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Ascent to Power	By : Hot4Gerry Category: M through R > The Phantom of the Opera > Het Views: 5436 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
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- 14
Recovery and Reclaim
Erik remained secluded in his cabin. Nadir or Darius brought his meals and set them outside his door. Erik's new relationship with his creator needed much reflection and he thought better without interruptions.
Erik was solemn and uncommunicative for several days. That was not unusual for Erik. He would go for weeks without saying a word if he had a problem to solve or a new composition whirling around in his head. Darius and Nadir knew the best thing to do was to leave him alone until he conquered the problem and found a satisfactory solution. When after the first week Erik still had not ventured from his cabin they asked the cabin boy to deliver his meals. All they could do was sit and wait for him to come out of seclusion.
Two weeks after the duel Erik came into the dining room for breakfast. Erik was whistling. Erik never whistled. Sing? Yes. Shout curses at the top of his lungs when displeased? Most certainly. Berate and demean with well chosen words? Yes, indeed he did. Erik did not whistle.
The other guests were shocked to see him for varied reasons. The women sat up straighter in their chairs and primped with their hair. A couple of younger ones took up their fans and began to fan furiously while they snuck peeks at Erik over the top of their fan. The older women thought him quite nice to look at. The younger ones were wondering how to lure him out on deck that night for a secluded rendezvous.
"Good morning ladies, gentlemen." Erik nodded his head to each before he took the only available seat. Nadir was on his right and Darius was on his left. They had come to the conclusion that they did not want a recurrence of the last voyage. Erik could not get into too much trouble between the two gentlemen.
The long voyage was made tolerable because of the amusing way two young women vied for Erik's attention. To his credit he did not encourage them. He did nothing to outright discourage them either. Erik's gentlemanly manners forced him to be cordial and polite. Nadir did notice Erik's lustful glances toward the women but he restrained himself. All in all the voyage was uneventful.
Nadir would not have been so complacent if he had known Erik had beded those two women. To his credit Erik had tried to avoid them but they for their part would have none of that. Erik being somewhat new to the pleasures to his manhood by womanly flesh had not held out for long. Soon he had been fucking both women. When they learned they had been sharing Erik's time they considered it a more expediate solution for them to share Erik together at the same time as that would afford them more time with him.
To say Erik had been stunned would be to understate things. Eagerly he had embraced this idea. He had after all experienced this before and had found it quite enjoyable.
Erik fucked those two women in every way imaginable. When they had left that last evening they had each given him a card of introduction. During his packing he had somehow misplaced those damn cards.
Erik considered that in the city of New York there had to be at least one woman willing to bed him. The massive population increased his chances along with the size of his coin purse.
Erik did not like New York much. He did not have much he held against it but he saw not much to recommend it either. Of course he was not one who should judge such things. He had seen many wondrous things in his life but the crowed streets of New York left him cold. His life in solitude had not engrained an appreciation for all the wonders available it that great metropolis. Too many people and most of the buildings were built simply to house masses of people with no style. The wealthier areas had beautiful homes.
The business district had many new buildings he found little fault with except aesthetically. Many were modern marvels. They seemed to touch the sky. Erik thought the term skyscraper a very apt description for these tall majestic buildings. Some did not have any special design but were marvels of construction in their own way. He could admire the architecture but did not appreciate the masses of people. The theatres he found adequate. Not as elegant as his old haunt but attractive in their own way.

Nadir and Darius were ever vigilant keeping track of Christine. Nadir had taken it upon himself to hire a detective in Paris to keep him informed of all that went on in the de Chagny household.
Erik and financing were like perfectly matched lovers. He studied all angle and outcomes. He never rushed into an investment. He invested generously in all the companies he had taken over. He took a beaten and bankrupt company and turned it into a huge profit. Railroad and shipping were his best investments. He bought warehouses on the docks to house the goods he exported and imported. He dealt in anything from cotton to imported silks. Tobacco was another product growing in demand. It was not as rich as the Turkish tobacco Nadir was accustomed to but one had to accept what was available. A pipe filled with tobacco was one vice Nadir allowed. An occasional wine with dinner or sherry in the evening he considered a necessary medicinal treatment to counterbalance Erik's difficult personality and behavior.
