Hey all. I know you are all getting a bit stir crazy over Brielle's and Erik's long feud…but not to worry. Things will be looking up. Hurray! Oh and sorry this chapter took so long…holiday shopping and all its craziness are my excuse. But anyway I hope you all enjoy.
A big thanks to my beta, terpsichore314. This chapter is a bit longer than the others but she plowed right through it. Oh and once again, though I suppose it is a bit repetitive, thank you to all my reviewers. I am noticing with each chapter a few new names popping up in the reviews, which is wonderful. I love to hear from a big base of people. So thanks to each and every one of you who found the time to jot down a little note. But besides that…I hope you enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 44: A Terrible Mistake
Squinting against the sunlight streaming in through the door, Brielle raised a hand to shade her eyes. The man stopped struggling with his luggage and stepped across the threshold, taking off his hat and sweeping into a dramatic bow. Even before he raised his head and smiled at them Brielle knew who the man was. Stunned into stillness she watched her brother grin first at Meg then at her. A brief breathless moment passed when she had the wild idea that perhaps he didn't recognize her in her disguise and then the vague goofy smile slipped from his face as his gaze focused in on her face.
"Brielle?" he asked quietly, a disbelieving smile quickly overtaking his features and lightening the forest green of his eyes.
"Conner? Sweet Mary, I can't believe you are here!"
Letting out a shriek that was halfway between delight and anguish, Brielle threw herself into her brother's arms. Pressing her face into the soft cotton of his lapel, she felt her knees begin to buckle underneath her. The leaden, sickening weight pulling at her insides melted slightly as relief washed through her body, weakening her limbs to the point of collapse. Instantly Conner wrapped his arms around her, holding her up gently as she sagged in his embrace. All the fear and confusion washing within her settled into a mild churning in the background, leaving room in its wake for a rush of happiness so strong it left her gasping for breath.
Taking his sister's weight as she leaned against him, Conner fisted his hands behind her back, hesitating to fully enclose her in his arms, as if he feared she would disappear. Finally bringing one hand up to rest atop her hair, the redhead closed his eyes and let out a pained sigh. "You are really here aren't you? I almost cannot believe it. I have been searching for you…and when I couldn't find you…I was sure you and Aria were both dead."
Opening his eyes, Conner glanced over Brielle's shoulder and smiled down at where Aria stood a few feet away sucking on her thumb. Unwrapping one arm from Brielle he beckoned to the child. As if she had been waiting for a signal from him, Aria shot forward and flung her arms around her uncle's legs. For a moment the trio stayed like that, clinging to each other, desperate to know their reunion was not simply the figment of their imaginations. Reluctantly Conner pulled away from the two females holding onto him.
Taking hold of Brielle's shoulders, he eased her away from him so he could see her face. "What happened to you?" he asked haltingly. "Where have you been? Why didn't you let me know where you were going?"
Looking up into her brother's confused green eyes, Brielle managed to plaster a weak smile upon her face. "I am sorry I yelled at you that night at the engagement party. I should have listened to you…everything has gone wrong."
Shrugging his shoulders, Conner broke eye contact and stared down at the floor. "Don't apologize…please don't…this is all my fault…I should have been more careful…I should have taken care of you…I wasn't there to take care of you."
Opening her mouth to argue against his statements, horrified by the knowledge that he had felt guilt over her disappearance, Brielle caught the flicker of a shadow out of the corner of her eye. In a split second all feelings of well-being and happiness evaporated as the fear once again took hold. Suddenly remembering the reason why she had been running out the side door in the first place, Brielle stiffened, glancing over her shoulder fearfully.
"Conner…we have to get out of here…"
"What? Why?"
Halfway covering her mouth with one hand, Brielle leaned forward to whisper in Conner's ear. "HE is here Conner…I didn't know until just today…but…but it is him…I looked him right in the eye. Please, Conner, we have to leave this place!"
Obviously not sure of who the 'he' was, Conner tilted his head slightly to the side in confusion. "Who are you talking about?" His eyes flickered around the hallway with a frown, his expression quickly darkening to something Brielle had never seen on him before. Conner's usually bright emerald eyes caught fire with a feral light, his boyishly freckled face tightening into a grimace. "Andrew…is he here? Is that who you are talking about?"
"No…Conner, listen…you don't understand. We have to leave…"
Nodding vaguely, Conner took a carefully controlled breath. "No need to run off Bri," he said with a strange calm. "Just show me where he is…I'll break him apart with my bare hands…"
Digging her fingers into her brother's arm, Brielle fought to regain his attention. "NO! I wasn't talking about Andrew! Conner…it's…it's…"
Just thinking about her disastrous meeting with her former friend made Brielle's anxiety level shoot through the roof. The reality of what was said only then began to fully sink in. Before that moment Brielle had been operating under a fog of denial. There had been a certain part of her that could not grasp the entirety of the situation, but the dream was over now, and she knew with a finality that scared her that a certain part of her life had come to an end. Her life with Erik had been a farce, and the fantasy it had created was finally crushed into a million pieces. Tears springing into her eyes Brielle raised a hand to press against her chest, trying to control the hammering pain as her heart broke in two. A buzzing started in her ears, making it hard to concentrate on what was being said around her.
"I don't feel so…I don't…" she mumbled, hearing her own voice as if from a great distance.
