Katherine could barely recognize the ballroom, which for years had sat locked and abandoned in the center of the de Chagney house. Although of a modest size, the ballroom had once been exquisitely decorated, and often used during the social season. That had been when Charles had come of an age in which they could be introduced to society. The parties were meant to allow her father to rub shoulders with the elite of the state and country, making it possible for him to send his son to any school he desired, and offer him more than he might have been able to on his very own. She could just barely remember those parties. She had been so young at the time. Like any inquisitive child, though, she remembered being tucked into bed early by her nanny on the nights her father held his parties, and then waiting until she was quite sure the fidgety woman was asleep in the next room before sneaking downstairs to peer at the beautifully dressed men and women dancing about and drinking champagne. Those glimpses from childhood had forever stood out in her mind as the one rebellious thing she�d ever done against her fathers� orders. Today, the ballroom had been opened once more. Servants had swarmed the room to clean it, and make it exceed it�s past glory with polished copper light fixtures, cleaned and polished glass, a waxed dance floor, and of course, the entire place had been very carefully dusted. Once the room had been aired out, servants brought in chairs from the dining hall, assembling them in a manner that would make the room like a small theatre, allowing her father, brother, Madame Isabelle, and Mademoiselle Allyriane to sit and observe her concert. She�d never seen a place so lovely in her life. �What do you think of all this, Monsieur?� Isabelle asked Raoul that afternoon, as they stood just in the doorway to the ballroom, listening to Erik and Katherine as she warmed up her voice, and Erik made certain his fingers would properly cooperate with him as he accompanied the song on the piano. Raoul had been quiet all evening, and she didn�t understand why. �I think that my daughter could very well do without the publicity of being a great singer.� He said quietly. �I�m looking forward to hearing her sing, though. If she does even half so well as her mother, she�ll have us squirming in our seats with elation.� �You�re practically a poet.� Isabelle laughed softly, and turned to watch as her husband spoke to Katherine in low tones. He was dressed resplendently, as they all would be for that concert. In black slacks and a dark maroon overcoat, he leaned over the keys to say something to his pupil in a low voice, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Katherine laughed at whatever he whispered to her, covering her mouth quickly to stifle the bell like sound. She was dressed beautifully as well, in a bright crimson dress with gold on the cuffs, collar, and hem. A small piece of holly at the waist suggested that it was a Christmas party dress. The seasonal dress she chose to wear didn�t matter, so long as it was formal. �Poetry is for dreamers.� Raoul told Isabelle abruptly, breaking the woman from her thoughts. Looking up curiously, Isabelle watched Erik in his formal evening ware of black silk pants, vest, and overcoat; and white satin dress shirt. His arms were folded over his chest tightly. Isabelle herself was wearing a brilliant royal purple dress with billowing skirts, and off-the-shoulder sleeves. She wore amethyst earrings, and a matching necklace, all of which had been gifts from Erik over the years. She smoothed the fabric of the skirt impulsively as she turned to glance out into the hallway. �Charles and Lyre ought to have been here by now.� She said with just a slight hint of concern. �We�ve been waiting half an hour.� �Oh, for God�s sake.� Erik looked over at her from across the room. His tone hinted at annoyance, but he was laughing. �Let them be, Izzy. They�re in love. They want to be alone.� �And you actually think that�s proper after what has already happened?� She replied back tartly. Simpering, she stepped out of the room. Of course, she almost walked right into her daughter, who stood in a satin gown of dark sapphire blue. Her auburn-red hair was pulled back into a French Twist, and she wore a necklace of sapphires and rhinestones. �Oh!� Allyriane gasped, stepping back quickly to avoid a collision. �Mother, you scared the life out of me!� Isabella ignored her exclamation, and looked into the ballroom curiously. �Where�s Charles?� She asked softly. �I thought he was coming straight here from the stables. We went for a ride after supper, and then I had to change . . .� �I�m sure he just went to his room to do the same.� Her mother said reassuringly. Turning to Raoul, she shrugged helplessly, and sighed. �Do you think we should send someone up to get him?� The other side of the room, which had been silent for a long minute, shot to life as Katherine came around the piano quickly. �I�ll go.� She offered. �It will only take a minute. If he isn�t ready, I�ll just throw a bucket of cold water over his head. That ought to solve all of his problems.� �Kat!