CHAPTER 1
Where on earth was Erik? He normally was here before she even made it back to the dressing room from rehearsals! He was never late..
Today was tough during rehearsals. It ended up being a long day of Reyer yelling at the entire cast today because either people were getting off topic, or one of them had messed up a part in the song or simply messed an aria. Reyer was so strict that if even one person messed up they would begin the entire Act over again! He even insisted they stay through their lunch break! The nerve of that man to keep Christine from her lesson and her lunch break! Now, not only was Christine hungry but worried just the same.
Christine paced and paced from one side of the room to the other in front of the mirror. Where was he? Images of him raced through her mind and she just could not grasp anyone one of them. She stopped in fornt of the mirror and gazed into it longingly. Christine raised her hand and placed it on the mirror, still holding her own gaze, then released a long sigh.
"Erik," she breathed.
What could he possibly be doing that he would take time from her lesson? Christine knew Erik as if he were the back of her own hand and if Erik knew he was going to be late then he would left some kind of note for her.
Left a note! Christine spun around and looked at her small dressing room for a note. Maybe he did leave her one, and she just didn't notice it! A few minutes of searching she gave up the thought of a note all together.
What if something bad happened to him? OR worse... what if he was with another women?
A twinge of jealous shot through Christine as she thought of another women in her place. Learning from Erik, gazing at him with such adoration as she did, and most likely even got the chance to touch him. Her hands balled into fists at her sides as she thought of another women. Yes, Erik wore a mask, but that does not mean that he isn't capable to charm any other woman like he had done with her. He could just as easily lure a younger, more prettier girl than Christine into his clutches and replace her...
Christine shook her head. No more thoughts of doubt. She would not succumb to fears that might not even be true. Before she could judge Erik, she needed proof. Christine knew Erik and she also knew that he would never betray her like that. Not after all of the hard work they have done with her voice and performances for the opera. Erik would never leave Christine during the time she needed her angel the most. With thoughts of the last six months swirling in her head, she strolled over to couch and laid down on it. She sighed and began to remember the string of events that had led to this moment, and quite possibly the end of Erik in her life.
At some point in their relationship, everything seemed perfect. Those were the times when he was merely an angel and she was a devoted pupil yearning to please her teacher. That was before Raoul entered back into her life and ruined everything. She was glad that Raoul was back in her life, for she missed her childhood friend, but why did he have to come at the most important part of her and Erik's relationship? Raoul showed up the exact same day Erik revealed himself to Christine, not as the angel she hoped for but as a man. Christine was, of course, frightened because everything they built together was a lie. Once she saw him for a man and not an angel, she screamed in horror and nearly fainted. Erik, clearly upset by the reaction he received, removed his mask out of anger and showed Christine what a monster he truly believed himself to be.
Of course Christine was naive and childish at the time, so she ran. Away from Erik, and into the safety of Raoul's arms. After that moment things between Erik and Christine took a turn for the worst as he tried to take control of Christine's life. He threatened Raoul's life and even told her he would keep her locked up in his home under the opera house. Christine, no matter how many threats Erik made at her, still never truly feared him. She eventually, fell in love with the true Erik. Not the mysterious angel, and certainly not the opera ghost making ultimatums at her feet.
How she ended up loving him was something of a mystery to her as well, but for a brief few days Christine decided to get to know Erik better, to get to know the man underneath the façade of teacher and monster. So, she told him that she would stay with him for the holiday. Of course Raoul told her not to do it, but Christine didn't care about Raoul and his opinion on the matter. Christine knew that there was a more gentler side to Erik and she was determined to bring out, to make it shine brighter than any star in the sky. She eventually won because it was a complete bliss to be trapped in Erik's home. Not only did he open her eyes about the beauty underneath, he also taught her about listening to the Music of the Night. Opening her heart and listening with it instead of her ears. Opening her soul and letting it take control over her mind.
When Christine was with Erik, there was something sort of tender in him. He was usually cold, coarse and mean; but when she was with him, he was unsure, sweet and kind. He actually brought out the laughter in her most of the time. Christine was truly captivated, but having a good time with Erik was a bit alarming. Never was he so gentle with her, even during his days as her angel; but Christine was not completely oblivious. He was no prince charming but, those three days never left her memory even through all of the hatred he seemed to spite at everyone, including her. Christine just could not wrap her head around what was happening to him, but she hoped with all the hope in the world that maybe, just maybe, there may be something there that wasn't there before.
