Even In Death Do I Feel Pain ((Lenoir))

[Madam Leona]

Madam Leona was at one of the highest points in the manor without being on the roof. She stood by a window, there was only one in the room. It was large, like the one in her room. In fact, this room was very much like her own. It had the beautiful, cherry wood book case, queen sized bed with a blanket quilt over it. However, all very dusty. She also understood that this was not her room... and this was not the room she had dropped from. Leona sighed, not audible to the human ears.

It was a nice evening, the sky was dark blue and the sun was not in view. Though, it also looked like there were a few storm clouds rolling over head. Some say that ghosts come out when the night was at it's darkest and the storms were at it's worst. That wasn't exactly true in this case. Leona summed up what energy she could from the room, without any of the electricity running through or being on. If someone were to have walked in the room at that moment, they would have noticed the room change from being very cozy warm to being like in a freezer. Leona then pushed open the window and it swung all the way. She smiled in triumph and sat on the edge of the window.

Sitting there on the window made her think back to her death. She didn't mind the fall... it was almost like being able to release herself. And yet, it was quite evident that she was still bound. This would almost be like reliving the moment except she couldn't feel the wind against her as she fell, it wasn't day time, and she wasn't quite completely out of her mind. At least, not quite so much as she was then. No, truthfully. She was in a very good mood. Or at least she thought she was. But really, her feelings on this night were much more complicated then that. She was slightly irritable, board, thinking of her past, and yet feeling slightly content or very neutral. Yes, she's been better, but shes also been significantly worse. Making this mood, pretty good. And oh, if only she would work up enough courage to talked to one of those masked men.

Madam Leona listened to the others, how they don't even think that the Eriks and Christines are even people. Yes they are characters, but she believed that since they are here and made of bone and flesh- they are very much real and are people. Many times she had heard the characters just referred to as being, 'one of them' and such. Yes, she had called some of them the same, but not in the same way the others did. The others used it rather coldly, one of them as being characters. But she used it more as... one of them... one of the living. She would consider herself to be one of them... if she were still alive. However... that was not the case and she was what she was and is who she is.... and so on and so forth. Leona also listened and watched some of the others would frighten the poor souls they had brought here. Teasing them and scaring them. Madam Leona was not like them, at least, not in that way. She would much rather converse with the characters, not toy with them.

Madam Leona wondered what would happen if one of the characters died here. Would they leave as they all were meant to? Or would they stay here, captured just like most of the ghosts here were. Leona knew that some of the ghosts here may argue if the characters they had brought even had souls. But she knew better. Yes, they had brought them from unrealistic things, ideas, paper even. But they were created with character and with thought, surely that would give any creation a soul of it's own. Even if it did come from just an idea, or from words off of a piece of paper. Madam Leona sighed and floated away from the edge of the window. Those poor, poor souls. She also heard that.... Claude as he calls himself.... has been stealing away some of the characters.... sometimes, she could hear it in the house. Oh yes, the ghosts could feel Claude... that devil... Madam Leona did as best she could too keep clear from him. From the demons that makes the manor bend and creak, howl and hiss. It was one of the most dreadful things to bare. If it weren't for that, living here might actually be rather nice. As strange as that seemed.

There was also Charles... whom she also had made sure to steer clear from, which she had also been successful at. At first, she had felt rather bad for the poor man. She still did, but he did not like company and he was rather connected with Claude. If it hadn't been for that, she might actually try to converse with him. There was then also one more ghost here that she made sure to keep away from... and that was Josephine. Neither of them really.... got along. And she has been doing rather well at keeping out of the way of her. She knew that she loved to toy with the masked men. Oh that wicked woman! Really, one of the most things she hated about Josephine was that she reminded Leona so much of her sister. Her playfulness even! And oh how that made her heart sicken... if she had a beating one. Madam Leona sighed heavily, which to the human ear would have sounded like the springs on a couch or bed moaning with the weight being put on it. She sat down on the dusty bed, the dust looking mostly undisturbed except there was a slight imprint on the bed, as if someone were sitting on it, which she was. Leona was happy that tonight was rather silent, also meant that neither Charles or Claude were up to no good tonight. Not that they were ever up to good. Well... all was silent until the door knob rattled and the door to the room swung open.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik was unable to sleep this warm summer night. Of course it wasn't terribly warm in his underground lair, it was comfortable. But that didn't matter, he still couldn't sleep. So he decided to go up to the mansion and walk somewhere. He was restless.