Banks as well as businesses seeking investors were vying for Erik's funds. A failed business was suddenly making the highest profits in the city. He bought cheap and sold high. Soon his wealth had tripled what he had when he left France. Erik's wealth began to compare to the richest men in the state. If the trend continued he could well compete with the wealthiest men in the country.
Nadir received notice of Christine's potential arrival in New York in a few months. Negotiations were still being discussed. The present diva was with child and wanted time away to have her child and spend the first year with her new infant. The holiday season was upon them. Nadir and Darius thought it might be better to wait until after the holidays to start the whole campaign again to uproot Erik for his own good. Nadir began to liken Christine to a leach. A parasite sinking barbs into ones skin and sucking the life's blood from the unsuspecting host. Yes that is exactly what Christine does to Erik. Whenever he thinks of her and what he will never have a little bit of his vitality is drained. It takes weeks for him to recover and begin to behave rationally, or what resembles rational for Erik.
On the bright side Erik would not mind so much leaving New York as he was not overly fond of the comings and goings of so many people. The joy of the season had completely baffled Erik. His thoughts were that it only harbored false hopes in children for the man in the red suit to bring a toy or treat. What of the children who had no parent to play St. Nicholas or the funds for such frivolous things? Better to tell them the truth than encourage this falsehood. He personally had never received a gift. His life had not ended because he had no belief in an unreal personage. Let the season reflect the true meaning and be done with it.
Nadir used all manners of persuasion to help Erik find a little of the spirit of Christmas. He himself did not celebrate as it was not of his religious beliefs but he saw no harm in giving children and many adults the thrill of going to sleep and waking to presents given for no other reason than you had achieved some goodness in the year or held the love of family wanting to see joyful faces when opening that first gift.

Erik grumbled and groaned each evening at dinner about all the shoppers traipsing about pushing and shoving trying to find last minute gifts. No doubt everyone would overeat and laze about the whole day then want to spend the next day recovering from the hustle and bustle and illness of their own making.
Nadir had recently read "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. As was his habit he compared Erik to the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge. Erik's "Bah! Hum bug" attitude reminded Nadir of that character. He was even quite certain he had heard Erik mutter those words one evening coming in the front door after a day traveling around the city shops.
After dinner one evening Nadir decided to voice his observation. "Erik do you believe in ghosts?"
"As I used the disguise of being a ghost to hide my activities for many years I would have to say no. I do not believe in that which can not be seen. If there were such things they surely would have been in the catacombs. During the hard times of the Paris they had been used to house prisoners. It is rumored many prisoners were forgotten and languished until merciful death claimed them. If ever a ghost were to haunt I believe it would have been there. I feel I may regret this question but why do you ask?"
"My recent reading material has a man who reminds me of you during this jovial season. The book is "A Christmas Carol". The man sees three ghosts. The Ghost of Christmas Past, The Ghost Of Christmas Present and finally The Ghost of Christmas Future. Needless to say the man has a frightful but highly enlightening night. During his night he learns the moral to appreciate life more and keep the joy of the season in his heart not only during Christmas but all through the year."
"Ah, a novel I have not read. Nadir you do have a rather eclectic reading taste as do I. I would have thought you would enjoy a rather dry and boring tale but I am pleased you are open to many different topics. So now you think I will be visited by ghosts?"
"Anything is possible Erik. Perhaps not real ghosts will come to you but maybe if your lucky St. Nicholas will pay you a visit. After all you have been good lately."
Erik blushed remembering how very bad he had been the evening before with a young lady he met at the gaming hall. Not a high society lady but a lady none the less. He had spent quite a few hours being very bad but damn it had felt so good. He had fucked her in every way immaginable.
"Erik is there something you should tell me? The blush of guilt or embarrassment or both has stained your cheeks. You have begun to fidget. This is telltale habit you have acquired over the last few months and signals guilt on your part for some misconduct. Should we be packing instead of celebrating? Confess what sin you have committed because I am sure it will come to light. Confession is good for the soul."
