Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

III.

Erik was not pleased at all to find Zuri chatting pleasantly with Madame Giry the

next morning. He was not happy with this intruder in his domain. She was annoying

and stubborn, he could tell that much already. She would pay for her impudence. He

would show her what the Opera Ghost was all about. She wanted to know him, then she

would regret coming to the opera house.

xxxx

Later that night, Zuri waited in her nightgown for the Opera Ghost to appear. She

knew that he would be displeased with her for not leaving, but she did not intend to

leave until she had her interview. She would be firm and unyielding. "Who do you

think you are?" His voice echoed in her room. "You dare disobey me!"

"Last I heard monsieur, I did not obey you." She returned as he showed himself to

her. He did not bother to blow out the candles. Her eyes took in his visage for the

first time. He was clothed in all black clothing with a large cloak covering his

shoulders. On his face was a white half-mask. He was tall and she was unsure but she

thought he had a good amount of muscle beneath that black outfit of his. His eyes

were a golden amber hue and were most striking.

"I want to be left alone and you will leave me alone mademoiselle." He told her as

he strode to the bed.

She stood from the bed and suddenly realized that he could see her through her thin

gown. "I want to interview you. You will not deter me."

"You are an annoying chit mademoiselle!" He growled loudly as he grasped her wrist

in his strong hand. She winced from the pain of his hand on her wrist. "I can see

why no man has yet to marry you. You are too stubborn for a wife and too annoying as

well!"

"What does that have to do with anything? You are changing the subject monsieur!"

She shouted at him as she tried to pull away from him.

He released her and began to stalk around the room. "Mademoiselle...we are in a

predicament." He spoke after several minutes of silence. He turned around to face

her, his body rigid and tall. "You want an interview and I want peace from your

incessant nagging."

"Yes." Zuri said breathily.

"Therefore, I propose a wager, a bet of some sorts." He responded as he looked at

her with molten amber eyes. A smile upturned his lips as he continued, "If I cannot

get you to leave by the end of your stay, then I will give you your stupid

interview."

Zuri looked at him with a smile, she felt a kind of hope flood her body. "Thank

you."

He held his hand up, "I'm not finished. The catch, mademoiselle, there is always a

catch. You may choose to leave tomorrow or stay and I will make you leave in any

means I deem necessary."

She gulped loudly as she tried not to imagine the things he could do to her. "What

do you mean?"

He grinned at her, "You will find out sooner or later. Most likely sooner."

"And what if I win? What if I can withstand your means to shove me away?"

"Then I will give you an interview, but this means that you cannot yield to me in

any way." He responded while watching her reaction.

"Fine. I will not yield to you monsieur."

He laughed, his voice musical and rich, "We shall see mademoiselle. We shall see."