Ascent to Power

Erik Meets his Match, his Destiny?

Katherine seeing the man with the mask she assumed he was some sort of criminal. Perhaps someone who had already accosted Raoul at some point as he seemed to know the man. Judging by the hatred in each man's voice it was not a pleasant reunion. Seeing the masked man's hand pulling out some sort of thin wire from an inner pocket she reacted before thinking of any consequences. She rushed forward shoving her shoulder into the man's midsection. If Erik had been expecting such a reaction there would have been no way Katherine could have taken him down as she did. Erik fell backwards taking the woman down with him as he landed with a bone jarring thump on the floor. In a tangle of legs and women's skirts Erik fought to disentangle himself.

Katherine had not given any thought to the fact that it was most unseemly for a woman to behave in such a manner. For her it was a case of seeing potential danger to someone she cared about and reacting accordingly to that threat. As Matthew had taught her she had taken down her foe in one rush of a powerful hit to his midsection. In this method you got your opponent on the ground while knocking the air from his lungs, giving you time to get the upper hand. When one did not have a weapon one improvised.

Growling in frustration and anger Erik put his hands on the crazy woman's waist to hold her still. Instead of stiff fabric he felt soft pliable skin under his hands. That distracted him for a moment. His hands softened their hold, in an unconscious caress, as his eyes sought hers. In the same instant she looked into his face. Not at his mask, at least not at first. Her first glimpse close up of the man beneath her was of his piercing green eyes. They had the look of something...deep...something not quite tamed in their depths. As she continued to delve deeper into his eyes her own breath seemed to be locked somewhere in her chest. The man beneath her let out a rush of air as he tried to heave her off of him. His minty breath wafted across her face as he exhaled sharply, drawing her attention to his lips. The bottom one was slightly fuller than the top one. They were nicely shaped. Katherine found herself wondering if they were as soft and warm as they looked. Would his lips hold the promise of that untamed, unknown emotion glowing in his eyes? She felt herself being drawn unwillingly into the man beneath her. Her head seemed to dip on its own with no thought of such action coming from her brain. Once she felt his pull on her that was all her mind could focus on in that segment of time. She had the insane thought flitting inside her head to touch her lips to his. She felt as if she were floating on a cloud. The only thing holding her down was his hands on her waist.

What could have been an eternity or a few seconds they stared into each others eyes. Katherine's need for air broke the spell. Inhaling deeply she then expelled her breath. Pushing herself up by placing her hands on his shoulders she began to wiggle her way to her feet. Her face became flushed the longer it took her to remove herself from this man's body. She felt that hard thing between his legs pressing into her belly. She had never seen one, but she knew what one looked like, sort of. The older women would tease the younger ones with stories. She knew what that thing being hard meant. Sort of.

Shameful feelings and thoughts were running around inside her head. Things she should not be thinking at all. What the devil had taken possession of her senses? Her traitorous inner voice answered, "He did." Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. All the emotions rushing into her mind and the tingling of her senses were all foreign to her.

In any other situation, Erik thought, this would have been a welcome encounter. Erik's reaction was a typical male reaction to feminine curves pressing tightly against their flesh. When she began to wiggle he thought he might embarrass himself in front of the one man he hated most in the world. Fuck. He hoped his burgeoning erection went unnoticed. That was one humiliation Erik could live without. Having lustful thoughts for another one of Raoul's women was not one of his goals. This was probably his mistress. Some young trollop he bought with a few shiny baubles from the jewelers. He wondered if Christine knew. That's when it hit him that if Raoul were here Christine might be as well. That this might be Daniel's daughter completely fled Erik's mind in his renewed hostility toward the Vicomte.

Temporarily forgetting his state of arousal he shoved the woman unceremoniously aside then nimbly climbed to his feet. He turned slightly to the side to hide his trousers tenting problem. Christine. She was here in the same city. Possibly within just a short few minutes ride from here. Erik felt his heart kick into an erratic beat with urgent excitement.

