The Phantom's Daughter (Book 2)

The Ultimatum

Listening to her father confront Raoul, filled Elise with unease. Every time someone shouted, she felt her heart beat quicken.
When silence eventually filled the bar, Elise guessed that Erik had used the other exit to leave the room.
Wanting to talk to him about what she had overheard, Elise ran as fast as she could to his office, and she arrived only moments after him.
"What have you done?" Questioned Elise.
"I should've known that you would listen in on our conversation" sighed Erik, as he sat down at his desk.
"You've set a challenge that I don't think you can win. What possessed you to do such a thing?" Demanded Elise.
"I think you over estimate the Vicomte's chances".

"I've told you before, that Christine won't choose you over her family, so why have you put her in this position?" Asked Elise.
"Look, Christine won't know anything about the agreement between me and Raoul. This is about me and him" replied Erik.
"No it's not. Both of you are going to try to win her affections today, which puts her in the middle, and leaves her with an impossible decision to make. She is going to have to choose between singing for you, which is something she has already promised to do, and leaving early before the show, with Raoul"
"Exactly. She has promised to sing for me, so she isn't going to want to break that promise. Which gives me the advantage"
"Raoul is also her husband, which gives him the advantage".

"She isn't going to choose him, so stop looking so worried" reassured Erik.
"How do you know? How do you know that she will choose you over her husband?" Questioned Elise.
"I can't explain how I know, but I just do. I'm aware that you believe that you know her, because you were friends when you were children. But I have a connection with her that is stronger than anything else in this world. You will understand when you find someone to love. And then you will know that is the most powerful force out there"
"I know that you and Christine share something special. But Raoul loves Christine too. So how do you know your love is more powerful than his".

Erik raised an eyebrow, "You've been observing them, just as I have. Do you really think that what they have, is true love?".
Elise sighed, and shook her head.
"No, I don't. But Christine might not go with her heart. She might ignore her feelings, and go for the thing that is best for her family. Raoul is her husband, and the man everyone believes is the father of her child. If she leaves him, her whole life turns upside down, and she might not want that" replied Elise.
"Christine did the right thing last time. She went with her head and married that fool. She has lived with the consequences of her choice ever since. Which is why this time she is going to follow her heart, and stay with me".

"Well, I hope you are right, otherwise the next 10 years of my life with you, will be just as miserable as the last 10. Your moping was bad enough before, so I dread to think about how bad it will be if she chooses him again" admitted Elise.
Erik frowned, "It's a good thing that I know she is going to choose me then".
"I guess so... Part of your deal with Raoul, involves him leaving alone, if she chooses to sing and stay with you. If you win the deal, and Christine stays here, then that means Gustave stays here as well" Elise said quietly.
"Yes, that is the idea. The further away he stays from the child, the better. Here, Gustave can watch his dreams become a reality. And at my side, he will be able to accomplish great things" replied Erik.
"I see" mumbled Elise.

"I may not want him to know the truth about me, but that doesn't stop me wanting to have him near me. His talent for music is rare, like mine, and I want to help him improve it" revealed Erik.
"If I had been born with his talent, would you have taken more interest in me when I was younger?" Asked Elise.
"That is a question I cannot answer. I was in a different place back than, and in no position to raise any child, prodigy or not" answered Erik.
"So it's not just because he's a boy and good at muisc, that you favour him over me, it's because you are wealthy now and can buy him everything that he desires?"
"What makes you think that I favour him?".

Elise laughed, "Oh come on, it's obvious. You've not been able to talk about anything else since you met him. Me and him were both accidents, but the way you treat us is completely different. I've always been a burden to you, but you view Gustave as the best gift you've ever received.
"Jealousy doesn't suit you" replied Erik coldly.
"I'm just telling you the facts... It's clear to me that you want to start over with Christine and Gustave by your side. Me and Madame Giry have been replaced. Don't worry though, I won't get in your way. I am going to peform in the show tonight, and that will be my last performance for you. I will then leave the three of you to start again, as a proper family" replied Elise.

"Just because I want him, that doesn't mean that I don't want you. I want the both of you by my side" insisted Erik.
"No you don't. I know you don't. You have never really cared about me. The love you have for Gustave is something I have never experienced. I don't doubt that you are concerned for my wellbeing, but deep down I know that you wish I was never born. You didn't know that sleeping with a whore all those years ago, would leave you with a daughter. You never asked for me, and I know that. Which is why I'm sorry you got stuck with me...
But now you have the chance to start again, with a lover and a child. And I am not going to get in the way of that. I want you to be happy, you deserve it after everything you've been through. I'm not going to cut you off completely, unless you ask me to, I'm just going to move away. So if you could give me a few days to set my affairs in order, I would appreciate it. And then I will be out of your hair" announced Elise.