After crossing the lake and the hanging bridges, Erik opened the door that let from his lair to the mansion. Down a short hall was the electric lift that went to all the other Erik's homes. Of course he, at this point, had only seen Lavalais' lair and Carriere's lair, but he was sure in good time he would see the others. He pushed the button for the main floor.

Erik went out into the garden. As he walked, the sweet aromas of the flowers spread their aura over him and they were strong enough to even penetrate the mask and the false nose. It was so pleasant to be out here. The women had done a marvelous job on the flowers, especially Emilie.

Erik didn't know what it was that made him look up when he reached the edge of one of the flower beds. Perhaps it was because he had done the same several days ago and had seen a turret clock, and above it a small room for the man who kept the clock running. But now, and how was this possible? there was another tower, a round one with a window. It was even higher than the clock tower. He knew for certain it had not been there when he had seen the clock tower. In fact, he could have sworn the clock tower did not exist until the night he first saw it.

In the clock tower room, he had met the fearsome ghost Josephine. She had taunted him earlier, and this last encounter was many times worse! He never wanted to go back to that tower...but now, what was he seeing? There was a woman, he thought, in the higher tower, the one that had not been there earlier. She opened the window as he watched and sat on the window sill, looking very much as if she might fall out. He called to her, but she seemed not to have heard.

He walked back to the mansion and entered. There was a staircase, a winding staircase, halfway down the hall, under where the tower would be. He knew it had not been there even when he went outside a few moments ago. Was it another trick of Josephine's? He hesitated at the bottom of the stairs. He didn't want to go through that, yet the woman at the window had no resemblance to Josephine.

He ran up the stairs two by two. At the top, there was a door, similar to the one in the clock tower room. He opened it carefully and entered. Suddenly he felt enveloped by the cold, chill air of the room. Freezing...Josephine? Could it be her? He knew that tell tale sign...she had almost frozen him to death twice before. He decided to speak, but held onto the door if he had to make a quick exit.

"Madame, are you all right? Who is it that I am speaking to?"

[Madam Leona]

Madam Leona smiled, he was asking her if she were alright? It seemed that he already knew that she wasn't quite... completely there. Still invisible, she floated towards him and put a hand on his arm, making the spot on his arm become very cold. She tried to remember which place this masked man came from. Possibly it was one of the movies... no, no... she remembered that she had helped the other ghosts bring this one in. A play... now she remembered, they had brought him from one of the plays. She smiled and took her hand off him and floated away from him a few steps.

Leona then turned around, looking at him and slowly began to take shape. The room became colder as she formed until soon she was standing in front of him. Like a black and white photo, her skin was pale as death, her eyes black and endless, her feet and end of her long dress transparent as if she were not a finished water painting. Though her appearance was quite haunting and sad looking, even very creepy looking- she still had a pleasant and nice smile on her face. "My name is Leona... though you may call me Madam Leona." She said, her voice crystal clear and unmistakeable. Leona was glad she was finally able to meet one of the masked men. No doubt there would be interesting conversations between them and herself.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik knew he had seen someone in the high turret window. He had thought she was going to tumble out and he had hoped he could stop her from falling if he came up quickly enough. Not seeing anyone when he arrived in the room, he had called out to her, but still had seen nothing.

Suddenly he felt a hand on his arm, a cold hand and he pulled away instinctively, inhaling quickly. And he felt a tiny bit of fear in the pit of his stomach.Erik was a brave man, normally afraid of nothing, but this was something he was unable to deal with. He felt helpless in their hands...and he knew they were up to no good. That is why the ghosts had that effect on him.

Could Josephine be back? He backed up gracefully, meaning to turn and catch the door as he left the room. It was obviously another spectre and he wasn't about to wait to find out if it was friendly or not.

