A/N: Thanks for all the support. Please let me know what you think of this chapter and the story so far. This was fun to writer and I hope its fun to read. Enjoy! Read and review.

Chapter Forty-three

Searching

That night, Erik came to the opera house to pick up Darcey and was informed that she hadn't been seen in at least an hour. He didn't think anything of it, just figured she was running late but after twenty minutes, he started to worry. He decided to try looking for her himself. If she was in the opera house, he would be able to find her.

As he searched, his mind ran wild with the possibilities. Maybe nothing was wrong. Maybe she was in her room and didn't hear them call. He decided to try her room first. He walked through the halls, nodding at those he passed though his focus was on finding Darcey. He would never forgive himself if something had happened to her. He cringed as different scenarios ran through his head. He hoped that he was simply overreacting and that everything was perfectly fine.

He knocked on her door and when he didn't hear a response, he opened the door and looked inside to find it in fact empty. He slipped inside and looked around for any clue that she might have simply stepped out to do something but found nothing but a pile of older dresses that she didn't wear anymore, lying in a neat pile on her bed with a sheet of paper with some measurements written down.

He dismissed it as unimportant and slipped through her mirror to check down in his old lair, which had been emptied of all he could get out. She wasn't anywhere and as none of his traps were triggered and he didn't think her foolish enough to get lost, he left to search elsewhere.

He slipped back out of her room and began to look throughout the rest of the opera house, looking quickly as he began to panic. He came into the auditorium and looked around until he spotted Meg. When his presence was noticed, the dancers stopped dancing one by one, all wondering what he was doing there.

"Please continue. May I speak with Monsieur and Madame Leroy?" Practice resumed and Meg and Garren hurried over to speak with Erik.

"What is it?"

"Have either of you seen Darcey? We were going to go to supper together but she seems to have disappeared. Maybe its paranoia but I can't help but worry that something bad happened. I could never forgive myself if something happened to her. What if someone hurt her? What if…"

"Erik, stop. Don't tear yourself apart. If something did happen, you need to focus so you can find her before something happens. Do you know what she was doing today? I saw her leave earlier today with Helene Marion, one of the new maids."

"She was going to tea with old friends of her mother, going to the dress shop with her cousin, and then Lionell wanted to talk to her." He froze. It couldn't be. Or could it? Lionell had liked her and Darcey herself had mentioned in her note that she was a little concerned about his reaction to the news of their engagement. Would he go so far as to abduct her? He found himself answering with a yes. "You don't think he could be angry enough to take her, do you?"

"Why would he be angry?"

"Darcey allowed him to court her in order to help you two have time off together. He might have thought she was interested in him and was upset when we got engaged. He seems to have always gotten his way in his life."

"I hate to say this, but there's more evidence pointing there than anywhere else. I would check the grounds before looking. She might have just stepped outside to get some fresh air and lost track of time though it's unlikely. We would help you look but I'm afraid unless we had a ransom note, we are not going to be allowed to leave. Please find her."

"If you haven't found her by the time we are done, please come get us. I hope she is alright," Garren put in, placing his arm around Meg protectively.

"I will. Keep an eye out for her. I pray she's alright." Meg pulled free from Garren long enough to give Erik a quick hug of encouragement. Garren simply slapped him on the shoulder.

"She'll be fine. She's lucky to have you. Now go find her."

He nodded and hurried out of the room as they reluctantly went back onto the stage. Once out of the room, he headed out the nearest exit to search the grounds. As he was searching, he stumbled across a girl who was curled up on her side on one of the benches. "My apologies," he said. "You haven't seen Mademoiselle Dubois, have you?"

"Darcey? What about her? Who are you?" she said, sitting up, distrust shining in her eyes.

"I'm her fiancé, Erik Destler. You know her? I can't find her and I'm worried."

"I'm Helene Marion. She hired me to act as her companion today. She is very nice. She told me about you."

So this was the maid. "When was the last time you saw her?"

"Late this afternoon. We came back from shopping with her cousin and she paid me before saying she would see me tomorrow. I think she was going to talk to the patron. Can I help you find her?" He took a good look at this girl with blond hair, gray eyes, and old clothing that really was not adequate for the weather. But what struck him were the emotions in her eyes.

"You care for her don't you?" She nodded. "How well do you know the surrounding streets?"