"Stop your mothering and my soul such as it is I can say is fine. I am a grown man. I do not fidget. Besides it is just unbearably hot in here. Do you not find the temperature rather uncomfortable? The aroma from that pitiful tree does not help. Could you not find a livelier tree if you insist we have one?" As he spoke his fingers worked under the cravat around his neck trying to loosen the stranglehold of that piece of cloth that suddenly seemed to tighten like a noose. The aroma from that pitiful tree did not help his comfort one bit.
"If we must have a tree why not purchase one from one of the lots around the city? I’m sure a better specimen could have been found. In just a day the pitiful twig has lost almost all the needles from every branch," said Erik in disdainful voice.
"Oh I do not know about that. The sad little fellow has grown on me. I think it has even perked up a bit." His eyes followed a few needles as they fell off a branch and landed on the floor. He stood up from his chair by the fire and nonchalantly walked over and used his foot to push the needles under the white piece of cloth that had been laid under the tree in a vain attempt to make it look like snow. Nadir had thought it would make the tree look a little more lively.
"Nadir that tree is all but dead. Show mercy and cut it up and pitch it in the fire. It would serve a better purpose in the fireplace than cluttering up my living room and shedding on the floor."
"I will do no such thing. If you so much as pull one needle from a branch I shall personally see you drawn and quartered," Nadir threatened.

Erik snorted and said, "I need not touch a branch of that pitiful excuse for a tree. A calm breeze would bare every branch in a few seconds. By morning I am sure it will be nothing but limbs."
Erik had not missed the needles falling or Nadir's sly bid to hide them. Even as they spoke more needles fell. The damn tree was almost completely bare. It was a disgrace to have it in his beautiful home.
"Nadir if I wait another day I will not have to make an effort to remove the tree. It will soon turn to dust. I too have seen the falling needles. Keep your tree. After tomorrow we can take it down anyway."
"Erik you are such an ungrateful man. The damn tree was for you. I do not need trees nor do I celebrate this holiday. Darius and I did this for you so you could have your first real Christmas. With your attitude no wonder St. Nicholas has passed you over all these years. If he had stopped by you would have more than likely shucked him in the fireplace. Before you say anything I know it is said he comes down the chimney. I am only using that as a reference to your poor attitude. I do not want anymore of your Bah hum bugs. I am retiring. Do not call on me for help if those ghosts come for you. I shall turn a deaf ear."
Nadir passed Darius on the way with a tray of milk and freshly baked cookies. He snatched the tray from Darius saying, "He does not deserve these. The man insulted our tree. With his attitude I doubt a visit from St. Nicholas will be forthcoming."

Frowning at Nadir's retreating back Darius then turned to Erik and said, "I take it your appreciation for the tree is less than stellar."
"Well just look at the damn thing. It is scrawny and if any more needles fall it will be completely bare. I am sure it must be infested with some sort of pest."
"If you don't mind my saying so Master Erik you could be just a little less critical. Nadir only had your interests in mind. He wanted to gift you with your first real Christmas. Might I suggest you spend the remainder of the evening contemplating on the generosity of your friend. He meant well. Can you honestly say anyone in your entire life has done as much for you? Now as we will not be sharing cookies and milk before the fire I think I will retire for the night if nothing further is required."
Erik shook his head not looking at Darius. Erik stayed in front of the fire until the last ember died then slowly went up the stairs to his bed. It was not such a terrible tree. Nadir had gone to a lot of trouble to give him this special day. Yes, it was a rather nice tree. In a certain light it might even be seen as pretty. More needles fell unseen from the tree. Erik went to bed thinking of his friend's thoughtful gesture. He fell into an untroubled sleep with the thoughts of Nadir and Darius' kindness on his mind. Someone had shown him, The Phantom a kindness. An unasked for and unexpected kindness.
Nadir and Darius had set up the tree in Erik's living room and surprised him the evening before when he entered his home. A pitiful attempt to be sure. Their were no shiny ornaments or decorations. Nadir and Darius had rented a wagon from the stable outside the city. The woods were not overflowing with the proper trees needed for a Christmas tree. The ones Nadir had seen in the store front windows were cedar or spruce or some type of pine tree. Most of the trees were to large even to consider cutting. Nadir did not want to be cutting a the tree for the next two months. Finding a small pitiful tree they accepted it could well be their only hope.
