anne. "I promise that I'll live a modest life and you can ask for an annulment when you want."
"Sure, so that you can go with him, non?" said Erik, raising his voice again.
"Please, I swear I won't ever see… Maurice again," she whispered.
"Why should I believe in your promises when on your knees, in front of the altar, you promised to love, obey, and respect me!"
"Fine, alright, what do you want from me?" asked Anne, desperately.
Erik gripped her arms again. "I want a child." Anne froze in his arms. "Think about it," he spat, leaving her room and slamming the door behind him.
Adrianne walked the crowded streets of Orleans. She sadly looked at a mother and child together. It brought back cold memories. She then saw a small chapel that she was looking for. She made her way inside and noticed Father Alexandre, sitting in his study. He looked up and noticed her.
"Come in, child," he told her. "Everyone is welcomed in this house."
Adrianne took the cloth off her head. "Don't you recognize me, Father?"
Alexandre eyed her and suddenly it hit him. "Mary, mother of God. Adrianne."
She nodded. "Your blessing, Father."
Father Alexandre smiled. "Let God bless you, child." Adrianne took his hands and kissed them. "I have so much to tell you."
"Me, too," she said, sadly.
"Your son is here."
Adrianne froze. "In town?"
"No, a bit outside. He lives in a manor. He's become a famous composer in Paris by the name of Erik Levesque."
"I-I've heard of him. His music is beautiful," she said getting tears in her eyes.
"He's more than that, Adrianne. He's a composer, an architect, a magician, and even a doctor. He's rich and made a name out of himself."
Adrianne smiled, tearfully. Her son was alive. He was taken from her when he was born. She had no idea how he looked like. She remembered vaguely that women screamed in horror, but her delivery complications exhausted her and she had passed out. When she awoke, her husband, with pure rage, told her that he threw the monster out and said she'll never see him again. She cried for days, weeks, and soon her husband found himself another mistress and left her. With nowhere to go she went to a local church in Rouen, where they had lived, and got refuge by Father Alexandre, who at the time preached there. She told him all her story and became a dear friend to her. She later decided to leave and maybe find a job as a maid in one of the rich houses of Paris, but no one gave her pity. With a hungry belly and no shelter, she did what any other woman could do to survive: sell her body. That shame and disgust went for years until she decided to look for her dear friend again and maybe even her son.
"How did you find him?" asked Adrianne.
Father Alexandre sighed. "I found him a broken man, living in the streets of Orleans and took him in. He covered his face, but I insisted in letting me see. He's a stubborn one. Got it from you, I presume," he said, making her smile. "His face is deformed and I realize I might be looking at your child. He told me how he was forced to be part of a freak show in a circus when he was about ten years old. He called 'The Devil's Child'," he said, making her gasp. "Then he escaped that, went to Persia, and became an architect for the Shah-in-Shah at the age of eighteen or twenty and even confessed to being his assassin for some time. After that, he came back to Paris and lived in the former Paris Opera until a few months ago when he destroyed it out of love for some ballet girl."
Adrianne collapsed on the chair and sobbed. "That was him?"
"He also said that his mother never loved him."
"That's not true! I'm his mother! I will love him no matter how he looks like!" she cried out.
Father Alexandre nodded. "I know, child. I know."
Marie noticed that Erik was distracted as they spoke about the monthly expensive that were and are needed to be spent. "Is there something wrong, Monsieur?"
Erik sighed and got up. "You and everyone in this manor know what's wrong. I shouldn't have married, at least not with her."
"Well, maybe Madame Anne doesn't like to live in the country since she's used to the city."
"I wish it were that," mumbled Erik. Marie wondered what that meant. "Anyways what were you saying again," he said, turning back to the book of bills again.
"You should tell Erik you're his mother, no matter what sins you've committed, which I cannot judge, only God can."
"No, Father, are you going to do what I asked?"
Father Alexandre sighed. "How can you go into your son's house as a maid?"
Adrianne pulled away. "So you won't help me?"
"Since you've been a child, you've been stubborn as a mule and you still are, but alright. I'll see you here tomorrow at eight in the morning."
Adrianne smiled. "Thank you, Father."
Anne sat by the window, staring helplessly at her locket. She missed Maurice terribly. A knock on the door interrupted her memories to her annoyance. The knock grew louder, but again she ignored it. The door opened and Erik came in.
"Dinner's ready," he simply said.
"I'm not hungry," replied Anne.
"You have to eat," said Erik though his teeth, trying to remain calm.
"I'm not hungry," she repeated. She gasped as Erik grasped her wrist pulling her up.
"I don't want you'll to get sick," he said.
"I hope I die!" she hissed.
Erik shrugged. "Maybe so, but your family will blame me. Let's go," he said, dragging her to the hall. "Try to maintain a proper look so that you'll shut up the gossipers up in this house. Starting tomorrow you'll take on your duties of head mistress of this house."
"I won't be a mistress of anything and I don't care what happens to this house," she hissed.
Erik said nothing and forced her down the stairs.
"The new Madame is pretty, right?" said Marie going to her room with Mae.
"Not prettier than you, love," said Mae, closing the door behind her. "I would like to see you with those elegant and fine clothes. Did you notice that not once did she open her mouth?"
"They're angry with each other," explained Marie.
"Oui," said Mae with enthusiasm. "The fight must very serious if both had that kind of face."
"He was very much in love before he got married, nana."
"I think he was captivated because she was a lady with class, but if she keeps up with that face… We have to animate the men, tend to them and satisfy them, because if they are unattended to, they grow tiered."
Marie looked up at her. "What if they reconcile?"
"We should find out the reason for their fight. Maybe she'll tell me herself."
"You'll dare to ask her?"
"Of course, but not right now. I have to gain her confidence first."
The next morning, Lucy came in to check on Anne as usual. She told Anne that Erik was already up in his music room.
"Breakfast is already served in the dinning room, too, Madame," said Lucy.
"Merci, Lucy," said Anne, picking up her locket.
"Would you like for me to put your clothes away?" she asked.
"Oui, sil-vous-plait," responded Anne.
"Good morning!" said Mae, coming into Anne's room with a tray of food. Anne wondered what Marie's nanny wanted as she quickly put her locket away. "Since Monsieur Levesque is busy in his music room and probably won't come out for hours, I permitted myself in bringing your breakfast so that you won't eat alone in that cold dinner room table."
Anne eyed her. "I appreciate it."
"Maybe later, if you want, we can take a stroll around the manor since it's such a beautiful day," said Mae, smiling.
Anne only smiled back politely, but accepted her offer. One, because she wanted to breathe a bit of fresh air and the other reason being that it was nice to have someone to actually talk to, even if just for conversation.
"Isn't this garden a beauty," said Mae as they walked around back.
Anne smiled sadly. She remembered when Erik had promised her to redecorate his gardens and did a wonderful job with it. It wasn't as grand as the Palace of Versailles, but it was an adoration to behold.
"Yes, it's very beautiful."
"Bonjour, Father," greeted Lamar as Father Alexandre came in with Adrianne.
"Hello, son, is Erik home?"
"Oui, but he's in his music room… Oh, here he comes now," said Lamar.
Father Alexandre turned and saw Erik looking very tiered and bitter. He had found out that he hadn't left to his plantation, as something had to happen between him and his wife.
Adrianne too turned and was startled when she finally saw her son. It was the same man from yesterday. It seemed that he also remembered seeing the confused and angry look on his face. Adrianne gulped and wondered how Father Alexandre will get her to work in her son's house as a maid.
Erik's history was taken from the novel and the 2004 movie adaptation. Thank you for reading and please review!