Return

As he left for the night, I stared at the ring. It was a rare beauty, and he

must have spent a small fortune to acquire it. I slipped it on my finger, not

the left like I wanted, but the right, and stared at it in wonder until my eyes

slowly closed into darkness.



I awoke with a pounding upon my door. I rubbed my eyes which still blurred with

sleep. I grabbed my robe and tied it about my waist. A small maid was waiting

there with a note. She curtsied before me as she placed it in my hand and spoke

softly, "I am sorry, Madamosille Garet, but this note has arrived for you and

Madam Giry told me to bring it to you straight away."



She left and ran from the room. I looked at with contempt. I wanted to burn

it. If he knew who had sent it, he would surely invade its contents.



I opened it carefully and sat upon my dressing table as I began to read its

contents.



. . . . . .



Dear Madamosille Garet,



News of your recent purchase of the opera house has been spoken to me. I wanted

to congratulate you on your ownership and would like for you to consider us as

patrons. My wife would also have it known that she would love to meet with you

and discuss a lead role of an opera of your choosing. She has longed for the

stage and we have come to the conclusion that it would bring life to a once dead

place. Please consider our requests with haste. We humbly wait for your reply.



Vicomte De Chagny



. . . . . .



I felt the sickness returning. Why had she decided to come now? I crushed the

letter in my hands and was moving it towards the candle when my hand was grabbed

forcefully. I spun around and saw the eyes of a madman. He snatched it from my

hand and looked upon me with disgust.



"So you have a suitor, and you wish to burn it so I will not know."



I grabbed for the letter and screamed at him. "It is not yours! Give it back

to me!"



He then pushed me down hard and opened the paper. As he began reading its

content, his anger only grew more severe. He dropped the letter and wrapped his

hands around my throat. I felt the power of his hands and I was losing my grip

on reality until he stopped, the air kept from coming returning into my person.



His words were spat, "You dare to hide this from me, you lowly whore. After all

that I have done for you. It ends now, do you hear me. You write them back or

I will tell everyone of your affairs. I will also let them know of your past.

That you are a wanted women in America." I grabbed at his hands. I was dying,

I could feel it, and I was about to give up hope when he threw me roughly to the

ground. I cried to him as he was walking away, "Erik, please don’t go, I am

sorry, don't do this!"



He looked back at her and hissed, "You are my whore and nothing more. I pitied

you. That’s why I gave you the ring. It was bait that made you easier to bed.

I have no use for you now. I am ready for a new conquest, and you are of no use

to me anymore… I know of plenty of gentleman who would love a mistress in these

parts, especially one so willing to please."



He walked towards the mirror and I grabbed the small pistol I had kept in my

drawer. I shook as I held it, the tears hot upon my face. I placed it upon my

head and looked at him one last time. I cried out to him, "I love you!" Then I

pulled the trigger and all went dark.