A/N: Just wanted to invite everyone to visit my new website. Nothing fancy. I am in the process of building it. Not all pages are uploaded or have anything on them. Most are complete or at least have info on them. I hope to be able to add to everything as time goes by. I wouldn't mind if anyone had somethng they would like to contribute. Advice is always welcome. This is a big step for someone who only learned within the last year how to post stories and chapters on ff and a dot and net. The site won't let me use any dots for addresses. The address is in my bio.

I want to take a minute to thank those few reviewers who faithfully give me some little something if not every chapter at least for most chapters they do. It is very encouraging to know you like what I write enough to leave some little comment. Thanks guys or guys as the case may be.

Chapter Fifteen

Rescue of the Innocent

Since the ball had been planned as a way to introduce Erik into society as a patron of the arts Rochelle convinced him they must finish out the evening as planned. They did not want gossip to start with Meg's disappearance as it had when Fiona went missing. Once it came to light that Fiona resided with a man who had no familial connection or spousal obligations, the rumors were quick to spread among those who were prominent in the societal eye.

As much as it angered Erik that his life had begun to be ruled by the opinion of others he felt some satisfaction in the knowledge that a year ago none of this would have been possible. If Meg had not been put in danger Erik felt he could celebrate his successful introduction into London's elite patronage.

Everyone had stayed until the last guest had left. Once they were free of social and business obligations they agreed to meet again at Rochelle's estate to begin to form a plan.

Christine would not hear of being left behind and Antoinette made it clear that the only way she would not be joining them would be if they tied her to her bedpost. Needless to say Christine and Antoinette joined the others at Rochelle's.

Once David had been informed of Meg's abduction he had quickly retrieved his sword declaring he would be making a visit to Mr. Vincent's post haste. He invited anyone who had any honor to join him.

Knowing how much David grieved for his sister and the helplessness he felt not being able to protect her or gain her release from someone he knew put his sister's life at risk daily by forcing drugs into her, Rochelle calmly but firmly bade her son to put away his weapon until such time as they needed such desperate actions.

David blustered for a bit as youth tends to do when in the throws of playing gallant knight. Once he had been promised he would have an important part in Fiona and Meg's rescue he calmed somewhat. At least they had not told him he was still just a child.

It had been so late when they returned Rochelle encouraged everyone to get as much sleep as they could. They would need it over the next few days. Rochelle had been making plans and carrying them out with no success for over a year. Now she hoped that with the help of the others they could at last bring Fiona home. Rochelle had heard all the rumors about Erik's last few years in France.

At this point Rochelle felt she would make a pact with the devil if it meant having her family back together again. She had every confidence in Erik's abilities. If half of what she had heard were true then he would be the one to bring Meg and Fiona home.

Erik paced about his room unable to settle. He had tried to do as Rochelle had asked, but inaction right now was not what Erik needed.

Thoughts of what Javart may well be doing to Meg nearly drove him back to his days of insanity. He had to keep a grip on himself. He could do no one any good if he lost his common sense.

Going out onto his balcony Erik gazed up at the starry night. For the first time in many years Erik said a prayer and meant every blessed word. He begged God not to take Meg from him.

In the middle of his prayer an irresistible urge came over Erik to leave Rochelle's home and go to Javart's estate. Erik knew where it was located at least close enough that he could find it if he tried.

It would take over an hour's ride to reach the secluded estate. If Erik had a good horse he might cut that down by fifteen minutes or so.

Having made the decision to take the journey to the estate of his enemy, Erik justified his actions the whole way to the barn and while he saddled the best mount he could find. He did not bother to wake a stable boy as he did not want anyone to follow him.

Someone needed to do some reconnaissance and Erik felt himself to be best equipped for the job. For years he had kept himself hidden from thousands of people in the opera house. It should be fairly easy to bypass all the guards that would be posted along the perimeter of the estate and within the grounds themselves.

