Chapter 19: My Greatest Victory

Hope lead Raoul to the highest level of Phantasma where she pulled down one of the candelabras, causing a secret door to slide open and the vicomte smirked,

"He always did have a thing for secret passages, didn't he?" he mocked before pushing her inside and followed as the door closed behind them.

Hope lead the vicomte up a winding staircase that had been hidden behind the secret door,

"Where are we?" Raoul demanded curiously,

"The Phantasma clock tower. Erik wanted to keep the diamond no one would think to look" Hope explained as they reached the top,

"So?... Where is it?" Raoul demanded firmly, pointing the gun at her and she moved towards the clock face before pushing a window open that had been installed should the clock hands ever need to be repaired and Raoul watched anxiously as Hope strained, reaching for something before carefully coming back inside but Raoul's expression of excitement became a frown at the size of the diamond that sat upon Hope's palm,

"What is that?" he growled,

"It's been cut overtime. Erik used the jewel to build Phantasma... This is all that is left" she admitted and Raoul took the tiny gem from Hope's hand, holding it between his thumb and fore finger,

"Do you think this tiny, measly little thing will pay off 10 years of gambling debts?" he demanded before throwing the it over his shoulder causing Hope to jump with fright,

"I'm sorry it was not what you were expecting but there is nothing else. The real jewel here... Is Phantasma itself. It is a place of peace and acceptance. Where people who are different can come and know they will be accepted" Hope said with a soft smile and Raoul rolled his eyes.

Erik looked around the crowd of the after party with a frown as he searched for Hope but couldn't find her anywhere but Nadir quickly, ran to his side,

"Erik, you've got to come quick. Your office has been ransacked" Nadir told him and Erik followed him quickly.

Raoul took a threatening step towards Hope,

"There is money here somewhere so you better tell me where it is" he warned but Hope shook her head,

"I don't know where Erik keeps his money. He alone has access to his accounts for security reasons" she told him and Raoul rolled his eyes once more,

"Oh please, you're his wife. You most definitely should have access... Oh wait. Now I remember. You're not his wife because why on earth would he look upon someone like you that way when he has always loved my wife. They conceived a son together and I don't know how you did it but you took away his monstrous features making it all the more easy for him to win Christine's heart" he mocked with a cruel smirk as he watched the girl before him hand her head sadly,

"Oh dear... Do you love him? A broken heart truly is a tragic thing isn't it? To love someone knowing they will never love you in return... Let Erik have Christine. They're both cold hearted and have no concern for anyone else's feelings" he told her as a tear fell down Hope's cheek,

"I'll let your beloved monster live and he and Christine can live the life they've always wanted with their son... Just give me what I want" he whispered into her ear with a smirk as he watched her look up at him slowly and there was silence for a moment,

"Never" she whispered causing Erik to frown which slowly became a glare and a loud bang echoed throughout the clock tower as another tear spilled down Hope's cheek.

Erik looked at his trashed office with frustration but he and Nadir looked up quickly having heard a loud bang,

"Was that a gunshot?" Nadir asked and Erik held a look of horror,

"The clocktower... Hope!" he yelled before rushing out of the room and Nadir was quick to follow.

Raoul backed away with a look of horror as Hope slowly slid down the side of the wall as she pressed her hand to her stomach,

"HOPE! NO!" Erik yelled as he reached the top of the staircase and he rushed to her side, holding her close as Nadir restrained Raoul,

"I... I'm sorry. It was never my intention to hurt you... She just... She made me angry and... The gun it went off in my hand" Raoul explained as Erik glared at him,

"I'll see you hung for this!" he yelled before looking back at Hope with an encouraging smile despite the tears that ran down his face,

"You're gonna be alright, Hope" he told her before looking at Nadir,

"Go and get help!" he demanded and Nadir, nodded before dragging Raoul away.

