The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 33

Rosella's POV:

The last three days had been spent in a peaceful bliss, almost a dream that I hoped never to wake from. My days were spent with Erik in endless night in his lair, surrounded by music which was all I could ever have dreamed for. I was just now returning from Erik's, having listened to his latest composition on the violin, a smile still on my face as I walked through the halls of the opera house.

The melody he had played still danced through my mind. He said he was going to meet me in my room soon, for he had a surprise for me, though I was not sure what it could be. We had yet to say what we were in regards to our relationship, though I could not imagine being any less than in a courtship with one another as many times as we had said 'I love you' in the last few days.

"Rosella! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!" (M) 

I turned toward Meg as I heard her rushing towards me, seeing a smile on her face but it didn't reach her eyes. I felt my own smile start to diminish some as I stared at her, wondering what had caused her to force a smile as she seemed to be doing now. As she stopped in front of me, a slight gasp leaving her as she caught her breath.

"I'm sorry to have made you search so frantically Meg. Is everything alright?" (R)

"Oh....oh yes of course. It's just....well mama wants to see you. She said she had something important to tell you." (Meg)

"I'll go see her at once then, thank you for finding me. Should you come across Erik while I'm there, tell him where I've gone if he doesn't already know please." (R)

"Of course." (Meg)

I didn't miss the look of nerves that seemed to cross Meg's face at that request but she soon forced another smile onto her face before she nodded to me and just as quickly as she appeared disappeared down the hallway. I made my way to Madame Giry's office, my thoughts growing in concern as to why I had been summoned in such a way as this.


Erik's POV:

I was trying to prepare myself for what I was going to do tonight, but was failing at it miserably. It wasn't until I heard soft footsteps in the tunnel I was in, that I looked up from my thoughts. I was expecting to see Rosella smiling at me as she rounded the corner but was instead nearly ran over by Meg as she rushed into me. I caught her before she fell before she looked up and meet my steely gaze with a look of utmost calm on her face.

"Oh! I'm so sorry Monsier Erik, but......you should go find Rosella, she's meeting with my mother in her office. I was coming to tell you that." (Meg)

"Then I suggest you go back the way you came and I will go there immediately." (E)

"Of course. But hurry, she may need you but mother thought it best she told her alone." (Meg)

My interest was peaked and my concern for Rosella grew at Meg's hurried words. She didn't seem as fearful as me as she usually did. Her concern only appeared to be directed towards Rosella. I listened for a moment longer as I heard her footsteps disappear the way she came before I changed my own direction to Madame Giry's office, my mind wondering what she could have to tell my Rosella that was so important. 


Rosella's POV: 

I walked into the office after hearing Madame Giry telling to enter. I saw her sitting at her desk, her head in her hands before she looked up at me. I found myself offering a soft smile even as she seemed to force one of her own. 

"Madame Giry, Meg told me you needed to speak with me. She said it was quite urgent, are you all right?"

"I am, but my dear I fear there is something I should warn you of. Something coming, well it's already here if truth is to be told. I know how he will respond, but you....I feel you will be more level-headed."

"I....I don't understand what you're speaking of."

"I know, my mind is so frantic I fear I'm talking in circles. There arrived yesterday a caravan sideshow just outside the city. They have with them what they claim to be demon's child."

"What?"

I felt my chest grow tight as I imagined yet another poor innocent child left to suffer in the same ways that Erik and I had suffered. I shakily made my way over to the chair in front of her small writing desk as she seemed to just appear in the other one next to me without my notice of her standing from the desk or walking closer.

"I've been told from someone who heard the barker shouting about the show that it's a small boy no older than five and they said that he had crawled out-"

"-of the depths of hell." (R)

"Yes, I'm afraid so. How did you know that?" (MG)

"It was once one of my own advertisements and now the sound of many of my nightmares. Have you heard any of the names of the caravan members?"

"The barker's name I was told was Salin, I have no other names so far."

It was one of the names I hoped never to hear again, let alone be near the man who owned it. Yet, as she said that it all made perfect sense as no one but them could be so cruel to an innocent child in the pursuit of money. I heard Madame Giry say something else as the room around me seemed to start spinning before I heard myself whisper for Erik. I don't know whether he was listening nearby or if time was going faster than I realized but I was soon in his arms. I met his intense golden stare for but a moment before I felt my own eyes close.