Erik knew de Chagny would have wanted to go as well as young David but felt it would be better and certainly much safer for him to go alone. He would worry about the insult to manly posturing later. David and Raoul would be welcome to strut around like peacocks after Meg and Fiona were returned.

Seeking out information without letting anyone see him had been Erik's stock and trade for years. He only ever let anyone see him when he wanted to be seen.

Within an hour and a half of making his decision Erik had left Rochelle's and found the estate of Javart. Keeping his mount far away from the inner grounds Erik made his way to what Rochelle had described as a fortress. Upon taking note of each and every man Erik could only think that Rochelle was correct.

Javart had his property and inner sanctum guarded as if he feared a siege. Knowing what he did Erik could only think that Javart had been wise to prepare for his coming. Nothing on this God's earth would keep Erik from killing his tormentor. Because he took Meg the punishment would all the more horrendous once Erik had Meg back and safe in the arms of her loved ones, safely back with him.

Erik's black figure blended perfectly with the darkness of the night. There would not be a full moon for another week which meant the rescue would be taking place soon.

Not wanting his mask to give away his position Erik had removed that white covering. He took this precaution just in case the light of the stars reflecting off the white material caught the eagle eye of one of those guards.

From what Erik could make out there were plenty of men, but none particularly bright or energetic. He listened in on different conversations as he made his way into the house via the trellis and upper balcony.

Erik thought it would not hurt to know just a little about men he would be fighting soon. It only took about a half an hour to gain just enough knowledge to have a plan in mind. Erik mentally noted discussion and complaints about rounds and the women being so close with no one but Mr. Vincent benefiting from all that feminine grace. Those men did not know how lucky they were this night that Erik had other things on his mind or he would have killed a dozen or so men just to warn Javart he would be coming for him. For Meg and Fiona's safety Erik would not risk doing something sure to bring down Javart's wrath on the women.

Erik had used his skills to deduce the most likely place for the women to be kept prisoner. They would be in the same room as that would mean fewer guards.

It would be a room that had no access from the outside by the usual method of stairs leading up to the balcony. That had left the rooms next to the balcony in the front. The back of the house Erik had seen as far too easy to break in. Javart as an accomplished burglar and thief himself would know precisely where to hold his captives.

A few turns around the building had disclosed a fairly easy way to get into the inner hallway of the upstairs. Noting a foot wide ledge that wrapped all the way around the house Erik decided that would be his vantage point to assess where and how best to rescue Meg.

Erik tried to concentrate on the task at hand and less of thoughts of how close he was to Meg at this moment. He could not go in and retrieve her tonight. He wouldn't be able to take both women. Knowing he could not leave either of them if he tried to do this tonight, Erik opted for reconnoiter observations only on this trip.

His mind had been so frazzled with worry over Meg that he had almost allowed some of those incompetent guards to catch sight of him. A quick lunge into the bushes had saved him but injured his pride somewhat for his carelessness.

Having retained his dignity Erik made sure not to let his mind wander again. He timed his movements to coincide with the guard's turns around the building. He hugged the dark shadows just as he used to in the opera house.

Choosing a likely place to begin his climb Erik headed upward. The stones were cold and a little slick from dew. His leather gloves helped him grip onto those sharp edges of the stones making up the outer shell of the house.

As Erik climbed he gave thanks to all those years he had climbed below the opera house and all through the upper levels. The flies and catwalks were a second home to him. Over the years Erik's physic had filled out quite nicely. All his muscles bulged now as he used his powerful hands and arms to pull himself up.

He used his feet to push up as his hands and arms pulled upward, working like a perfectly synchronized machine Erik made slow but sure progress. Once Erik reached the ledge he carefully pulled one leg up making sure his foot had a firm hold before using that leg to push upward after his fingers had found purchase on a couple of protruding stones just above the ledge.

A couple of times his boot slipped on the wet stones giving Erik a much needed warning as to the seriousness of his task. He could not afford to let his concentration to falter for one second.