"For God's sake!" piped a sharp voice from the sidelines. "She looks ready to faint any moment. We need to go somewhere where she can sit down."
Startled by the interruption, Conner blinked over at Meg as she stepped forward, her hands nervously clutched together in front of her. He opened his mouth to reply but froze when his gaze focused in on her face. At that moment he seemed to actually see her for the very first time. The two stared at one another for several silent moments, Conner with a surprised and guarded interest and Meg with a blushing frown, before Conner cleared his throat and tore his eyes away. Blinking several times, the redhead carefully arranged his features into a convincing, playful smile.
"But of course, you are correct. I have been a boor asking so many questions and making everyone stand about all this time." Taking his sister gently by the arm he leaned forward and asked quietly, "Can you walk then…you do look pale as death."
"Yes, I can walk…I just feel dizzy…like the bottom has been pulled out from under me," Brielle replied through bloodless lips, looking helplessly over at Meg as the girl hovered worriedly several feet away. A spike of guilt thrust itself into her already bludgeoned heart. I can't lie to her anymore. It is too dangerous…my past…she should know exactly who she has taken in as a friend…she should know the danger that comes with knowing me.
"Where can we go to be alone…where no one will walk in on us? I think I have a few things to explain to the both of you," Brielle breathed, too tired and emotionally bankrupt to continue in her charade any longer.
When both Conner and Brielle looked to Meg, whose knowledge of the Opera superseded their own, the dancer thought for a moment before offering up a suggestion. "There is one place no one else would ever go. And it is out of the way…and quiet. But…but well…well the reason most people won't go there is because they still think it is haunted."
"Perfect." Conner intoned as he momentarily released his sister to turn and wrestle his trunk through the door. Unlocking his luggage he leaned down and plucked out a pristine black violin case. Straightening he slung the long strap of the case over his shoulder and returned to his sister's side.
An irritated expression flickered over Meg's face at Conner's easy acceptance of a place Meg herself was obviously uncertain about. "Wait you don't understand. Last year the…"
Waving a dismissive hand in the air Conner wrapped his other arm about Brielle's waist. "It sounds perfect. Lead the way, Madame."
Bristling, Meg stomped ahead of their small group, her ballet shoes whispering across the wood paneling on the floor. "It is mademoiselle, sir, not that it should make any difference to you." she clipped through pursed lips as she swept down the hallway ahead of them.
Hesitating for a split second, Conner looked after the blonde's retreating figure, a quizzical, considering expression overtaking his habitual goofy grin. When Brielle glanced up, wondering at the slight pause, the redhead shook his head and started forward slowly, smiling when Aria took hold of his coat tails and trailed along behind them. Passing a row of four-foot-tall African style drums that stood like sentinels along one wall, and ducking around a forest of low hanging curtains, Conner's eyes wandered to their strange surroundings, his expression showing none of the reserve Brielle had first felt upon entering the strange underworld behind the Opera's stage.
When the small group turned down a long hallway, Brielle pulled up short, recognizing the place Meg was leading them. "I know this place. Madame Dubois made me clean this entire hallway. These are the dressing rooms for the main artists of the Opera. Apparently an up-and-coming singer last year was kidnapped from the mirror room. That is why they think it is haunted…or so I have heard anyway." Turning her face to the floor Brielle couldn't stop her mind from turning once again to Erik. He said he was the ghost everyone talks about. Was it him who took that girl? Did he do that on top of everything else? God…I feel sick.
Smiling at Brielle's hushed story, Conner raised his ginger-colored eyebrows in mock alarm, as usual trying to alleviate the tension of the moment with comedy, especially now that he saw how pale his sister had gone again. "My, my…they have a ghost and everything. Well, that will sure make my stay here all the more interesting. And it provides a convenient avenue in which to torture my snotty coworkers. From what I hear the leading ladies are both terrors."
Turning at the doorway, her cinnamon-colored eyes glittering in disapproval, Meg glared over Conner's flippant statement with a great deal of gravity. "Shame on your brother, Brielle," she said, trying to hold onto her serious expression in the face of Conner's silliness. "Even if those biddies deserve every bit of it," she mumbled as she opened the door to Christine's old dressing room.
Quickly moving into the room and closing the door behind them, Conner carefully led Brielle to one of the chairs now decorating the corners. Falling into the chair with a sigh, the Irish woman raised one hand to rub against her eyes, a little disconcerted by the image of herself staring with haunted eyes back at her from the large floor-to-ceiling mirror. She smiled slightly when Aria plopped down upon the floor at her feet, a section of her mother's skirt clutched tightly in one hand.
Feeling suddenly nervous, Brielle avoided looking at both Meg and her brother for several moments before gathering her courage and raising her eyes to theirs. "I suppose I have a lot of explaining to do. To both of you. Things have turned out so far from how I thought they would…I hardly recognize myself anymore…"
Looking perplexed, Meg pulled a footstool closer to Brielle's chair, and sitting down she leaned forward with her hands clasped between her legs. Conner stood, leaning one shoulder against the bronze leaf work of the mirror's frame, his arms crossed over his chest. His smile dimmed to a neutral expression of patient interest, though his eyes glittered a bright fairy green from underneath his ginger eyebrows. Brielle could tell that despite his relaxed pose Conner was on pins and needles waiting for her answers. Until just a few moments ago he had thought she might be dead, no doubt he was waiting for some sort of explanation.
