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clockgirl191 – Well, I'm glad you found it and are enjoying it! Thank you for the review.
The Black Shadowed Starling – Yes, Tyce does like messing with his human, part of his personality trait.
Wandering Child
Erik received a letter the next time he went to pick up what Antoinette had given to him. The Madame was not there when he looked in at their meeting place, finding only a small pile of food and wood to last him until her next visit. When he went to retrieve the pile he spotted the letter resting on top in a simple, unmarked envelope.
Wondering whether it was Christine's reply to deny or accept his proposition, he took the letter with him.
He made the journey back to his home and Farren greeted him as he pushed the boat away from the shore to take him to the house. The tip of her nose, black eyes and parts of her back being the only thing to break the surface of the water.
Farren had been sadden by the fact that she was limited in her movements. She could no longer fly and be with Erik as he went about his errands around the Opera Populaire, her eight foot long, 500 pound body had been hard enough to bring down from the rooftop on that night she transformed as it was. Through the months, she has tried to relieve her boredom by taking to exploring again, now able to go deeper and hold her breath longer, she has travel down into the lake and has since found a number of treasures. Erik has gotten used to coming back to a pile of tarnished but valuable trinkets. Erik knew that she missed the others, but with his mind completely focused on the tasks at hand, her wish for seeing them was consumed by her own desire for revenge.
"Apparently, Christine has written me." Erik told her as he made his way across the lake, Farren swimming next to the boat.
"Do you think it is to accept you offer?" she asked bitterly. Erik knew that when he had told her his plan she was going to be upset. Even after all this time, the alligator held a rage towards the girl and boy who had betrayed her human. But even he knew that the chances of his offer being accepted were low.
Erik shook his head. "Probably not. I know that girl and she is a stubborn one when she wants to be."
"Wonder who she got that from." He heard Farren mumble but he decided not to comment.
He got to the shore of his house and jumped out, Farren crawling up the shore with him. He tied the boat up and grabbed the letter, knowing that Farren was going to pester him until he told her what it said. He opened it and read the short letter that contained a few lines.
"It is a warning." Erik told Farren with a frown as he finished reading. "The nights of my opera, Andre and Firmin plan on sealing the doors and have armed guards stationed throughout the theatre. They hope that because Christine will sing, I will show up and they will be able to capture me."
Farren growled. "As if they would be able to catch you! They are more likely to shoot each other or an innocent bystander than get you."
"While I agree with you, it is actually a clever plan on their part." Erik admitted, folding the letter in half and putting it back in the envelope. "It makes me wonder if they were the ones to come up with the plan at all."
"Do you think Christine or the Viscount had something to do with it?" the alligator questioned.
Erik hummed. "Perhaps. The two of them certainly have the brains for it. It could not be Meg or Antoinette because, unlike some, the Giry's would never betray me. But if one of them is the mastermind behind this, why would I receive a warning?"
"Maybe it is a trap within a warning? They make sure you think and prepare for one thing while creating plans for something else?"
"That is possible." Though his heart ached at the idea of Christine betraying him for a third time, he had to keep his mind open for all possibilities. He still loved his protégé deeply, and even contained a certain amount of fondness for the Viscount as well, but he has been hurt too many times to think lightly about the younger two's actions. He had to make sure to plan accordingly.
He picked up the supplies and brought them into the house. Farren could no longer go inside because it was too small for her to fit comfortably and move around, but Erik left the door open and she poked her head in.
"It is almost time you know." Farren whispered as he put the items away. "Will you go to her?"
Erik glanced up at his calendar and took note of the day. Every year since Christine had come to the Opera Populaire, she would visit her father's grave on the anniversary of his death. Antoinette use to take her when she was a child, but as she got older, the Madame allowed her to travel to the cemetery by herself. When Erik had heard that she had gone by herself one year, he made sure to follow her every year after to watch over her. It had been difficult to make his way to the cemetery and not be seen, but he had done it and it got easier to do over the years. Antoinette knew he had been doing it but he never told Christine as she would have probably scowled him and try to lecture him about how she was not a child.
They have had that conversation before. It had not been a pleasant one.
He has never view her as his child or anything like that, but he has grown to feel partly responsible for her wellbeing since they have met. He would probably be able to compare it to how Antoinette had view him when they had been younger.