Only when she finally was released back into the world above did she realize it would never be enough. Nothing living up there would ever bring her the joy and pleasure that Erik had brought her. The moment she realized that fact, was the moment that for once in her life did Christine finally realize what she truly wanted. She knew she loved him at that point but, before she could rush to Erik to inform him of her feelings, Raoul swooped in and took her; like the hero he believed he was acting as. He confessed his love for Christine and kissed her. Erik, clearly watching, became furious. He avoided Christine for months until he finally emerged with an opera he presented to the managers during the Masquerade Ball. Christine was ordered to play the lead soprano role. But before they could begin Erik's Opera, the cast must first finish the original opera they had already began rehearsing before the new year.
Erik was the sort of man that normally got everything he desired and when people did not meet those demands, there were consequences. Erik ended up dropping the chandelier in the main theater during the performance, while Christine was singing. The chandelier only missed her by mere inches! His anger and blame on her, frightened Christine to the point where she ran off with Raoul. She brought him up to the highest point of the opera house, thinking that if they were farther away from his home then Erik would never see them. While they were up there, Christine told Raoul that she loved him; when in reality she didn't. Her love for Erik was still beating strong in her heart but fear and anger took over those emotions and turned them into denial and hatred.
Christine wanted to love Raoul and maybe eventually would, but a few days later sense told her she was wrong and that she knew, that if she denied her heart any longer, she would become an empty shell filled with regret and loss. But, in spite of everything Christine was still given a choice; Erik or Raoul... Love or affection? Darkness or Light? A choice.. and yet, her choice was already chosen. The only difficult part of fulfilling that choice was to prove it to the man she willingly chose. She needed to prove to the man she has hurt so many times and nearly destroyed. Well, no more games of pretend. Now is the time to live the life she was born to live and that life was with Erik. Even through all of the thoughts swarming in her head, Christine continued to stare at the mirror across the room.
"I will wait for you angel," she said out loud with a new found confidence that even startled herself. "No matter how long it takes, I will wait and I will love you with every inch of my soul. I will always be here for you when you return. Nothing can drive me away anymore." She sighed and closed her eyes. "If only you could see that."
She began to feel sleepy as her mind filled with thoughts of Erik coming back and finding her. Maybe if she took a nap, Erik would wake her up when he showed up for their lesson. Maybe he would swoop her in his arms and take her down to his home under the opera house and make her sleep there. With that thought, Christine felt a shot of excitement run through her. She loved sleeping in his home and wearing the clothes she knew he bought specifically for her. Erik had made a bedroom down in his home just for Christine and if all things go well she would eventually be able to use it more often.
Christine smiled as her eyes slowly fluttered closed. She fell into a sleep filled with Erik and she never wanted to come out! But before she knew it there was an urgent knock at the door. Christine's eyes flew open and she practically raced to the door, silently praying that it would be Erik. To her disappointment it wasn't him. It was actually Meg.
"Meg, what on earth are you doing here so late? You know I'm suppose to be having my lesson." She asked when she opened the door wide enough for Meg to come in. Meg knew that Christine was taking lessons but Christine knew not to trust Meg with the knowledge that it was truly the Opera Ghost who taught her.
"Come on Christine we must hurry!" She looked around the room then raced inside, "Besides your teacher isn't even present yet Christine! There are more important things that have happened! Christine, We have to get to the hospital!" Meg found Christine's cloak and threw it at Christine and rushed to her side. She grabbed Christine's arm and practically dragged her out into the hallway. Christine yanked her arm free and stopped all movement.
"Meg what on earth are you talking about? Why do I need to get to the hospital? What's happened?" Christine asked as she folded her arms across her chest.
"Christine! It's the Opera Ghost and Raoul! Come on! I have to get you to the hospital. You must see for yourself!" She reached for Christine again and Christine didn't lean away. She was frozen and unable to move by herself. What did Meg just say? Erik? Hospital? Once Meg had Christine moving, and they were out of the Opera she could instantly see the damage outside. At the bottle of the steps that led to the Opera House were three small pools of blood and two swords dropped on the ground. One of them was bent at the point of the sword.
Christine's hand flew to her mouth as she tried to hold in the sob that forming. She couldn't even imagine what happened here tonight. She felt guilt flow through her. While she was doubting Erik's love for her, he was most likely out here fighting for it. Then as Meg and Christine rushed past a pool of blood, she saw it.