When Raoul ignored him completely to reach down to help the young woman to her feet Erik felt a moment of regret for his less than chivalrous reaction. His anger quickly allowed him to discount any ungentlemanly behavior. God, for the first time in three years Christine could possibly be in the same city he occupied. His mind raced with the possibilities. All his decisions to leave her in his past faded like mist in the afternoon sun. In this moment he could think of nothing other than seeing her again. To hear her voice in song once more would be an ecstacy he thought he might never experience again. Erik forgot Raoul, Daniel, and the presence of this woman, who in some small corner of his mind, he acknowledged must be Katherine Montgomery.

As he watched Raoul helping his attacker from the floor, his consuming anger toward Raoul returned with a flash of heat racing through him. With unreasonable rancor his dislike of Raoul spilled over onto this unknown woman. His instant reaction to her angered him as well. He came into contact with so many beautiful women that he did not always have the reaction of an erection when seeing one any more. Not unless one caught his interest for some reason. He could not imagine what his body found so damn arousing about this one. He had seen far more beautiful women. Letting his glance rove down then back up he had to admit her form was enticing, but so were hundreds of others he had seen.

Brushing himself off he looked toward the couple with condescension making its way over his face as well as into his voice as he asked snidely, "So have you mislaid your wife? Or did this whore find your favor for the afternoon?" That niggling voice that kept insisting to bring some knowledge to him he ignored.

Katherine now being aware just exactly what that word meant, gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes in that man's direction. It was true she had lived with the Apache, it was even true she had shared a teepee with Lone Wolf. What everyone seemed all too willing to forget was she had lived with Lone Wolf and his sister Fawn, as their sister. She had done nothing wrong. She had committed no acts she should feel shame for committing. She clenched her hands wishing for the briefest moment to have one of Matthew's tomahawks in her hand so she could knock that smirk from the man's face. She would show him a savage.

"Erik, sir, please this is my daughter, Katherine. The one I told you about. Let us be civilized about this." If Katherine had thought her father was defending her he quickly disabused her of that notion. "Please let us at least close the door. We need to be discrete. We cannot have any more speculation being bandied about just now." Turning to Katherine his lips pinched in disapproval just before he asked, "Katherine, could you be a little more discrete with your...well with your liaisons? I have a respectable business to run. If you must cavort with some...man, why not the one you lived with and brought to live with you?" Her father made it sound as if she and Matthew were lovers. He spoke as if she had brought Matthew along for the purpose of...well for things she could only imagine, nothing she had ever actually experienced.

Raoul instantly came to Katherine's defence as he spoke with censure in his voice, "Sir, I fear you have misjudged our association. In no small part due to the ungentlemanly innuendos of this...this..I cannot make myself refer to him as anything other than the crass, uncouth, being he is and always has been. Katherine is a true lady. The term gentleman sticks in my throat when referring to a ghost or phantom." Raoul put his arm protectively around Katherine. This action as well as what Raoul said angered Erik, as it brought into the open his less than conventional upbringing. It pointed out the fact in blinding light that Erik had been considered less than human for most of his life. His anger began to boil inside him. His hand inched without conscious thought toward the thin wire he had only just moments ago returned to his inner pocket. That damn woman had the nerve to narrow her eyes at him. The threat was obvious. She would take him down again if need be or at least try. Just to test her convictions Erik was tempted. There would be a different outcome this time. He was aware of her now. Acutely aware.

"Girl what possessed you? What is the meaning of this visit? Have I not made myself clear you are not to leave the estate? I cannot imagine what Mrs. Graham was thinking allowing you to come to town. Her father spoke as if she were less than intelligent. He made it seem as if she were unable to make a competent decision for herself. He degraded her by referring to her as "girl", as if she were meant nothing to him at all.

"I suppose Martin drove you in. Well, he will be in need of new employment after this. I'll not have it girl. I'll not be embarrassed like this again."

"No." Stark and to the point Katherine made her first official decision concerning her personal and business affairs.

Her father spluttered, "What? What do you mean, no? Of course he must be relieved of his position. He knew damn well you were not to leave the estate. I may have to consider releasing a few others as well after this flagrant disregard for my instructions."