Of course, he would never hurt Antoinette the way Christine has hurt him, but he digressed and Farren was waiting for his answer.
"Yes." Erik answered, not in the least surprised when Farren huffed in irritation.
"She is a grown woman now, Erik. You do not have to watch over her anymore."
Erik sent the alligator a weak grin. "Ah, but it is such a difficult habit to break. The old ones are the hardest after all."
Farren stared at him for a few moments then sighed. "Fine, but if something happens, do not say I did not warn you."
"One last attempt, Farren. I promise." Erik vowed. "If Christine does not return to me there, I will cease all hopes at persuading her back to me."
Christine wrapped her cloak around her shoulders and tied the threads together. As she left her room and made her way to the stables, she pulled the hood over to cover her head. Nada shuffled behind her as the swan tried to walk quietly. She knew that Raoul would not want her to leave the opera house when everything was going chaotic with everyone, but she has made the trip to her father's grave every year since she came to the Opera Populaire and was not about to let the trip past because people were paranoid that she was suddenly going to run from the opera and leave them at the mercy of the ghost.
She made it to the stables and the stableman woke up the driver while he got the carriage and horse set up. Within minutes she was riding her way through Paris, the snow falling lightly and the streets almost completely deserted because of the weather.
Through the journey to the cemetery, she hummed the words to the song Erik had created for them to sing together. It had been the last one they had sang with each other, when he had come to her after her debut and had been proud of her. She missed the sound of his voice and how it rang and merge in perfect harmony with hers, echoing through the tunnels and bouncing off the surface of the underground lake. She missed their lessons and talks, the power of his voice as he sung and the gentleness of it as he spoke. She missed how she could read his emotions from his expressive golden eyes, something that could not be hidden behind his mask. She missed the few nights she was able to be in his home and he would play his music for her whenever she asked. She missed his guidance and humor, and how he used to comfort her with sweet words when she was upset and, if she was fortunate, hold her in his arms until she felt better.
The carriage came to a halt and Christine looked up, surprised that they were already at the cemetery.
She climbed out and Nada hopped out after her. Christine nodded to the driver before walking inside.
The cemetery was empty of visitors, the snow probably kept most people away. As she walked to her father's crypt she went through her memories of her deceased father that had died seven years ago.
"He was once my one companion." Christine whispered. Nada turned her head up to look at her human as they walked, knowing that she was talking about her father. "He was all that mattered. He was once both friend and father. Then my world was shattered."
Christine looked up and took a turn that would let her walk straight to the tomb.
"I wished he was somehow here again. Wished that he was somehow near." Christine let her eyes fall closed. "Sometimes it seemed, if I just dreamed, somehow he would be here."
She opened her eyes. "But dreaming of him won't help me to do all that he dreamed I could."
"Passing bells and sculpted angels are cold and monumental." Nada joined in, when Christine looked at her the swan shrugged. "Seems for him the wrong companions."
Christine smiled. "He was warm and gentle."
She faced forward and they were close to his crypt. "So many years, my life has changed. I no longer need his strength to live. I've found a reason to try."
"No more gazing across." Nada whispered as she watched her human stopped at the gate of the crypt.
"No more silent tears." Christine agreed, placing her hand on the gate. Her hand wrapped around a bar and looked up at the name DAAE in all capital letters. "I have said goodbye."
She closed her eyes and sent a brief pray for her father and to heaven where he resides. She has let him go a long time ago.
"What are we doing here then?" Nada asked, jerking Christine out of her pray.
She sent the swan a disapproving frown. "There's no harm in visiting a former loved one on the anniversary of his death."
"That doesn't sound like saying goodbye." Nada countered, though her tone was teasing.
Christine huffed but pulled her hand away from the gate. "We can say goodbye and accept, but that won't stop people from missing them. Come on, we can go now."
Nada nodded and Christine began to make her way to her. However, Nada's head went up, making her pause. She listened and could hear a voice singing a melody. She whipped around to face where she heard it and could tell it came from the top of the tomb.
She would recognize that voice anywhere!
No words were being spoken so Christine called out to it.
"Angel or guardian? Friend or phantom? Who is it there, staring?"
"Have you forgotten your angel?"
