A/N: My dearest readers, at least those of you who remain I would like to apologize for my long absence. I fear that the fairy of inspiration has truly left me, though I hope this isn't the case. I deleted signs of darkness because I feel to I wrote it too close to the book. The whole point of fanfiction is to write a new take on it. So this is my second attempt at it. I hope you will all continue reading and give me feedback.
Disclaimer: I do not own any Characters except those who I may create myself. All credit goes to Gaston Leroux, ALW and Susan Kay.
Signs of Darkness: When a husband and wife begin to grow a part, things from the past begin to repeat themselves. Is it too late to fix the wrongs of years long gone, or can the power of love overcome all?
Christine Tournay pulled her small black BMW into the drive of the chateau she had called home for the past year, a feeling of dread washing over her as she gazed up at the looming building ahead of her. How many years had this prison? How many unhappy wives had returned to their husbands here? How many years would it be till death finally embraced her? These questions all swirled through Christine's mind as she slid the key into the deadbolt before slowly swinging the door open. Silence was all that greeted her, not that she was surprised or disappointed. She had grown accustomed to coming home only to find that her husband was no where to be found. She walked down the hall, down a small flight of steps and into the kitchen. Though she knew the help had the day off, she still looked around before opening the door to the wine cellar.
As always her heart gave an uncomfortable lurch as she stepped into the darkness, grabbing the flashlight she had placed by the door the following day she quickly made her way down the steps. A slight shiver raced down her spine as she looked around, she directed the beam of light from the flashlight around the space, though it seemed that it didn't quite illuminate the darkest corners. Heading down the closest row of wines she quickly selected a bottle of red wine, not noticing the date as she tucked it under her arm and made her way back upstairs.
Setting the bottle down on the counter she searched for the cork screw and before long had poured a generous amount of the blood red liquor into a large wine glass. She sighed in relief just before lifting the glass to her lips. She could smell the wine, almost taste it and would have had she not heard the sound of a car door slamming. Muttering a curse under her breath she tried to hide the glass and the bottle of wine in one of the nearest cabinets, wondering why on earth her husband was home early.
She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down before her husband entered the house and eventually found her. 'Maybe I do have time for a drink, would help me calm down anyway' she thought bitterly. In the distance she could hear the front door slam before the sound of footsteps came closer and closer towards her own location. It always unnerved her how he always knew just where she was. She braced herself, leaning against the kitchen counter just as he came into view. She had to admit, even after a year of a mostly unhappy marriage her husband was as breath taking as ever. Dressed in a black suit, the tie slightly loosened, his broad shouldered frame fitting perfectly into the tailored suit, his black hair framing his face perfectly, his eyes...his eyes which were neither blue nor green but were undoubtedly the most amazing eyes she'd ever seen. The slight scar that marred his right cheek did nothing to take away the beauty of his features. She had to tear her eyes away before addressing him, knowing that if she did not he would surely hear the admiration in her voice and the last thing she needed was him knowing that he still had power over her.
"Erik, you're home early." She said calmly, never quite knowing how she managed to so quickly appear calm when inside she was falling apart. Erik looked at his wife, and frowned wondering not for the first time why he had ever decided to marry. Sure Christine was beautiful, a good person, she had money, intelligence, everything he should have wanted but as he looked at her he felt nothing but disgust. Not with her, but with himself. He was weak to give into her, weak for-
"Are you all right? You seem a bit out of it husband." Christine said coldly, crossing her arms over her chest. She watched as the color drained Erik's face when she called him 'husband' and felt her heart give a painful thump.
"I'm fine, disappointed to find me home so early are we?" He replied, his tone easily sending another shiver down her spine. She shrugged off the feeling and turned her back on Erik as she reached into the cabinet for the glass of wine. She no longer cared what her husband thought, it seemed he didn't care how he hurt her so why shouldn't she indulge in a little drink.
"Don't be silly, your return and the brooding that comes along is all I look forward to anymore." She said, flashing him a sardonic grin before quickly draining her glass of wine, the sound of retreating footsteps causing her heart to beat painfully beneath her breast. She set the glass down, feeling torn between the urge to weep and the urge to scream and go after her husband and throw the damn bottle of wine at him. Maybe that would finally break past the barriers that seemed to have grown between them.