"No father. Martin works for me. Not you. You have shown me you do not consider me as your daughter. You can not dictate my life. I will not be kept in hiding any longer. I own this place, or at least fifty percent. I will say when I will come and go. Not you. Not anyone ever again. I control my own life now." Katherine was feeling much more confident. While her confidence was still high she thought it might be as well to settle the matter of her father living in her house before her courage dwindled.

"I own the estate in its entirety. It is in my name. He will not be leaving. As a matter of fact I think it would be best if you found somewhere to live other than the guest house. I have offered it to Raoul. He is to be my guest for a while. That is if he consents. He has not given me his answer." Katherine hoped she knew Raoul as well as she thought she did.

Her father stuttered a protest that she closed her ears to, as she regained her composer while her heart beat rapidly in nervous trepidation, that she hid well from anyone looking at her. She was done with laying prostrate on the ground while he walked all over her. She was finished with begging for his forgiveness when she had done nothing wrong. She no longer would beg for his love or affection. She would cut him from her life as he had cut her from his.

Thinking quickly Raoul thought, why not? Perhaps he could be a thorn in Erik's side if he stayed close. From now on he would not be wandering around unarmed. Bowing gracefully he said, "Why I would be honored of course. My wife Christine and her sister Meg would be glad of a change of scenery. I believe my wife will be especially happy to see her old tutor. How about you Mr. Fontaine? Would you like to see Christine or have you found another...student." The pause along with the emphasis on the last word was clear to all but Katherine.

They were interrupted from further discussion when the man named Arthur Pendleton burst through the open door panting to catch his breath. He had been running all over the building looking for Mr. Montgomery and his guest Mr. Fontaine. Perhaps due to recent events it was the other way around. Damn he hoped he did not lose his job because these fucking people could not stay where they said they would be.

"Sir, Mr. Montgomery. I have been looking all over the building for you. I wanted to advise you of your daughter's arrival. I see you have already found each other. Well if I am not needed I will get back to my work." He left quickly before anyone could comment or object. The men looked as if at any moment all hell was going to break loose. Arthur wanted no part of that. He was only biding his time until he could marry his fiancee. Her father had offered him employment. He was not going to inform Mr. Fontaine of this fact until after he had already departed. The man had a temper hotter than Hades.

"So Erik, I am sure we are well enough acquainted that I may address you as such, considering how close we were the last time we met. Does everyone know about your unorthodox living arrangement when you lived in Paris or your profession? Are they aware of the title you claimed for almost twenty years in your old profession?"

"You bastard. They know what they need to know and no more. Keep your mouth shut or...?"

"Or what? You'll wrap your Punjab around my throat again? Kidnap my wife in a pathetic attempt to make her love you? I do not see any portcullis handy. Perhaps one of the beams of the ceiling would suffice. Although it might not be so easy this time. There are no traps here. It would be face to face. Something I am sure you abhor for obvious reasons." Raoul was goading Erik, but he knew he could not stop. That last remark hinting at Erik's disfigured face found the target as soon as the words left his mouth.

With a deep growl that worked its way up from the dregs of anger boiling in his belly all the way out his mouth Erik roared, "You son of a bitch. I will kill you this time. Christine is not here to beg for your life or kiss me to sway me from my intentions. Nothing will save you now." He had been slowly advancing on Raoul as he spoke. At his last word he launched himself at Raoul ramming his shoulder into Raoul's midsection in a move much like Katherine had used on Erik earlier. Raoul stumbled back a few steps then fell heavily to his back. Erik's body followed Raoul's down, pinning him to the floor. Erik raised himself up with the intention of wrapping his hands around Raoul's neck. As Erik drew back Raoul punched his right fist into Erik's face. The force of the blow threw Erik's body back. Raoul sat up taking another shot at Erik, hitting him once again, before crawling to his feet.

The men began to exchange blows with their fists. The smaller pieces of furniture were knocked about some turning over to its side. The heavy table did not budge as Erik slammed Raoul down on his back onto the hard surface. Putting his boot into Erik's chest Raoul heaved Erik over his shoulder where he flew over his prone body to land with a resounding thud on the floor on the other side of the table, crashing into some chairs. Raoul turned over then crawled to the end of the table. Before he could maneuver around so he could put his feet on the floor Erik reached up grabbing him with both hands behind his neck. Giving a hard tug Raoul toppled down to slam into the floor beside Erik.

