Phoenix

 

“The nerve of that Persian!” Martine seethed as he danced her away. “Could he not see how unhappy you were? It was clear as day! I have half a mind to go and exchange words with him!”

“Please don't!” Meg begged. “He is the owner of the opera!”

“That does not give him the right to put his filthy hands all over my lady!” He spat.

“He is from the East. Their customs are probably different than ours!” She insisted with a squeeze of his hand. “Please, do not make a fuss. I am fine.”

Martine's anger seemed to fade a bit. “Well... he can speak like a Frenchman, so it is about time he learned to act like one.”

Meg worried that by the end of the night, the two would be at each others' throats. As Martine spun her under his arm, she searched for Erik in the crowd. What she saw instead made her heart sink.

One of the dancers stood whispering into another dancer's ear. Meg had a terrible suspicion that Leanna was in the midst of getting a painful update. The second girl pulled off her mask, as if she was no longer in the mood for festivities. Just as Meg suspected, it was Leanna. For a fleeting second, their eyes met from across the room, before Leanna turned on her heels and ran out of the main hall. Meg cursed to herself before running after her, leaving Martine standing clueless on the dance floor.

Meg searched room after room, trying to figure out where she had gone. She finally found her in the bedroom designated to the lead dancer. The door was open, and Leanna was haphazardly throwing her belongings into a large trunk. Meg stood in the doorway, unsure of what to say.

“I'm... sorry. She stammered. “You don't have to move out. You can keep the room if you want.”

Leanna let out a heavy sigh as she closed the trunk and plopped down on top of it. “No, you should have it. You've earned it.”

Meg was relieved to be met with something other than anger. She sat down next to Leanna, taking her hands. “Really, I don't mind if you want to stay...”

Leanna looked at her with sad eyes. “That is very kind, but no. I have been expecting this since before the opera closed. It should have been yours even then.” She gave Meg a sly smile. “But can you blame me for wanting to hold on to it a bit longer?”

“No.” Answered Meg quietly.

The sound of running echoed down the empty hall. Meg turned to see Martine nearly sprint past the open door. Both women jumped to their feet as he skidded to a stop.

“There you are!” He said. “Where did you run off to in such a hurry?”

“I can explain later.” Meg dismissed, watching as Leanna began to try and drag the enormous trunk away; making an inch-worth of progress with every tug. “Would you mind terribly helping with her luggage?”

Martine glanced back and forth between the girls with confusion before giving a nod. “Of course.”

He tried to pick it up, but had little success. “My god, woman! Is it filled with bricks?” After a few attempts, he relented and simply drug it out the door. Meg sat down on the edge of the bed with a sigh, removing her mask and setting it on the nightstand. She knew it would be difficult trying to fall asleep without the sound of the other girls around. She'd only ever slept alone a few times in her life, and they were sleepless nights.

Soon she heard Martine return. Closing the door behind him, he wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow. “I have met grown men that weigh less than that trunk.” He said, sitting down on the bed next to her. “Leanna told me that this is your room now.”

“It is.” Meg admitted as she glanced around. “It is very... big.”

“You will grow accustomed to it soon enough.” He assured her, cupping her cheek with his palm and running his thumb over her mouth. With his mask still on, it was all too easy for her to pretend that he was someone else. “Besides, now we have somewhere to be alone.”

Hungry lips replaced the thumb as Martine's hand moved to lace around the back of her neck, forcefully pulling her to him. The intimacy was inviting after such a long evening, and Meg found herself returning the affection. His hands moved down her arms before finding purchase around her ribcage, urging her deeper into their embrace. He began to kiss down her neck, teeth nipping at her skin as he went.

As she turned her head to expose her neck, her eyes fell on the full-length mirror mounted to the wall. Images of the Phantom standing just behind it danced in her mind. A gasp escaped her as she realized what she was doing. She tore herself away, jumping off the bed.

“What's wrong?” He asked.

“I'm sorry, but this is not what I want.” She told him, wrapping her arms around herself.

He looked at her with confusion. “Have I done something to offend?”

“No.” Meg assured him. “You have not offended me. But... I have come to realize that my heart lies elsewhere. I'm sorry, but I cannot see you any more.”

Martine went painfully silent. Several times his mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. Finally he found the words.

“After all this time? After all I've given you?”

“I'm sorry!” Meg pleaded apologetically. “I had no intentions of leading you astray.” The last thing she wanted to do was hurt him, but knew it would be worse the longer she waited. “Please, forgive me!” She pleaded, tears of guilt threatening to spill over. To her surprise, he lept off the bed, encapsulating her in his arms.

“Shhh, its alright.” He soothed, hugging her close. “I understand.”

For a spit second, Meg doubted her decision to send him away. She looked up at him, searching his face. He smiled down at her, but there was something in that smile made her uneasy.

“You do?” She asked.

“Yes, of course I understand.” He said with a soft chuckle, his arms growing rigid as steel around her. “I just don't care.”

Meg's brow furrowed as the sickly feeling in her stomach turned into panic. She struggled in an effort to break their embrace, but he only held her tighter.