� Allyriane laughed softly, shaking her head as the younger girl brushed by her, and all but flew down the hallway. Moving so fast, it was nearly impossible for her to keep up a ladylike fa�ade, but no one seemed to care, least of all Katherine herself. Making her way upstairs and towards her brothers room, Katherine hummed to herself quietly, the aria she would be performing that evening before singing the duet with Erik. She�d finally convinced him only an hour earlier that she wanted him to sing with her, because she liked his voice so much. She stopped humming before reaching the door to her brothers� room, however, so that he would not have a single hint as to what she�d be singing that evening. �Charles?� She knocked on the door repeatedly. �Charles, are you coming or not? It�s the biggest night of my life, and you just had to be late!� The door cracked open, and she saw Charles look out at her with curious eyes. Then, they widened just a bit, and he opened the door fully. �I was not aware that I was late.� He announced, as the door swung open to reveal him in a scarlet colored overcoat and dark navy slacks. He really looked charming. �I�ve been pacing this room for nearly twenty minutes.� �Oh, Charles!� Katherine scolded. �Has your clock stopped again? I really will have to talk to one of the servants about that!� �No, no.� He admitted softly. �It wasn�t the clock. It�s entirely my fault. I didn�t even look at the time.� �Oh . . .� Katherine offered a playful pout, lowering her voice into a tone usually used for baby talk. �Is big brother distracted?� �Most definitely distracted.� He laughed softly, putting an arm around her, and kissing her temple. �Come, I�m anxious to hear you sing.� �And sit next to Lyre.� Katherine prompted, sticking her tongue out at him childishly. They both laughed aloud at that, starting down the stairs that would take them to the temporary concert hall. @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- �Well?� Katherine looked about at her small audience, holding her breath nervously. Her aria from �Don Juan Triumphant� had been over for several minutes, and so far no one had even moved. Turning to Erik, she gave him an imploring gaze. �Was I not good?� She wondered aloud. �That isn�t it at all.� Raoul finally stood, walking over to take one of her hands, and kiss it gently. �You were wonderful. We�re amazed.� He stared over her shoulder at Erik. �For all the times you mentioned the opera, I never recognized the name. The aria, however, I do know. Christine sang it once.� Everyone seemed startled to learn that, except for Erik of course. He slowly stood and approached Katherine�s other side. Gently, he put one hand on her shoulder. The girl looked up at him in confusion. �There is a reason I said the role could only be sung by you, or your mother.� He said calmly. �Yes, Christine sang it once. Now, I�ve passed it onto your daughter.� Raoul glared at him in silence for a long moment. �I think you and I have a long talk ahead of us.� He finally noted, before turning away as though angry. Charles cleared his throat quickly, standing to approach his sister, and hug her gently. �You were wonderful.� He said gently. �Miraculous, really. I think that Monsieur Erik has outdone himself.� �It wasn�t anything that I did.� Erik said quickly. �Your sister has natural talent. I only helped her to prove that to everyone.� Everyone laughed, except for Raoul. He stood with his back to all of them, staring out of a set of doors, which led out onto an open terrace. Slowly, Erik moved to take Charles� place in the chair he�d just occupied, and took his wife�s hand gently, bringing it to his lips and smiling at her. Isabelle smiled back, and they began their own, quiet conversation. Charles finally turned away from his sister to smile down at Allyriane, who had been sitting in silence this whole time. Her eyes were wide with wonder at what she�d just heard. It had been the first time she�d ever had the chance to hear her fathers� opera, and she was still coming down from the strange ecstasy the music had brought her to. Bowing slightly, he offered his hand. �Will you walk on the terrace with me, Lyre?� He asked her in a quiet voice. With a broadening smile, Allyriane stood, accepting his hand and moving with him towards Raoul, and the set of doors he stared through. The Comte quickly moved out of their way as they stepped out into the privacy of the night. �Your sister was amazing!� Allyriane finally exclaimed as she stepped out onto the terrace with Charles. �I didn�t know people had voices like that! It was surreal!� �You aren�t so bad yourself.� Charles chuckled. �How could you not know that people could sing like that? With your father having a voice like his, you�d have to know it was possible.� �My father is a bit different.� She laughed softly. �He has so many talents, it�s heard being blown away by just one of them. Besides, I think I�m a bit biased, being his daughter.� �You aren�t biased. You just know raw talent when you see it.� Turning, he lifted her left hand in his, as though to take a look at her in the moonlight. �Would you say that I was biased if I told you that you are a goddess? That you�re the most beautiful woman that I�ve ever known?� �It depends.