Chapter Fourteen
Ghosts From the Past
The next couple of weeks were spent readying the theatre for the gala and making plans how best to approach Javart. Erik thought the direct approach might work the best. Erik knew that he would know Javart anywhere out a crowd of people even with the trappings of newly acquired manners and dress. The same truth could be said for Javart recognizing Erik.
After all how many men wore a mask as Erik did? How many such men would pass through a person's life? Erik would meet his torturer face to face. As a man Erik could deal on an equal footing with Javart. No longer was Erik a small five year old boy huddled in the corner of a cage. Erik had not been beaten with a whip or fist since his childhood. Now he could hold his own in such a situation. This time it would be Erik who meted out the torture and what sweet torture it would be too.
Erik made careful plans for the opening night. It would rival any celebratory night at L'Opéra Populaire. This night Erik would shine. Erik could not help the excitment rushing through him anticipating having Meg view his triumph. Erik felrt proud of all he had accomplished even if some of it had come to him through less honorable means. He felt he had made up for any unlawful deeds he had committed, at least of his recent misdeeds.
One thing needed to be attended to before opening night. Erik must speak candidly with Antoinette. She had been his mentor and savior for many years. Needless to say she would remember all too well his lunacy with Christine. Erik felt shame for his behavior during that last year at the opera house. If Erik could trust such drugs he would slip Antoinette something that would make her forget the last year at the opera house.
Many conversations had been played out in Erik's head. This need he felt building inside of him felt far different from what he had felt for Christine. Erik still found Christine attractive and worshipped her voice as a musician and composer. Would he bed her if she would have him? Certainly he would. He was a man regardless of anything else.
Would he actively seek out such a thing or even consider such a thing once he pledged himself to Meg? Not for all the tea in China. Erik, if nothing else, felt himself to be a man who would love only one woman at a time and devote himself to her. For all his attraction and admiration of Christine, Erik felt Meg to be the one he could give up everything else for her alone.
Erik felt different when he was in Meg's presence. He did indeed feel the same lustful thoughts he had felt for others but with Meg there seemed to be some added element that had Erik baffled. He could not equate it with anything he had experienced before. When he gave it thought he wondered if what he felt had anything to do with love.
Since what he felt for Christine had more to do with obsession than love Erik did not think he could say with any degree of certainty what he felt for Meg could be equated to love. The emotion he felt for Meg felt pure, untainted by anything other than his own stupidity for his hateful actions he had committed against Meg.
If he and Meg were to make things work Erik felt he must confess his sin to her. He could not in good conscience pursue her without letting her know how truly despicable he had been. If he let things go as they were, then later Meg remembered something what they had built together would fall like a house of cards.
Having made the decision to speak to Antoinette before attempting any pursuit of Meg, Erik invited Antoinette to tea. During the meal Erik ate sparingly as his stomach revolted at the idea of food as his nerves had it churning around making him feel slightly ill.
Beads of sweat popped out on his forehead. His hands felt as if he had dipped them in a pan of water. Rubbing them continuously up and down his pant leg Erik had searched for a way to approach such a delicate discussion when Antoinette took things into her own hands.
Tossing her napkin onto the table Antoinette had informed Erik enough was enough. Get to the point before he expired into a puddle of perspiration.
Erik had guiltily looked down at his hands rubbing on his trousers. He had jerked them away from his now damp trouser legs. Once he had placed his hands back on the table he cleared his throat then painstakingly began to state his case.
Methodically Erik laid everything out for Antoinette to consider. His wealth, Erik would make Meg's career their first priority. Neither Antoinette nor Meg would ever have the need to concern themselves about finances again.
Antoinette had said that was all well and good but what about love? Her daughter deserved a man who could love her and only her. She then proceeded to ask Erik if he had put his obsession with Christine behind him. Could he with a clear conscience declare himself to be free of Christine and able to love Meg?
Antoinette had been aware of the passionate tension between Meg and Erik. At times Antoinette thought Erik looked at Meg as a man who loved a woman would look when observing the one who pulled at their heartstrings at the time.
It worried Antoinette sometimes when she would catch Erik looking at Christine with that old intensity covering his face. It came less often and usually after he had heard her sing. Perhaps Erik himself confused love for the woman with love of her voice.
Knowing how Meg felt Antoinette knew that if she forbade Erik to pursue Meg, the girl would never forgive her if she found out Erik had made a bid for Meg's hand and her own mother refused him permission to court her.
