Chapter Sixteen
Flight in the Night
Erik had made his way back to Rochelle's when the sun had just begun to make its ascent over the horizon. He settled the horse giving a good rubdown then some grain as his reward for having to go out long past the time he would normally be resting and enjoying the comforts of his stall.
All the way back from Javart's estate Erik had done nothing but think over all that had transpired between him and Meg. It had nearly killed him to leave her in the hands of a man Erik well knew had no kindness in his makeup. The man embraced inflicting pain on others as some would embrace gestures of tender caresses.
The urgency of Meg and Fiona's plight made it necessary to attempt a rescue tomorrow. Erik would not leave Meg in the hands of that man of pure evil one second longer than need be.
Erik had plotted and planned until sleep had overtaken him. He had come up with a viable plan during his long night of worry and near sleeplessness.
It seemed as if Erik had barely closed his eyes when a timid maid knocked on his door informing him that Mistress Cavanaugh would wait for breakfast until Mr. Devereaux made his way to the breakfast room.
The fog of sleep lifted abruptly when Erik recalled seeing and holding Meg last night. The quicker he got this day started the sooner he would have Meg returned to him. He ached everywhere to feel her softness pressed against him. His arms felt so empty without her to fill them.
Erik went down to breakfast to inform everyone of his plan. A lot depended on everyone doing precisely as told. There would be no place for any heroics. As badly as Erik wanted to storm in killing all those men wisely he curtailed that impulse. A more subtle form of attack would be needed to bring Meg and Fiona home safely.
Erik's plan was for Raoul and himself to quietly enter the estate taking out one guard at a time. To sooth David's manly pride Erik assured him that his roll keeping the horses secured and ready for a quick getaway would be crucial. What good would it do to secure the women's release only to find the horses had absconded?
Raoul had been only going to take his sword but Erik convinced him that a knife or two would be best as they were hoping to keep their infiltration quiet. If a man could be removed without a face to face confrontation that would serve their cause better. They needed to infiltrate as silently as they could. With the odds being in the favor of Javart and his men, it would serve the rescuers better to use the element of surprise.
Rochelle hated to interrupt their planning but she had to know how her daughter faired since she had last seen her. She knew the news would not be favorable as the last time Rochelle had seen Fiona she had not looked well and that had been months ago from a distance.
With a heavy heart Erik felt it best to prepare Rochelle for the worst. Fiona would not be coming back the same innocent young woman who had been whisked away by her captor.
It would take many months and much suffering before Fiona would no longer crave the drugs that had been used to control her. She would always be tempted to use those same drugs again as once addicted they took root deep in ones soul. The drugs would play a seductive siren song Fiona would have to fight daily.
Rochelle felt as long as her daughter came back to her alive and sane they could band together as a family and fight the rest.
Knowing how drugs took over ones whole life Erik hoped Rochelle and her family could withstand the horror of the months ahead. Fiona's recovering would take a toll on them all.
Erik took consolation in the fact that Meg had only been one night with that bastard Javart. If Erik had to die tonight bringing Meg home he vowed he would do it. Meg would not be put through what Fiona had gone through. The things that could already be happening to Meg nearly drove Erik insane with worry.
Antoinette had sat stoically quiet throughout the meal. She had listened to all the conversation. The only thing which registered with her was Meg's absence. A person did not realize how integral a part of ones life another person could be until they were no longer present.
When everyone would have left the table to go their own way so they could attend to their assigned tasks Antoinette pulled Erik aside. She wished to speak privately with him.
Erik could imagine the worry Antoinette must be feeling. Meg was all Antoinette had in the world. They had friends and acquaintances but Meg had always been Antoinette's main priority in life. Christine had been like a daughter to Antoinette and she had treated her accordingly but Meg was born of Antoinette's flesh. They shared the same blood.
Neither spoke for a minute as they waited for the door to close behind the others. Once they heard the click Antoinette began to speak.
"Erik, Meg is my whole life. Everything I have ever done I have done in my life has been for her. We are all we have ever had. Meg and I have family but we don't keep close contact with them. For so long Meg and her career have been all we focused on along with Christine's singing. You took much of Christine's time. She needed me but Meg needed my experience as you took over Christine's lessons. Christine has always been a major concern between Meg and I but we also tried to keep connected to one another.
