Now that his home was both above ground and also inhabited by an angel, the composer had less time to spend in his Opera House. That said, he was never far from the place, and although he'd all but turned over the management of the day-to-day affairs to his assistant, Michael Deal, there were few things that missed his constant gaze.
He certainly hadn't missed the last-minute substitution of the first bassoon. What Erik found unforgivable was that he kept within his employee an understudy who was as ill-prepared as the man had proven himself tonight. He'd all but ruined the first act, and the second hadn't fared well either.
Unseen from the hidden tunnels and high catwalks, Erik trailed the understudy backstage, anger spiking his blood. What he hadn't expected to see, however, was the good doctor doing much the same. Amusement began to overwhelm the anger, and by the time he reached the door of the storage room where Hannibal disappeared, he was smirking.
He waited a minute or two, then opened the door and quickly stepped through before closing and locking it with a key from his pocket.
A glance toward the floor. An arched eyebrow. And then Erik did something he never, ever had done in front of Hannibal.