With reservations Antoinette gave Erik permission to court her daughter if Meg herself felt so inclined. Antoinette had little doubt how Meg would respond to Erik. Most women would find it hard to refuse Erik anything when he used that velvet voice of his to persuade rather than threaten.
Having put his anxiety over facing Antoinette behind him, now Erik could concentrate on how he would deal with Javart. He must first separate Fiona from him. He had all but promised Rochelle he would save her daughter.
The evening of the gala excitement seemed to be the order of the evening. Erik had not had an opportunity to speak with Meg. He had sent round some flowers, candy and a small bracelet to both Antoinette and Meg. He did not think Antoinette would like for him to purchase expensive jewelry for her daughter until some type of commitment had been declared. Antoinette would not be so critical if he sent them both a small token. Erik held back the necklace and earrings that matched Meg's bracelet. He would give them to her at a proper time.
Erik asked Antoinette and Meg to play hostess for him. Raoul and Christine had already arrived. Christine had looked breathtaking but Erik had eyes only for Meg. Her black gown had white lace around the scooped neckline. The gown had no sleeves but it did have an intriguing black and red netting draped around her shoulders coming to the center to allow a short length of the material to hang down over Meg's ample chest. Erik's bracelet adorned Meg's slender wrist.
Meg had a sapphire pin in her hair which held up a few blonde curls that hung over her shoulder to caress her breasts as she moved. Erik found himself fascinated by those curls. He wanted to caress the same places with his fingers, hands and lips.
Christine found herself admiring Erik's proud looking figure. He looked so handsome and debonair. Raoul she felt looked quite nice too but Erik had an air of dark, dangerous appeal that women found they could not resist. Christine loved Raoul completely but that did not preclude her from thinking of Erik as a sexual being with a magnetic pull on women. If Erik ever found out just how attractive he really was he would be a menace to all women.
Christine could not help but note Meg's radiant glow as she stood beside Erik. Anyone looking at the two of them would be hard pressed not to notice how many times the two of them looked at one another. Erik barely took his eyes away from Meg. Christine felt a small twinge of jealousy for at one time Erik might have looked at her in just that same way. Not often but sometimes Christine wondered how it would have been if she had stayed with Erik. She did not let herself dwell on what might have been too often as those thoughts would only cause discontent.
Erik felt Meg's bared shoulder rub against his own for what seemed like the thousandth time. If something did not come along and distract him he would be pulling Meg into some secluded corner. Erik knew every crack and cranny of the building. He had overseen architectural drawings and the construction himself.
Erik heard a stir as someone entered the front doors. Rochelle had been the one to gasp. She had her hand up at her throat. Fear of the man who had entered clearly could be seen in her eyes.
Erik followed to where Rochelle had her frightened gaze transfixed. He would know that man anywhere. Erik believed with his eyes closed he could tell if that man came within a few feet of him as the air would become deathly cold and smell of sulfur and brimstone.
Moving closer to Meg, Erik wanted to remove all the women he cared about from the presence of this evil man who stood before him now.
Javart's only outward reaction to seeing a man who looked amazingly like a child who had been one of Javart's main attractions was his widened eyes.
"Ah Monsieur Devereaux it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. But then I suppose we both know this is not our first meeting. How does it feel to breathe the air of freedom?" Javart did not realize the danger he now placed himself in as Erik's rage began to rise to uncontrollable levels.
"It had been much more enjoyable a moment ago. Now the air has become quite fowl." Erik grasped the hand Javart had extended toward him. Erik tightened his grip to bone crushing tightness. Javart would soon know that he would be dealing with the man Erik and not the pitiful creature that had been caged and treated with less care than an animal.
"You have come a long way Erik. This is a long way from that little devil that lived in a cage as an animal should." Javart taunted Erik even when his good sense tried to warn him that the man before him had an aura of danger surrounding him.
Erik bowed as he released Javart's hand. He felt as if he might vomit if he held onto that greasy, hell bound, poor excuse for a human's hand any longer.
Javart put himself in danger once more as he eyed Meg with lascivious intent. Meg had the young and innocent look that appealed to Javart's perverted sexual appetite. He had brought along a little something just in case to encourage some young woman to lose her fear and mistrust of him.
Fiona had satisfied him in the beginning but now as the drugs wore her down Javart had seen that her looks had begun to fade. Her innocence had been gone for a long time now. Who could remain an innocent when in the hands of a man such as Javart was?