When we came to London we began to realize the little things we had neglected between the two of us. We had forgotten how a simple afternoon tea or shopping together could be so enjoyable. Both of us are at fault for focusing much of our attention on Christine and outside issues.
I have never asked anything of you Erik in all the years of our association. I did what you requested even when at times I did not agree with your demands. Now Erik I am asking for one favor. I implore you to bring my little girl home. Bring my Little Meg back to me.
Over the years you know how I felt about your violent actions. Tonight Erik I want you to call up every ounce of Phantom you possess so you will successfully bring my Meg back to me."
Not knowing how tonight's rescue attempt would conclude, Erik hated to promise Antoinette anything. He would move heaven and earth to bring Meg back to all of them, but Erik knew better than anyone that luck and fate were fickle women who had often turned their back on him when he needed them the most. Erik gave his promise knowing it would ease Antoinette's mind a little as he had never gone back on a promise he made to her. He dare not acknowledge out loud that the odds were stacked against them. Erik needed to believe he would succeed. Anything else was unthinkable.
As Erik went to leave the room Antoinette spoke once more, "Erik I do not pretend to know all that passed between you and Meg but I do know you and my daughter feel something for one another.
I just wanted you to know I would have no objections to you courting Meg. I do not give my blessing because you will be risking your life to save her but because I have long thought the two of you would make and excellent match.
I am aware that you have secrets that even I do not know but Erik I have faith in you as a man. You have been changing these last few months. I feel I can trust you with my most prized possession."
Antoinette went to Erik to draw him to her for a spontaneous embrace. Hesitantly Erik wrapped his arms around Antoinette in an unfamiliar gesture. When they parted Erik felt suddenly awkward in Antoinette's presence. A lot of his uncomfortable reaction stemmed from the fact that he felt extraordinarily guilty to be accepting her kindness when he had treated Meg so abdominally.
Erik had just made it to the door when he heard Antoinette say softly yet with all seriousness, "I do not approve of violence under ordinary conditions but Erik please do me this one favor. Kill that man who took my daughter against her will. Do not allow him to breathe one more day on this earth. Do this and you will have my undying gratitude."
Erik turned to gaze into her eyes. He saw the conviction clearly displayed within the blue depths of her eyes. She meant what she said. Erik had planned to kill Javart anyway but felt glad Antoinette would not hold taking another life against him. Bowing toward her Erik left her to join Raoul in the study Rochelle had made available to them. He had much to do before nightfall.
Everyone had been on pins and needles all day. Tempers flared due to the stress of the situation. Just as quickly apologies were given. The hours spent waiting for nightfall seemed interminable. Erik tried not to let his imagination lead him into picturing what despicable and degrading acts Javart could be perpetrating on Meg or Fiona.
Erik would be going in the front as he had more experience using stealth to hide in unlikely places. Raoul would make his way through the back. Erik had given him a map of the estate and the house itself. As good of a map as one can make from educated guesses. Erik's talent for architecture allowed him to make fair guesses as to the layout of the house just from looking in the windows. Not every square inch would be known but enough that they would be able to move within the house once inside.
If the guards kept to the same schedule as the night before it should be easy to take them out one by one. Javart did not know of Erik's recent past. The man underestimated Erik's abilities. He would not be expecting Erik to come so soon.
Javart's own arrogance would be his downfall. He had a fair amount of men guarding the place but had not taken any extra precautions. Erik would use Javart's ignorance against him.
As the day passed Erik allowed himself to feel somewhat confident that all would go well. If Raoul handled things on his end everything should go alright. Erik had to believe in himself. Failure would be untenable. In this one instance Erik had to believe nothing would hinder him from being successful in bringing the woman he loved back into his loving embrace.
Erik could no longer fool himself that what he felt for Meg was nothing more than lustful longings. He did not feel the same as he did when he loved Christine. Erik felt certain he had loved Christine but love will not survive and evolve into anything permanent without nourishment, without tenderness or encouragement between the two parties.
Christine may have harbored some attraction for Erik but even she had moved on and let her love for Raoul grow. It had just taken Erik a little longer to realize what this feeling for Meg had been. Now he knew.
