When Erik heard Christine and Raoul declaring their love for one another on the roof of the opera house, he could feel his poor, hope-filled heart crack and break. He wept as he listened to their slow retreat inside, blinded by his sadness. He'd had such hopes… He had been so certain he could win her over. If only she'd given him more time! If only she hadn't been so damned curious, she wouldn't have unmasked him… She wouldn't know the monster that had been giving her singing lessons.
Even through the thick cloak of sorrow that plagued him, he felt something even darker shuddering awake within him. Yes, he thought, run along, enjoy your time together for it will be short-lived!
Down he raced, down, down, down into the opera house. As he made his way through the catwalks and crawlspaces, he could hear Christine's muffled voice as she sang as the Countess. A nearly inaudible whimper escaped Erik's throat as he paused and listened. Hers was the voice of an angel.
He paused for a moment, just before coming out into full view of anyone who happened to be looking his way- a grand total of no one as all eyes were on the lovely little soprano on stage- and stared at her as she moved with grace and beauty, serenading the audience with her pure and sweet airs. Do you not see her lies? Innocent and pure- hah! If only the audience could've seen the brazen way she behaved on the rooftop!
The moment passed, and Erik surged forward, severing the ropes that held up the chandelier and sending it crashing into the audience below.
Christine jumped back, her hands flying to cover her mouth as the audience's screams and the crash of glass and metal against the floor reached her ears. She stared down at the wreckage before her gaze trailed upwards. Erik flinched as her eyes reached him, instinctively stepping back into the darkness, but something stopped him.
He stepped forward, fully out of the shadows. His cloak fell around him, the fine embroidered details around the collar and shoulders glistening in what light there still was. He locked his eyes on hers, watching as she stared a moment longer before turning and hurrying off the stage.
He watched the spot where she had been standing as chaos ensued far below where he stood. He only move when he heard heavy footsteps hurrying clumsily in his direction. He pushed open a decorative panel near where the chandelier had hung and slipped into the darkness. The panel shut on its own behind him, giving no hint to his pursuers as to where he had gone.
Long before they discovered they were chasing naught but shadows, Erik was crossing the lake to his home, lamenting what he had seen on the rooftop as the cogs in his brain turned on a new plan.
A plan to get rid of the pesky vicomte.