But then, he stopped cold in his tracks, seeing the spectre take shape. He was right,... a ghost, but it didn't look like Josephine. That didn't mean that it wasn't Josephine. The spectre became more and more solid until she looked almost like a person. Still too ethereal, though, he thought. Well, it still didn't look like Josephine. And h e noticed her legs and bottom of her dress were invisible. She looked sad and pleasant at the same time.

"Madam Leona?" Erik repeated her words. "Erik Lenoir...late of Paris. Good evening, Madam." Erik removed his fedora and bowed slightly. "Yes, very enchanting to meet you. Perhaps I should be going; I had no thought to disturb you." He took another step backwards and could feel the door at his heel, but it was closed. He must have closed it when he entered the room.

Erik reached behind him for the doorknob, trying to remain calm on the outside. He couldn't feel the doorknob and he didn't want to turn his face on the spectre.

[Madam Leona]

Leona bowed her head back at him slightly when he had taken off his fedora and had greeted her back. And when he had tried to leave.... she felt slightly insulted. Unfortunately, the masked man had caught her on an unusual mood. "Good evening to you as well... and you did not disturb me at all. In fact, I quite enjoy company." She said then in a moment, completely disappeared.

Everything went completely silent, almost defining silent. Madam Leona placed her hand on the door knob and made it feel so cold that it would feel like it was burning if touched. She then reappeared, looking the same as she had before, but sitting on the bed this time. She didn't want to hurt the masked man, but she didn't want him to try and leave either. This definitely wasn't one of her greatest first impressions. "I would be ever so pleased if you stepped away from the door. I promise you I am usually quite friendly and possibly will be enjoyable to converse with." She said smiling.

[Erik Lenoir]

This spectre didn't act like Josephine...that didn't mean Josephine wasn't masquerading as this new ghost. But Erik relaxed a bit, however not letting his guard down. It was always good to be careful. She greeted him back and said she enjoyed company...then she unexpectedly and mysteriously disappeared! "Madame, if you wish me to speak with you, I shall be happy to stay a bit, but I beg of you, please stop disappearring. It is quite disconcerting to me."

Erik reached behind him again, for the doorknob. He wanted the door 0pen so he could make a quick exit if needed. But when he touched the knob, it was so cold that Erik pulled his hand away and said, "Damn!"his voice sounding full of shock and pain. Now he knew this spectre didn't wish for him to leave. She was giving him no choice but to stay. Still wondering if it was Josephine in another guise, she asked him rather nicely to step away from the door. He did so, and moved to the table where there were several chairs. "Madame, I hope that you do not mind me sitting, but it is getting quite tedious to be standing with nowhere to go." Erik was getting a bit annoyed, but there was not much he could do against these spectres if they had a mind to confine him. He hoped that he could persuade her to let him go. But in the meantime, he decided to try to be patient and see what she wanted. He pulled out his white handkerchief to dust the seat before he sat down.

[Madam Leona]

Madam Leona cringed slightly when he had cursed out loud, she did warn him. She tried to smile warmly to the masked ma when he went to sit down. "I don't mind at all." She said, continuing to sit on the bed... not that she could feel the sheets of the bed... or the wind from the window. "I hope, my dear man, that your hand is alright once more?" She asked him a bit quietly.

Leona was silent for a moment thinking and as she did this, she sort of flickered, as if she were a dull, gray, candle light. It took energy to gain energy to keep energy. She then had an idea and her body came into a dull focus once again and she looked at him. She stood and glided over to Lenoir, her being so near was quite cold... but not so frost biting cold as it would be if she were to try and give herself color. "I must tell you that I am one of the... ghosts... that helped brought you here." She put up her hands some. "But first... you must tell me.... have you found some sort of happy ending here...?" She asked him sadly, her hands slowly dropping back down to her sides.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik noticed the spectre cringe when he said, damn.... He thought that was rather interesting. "I'm sorry....I should not curse in front of a lady...even if the lady is..." Erik left it at that and his voice trailed off. He did not want to say dead. It' sounded rather rude under the circumstances.