Rolling away from each other both men nimbly got to their feet to face one another again. As they circled for only a few seconds then began to exchange bone breaking blows, Katherine looked at her father. If she expected some sort of help from him she was to be disappointed. Katherine was fast coming to the conclusion her father was useless in any way a man was required to behave as a man. If something was to be done she would have to do it. Men. The more she learned the less patience she had with them.

Raoul slammed his fist into Erik's jaw sending him backward. Losing his footing Erik tripped falling onto his back. Rolling over he got to his hands and knees preparing to resume standing when he felt a small body slam into his back. Before he even had time to register what had happened he found his arm twisted behind his back. His arm was pushed so far up into the middle of his back he could do nothing to break the hold. The pain in shoulder from the strain nearly causing him to black out. A knee pressing down into the middle of his back added further humiliation. Damn it. This was the second time this woman had surprised him, taking control of him.

"I have had enough. You will behave. I have removed your weapons. All of them but the small knife at the front of your belt. That one you may keep if you promise to behave. Otherwise I shall have to embarrass the both of us and remove it. Understood?" Katherine had whispered into the man's ear. She saw no further need to bring his manhood into question. He had been thoroughly humiliated as it was. No need to press the point as long as he behaved sensibly.

Raoul was bent over with his hands resting on his knees as he tried to regain control of his breath. He could not control the satisfied grin that spread across his face if he tried. To see his rival bested by a tiny woman gave him endless satisfaction. His smile as well as his satisfaction dimmed just a little as Katherine began to speak.

"The two of you will stop behaving like overgrown schoolboys. That is one thing I do remember. Men are the same no matter where they come from. You all preen and walk about like cocks fighting for the hens. Raoul you will be civil as well. Neither of you will make any references to anything other than business. If you get out of line I just might have to show you a few things I learned to control the males built in need for aggression." As she spoke she held knife she had removed from the back of Erik's belt. She placed her finger on the tip allowing it to prick her finger just enough to draw a tiny pinpoint of blood.

Both men were thinking of the different ways animals were castrated. Erik had memories of men in Persia as well flitting around in his thoughts. Both men adjusted their legs as if to protect that most sacred part of a man. At least the part men cherish the most.

"I think we can all agree enough time has been spent trying to prove who is in charge. I think it safe to say I am in charge at this moment. Raoul you will sit here by me." Katherine stood behind a chair with her hands resting on the back as she continued to issue orders. "Father you will sit across the table with Mr...I am sorry I did not catch your name."

Before Erik could answer Raoul spoke first, "He is the Phant...oh pardon me. It would seem I am mistaken. That man no longer exists. I believe you are now known as Mr. Fontaine is it? Katherine this is the great man I told you about. Only when I knew of him before he had many other names."

The tension in the room was almost tangible between Erik and Raoul. Katherine and her father looked from one the other of the men facing each other with open hostility, expecting them to come to blows at any moment. Katherine could understand Raoul's reaction to this man if he was the one who had all but destroyed his happiness with his wife. Raoul had not gone into great detail. He had only said another man had his wife's affections. He had given her brief details of their affair.

This must be the man who had come between Raoul and his wife. Raoul had not told her very much about events that took place other than his wife loved a man who had nearly taken his life. He briefly stated that the man had some sort of physical disability that kept him from living among others. Katherine did not want to admit it, but she could understand how both men felt. Raoul had not belittled the man in any way as others might have. He had even told her in some small way he could see things from this man's, this Erik Fontaine's, point of view. He of course had not known at the time he would be meeting his old adversary within a short time of relaying this information to Katherine. For both men to feel this much hatred there had to be more than simply a man stealing another's wife. This ran much deeper than that.

"You know damn well..." Erik's incensed words were cut short before he could finish his thought.