Stirring from his place next to the mirror Conner was the first to speak. "I suppose a good place to start would be right after the last time I saw you. After the engagement party I didn't hear a word from you."
Perking up with interest, Meg straightened on her footstool. "You were engaged, Brielle? I didn't know you were going to get married for the second time."
Sighing, Brielle leaned back in her chair, looking from her brother to Meg then back again. "Yes, I was engaged for a time," she stated mechanically.
Ignoring Conner's impatient sigh, Meg leaned forward, her interest fully caught. "Well, who was he? Why isn't he around…what happened?"
Pausing to sift through the questions shot out at her, Brielle raised a hand to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was engaged to the current Lord Donovan, Andrew. It seemed the smart thing to do. I was a widow and had no income…and Aria needed taking care of. He had asked me before, but I turned him down. But when he asked me again this last summer there didn't seem a reason to say no."
The smile on Meg's face faltered at Brielle's reply, obviously dismayed at the emotionless tone in which her friend talked about her fiancé. Recovering slightly, Meg opened her mouth. "You were engaged to an English lord!" Meg squeaked, before she cleared her throat. "And I know that name, he is one of the richest men in all of the British isles. How in the world did you meet him?"
"Well, actually, I knew him already because I was married to his brother a long time ago. My name isn't Brielle Donner, Meg…it is Donovan. My first husband was John Donovan. And we met at John's birthday party…we were invited, I think, because Conner had impressed most of the blue blood at a concert he held earlier that week."
Finally losing the last of his patience, Conner stepped forward before Meg could react to Brielle's revelation. "All right, enough of the background information. Bri…you have to tell me what happened. I can't stand not knowing any longer."
Not liking the look in her brother's eyes, Brielle hesitated. "Perhaps it would be better for you not to know, Conner," she said slowly.
Switching unconsciously to his native tongue, Conner ran a frustrated hand through his already rumpled red hair. "Don't you dare try to skirt the issue," he exploded in Gaelic. "I want to know exactly what happened so that when I kill that bastard I know how long I should make it last!"
"Oh Conner really! That is your temper talking! You will do no such thing!" Brielle shouted, bristling at the thought of her brother putting himself in danger for her sake. "You leave him be…you don't have any idea how dangerous he is!"
His temper cooling quickly, as it always did, Conner settled back to leaning against the wall. "Fine…" he stated evenly. "So tell me then."
Brielle quickly looked in Meg's direction, still uncomfortable about revealing her past to anyone there at the theater. Putting aside her still lingering mistrust, she folded her hands in her lap. "After you left that night…or rather…after I threw you out of the house, I thought about what you had said about Andrew hiding your letters from me. That night I broke into his office and sure enough found all of the letters you had sent in one of his drawers." Taking a calming breath she continued with her story, her voice flat and distant as she recounted the events.
"Andrew found me in there searching his desk. He was angry but not abnormally so, at first anyway…but when I confronted him about the letters something changed. He…well, he hit me and I…" A violent crash from the mirror stopped Brielle's explanation. She shot a glare Conner's way as he withdrew his fist from where he had slammed it into the plate of glass behind him.
His lips pinching closed, white with rage, Conner silently motioned for Brielle to continue. "Um…all right. Andrew gave me a very logical explanation as to why he had your letters, and I am ashamed to say I believed him. Looking back now I see how much of a coward I had become. I had grown so used to being told what to do by that point that I just swallowed everything he said."
Leaning forward, Meg laid a hand on Brielle's knee. "Oh, Brielle, that is all so terrible. I cannot believe someone would do that to you."
"Oh…it gets worse," Brielle replied with a nervous half laugh. "He of course apologized profusely for laying a hand on me. At least, to my credit, I did not so easily believe him then. I think I was just beginning to realize that perhaps I did not know him as well as I thought I did. I never would have thought that he would have hurt me…but then again, considering my history of making faulty judgments on men's characters I should have known better. To further apologize, Andrew told me he wanted to be honest with me. He asked me if there were any other questions that I needed answering, so I asked him if he had had anything to do with the way Erik left all those months ago. I don't think he had been expecting that question because he would not answer. When I pressed him about it he merely ignored me and said that I should go back to my room. On the stairs the argument only escalated, because of his silence I knew he had done something to drive Erik away. When Andrew tried to throw off my grip I tripped and fell backward down the stairs."
Meg gasped aloud at that, both her hands flying up to her mouth. "Brielle! Is that why you had all those bruises when you first came here? Your fiancé pushed you down the stairs! I always wondered how it happened, but I couldn't bring myself to pry into your past. I didn't want to make you bring up bad memories…oh Brielle, I am sorry!"
"My god Bri! Why didn't you write me? I would have gotten you out of there!"
