Author's Note:

Dear Readers,

I am sorry I haven't been on here lately. School and travels and then the holidays have rendered me almost completely useless on this site (seriously, how to college age people ever find the time when I, a highschooler, can't? If y'all have any ideas, please let me know.). But, I managed to squeeze out a pretty nice sized chapter which I hope you will enjoy! Also, it furthers the plot (for once...if I have one...).

Also, guess what? Oh, you'll never guess so I'll tell you. I'M GOING TO SEE THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA BROADWAY PLAY TOMORROW AFTERNOON IT'S STARRING CHRIS MANN AND I'M SO EXCITED I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF HELP ME I AM FREAKING OUT COMPLETELY AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO HELP HELP HELP HELP *weird screaming*!

sarahlet2999

P.S. Happy Thanksgiving to all of my readers! I hope you all enjoyed your days, feasting on the best food that the year generally provides! I did, must to my surprise. (Secret: I don't like my mother's family much. But, apparently some of them are nice. And, football isn't as bad as I always thought. Still confusing but it could be worse. Hahahaha!)

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Chapter 10:

Severely agitated by the Marquis's words, Candela hurried away from the park and hastened towards the home of Nadir Khan. It had been sometime since she had seen the Persian gentleman but she felt as if he was the only one who could possibly help her.

As she wended her way through the scattered groups of people that littered the streets, the maid fretted and even pushed a few tears aside. In her mind, it had all been planned. It would be so simple. The Marquis would court her, she would marry him, and her past would never become a part of it.

"I have been living a lie." She whispered, determining in her heart to fix something no matter the stab of fear. While she didn't love the Marquis, her heart hurt to think of shattering his. He had been nothing but good to her.

Pausing her quick step, she looked up at the common flat and quietly read the number in her head.

"This must be the place." With a confidence that was not her own, she stepped to the door and tapped with the knocker. All was silent within for a moment before the door was opened by a dark-skinned man, completely unknown to her.

"Yes, how may I help you?" He asked as he clasped his hands behind his back.

"I came here to speak to Signor Khan. He may or may not have spoken of me but I am a maid of a friend of his. I must speak with him as soon as possible." Candela caught herself twisting her fingers into the fine lace of her dress and stilled her fingers. The gentleman stepped out of the way and gestured for her to enter.

"If you will wait here for a moment, I shall inquire if he is available." He bowed low to her and disappeared into the dark flat, forsaking her near a few burnished candlesticks emitting their thin light. By the golden glow, she saw the walls were heavily decorated with tapestries and art of the far East. A small buck crouched near the doorway and peered up at her through empty glass eyes. Despite being faintly uncomfortable, she knelt before the mount and reached out, lightly stroking its black nose.

Nearly pure white, the buck was like nothing she had ever seen before or even read about. Small boned, the deer couldn't have stood more than three feet high when living and the head and antlers wouldn't have reached her shoulder.

Completely entranced by the buck, she didn't even notice as the servant returned and softly called her name. Jumping to her feet, she blushed and straightened her skirts.

"Yes. I'm sorry." He allowed the subject to drop and replied,

"Mr. Khan will see you now. If you will follow me...?" Candela nodded and scampered after the servant as he led her through the darkened hallways and towards one room where light poured from beneath the closed door. The servant lightly knocked before opening the door and stepping back, gesturing for her to enter. Taking a deep breath, she walked over the threshold and was greeted with wide open windows of the most exotic room she had ever seen.

Thick Persian carpets covered the floors, desks and bookshelves were carved of golden white and reddish wood, and books of other languages filled the room, littering the whole place. Yesterday's paper lay on the desk beside a letter opener and quill pens.

Yet, Candela had not come to visit the oddities of the room but the man who was approaching her with a smile covering his wrinkled face.

"Candela de la Vega! How good to see you! How have you been doing? I haven't heard from you in nearly three weeks. The night of the Opera?" Candela laughed and held out her hands which he gave a kindly squeeze to.

"You are correct, and I've been well."

"You haven't caught some illness from living in the cold and damp?" He inquired as he offered her a seat in front of his desk and he returned to his behind the article of furniture.