"Ah Erik, you must introduce me to this ravishing creature. She by far outshines any lady present."
Erik gritted his teeth. If the theatre had not been filled with people Javart would have been dead before he said his first word. As it was Erik had to don a veneer of civility toward the man he hated above all others.
Meg waited expectantly for Erik to introduce her to this man who looked important. His clothing suggested he had considerable wealth. Meg felt no attraction for the man whatsoever; in fact he made Meg feel uneasy by his frank perusal of her figure.
As Erik continued to play mute Meg took it upon herself to introduce both her and her mother to the man. "Monsieur as Erik seems to have lost his manners I will introduce myself. My name is Meg, Meg Giry, and this is my mother Antoinette Giry. Now good sir might I have your name as Erik seems to have lost his tongue as well as his manners?" Meg held her gloved hand out to be taken and kissed by this strange looking man who seemed to have upset Erik for some unknown reason. Meg deduced from Erik's tight lipped stance he would dearly love to throttle the man rather than greet him in any way.
"Meg, how delightful. My name is George Vincent." Erik made a rude noise which Meg admonished him for with a slight pinch to the sleeve of his jacket. Mr. Vincent seemed unfazed by Erik's rudeness as he continued, "I do not wish to embarrass you with my unworthy admiration Meg but I feel I must confess that upon observing the women nearest to me I find you by far the fairest. Might I offer you my arm, so that we may share this first dance?"
Erik pulled Meg a little roughly so that she stood closer to his side as he spoke with evident distaste to Mr. Vincent. "Meg will not be dancing for a while as she has duties she must perform as my hostess."
Meg did not really want to dance with Mr. Vincent. If Erik had not been quite so heavy-handed Meg might not have minded so much that he seemed to be answering Mr. Vincent's invitation without consulting her. Easily she would have written off the man as of no consequence if Erik had said he would be having the first dance with Meg himself. Since he did neither of those things Meg being obstinate accepted Mr. Vincent's offer of a dance.
Erik wanted to shake Meg for being so contrary. It would not be easy to keep his eye on her when the couple took to the floor. It sickened Erik to think that Javart would lay an unclean had on Meg's pearly white skin.
Quickly Erik asked Rochelle to dance with him as he watched Meg walk away with a man Erik considered to be in league with the devil himself. If the man so much as mussed one hair on Meg's head Erik would skin him slowly and let the evil man watch his own hide be peeled away bit by bit.
Antoinette watched all those who should be greeting newly arriving guests walk away. She mentally threw her hands in the air declaring them all insane. Hurriedly she begged Raoul to assist her as she tried to do the job which should have been Erik's. Raoul and Christine stepped in as surrogate host and hostess. Many who knew the de Chagny name were duly impressed.
As Erik whirled Rochelle around in an elegant waltz he kept his eyes glued to Meg. One little frown marring her face would have Erik ripping out Javart's throat in front of everyone and damn the consequences.
Erik wished he had taken the time to warn Antoinette. Her motherly instincts and protective nature would have been welcome about now as Erik tried to keep Meg from becoming another victim of his nemesis, Javart. Antoinette would have known how to curb Meg's contrary nature without alienating her. Antoinette had years of practice keeping recalcitrant young people in line.
Erik felt sweat begin to break out on his forehead as he watched Javart guide Meg around the floor. Erik had to restrain himself from dragging the man out by his neck when that man's filthy hand dropped down lower on Meg's back.
Meg felt somewhat nervous as Mr. Vincent stared quite fixedly at her bosoms then licked his lips as if her were tasting…well as if he were sampling something particularly delectable.
She could hear his heavy breathing. As she felt him lower his hand to the top of her backside Meg tried to curb her rising panic. When he used that hand at her back to pull her flush against him Meg nearly stomped on his foot. Good manners were the only thing that stopped her.
A couple of quick turns and Mr. Vincent had whirled Meg right out of the ballroom onto the dimly lit terrace. During performances this terrace would be filled with the smoke of tobacco from all manner of smoking paraphernalia. Tonight it had been set up with seating for the overflow of guests.
Meg had been going to excuse herself when Mr. Vincent told her to stay and enjoy the evening air as he would collect a couple of drinks.
As soon as Javart had left Meg he went to the outside to find his coach. He told his coachman to pull around front and be ready to leave immediately when he returned.
