Stories of the Night (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 14: Masquerade

Erik leads me down to the house by the lake and tells me to wait for just a moment. He returns seconds later with the long beautiful white dress he showed me just the other night, along with the huge white wings.

"Change and I will change too." He instructs as he hands me the dress, then goes into another room.

I trust that he is changing and put on the fluffy white gown along with a pair of shiny slippers. I look into a mirror as I take my hair down from its bun. It now sits in beautiful waves down my back.

Suddenly Erik comes up behind me, "My angel."

I turn smiling and see that he has on a large set of black wings.

"You will go as my angel, with me as your fallen angel." He pecks my lips then hands me a silvery object. "Your mask my lady."

He helps me put on the silver mask then puts on his own. It has music notes on it and it looks old and worn. It goes along with his costume perfectly.

I smile up at him, "Music as always."

"When is it not?" He smirks. "Now are you ready?"

I nod, "I believe so."

"Then to the party!" He offers his arm to me and I slip my own through.

He leads me back up and to the main entrance where the festivities were being held.

"Wow." I gasp. Every person there is dressed in beautiful costumes and masks.

Erik lets go of my arm and bows deeply offering me his hand, "May I have this dance?"

I nod, grinning and he sweeps me out to the dance floor.

We both laugh as we turn and twirl around other couples, gliding gracefully across the floor.

"When shall we have our wedding, my love?" Erik asks as we waltz.

I hum to myself for a second, "In the winter. Winter in Paris is wonderful!"

Erik throws his head back laughing and lifts me up, spinning me around. "In the winter! Our wedding in the winter! A snow covered bride and gro-"

Erik is cut off by screams echoing through the main hall. He sets himself in front of me protectively.

I follow the gaze of the people around us and my eyes land on a man who comes down the grand staircase very slowly, holding a gun pointed to the ceiling.

"No!" I gasp.

"What is it?" Erik breathes his eyes unmoved.

"I-it's my father..." My hand finds its way to my throat, where my scars lie hidden by a ribbon tied around my neck.

Erik stiffens, "It'll be okay."

The man's eyes flick across the room. "Where is Kane?" His voice booms. "Where is the girl with the scared neck? Where is the lover of the opera ghost?"

The crowd gasps.

"Stay here Kane. I'll deal with him if that really is your father." Erik breathes. He straightens up and heads to the door that leads to the stairs for the upper balconies of the main hall.

"Where is the girl who is silent as a mouse? Where is the new infatuation of the Phantom of the Opera?" My father snarls.

"Who is it that calls The Opera Ghost?" I jump when Erik's voice suddenly stops my father. I have never heard Erik speak in such a tone... He must be very cross.

My father grins and leans against the railing of the stairs.

"From what I have heard you are engaged to my daughter... Now I don't believe you ever came to me for permission." He chuckles, rather snidely.

"I do not think you deserve a say in her life, after you tried to kill her and all." Erik responds.

"Oh but you see, legally she can't marry you..." My father grins.

"No." I gasp to myself, "Please no, anything, he just can't tell Erik that. Please don't believe him."

"And why would that be?"

"Oh she didn't tell you? Well you see after I tried to hang her, she ran off. I dismissed the man she was betrothed to and came up with a much better plan. I found her not long after she escaped, and right after, she was wed. You see you can't marry her, because she's married to me!" He laughs.

The tears that had been welling up as he spoke spilled out to my cheeks.

"You are a sick man!" Erik exclaims.

"I have to get out of here." I say to myself as I turn and run.

"Now where are you little wifey?" My father laughs.

My tears blur my path. I scream when a bullet zips past my ear. A sob racks my body as I flail around blindly trying to find one of Erik's passages.

Suddenly a searing pain travels through my leg and I scream once more as I hit the ground. I glance down at the skirt of my dress... It's red... So much blood... Everywhere...

"Erik," I gasp in a haze.

There's blood and everything is blurry and then there's nothing...