"Gentlemen did I not say the schoolyard games were over? If you would be so kind as to take your seats we can continue. All this strutting is getting us nowhere." Katherine stood with her arms crossed. She looked at Erik frowning with dislike. When she looked at Raoul her face changed to a look of one scolding an impudent disobedient but much liked little boy. Erik did not miss the exchange. His one little piece of gratitude for this whole fiasco was he had not worn his porcelain mask and had long ago learned how to secure all his masks tightly to his head with leather ties, unless it was the one he was wearing now, which was made of a soft cotton dyed black. This one was heavily starched with cloth strings tying it together at the back of his head.

Both men took their seats reluctantly. The whole time they eyed one another with extreme dislike. Raoul was remembering all the nights he had been with Christine knowing she thought of her onetime tutor. Knowing that no matter how loving or thoughtful he was he could never measure up to the man Christine pined for. This man had destroyed his life long after he had left. Without being there physically he had destroyed Raoul's marriage with the memories Christine had kept in her mind and heart. Memories Raoul could not compete with. Raoul's buried memories of how unmanned he had felt fueled his reborn hatred of the man across the table. A hatred that seemed to be returned measure for measure.

He had no idea what had come over him. Had he not decided Erik was a poor bastard the world had forced to live in conditions not fit for humans? Had he not decided Erik was not the only one who held blame? Raoul had finally come to the conclusion that if he had lived as Erik had he might have committed the same acts of insanity. Admitting that to oneself when you never had to see the one who stole your life was easier when you did not have to face them. Even if Erik had won Christine without his knowledge the result was the same.

Raoul had accepted that Christine loved Erik. Would always love him. He had even gone so far as to offer his assistance to help find the blasted man. Everything had dissolved into a molten pool of hate as soon as he saw Erik. Everything from the past came rushing back. Adding insult to injury had been all the past weeks of listening to Christine cry day and night for a man who owned her heart as he never had and now never would. He was so pathetic. If Erik knew he would laugh himself unconscious.

Once everyone accepted that only current business matters would be discussed, things went swiftly. An armed truce had been declared. Daniel and Erik both were not happy with the current turn of events. Raoul had a keen business mind as well as knowledge of the law. Erik had to give the devil his due, he had the upper hand and knew how to exploit it. As much as it galled him, Erik had to concede to sharing ownership of The Richmond Royal Theatre or forfeit his claim by taking back his investment. Damn it he wanted that opera house. That fucking smirk on Raoul's face almost made Erik forget his agreement not to throttle the noble. He knew how much the opera house meant to Erik. Perhaps he could work on the girl. He had learned he was not without charm on certain types of women. Perhaps he could finesse his way to full ownership. Thinking about how she had gotten the upper hand not once but twice he thought he might exact a little extra revenge if the opportunity arose. He ignored how his hands trembled when she stood over him pointing out a clause in the paper she wanted changed in the agreement. The pounding of his heart, well that was merely his rancor for de Chagny having that effect on him.

Katherine and Raoul left her fathers office to allow them to stew and collaborate on ways to remove her control. Katherine was under no delusion that her father would stand for her having control of anything to do with his business matters. He barely allowed her into his private life. She did feel more like her old self though. More confident. What she did not know she could learn. Raoul had proved to be an asset. One she would keep close by. She had been inspired when she had on the spur of the moment said Raoul would be moving into the guest house.

On the way back to Raoul's hotel Katherine asked him to tell her more about the man in the mask. He had told her only a little of his life earlier. She knew there was much more to the story. For some unknown reason Raoul told her every gory detail. Once finished he felt as if he had purged himself of some poison. He had not realized how much his hatred of Erik ruled his life. He had thought he buried it after he married Christine. He had not forgotten anything but he had thought he had begun to forgive. It would seem the wound had only been partially healed. All it took was a little pricking at the scab to reopen the wound allowing it to bleed as heavily as it had when first inflicted.

Katherine did not want to admit it, but she could understand how both men felt. Raoul had not belittled the man in any way as others might have. He had even told her in some small way he could see things from this man's, this Erik Fontaine's, point of view. He of course he had not known at the time he would be meeting his old adversary within a short time of relaying this information to Katherine. He had neglected to tell anything about this Angel of Music's feature's or oddities therein

He had known in the back of his mind he would be facing Erik again. He had just not thought all the antagonism would rush to the surface. It would seem not only on his part but Erik's as well. God! Would any of them make it out alive this time?