The Perfect Solution
An Alternate Universe – Phantom of the Opera Story
Nyasia A. Maire
© 2007
DISCLAIMER: I do not hold the rights nor did I create any characters found in The Phantom of the Opera or Phantom, nor have I received monetary compensation for writing this story.
Masquerade!
Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade ...
Masquerade!
Hide your face,
so the world will
never find you!
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade ...
Masquerade!
Look around -
there's another
mask behind you!
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Chapter One – All the Masks Burning!
Masks haunted his dreams.
Sitting up drenched in sweat after another night spent wrapped within the dark embrace of the same nightmare, he leaned his head into his hands and wanted to let go. He wanted to give in to the insanity that seemed to hover just around the next corner, whispering seductively to him to come, come lose himself in the loving embrace of madness. He could not understand why he dreamt of the masks. He had not worn one since he was nine years old.
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
He remembered that night clearly.
His mother had come into his room and sat down on his bed. She had touched him, something she usually avoided. She placed her hand on his shoulder and gently shook him.
"Erik. Wake up. Please? We need to talk …."
Her voice changed that night. There was a strength in it that had not been there, a resolve previously unknown to either one of them before that night. She looked straight into his eyes and the coldness that had always been there was no more. The icy blue eyes of his mother were gone. From that night on, her eyes became the warm blue of a clear, sunny spring sky. He knew that she no longer hated him. He could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes, but the fire she lit that night truly convinced him of her transformation.
She sat on the side of his bed and told him how things needed to change. He had been half asleep and most of her words had not penetrated his young mind. He was so astounded that she was in his room, sitting next to him on his bed and talking to him. She seemed … happy. During their talk, she had a sudden epiphany and became giddy as a schoolgirl. She had taken him by the hand and led him to the fireplace in the living room. After building a cozy fire, she turned to him. She looked into his eyes and he saw something there that he had never seen before, but he was not altogether certain what the look meant. He did know one thing, the look made him feel good inside. The look made him feel how he thought he would feel if she hugged him.
"Erik, would you please run upstairs and gather all of your masks then bring them to me? I will check the laundry for any that might be there. Hurry now and I'll meet you here in a few minutes."
If he had not seen the look in her eyes, he would have been afraid. However, he had seen the look and instead of fear, he felt … joy?
The mother and son met before the fire, holding an odd assortment of cloth masks. His brilliant green eyes met hers. She smiled at him, turned towards the fire and threw the masks she held into the flames.
He hugged the masks in his arms tightly to his thin chest and stepped back from her, his eyes wide with shock. She turned back to him and held out her hands.
"There! There! It is all right, my son. Please, give me the masks. As of tonight, you and I both no longer need to wear one."
She smiled and gave him a nod of encouragement.
"Truly, Erik, from now on everything is going to be as it should. Please, Erik. I need you to give your masks to me. Please? You do not need the masks. I was the one that needed them, but I was wrong. I am so very sorry."
Trembling, he took a step forward and held them out to her.
Gratefully, she bent down and accepted them from him.
She paused, a sudden idea striking her.
"Would you like to throw them into the fire?"
He took a half-step back and stopped. He cocked his head to one side as he considered the shocking and yet, somehow exciting suggestion. After giving his mother's words careful consideration, he gave a nod that not only shook his head, but his entire frail body. His mother chuckled and returned the small bundle to him.
"You like that, eh?"
Again, he vigorously nodded and this time, a wide grin spread across his lips.
"Well, then … after I give the obligatory motherly warning of not getting too near the fire, cast away!"
He turned and after giving the hated masks one more glance, he tossed them into the fire.
His mother moved to his side and then knelt down next to her son. They watched the bits of cloth burn and after a moment, she wrapped her arm around his thin shoulder. His rigid body softened and then, tentatively, he leaned his head against her shoulder. As the last bits blackened and curled into ash, his mother quietly spoke.
"Would it be all right with you if I gave you a belated birthday present?"
"Of course, Mother …."
Before he could ask her what it was, she pulled him hard against her and gave him his first hug. Too stunned to react, Erik simply stood there. After a time, she pulled back from him slightly, he saw that although tears streamed down her cheeks, her face shone with a radiant smile. She leaned down and lovingly bestowed upon her son his very first kiss. Erik felt faint as her lips pressed against the marred skin of his cheek.
"And, to think I intended to run away in the morning!"
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
That had been a new beginning for the two of them. She was no longer afraid of what the neighbors would think or say and she no longer confined him to the house. While, never socially accepted by the townspeople, it seemed that removing the mask from his face had removed the mystery from him. Gradually, the townspeople accepted his presence by ignoring him.
He had three loves in his life – his mother, his music and his architecture.
After studying at home with private tutors, his mother announced on his 16th birthday that she had sent applications to the Paris Conservatoire and to the Politecnico di Milano. She informed him that as both institutions accepted his application, her birthday present to him was the choice of which institution he attended. He could either study music in Paris or architecture and engineering in Milan, Italy. He agonized over his decision for weeks. While he wanted to travel and see the world, he did not wish to leave his mother alone. He loved music and Paris was closer to his mother, but he was still a young man of 16 years and he longed to see the wonders of Roman architecture first hand. After all, could he earn a living with a degree in music? He knew a degree in architecture and engineering would guarantee he would always be able to find work. Perhaps, he would even be able to establish his own firm. Still, he hesitated and the days flew past.
At last, his mother sensed the source of his indecision. She assured him that she would be just fine and that she trusted him to make the right decision for the both of them.
He chose Italy.
♥ ♫ ♥ ♫ ♥
Now, fourteen years later, he was the proud proprietor of Destler Design and had a staff of ten working for him. His house designs were highly prized by the members of Parisian nobility and his company backlogged with an over abundance of projects for the next three years.
Erik Destler had a prestigious reputation and wealth. He had all a man could ever want. He had everything, but for one little thing. Well, he had everything, but for two small things, which for a man such as him, were in all actuality, huge things.
Love and music.
And every night he awoke from the dream, which at the same time offered and denied him both.
And, it was driving him mad.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: My apologies to the Leroux purists. I am using the 2004 movie as the basis for Erik Destler's appearance. This story is a "What if?" based on "Madeleine's Chapter" from the novel, "Phantom" by Susan Kay.