Angel of Doom and an English Rose (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 18 - Final Arrangments

Author's Note:

Dear Readers,

This chapter contains a good deal of material taken from Susan Kay's Phantom. I do not wish to break any copy-write rules so I will put all words (particularly words spoken by characters) from the book surrounded by a pair of *. Thank you for understanding.

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Rosetta's POV:

I stared at him. I was horrified and shocked. He was dying. All I could think was that he needed help. I bolted for the door but he grabbed my hand and held my wrist tightly.

“Don't leave me. I don't want to die alone.” I took his hand in mine and bent down to rub his back.

“You'll never be alone as long as I am alive. Never alone again.” He smiled faintly at me before throwing up again. Suddenly, I heard someone enter and call,

“Erik!” I knew the voice and bolted for the door before he could grab me. I ran into the sitting room and saw Daroga standing there. He looked at me and said,

“Rosetta, what is wrong?” I pointed back to the bathroom and said,

“Erik! Poison, I think.” He rolled his eyes and ran into the room. I followed and dropped beside Erik who was still coughing and throwing up blood. I rubbed his back and looked entreatingly up at Daroga. Erik glared at Daroga and snapped,

“*Go away. I don't want you here.*” Daroga quickly snapped back,

“*Stop wasting your strength. Do you have any idea what you may have taken?*” Erik coughed and muttered,

“*No, I've made no study … of your Persian toxins … I don't make a habit … of poisoning people as a rule. It's not a form of death I find … esthetically pleasing.” Daroga sighed and frowned.

“Ground glass would account for the internal bleeding. There are various substances with which it could have been combined. Most of them produce a protracted and agonizing death.” I continued to rub his back and it calmed myself more than him. He was perfectly calm.

The love my life was dying and I could do nothing. I was helpless as I watched Erik in such pain. I tried to hold back the tears as they would do no good to anyone.

“*How long?*” He quickly asked. Daroga sighed grimly.

“*Those who are lucky die within forty-eight hours, but I have known a strong man to linger up to ten days.*” My heart contricted and I knew I could hold back the tears much longer. I was a strong woman by most standards but this was getting to be too much.

Erik thought for a moment and gasped out,

“*Ten days.*” I rolled my eyes. Yeah, he would assume the longest period of time. But then I hadn't met a stronger man than him. “Then … I can get to the new palace?*” Daroga stared at him and spoke quickly,

“*You could never endure that journey in this condition.*” I was inclined to agree with Daroga but Erik wouldn't.

“*I must. There are … instructions … I have yet to give … And I must see … with my eyes … one last time.” I shook my head along with Daroga. There was no way even the infamous Angel of Doom could to that journey.

“*You'll die on the road long before we reach the palace. Why give yourself so much more unnecessary pain?*” Erik was quick to say,

“*The pain is nothing … compared to the regret … the frustration! Nadir,*” He gasped for air and clutched the bath tub rim in agony. I slipped one arm around his shoulder and held him to me. He whispered, “*please … order a carriage … secretly … and take me back to the palace tonight …” Neither Daroga or I could resist. He was begging us. We could at least do this one thing for him.