Though she greeted her husband with cold indifference, though she was angry at him more often than not she still loved him. But the pain that seemed to grow with each day that he drifted further away from her transformed into anger. Anger that she didn't understand why her husband no longer seemed to love her. Why should she care though when he no longer did? When he was rarely home, and when he was he was locked away in his study, eating dinner alone and no longer sleeping in the same room with her? It was these thoughts that had her reaching into the cabinet, it was these thoughts that had her filling the glass time and again till there was not a drop left in the bottle, it was these thoughts that swam in her mind just before everything went black.
XXX
Erik sat in his study examining a large book, a book that he had examined countless times since his youth. Despite the fact he practically knew the contents by heart, he still looked through it as though some mystery would suddenly be revealed between the yellowed pages. But even if some new piece of information were revealed he wouldn't have noticed because his thoughts were consumed with Christine. In the depths of his mind he knew it wasn't right that he had been practically ignoring her for all this time. He knew she wasn't one to drink and that he was the reason she was turning to the bottle since she couldn't turn to him. But he didn't want to deal with that. He didn't want to care, but he did. Try as he might he could not rid himself of the love he still had for Christine, even if he had withdrawn from her, even if he made himself believe he didn't love her. But now she no longer believed he loved her and in this way he was finally getting somewhere. Because if she didn't believe he loved her she would leave him alone, and he wanted so desperately to be alone. Or so he thought.
Even from two floors above the kitchen the sound of shattering glass broke through his thoughts. Before he could stop himself he was out of his chair and out the door, hoping that Christine had not managed to hurt herself. He raced down into the kitchen, stopping when he his eyes landed on Christine's motionless body on the floor, shards of glass on the floor around her. He walked towards her, the glass crunching beneath his shoes. He stooped down and carefully picked Christine up, he carried her up the stairs and into the sitting room before setting her down on the divan. He hoped she would not wake, though at the same time he longed to see her eyes open and look at him with love and trust instead of the usual hurt and disappointment that her gray orbs had housed for so long now.
He looked her over, making sure there wasn't any glass embedded in her porcelain skin. Making sure that she wasn't injured though he was sure once she awoke she wouldn't be in the best shape. Once he was satisfied there wasn't any glass in her skin, hair or clothing he draped a throw blanket over her form, he needed to clean up the mess in the kitchen but before he left the room he bent over her, and quickly pressed a kiss to her forehead. As soon as his lips touched her smooth skin, as soon as he breathed in the scent of her hair and skin, as soon as the longing to take her into his arms filled him he immediately regretted his decision and quickly fled the room.
Upon returning to the kitchen he quickly swept up the shards of glass and threw them out along with the wine bottle, but not before he looked at the date. 1870. He put it out of his mind, no use trying to make something out of nothing. Surely this was all a coincidence. Shaking his head he shut off the lights in the kitchen and apprehensively returned to the sitting room to check on Christine.
She was still not awake, and it seemed that her cheeks had lost their flushed appearance. In fact she looked extremely pale. He knelt down beside the divan and placed his hand on her forehead which was cool to the touch, but as he began to withdraw his hand, her eyes fluttered open. Though as his eyes met hers they were not the eyes he knew. In fact they appeared to be a bright blue. But it was her voice as she began to speak that was the most unsettling.
"Why Erik what has happened to your mask?" She asked in a soft, almost musical voice. A voice that clearly had a slight French accent. She blinked a few times, her eyes settling on the right side of his face. She gasped, her hand moving towards his cheek, before softly stroking it with the tips of her cold fingers. "Your face...it is different. The scar is almost completely gone. What a miracle Erik!" She moved to sit up, but slumped back against the chair, her eyes closing briefly. "I feel..absolutely horrid." She whispered, placing the back of her hand against her forehead. Erik watched, unable to say anything for a moment, before his confusion turned to impatient anger.
"You've clearly had too much to drink, now stop this nonsense and lets get you to bed." Christine frowned at his tone, looking up at him with those eyes which oddly seemed familiar to him.