"Meg wait! Just for a moment!" Christine shook her arm free and raced towards the object on the ground. It was a book. She turned the book around and read the cover.
Beauty and the Beast. Her hand went to her mouth as tears began to form in her eyes. When she stood up with the book in her hand, a note fell out. Christine picked up the note with hesitantly. Christine, it read. She knew exactly whose penmanship it was but still she was hesitant to pick it up. She closed her eyes and she felt tears stream down her face. She only waited a moment standing there like that then flipped the note open and finally read it.
To my dearest Christine,
Perhaps this novel will help you understand our situation better and understand how I feel and why I have been so awful to you lately. I have read this book many times and I still cannot fully grasp the concept of it. How can an ugly beast be turned into something so beautiful at the end? But alas, he wasn't born that way as I was. God did not curse him. Every time I pick this book up and read it, it reminds me of our adventures and our misfortunate love. See, I am no fool. I know that my face will never change into the handsome prince you long for. But maybe reading this book might just help you see that not all beast's are terrible and that maybe, just maybe, you can learn to love the man behind the beast.
Yours truly,
Erik
The tears embedded in Christine's heart were streaming down her face as she read the note not once, but twice. Finally, Meg rushed over to Christine and grabbed her arm.
"Christine! We must hurry!" She pulled Christine up and they began to run down the street towards the hospital.
Before they began to ran, Christine slipped the note back inside and grasped the book firmly in her hand while Meg held the other hand. Once they were running, Christine ran as if her life depended on it.
Didn't it though? If something happened to Erik... Good god, to lose Erik would mean to lose herself. If Erik died than what was the point of living on? He was her everything. Her best friend, teacher, guardian... her love.
With that realization Christine shook her head as she ran even more, not caring about the pain coursing through her legs. She needed to push harder to get to him, to see him alive. To be able to tell Erik that she loves him and that she chooses him. Christine wanted to look into that mismatch stare once again and finally prove her love for him. That all of the pain they put each other through was not for nothing and that they could finally have a happy ending together.
Once they reached the hospital, Meg rushed in before Christine and ran right up to the front desk. Christine came up behind her only searching for some sign were Erik might be. The lobby was quite large with brown leather couches all along the walls and paintings of doctors and patients on the walls throughout the room. On her left there were hallways and on her right there were more hallways. It was like a maze and it was going to take a long time for her to actually locate Erik.
When Christine reached the desk, Meg had already spoken in a hushed whisper, not loud enough for Christine to hear, and the nurse only nodded and stood up. She left down the hallway on the right and turned into a room. She eventually came out but she was not alone. Four other doctors were with her. They rushed up to the girls and all of their attention went straight to Christine.
"Mademoiselle, are you Christine Daaé?" one of the doctors asked. He was quite handsome, with brown hair and blue eyes. Meg could not keep her eyes off him. She peered down at his coat and the name tag said, "Doctor Robinson".
Christine, not caring what the doctors looked like, eyed the them curiously. "Yes, I am."
"Then please, lets go and find him. He has been asking for you."
Her heart stopped. Was it Erik?
"Who?" Christine asked questioningly. The group of doctors stopped in mid-turn and looked at Christine with wide eyes.
"Why the Vicomte of course." Doctor Robinson said, "He has been asking for you since he first entered the hospital."
Christine could only stare at the doctor in disappointed and anger. She never once gave a thought to Raoul on the way over here. Her head shook slowly. No, she was not here for the Vicomte. She was here for only one man..
"I'm sorry monsieur, but I was informed that another man was staying here. He has ugly deformities and wears a mask. Was he hurt in the brawl as well?" Christine said. The doctors looked at one another and said nothing. They were informed by the Vicomte that she was not aloud to see this masked man, that when she arrived here she was to be taken straight to himself.
Then finally the nurse stepped forward and told Christine the answer she did now want to hear.
"Miss Daaé, we are under strict orders to deliver you to the Vicomte, and not to the other one, by the Vicomte himself."
The nurse stared Christine down with curiosity. How on earth can this girl have two lovers and yet want the deformed, masked one? The Vicomte was perfect and any women, such as herself, would be lucky to even speak to him let alone have his heart!
