Chapter Thirty-Nine: It All Starts to Fall Apart

                                    

                                          
     There was but one week left before the opening night in January. Colère de la Musique was on everyone's minds. The theatre bustled, every person down to the stage hands were on their toes, for Erik's temper was running high while his patience ran low. He ran around as if possessed, changing his mind every few minutes, snapping at everyone, even Christina, who often came out of rehearsals in tears after his threats and comments. He didn't berate Grace as much, probably because she did not slack off as much as Christina, who snatched stolen kisses with her smitten husband every so often. However, even when he did criticise her, she took it, without tears or defiance, knowing he would only reprimand if she needed it. He was a rough tutor, especially when she arrived at his home late in the night for her voice lessons, but he was rough and cruel only for her betterment.
                          
    Everything went on perfectly, needless to say Erik would permit nothing less. But when the eve of opening day came, just three weeks before Grace's birthday, disaster struck, as it always did when things started going well. 
                          
   Grace came down the hidden passageway, slinking inside the walls of the theatre like a mouse, down to deep pit where Erik lived, when she heard a man aggressively shouting. She lifted her skirts and ran the rest of the way, slowly distinguishing Erik's loud, commanding tones. He was distressed, overwhelmed with barely controlled fury, and someone was with him, for only a person could cause him to be so angered. 
                          
   Nearly tripping over her petticoats and making her presence known, Grace jerked her body into a crevice in the rocks that made up the walls of the house.
                          
   Leroux was smugly grinning, with a hint of fear in his eyes as Erik paced, clenching and unclenching his hands, chest heaving, eyes glowing lividly.
                          
    "You should be thanking me that I've come to warn you," Leroux said, pink face glad and cheerful as ever. How Grace ever agreed to get cake with him, she didn't know. 
                          
   "Thanking you? The first chance I get, I will kill you!"  Erik screamed in his angelic voice.
                          
   Even though it wasn't directed at her, Grace shivered, the long, clammy fingers of fear wrapping around her spine.
                          
    "Bonjour, Messieurs, commet allez-vous dans beau nuit ? " Grace decided to announce herself, just in case Erik did lose it and try to off Leroux.
                          
    She smiled at Gaston and approached Erik, placing her hands on his chest, smilng up at him, knowing it would peeve Leroux. But the firm pressure she touched Erik with was a warning to cool down. 
                          
    "I see assume you were expecting Grace? Perhaps for a vocal lesson? I shall leave you then, with a few words in parting to you both. I hope that my dear Grace will think about our last discussion, and that you, Monsieur, will not harm -"
                          
    "Au revoir, Leroux!" Grace said brightly, starting to shove Erik into the next door.
                          
   Leroux tipped his non-existent hat and took his leave as Grace slammed the door to the music room.
                          
    "What was that about?" She asked, arms folded across her chest.
                          
   But Erik was pacing again, stopping only to dramatically sweep his arm across his organ and send his sheet music flying. Grace could tell this was not purely for his theatrical personality; he really was upset.
                          
    "Leroux has damning evidence about my hand in de Changy's death." He stooped over his desk, picking up a pencil and scribbling down who knew what.
                          
   "Well just say you were with me. I'll say the same thing. We need only to come up with -"
                          
   "No!" Erik shouted.