chapter 37

I 'm full blown willing to risk it all for a man. What the fuck is wrong with me? It'd been forever since I'd been in my room. Dust started to gather on the little books on my bookshelf. I would have known Frankenstein was missing had I stepped even one foot in here in the past month at least.

Goosebumps blemished my skin at the thought of moving in with him officially. Even though I was excited, I was still a little nervous about giving up my room. It's not that I didn't think we wouldn't work, it was more I'd have no place to go when it didn't.

I shook off the creeping, natural fear and moved the little bookshelf near the door to take home.

Home. With a man… I guess this was my home now. What a really weird feeling. Both sad and filled with hope.

The memories of the past absolutely unadulterated bliss filled days and beyond played through my mind like my favorite movie. I stared at the beautiful ring I'd accepted. A ring of promise. One that Erique took time to design. My heart swelled at the thought of how long he'd been wanting this. How I never thought I would.

Still couldn't get over that he had a custom ring made for me. Back home, I couldn't even get a candy bar from a guy.

Erique wasn't ever going to leave me. That was a sure thing. What a scary calming feeling.

Guess we were really addicted to each other. And it's probably going to blow up in my face.

Did we even eat over the past few days? I'm sure we did…

It's all gone too far. But I couldn't even stop myself if I tried. And it's all because I fucking love him.

Fuck!

I took one more look around the closet sized room just to make sure I had everything ready. I would come for my clothes on the next trip.

I opened the door and nearly lost my balance as I jumped back. If it were actually possible to do so, I would have jumped out of my skin. "Jesus Christ!" I shrieked, staring at who I thought was Christine beneath a pile of fabrics.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," she said snickering. "Can you help me?" She dropped the mound just enough to see her face better.

I pushed my hand into my pocket to hide my ring for whatever reason, hoping my smile would take away any attention from it.

I looked over the fabrics, it seemed to be a dress. Oh, the one from the show.

"Can you sew?" she asked.

"Yes. But it's…"

"Great."

Christine turned and hurried away. Still a little confused, I followed behind her, eventually ending up at Carlotta's dressing room.

Before I could even try to speak, she practically shoved the dress in my face. "Look what she did!" she said. This was the first time I'd seen her angry. It was so weird.

Upon closer inspection, it was obvious the dress had been maimed a bit. The seams had been ripped open in the bodice and brim of the skirt slashed.

"Do you think you can fix it?" she asked.

I fingered through the layers, assessing the damage. "What happened?" I asked.

"Carlotta!" Christine said. "She came back last night when everyone was gone, I heard she threatened the managers too."

"And you think she did this?"

Christine nodded. "I know she did. Or it was her handmaid, at least."

"Why doesn't Madame Chantelle fix it?" The theater had a seamstress for a reason, and my skills were limited any more.

"She hates me. Her and Carlotta are really good friends. I got thread and a needle from the costume department though… And I wanted an excuse to see my friend for the day," she said. Her brows softened and eyes beamed with guilt. "I'm sorry I haven't been around." She looked away, ashamed.

I may have accepted my fate here. At least I was happy with Erique. But there were still some things that needed to be dealt with.

Reason one hundred million and one that everything was still wrong.

"You don't have to apologize," I said.

"I do," she said. The guilt in her voice was enough to eat you up. "Your friend kind of scared me a little. You know what she said about Erique. It worried me some. But then I realized I was being silly. You wouldn't choose a bad man…"

No one chooses a bad person. They choose a bad person pretending to be good until they're not.

I fiddled with the ring in my pocket. I suppose even though I know that Erique was mostly good, he'd done some terrible stuff. Nothing that I could ignore. And the thought of him changing, or finally being who he actually was, wasn't lost on me.

"…But then you were gone. You and Erique went on your trip, right? How did it go?" she asked. "You seem refreshed and happy."

Probably the ridiculous amount of love cock I've been having.

My flesh seared again, flooded with all the memories. "Uh. It was…" I said scratching my neck, not sure where to start.

"What is that?"

