Erik's POV

Last night I had cried to Christine and told her about my horrid time with the gypsies. I never told anyone about my past, and Christine listened… When all was said and done, she stayed with me while I slept. Sleeping was not an easy task, especially when I saw my master in my dreams. Though, the following morning I was woken to the sound of someone entering my caravan. I rolled over and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, noticing that Christine was no longer sitting beside me. Not only that, but I didn't feel well at all. I was weak and I felt ill…

"I'm surprised to see you lying around in that bed of yours." Came Nadir's familiar voice.

"Why is it that you always disturb me when I'm sleeping?"

"Because I needed to warn you that there is a strange caravan camped out just five hundred yards away from our camp."

It was very uncommon that we came across other travelers during our journey. But when we did come across them, I always made a point to make sure that they weren't a threat.

"If they've been camped out since last night, Persian, I wouldn't bother worrying about them. It's probably just a family passing by. As long as they mind their own business, I don't care what they do."

"Mr. Squelch caught one of them snooping around the camp early this morning."

This caught my attention, for now I was concerned. If there was something I hated more than gypsies, it was thieves.

"And?" I growled.

"The woman didn't take anything, but she seemed awfully curious about us."

"A woman?"

Nadir nodded. "Yes, an older woman. She speaks several languages and asked to speak with the owner of the camp. If you don't feel comfortable talking to her, then you don't have to do anything, but…"

"But what? She's probably a gypsy whore wishing for salvation. What else could she want? Everyone wants to join this camp, Nadir…It's a feeling of safety."

"So, what are you going to do?"

I stood on weak legs and reached for my jacket. "I'm going to wish the gypsy woman a good morning and tell her that she is not welcome in my camp."

Nadir stood there watching me as I dressed. This man had known me for years, and he always knew when something wasn't right.

"Erik, are you all right?" he asked. "You don't look well at all."

"I don't feel well, Persian. I'm sick…"

Nadir rushed to my side and placed his hand on my forehead. "Allah, you're burning up with a fever. Erik, we need to get you to that hospital. You're not well and haven't been that way since you had your last attack."

"Persian I never had a father and I don't need one now. All I need is a little bit of rest! Now get out of my way so I can tell this woman off and get on with my day."

I shoved the man out of my way and headed outside. From there, I hopped up onto Cesar's back and trotted towards the lonely caravan that was sitting a short distance away. At first I thought it had been a family of gypsies, but when I was finally at the caravan, there wasn't a single thing that would make this caravan seem that way. It was a black caravan, nothing elaborate or fancy…I found this rather odd and began to wonder if speaking to this woman was such a good idea. I hopped down from Cesar's back and approached the door to knock. After doing so, I stepped back and waited. When the door finally opened, there, standing in front of me was not a gypsy, but Madame Giry! Her eyes seemed to widen the moment she spotted me standing there. Back at the opera house she and I never talked often, but she was indeed one of my messengers. Our history only went as far back as the day Christine arrived, that being the reason why we barely ever spoke. Our conversations were done through letters, letters and nothing more.

"I knew you had something to do with that band of freaks across the way. Everything screamed you…"

"After all these years you settled with a caravan in the woods, Madame? Clever…"

"This is not the life I have wanted to live, Monsieur, but these are desperate times, and desperate times call for desperate measures."

"What do you mean? No one knew about our letters… You were my messenger, but it was done in secrecy."

Madame Giry motioned me to enter her caravan and I did so without a second thought. Once the door was closed, she motioned me to take a seat in her kitchen.

"Meg, that tea isn't going to make itself!" she called out. A few seconds later, Madame Giry's daughter Meg came hurrying out of a bedroom. The last time I had seen the girl she was still just a child, but the once innocent blonde haired angel had turned into a ditsy woman. She gave me a frightened glance before continuing to make Madame Giry and I tea in silence.

"We had no choice but to leave, Monsieur. You see, everything has changed at the opera house. The managers have been interrogating every one about you."

"Why? I was hung in the woods five years ago," I growled. "I was dead to the world."

Meg placed the two cups of tea down in front of us, her hand shaking as she did so. I knew she was petrified of me sitting here in the kitchen with her mother.

"Have you seen Christine?" she finally blurted out. "Is she with you?"

"Meg! How dare you speak to Monsieur Phantom in such a way? Go back to washing the dishes in silence!"

The girl gasped and headed back to the kitchen counter.

"You must excuse my daughter's rude outburst, Monsieur. You see, she is just concerned about Christine's whereabouts, as am I."