Madam Leona continued to sit on the bed and she actually apologised for the doorknob startling him with its iciness. "I'm fine, no reason to worry over me, dear lady," Erik said. Then the spectre began to flicker as if a candle were lending its light to a picture.

Madam Leona approached Erik and he began to shiver with the cold of her presence. She told Erik that she was one of the ghosts who brought him here. At that he stood up in anger and puzzlement. "What the hell did you do that for? Why would you want me or anyone of these other people here? How dare you disturb our lives and keep us confined here!" Erik was rather seething at this news, but he stood where he was and made no steps toward her. It would do no good, she was incomporeal. He knew now she couldn't fall out of a window as he had thought at first, or even be hurt in any way. But she might be able to hurt him physically, as Josephine had done, so he wished to keep a safe distance from her. He felt himself backing up imperceptably until he felt the chair at the back of his legs and he could back up no further. He sat down rather abruptly.

Leona though did not seem menacing to Erik. Her coldness unnerved him even as the coldness of his hands had unnerved Christine. And she asked him if he had found a happy ending here.

"Happy ending? what are you talking about?" Erik had raised his voice a little more than he had meant to. This spectre was unnerving him more than he wished to admit. Erik tried to calm himself and said in a low, but somewhat dangerous voice, "Does ending mean that I shall spend the rest of my life here?"

[Madam Leona]

Leona flinched slightly when the masked man stood and shouted at her. She did not appreciate being yelled at, in fact, the only people who ever did do that was her parents when she was younger... and alive. She glanced at him as he sat in the chair, Leona shouldn't have to take any of this from the living. Whether she had brought them or not, she didn't feel that it was right that she should have to take this. Wasn't there something that said, Respect the Dead?

He then asked what she was talking about with her question on his happy ending. Madam Leona sighed and as she did, she nearly completely faded. She glided a few feet back, looking sadly. She hadn't meant to make the masked man so upset. "My reason's for taking your people out are much... different then most here. Them, they just want to toy with your people and give them a good scare. Stereotypical I suppose of us dead..." She said, chuckling some.

"I am a sort of writer and well.. slightly obsessed with happy endings. I know the endings of your people... the other masked men." She said and then faded, everything silent for a moment. Her voice then continued in a soft whisper in Erik's ear. "I had a similar ending you know... why do you think I am dead? All I wanted was for your people... the other masked men... to find happiness... when where you were... the Eriks don't find happiness... they had a different chance here."

[Erik Lenoir]

Madam Leona flinched again when Erik shouted at her. He was letting his temper flare again, but it was not easy to keep it under control, not with the unnerving news that he had recently discovered: that the ghosts were the ones who purposely had pulled all of the Opera people from their lives and into this mansion.

"Forgive me again, Madame, for my nerves are rather frayed. I apologise for raising my voice. I have been quite disrespectful to a lady. It shall not happen again." This spectre seemed quite congenial and Erik was always polite to women, with a few notable exceptions. She looked a bit put off and he sat down again.

She answered his question then, as to what she meant by "happy endings." She said the other ghosts wanted to toy with them, but she was different. She wanted them to live a happy life, and where theyused to be, the Eriks would never be happy. Erik looked at her in surprise. "I thank you for your kind intentions, but what makes you think none of us could make happy lives for ourselves?" Of course as he was asking the question, he could see himself in the lair, unmasked and weeping as he lost Christine to Raoul, then running for his life for the murder he had committed... perhaps she was correct. He wondered if she knew about his relationship with Christine and about the murder.

His voice became gentler. "I must thank you or whoever did this...for the excellent replica of my home. It is a perfect replica, complete with all my belongings and everything as I had originally built it. How you did it, I could not imagine. But I do appreciate it. I feel comfortable in my own home."

Erik went on. "And I shall find my own way here...it is not a bad place, don't think that I am disparaging you or your work, but everyone needs freedom, the right to live where they wish. And furthermore, none of this was even explained to us when we arrived." Then something else occurred to Erik. "You said the Eriks would have sad lives. What about the Christines? Would they not be pleased with their Raouls? Why should they need to come here?" Erik raised his visible eyebrow. He was playing devil's advocate now, as he did on occasion if it suited him. "Why should the Christines, Raouls, Megs and others have to come here?"