Before I could look down at what she was referring to, Christine had taken my hand. "You're engaged!" she gasped.

I snapped it away and put it back in my pocket. I don't even know why. I'm not ashamed of him. But then why was my first instinct to hide it? Twice now.

"Well, not exactly," I said.

She sat chomping at the bit as I told her about our four days together in the cabin by the lake as I stitched the seams in the bodice of the damaged dress. Answered her questions the best I could without giving out too much detail about certain things. Like time travel.

"Erique has one too now," I said. It was amazing the jeweler in such a small town was able to get something done so quickly for us. But the Phantom can be very persuasive . Especially when he had enough money to have the owner close for an hour so he could go in with me.

Maybe one day it won't be like that. Or maybe he'll never be comfortable with people. Not that I blamed him. It would just be nice to walk around town together. Maybe go to parties. I don't know.

"But you won't marry him?" she asked.

"It's not that. It's just complicated."

I hated to love that word.

I still didn't know what I was going to do about it though. Someone like my Erique could only wait so long before he would start to question my love for him again. I know he wanted to be a husband. I think he'd be a really good one, but marriage was probably the most frightening thing. Well, next to everything else I've experienced the past five months.

Was that all it's really been? It'd already felt like years since I'd seen the faces of my family. Man, what I wouldn't give to see them now that I had a rock on my finger. Not that we were engaged or anything… Just the implication would be enough.

Would it be so bad to marry the man I loved? Yes.

A happy ending was something that only happened in Disney fairytales. Not stories full of murder and men in walls. No, this was good. It was the best compromise either of us could make.

I would love him forever. He would love me forever. Win-win.

Christine paused and sucked in her lip, running her teeth over the skin. "Did you… um…" she asked, turning red.

"Oh yeah. A ton."

More selfishly, I hoped he never changed his mind because I would hate to not have his love, and that mind exploding, pussy stretching cock.

My God. I was literally Niagara Falls just thinking about it. I couldn't wait to get home.

Her hands flew to her face, covering her excited embarrassment.

A knock at the door startled us both.

"Hold that thought!" she shrieked and jumped up. Before she opened the door, Christine turned back. "We're not done. I have questions."

I missed being that age. When everything was new and the world, men, hadn't ruined it yet.

Strangely enough, even with my doubts, there's just something that told me that I didn't have to worry about that anymore.

I shook off the shiver as my eyes found who had knocked.

"Ah! Raoul!" Christine said. "You're early."

"Do you wish me to leave you then?" he jested. She pulled his hand and led him further into the room. "Oh, Miss Reilly!" he said surprised, then glanced back at Christine. "I didn't realize you were busy, darling."

"Carlotta," she sighed. "Melody is trying to help me fix my costume before rehearsal tonight."

"That woman is indeed a menace," he said. "Actually, she is in part why we are here."

"We?" Christine asked.

Philippe stepped into the room. I groaned internally. Another thing I supposed I would have to deal with. As long as I was friends with Christine, Philippe would be around sometimes.

If he left me alone it would be fine.

"Miss Daae. Miss Reilly." He said my name as if he smelled something rotten.

"Yes. Philippe and I are here to ensure the woman never comes back."

"About time," I said.

"Agreed," Raoul replied. "There's no need for someone with half the talent when they have Christine to lead them." This young man had such a sincere way about him. It's still mind boggling that he and Philippe were brothers. They're so different.

"Oh! Something wonderful has happened!" she said. "Melody is to be married!"

"Christine," I said, shaking my head. I thought my chest was going to cave in. "Not married," I said quickly. "Just together. Anyway…"

I can't believe she told. I guess I didn't say not to. But she knew we weren't engaged. Why would she do that?

"She's stubborn. Her Erique proposed over their romantic weekend away," she said and hurried over to me, yanking at my hand to show the men. As if they really cared. Well, Raoul might. But Philippe looked as if he were examining it for appraisal.

"Congratulations are in order then! We should celebrate," Raoul said.

"Yes!" Christine agreed very joyfully.