Christine could not believe this. There was no way she would go to Raoul and not see Erik first. She needed to see him, to know that he was still alive. Once she saw him breathing and well, then and only then, would she go to the Vicomte and break his heart. Sadly, Christine didn't want to break Raoul's heart. She just wanted to avoid him all together. But, Raoul was a childhood friend and to lose that friendship would devastate her. But if he insists on forcing Christine away from what her heart truly desires than that would eventually be her only option.
Christine shook her head, "I do not wish to see the Vicomte. I want to see the other man." Anger spiked through her as she stared down the nurses and the doctors. "Tell me where he is or I will search this hospital door to door until I find him. I am in no mood to play by the Vicomte's rules and the only reason why I am here is to see Erik."
The doctors were astounded and frustrated with Christine. No one ever said no to a Vicomte's wishes. Christine gave one final look to each of the doctors then grabbed Meg's hand and rushed for the nearest hallway on the left.
"Meg, do you have any idea were they might have put Erik?" Christine asked frantically as they raced down the long hallway.
"Actually, I know exactly which room he is being kept in. When you were being a true diva and throwing a tantrum, I was looking at the nurses check list left on the counter we were standing next to. He is in room 13 Christine", she said with a smile.
Christine, not noticing her friends joke towards her, stopped in her tracks and looked around at the doors. They were in the twenties.
"Damn it! We are in the wrong hallway. Come on Meg!"
"Christine while we walk, I think I should inform you on tonights events and what really happened. I was there the whole time. Rehearsal was over and when I walked outside, the Opera-"
"Erik." Christine said as she looked at Meg. "His name is Erik. Not the Opera Ghost." Meg could only nod, then finally she went on and on about what happened; but Christine could barely hear her.
Once they finally made it, Christine tried to keep a straight face as she walked into the room. Her heart nearly fell out of her chest. Erik was lying on the bed, mask-less. The covers only went to his waist, so his scarred chest was exposed. The middle portion of his chest was wrapped all the way around with bandages and there was one blood stain right above his waist on his left side. Christine gasped and held her hand at her mouth. Oh god, he was hurt, and from the looks of it it was worse than expected. Christine sat the book down on the table next to the door and walked in.
Before she walked over to his bedside, she studied him for a moment. Erik was actually quite muscular. His chest was covered in scars from the abusement he had gone through over his lifetime and there were more scars up the length of his arms too. He has large hands with long fingers that almost reminded Christine of bones. His torso had a strong built to it but it still seemed kind of narrow, he defiantly was not as big as Raoul but he wasn't just skin and bones like the corpse he and others call him. Erik has the body of any average suitor nowadays but the only thing stopping him from going out was his face. But at the moment, Christine could care less about his mangled face. All she was worried about was the fact that he was alive and was okay.
She slowly walked towards him, sat by his bedside, and grasped his hand too tight. Honestly, she could care less if she was holding it too tight because he was here, and breathing. Christine stared at him. His face... Those misshapen lips, the sunken eye, the scars that roam from the top of his hair line, the missing part of skin on his cheek that shows most of the bone, and the perfect non-damaged side of his face. But truthfully, she didn't care if his true face was exposed. This face was the face that was built into her memory with a strong wall surrounding it. She could look at that face a hundred times over and she would still not be afraid. After the unrevealing, Erik's face was something sort of beautiful to her. He was ugly, but in a same way was beautiful, as if he was made only for her to understand, to care for. This, unmasked man, was the Erik she loved and at the moment he was not her angel, or the opera ghost. No. He was the Erik she fell in love with. She smiled as more tears streamed down her face. With her other hand she reached towards his face and touched it. She touched the scars that were just below the exposed bone. It was a soft touch but it was just enough to make Erik stir.
She yanked her hand back as she watched with delight as his eyes fluttered open than closed slowly. He moaned and she released a sigh of relief. He was trying... That was something that she could celebrate, for now.
Erik felt someone holding his hand entirely too tight and truthfully, it began to hurt more than his chest was! Then before he could open his eyes a hand touched his face. But it wasn't the perfect side of his face, it was the deformed one. He tried to open his eyes and move away, but he was too weak. Every moment caused him more pain in his chest. With every breath and sigh there was pain, but he was strong. Erik had suffered from much more than just a simple stab wound. Eventually he would open his eyes and see who on earth would dare touch him, to see him so vulnerable and pitiful.