Leaping to her feet Brielle began to pace the room in agitation. "I couldn't…I wanted to but I couldn't. After that night he watched me like a hawk…kept me locked in my room. He wouldn't let me see Aria and on more than one occasion said that if I did not marry him he would take her from me…that he would fight for custody." Coming to a stop, she wrung her hands together in front of her. "As soon as I was strong enough, I took Aria and ran away. We made it to Paris without any problems…but because it is winter everything cost so much more than I thought it would. I sold the horse…I sold my wedding ring…I changed how I looked…and eventually we ended up here and I got a job on the cleaning staff. I wanted to write to you Conner but I was afraid somehow Andrew would intercept the letter and then he would know where I was…"
Moving back to her chair, Brielle sank back down into it. "One night when he was drunk he came into my room, and…well, I got the feeling that Andrew had something to do with John's death…Conner, from what he said…I think he shot his brother so that I would be free to marry him. And I think he orchestrated Erik's hasty departure…I don't know exactly what it was he did…but I know it is his fault…though knowing what I know now perhaps it is for the better that Erik left then."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Conner asked shortly. "If he had stayed you would never have agreed to marry Andrew…" he continued, ticking the reason off on his finger.
"Conner…" Brielle began, her voice tense.
Continuing without pause despite his sister's interruption, Conner raised his voice slightly, ticking off another finger. "You would never have moved into that giant mansion and been cut off from me…"
"Conner, please, for the love of God…"
"And you can bet had Andrew tried to pull that bullshit while Erik was still in the house he would have ripped his arms off!" he finished at a near shout. "That is why I felt so comfortable leaving you to finish out my tour in England, because I knew someone was there to look out for you!"
Raising both hands to press at her temples Brielle tried to block out Conner's words. The clawing pain within her chest grew once again until she could think of nothing else, making it hard draw in a breath. "Shut up Conner!" she finally yelled. "Are you still so sure in that man's character even though he left without so much as a goodbye to any of us!"
Silence ruled for several long minutes before Conner pushed away from the wall and crossed the room to kneel next to his sister. Taking her clammy hands in his, he raised her cold fingers to his lips, trying desperately to wrap his brain around the horror story Brielle had told him. "You said he was here…what he were you talking about?" he asked, obviously trying to change the subject.
"Erik…Erik is here. He has been here the whole time I think…ever since he left last spring…he told me that he is the one who has been…well he is the one who…" Stopping suddenly in mid sentence Brielle clamped her mouth shut. Her gray eyes dancing across the carpeted floor in confusion she found she could not finish what she had been about to say. She couldn't tell them that Erik was the one who had been terrorizing the Opera house; she couldn't voice his crimes aloud. Opening her mouth then shutting it again she struggled to get the words past her tongue. What is wrong with me? I should tell them…so they know to avoid him…but…but I can't…And with a sudden terrible realization she knew exactly why she could not give Erik away; even after everything that had happened, she was protecting him.
Not noticing his sister's lengthy silence, Conner stood, his eyes distant in thought. "Wait a moment, if he is here then why didn't he…"
Waving off her brother's question, Brielle shook her head, not wanting to go into that conversation with him. Likewise, jumping to her feet with her hands fisted at her sides, Meg practically vibrated with fury, the puffy white chiffon of her practice outfit fluttering wildly in her agitation. "I can't believe this…I can't believe it…"
Feeling her heart sink at her friend's reaction to her story, Brielle braced herself for the girl to tell her their friendship was over. After lying to her all this time the Irish woman couldn't blame her. "Meg…I am sorry I lied to you…but I was afraid that…"
"No. No, don't apologize. I understand why you did. You didn't know anyone here when you first came…you didn't know you could trust me. I am just so mad…at…at that Andrew guy. You must tell me what he looks like so I can be on the lookout for him," Meg burst out. "Like I said before, we take care of our own around here…and you can be sure if that man shows up here he will be lucky if he walks away with all his body parts still attached."
Looking up at her young friend, Brielle found a smile spreading across her face. Something about the image of Meg's petite form shaking with anger, her ringlets bouncing with every shake of her fist was absolutely hilarious. "Well thanks, Meg…that is nice to know."
Having remained quiet through this exchange, Conner finally pushed himself back into the conversation. "All right we need a plan on how we are going to handle this," he said hurriedly, running both hands through his hair, his eyes momentarily alighting on Meg's outraged figure before flickering away again.
"Yes absolutely," Brielle agreed hurriedly. "We must leave here as soon as possible. It is just not safe!"
Wrinkling his nose in obvious disagreement over his sister's suggestion Conner crossed his arms loosely over the front of his chest, a mutinous grimace creasing the corners of his mouth. "Absolutely not," he stated at the exact moment the same words were repeated from across the room where Meg stood frowning.
Looking a little surprised, and annoyed, that she had mimed Conner's expression, down to the very way her arms were crossed rebelliously across her chest, Meg cleared her throat and tilted up her chin. "You can't just up and leave Brielle. If you do don't you think people will wonder over much about your hasty departure? It would cause certain tongues to wag and that is the last thing you should want to happen right now."
Jumping in quickly to further the point Conner tapped a finger thoughtfully against his chin. "Yes, and I assume you know that this is one of the best places in all of Paris in which to loose yourself. Brielle, Andrew could look for you until he is blue in the face and he would never find you here. You have friends here…they will look out for you. I cannot allow you to leave as easily as that."
Shaking her head despretely Brielle hit her hand against the chair's arm. "No! You don't understand. There is danger in this place too…just today I found out that…"
Butting in before she could finish Conner waved a quieting hand in the air. "Whatever you are afraid of here we can deal with. But it is not possible for you to leave right now. Brielle you do see the logic in what we are saying don't you? It is safer here…no matter what."