Erik's POV:

My curiosity at what Antionette had to speak to Rose about had brought me into the tunnel directly behind her office. Yet, I still had no idea what news she had given Rose. I heard her ask Rose if she was ok just as I reached the tunnel before I heard my precious flower's whispered plea for me. I burst through the secret entrance into the tunnel and caught my flower in my arms as she started to fall from the chair she was sitting in. I stared down at her in worry as her eyes met mine before I watched them closer as her head fell back against my chest. I looked up to Antionette with a fire burning in my eyes as I wondered what happened to my flower.

"What. Happened?"

"I.....I will not be the one to tell you Erik. Here, smelling salts and a coolcloth. She should tell you. I will leave you to it."

I took both the salts and the cloth from her hand and watched her leave theroom as if it were ablaze before I allowed myself to look back down at my Rose.I held her in my arms as I laid the cold cloth down on her forehead before Iopened the smelling salts. It took but a moment for her eyes to start blinkingand she woke with a slight gasp in my arms as I put the salt away.

"Erik, it's......they're......."

I watched as she tried to tell me something even as her body started to shakeand tears fell like a waterfall from her eyes. I pulled her closer into mychest as I started to hum a piano piece she once told me she enjoyed hearing.It was several minutes later before her tears seemed to stop and she lookedback at me with a determined look on her still pale face as her body stillshook some in my arms.

"We need to go to Daroga, now."

"Rosella, you do not look well right now. Surely it can wait."

"No, it cannot. We must go to him now. Please."

I saw the wild emotions running through her eyes and heard the desperation inher voice as I nodded to her request. I stood up with her still in my arms yetshe made no noise of protest against it as I carried us back through thetunnel, closing the door behind us and made our way down the tunnel til we werebehind Daroga's office. I listened closely, and after being satisfied that hewas alone opened the hidden panel that was behind his desk.

"Well this is a surprise I must say. To what do I owe......Rosella? Are youalright?"

I was about to answer what I believed, which was no, but I was stopped as shemotioned for me to put her down on her feet. I knew by now not to argue with myRose or else I would get the thorns so I did as I was told. She kept a tighthold on my hand as she looked at Daroga and then myself.

"Madame Giry told me that a caravan arrived outside the city, with one of the'acts' something they are calling a Demon's Child. But.....I also believe afterhearing what the barker's name is and the call they are using.....I believe it isthe same caravan from which I came."

I felt numb for but a moment before the raging insanity and anger that had beenburied within me when I had learned what they had done to her seemed to growten-fold. I was ready to leave and murder every one of them until I looked atthe flower standing next to me and saw her with tears in her eyes and anever-tightening grip on my hand.

"Are you sure?"

"I...I cannot be sure until I have seen them but even if it is not we cannot letanother innocent child suffered through what we have. Please, Daroga you arethe closest thing I have ever known as a father and I......I'm asking for your helpnow."

I saw a look of surprise followed by pride cross his face before it turned intothe same calculating face that I known him to wear while we worked together inPersia. He looked up at me and I nodded to his unasked question. I would gowith her and him, as I knew she would refuse to be left behind.

"Tonight then. Heavy cloaks with long hoods. I will handle transportation. Ifwhat we've heard is all true.....Erik you and Rose must stay out of sight as muchas possible. I will not let either of you risk your freedom or your life tonight.And if at all possible, I would ask you both to keep your wits about youtonight while we are there."

"I can handle this. I must for the child's sake." (R)

"I will handle it only if my Rose is beside me at all times." (E)

"Well if that's the best you can do that will have to do." (D)

I felt Rosella's other hand wrap around my arm as she leaned against my sideand looked up at me. I met her piercing stare and saw a new fire grow in hereyes, not unlike the fires of insanity but not like it at the same time. Shelooked at me before looking back at Daroga as she let go of my arm and walkedover to him. I watched as she slowly initiated a hug with him, yet I felt nojealousy in the action as I knew now that she saw him as a father. Just as Imight have once done when I was but a teenager.

"I will ask if Madame Giry will accompany us, we will look less conspicuous ifthere are a few more of us."