His eyes finally opened and what he saw astonished him. It was his angel. His Christine. Good god, to look into those blue eyes and see the women he loves was the greatest moment he had ever felt. Could it be a dream? Is that what this was? Or was it heaven? Had that stab wound really taken his life? He shook his head and sighed. He knew that the moment he would touch her she would disappear, like the ghost she was, and he would be left with an eternal damnation in hell without her. Erik closed his eyes once more and envisioned her singing for him. The voice he helped her build and bring to life. His eyes shot open and he saw that beautiful smile fade. But when she glanced at him, Erik thought he saw... No. It cannot be. She does not love him. To prove his point, she already stole her hand away from his before he could marvel at the fact that she was touching him.
"What is it, Erik?"
Before Erik could control it, he let out a laugh of relief. She couldn't just be a dream or heaven! None of the Christine's he has envisioned talked to him, so this certainly can not be a dream! It must be real! He quickly brought his other hand to her face, not caring about the pain he felt. He stared into her eyes and sighed. She's so beautiful.. Her long brown curls always framed her face so perfectly, and they were so long that they stopped just above her waist!
Her face was also perfect, featuring a small nose, beautiful-elegant lips, and thin eyebrows that lined up with her eyes so perfectly. Her porcelain skin shined in the dim candlelight and proved that there were no flaws on her face. Everything about her was perfect and she has never even realized it! No matter how many times Erik filled her ears with compliments and adorations. She always seems to doubt herself. As if she knew he were cherishing this moment, she captured his hand in hers, and for a moment, it seemed as though they were together. Not as teacher and pupil but as two lovers. But Erik knew that it was only because he was her teacher and she was a devoted pupil. So, he ended the moment with firmness and anger.
"Oh, Christine. I am flattered that you have come by to see me. You really shouldn't have." Erik said, half-heartly regretting each word that came out as he moved his hand away from her face. "How does your Vicomte feel about this? Have you gone to see him yet? He probably wouldn't fancy the thought of you being here with me. Wouldn't want to upset the fiancee now would we?"
Christine wiped her tears away, stood up and soothed her dress down with her hands. Christine couldn't even look Erik in eyes anymore. She had to glance out the window in order to keep her from showing him her pain. Even after all this, he still wanted to play the professional role of teacher and student, acting as if none of their feelings matter. No, Christine won't let that happen. She simply just could not let things go back to the way they were. She needed to act strong and not the weak child she once was. "No, actually I came here first. I couldn't very well leave my teacher like this." She turned her gaze back to Erik and found that he was watching her with much curiosity. "I had to see you... To make sure you were alive." His expression never changed, but it did harden.
"Oh heaven sake's Christine, do not pity me. I am not a man that takes kindly to pity and you of all people should know that." He could tell that he hit a nerve there because her eyes became every sad, as if he had hurt her with his words. No, the only reason she would ever come here is if she felt pity for the monster, especially when he was at his most vulnerable state. "Well, all is well. You see that I am alive Christine, so now go to your fiancee. Go look upon him with the same sadness you looked upon me only moments ago. I'm sure he needs it more than I." Erik could have sworn he saw pieces of longing to stay in her eyes but they went away the moment they appeared. Now, all he saw was sadness. "Oh come now Christine. You can't possibly believe me to be such a monster that I would allow to stay here and look upon such ugliness." His hand had gestured to his face as he spoke. "You were granted a look long ago, do you recall it? I do, you ran away to your dashing Vicomte and you told him that I was indeed a monster and that you loved him. I am no fool Christine. Indeed you do love him, I can very well tell because you are anxious to leave. Now you must go to him. The villain never gets the damsel and he certainly does not get a happy ending. I have learned my lesson and plan to stay away. I will no longer bother either of you ever again."
Christine looked down at her hands as she twiddled her thumbs. Again, she was proving Erik's point about being naive and childish because she just simply would not stand up to him. Well not anymore. Not when she has finally made her choice, but when would she put those words to action? Christine never looked up as she said, "Thats not what happened in Beauty and the Beast, Erik. Beauty chose the beast in the end. She was given a choice."