Closing her mouth with a snap Brielle lowered her eyes to the floor in thought. If I leave I would have to fight to find another honest occupation. And even with Conner's help that would near be impossible. He would want to come with me…and if Andrew is having him followed then we will be spotted soon enough. My god…they are right…the lesser of two evils would be to stay here…despite Erik's presence…despite who he really is…surely I could avoid him. I am smart enough to keep a step ahead in here. And no matter how I feel about staying personally…I will have to put it aside. It will be hard…but I have to put it aside, for Aria.
"Yes, I daresay you are both right. Despite everything staying in the Opera is out best bet. Dealing with the dangers I know about here is far better than facing the unknown dangers elsewhere."
"Good, I am glad you are seeing the sense of it. I was worried you see…seeing as you are one of the most senseless women I know," Conner stated seriously, the bite of his words lessened by the joking light glittering in his eyes. Clearing his throat and assuming an overly dramatic air the redhead stalked about the room. "There is no need for you to continue to work yourself to the bone scrubbing this place's floors. You can stay with me from now on. You won't have to worry about anything anymore…"
"Conner, if I stay with you and Andrew comes around he will find us soon enough. Wouldn't he expect us to make contact at some point or another? Has he been asking you where I am?" Brielle asked, reluctantly falling into planning her now certain stay in the Opera.
"No, but he has the police out looking for you. By the time I went to file a report he had already been to the station."
"Damn…All right I'll have to stay away from the authorities then. But I think it is obvious that I should keep my job. Like Meg said earlier it is better if I didn't draw attention to myself. I mean, don't you think people will think it odd that one of their cleaning ladies is all of a sudden the sister of their new lead violinist? So no one can know we know each other."
"Well, yes, that does sound rather odd, but it is ridiculous that you think I will let you continue on as you have been. Like nothing has changed. Now that I have found you, I will be damned if I let you out of my sight for a second."
"I will not be a burden, Conner! I am doing fine as I am. I found a job on my own and I intend to keep it."
"Hell and damnation! God Bri, you are more stubborn than a mule!" Conner flared before grudgingly adding, "But partially I think you are right. If Andrew knows where I am, it could lead right to you."
"Then it is settled? We will continue exactly as before?" Brielle asked as she placed a hand on her daughter's head, only then noticing that the child was staring fixedly at the mirror with narrowed eyes. Following Aria's gaze she searched the glass's surface finding nothing out of the ordinary to draw the intense scrutiny she saw on her daughter's face. Frowning she looked away, her skin crawling with the odd feeling of being watched.
"Everything said in this room will stay in this room," Brielle finished, her heart-shaped mouth forming a stern determined line. That's right…leave it all behind in this room…Andrew…Erik…everything…forget it all…lock it away…push the hurt away…you can do it…just will it away…will it away…When everyone else in the room nodded in agreement Brielle took Aria's hand, heading toward the door. Meg followed close behind the Irish woman, her large doe-like eyes fixed straight ahead worriedly.
Allowing the women to leave ahead of him, Conner lingered in the dressing room for several minutes. Turning, he slowly retrieved his violin case from where he had set it when they entered the room. Shrugging the case over one shoulder, the redhead strolled out the door, closing it quietly behind him. Before her released the door handle a light lit his eyes.
"Erik was here this whole time and he didn't do anything?" he murmured to himself. "Well, I will just have to see why that is. And he better have a good excuse, otherwise I might have to beat some sense into his thick skull." A broad smile flickered across his face. "I could use the workout." Releasing the doorknob, Conner turned and hurried up the hall to catch up to where his sister and Meg were disappearing around the far corner.
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Conner sat slouched at the edge of the stage, his precious violin resting against his thighs, as he dangled his bare feet into the orchestra pit. Behind him Carlotta suddenly stopped practicing her aria and began to loudly berate some poor chorus girl for an unknown reason. He smiled as most of the other orchestra members made faces at each other, miming the dramatic screeching on stage. If not for the good humor of the other musicians he knew he would be beating his head against the floor in frustration, for the diva's constant interruptions and peevish demands seemed endless. In the week since he had arrived at the opera he had yet to get through an entire piece without disruption.
The rigors of working as just a part of a larger team was beginning to wear on even his unflappable patience. Used to the instant gratification of being a solo artist, it had taken a few days for him to settle into the process of the opera's daily practice. Though he did not think he would ever get used to Carlotta's flamboyant outbursts or the quieter, more insidious complaints of the new lead ballerina, Maryann. He wrinkled his nose at the thought that, in a way, he could be lumped in with the crazed divas because he was also a big name brought in to attract wealthy investors. It was funny really how hard the two managers of the opera had pursued him, considering he had only taken the job in the first place to remain in Paris. He had wanted to stay close in case any word of Brielle had turned up. Of course, he didn't have to worry about that anymore.
Rolling his eyes skyward, Conner glanced over his shoulder at the other members of the production trying to calm the enraged diva. Easily hopping to his feet the redhead strolled across the stage to stand smiling before the arguing crowd of women. "Ladies, is there a problem over here?" he asked politely.
All conversation stopped at his arrival as many pairs of appreciative feminine eyes locked onto his freckled face. Turning on his award-winning grin, Conner was fully aware of how attractive the combination of his neat, well-cut suit with his bare feet and rumpled hair was to the average woman. His slightly unkempt look usually had a rather positive affect on the fairer sex. He knew people considered him an unabashed flirt, but somehow he didn't mind being classified as one. It was just easier using a bit of charm to get things done rather than arguing.