Pulling and straining Erik managed to get his other boot onto the ledge. Using all the power in his arms Erik strained to pull himself upright. Once he accomplished that he let out a large lungful of air he had not known he had been holding inside.

Now for the really hard part was what Erik thought as he looked down below him. He had climbed the wall as far as the ledge. Now he must get up onto that thin strip of mortar that was on a level with the windows and hope he did not fall to his death thus failing everyone, especially Meg. Erik would not let that happen, he could not let her go through an ordeal like the one he had put her through already. Meg was a strong woman but could any woman survive two brutal attacks by a man seeking his own pleasure?

Sliding one boot at a time inch by careful inch, along the thin ledge Erik forced his mind to focus on every stone and every single crack he could feel with his fingers. Erik had barely begun his forward movement when he heard a bloodcurdling scream. His boot slipped as he pictured Javart doing something horrid to Meg or Fiona.

His emotions told him to hurry and kill the bastard but Erik's more intelligent half knew he could not enter whichever room the women were held in if others were present. It would be too much of a risk. A risk Erik was not willing to take.

Erik finally got a safe purchase on the thin strip of mortar. He stood straight hugging the wall as closely as he could. He had to turn his boots outward in order for them to fit on the ledge. That precarious perch along with his gripping fingers was all that kept Erik from plummeting to the ground below.

Coming to the first window Erik peered in almost leaping through the glass when he saw Javart and three others holding Meg as she struggled. The other woman, who had to be Fiona, pulled on Javart's arm trying to pull him away from Meg.

Javart backhanded Fiona sending her flying across the room. The men laughed as they watched her struggle to regain her footing. Erik had to hand it to her, she had staying power. She stood upright although she swayed from side to side dizzily.

Javart slid his hand down Meg's neck to come to rest on her breast. Erik swallowed bile as he felt his stomach begin to protest as he had to look helplessly on while those men played with Fiona and Meg.

For whatever reason, Javart let Meg go with nothing more than that brief caress and a few sickening promises of more to come. He ordered the men to stand just outside the door. As they left the room Erik heard that bastard tell Meg to rest up as tomorrow night would be her initiation.

Fiona cried out in protest. She knew all too well what would happen to Meg. Soon Meg would be just as Fiona herself was, addicted to some unknown drug that George administered nightly. Sometimes he would leave her for a few days without it and those days were sheer hell.

She hated the way she begged that filthy man for relief. He always laughed then made her do disgusting things. Fiona either complied or went without her dose of that calming liquid shot into her veins. To go without it meant days of pure hell as her body went into fits which Fiona could neither stop nor control.

After the men left the room Erik pecked on the window. When Meg looked in the direction of the window she thought she must have gone daft from the strain of the last few hours.

Blinking rapidly to remove the image of Erik flying outside the window Meg began to panic when Erik remained stubbornly in the same place. He looked like a bat with Erik's face. His cape billowed out in the slight breeze.

Whatever foul concoction Mr. Vincent had slipped into her drink not only knocked her out but damaged her brain.

"Meg, let me in. It's Erik. Hurry we don't have much time." Erik had to whisper as the guards would be making a pass underneath him at any moment.

"Oh God not only am I to be ravaged but now I am seeing and hearing things," Meg groaned.

"You…you hear and see him too? Thank God I thought I had lost a little more of my sanity. Who is he and how in the world did he get up here? This is the third floor. We are at least thirty feet above the ground."

"That, my fellow captive is Erik, our rescuer." Meg quickly went to open the window heartened to know she had not been imagining Erik. Erik had only set one foot inside the room when Meg grabbed him kissing him everywhere she could reach.

Erik stiffened for only a few seconds then began to kiss Meg as he had dreamed of doing for so long. She felt so good in his arms. Everywhere Erik felt cold Meg warmed with the return of his embrace and kisses. His heart had never felt quite so warm as it did at this moment as well as other parts of him.