� She blushed beautifully at his compliment. �You�d have to be in a certain relationship in order to be biased, I think. You�d have to be in a certain position. What position are you in, Charles?� �On what grounds am I biased?� He echoed, smiling. �Well . . . if you would accept this . . .� He quickly fished a small object out of his vest pocket, and slipped it onto the fourth finger of the hand he�d been holding up the past minute. Allyriane immediately gasped, feeling the cool metal about her digit, and stared down at a petite gold ring, with a medium sized gem. It sparkled beautifully, even in the dim yellow moonlight. Lifting her gaze to his slowly, she chewed on her lower lip. �Is it a diamond?� She asked softly. Charles immediately seemed a bit uneasy, shifting his weight from one foot to the other a couple of times. �It�s Austrian Crystal.� He explained. �I would have gotten you a diamond, but �� �Oh, it doesn�t matter!� She laughed. �It�s beautiful, Charles! I don�t care if it�s a diamond, Austrian Crystal, or Rhinestone!� She reached up to take his face in her hands, and kissed him quickly, so fast that he wasn�t even sure it had happened. Then, she pulled back, watching him in curiosity. �Exactly what does it mean, Charles?� �As I was going to say . . .� he pressed his forehead against hers affectionately, smiling at her in return. �I could be considered biased because I am totally in love . . . and now perhaps engaged, if you�ll agree to marry me.� �Charles!� Allyriane threw her arms about him tightly, all by crying from joy and excitement. �I can�t believe I just heard that!� �Lyre, my dear . . .� Charles laughed, putting one arm tightly about her waist, and restraining her strangling grip about his neck by placing one hand on her elbow. �I certainly hope that is a yes.� �Yes!� She pulled back, all but shouting the word. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears of happiness, and he could tell that she could practically dance for joy at that moment. �Charles! Of course I�ll marry you!� Grinning, he lifted her now bedecked hand to kiss it, and then touched her cheek tenderly. She stared up at him expectantly for a long moment, and then giggled. �Charles, it�s all right if you want to kiss me.� She prodded. �Believe me, I have no intention of scolding you for it!� He laughed, shaking his head at her. �I want to tell you something.� He admitted softly. �I asked your father for his blessing to do this, already. We already have his blessing to be married.� Allyriane smiled even wider. Her fathers� blessing had always meant everything to her, in everything she�d ever done. It was a comfort that he�d asked him first. Still, he didn�t move for another couple of minutes. �You didn�t tell your own father.� She finally guessed, reading the slightly troubled look in his eyes. �No.� Charles let out a shaky breath. �I wanted you to say yes, first.� �Well, I�ve said yes!� She laughed. �Let�s go tell him! Let�s go tell everyone!� Grabbing his hand tightly, she dragged him back into the mansion ballroom. Raoul and Erik were gone, but Isabelle and Katherine stood talking together quietly. There was this light to Katherine�s eyes, and it was obvious that her nervousness had finally faded away. �Mother! Look!� Allyriane rushed up to them, holding up her hand so that they could both see the ring at the same time. �Charles has asked me to marry him!� �What?� Isabelle asked, shocked. Her eyes widened, and she looked up to the young Vicomte in bewilderment. �Already?� �It couldn�t have come fast enough for me, Madame.� Charles smiled at her sheepishly. �I had your husbands� blessing to ask her tonight. I hope you don�t mind?� �No!� She laughed, shaking her head quickly. �No, I don�t mind at all, Charles. It�s just such a shock . . .� Katherine had already seized Allyriane�s hand, and was inspecting the ring closely. She obviously approved of the stone, even though she couldn�t have known it wasn�t a diamond. �Oh, Lyre!� She couldn�t help but squeal excitedly. �This means we�ll be sisters! This is wonderful!� �Isn�t it?� Allyriane agreed, smiling. After a moment, she looked about. �Where are father and Monsieur Raoul?� �They stepped out into the hall.� Isabelle frowned slightly, looking over her shoulder. �The Comte, apparently, had some words to exchange with your father. I wonder what could be wrong. He didn�t seem very pleased.� �Oh lord . . .� Charles grumbled, turning to his fianc�e, rolling his eyes in annoyance. �Excuse me, my dearest. I think I�d better check in on them, before my father does something foolish.� Turning, he walked from the room quickly, not realizing he was being followed by all three of the women. Just out in the hallway, Raoul was speaking in a low, furious voice to Erik, standing face-to-face with the other man. Erik seemed quite calm, by all outer appearances. As the Comte stood in his face, he merely watched him, and let the other man vent out his fury. � . . . Would have gladly finished you years ago had I known then!� Neither man noticed that their families had gathered nearby, watching them. Erik took in a long, deep breath, and then shook his head as though listening to a naughty child rant. �You didn�t know then because Christine didn�t wish you to know.