At his approach the sour expression pinching Carlotta's face slipped into an over-bright smile as the dark-haired woman shoved her way forward to stand directly in front of him. "No, no…no a problem here. We were just eh…how you say…discussing things, yes?" Shooting a sharp glance around her, Carlotta waited for the other girls to nod in agreement to her statement.
"Wonderful!" Conner exclaimed, offering up a playful wink for the gathered women. "Perhaps we can continue with the practice, then. Though I must say, based on what we have gotten through so far, the singing is inspired." Pausing after that blatant bit of flattery, the redhead turned to take up his position in the pit, his eyes involuntarily moving to light upon the dance corps practicing far off to one side.
Looking quickly away when he caught sight of a certain blonde watching his movements, Conner sank down to sit on the edge of the stage. Feeling a little foolish over how his heart skipped a beat at the very sight of Brielle's friend Meg, he quickly raised his violin to his chin, more than ready to begin practicing again and forget the boyish embarrassment staining his cheeks pink. Lord, I haven't felt this awkward around a woman since I was like fifteen years old. And what is strange is that Meg is not the most beautiful woman I have ever dealt with before. Certainly I should be able to glance in her direction without acting like a chit. But I don't know…there is something about her that just throws me off my game. Maybe because she always looks so annoyed whenever she catches me looking over at her. Oh well, better to not even think about it. Waiting for the conductor to raise his baton, Conner's mind once again began to wander.
In the seven days since his arrival he had had little time to spend with his sister and niece during the day. It was only at night, long after practices were over, that he had the time to shadow Brielle on her cleaning rounds. Never having been handy with a mop or broom, his sister had forbidden him from helping her in any way with her duties. She had correctly assumed his efforts to help would have only gotten in the way. Besides the guilt he felt over how hard Brielle's job forced her to work, and the lingering unease he felt whenever he wondered what exactly Andrew currently knew, the time he had spent with his sister had been happy.
But when he was not with his family, or at practice, he was spending his free time in a pursuit Brielle most surely would have disapproved of. In fact, he purposely kept his activities from her for that very reason, because promising her to stop would have only hindered him in his plan. Though he had to admit even without her bothering him about it, Conner had not gotten far in his search for his former masked friend. He just did not know where to begin since he could not ask where Erik was staying or which department he was working in. So every free moment had been spent searching the opera house from top to bottom.
Dropping his violin to his lap with a discordant screech, Conner turned and openly glared over his shoulder as Maryann started another ruckus within the ballet corps. He watched as Madame Giry marched up and waved the cane she carried while teaching in the younger girl's face. Looking beseechingly back to the conductor, Conner let out a huge sigh. Taking the hint, the conductor nodded and quickly dismissed the orchestra, much to the relief of everyone there. Hopping to his feet happily, Conner padded across the stage and into one of the wings, wanting very much to escape the chattering noise of the disgruntled chorus and ballerinas. As he passed Meg, he flashed her his best smile, but instead of smiling back at him Meg merely gave him a guarded look and turned away. Irritated by this odd reaction the redhead snatched up his violin case and placed his instrument inside with far less finesse than usual.
Slinging the case over his shoulder, Conner straightened the lapels of his jacket. Taking out his pocket watch, he checked the time before starting off toward a nearby staircase. "Well, no better way to work off your female frustrations than to go wading through piles of dusty props in the search of a brainless twit," he mumbled to himself as he took the stairs two at a time.
Without a solid plan on where he wanted to look today, Conner stopped climbing when he reached the third floor landing. Stepping lightly, the Irish man strolled languidly past a menagerie of stuffed animals, allowing his mind to wander he stopped to stick out his tongue at the frozen form of a snarling tiger. A series of quiet footsteps coming from down a side hallway had Conner quickly straightening and retracting his tongue back into his mouth. Cocking his head to one side the redhead listened to the steps for some time before turning his attention back to the far more interesting display of break away weapons lining the wall behind the animals. Sounds like one of the stagehands. They all have that same springy sort of step, helps them keep balanced on those catwalks I guess.
Stepping over a deer's head lying on the floor, Conner plucked a spear from the wall, smiling as he poked at the retractable head. A slight movement out of the corner of his eyes had him turning his head to the right. He was just in time to see a face disappear back around the corner. Odd, he thought briefly, did that guy just see that I was standing here so ducked back the other way? Forgetting to replace the spear back where he had found it Conner hopped back over the deer head and hurried around the nearby corner, where he had seen the person go.
Moving silently on the balls of his bare feet, Conner made it around the corner just in time to see the hem of a cloak disappearing around another corner up ahead of him. Hmm, definitely not a stagehand…they wouldn't wear a full length cape. His interest fully piqued now, Conner picked up his pace and rounded the next corner at a full run. Green eyes flickering about the empty hallway in front of him, Conner frowned when he saw no sign of the mysterious figure. Coming to a stop he noted that there were no doors within this particular corridor through which the man could have disappeared. What the hell? I wasn't that far behind… Readjusting the strap of his violin case Conner quickly checked behind a stack of large rolls of cloth, only to find no one behind it.