"No!" She laughed a little, lightening her heart from the heavy weights that had been pressing down on it. "I'm quite well. I bundle up a little but Signor Phantom always keeps the fires nice and warm. I have never had to worry about getting cold or sick."

"I'm glad to hear it. Now, might I ask why you're here? I hope nothing is wrong with Erik?" Candela shook her head and looked back down at her hands.

"I need help and I have no one else to turn to. I hope you don't mind..." Candela trailed off quietly only to have Nadir quickly speak up,

"I don't mind at all. We're friends and I'm willing to help you at any time."

"You are aware that the Marquis de Bonaire has been showering his attentions on me?" Nadir nodded and Candela continued,

"Our relationship is under false pretenses as he doesn't know I am a servant. He believes I am a middle-class woman living with my uncle. And, now he wishes to speak to my 'uncle' about courting me. The thing is, the man I have been keeping in mind as my 'uncle' is Signor Phantom. I never thought about him ever having to meet him. It should have crossed my mind but it never did.

"So, I need advice on whatever I am to do. I don't relish telling him the truth but if I must I will. Honestly, I don't what to do." Glancing upward at the Persian, her eyes burned with hope only to be greeted with a thoughtful frown. He rose from his seat and walked over to one of the windows and looked out at the street. For a long moment, he was silent before he turned to her.

"If you tell him, he will likely leave you in a moment. You're very charming and pretty and seemingly sharp but that's not enough to keep a marquis, even if he is a good man who loves you." She didn't bother to respond to this as it was quite true.

"Do you love him?" At this, Candela began to twist her fingers into the lace one more before shaking her head.

"I don't believe I do. I am fond of him and like his company but I don't believe I love him."

"You would marry him to secure your position?" His blunt statement cut her for a moment and she looked away him. Gold-digging wasn't her intention.

"I suppose that would be true. Signor Phantom won't live forever but by the time he is gone, I will be no good except for a servant for the rest of my life. I don't want to end like my mother. I want something more. Is that so wrong?"

"No, I suppose not. And, you did say you are fond of the Marquis. Marriage for money and position aren't uncommon and at least being partial to your partner is pleasant addition to arrangements. I do approve of your relationship as he is a good man. What you tell him and what you don't is for you to decide. But, I can't imagine what you need my help for."

"I need someone to play my uncle. I can't ask Signor Phantom." Nadir sighed softly as he looked at the torn girl before him. Once a maid in a large house with no one trying to vie for her attention and now, she was having to handle a relationship forbidden by all.

He pitied her situation.

"I'll play your uncle." Candela's eyes shot upward as she stared, flabbergasted, into his jade pupils.

"I...I...I don't know how to thank you, Signor Khan! I don't wish to be a problem – "

"No problem at all." He interrupted. "I do nothing all day. I think I can play a grouchy uncle for a few hours to secure the future of a friend. Now, tell me what all I need to know to play this correctly. As this may take a little while, would you consider staying for dinner?"

E-OC

As the last note rang through the scarlet bedchamber, Erik raised his masked head from the organ and listened intently. Not a sound disturbed the peace of the house. frowning, he rose from his bench and walked into the hallway and from there to the kitchen, calling out,

"Candela? Where are you?" Retrieving the pocket watch from his coat, he flicked it open and gasped at the time. The Spaniard should have been back long before the hands of the clock indicated. Scrambling to search the entirety of the small house, he quickly determined it to be empty.

Candela was missing.

Panicking, he grabbed his cloak, patting the hidden pocket to confirm that his lasso was present, and bolted out of the house, preferring the longer route around as he didn't trust his shaking limbs with the steering of the boat.

As he ascended the many steps and passages out of his dank hole, he forced himself not to fear the worst for his maid. Instead, he offered himself excuses, telling himself that perhaps she had shopping to do or that the Marquis had coaxed her into staying far longer than she had intended. None of them fit quite right but he stubbornly determined in his own mind she was well and alive.

"She must be alive." He whispered to himself as he surfaced and bolted into the first available shadow, scanning from its safety every passing pedestrian in the hopes of seeing his Spanish maid's kindly face. Blood running cold and fear twisting his mind, he began a thorough inspection of every byway which led towards the park she had told him of.