� He stated. �Do you actually think I have old scores to settle with you? If that were so, Christine wouldn�t have let me remain in your lives. She would�ve let you run away with her. Not because she feared me, mind you, but simply to protect you. I have no scores to settle. She made her choice, and I accepted it. As you can see, I have made a life of my own, without her. I�m not here because of you, Monsieur le Comte. Coincidence drew us back together, through no fault of mine.� �No fault of yours!� Raoul spat scornfully. �Everything that you�ve ever done has to try and take something from me!� �I didn�t ask Charles and Allyriane to meet in school.� �You knew he was going to that school!� Raoul accused. �Father?� Raoul whirled to see Charles standing there, one arm about Allyriane�s waist. Just behind him stood Katherine and Isabelle, watching the two men with total incomprehension. Erik didn�t look phased by their presence, even though he hadn�t known they were there until Charles spoke up. He tugged on the ends of his overcoat as though to pull out wrinkles caused by a fight, and walked towards them a few feet. �Father? What is going on?� Charles demanded. �What kind of trouble are you trying to cause now? What is this all about?� �Nothing.� Erik said quietly, looking over his daughter momentarily, eyes filled with tenderness. �Oh . . . Lyre . . . what a beautiful ring.� Allyriane immediately forgot the scene she�d just witnessed, and stepped towards her father so that he might get a closer look at the beautiful stone she had on her finger. She smiled at him brilliantly. Even though Erik had already seen the ring that morning, he made it look as though he were inspecting it for the first time. He knew it would make her happy if he made a big deal out of it. �Father, I said yes.� She told him, grinning almost foolishly. Raoul approached, purposefully keeping out of arms reach of Erik. He too looked at the ring on Allyriane�s finger, before lifting his eyes to Charles. �You did this without consulting me?� His tone was accusing, scolding. Charles stared at his father in shock. He�d never imagined Raoul being so opposing to his proposal to her. He had seemed to be approving of their relationship the past couple of weeks. �How dare you, Charles! You had no right!� �I had every right!� Charles countered quickly. �I have a right to ask the young woman I love to marry me!� �Not considering who her father is!� Raoul said before he�d even thought about the consequences. Erik turned to glare at him, his eyes murderously furious. Yet he still seemed calm otherwise. �Does it matter?� He challenged in a low voice. �Monsieur le Comte, this is not about Charles asking the daughter of Erik G�nie to marry him. Their romance has nothing to do with who their parents are.� �That, Monsieur, I shall never believe!� Raoul was still adamant, and Allyriane was starting to look between the two men with tears standing in her eyes. Charles, seeing her confusion and hurt, put both of his arms around her, shielding her the only way he knew how. �Who is he?� Katherine asked from behind the young couple, just as confused. Raoul opened his mouth, yet Erik held up a hand that silenced him immediately. Erik still had that power, that presence. �Your father has been mislead about my identity for a great many years.� He told her softly. �It was a harmless lie which I thought would not disturb the relationship your brother has formed with my daughter. Apparently, however, he assumes that simply because I am . . . who I am . . . That my daughter is somehow condemned for being related to me.� He turned back to Raoul with narrowed eyes. �I am not the man I was twenty years ago.� He told him in a low, dangerous voice. �I have not once harmed another soul. Not once. I have played no tricks on anyone. I have not killed, or even deliberately brought someone pain. The mistakes I made in years past have been left in the past.� �Father, I don�t understand.� Allyriane insisted, moving to take his arm pleadingly. �Who are you?� �A fiendish monster!� Raoul burst out. �A murderer!� �Father!� Charles exclaimed. �He doesn�t have a violent bone in his body . . . as long as he isn�t provoked!� �Ah, well then I guess plenty provoked him when he wanted your mother!� Raoul exclaimed, not caring anymore what harm his words did to the families involved. �It�s only because of your mother that I�m alive today! This man was going to kill me!� �Yes.� Erik finally murmured. �Which you never did thank her for. I will not deny the things I did. I think my family would understand if I were able to explain everything to them. I can�t, however. I don�t even understand it all myself. Least of all the reason I look as I do today.� �Papa . . .� �Get out of my house.� Raoul growled at Erik threateningly. �Get away from my family! Take your Opera with you! Take your family with you! Get out!� �Father!� Charles shouted again, now just as angry as Raoul and were at one another. �You mean to steal love from someone else?� Erik asked, incredulous. �Monsieur, before you say another word, I suggest you remember what it felt like to have the woman you love torn from your arms by a man filled with rage and jealousy!