The Phantom Ascending |✔| [Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction]

End Game

"I cannot go. I feel sick," I told Erik as we were about to enter La Fenice. He paused and lowered his head to look me in the eyes.

"To confess, so do I, but it's time to end this nightmare. Still, if you don't wish to go, I will return you to the care of our gondolier, and he will take you someplace safe. You don't have to do this."

"No. I will stay with you."

"You are brave, my angel," he smiled at me. His bright blue eyes sparkled, and I read so much emotion in them. It broke my heart.

He nodded for us to continue, and I took his arm, ready to join the crowd. Erik was already wearing his disguise -- a large black mask paired with the heavy make up and a brown wig. It successfully concealed his deformity. He was also wearing a long black cloak with a large hood which he tossed over his head once we entered.

I handed in our invitation, greeted the familiar ticket seller,  and pulled out a single red rose from a basket. It was silly being a guest at the place where I usually worked, but it was also fun... Or it would be, if I didn't know what was to happen tonight.

I lowered my eyes to see a black ribbon tied around my rose's stem. I looked at the other ladies, but only my rose had such a decoration.

"How did you..."

"I have my ways," Erik smiled, lifting my spirits a little.

The Teatro was selling black, hooded cloaks as an optional addition to disguise, and many men bought them, while some, like Erik, arrived already masked. It made it easier to hide, and I wondered if our enemy was somewhere nearby, observing us.

"Venetians take their masquerades seriously," I whispered to keep my mind off darker things.

"Of course. I told you this will happen. They jumped at the first chance to play, now that the somber Lent has passed," Erik said.

"Is that how you convinced the management to do it?"

"A few well-placed words can do wonders... The idea to have the male visitors masked was anything but my own," he smirked, then hid his face deeper within the hood.

I liked him like this, confident and at ease... Of course, the latter was merely an illusion. His arm's muscles were tense beneath my fingers, and his alertness made me even more nervous. Oh, God, help me. How will I do this? I felt sick with indecision and fear.

What Teggio demanded of me was so very simple, and yet so difficult to do. There was still time to confess every detail to Erik, but I was afraid of the consequences.

I wasn't a fool to keep everything a secret, and I had told Erik of the visit, but acted calmly, downplaying how much it upset me, because I didn't want him to lose control and do something rash.

Erik, Teggio knows who you are. He was here to tell me that I am safe, and to announce his vengeance on you. He wants me to sing at the gala. He wants to provoke you... You must not worry about me. -- I had said.

I did not tell him that Teggio gave me a choice -- if I myself can destroy Erik, he will let him live. He wanted Erik's suffering even more than he wanted his death.

It was a torturous choice: I could believe that Erik will outplay our enemy, and do nothing, or I could play it safe to spare my love's life, but then I would be signing a surrender even before we have a chance to fight. Either way, I could end up regretting my choice forever.