[Madam Leona]

You are forgiven..." She said softly as she reappeared in the gray scale coloring once again looking upset for a moment but then calmed herself down a bit. Madam Leona then listened to him speak. Oh yes, he really was rather a gentle man when he was quite calm. He then thanked her for her intentions, but questioned why she didn't think that they could make happy lives themselves. Leona could answer it quite bluntly but she did not wish to upset the masked man again and didn't answer right away, letting him continue to speak first.

He thanked her... and the other ghosts for making the replica of his home. She was delighted that he was comfortable in his home. She then listened as he spoke on freedom... and that no one explained anything when they arrived. She could explain that, it really wasn't their faults completely. Leona then saw a spark in his eyes and he then questioned her on what lives the Christines and Raouls would live... why all the other characters had to come here as well. It hadn't been to Leona's decistion to bring them here... she more was the one to help out with the Eriks and Christines.

"I myself don't know what lives the Christines, Raouls, or any of the other characters would have lived. The only thing I really took part in was bringing the Christines and Eriks... I intended for them to live out their lives happily... it is the others who have brought the other characters, not in my favor. And again, I don't know all of their intentions, I just know that mine are completely harmless." She paused and looked at Erik. "I think we gave you more freedom here then you would have in your original lives. Here you can make all of your own decisions were as in your worlds.... everything would stay the same forever."

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik nodded in appreciation when Leona said he was forgiven. It was strange speaking wiht the ghosts. Most had been congenial though. "Do you know of a ghost who does terrible things to himans? Frightening things?" Erik was referring to Josephine, although he h ad never learned her name. And he didn't want to go into detail with everything she had done to him, for it was very embarrassing. "One of the things she did was push me down the stairs...and make me cold as ice. I nearly froze to death in the library and the fire was burning brightly in the fireplace. It would seem that at least that ghost has brought me and perhaps others here for her own wicked pleasure..."

"So you have felt that each Erik shouldhave his Chrisstine? That is a lovely thought. My Christine has no love for me and she fears me. It saddens me, for she doesn't really know me. However..." and Erik said this a bit hesitantly, for he wasn't sure how it would play out..."However, there is another woman that may replace Christine in my heart. She seems to have no fear of me and I find her company delightful. However, I should not be speaking of this, so as not to disparage the girl before this has even been discussed with her."

"You are a breath of fresh air, Madame, for you seem to really wish happiness upon us." Erik was beginning to look kindly upon this spectre. She was a good sort and wished only to help, if he was reading her correctly."Tell me, why did you not wish for the Raouls to come here? Perhaps the fighting between the Eriks and Raouls? Over the Christines? There has certainly been plenty of that. I expecct the other spectres have plenty of enjoyment over that. "

Leona mentioned that the residents here were given more freedom here than they would have in their own worlds. "Perhaps you are correct." Erik paused. "There is one thing that both intrigues me and frightens me. One of the ghosts told me that we were free to leave, but that we might disappear if we left the area, most likely the mansion and village areas. Could it be true? Or conversely, might we disappear into our old worlds? What do you think?"

[Madam Leona]

Madam Leona listened as the masked man asked her if she knew a ghost that did terrible things... and that she pushed him down the stairs. Most of the female ghosts here were rather pleasant. However, there was one female ghost here who she did not get along with the most. "There is one I could be quite certain, who enjoys... toying with the living. I believe you are speaking about Josephine."

"She usually shows herself in full color to the living... something rather energy consuming which makes it quite extremely cold. She's a red head, a laughter that makes you cautious of your surroundings. She's also quite possibly the only ghost here in the manor that I can not get along with at all. Josephine and I have our... quarrels and very different point of views and feelings. Well... I am sure you could already tell that I am not very much like Josephine." She said with a bit of laughter, though it was a little empty as she never enjoyed speaking about Josephine.