A half hour later, he arrived at the park and found it empty. A quick but complete investigation of every tree, bush, and bench proved unsuccessful and Erik progressed beyond panic, his breathing growing short and concentration breaking.

Grasping his chest, he sank down in the dark against a tree, his eyes fluttering close for a moment. His mind swam. For an instant, he thought he was about to lose consciousness. Shaking himself violently, he forced his eyes open and his overreacting brain locked onto one name.

"Nadir." Scrambling to his feet, he kicked up grass pieces as he ran towards Nadir's flat, his black cloak whipping behind him and leaving many of those he crossed with the feeling that the harbinger of death had passed them by.

E-OC

"Oh dear! I didn't see how dark it was getting! Erik will be wondering where I have been this whole afternoon." Candela quickly rose to her feet and drank down the last of her cup of coffee. The heat had warmed her stomach and her conversation and plans with Nadir left her greatly comforted.

"I understand." Nadir replied as he rose and walked around to her side of the table. "Shall I escort you home? It is dark and this weather isn't pleasant for walking such a long distance."

"Yes, that would be very nice." She replied with a kind smile and tugged her gloves onto her hands once more. "I should like an escort."

"If you would wait one moment in my study, I will send my servant to find one." She nodded politely and disappeared into his study to wait. Even after spending most of her afternoon there, the room held a certain fascination for her. After glancing over the books, her eyes were drawn towards the newspaper lying on his desk. Having not paid attention to it before, she hadn't noticed the headline which mentioned the Opera House.

NEW MANAGAMENT FOR THE OPERA HOUSE

Armand Moncharmin and Firmin Richard, the managers of the Paris Opera House, are turning over the reins of the magnificent structure after the incident with the Phantom of the Opera has left both with shattered nerves. Despite having managed for nearly a year past the last communication with the ghost, both managers have decided the trepidation about his possible reappearance is too much for them.

Candela gasped quietly but before she could continue reading the article, Nadir walked back in and said,

"So, you've found it." She nodded and set it down.

"Yes. I hadn't read yesterday's paper yet and apparently now I should have. What's going to happen? This could mean some bad things for Signor Phantom and I. Would the new management send down the police or the army after us?"

"I don't know." Nadir shrugged and offered his arm to her. "It could be bad." As they walked out of the door, an idea sprang to into Candela's mind and she quickly turned towards Nadir.

"What if Signor Phantom became the manager? Wasn't that what he did when he was the Phantom of the Opera? He wouldn't have to blackmail them anymore! It would give him something to do. He has some years left and he barely lives. That would give him an occupation." For a lone moment, Nadir's eyes lit up with the prospect but soon darkened.

"How could he? You know Erik won't show himself out of doors. He won't let anyone see him." Her insight quieted the maid for a moment before she produced an idea.

"He could find someone to be his face. Someone to take advice from him. I won't be around forever and I don't want him to left alone when I leave him."

"You must speak with – " Nadir's servant interrupted him right then, rapidly speaking of something in a foreign language. A second later, heavy footsteps thundered up the stairs and a musical shout followed as the black shadow appeared before them,

"Nadir! She's – " Time stood still for a second as all sound died away. Golden eyes locked with dark ones as both seemed equally surprised to see the other. Erik's heart caught in his throat as he viewed his maid, unharmed yet stunned, standing at the side of his friend.

The sight left him quite weak as the adrenaline drained from his system.

As his shock wore off, his fear turned to fury.

"What are you doing here? You said you would be back this afternoon!" Drawing herself to her full height, the Spanish maid lifted her nose towards the masked gentleman.

"I had a problem I needed to discuss with Signor Khan and he invited me to stay for dinner. As you usually forget about lunch and dinner, I didn't think you would notice my absence." Offended by his criticism, she released Nadir's arm and marched proudly up to him.

"Since you are here now, you may escort me home. We will discuss both our behaviors once our tempers have cooled." A determined scowl plastered over her face, she gathered her skirts and headed towards the stairs, passing by the simmering man.

"Oh, and I found a job for you. I think you will like." Her voice faded away as she breezed down the stairs. Pausing at the bottom, she glanced back up and snapped,

"Coming or not?"

An awkward moment passed a hot-faced ghost and his snickering friend before Erik hastened after the maid.