A/N: I am so sorry that it has taken me this long to update my story, but a lot of stuff came up. You are lucky I'm paralyzed from my hips down due to volleyball exercises.
I hope this chapter holds all of you Erik fans.
Here we go…
Chapter 26
Erik passed moodily in the catwalks, watching the ballet rats performing for their next play, "The Twelfth Night". A young woman, whom Erik had never seen before, was teaching the ballet rats their choreography. She was a no taller then five feet tall and she wore a plain pink ballerina outfit. Her brown hair with golden highlights was pulled back in a ponytail that was coming undone. By the looks of it; Erik thought that she was a ballet rat as well except for the fact that her outfit didn't match the ones used in the play. He could tell that she didn't know what she was doing.
This is all wrong! Erik thought, as one of the young blonde ballet rats missed her pirouette. The young blonde is completely off beat and the instructor doesn't even see it. Even an idiot that has not experience in dance could point out this problem. If Antoinette were here she would catch that with no problem and sort it out. Where is she anyway? He wondered, his temper rising.
She should have told me she was leaving, he fumed silently. Although, this is a great opportunity to take matters into my own hands, as the Opera Ghost, Erik mused. His lips curved into a sinister smile as he made his way to box five. He stood behind the crimson curtains in the corner of the box so as not to be seen. Erik drew in a deep breath and threw his voice around to make it impossible to determine the location of his voice.
"You call this a professional ballet class, Madame?" he boomed at the instructor. "If I hadn't known any better, I would've thought this play was being put on for the families that live on the streets; and not for the rich fat cats of Paris," Erik jeered.
The instructor and the ballet rats became fearful as their eyes scanned around the theatre, looking for the person who was taunting the instructor.
Erik laughed menacingly, amused at the looks on their faces. "You think you can find me?" he mused, throwing his voice once again." I am the Opera Ghost!" he exclaimed.
The ballet rats gasped and whispered to each other in fear.
"If you don't leave before the end of this week and bring Madame Giry back to the Opera Popular, you will regret ever stepping foot into my domain," Erik spat at the ballet instructor. "You would be wise to heed my warning." With that said, he turned around and glided away toward his layer without a second glance back.
The ballet instructor could only stand there with her mouth opened wide, in shock as the ballet rats were rooted to the spot, horror struck.
XXX
Christine stayed with her father for three hours alone with him. The sun was setting in the west and there was a cold breeze seeping through the slightly opened window.
No matter how cold it was for Christine, she stayed on top of the covers with her father.
"Oh Father," Christine sobbed. "I've been a bad girl. I wanted to tell you, but I was too afraid. I didn't want you to be disappointed in me.
"Do you remember that day when you told me to stay in my room for the whole day? Well, I went out to see a friend that I met at the fair. I know that I was disobeying you, but he needed help. You told me that I should help people when they need it. Well, he really needed me. He would've died if I hadn't helped him.
"I also let him stay in the spare room without you knowing. I fed him the whole time that he lived with us. He needed food and shelter. I didn't tell you because I was afraid you would say 'no'," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."
Once again she cuddled up closer to her father's still form and closed her eyes, succumbing to the darkness.
XXX
"Don't you think we should prepare Gustave for the trip to Paris?" Madame Giry asked Bernard. "I don't think we will have another opportunity. I would rather move him while Christine is asleep."
"You are right. The sooner the better," Bernard replied, trying to hold back the tears. He never expected Gustave to die so young. He always imagined them both living to a ripe old age seeing Christine grow up, get married, and have wonderful children. Bernard sighed and went upstairs to do what had to be done.
Madame Giry followed to bring the sleeping Christine downstairs, so that she could pack upstairs.
XXX
It didn't take long for Madame Giry to pack her belonging into her small black suitcase. She went into the next room to pack Christine's things that she would need.
Madame Giry found a small light blue suitcase under the bed already packed. She frowned, Christine must've packed before the accident. Just to be certain Christine packed what she needed; Madame Giry opened Christine's closet and found only two dresses and a small black hat. The two dresses that were left was a black dress with white frilly material around the cuffs and the neck; and the other dress was a pale pink silk dress. I can't believe she left the beautiful pink dress, Madame Giry thought.
She packed the two dresses and the hat. She scanned the room and found a worn out stuffed bunny. It was soft and floppy. She remembered that her mother had bought it for her, prier to Christine's birth. She packed that as well.
Madame Giry assumed she packed everything Christine needed.
XXX
(Next morning)
"It seems like Count de Chagny will be buying this house," Bernard explained to Madame Giry, after reading a letter that he receive from the Chagny family. He isn't giving much, but it's enough. I will put the money into Christine's account, which is when I get her one in Paris."
"As long as we leave today, I will be happy," Madame Giry replied.
XXX
Bernard arrived alone at the Chagny residence and finished the transaction. The Comte de Chagny or Bernard barely spoke a word to each other. The only thing Bernard said to the Comte was that he could keep the remaining items in the house. Bernard didn't want to deal with a fight this morning. He can keep the rest of the items that they can't carry to Paris.
Instead of heading home, Bernard went straight to his home to pack his belongings.
He sent a letter to his realtor and told him to sell his house and send his money to his account. In the letter he also informed the realtor that the furniture was to be sold with the house as well.
With that finished, Bernard headed to Gustave's house with the carriage where the other carriage was waiting for him.
XXX
While Bernard was away, Madame Giry took care of Gustave. She had a man come over to the house to get Gustave ready, for the trip to Paris. The man had also taken care of the coffin. He had done all of this while Madame Giry kept Christine distracted, which wasn't the easiest thing to do. Christine kept wanting to be with her father and she screamed and cried when she was refused.
XXX
When Bernard arrived at the house, he placed Gustave's coffin in the carriage, with the help of the man that had helped out with Gustave before.
Bernard packed the two carriages that they were taking to the docks. When he was finished, he called Madame Giry outside.
Madame Giry was wearing the same black outfit that she wore when she arrived in Sweden. She was holding a sleeping Christine in her arms. Madame Giry and Christine were placed in the one carriage and Bernard sat in the front of the other carriage with Gustave inside.
He nodded to the driver in the other carriage and they both set off for the docks where there boat awaited them. In a few days they would be in Paris.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews last time. I hope I hear from you all again and I hope I hear from a few new people. I'd also like to thank Opera Dove and wildpixiechild for being my beta this chapter.
If
I'm satisfied with the number of reviews I receive, I will start out
the chapter with Erik watching Madame Giry move in with Christine,
into the Opera House.
Disclaimer: I don't own Phantom of the Opera only the plot that I'm making up. I also don't own "The Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare.
PLEASE REVIEW!
-Jess-