Forcing his lust back into safe keeping Erik addressed Meg as calmly and quietly as he could manage. "I am only here to seek out information. It would not be feasible to remove both of you. One would be risky as we would have to climb down the same way I climbed up. Not easy at the best of times let me tell you."

Erik asked Fiona if she were alright. She assured him nothing was wrong that being home with her loved ones would not cure. He told Fiona about her mother's search for her over the last year. He also told them both that they would be rescued it just could not be tonight.

It tore Erik into pieces to see Meg's beautiful face contort with fear when he told them they would not be leaving this night. Watching as tears gathered in her eyes Erik almost said to hell with it he would take the risk.

Gathering his resolve Erik drew Meg into the comfort of his arms. Never had Erik ever thought anyone would find anything in him comforting.

"Hush now Meg. We do not want the guards to hear. I promise you Meg I will come back for you. Tomorrow night whether we have a firm plan or not I will come for you. You both must be ready to do whatever it takes to survive the night and tomorrow until I can make it back to you.

You do not know how much it hurts me to have to leave you behind. Better to leave you here one more day than lose you tonight."

Erik pushed Meg gently away from him to look deeply into her eyes. He tried to pass some of his strength to her by willpower alone.

"No matter what happens Meg, know that I will love you always. We will be together if that is your wish. If not I will be glad just to know you are safe and still in the world living your life."

As Meg would have spoken Erik bade her not to make any rash declarations. Once he had rescued her and returned her to Antoinette then they would talk. Whatever she decided he would abide by her decision with no hard feelings.

Since Erik would not let her make a verbal declaration Meg used the only other method open to her. Meg kissed Erik as if this would be the last time. Every last drop of love Meg felt for Erik had been transferred into that intense kiss.

When she stepped back Meg pulled Erik by his lapels toward her for one last quick kiss then she pushed him away removing her hands from temptation. She knew Erik would not leave her unless it could not be helped.

"Go now Erik before someone comes in. It would not do for my night in shining armor to be caught now would it?" Meg cast a glance over her shoulder to where Fiona sat huddled in a chair. The shaking of her body had more to do with the withdrawal to the drugs than fear of Erik.

"Tell Madame Cavanaugh that her daughter is alive and although not at her best she will be all the better for returning to her loved ones. Erik I think she has not had her usual dose of whatever medication that horrid man has been giving her. She suffers from some sort of withdrawal.

When you come for us I will do my best to have her ready but she may not be able to help in her rescue. Now go quickly before I break down again. I love you Erik. No matter what happens remember I love you." Meg eyed Erik defiantly daring him to reprimand her for openly making her declaration of love. Erik simply looked at Meg in wonder. He could not speak if his life depended on it. Meg loved him. He wanted to shout from the rooftops so that everyone within hearing would know that he, Erik, Opera Ghost and Phantom had won the heart of his fair maiden.

Meg gave him a quick peck on the lips then turned away from him. She could bear to watch him leave. If she had to watch him climb out that window she would be right behind him. If Fiona had been stronger Meg would have chanced begging Erik to take them tonight. It would have been too great a risk to take with only Erik to aid them.

Meg would have sworn she heard Erik whisper that he loved her. She had even thought he called her "my love". Meg would do whatever she had to do to make it through until Erik returned.

When Meg could be sure Erik had left she ran to the window to look out so she might catch a last look of him. She did indeed see a dark shadow moving across the lawn heading for the trees.

Silently Meg bade her love good-bye hoping tomorrow he would return to her. Meg had every confidence in Erik's ability to set her free. What worried her would be having to depend on others for the success of that rescue.

Meg kissed her fingertips pressing them against the glass of the window. Silently she whispered a temporary farewell to her love. They would be together she felt sure of it. God would not be so cruel to separate them just now when they had confessed their love for one another.

Turning back into the room Meg went to Fiona who looked terribly ill. By this time tomorrow she and Fiona would be back home. Meg would not allow any other outcome to enter her mind. All they could do now was wait for Erik to return for them.