"What have I done to make you so upset angel?" Christine asked in the same soft, almost childlike voice. Erik began to shake his head before leaning over and gathering her form in his arms. Christine laughed softly, the childish tone suddenly gone from her as she continued to look up at him. "So we are finally going to bed are we?" She asked in a silky tone, as she wrapped her arms around his neck as she lifted her from the divan. Erik felt heat in his cheeks at her words but ignored her, thinking surely this must be just another one of her games. But it seemed Christine had more to say. "You know, I too have wanted this for quite some time. Since that night you first revealed to me that you are indeed a living breathing man instead of the angel I had thought you to be...I must admit I was shocked at first. Though rather pleased. Who would have thought angels were so dark and passionate?" She said, before laughing softly again. Erik nearly dropped her. How much had she had to drink? He had only found the one bottle, but she had never held her liquor well...
"Oh don't look so shocked, surely you must realize I am a woman. Even if you did try to keep me a pure an innocent child, I am sure you'll find the change welcome. After all it is you who instilled such a passion within me." Christine looked up at Erik as he made his way out of the sitting room trying to ignore her words and unwavering gaze. Christine remained silent for a while as he carried her down the hall and up the stairs, but as he carried her into the bedroom she now slept in alone she began speaking once more.
"It is so cold in here." And even as she said it she began to shiver, Erik's concern grew but he wasn't entirely sure as what to do when she was behaving this way. He set her on the bed and was about to leave the room to turn on the heater, but Christine grabbed his wrist. He looked down at her, impatience and concern causing him to want to comfort her but also to get as far away from her as possible. "Why do you always leave me?" She asked, her voice soft as her eyes looked up into his. He could clearly see the pain in her now blue eyes and felt guilty for putting such a look there..something he felt he had done times before even if he hadn't been aware of it before. Before he realized what he was doing he leaned over and kissed her forehead before gently stroking her cheek with the tips of his fingers, but as he realized what he was doing he quickly dropped his hand as if burned.
"Foolish girl, you always toy with me and tempt me so. I'll have none of it, your games won't work anymore." He hissed before storming from the room. Erik ran a hand through his hair, frustration, confusion and disgust running through his boiling blood with each accelerated beat of his heart. He paced the hall, wondering what had happened to Christine. What had caused this odd change in her behavior? Or was it really just the amount of wine she had consumed? He grew more and more concerned, though in the back of his mind he knew that he was ultimately to blame for the situation. He was to blame for the relationship he now had with his wife. It was his fault that their once happy marriage was now quickly falling apart.
Erik decided it would be best if he had someone check on Christine, just to make sure she'd be okay. He walked into his study, looked up the number of a long time friend and called the man who he hoped still only lived a half an hour away.
"Hello?" Came a slightly accented voice from the other line.
"Nadir?" Erik asked, with a trace of doubt in his voice.
"This is he. Is that you Erik?"
"It is. It's good to hear your voice once more my friend. I am sorry it took this long for me to call you, and that it is under these circumstances. I was wondering if perhaps you could come and check on my wife. I'm afraid she's fallen ill.."Erik trailed off. Was ill the right term? More like delusional, but Erik kept that opinion to himself.
"Of course. We can catch up later. I'm on my way Erik. I'll see you in a bit." Nadir swiftly hung up and grabbed his black doctors bag and was about to head out of the house when something stopped him. Though Erik had said his wife had fallen ill, Nadir suddenly had the impression that there was something more to it. Heading his own study, he grabbed another small bag from behind his desk. Satisfied that he was prepared for whatever he would find he got into his car and headed to his long time friends house.
XXX
Erik paced the hall by the front door, waiting for the sound of a car pulling up the drive. It felt like hours had gone by, but when Erik looked at the face of the grandfather clock he saw that it had only be twenty minutes. Finally after fifteen more minutes of frantic pacing, Erik heard a car pull up. He practically threw himself out the door to meet his friend. When Nadir stepped out of his car, he and Erik looked each other over for a moment. It had been nearly five years since they had seen each other last. Nadir's once raven hair, was now streaked with strands of gray, though the older man pulled it off well. Erik on the other hand looked no different, except for the miserable expression he now wore on his face.
