The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 20

Rosella's POV :

I hadn't seen him since the day I kissed him. Two weeks and not a wordfrom him, and I hadn't allowed myself to go down to the lake either. When I wasn'twith Daroga or Madame Madeline working, I was exploring the halls, the stables,and listening to all the rehearsals. I had made friends with a black stallionthat no one else in the stables would go near for fear of being kicked, but tome he was sweet and gentle. Plus the stables is where I was often left alone bymy past owners, so they were like a second safe haven for me.

Music was my first safe haven and it was also relaxing, as long as it didn'tmake me think of Erik. That was the source of most of my problems though, mymind was always dragging itself back to Erik and what he was doing, what he wasplaying, whether he missed me, whether he cared at all that I was absent fromhis presence as before. The latter thoughts would just make my heart hurt againand I was constantly finding myself blanking the emotions from my face as I wastaught as a child.

Meg had actually become like a sister to me during this time, well what Ithought a sister would be like I suppose. She was a few years younger than whatI thought myself to be, but she was wise and old for her age surprisingly. Shewould often walk with me through the opera house and talk with me when shewasn't rehearsing or teaching the younger ballerinas. She was one of the primaballerinas now and had more freedom and authority to get herself free time.

I was grateful to have her to distract my mind away from Erik when she could.It was even more surprising when I realized that when around Meg, Madame Giry,and Daroga I didn't always wear the mask of emotionless I usually wore. I stillkept my face rather blank but I tried to show them that I was happy to be withthem with the occasional smile, it was simply a hard habit to break.

I had forced myself to leave the theaterroom when my mind again went to him and I caught myself looking at Box 5,hoping to see his shadow in it. It was empty, much like my heart had been forthe last few days. I sigh and shake my head as I force myself from the theaterto another destination, anywhere he won't be on my mind is perfect. I knowDaroga is becoming more and more worried about me as my appetite has decreasedseverely these past few days but without him in my life I just don't have thewill to eat.


Daroga's POV:

I watched as Rosella excused herself for the night, walking slowly up thestairs and to her room. She had barely eaten anything at dinner yet again and Iwas becoming increasingly worried about her. So much so I had told Erik Ineeded to have a chat with him here tonight at 11, knowing that Rosella wouldbe in bed by that time. I am not completely sure of what transpired the dayErik saved Rosella, as Madame Giry and Meg seem to have been sworn to silence.But I know something had to have happened that broke Rosella's spirit.

I drank another glass of wine as I waited for the time to pass, heading for thedoor a few moments before 11. I had known Erik a long time and I knew he wouldbe punctual to a fault as always. My staff had been given the night off so thatno one would see him enter or leave here, especially since most of the worldbelieves him dead. I opened the door to see him cloaked in darkness, offeringme a single nod before walking into the dimly light living room.

"Help yourself to some wine if you'd like Erik."

"What was the meaning of this meeting tonight Daroga? I have something that Iam working on at the moment that requires my full attention and I do not havetime to spare on trivial matters."

"Ah so it's Phantom I'm meeting with tonight. Very well. It's not a trivialmatter to me as it involves Rosella and her well-being but perhaps to you it isonly a trivial matter after all."

I watched as a swirl of anger filled his eyes before he stalked over to thewine and poured himself a glass. He turned to face me with an angry snarl onhis face before he looked away again. I knew he was fighting to remain calm,especially since she was asleep upstairs and any shouting could possibly wakeher.

"How dare you assume to know how I feel towards Rosella."

"Well then perhaps I should inform you of how she has been these two weeksthen. She does her work at the opera house well, but speaks to few othersbesides me, Madeline, and the Giry's. She isn't eating properly anymore and thelight that was sometimes present in her eyes seems to have been sufficientlysnuffed out."

"She......she hasn't come to seek me out on purpose then? It's not that she is toobusy?"

"No, Madeline says she gives her plenty of time to do as she pleases. So, basedon all that I must ask yet again what happened that day you saved her?"

I watched as Erik's cruel and heartless façade crumbled in front of me, leavinga broken man now sitting on the couch. The wine left untouched on the smalltable next to him, his head laying in his hands as his breath came out inlabored sounding gasps. I could almost see the transition from Phantom to Erikas he trembled slightly on the couch.

"She kissed Erik, willingly and said she had wanted to kiss Erik for a while.Erik didn't say anything in return."

"Oh in Allah's name, why not Erik? She clearly likes you if not more thanthat!"

"I was......I didn't want to risk losing her friendship so I said nothing. But now,everything I've worked on recently will be useless if she has given up on mealready."

"What have you been working on for her then?"

"I've composed a piece for her, and I've fixed up the old Prima Donna room forher to live in should she choose. So, I could be closer to her and protect hereasier."

"Ah my old friend. You should have told me about that earlier and I could havehelped you with that. But there is still time, she hasn't given up on you. Shesimply believes that you don't feel for her as she does for you. Do you feelfor her?"

"Daroga, I love her. What I felt for Christine is nothing compared to what Ifeel for her. I love her with each breath that leaves my body, and each beatingof my heart."

I smiled at my old friend as his golden eyes swirled with an emotion so brightI knew instantly that it had to be love. I cared deeply for Rosella, even sawher as a daughter of sorts, but I knew that Erik loved her more than any manloved any other woman. I was about to tell him what else he could to helpassure Rosella that he loved her when I heard glass breaking from upstairsfollowed by a yell.

Erik stood and raced with me up the stairs and into Rosella's room, just intime to see her crouched down in the corner looking as insane as Erik ever hadin his youth. I went to take a few steps closer but Eirk stopped me as shestood, I saw blood drip from her hand. She was clutching a shard of glass and Ilook to see that she broke through the window with her own hand it seemed.

"Rosella?"

"Verfluche dich zur Hölle!!!!" (Curse you tohell!)

"Rosella, it's me. Erik"

I watched as Erik attempted to take a few steps closer to her as she held theglass up in a threatening manner towards him. Her wild eyes seeming to noticethat it didn't slow him down at all though. I watched as she seemed to panic,even letting out a growl noise as he got closer to her. She pressed herself intothe side of the wall before suddenly bringing the glass shard up to her ownneck. Shouting at us once again in German.

"Schick mir Florica oder ich bring mich um." (Send me Florica or I kill myself.)

"Rosella, Florica ist tot." (-is dead)  (Erik) 

"Nein, nein. Du lügst!" (No, no. You lie!)

"Nein, Rosella. Ich nicht. Florica isttot. Ich bin dein Freund Erik." (I don't. Florica is dead. I'm your friendErik.)

"Nein, ich will Florica." (No, I wantFlorica.)

I watched as tears fell from her eyes as she continued to keep the glasspressed against her own neck. Her eyes watching both of us as we stood at theother side of the room. I was glad I understood enough German to know what wasbeing said, and even more thankful that Erik was here tonight to speak to her.But I was concerned that if we didn't calm her down enough we would be sendingfor a mortician rather than a doctor tonight.

"Madame Giry!"

I watched as Erik turned to look at me in question before his eyes lit up inunderstanding. He nodded only once telling me his horse was just outside. Iknew that he would keep watch over her until I got back. I knew that MadameGiry was dear to Rosella already because of the kindness she saw in her eyes,as she told me only a few days ago. I can only hope that she can help Rosellasnap out of it, as we cannot bring a woman back from the dead.