Hey, everybody! Just thought I'd write another 'Phantom…' story. If you haven't seen the movie, then you are CRAZY! Enjoy!
Erik's POV:
Christine and I had just arrived to my boat that I used to transport her to my lair. She sat down in the center while I stood in the back, rowing toward the other side of the underground dungeon in the opera house.
My recent anger toward her removing my mask was slowly fading as I looked down at her while rowing the boat. She turned her head around now and again, gazing at the faces of the hideous stone gargoyles carved into the walls.
As I continued rowing, she turned around to look at me, drawing in a sharp breath. Her lovely, pale face was wet with fresh tears. I felt my rock solid heart crack in half as I stared, almost in shock, at my Angel of Music.
"What is wrong, my dear?" I asked her, somewhat struggling to be gentle with her, concern seeping into my voice.
"M…Mister Opera Ghost, sir," she sniffed. "I did not intend to make you angry. It was foolish of me to remove the mask without your permission."
I almost stopped the boat at hearing her lovely speaking to me, but my heart dropped deep into my chest at the sadness in her tone.
"I understand if you do not forgive me for my idiotic actions. You have every right to hate me." She buried her face into her soft hands as I finally ceased moving the water craft.
Setting the oars on the floor, I knelt down beside her. Raising my gloved hands, I pulled hers away from her face. Christine's cheeks were flushed red from crying as she shivered, as if she was expecting me to strike her.
"Christine, it was wrong of me to act the way I did. You simply did not know about my mask. I could never hate you, for a woman like you possesses many admirable qualities. I never wanted to cause you harm, my dear."
I gently wiped the tears away from her face. The human inside me longed to take her into my arms and comfort my Angel, but I refrained. A few minutes later, we had arrived back to the secret passage to her dressing room, me carrying a slumbering Christine in my arms.
She looked so beautiful and delicate as I laid her on the bed, drawing the covers over her sleeping form.
Before departing, I leaned down and whispered into her ear. "My only hope is that you will come to love me. Soon, we will be together forever, my sweet Christine. I promise, my love."
With that, I stood up, exiting her room before someone, perhaps Madame Giry, came to check on her. Thoughts of our possible future as a man and woman floated in my head.
She would learn to find the man underneath the monster. For she is the only key to unlock my long lost humanity…