"I…I haven't seen Christine since that night in the cemetery," I lied. I didn't like to lie, but Christine was still a wanted person, and who wasn't to say that Madame Giry wouldn't rat me out just to collect the bounty for her.

"I find that hard to believe, Monsieur."

"Why would I lie to you, Madame? Christine is an evil wench, and yes, I didn't wish to believe it at first, but after she left me swaying from that tree in the woods, I finally knew I had no other choice but to believe it."

"But you must have heard about her husband dying of a tragic death…And she being blamed for the murder…"

"I may have heard something of the sort, but I try to ignore anything I hear about the woman."

Madame Giry crossed her arms over her chest. "Stop lying to me, Erik… If you know where Christine is, you need to tell me."

"I assure you that I don't have the faintest idea on where she is, Madame, and even if I did, I am not obligated to tell you."

"Well then, if you're not going to tell me the truth, I will tell you the truth. If you know where Christine is, or if she's with you right now, you best leave her where you found her. She's playing you, monsieur…"

"Playing me?" I snapped. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"She told you a tragic story, did she not? How her husband died of a terrible illness and then, she was blamed for his death by Raoul's family members…Oh, how she then had to run away because they wanted to capture her and lock her up for his murder…"

I stayed silent, not understanding where Madame Giry was going with this story.

"Raoul is not dead, Erik…He's alive and he's after you…"

"That fop is cold in the ground, Madam!"

"He's alive, Erik… Why do you think Meg and I left the opera house? Why do you think we are here? The day after Christine ran from her husband's estate, Raoul came back to the opera house demanding that anyone involved with the Phantom will be held accountable. He knows you're alive. He and Christine planned this…There is a hefty bounty on your body, and the both of them want the reward."

"No!" I cried. "She wouldn't do this… She's…She's changed."

Madame Giry shot to her feet. "So it's true…You do know where Christine is. She's been living with you, hasn't she? That's all a part of her plan! Word is that she was sent out to find you, befriend you…"

"No, I won't hear it! She is a changed woman….She is my friend!"

"She is the bait, Erik… Before Meg and I fled the city, we heard Raoul speaking with the opera house managers. He told them that Christine would lure the Phantom into a trap and that his brother and a few officers would capture you."

I didn't want to believe this, but I couldn't help but think back to a few months ago when Raoul's brother showed up for Christine…. At first I attempted to keep them away from Christine, but by the end of the fight, I realized that I was keeping them off of me. No…She would never betray me like this.

"If you know what's good for you, Erik, you will confront Christine about this. If you don't, she will sound the alarm one of these days, and then, you will be killed."

I was so angry that I stood to my feet in an angry rage. "I told you before that I haven't seen the woman since that night at the cemetery! I hate her, Madame!"

Madame Giry shook her head. "In my heart, Erik, I want to believe you…But deep down I know that you have never stopped loving her. It will be your weakness in the end."

I left the caravan and headed back to camp, still not wanting to believe a word Madame Giry had told me.

"Erik, what's wrong?"

Nadir was at my side in a flash, but I wasn't ready to tell him about Christine….

"Erik, what's wrong with you?"

I pulled the man aside and slammed him against my caravan. "I want us to leave this place at once, do you understand?"

"Erik, did something happen over at that caravan? What did the woman want?"

"Raoul is alive," I cried. "He's alive and according to Madame Giry, Christine has lied to me all along about it. He knows I'm alive and he's using Christine as bait to lure me to him. Oh, Persian, if this is true, I don't think I could live with it… She's been so kind to me! I've told her things that I've never told anyone else in this world…"

"Erik, what do you want me to do?"

"I…I want you to keep a close eye on Christine. She…She's been begging me to let her sing in the show, but I keep refusing. What…What if she's been wanting to sing, only to make herself known to the world? It be an easy way for news to travel back to Paris and to summon her husband."

"Erik, no, don't draw conclusions."

"What choice do I have, Persian? How am I ever going to look at her again without believing it?"

"I'll get the troupe ready to leave within the hour, Erik…"

And when Nadir left me alone, I couldn't help but plop on my bed and begin to think of the worst case scenario. Soon, my chest began to ache and I knew exactly where this was headed…Though, this wasn't just any old attack that took control of my body. No, it was the worst one I ever had….My body began to shake and it felt as though my heart was going to explode… Within seconds, I was on the floor and gasping for breath. This was it…This was how I was going to die…Alone in my caravan and unloved by everyone.

Hey everyone sorry about the delay. Been very busy. If you haven't already, like my facebook author page L Ann Price. I have a contest going on right now and it could get you a free copy of my book!