The Dancer's Secret (Phantom of the Opera Phanfiction)

Kidnapped

Clementine

I sat across from the masked man who had taken me. We were in a carriage heading toward what I could only assume to be the docks to meet the boat. The boat Declan told me to meet him at if I decided to go with him. If I had decided to marry Duke Phillip.

I didn't have a choice. There was never a choice. When Declan told me I had until New Year's day to decide, I never truly had a say in the matter, did I? This was always a part of his plan, Either let me come to him thinking it was my choice, or him taking me by force.

I stared at the man across from me, trying to figure out who he was. His voice wasn't familiar, neither was his body structure or height. It wasn't Tomas, even though I suspected him at first.

I hadn't said a word to him since he had pushed me into the carriage. I was still in my masquerade dress and mask, and he was in his. He had probably seen Me and Erik together at the Masquerade and pierced it all together. Possibly even overheard us talking.

"Are you going to say anything?" He asked me, no sense of remorse in his voice at all. I simply shook my head and averted my eyes away from him. I stared out of the window, watching the world go by around me.

How was it that mere hours ago I had been dancing with the man I wished to possibly marry one day, and now I was on my way to go marry a man I had no interest in. not 2 hours ago he held me in his arms and he told me he loved me. I loved him too, but now it was too late. I would never see him again and he would never know where I went.

He would think I abandoned him. He would think I was lying when I only told him I loved him. If I disappeared now, Erik would never recover. God knows what he would have done if I wasn't there when Christine chose Raoul. If I left, there would be no one there to comfort him. He would be alone.

"Don't worry. All your troubles will disappear once you marry the Duke, Phillip, and become the Duchess of Antrim." The way in which he spoke wasn't in a manner to cheer me up, it sounded more mocking. I ignored him again.

Marry Phillip. Become Mrs. Clementine Lynott, Duchess of Antrim. I'd have a stupidly long and meaningless title. I would be a pretty little trophy wife he could bring to parties and show off to other high status people.

I didn't want it in the slightest. I wanted to go back. I wanted to hide behind Erik and have him fix all of my problems. I wanted him to help me, hold me, tell me I was alright. I wanted to learn more about him and how he came to be where he was now. I hadn't even heard his story.

I hadn't gotten my chance to love him.

I felt tears well up in my eyes, threatening to fall. I tried to hold them back the best I could, but it was useless. I blinked once, and they came pouring out, down my cheek and under my mask.

'Stop it Clem.' I told myself. 'Hold it together. You need to be strong, don't show your pain, It'll only make you weaker.' I took a deep breath in, holding it a few seconds before letting go. I wiped my eyes dry, sitting back in my seat to get comfortable.

"We're almost there, Duchess." He mocked. I tried my best not to kick him, knowing he had some form of power and rank under my brother.

Around 14 minutes later I felt the carriage come to a halt and people were moving to open the door for me. I recognized the armor at once, it was Irish and bore the crest of my family.

A man offered me his hand to help me out, but I ignored the gesture all together. I would make it painfully obvious I did not want to be here. I did not want to see my brothers, I did not want to get on this boat, and I did not want to marry Phillip.