"Yes, but you were given a choice and you've chosen, and it was certainly not the beast!" Erik practically yelled it at her and regretted it the minute she looked up. But, when she did look up, he found no fear. No, he found an entirely new Christine. A stronger one. Erik was skeptical, so he chose to test her strength. "Christine, you can't possibly understand. I am a monster that walks by himself, and everything, including places, all seem alike to me, expect music, of course. I have nothing to give and nothing to share. And if you were not engaged to be married, I wouldn't let you anywhere near me for the same reason I don't let anyone else in the world near me. I poison everyone around me, Christine. One look at this horrific face and they run and scream dreaming of monsters and demons coming to get them. You did not want me then, and you certainly do not want me now, especially looking like this in your presence, exposed and vulnerable. It's a disgrace and I shall not have you subject to it any longer. You may leave me now, Christine. Go back to your Vicomte and be happy. An ugly corpse such as myself only deserves to be kept in the shadows and away from loves deadly grasp, god knows I've suffered enough from it."
Erik gave Christine one last look and turned on his right side so that the wound on his left was facing up towards the air. His back was to Christine and tears began to form in his eyes. Erik hated talking to her like that but it had to be done. She has made her choice and it was time he moved on. Perhaps he could go to Italy and study more of the architecture there. Erik sighed. No place in the world would be suitable enough for him if Christine wasn't there. How his heart will break every moment she is not with him! Erik's hands fisted inside the blanket as his eyes closed before tears could form their way out into the open. "I'm looking for love, Christine. Real and true love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, and desirous love. A love that when you release to me, I wont be able to live without. I want love. My God, you are tearing me apart and you don't even realize it! But go on, ask me why I keep on loving you when it's clear you don't love me back." He sighed and allowed the tears to stream down his face. "The problem is, that as much as I can't force you to love me, I can't force myself to stop loving you." He let out a long sigh. "Now you know everything. Just leave me be, Christine."
Christine was shocked. She came here to be with the man she loved but all she found was a man who is in denial and despair. Somehow, she needed to find a way to pull him from those dark waters and save him. To prove to him that her love for him is real and she will never give it up.
"No, Erik. You always think you know exactly what I feel and how I should react. You seem to know what is good for me without consulting me. Well, no longer. I will not let you sit there and tell me how to feel and who to love. I do not love the Raoul. When you didn't show up for the lesson this evening I was frightened. Frightened because my thoughts were putting doubts into my head that maybe, just maybe, you found someone else. That you loved another woman, and she was able to touch you without you flinching away or keeping her at a distance." Never once did Erik turn to look at Christine but she knew he could hear her. She became angry and hurt. Why must he act like a child?
"Erik, are you even listening to me?" she snapped.
Something sparked in Erik and he turned back and glared at her with anger and frustration. "How can I listen to you when all I hear are lies and future heartbreaks?" he stated firmly. "I am not a man to be played with Christine, so when you tell me what I want to hear it must not be a joke of your own amusement. You can't just there and bend me to your will. I may not be strong enough to hurt you, but I am strong enough to walk away when I know lies are the only thing I see in our future. I am strong, even if you see me as the weak broken man I was. I became strong because I had to be in order to live this life. I'm smarter than the average human because of the mistakes I've made in this past. I'm wise because I have learned from this dreadful life that it is not what you look like that defines you, but who you are that does." He let out a sigh that was trapped in his lungs, finally releasing some pressure. He closed his eyes and softly stated, "I also became happy the moment I met you. The moment I heard you sing, and certainly the very first moment you ever said my name, my real name."
As if something sparked in him, he became angry again. Oh, how he can just burst into flames with just a little spark! "I became a better, stronger, person from living this life and I refuse to let a naive little opera tart like you break me down. I have killed men, Christine! So many men that I have lost count. Sometimes, they don't even have to provoke me, its just the thrill of having their necks between my hands. Its the fact that at some point, I am God. That I control life and death and I can choose who passes and who lives. My God, I am truly a monster!" He stopped speaking for a moment and Christine almost began denying everything he just said when he began to speak once more. This time in almost a whisper that Christine had to lean forward towards him to hear. "And yet.. You are able to look at me, but your eyes aren't filled with fear."
Erik could feel tears began to form. He didn't have the strength to force them back, so he let them continue on their path down his cheek. His voice softened and it almost seemed as though it were a struggle to form the next words. "Please," he whispered as he closed his eyes. "Just leave me be. Don't break my heart in the future, because it will get too attached and nothing is more dangerous than a man in love and is willing to do anything to keep it that way. You love the Vicomte, Christine. Stop lying to me and just let me live in the suffering I truly deserve. Maybe, just maybe, if I drown my sins with good intentions, God will forsake me and I may just be able to become the man that, someday, you could eventually love. I just want the truth of your love for him out in the open so that my heart may rest in sadness and despair for the rest of my miserable life."