Madam Leona then listened how he thought it was lovely that she should think that Erik should have his Christine. She would nod but it was not so much as him having his Christine as it is as having a happy ending, it was just her obsession. He then spoke about that there was a possibility of another woman thought it is unsure if she even likes him like so back. She understood how that felt... she felt that with... no.... she had to make herself stay as pleasant as possible in the company of the living. No room for thoughts about him. She smiled a bit when Erik said that she was a breath of fresh air. He then questioned why she didn't want the Raouls to come here. And that their fights give many of the ghosts enjoyment from it.

"Some." She agreed about the other ghosts, though of course not for herself. "The Raouls... remind me of someone..." She said very quietly, looking down, off as if something of great interest was on the ground. He then thought her correct that they had more freedom here. Erik also said that if they left the area, they might disappear back into their own worlds. "Yes, its true to a point. While you can roam the village and the forest and outside of the manor freely, there is a certain point which you are not able to exist beyond. We don't exactly know what that point is, I only suggest you do not stray to far from the village or the outskirts of the forest. You may disappear before the next town. It has already happened to one of your people..." She said. Madam Leona didn't see it happen, but she felt it, like she had felt when Charles and Emma had died in the manor.

[Erik Lenoir]

Erik listened as Madam Leona told him her feelings about Josephine, the name of the frightening ghost Erik had been terrorized by. He did not like to say the word terrorized, for he didn't want anyone to think he was afraid of a ghost. But that is exactly what it was...pure terror. Lenoa mantioned that she did not get along well with the evil Josephine, and although Leona didn't call her evil, Erik inserted that word whenever he thought of the terrifying spectre.

Then Leona confirmed that there was a point where the human residents of the mansion might disappear back into their own worlds. "But wouldn't that be a good thing, for the human residents, Madame? The ones who don't wish to stay here?" He paused. "If we don't wish to stay and we simply keep on walking, we would then end up in our own times, in our own homes? Is this waht you are saying?" Erik seemed rather excited. This was the best news he'd heard yet on this subject.

"And what of the one who disappeared? Who is she and how did it happen? And did she go back to her former life? It would be sad though, if she arrived there and the people form her former life who had come here, stayed here and she would forever be separated frm them..." Erik pondered on thses things.

"Do you really know these things, Madame Leona, or are you and the other spectres guessing that that is what may happen to us?" Erik was slient. He had already decided that he could probably be happy here. As long as he didn't commit any more crimes, he would be fine. And he wasn't expecting to do any more murders, although offing Raoul Christophe de Chagny was quite tempting. But he could live with that. If Teressa started to feel the way he did for her, everything would be wonderful. But perhaps she wouldn't want to stay. ... There were so many unknowns.

Erik blinked. He had been daydreaming for a moment. He smiled back at Madam Leona, hoping he had heard all of what she had to say.

[Madam Leona]

Madam Leona shrugged a little when the masked man had asked if it would be good for the residents' for those who do not wish to stay. He then continued to speak on it and she sighed slightly and shook her head. "Yes, you would keep walking and walking and finally you would end right up to where you were last. But you would not remember anything from here or that you had ever left at all. And the people you leave here would be disappointed of your absents."

"The one who left was I believe to be... Erik Carriere's Christine.. I believe that is his name. I helped take him out as well. His Christine had become to overwhelmed with emotions and tried to leave and ended up passing the point of no return, returning back to her world. However, it is rumored that we will be trying to take her out again... the Carriere character became quite upset at her disappearance. She did return back to her former life, with no memory of ever leaving or anything of the sort. Only the people here who met her remember her as she was here."

"A bit of each, we know that the Christine disappeared after a certain point, we could feel it. But then there are other things that even we do not yet understand." Madam Leona's appearance flickered again. It was becoming rather exhausting having to stay as she was. And as her energy continued to slowly die, the room slowly became warmer. However, she stabilized, though looked rather faint but still pretty easy to see. Leona then let the handle go back to its original temperature and sighed. "I don't see why any of you would want to go back... you have such chances to be happy here, to change how you live. Where as in your world, everything has already happened and will never change. There is freedom here... in a wide sense."