Popcorn had been popped and strung on thread. Cranberries snuggled against a puff of white popcorn all along the strand of thread created a pretty sight of red and white with the green background of the tree. Nadir cut a star from a piece of yellowed parchment paper. Unless he told you it was a star a person looking at it could be forgiven for thinking it a person with pointed and slightly askew appendages. A pitiful attempt but the thought behind the gesture came from the heart.
Nadir had purchased the special brandy Erik was so fond of. Darius bought a leather folder with music paper placed inside. He had paid to have the front engraved with gold lettering. It would be the first personal item Erik owned with his name showing proudly who he had become. Not much considering the man receiving those gifts could purchase a portion of the state and still have funds left in his coffers. The thought and love behind the gifts was priceless.
Nadir and Darius made it a point to be up long before Erik arose from his bed. They made coffee and tea. Fresh sweet rolls with various fruits and icing were placed on a tray having come fresh from the oven. Biscuits with fat slices of bacon and fried egg were added along with sugar, milk and honey. Darius carried the tray and Nadir carried a tray with silverware, plates, cups and fresh linen napkins. Taking the trays into the living room all that was left was to wait for the quest of honor. The wait was short as Erik came down the stairs and entered the living room moments later.
The look on Erik's face the morning of Christmas made the work and aggravation worth while. His speechless look of wonder had been reward enough. He had carefully unwrapped each gift as if even the wrapping were a precious gift more valuable than gold and as Nadir reflected later perhaps it was. Simple as the gifts were they could have been gold and diamonds. Erik valued them above anything he had ever had in his possession. These were gifts given to him by friends who cared about him and sought nothing in return. He would treasure them until his eyes closed for the last time and his body drew it's last breath. Erik shared his first happy Christmas with his two close friends. The gifts made Erik feel guilty for he had not thought to get them a gift. Never before had they exchanged gifts. From this Christmas on Erik decided he would buy gifts for his friends. The giving of gifts was almost as satisfying as receiving them.
Erik could count on fingers of both hands the number of purely happy days in his life and have many unneeded fingers. Christmas along with his birthday were days his mother did not think Erik should celebrate. He was deemed unworthy of receiving any gifts. The day of his birth was hardly a day to celebrate.
If Madame Giry could have been present his joy would have overflowed into the streets. Madame had written of her marriage and Meg's situation in Paris. He could not imagine Meg on her own in a city such as Paris. He felt she was far too innocent to be on her own. If Madame Giry, now Madame Messer, thought her daughter capable of living on her own who was he to pass judgment? He had sent a letter to his lawyer instructing him to purchase certain items for Madame and Meg. The gifts were to be delivered on Christmas morning. Monsieur Henri Leblanc delivered Madame's gifts personally. The young Mademoiselle would receive hers a few days later. He had to find an opportune time to leave them where they would be found.
Erik could not know of the troubles that poor Meg suffered. If he had known he would have moved heaven and earth to help his savior's daughter. The lawyer went to Meg's home only to find another tenant living there with no known forwarding address. He took it upon himself to inquire about her whereabouts. He found her safely ensconced at the home of Christine and Raoul de Chagny. He sent what information he found to Erik. He informed Erik that Madame Messer had received her gifts and sent him a letter which he was forwarding in the post with his report. Mademoiselle Marguerite Giry would receive her gifts a few days later. By the time Erik received the letter the gifts should be safely in her hands. He would not give any return address and would be leaving the packages where they could easily be found. She would know who sent them but not where they came from.
The reports with further details arrived a few weeks after Christmas. Now at least Erik could relax somewhat as Meg would be safe in the home of his hated rival. Christine and Raoul had taken her in. Erik wondered why she had not gone to another opera house. Dance had been her whole life. Why had it become necessary to leave Paris? Why not go to her mother? Erik wondered why he had that feeling of impending doom again. In time all these questions would be answered.
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Ascent to Power