Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Erik's heart was breaking. Only moments before, he had been at the pinnacle of rapture; being kissed for the first time in his lonely, tortured life.
Christine had kissed him at the outset to show him that he was not alone. Their lips met, and in his mind there was at last a feeling of peace. The endless discordant musings and relentless longings fell silent. Blessed peace, followed by boundless joy. Christine pulled back from the kiss and opened her eyes. Her Angel. Her love. Understanding dawned. Her love. Not Raoul, never Raoul. Lovely boy that he was, he would never be, could never be, her Angel. She kissed Erik again, pressing her length against him, the heat coming off of him warming her even while standing in the cold water of his underground lake. She tenderly caressed his scarred features, as he dared to deepen their kiss, pulling her into his chest and firmly grasping her waist. When they parted at last, her chest was heaving and gazing into his eyes, Christine felt as though she were simultaneously drowning and flying. Erik stared intently back, watching each emotion pass over her face. She loves me. She loves me. She loves me.
Christine smiled tremulously up at him, with wonder in her eyes at the joy she felt, at the love she saw reflected there. Erik felt as though his chest would burst, so full of love and longing it was. Then the realization set in. Slowly the elation on Erik's face turned to sorrow, as great sobs began to wrack his chest. She loves me, and I've ruined everything.
He could not keep her here, this beautiful creature of light. He belonged to the shadows, sentenced eternally to hiding in the darkness. He could not consign her to a fate that he himself despised. He loved her too much to imprison her in his tortuous existence. The tears were flowing down his cheeks as he turned from her.
"Take him. Forget me. Forget all of this. Leave me alone, forget all you've seen. Go now, don't let them find you. Take the boat, swear to me, never to tell. The secret you know of the Angel in hell."
Christine was stunned. Was he releasing her after what they just shared? The sound of Raoul choking behind her snapped her out of her shock. She ran through the knee deep water to untie the ropes that bound him to the portcullis. She hugged him, relieved to see that he was, for the most part, unharmed. She turned to look for Erik, but he had disappeared, unable to watch his beloved leave him yet again.
Christine grasped Raoul's hand, pulling him towards the small boat. "You must go! It isn't safe to stay here." They could hear the mob in the distance, growing closer.
"I won't leave without you Christine. You cannot be thinking of staying! It's madness! He is madness!"
Christine slowly shook her head and gave him a sad smile. "Go now Raoul. My eyes are opened. I see everything as it should be." She gave him a small kiss at the corner of his mouth, and stepped back.
Raoul was dumbstruck. Christine was clearly out of her mind; all the years under the spell of that madman had done their work on her. She would have to be taken by force. He regarded the little boat. There was no way he would be able to take her against her will in that tiny little contraption. It was hardly more stable than a canoe. He considered for a moment. He would find his way back out of this God forsaken underwater dungeon and return with the means to remove Christine from this hell. With, or without her consent.
"Very well. I shall always love you; there will never be a day when I don't think of you." Christine smiled at the memory of the song. Her first triumph at the Opera Populaire. Raoul noticed her smile, and thought it was for the memory of their reunion that had taken place the night of her debut at the Opera. His determination to rescue Christine from her madness strengthened, and he silently resolved to return for her as soon as possible.
He climbed into the little boat, and got underway. Stealing glances back at her, she watched him until he disappeared in the fog and darkness.
Masquerade
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Erik sang softly, his voice breaking. He had come so close to bliss, had held it in his hands for one brief moment. He loved, and was loved in return. But it was over now; this Angel would never dwell in heaven. He was cursed, doomed to be cast out and spend eternity in crushing solitude. He was in agony, his soul shredded.
Through his tears Erik glanced up to see his love watching him from the shadows.
"Christine, I love you" he sang, his voice catching.
Christine smiled gently, her eyes filling with unshed tears. She stepped tentatively forward, her gaze drawn to the ring on her finger. The ring given to her by Raoul, but that she had worn instead as a symbol of her love for Erik. Would he send her away again? Could she convince him of her devotion?
Inside Erik, fear battled hope. Why was she here? He had sent her away, out of his love for her. Had she come to say goodbye? Or, as he had scarce allowed himself to think, had she returned to him?
As she approached, frowning in concentration as she stared at the ring, Erik lost all hope. She was here to say a last goodbye. His face was full of despair as he stood and waited for the final dagger in what was left of his heart.
Christine stopped before him and placed her hand on his bare chest, over his heart. It beat so wildly, as though it would burst from his chest. She grasped his right hand and placed it over her own pounding heart.
Staring up at him, she sang softly, "Love me, that's all I ask of you"