Hope struggled to breathe as she looked up at Erik,

"I... I'm sorry" she whispered but Erik shook his head with a sad smile,

"Shhhhh it's alright. Why did you bring him up here?" he asked as he applied pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding,

"He... He wanted the diamond... I couldn't let him get it so... I hoped if I lead him to some place of high security and give him the diamond from my ring... It might just make him leave" she said with a wince,

"The diamond is safe... And so are you Erik. In my eyes, that's a victory" she whispered with a pained smile as tears rolled down her cheeks,

"Not if you die" he whispered back, resting his forehead against her own, closing his eyes tightly,

"I die happy knowing that you can finally get your happy ending with Christine... She's always loved you Erik. Raoul told me" Hope said softly but Erik shook his head,

"But I do not love her... She is not my happy ending. You... You are my happy ending" he whispered causing her to look at him surprised,

"Well you have the perfect timing. Telling me what I want to hear as I'm dying. Thanks for that" she teased with pained laughter and Erik gave a strained chuckle,

"My apologies... You're going to be fine. Doctor Gangle will be here soon and then... We can begin that happy ending" he told her softly as Hope smiled up at him weakly before shaking her head slowly,

"I'm sorry, Erik... I think our happy ending is still a while away... But I shall wait for you in heaven and I shall watch over you always" she whispered, watching as Erik shook his head as more tears fell,

"No. No I can't lose you again, Hope... Please" he begged in a whisper but Hope simply kept a soft smile upon her face,

"As long as you hold hope in your heart... You'll never lose me" she whispered,

"No..." Erik murmured,

"Just kiss me you idiot" she teased and Erik couldn't help but give a sad chuckle as he leant down, pressing a kiss to her lips and she happily returned.

Erik pulled away, hearing footsteps coming up the staircase and he looked relieved,

"Doctor Gangle is here, Hope. You're going to be fine" he said with a smile, looking back at Hope but his smile slowly vanished as he looked upon the still woman in his arms with her eyes closed peacefully,

"Hope?..." he called gently, lifting her up slight and watched as her arm fell from her lap limply,

"No..." he murmured as another tear fell down his cheek as his face glowed for a moment and his smooth handsome features became mangled on one side of his face as his disfigurement returned,

"NO!" he yelled as he pulled Hope's body into an embrace and sobbed into her shoulder as Nadir and Gangle looked down in silent mourning.

Hope had been dressed in a stunning white gown and laid on her bed as Erik sat beside her,

"Erik?... Raoul's been arrested and... Well he's certainly going away for a long time but... I wanted to let you know that we've called for the undertaker" Nadir told his friend sadly but Erik didn't look away from Hope's peaceful face,

"I want to be left alone with her" he said in a murmur and Nadir nodded before leading Madame Giry and a tearful Meg out of the room.

Erik stood from his chair before leaning over, Hope with a sad expression,

"Wake up" he whispered, allowing a tear to fall when she didn't respond and he took a shuddered breath as he slowly pulled away from her and sat back in his chair,

"It's always been you, Hope" he whispered,

"It's always been you" he said, trying to hold back tears as he took another deep breath,

"I... I wrote this for you" He said, pulling a piece of paper from his suit pocket,

"I... I had hoped to ask you to be my wife... My true wife one day but... I still want to make my vow to you if you will allow me" he whispered, unfolding the piece of paper and cleared his throat,

"I did not have hope until I found you. I did not find hope until we met. You gave me courage, you gave me life. You gave me Hope for that is your name.

From this day on I give you my heart, I give you my strength, I give you my love... I will share the hope you have given to me.

I promise to love, listen and care. My heart shall always be yours. Every smile, every laugh, every song I make is yours" Erik whispered before standing, placing the paper on the bedside table and he leaned over Hope once more,

"I love you, Hope" he whispered, pressing his lips to her own in a soft kiss before reluctantly pulling away and began to leave, not noticing how a tear fell down Hope's cheek,

"I love you too" Erik heard a voice whisper and he turned slowly, rushing over to her and cupped her cheek, smiling brightly as he watched Hope open her eyes,

"Hi" she whispered as she watched tears fall down his disfigured cheek,

"Now that's the face of the Erik I love" she whispered causing Erik to give a tearful chuckle,

"How..." he tried,

"I guess true love's kiss doesn't just happen in fairy tales" she whispered and Erik chuckled, smiling brightly as they both shared a passionate kiss.

I had you going for a minuet or two there didn't I? haha I hope you all enjoyed 'Hope's Fair Call'

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996