My heart stilled as I plastered the fakest smile on my face. But even at the midst of all the unwanted attention and misinformation, there was a slight twinge of happiness at the thought of marrying Erique. No. Stop.

"Indeed," Philippe said, expressionless. "A grand celebration for you and Erique ." He cleared his throat and adjusted the tucked in scarf around his neck.

Odd, he liked to wear it open.

"We're very busy," I said, putting my hands in my pockets.

Philippe stepped closer. "Surely your husband-to-be can make the time to celebrate such a victory. Especially for someone that claims she would never." The tone in his voice unsettled me. He was upset. Bitter. It was obvious. Something Raoul and Christine seemed unfazed by.

"Maybe some time," I said just to end the conversation.

"Would you mind if I borrowed Christine? Just for lunch," Raoul asked. "I promise to return her afterwards."

I shrugged. "Not at all. I can have this fixed up soon enough, I'm almost done."

Christine hugged me then took Raoul's arm.

"I'll be along momentarily," Philippe said, tipping his head.

"No, you're going," I said.

He stayed unmoving as the lovebirds left us alone.

Ignoring his presence, I returned my attention back to the dress, which really was close to done. "I told you to stay away from me," I said.

"Are you really going through with this?" he asked. His eerily calm demeanor and tone was worse than his words.

I stayed silent as he stepped towards me, stopping a few feet away.

"I want to know why you chose a monster over me," he demanded.

"Excuse me?" I said, stopping my work to look up into the eyes of the human embodiment of audacity.

"Your beloved Erique attacked me. Threatened my life. Would have gone through with it had I not reminded him of your care for me."

"I don't care for you."

"You do not care that after I declared myself to you, despite your rejection, your betrothed attacked. Hands around my throat." He tore the scarf from his neck exposing the healing bruises around it. "A wild beast of a mad man in a mask. The Opera Ghost did this to me in your name."

"He's not the…"

"He is. Do not lie."

I hesitated, looking over the bruising on his neck, Erique hadn't told me about it. Yet, I felt nothing seeing it. I should, but I didn't.

I sighed and shrugged, laying the dress next to me on the chaise and stood up. "Ok. Well, you deserved it."

"Pardon?" he said, shock gracing his face.

"I told you no and you still did it anyway. You're lucky he didn't kill you."

The tension in my shoulders ached as he stepped closer yet again with disgust in his face. "You know he's this monster, and you still love him?"

"Stop calling him that! We have nothing to prove to you nor anyone else. Now fucking leave."

"You have not seen what he is. The Opera Ghost has killed many over the years. That pregnant chorus girl. The filthy stagehand. Many before your arrival. What would it take for you to see this man, this thing, as the abomination he is?" he said. "Here before you, there is a man that would have you despite all that. That would give you what you deserve. Give your life purpose."

"Stop!" I shouted. My heart threatened to burst through the ribs it thumped so hard into. "I am not some naive twenty-year-old girl with no life experience. I will not be told how stupid or ridiculous I am for being who I am. Loving who I do. I trust him. Philippe, there is no timeline in which I would choose you. Why is this so hard for you to accept?"

"Are you alright, miss?" a man's voice asked from behind Philippe.

Quickly, we turned our attention to the man in the doorway.

There stood Erique's friend or nemesis or whatever he was, the Daroga, Ardashir. He eyed Philippe curiously as he pushed back the flap of his jacket to reveal the butt of a pistol.

"Yes. Everything's fine. Thank you," I said through gritted teeth. "The Comte was just leaving."

"You will see," Philippe hissed in my face. "I pray for you when you do."

I exhaled in slight relief as he stormed out past Ardashir and disappeared through the opened doorway.

"Are you sure you are alright, Miss? That fellow didn't seem very cheery," he said.

"Yeah. He's an asshat. Doesn't take no for an answer."

"I do not wish to bother you, but I must speak with you," he said, stepping closer with caution.

"And what is it that I can do for you?"