"Erik, good man. I do hope everything is all right with this wife of yours." Nadir said kindly, embracing his friend for a moment before they headed for the front door. Once inside Erik turned to him, a frown still apparent in his eyes if not on his face.
"I'm sure she's fine. Just had a bit much to drink. None the less..something seems off." Erik explained as they made their way up the stairs toward the bedroom Christine now slept in alone. Erik opened the door for his friend and followed him in. Erik glanced at the bed and felt a wave of fury wash over him. Christine was no longer laying down on the bed. Erik walked past Nadir, to the bathroom door. He knocked softly, trying to control his anger as much as possible.
"Christine?" He called, though even he could hear the warning tone in his voice.
"Erik darling, is that you?" Came her silky and rather sarcastic reply from the other side of the door.
"Yes Christine. Now please come out. I have called a doctor to check you over to make sure you are all right." There was a brief moment of silence following Erik's words before the bathroom door swung open. Christine stood before Erik, her dark brown waves of hair pinned back away from her face. Her cheeks appeared flushed once more, and her eyes had returned to their grey color, though they looked at Erik with an accusing coldness that he had not seen there before. She had wrapped a light blue robe around her form, and as she stood in the doorway, Erik could feel a sense of familiarity once more that he had been in this situation before.
"Erik, my love I am absolutely fine. Though I don't particularly appreciate you inviting..guests without informing me beforehand." Christine's cold gaze moved from Erik's face to Nadir who was still standing by the bed. He smiled at her, and despite herself Christine suddenly softened. There came a feeling of trust as she looked at the mans dark skin and kind features.
"Madame, I am most sorry to bother you, but your husband seemed quite concerned." Nadir offered, cautiously approaching them. Christine turned once more to look at Erik, a cool smile gracing her lips.
"Concerned, I'm sure." Christine stepped around Erik and approached the man, extending her hand to him. "Monsieur, my name is Christine Daae. I apologize that I was not prepared for your visit or I would have been much more hospitable. I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course Miss Daae. I'm Nadir Akananda." He replied, taking her hand in his own and raising it to his lips. Christine smiled warmly at him, before looking over her shoulder at Erik.
"Erik, since our help is off and since I'm as you insist, still not quite well, would you please show Mr. Akananda to his room?" Nadir was about to refuse, to explain that he had only come to make sure she was in good health. But as he looked into the young womans eyes there was something there that made him keep his refusal to himself.
Erik looked slightly shocked for a moment, before he simply nodded. "Nadir my friend, please follow me. Together the men exited the room, both very aware of the door slamming shut behind them. Nadir knew something was off. Very off indeed. He assumed his friend had not been married very long. And for a newly wedded couple they both seemed equally miserable in this relationship. Cold resentment radiated off of them both as they interacted with each other, yet Nadir was sure that beneath it there was something more.
"Erik...I cannot help but feel that I am intruding." Nadir began, as Erik showed him into a large, comfortable room down the hall.
"Nonsense. It would be our pleasure to have you here." Erik said, attempting to smile at his friend. Nadir couldn't help but feel the sense of the dread that seeped into him due to this whole situation. It just wasn't right.
"Erik, I don't mean to pry but it's obvious that there isn't exactly warmth between you and Christine." Nadir knew he would have to be cautious with this subject. In the long time he had known Erik, the younger man was never very forth coming with information regarding his personal life.
"All couples have their occasional lovers spats." Erik replied, trying to sound convincing.
"Forgive me my friend, but this doesn't seem like your typical lovers spat. Erik, I know you do not confide in others easily, but I want to understand-"
"You forget your place Nadir. I invited you to make sure my wife is all right. Not to dissect our personal lives." Erik had his hand on the door knob, ready to leave the room but Nadir stopped him.
"Erik, my wanting to understand what is happening here has everything to do with making sure Christine is all right." Nadir was now convinced that something was definitely wrong. And whatever it was Erik wasn't going to share the details willingly.