"I know them like the back of my hand."

"Good. I need you to look around for her. I think that the patron may have abducted her but want to be sure I don't lose her. Please be careful."

"I will!" She started off but he held her back.

"One second. Please take my jacket. It's much too cold without one and I am plenty warm." He shrugged out of it and helped her into it despite her protests. "Go. Meet me in front of the opera when you are done." They took off in different directions, Erik intent on finding Lionell and personally strangling him.

He stormed into the opera, heading straight for Lionell's office, ignoring the gasps from the people around him. He was too focused to care what would be said tomorrow. He was going to strangle the fop and if he hurt Darcey at all… With this thought, he threw open the door to the office and stalked towards a very confused and terrified Lionell.

Lionell scrambled to his feet as Erik advanced. "What have you done with her? Where is she?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," he squeaked. He tried to run but Erik caught him and wrapped his hands around his throat as he pinned him against the wall.

"Where is Darcey? If you hurt her, so help me I will tear you to pieces."

"I don't know where she is. She left almost an hour ago. I swear I didn't do anything!"

"If you didn't take her, then where is she?"

"I don't know!" When Erik squeezed harder, he thought quickly and suddenly his eyes went wide. "I think I might have an idea. Could you…"

Erik reluctantly released him and stepped back. "You better speak quickly."

Lionell unconsciously brought his hand to his throat and nodded. "Firstly, I have no reason to hurt her or anything of the sort. Yes, I was a little hurt when I found out she was engaged as she is a great young woman but I would never hurt her. I wanted to talk to her to make sure it was her choice because I want her to be happy. She was a childhood friend and I only have fond memories of her but that is beside the point. I have reason to believe that it was her cousin."

That was not what Erik expected him to say. Her cousin had been nothing but supportive of their engagement and kind to them both. "You had better have a good reason to suspect him."

"Let me explain. You know how her parents died in the accident? Did she tell you that her parents left her with nothing?"

"Yes. Of course she did. What does that have to do with anything?" he said impatiently. The longer she was missing, the more nervous he became.

"Bear with me. That is a lie. Her cousin lied about her being left with nothing." Erik stared in shock.

"H-How? How can that be?"

"I looked into it when she told me because it seemed odd that they wouldn't even leave her a dowry. I know it sometimes seemed like they didn't love her because they wanted a son but they did love her very much. In fact they were going to leave her everything if she married before 1871. If she did not marry, she would still get a small dowry. Lionell must have kicked her out, hoping that she would not marry so that he would get the title and fortune. I have a copy of the documents to prove everything."

Erik swore as everything fell into place especially the emphasis on the spring wedding. "Where could he have gone?" he asked partially to himself and partially to Lionell as he started to pace. At that moment, there was a soft knock on the door and it was tentatively opened by Helene. "Did you find her?" he asked hopefully.

She shook her head sadly then noticed that Lionell was in the room. Her mouth fell open in shock and confusion.

"He didn't abduct her." She visibly relaxed to hear it though there was still tension as she pulled Erik's coat tighter around herself. "Did you happen to see anything out of the ordinary?"

"No. Only thing that was strange was that someone said that Darcey's cousin was suddenly called away to one of his country homes."

"What?" both men said at once.

"He got called away to one of his country homes," she said tentatively, taking a step back at their intensity.

"Did you happen to hear which one?" Erik tried to put her at ease though the situation was serious.

"I think it may have started with a D or maybe a E. I don't remember." Her crestfallen expression touched his heart and he approached her and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. We'll find her. Lionell, do you know if he has any properties starting with either of those letters?"

"In fact there is. We have to hurry. I would like to hope that he wouldn't do anything drastic but I honestly don't know. We can talk on the way." He stood and grabbed his coat and a folder out of a drawer of his desk.

"Do you want to come with us?"

"You'd let me come with you?" Distrust colored her voice.

"Of course. If you care about her enough to venture through the streets by yourself at this time of night, you have by far earned the right to come with us. As long as I do not have to worry about your safety as well as hers, you can come."

"You won't have to worry about me." She stood up to her full height making him laugh.

"Then let's go."

Oh no! Darcey's gone missing! What's gonna happen? Tell me what you think. Whoever guesses right gets to give poor Erik a hug. Please review