Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

XXXIX.

A man with long, wiry black hair approached the Vicomte's dining room. In it sat a huge ornate table with several chairs. The Vicomte and Vicomtess sat at the head of the table awaiting the news that he had to bring them. "Well?" The Vicomtess asked in an impatient tone.

"She was easy to find. I pushed her down the stairs and she was unconscious when I left. She won't be able to identify me."

"How can we know that your telling us the truth? We must know for certain." The Vicomte said as he looked at the grimy man.

"She won't be bothering you. But if you don't believe me I can always go back..."

"No!" Christine yelled. "Take your money. It is on the chair at the end of the table and do not mention this arrangement to anyone!"

"Yes, my lady." He said then grabbed an envelope of francs and left the manor.

"It serves that bitch right if she loses her child." Christine said as she narrowed her eyes.

"Let's hope that the opera ghost does not deduce who had hurt his wife." Raoul commented as he looked towards the hallway. "Lest we both shall be in trouble."

"Don't worry love. He won't find out, i'll make sure of it."

xxxx

Zuri's eyes opened slowly as she felt her body protest in pain. "Zuri! Zuri!" Two panicked voices shouted at her.

"What...?" She asked softly as she tried to move her aching body.

"How far apart are the contractions?" Erik's voice asked.

"Erik! We won't know until Zuri is fully awake!" Madame Giry's voice interrupted.

Zuri saw blurred figures dancing around her as she tried to concentrate on the taller figure. "Wake up love! You're going to have our child! Can't you feel it?"

"Erik..." Zuri mumbled before feeling a sharp, intense pain in her abdomen. "Aaahhh!" She screamed.

"Erik stop badgering her! She's barely awake. Go do something useful and get some towels and blankets." Madame Giry told him as he was pushed to the side and she took his place. "Zuri," she said softly as she took Zuri's hand in her own, "you have to wake up and concentrate. You fell down a flight of stairs and the baby is coming."

Zuri felt confused as she tried to concentrate on Madame Giry's face. "Baby...coming?"

"Yes. The baby is coming Zuri. You have to concentrate so we can deliver it safely." She told Zuri as she squeezed her hand. Zuri screamed again when she felt another sharp pain in her abdomen. "The contractions aren't far apart as I thought they would be." Erik returned with fresh towels and several blankets. She turned to Erik, "We are going to have to deliver the baby ourselves Erik. There is no time."

"What?!" Erik shouted in surprise. "Antoinette we cannot do that."

"We can and we will! Now help me prepare. I'm going to need you to lift up her lower body while I place blankets underneath her then you are going to have to take off her pantalets." Madame Giry replied. Erik resisted for a moment. "Now Erik!"

They were quick. Erik had never seen his friend so commanding before. Usually he was the one who took charge but he felt so helpless that maybe it was good for her to do so. Erik assisted Zuri as she groaned in pain. Her vision was becoming more focused and she realized that their child would be coming soon. She burst out into tears as she thought of what might happen if their child was hurt during her fall.

"Angel...Zuri please stop. There is no need to cry. It will only cause you more stress." Erik told her as he gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Zuri was sitting up now to see Antoinette placing towels between her legs.

"But the baby! Erik!" She cried out as tears continued to fall down her cheeks.

"Zuri! Snap out of it!" Madame Giry shouted at the younger woman. Zuri stopped crying then looked at her. "You have to concentrate on delivering your child. It will be fine but if you keep crying and behaving the way you are then it will cause stress on you and the child. Now lay back and start counting. When you feel that you are ten counts apart in contractions then we will start."

They waited almost an hour before Zuri felt that she was ready. Erik gently grasped her hand as she gasped for air. Sweat poured down her face as she felt another sharp pain in her abdomen. "It hurts." Zuri cried.

"I know sweetheart but it will be over soon."

"No you don't know Erik. It hurts!"

Madame Giry smiled as she thought of her own experience with pregnancy. "Try to concentrate on your breathing Zuri. We will tell you when to start pushing." She turned to Erik. "Come here Erik. You need to help me."

Zuri looked up and watched the two while concentrating on her breathing. "Push Zuri!" Antoinette exclaimed as she held the younger woman's hand.

Zuri pushed hard and screamed as she did so. Sweat continued to pour down her face as she felt her body scream in agony with her. "Stop love." Erik told her. He was bent over her legs and trying to see how their child was going to come out. She gasped as he pushed her legs further apart. "Let's try again Zuri. Push."

"The head!" Erik shouted. "I can see the head. A little more love. A little more."

She screamed as stars burst in front of her eyes. Her body ached and protested against the pain that she was feeling. Tears fell down her cheeks as she pushed until she could not. She looked up as she heard a baby's soft wail. Figures swam in her vision and she heard Erik's fading voice say, "It's a girl Zuri."

xxxx

Zuri felt as if she had been dumped in a cold bath. "Wake up Zuri." Erik's voice entered her thoughts.

She strained to open her eyes. "Erik?" Zuri found herself in a bathtub. She shivered feeling the coldness of the water touch her heated skin.

"I thought you might have left us."

"The baby..."

"She's alright. Antoinette is cleaning her up as we speak. I figured you needed a bath to cool your body. You were sweating badly." Erik told her as he poured a bucket of water over her head. She shivered more.

"Is she..." She started but couldn't finish her sentence.

"She is small but developed. She will be fine." Erik whispered softly. "Do you remember what happened?"

"I was pushed. I was pushed by someone Erik." Zuri told her husband as he gently scrubbed her shoulders.

Erik growled loudly, "What?!" He roared.

"Please Erik, let us talk later." Zuri begged him.

"Alright love." Erik said as he calmed down.

xxxx

Erik reemerged with Zuri dressed in one of Antoinette's nightgown's. Antoinette held a wailing baby in her arms as Zuri was propped up against the bed's headboard. Erik watched as Antoinette gave their child to Zuri. She helped Zuri unbutton the front of the gown so she could nurse her child. "What do you want to call her?" Zuri asked her husband.

"You want me to name her?" Erik inquired with a surprised look.

"Yes. Why are you surprised?"

"I thought you would name her."

"Erik, I want to give her father the chance to name her. Now do it."

Erik smiled at his wife as he turned to his nursing child. She had a smattering of black hair on her head and she looked up at him to reveal golden eyes. His eyes. He smiled at his daughter as he tried to think of a name. "Is Aya alright?"

"Aya...a beautiful name Erik."

"I think she is finished Zuri." Antoinette interrupted.

"Thank you Madame Giry." Zuri replied as she handed her daughter to the older woman to button up her gown. In turn Antoinette handed Aya to her father. He cradled her gently in his arms. Erik walked over to the bed after Zuri had buttoned up the gown. He sat down beside her and they both looked at their child. "She is so beautiful."

"She get's it from her mother." Erik murmured.

"Not just from me, she gets her eyes from her father."

Erik laughed softly. "I'm glad you both are safe. I love you Zuri."

"I love you too Erik."