Okay. Bit of an unintentional hiatus there. See, I'm kinda really pregnant and it tends to cut into your online life, hehe. But here's another little installment. Hope you enjoy.
Ann growled and stormed about and drank a glass of brandy. None of it helped.
Erik was driving her mad.
In the sitting room Giry snatched up a piece of paper and pen and took a long deep breath before beginning her letter.
VVV
My dearest Daughter
Your Uncle Erik is driving me mad! I am sure that when you finally do visit you will wish to place me in an institution. I understand that he has been hurt greatly by the rejection of this lady who's attentions he was seeking but I do not think he has any right to take that out on me! I am sorry my dear, I am ranting.
How is Paris now? Have they started to rebuild? I am sure that with a little work the Opera House will be back to its old form. After all, the company has always been strong and, Phantom or no, we have never been closed down for long.
I will write again soon, I promise. And then we will try to find you time to visit. It may not be in the next few months but certainly soon. I do so miss you now dear. Please take care of yourself. And also do send any news of Christine. I know I should write her but do not have the address.
Mama
VVV
Ann sealed the letter up with a sigh and laid it on the table. She truly did wish Meg could come and see her. But with Erik there, it was just not possible. He would no doubt up and leave the second he knew she was on her way. Stubborn, impossible and exasperating man!
…
Up in his attic, Erik was raging. He kicked one of the empty boxes that littered the unused corner of his room and then swore as he hurt his foot.
What was Ann thinking?! A girl in the house? A blind girl? Foolishness! She would be all cheerful and smiles and trying to do things she couldn't. Idiocy. Ann Giry was a stupid woman. He wasn't going to put up with it and she would just have to deal with that or watch him leave. And he would leave.
He wasn't afraid of leaving, Erik told himself. It was just a matter of going out the door, walking down the road, finding a new life… It was easy to leave. Easy.
He sighed.
Who was he kidding? He couldn't leave. He was afraid. Scared of the world. He knew that. That was why he hid. That was why he built up his own little kingdom in the Opera House where he had the ultimate power. And now he was away from that power and starting to feel vulnerable and yes, even frightened again.
If someone knocked on Ann's door she would be impolite not to invite them in. And then he was at the mercy of her quick thinking. Granted, Ann was a quick thinker but that didn't mean her thoughts were always the best ones. Sometimes she did stupid things on the spur of the moment (like hire blind maids) and Erik was stuck with that. If he wanted to leave he had to face the world and his fears. Alone. Or he could stay and try to deal with whatever came his way. At least he had Ann, silly woman though she was.
Erik sat down on his bed and yanked off his boot to rub his sore toes.
"How do you get yourself into these messes Erik? Hmm? You're a fool, you know that? Trust her so easily. You should have left on your own. Shouldn't have let the stupid girl get herself involved again… What are you thinking?! She isn't a little girl anymore Erik. She's a grown woman and gets herself into these things perfectly well on her own. Now stop talking to yourself…"
He lay back on his bed and pondered this new development. A blind maid. What a ridiculous thought. And Ann was probably thinking this girl would help him, make him see that people could like him 'just for who he was'. Well, she had another thing coming. Seeing or not, Erik knew full well that he and the girl wouldn't be able to get along. His face wasn't the only hideous thing about him.