Perplexed now, he walked the entire length of the hallway, looking for some explanation as to why a man could have completely disappeared. About midway down the corridor he found a dark scuff mark that curved across the floor, pointing directly toward the wall. Smiling now in understanding, Conner carefully ran his fingers over the wall until he detected the slightest indentation that was the clear signal of some sort of hidden door. Silently laughing to himself over his own cleverness the redhead set about trying to find the trick to open the secret door. Well, this afternoon is certainly turning out far more interesting than I thought it would.
Stumbling upon the latch when he accidentally bumped his elbow against the wall sconce, Conner let out a triumphant yelp when the wall before him slid back to reveal a dark, tight little passage beyond. Without a thought as to how smart it was for him to go wandering around in some unknown hidden passage when no one else knew where he was, Conner gave a happy little shrug and strolled into the waiting darkness.
Quietly tiptoeing down the passage, he followed the thin corridor for several hundred feet before it began to curve off toward the left. Easing around this turn, Conner blinked when he saw the silhouette of a man opening a little doorway up ahead of him. Picking up the pace, the redhead hurried after the man and caught the door before it could fully swing shut. Coming out into the hallway as quietly as he could, Conner froze when he saw the cloaked man turn slightly to the side. Damn I think he noticed that the door didn't shut as quickly as it should ha…hey wait a second…Spotting the telltale edge of a white mask Conner forgot about being quiet as he set his violin case down with a thump.
Hearing this slight sound the man up ahead burst into a full-out run; his black cape billowing out behind him at the sudden movement. Ready for this type of reaction, Conner took off after the man, only then remembering the prop spear he still clutched in his hand. Stumbling to a stop the redhead raised the spear and threw it after the retreating figure. Catching the man right behind the right knee, the force of the throw sent him falling to the floor with a surprised oath.
Laughing triumphantly, Conner raced down to the end of the hall before the man could regain his feet and happily leapt atop the cloaked figure. Jabbing his knee roughly into the base of the man's back, the redhead planted his hands on his captive's shoulders. "Hello there, Erik. Long time no see."
Stilling on the floor, Erik turned his head so he could glare malevolently up at Conner. "Get the hell off me or I will be forced to hurt you." Came the tight-lipped reply.
"I am afraid I can't do that, my friend. You see I am a bit tired after looking for you for a week. And now that I have caught you I am a little unwilling to just let you run off aga…Gaah!"
In the middle of his speech Conner was completely caught off guard when Erik swiftly twisted on the ground and threw the redhead across the hall in one violent action. Banging his head against the far wall, the Irish man's temper was immediately set ablaze as he clamored to his knees. "You god-damned bastard, is that any way to say hello!" he growled, grabbing hold of the hem of Erik's cloak and giving it a sharp jerk, partially choking the other man with the movement.
"Did I not ask you nicely first!" Erik croaked against the pull of his cape. Grappling with the cloth for several brief moments the masked man kicked out a foot and knocked Conner's hands off of his cloak.
"Yeah, and you should know I never listened to you anyway, you idiot!" Conner shot back as he swung his fist, hitting Erik square in the jaw. A full out brawl ensued as both men wildly punched at each other.
Panting with exhaustion after several minutes of knocking the dickens out of each other Erik opened his mouth in a snarl. "I am not in the mood for this, Conner. Don't you have something better to do, like watch after your bloody sister?"
"Nope, she says she can look after herself just fine," came the grunted reply as Conner grabbed up the forgotten spear and brought it down across Erik's left shoulder.
Reaching into his coat, Erik produced a small two-edged dagger, and bringing the blade up to menace Conner with, the masked man was shocked to find himself looking down the barrel of a small revolver. Tensing immediately, Erik fell back a step. "My, you are quick my friend," he said bitingly, the blue of his eyes glittering sharp as river ice over at his panting companion.
Laughing a little breathlessly, Conner shrugged his shoulders, keeping the small caliber pistol level with Erik's chest. "You know me…I am always getting into trouble…but I never lose a fight. And now maybe you will stay still long enough for me to talk to you for a moment."
"You can speak if you want. It matters not to me but do not expect to share some sort of touching moment. I do not have the time to chat," Erik snapped defensively, the knife disappearing mysteriously back into the masked man's jacket. Delicately he reached up and touched a gloved hand to the small cut on his lower lip.
"Yeah, right. What other pressing matter do you have? Besides this won't take long. I only have a few questions." When Erik only snorted in response Conner absently wiped at the blood dripping from his nose. "It is simple, really. I ask a question and you answer, then we can both go about our own business. First of all I want to know why it was only recently that Brielle learned that you are here, when it is obvious that you were here the whole time. She could have really used the help of an old friend."
Erik glared furiously at Conner for several silent moments before finally stirring. "As you said before, your sister does not like to accept the help of others. But I would hardly say that we parted under amiable circumstances. As it was I decided to keep my distance."
Nodding in understanding, Conner leaned his back against the wall behind him. "Ah, I see. You don't know. Listen to me carefully whatever it was that made you mad enough to storm off…well it was all set up. I have the craziest story to tell you…which you won't believe. But to keep it short Andrew set you up. He fixed things in order to get you out of the house."
Waving one hand dismissively, Erik sighed. "Yes, yes. I already know that. But believe me, Andrew is not fully to blame for the reason why I left. I knew what he was trying to do back then. His trickery was something I could easily pick out. No, it was Brielle's own actions that made me decide to go."