Christine wanted to cry in relief at the sound of Angel's voice replying. She was amazed that he had left the Opera Populaire but did not think too long on that. He had come to her! Maybe she would finally have the chance to explain everything to him!
"Angel, oh speak!" Christine pleaded, trying to get her angel to continue talking. He must have come to her for a reason. "What endless longings echo in this whisper?"
"Too long, you have wander in winter. Far from my far-reaching gaze." Angel's voice whispered around her. "You resist…"
"But my soul obeys!" Christine hastened to say. She reached her arms out towards where she knew Erik was hiding and continued, trying to convey her apology for unmasking and being frighten by him all those months ago. "Angel of music, I denied you. Turning from true beauty."
"You shunned me." Erik's voice whispered and Christine could hear the hesitation to accept her words. She could not mess this up.
"My angel, my protector." Christine countered. "Come to me, strange angel."
Erik nor Angel replied, after a few moments Christine began to worry that he had left.
"I am your angel of music." Angel's voice finally answered, sounding pleased.
Christine's heart skipped a beat at the tone. She had not heard him sound that happy in what felt like forever. She will get the chance to talk to him, she can tell him about everything! Maybe even tell him how she felt…
"Christine!" Raoul's voice came from behind her and her head turned in horror at seeing him coming towards her.
"No! Don't!" Christine warned holding her hand out to stop him, purposing not saying his name in hope that Erik would not recognize the Viscount's voice.
Raoul stopped a few meters away, frowning in confusion but remaining back. Christine quickly turned and looked back up on top of the crypt.
"Angel?" she called out.
But there was no answer. There was nothing but the sound of the wind blowing gently through the grounds and trees.
Dread took hold of her and she raced around the other side of the tomb hoping to catch sight of Erik moving.
She did not.
All sides of the crypt were check and there was no sign of him around the grounds.
"Erik!" she cried, feeling hopeless all over again.
"Erik?" Raoul questioned with wide eyes as she came back around and started towards him.
Christine nodded but did not say anything. Nada ended up explaining.
"He was here, probably to try to convince Christine to be his student again. Christine succeeded in getting him to stay, but then you showed up. It probably angered him and made him think that Christine was lying and ran off." The swan informed Raoul.
Raoul gained a guilty frown. "I'm sorry. I discovered that you were missing and was able to find out from the stableman that you had come here. If I had known Erik was going to be here I wouldn't have come."
Tyce's head popped out from his jacket, to look up at his human.
"You've sure been messing up a lot lately."
Raoul glared down at the otter. He grabbed Tyce from his coat and dropped him to the snow covered ground.
"You can walk." He growled as the otter let out a yelp at hitting the cold ground.
Christine shook her head. "I'm not upset Raoul, you couldn't have known he would be here. I certainly didn't. While it would have been nice to have the opportunity to talk with him, I suppose fate decided that it would be too easy."
Raoul scowled. "Yes, apparently Lady Fate is set on making things as difficult as possible for all of us."
"It will be alright." Christine tried to reassure but it came out weak even to her.
"At least we know for sure he'll be there for the opera." Nada offered, Tyce grumbling next to her.
"I'm worried though." Christine stated, her eyebrows furrowing. "We have hurt Erik so many times. By the time we can explain ourselves, will he have any affection for either of us to forgive?"
Raoul groaned. "Please do not say that! I need something optimistic to look forward to get me through all these distressing setbacks."
"Take it one day at a time?" Nada suggested.
Christine nodded while biting her lip. "I suppose we do not have much of a choice."
There we go! Got to finally see a bit of what's going on with Erik's side. I wonder how many of you thought 'oh no,' when you read the last line in Erik's POV, knowing which scene was going to happen. If you're a fan of Wishing You Are Somehow Here Again, I apologize for the major cut up I did, but there was really no point in having the majority of those lyrics. I love Wandering Child myself and it hurt to cut it but, well, got to fit it to the story.
Anyway, I have a surprise for all my readers. A Christmas present if you would. Monday, Christmas, I'm going to post a new fic here and it's actually an epilogue chapter to one of my earlier fics. As a return gift, you can review it. ;) Either way, I hope you enjoy it.
Don't forget to review this chapter, and next chapter will be in Erik's POV.