Return

Weeks had passed since the Phantom had come to Imbri. She had not seen or heard

from him. She began sleeping in the dormitories so that she would have the

constant distraction. She knew he would not be amused, but she was very afraid

of him.



Imbri gazed out of the window and those thoughts came into her mind. I know

he thinks I belong to him. He did capture my soul. I freely invited him in not

knowing the reason why.



She pressed her hand to her chest. His touch, she thought, Oh why did he

effect me so much? He was all she thought about and she would wake at night

wanting his embrace. She knew how improper it was. It had not gone too far.

If only she could stop thinking of him.



Everything she touched sent images in her mind of him lurking in the shadows,

watching and waiting. Her gift was her curse as everything in the opera house

had his touch upon it.



She shook her head and wondered if he had even a name. He hadn't even told her

that. She had a lover and the only name that she could call him was

Phantom. She realized that was part of his plan.



Her thoughts rambled on. Was this his plan, to seduce? She would have

allowed his influence. She knew that this was not some sort of blackmail. This

was a physical need.



Suddenly a hand was on her shoulder and it made her jump.



She turned to see a blond girl smiling. The blond girl proceeded to speak,

"Hello Mademoiselle Garet. My mother wishes to speak with you."



I smiled back at her. "Please Meg, call me Imbri."



"Oh yes, Imbri."



We walked in silence and she then spoke, "It is so wonderful that you will bring

this place back. I only wish that it never happened."



"As do I Meg, but in all honesty, I wish Christine would have seen that he was

just desperate for her love and it has a way of enraging people." I knew I

spoke too much as the look on her face told me so.



"Imbri, forgive me, but what would you know of this? He tried to kill Raoul and

almost enslaved my best friend."



"I am sorry, Meg. I tend to say my thoughts and I apologize."



The rest of the way was in silence. Well, here is one I will not be close

with.



As we turned the corner to the stage area, I saw Madame Giry standing to the

side holding a similar letter to the one I had received. She saw me and began

walking towards me. Once she was in front of me, she grasped my hand and

excused Meg.



Madame Giry proceeded to pull me to the backstage area.



She looked nervous. She looked about the room. Then she told me to sit.



I sat upon a large bench as requested, and Madame Giry started to leave, but

turned to see me standing again.



"I suggest that you sit, Mademoiselle Garet."



I only nodded as I sat back down once more.



I looked at my hands trying to steady them, wondering why, or for what I had

been led here.



"Well, my sweet, you are exceptionally hard to get alone. I am very

disappointed that you would avoid me." His words were hissed.



My skin began to crawl as he was very angry. I stood wanting to at least fight.



"I will do as I like, Monsieur, you do not own me."



"Truly, but my *vermei , let us not delay the reason I am here."



He held his hand out and I looked at it. Surely he was mad! I would not go

willingly towards him.



He stood with his hand outstretched, and seeing my stance unchanged, he walked

over to me, his eyes blazing. He grabbed my arms and pressed me against him,

crushing his face in my hair and allowing the embrace to set fully before

speaking.



"You will be mine. In your mind, you have seen us become one. I am tired of

these games."



He then pulled me along with him, his gloved hand over my mouth, and we

disappeared inside a wall that moved beneath his touch.



He stopped just inside the walkway and pressed me up against the wall. He

removed his hand.



I looked at him. "You cannot do this. They will know I am missing. I must

return," I replied shakily



"Madame Giry has assured them that you went on a **vacance. You will now be in

my bed ***par semaine."









* A vision (Red Rose)

** French word that means "vacation/holiday"

*** …for a week