Staring blankly over at the other man, Conner thought over Erik's words. "What are you talking about. She didn't want you to leave. God, Erik, after you left it was like someone had died. She didn't leave the house for a month, just stayed in her room all day, staring out the window."
"What?" Apparently thrown off by this little bit of information, the masked man's cold expression cracked slightly. "No, that must have been because of something else…you are mistaken. I couldn't stay there any longer…not after seeing her…"
Noting the pause in Erik speech Conner sat up a little straighter. "What…seeing what?"
"I should think it hardly appropriate to discuss it with her brother…" Erik snapped.
Rolling his eyes, Conner dropped the hand holding his weapon to his lap. "Don't be such a prude, Erik! Lord!" he exclaimed sarcastically, purposely and gleefully pushing his old friend's buttons, knowing it was the fastest way to get to the root of the issue at hand.
Incited by that barb the masked man stiffened in outrage. "Fine! Since you want to know so badly you ill mannered boor! I saw her kissing Andrew…after she told him she loved him. Are you happy now? I have answered all of your questions I think it is time I go."
"Don't move, you crazy bastard," Conner stated casually, confusion narrowing his eyes. "I know for a fact that Bri didn't feel anything more for Andrew than vague affection. In what context did she say this?"
His patience obviously at its end, bright furious color rose up to stain Erik's face scarlet. "I don't want to talk about this anymore!" Erik exploded. "Can you not understand? She made a choice…simple as that! Even if that choice later turned into a disaster…I mean I could have told her it would. I knew that man was dangerous the first moment I saw him…why it is hardly a surprise that he would…um…well nevermind."
"Wait…how do you know anything about how things turned out. You weren't around. And I never said anything about Andrew being a danger."
Grimacing slightly as if he realized he had said too much, Erik turned his gaze to the floor as he struggled to answer. "Well…why else would she show up here? She had to have a good reason, like running away from someone."
"Uh-huuh…" Conner mouthed suspiciously not entirely convinced by Erik's lame answer. "Come on…stop being an ass," he said, changing the subject. "Tell me when she said she loved Andrew."
Giving into Conner's dogged questioning, Erik slumped back against the wall. "I believe they were talking about Aria's future…and some other idiocy about Lord Donovan being more amiable towards me," he stated tiredly.
Slapping a hand to his face in disbelief Conner shook his head. "God, Erik. You really don't know anything about women, do you?"
Temper returning to the masked man's gaze, Erik swept a foot out in an attempt to land a kick against the redhead's right foot. "As limited as my knowledge may be in your eyes, sir, I am not an idiot. When someone says they love another person it always means that…"
"In this case it meant that she was grateful for his assistance and was happy that he was finally going to treat you better. She didn't mean it in the way you are thinking. Those words CAN mean more than one thing, Erik. Brielle was just happy because she was so worried about Aria and about you back then. It bothered her that Andrew didn't treat you like an equal…because she cared so much for your welfare."
Opening his mouth to reply Erik shut it again as the full implication of those words sank into his brain. "No…no…that isn't right…" he began lamely, as a dark horrified expression began to sweep over his face. Conner watched as Erik dropped his eyes to the floor, he could almost see the wheels in the masked man's mind churning.
"Is that the only reason you left?" the redhead asked quietly, sensing the time for rough treatment was over.
Nodding silently, Erik couldn't seem to find his voice for several moments. "I thought that…I felt that she had betrayed me somehow…that maybe she was just using me to make her true love jealous…I…"
"You should have known better," Conner sighed. "Why would she have done that…why would she have bothered with such an elaborate farce to make a man she had refused to marry jealous? Think…you are a smart man…it doesn't make sense!"
"No, you are wrong. It makes sense…I wouldn't have left without reason…I wouldn't have given up everything just because…because…" he continued to argue, desperate to hold onto the belief and anger that had sustained him through the last year of solitude. "You are just trying to confuse me…"
"Don't try and comfort yourself with that," Conner clipped, a little more harshly than he had originally intended. "Think…just think for a moment…I am right that what you are saying makes no sense at all…and I think you know that. Maybe you have known it all along…but it was the only thing you had. Come on…you know that Brielle is the last person in the world who would purposely harm someone she cared about…you know that."
"No…my god…" Erik whispered hoarsely. "It doesn't make any sense does it? I don't know why I couldn't see it before. I was just so angry, it blinded me. Even months later I couldn't see past my anger. All I could remember was that last night, nothing else."
"Sometimes people are so busy staring at the closed door before them that they do not notice the open window a few feet away," Conner stated philosophically, suddenly feeling terrible about the broken, anguished light clouding Erik's gaze. He had not expected his information to disturb the other man as much as it did. And as he watched Erik continue to mull over everything that had been said, Conner could see the weight of his new insight bearing down upon his shoulders.
"What is wrong with me?" the masked man whispered to himself as a stark, wasted shadow emptied into his face. "I left her behind…and delivered her into the hands of a monster…I let all those terrible things happen…" Erik eyes snapped up to meet Conner's as the masked man raised both hands to cover his gaping mouth; looking as if his entire reality were being pulled down about his ears.
"I think I have made a terrible mistake!" he moaned through his hands; his eyes glittering over-bright over the top of his fingers.