Javart salivated just thinking about that lovely blond waiting for him. A little of his magic powders and Mademoiselle Giry would be willing to do anything he said. He would whisk her away right out from under that freak's nose. Within the hour he could have her in his bed ready and willing to do whatever he asked. Javart thought he might just prolong the pleasure by waiting to claim Mademoiselle Giry. He did after all still have Fiona and tonight could be her farewell performance.
Having made sure his driver would be waiting for him Javart returned to the ballroom. He grabbed two champagne glasses from a passing servant. Setting the glasses down just long enough to pour in the powder, he picked up the glasses once more to go and find Meg.
Erik began to panic when he could not see Meg. Rochelle did not find her in the powder room. Antoinette had not seen her since they had all been at the entryway door to the lobby.
Erik cursed himself for not doing what he had wanted and killed Javart outright. It would have been worth going to the gallows just to know the evil man would not harm anyone ever again. If, no when he found the man Erik would end his life. Erik would not make the same mistake twice.
Everyone gathered back in the lobby to try to decide what to do. Raoul had asked around and some of his friends had seen Meg go out onto the terrace with Mr. Vincent. The man had come back in alone only after being out for less than a minute. He had gone back out with two flutes of champagne. No one could say for sure if Meg and Mr. Vincent had come back in.
Erik paced around running his hands through his hair. God if anything happened to Meg Erik felt he would lose the thin thread of control he had on his temper. Once unleashed in a fit of anger sometimes Erik lost all sense of his surroundings and what he did.
Buguet and Piangi had both paid for his uncontrolled urges with their lives. Erik didn't care about Javart but he did not want to lose sight of his purpose right now and end up hurting Meg in a blinding rage.
Rochelle worried for this young woman Meg. Her own daughter did not look like herself since being with Mr. Vincent. She looked far older than her years. Her will had been crushed in some way so that she followed every dictate Mr. Vincent proclaimed. She had been turned into nothing more than a puppet. Rochelle would not stand by and let another young woman lose her hold on reality.
"Erik we cannot do anything tonight other than plan for what we need to do. What I suggest is for all those who will be taking part in the rescue come to my home. We can use my own sitting room as a base of operations.
Once we have some sort of idea what we must do everyone will need to rest so they will be fresh for the task ahead." Erik clearly looked as if he would protest so Rochelle used reason to try to sway him.
"Erik I know you want to forge ahead now. Believe me if I thought that would be successful I would join you. I have been dealing with Mr. Vincent for almost a year now. I know him pretty well, at least I know him from my investigation and the little contact I have had through social engagements. Don't you think that I have not tried to storm in and whisk my daughter away from that monster? All our efforts have been useless thus far. The man has too many men with unsavory character working for him. His home is like a fortress.
When he purchased the estate Mr. Vincent made vast changes in and around the estate. Guards are posted all along the walls. He has some type of gun fixed atop the roof which can fire many rounds in rapid succession. My detective informed me this came from outside France. He called it a Gatling gun.
Erik, if we are to be successful we must plan carefully. We cannot afford to make any mistakes. If we go in there unprepared we will lose those we seek to save, possibly forever. My detective tells me that it looks as if Mr. Vincent is making plans to move on. He has been transferring money from England to American and Canada.
Because we have so little knowledge of the estate we must be certain of our plan of action. So please Erik, curb your impulses to attack now. We must all come together calmly, or as calmly as we can so we will have success in getting our loved ones home again."
Knowing Rochelle spoke only the truth did not make it any easier for Erik to let Javart breath for one second longer. Erik could barely focus on anything other than the fact that Javart had Meg. They had disappeared almost half an hour ago and had not been seen since.
All sorts of horrid things crossed Erik's mind as to what Javart could be doing to Meg. Erik knew first hand how cruel and perverted the man was. Realizing he must take hold of his emotions Erik gave Rochelle his word he would do nothing until they had a firm plan of action in mind.
Raoul volunteered to help. Christine clung to his arm as tears ran down her face. Her sister had been taken by some man who would do God knows what to her. He already had at least one woman in his clutches. Christine stretched out her arm to place her hand on Antoinette's shoulder in comfort. That had been all Antoinette needed to completely break down.
Erik instinctively wrapped his arms around Antoinette whispering words of comfort. He wished he had someone to do the same for him. He did not know if he could remain sane until they had some solid plan to rescue Meg in place. He seemed to be only hanging onto his control by a slim thread. It wouldn't take much for him to unleash all the fury of his former persona. God help them all if that happened.