� Raoul flinched for the first time. He looked briefly towards his son, who still had his arms tightly about Allyriane�s waist. There was a very long moment of silence, before he turned back to Erik. Slowly, he moved closer to his age-old enemy, and pointed an accusing finger at him. �You will leave my home tonight.� He hissed. �Take everything with you. Take your wife with you. I never want to see you again. I never want to hear from you again. I never want you near my son or daughter again.� Erik glanced towards Allyriane. Then, he turned back to Raoul. �If he is to be my son-in-law, I don�t see how I can keep from being near him when I visit my daughter, or they come to visit me.� �If you want them to be happy with one another, you will simply give her up. You did it once, I think you can give up someone else now.� �Father!� Charles pleaded. �I don�t understand what�s going on, but you�re being ridiculous! Forbidding a man to see his daughter! How would you feel if someone told you that you could not see Kat!� �This isn�t about Kat!� Raoul spat. �But it could be!� Charles countered. �Think about it, Father!� �Enough.� Erik said in a quiet, subdued voice. Somehow, his word still had the power to make everyone grow still. �I will leave, if you do not forbid my wife from keeping in contact with Lyre. If they ever have children, I will have just as much right to see their babies as you will.� �Don�t you ever touch another member of my family again.� Raoul demanded. �You will not speak to my family, including my son. You will not come in any contact with him. What your daughter does, I could care less, as long as you do not lay a finger on any children my son has with her.� �That is our business.� Charles said quickly. �Monsieur, you have every right to see your grandchildren. As I said . . .I don�t know what this is about . . . but you have never done harm to me, or my sister. We will visit you in Boston. Besides . . . Lyre and I will still be finishing school next year. We should remain engaged until after that time. She�ll remain with you until we�re married, as any proper couple would not live with one another until after they are wed.� �Charles, how dare you make that decision!� Raoul stared at his son; amazed he�d be so defiant. �Father, if you say another word about what I dare do, you had better be prepared to say good-bye.� Charles warned. �I won�t have Katherine living under these conditions. I won�t see my own sister tortured by your hatred for my fianc�e�s family. Not when she loves them as dearly as I do! She will go with me this time, no matter what you say, if you are going to continue tearing us apart with your anger!� Raoul stared at him still, paling. He seemed to be drained of his intense hatred. The threat had hit him hard. Katherine moved up to Charles, and put an arm about him and Allyriane gently. They both held her in return. Then, Charles looked to Isabelle, who stepped up beside them. �You�re finally learning the thing I did so many years ago.� Erik sighed. �You cannot control people with anger and hatred. You will lose it all if you try. But you haven�t lost it yet.� He looked to his wife and daughter. �I am going to leave tonight, as Monsieur insists.� He told them. �It is only a few hours earlier than I was meant to leave anyway. Stay for the rest of the summer. Enjoy yourselves.� He looked to Charles. �If your father should cause any pain to them . . . please bring them home to me. I�d rather you enjoy happiness than torment.� �Thank you, Monsieur.� Charles said hoarsely. �I think I�ll see you off.� Kissing Allyriane�s temple briefly, he released her, and Katherine, and followed Erik upstairs without looking back. @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}-- @-}� �I chose to have your sister sing the aria from my opera because I thought it was time your father finally know the truth about who I really was.� Erik explained once they were alone. �Don�t ask me to tell you. The story really is quite unbelievable, even to myself.� �Whatever happened in the past, Monsieur, is none of my business.� Charles offered. �What matters to me now, is the future. My father is a stubborn man, I know. But I will not let his stubbornness tear us all apart.� �Thank God for small favors.� Erik sighed. �Lyre would be heartbroken without you.� �She�d be completely lost without her father, too.� Charles countered. �Thank you for not taking out your past with my father on me. I love Lyre so much.� �That is why I did not keep her from seeing you.� Erik strained to smile. �I know that it will be unlikely you could let go of your father, just as it would be hard for Lyre to release her own family. Do not feel obligated to choose between us. This has nothing to do with our argument. This is between Lyre and yourself.� �I think I understand.� �No, I don�t think you do. Not yet.� Erik had finished packing his belongings, and picked them up. �You will someday. Just don�t let the things your father says prevent you from loving Lyre.� �I won�t. Nothing could keep me from loving her.� �Good.� Nodding, Erik reached out to touch his shoulder. �You�ve got a good head on your shoulders. You�re a good kid. Take care of yourself, and of my daughter.� �You know I will, Monsieur.� Charles smiled. �I�d never harm Lyre.� |