Beta - Shadows of Sephiroth

Nadir

I stood out side of the opera house stamping my feet in a vain attempt to stay warm. Winter's icy finger tips had caught around Paris, so the days were getting colder and darker.

The Viscount was late. I had come to meet him there per his request. If he wasn't so insistent that we go to the House on the Lake again to look for clues, I would have gone home to my nice warm flat.

It had been 3 months with no sine of Christine or Erik. One month after there wedding Christine stopped showing up for rehearsals at the opera. At the time I thought Erik just wanted to have the girl to himself for a little while. After a month without seeing or hearing from them I grew concerned. It was unlike Erik to let the opera house go so long without Christine's voice gracing the stage.

Against my better judgment, I ventured down to the lake. On the way I made shore to trip as many alarms as possible, so as to announce my presents. When I got to the lake, I sat down on the dock to wait for Erik, my grumpy welcoming committee. After half an hour he did not appear. I saw that the boat was on my side of the lake from what I could tell it had not been used in some time.

This was to strange, so I stepped into the boat and rowed myself over to the other side. I reached the opposite shore without encountering the Siren. This only served to deepen my concern. It is so unlike my Erik to let anyone - even me - get this close to his house.

It took me half of an hour to find the door of Erik's house. When I did find it I walked in with my hand up to prevent from being strangled. The noose never came. Looking around the room I could not believe what I saw. Every thing inside was cover in a thick coat of dust. No one had been in the house for a long time. Most confounding of all was that if it wasn't for the dirt I would think I had just missed them. Their cloaks were gone but two half empty cups of tea sat on the table. I searched the dwelling and found both closets full. It was finding all of Erik's music still on his organ convinced me that they left with the full intention of coming back.

I immediately sent a letter to Raoul de Chagny, hoping he had heard from Christine. It was a long shot but I had to try. I was invited to his city home the next day. He received me in the study of the largest town house I had ever seen. I told him of my concerns about the whereabouts of his former fiancée. I never knew on what terms the two parted on, but if I wanted to find Erik and Christine soon I would need his money and power.

He demanded I let him help me find them. Telling me that even though Christine broke there engagement, she was still a dear friend. So we began the search.

In two months we turned up nothing. All hope seemed lost.