He removed his hat and held it to his chest. "I am Ardashir Azimi. We have a mutual… friend," he said. "It is true that you love him?" He glanced down at my ring. "Erique always did have good taste."

"Yes. And he does." This was someone I was not acquainted with; it was hard to read who he was. Even if Erique liked him, it didn't mean he liked Erique.

"I was hoping you may relay a message for me," he said. "I am afraid I owe him an apology. I was very cruel when we last spoke..." He glanced at the stool near him and took a seat. He seemed tired. But not just from lack of sleep, but a life of running.

"…I don't know what he's told you exactly, but there was a time, too long, that I was filled with hatred for him for something I did." His eyes filled with the aching memories of his past. "I tried for many years to arrest him for several crimes. The death of my family is at the top of that list."

"The King's punishment for helping him escape."

He nodded. "He told you the truth. Interesting." Then cleared his throat. "When he told me of your relationship, I hated the happiness emitting from him and that he was allowed to feel such a thing after so many years I lived in hell. One that could never truly go away. The little joy I held in my heart until I met my second wife, was that Erique was in a state of eternal misery. Knowing that no one could care for him. I kept in touch so I could relish it. As long as he was unhappy, then my family's death was not in vain. That was until he saved my life once," he said. His shoulders slumped slightly. "It wasn't until then I realized my mistake. Erique was practically a boy when my family was murdered. A young man that knew genius and self-service, nothing else. Neither of us knew what the King was going to do."

"Erique is very forgiving."

"He is, isn't he? And then he's not," he sighed. "I suppose I told you all this so that you understand that I know him. And what I say is not in light." He stared at me in silence for a moment as I listened. What else could I do. I didn't want to hear anything more about him, but this was also someone that actually knew him.

"I can see how he loves you," he said with a warm smile. "Though I do wish the most happiness for you both. I must warn you. Erique is different . I do not mean his physical deformity either. I worked alongside him for several years. He is obsessed with perfection. Obsessed with his work. When he is bored of things or he can't make it go as he wishes, they are easily discarded."

This man was basically trying to confirm all my fears. What happened when the boredom kicked in? Because it always did and men don't take kindly to that. Or when I wouldn't be able to get on that stage because of my own crippling fear. Would he still want me?

"Erique wants to be good, especially now that he has you," he continued. "But he can't. Death and destruction follow him everywhere. If you can live with that; stay and love him. Someone needs to. I just do not wish a life for you beneath the ground. In any way of the meaning."

I swallowed. I didn't know what to say. Did he just suggest Erique would kill me if I didn't live up to his expectations?

My lids wanted to close and stay closed. The overwhelming weight of the constant Erique bashing weighed down my head as well as Ardashir's shoulders. I just needed to see Erique. It would be fine once I did. I knew he wasn't the man these assholes thought he was. Or used to be.

"I'm sorry if I've upset you. That wasn't my intention on this visit. In a strange way I care about Erique, to my surprise, and do see him as my friend. I would like to think that you are right," he said. "I assure you." He stood and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small worn notepad. "Can you give this to him? It's the least I can do. He'll know what it is. Tell him there's new information on the case. And if he wishes to speak again, he'll know where to find me."

I took the notepad and eyed it a little. It was old and worn. I flipped it open and glanced. There were city names I recognized. Paris, Toulouse, etc., but whatever else was written in a language I didn't know. Erique knew six languages. This had to have been one of them.

"Good day, Miss Melody," he said and replaced his hat on his head. "Until we meet again. I hope it is a joyous occasion then." He disappeared around the corner into the hallway.

Just so I could take a break from everything, I closed and locked the door behind him.

The chaise lounge caught me as I fell onto it and buried my face in the dress. My head pounded, wanting reprieve and getting none. My gaze landed on the giant full body mirror at the back of the room. A little ironic laugh huffed in my chest. The fucking Phantom of the Opera.

I was literally being warned, and warned, and warned about someone nobody knew. I wasn't stupid. For the first time I felt like I finally had it right. What are they gonna do when they see that?