Supper that evening had been a quiet affair. Rochelle had taken Erik aside and asked him to keep her son safe. She could not bear it if she lost both her children.
If Erik had to hogtie David with the horses he would ensure his safety. Erik had spoken with David earlier. He had seemed to be an intelligent young man. He knew the value of following orders. Erik thanked God for humanities belief that men needed to be schooled in the way of the military. This thought had long held sway with the socially prominent people. It only took one person making some small slip to unravel the most carefully planned maneuver. David's military instruction although limited, he had been taught how to follow orders to the letter.
When the meal had been finished everyone gathered in the study so one last planning session could be made with everyone present so everyone knew exactly what they could expect. Erik informed Rochelle that a room needed to readied for Fiona that had only one entrance into the room, preferably one without windows.
Fiona would be in withdrawal from the drugs for the next few days. She would need as little stimulus as possible. Fiona would need someone to take care of her who could be harsh with her when she begged and pleaded for relief of the pain.
She would suffer many different painful symptoms. At times she would be in agony preferring to die rather than continue on. She would beg for death and may even look for a means to end things herself. The room should be bare of everything other than the necessities. The best that could be done for the girl would be to give her as much comfort as they could as she experienced her body's detoxification from the drugs.
Rochelle assured him rooms would be made available for all of them for as long as they needed them as well the room Erik recommended for Fiona.
When Rochelle asked if they might not need more men Erik had truthfully said hell yes but because of the man they were dealing with it would be safer to try to go in under the cloak of darkness with just Raoul and himself.
If they had more men someone could quite possibly act in haste thus alerting Javart of their attempt to rescue the captives. It would be even better with only Erik but since there would be two women to bring home another man became a necessary evil. Raoul did not care to be referred to as evil, necessary or otherwise.
Christine admired Erik's command of the situation. She could not help but note Maman's admiring looks in Erik's direction. It would seem Erik had won her mother's approval. Erik had come far in the last months. At times he seemed to be a completely different person from the man she knew from her early years at the opera house.
Christine still felt many of those surges of powerful longings toward Erik. She was after all a normal woman. There would be few women who would not look at Erik with a little bit of lust in their heart. Meg she felt had much more than mere lust for Erik. She positively beamed radiant light around Erik. Her voice softened when she spoke of him. No one who knew Meg well could mistake how she felt for Erik. Christine could not help but feel a little jealousy creep in. Not that she would ever do anything to endanger her marriage to Raoul. That one misstep in the garden all those months ago had been perhaps some lingering inquisitiveness to know what it would have been like to kiss Erik without any threats or coercion behind the exchange of the kiss.
Christine could not say she regretted the kiss or her final decision to stay with Raoul. Raoul had come to be her whole reason for waking in the morning just as she gave Raoul reason to embrace each waking moment.
If all went according to plan Meg would be returned to them hopefully in the same chaste state as when she had been abducted.
Christine hoped for things to work out between Erik and Meg. If anyone could make Erik happy it would be Meg. Meg had a way of making those around her forget their problems. She used sweet, gentle persuasion to cajole even the most persistent grouch to find merriment in any situation.
If it could not be Christine herself bringing Erik happiness, she wanted Erik to find peace with Meg. Whatever means Christine could bring into the mix to make things happen between Erik and Meg, Christine felt she must do. She felt obligated to Erik for all those years of devotion and guidance he had given freely to her. Now that Christine had someone else to support her Erik could move on to find his own contentment.
The hour of departure came. Those who watched the gallant rescuers depart prayed for the safe return of everyone. Rochelle set about making her home ready for her daughter's return as well as her guests.
Rochelle would be ecstatic to have her daughter back while knowing the days of dark gloom would not totally be lifted from her house until her daughter had been cleansed of all the vile drugs that evil man had forced on her. The other vile defilement of her mind and body would take much longer to rid from Fiona's memories.
All they could do now was pray and wait for everyone to return. By early first light they should know how things played out. Hopefully righteousness would win out over the devil's work. The man Rochelle now knew as Javart, Erik's tormentor from his childhood and now Fiona's. Rochelle wished Javart returned to hell from whence he came.