hello dear readers!its the weekend again!but this time I am only gonna upload 1 chappy! see I am actually rewriting this phic, from one I wrote several years ago(it was just awful!)and I am starting to catch up to myself!anyway, I got a comment about grammar and spelling, and well the spelling is totally microsoft word's fault!lol, but the grammar mistakes are all me!I do go through its several times myself, but I think I got like a 'C-' in grammar and language as a kid...and i wanted to be a writer for a career!yikes, such ambitious dreams!ok anyway really happy you guys liked the last chapter!hope you like this one too!see you monday, and keep reviewing ;)
Chapter 16
Nicole, Anne, Belle, and Jacques all sat in a little cafe, enjoying the sun warming the cold day. They drank coffee, and ate little biscuits with creamy butter.
"Do you know that the old opera house is still haunted by the opera ghost?" whispered Belle.
Nicole nearly dropped her cup of coffee.
"Belle," said Nicole, "You can't seriously believe that can you?"
"Well it's just so scary in there!" said Belle.
Jacques laughed and said, "Ah, Belle. Always the voice of reason. I do agree with you, if you can believe it."
They all looked at Jacques, surprised.
"What?" asked Nicole.
"My brother told me of a monster living in the cellars of the opera house. A monster with only half a face!"
Nicole clenched her fists.
How dare he call Erik a monster!
Anne added, "This monster, I am told, seduced a young woman, and took her down to his lair! I believe the woman's name was Christine."
Nicole remembered the day after the horrible fire, seeing in the newspaper Christine's name. Christine had been kidnapped, by the Phantom, but the Phantom had let her go.
She grew angry and said, "Jacques, really! Must you bring this up? And Anne, you don't even know all the facts, none of us do! So stop spreading gossip!"
Jacques had a hurt look on his face and Anne looked at Nicole curiously.
Then Jacques said, "You haven't meant any monsters in the opera house have you?"
Nicole thought for a moment, only moment, and replied, "No, I haven't."
Erik is not a monster. He is a kind and gentle man.
"Let's stop talking of such things, please!" said Belle.
Nicole nodded, and sipped her coffee.
I must see Erik tonight! I cannot wait! I must get to the bottom of all this empty gossip!
She knew the stories, the rumors, the gossip. But if she wanted the truth there was only one man that could give it to her. Nicole's eyes wandered to the window, in the direction of the Opera Populaire. She formulated a plan. She would go there tonight. No matter what.
Jacques paid for the meal and said, "Come, I must return you to your homes."
They got into a carriage, and sat in silence. No one wanted to say anything, the afternoon, was coming to an end. They road to Belle's home and let her out. Nicole got out and hugged her friend.
Belle whispered, "Sorry if I ruined the afternoon."
Nicole laughed and said, "Don't worry about it. It's not your fault."
Belle smiled and entered her house. Nicole climbed back in the carriage and sat next to Anne. Jacques smiled trying to ease the uncomfortable tension in the air. Anne smiled back, being polite. Nicole wasn't even in the carriage. In her mind she was back in the opera house.
Hopefully Jacques won't stay long today. I must see Erik.
When they came to the Lafette home they all jumped out of the carriage and walked to the door. Anne went in first, but before Nicole could enter, Jacques grabbed her elbow. His grip was tight, and for a moment his eyes gleamed with anger. The next moment his eyes were apologetic, and his grip gentle.
"I am sorry if the story about the Phantom of the Opera upset you. I didn't mean for it to cause so much tension between us. I shall not burden you with my presence this evening. Good day, Nicole."
Nicole starred at him, too annoyed to do anything.
How dare he try to make me feel bad! His presence a burden! Like I caused the problem this afternoon!
He took her hand, and kissed it. He gave a her a small smile and got back into his carriage. She watched him until his carriage disappeared around a corner. She was seething with anger, knowing deep down that Jacques was a liar. She knew he wasn't being his true self. There was only one thing she could ask herself.
Why?
Nicole was sitting on the edge of her bed waiting for her chance to go see Erik, when there was a knock on her door.
It was late, almost midnight, she hesitated before asking, "Who is it?"
"Anne." Came the quiet reply.
"Come in."
Anne entered and closed the door behind her.
"Nicole?" asked Anne, "Are you all right?"
"Yes, of course. Why do you ask?"
"This afternoon, the whole conversation about the Opera. You were so defensive, and angry. I could see how white your knuckles got."
Nicole didn't respond. She didn't know what to say.
"Plus, when we were all at the Opera House, you weren't yourself."
Again, silence.
Anne shrugged her shoulders, "Fine I suppose now is not the time that you can reveal your secret to me. I hope you have a good reason for all this sneaking out, and strange behavior?"
Nicole got up and gave Anne a hug.
When she pulled away she looked her right in the eyes and said, "Soon. I can tell you everything soon."
Anne nodded, "I am just worried is all. Don't you get scared at night? Out in the city streets?"
Darkness brings me more comfort than light, Anne. But you wouldn't understand. I don't think anyone ever will.
"Anne, don't worry about me, I will be fine."
"I see you still have your dress on. You are going out again tonight aren't you?"
Nicole nodded.
"Be back as soon as you can, please."
Nicole hugged Anne again, and went to her window. She waved good bye to her sister, and quickly climbed down to the ground. She went out on the street, and started to run.
She was wild and free once more.
Erik stood in box five looking over the stage. He had spent all day there since Nicole left, calling up in his mind her every detail. Wanting for her to be there. To teach, to feel useful. Jacques was also on his mind. He could tell just by looking at him that he wasn't all he said he was. Just the way he carried himself, like he was bidding his time. Erik didn't trust him at all.
A weasel, that is the word to describe that man, no that boy!
As his anger was growing, he heard hurried footsteps approaching the stage. He looked down and was surprised with seeing Nicole there.
She has come!
But when he got a closer look at her face as she frantically look about the room, he grew worried. Her face was full of fear.
Fear of what?
He went to her, through his secret passages, and came upon her quickly. She started in surprise, and gave him a weak smile. Her face clouded with concern.
"Nicole, is something wrong?"
"I am not sure. Well, maybe."
He gave her a questioning look.
"Well today, Jacques brought up some gossip about you, of course I had heard it all before. But that is all it ever was. It was just gossip, until I meant you. And it was suddenly true, but there is still so much that I do not know. So can you please tell me about the strange affair you had with Christine Daae?"
Erik stepped back, not expecting this. He felt a pit in his stomach, and his breath grew short.
I must tell her everything. She deserves to know. I must tell her, to become new. To start over.
He sighed deeply.
"I will tell you, but it is a long tale. Come, I will take you to my home."
He reached out his hand and she took it. He looked her in the eyes, and regretted it immediately.
Her eyes pierce into me, searching my very soul.