Christine watched his ever breath flow out of him. He seemed so angry and yet so calm all at once. His words hit her like a ton of bricks. Erik will always seem to doubt her unless she found a way to prove him wrong. To show him that she does love him and that she isn't going anywhere. She spoke gently to him, as if he were a toddler. Christine wanted to show him kindness and in order to do that, she must learn how to spot Erik's weak points and build them up twice as strong. Maybe fire must be fought with fire...
"The Truth?" she snapped out of the anger built up within her. "The truth is the first moment I heard you sing, you took my heart. My whole heart, and if I choose Raoul... I may not ever get it back. So why choose a love filled with nothing but friendship when I could have a love filled with everything I've always wanted? Erik, I choose you. Erik, I can't promise I'll be here with you for the rest of your life, but I will promise you that I will love you for the rest of mine, and I'm not telling you this relationship is going to be easy either, I'm simply telling you its going to be worth it. Don't you understand? I complete you Erik, just as you complete me." She sighed. Christine waited for Erik to respond but he said nothing. He just simply sat there and stared at her. So, she deiced to continue.
"I do not love Raoul. Erik, you must soon begin to realize that our relationship has always been more than just the average teacher and pupil. You are worth more to me than anyone I have ever met, including Raoul. When you look at yourself you may see a monster, but to me you are the man I fell for, angel or not." She smiled softly. "Erik when are you ever going to believe in my feelings? I would never ask you to be the Victome because who you are is already enough for me." Christine has never longed for anyone more than she has longed for Erik and to finally reveal her feelings was a blessing itself! She laughed with relief. "Erik, I would never be happy with anyone else as long as you walked the earth."
Erik froze. He couldn't fully take in what she just said. His eyes raced around her face looking for faults or proof that this must be a dream, but he found none! He began to get angry because if she was lying then not only would his entire world crash into flames, but music would leave him along with his heart and world.
"Foolish child, You cannot possible understand what I am going through, and certainly not what it feels like to be shunned from the world! To be driven out of town by a mob while being called "The Devil", a demon or other sorts of repulsive names. The hurt in me is far greater than your innocent mind can comprehend. It aches and burns with a desire to be loved Christine, not to be pitied. You are perfectly beautiful, loved by everyone. They fall in love with you the very first sight of you just as I had. But me? I'm a living corpse who does not deserve your love, touch or even to stand in your presence. You make me feel unworthy to be here right now. I look at my face and all I can see is a monster. I don't doubt your love because I want to hurt you, Christine. I doubt you because I feel as if you are going to look at this face one day in our future and leave. You're going to realize that you gave your soul to the devil and you will to run to your Vicomte the first chance you get. That moment that you leave me, that you choose him over me, will break me entirely. That hurt in me would measure twice as much than any other beating I have ever taken, any cruel words that have been spat at me and any look of disgust shot my way. Don't you see? I just can't afford to give you my trust because I am terrified of you." He sighed before he continued, and before Christine could deny any of what he just said.
"My entire life was based around logic and reason. If it didn't make sense to me, then I would dismantle it and eventually learn the inter-mechanics of things. But you," he said as he stared into her eyes. "You are something else. Something that takes my logic and reason and twists them into something else. No matter how hard I try, I cannot figure you out. What are your motives? Are you standing here filled with pity.. or with love? Could it be love? I don't know. All I know is that if I do not leave you alone, you will tear my very soul apart with your childish and naive ways. I am a monster, Christine, and the sooner you learn that, the easier it will be for the both of us when you leave. Just please, I beg of you Christine, break my heart now. I am unworthy of your love and I do not deserve it." Erik blinked back the tears that were forming and hoped that she did not see them appear. He could not stand the thought of Christine believing he was weaker than he was truly letting on.
Christine stared at him with shock and bewilderment. This man, who was pouring his worst fears out to her, was not the all mighty Opera Ghost he proclaimed to be and nor was he the Angel he tried to be. This man right in front of her was Erik, the love of her life. The love she knew that could and would only be hers. Christine was not that young child anymore. Today, she becomes a woman and a devoted lover to Erik.
Christine became nevrous and the only thing to keep her hands at her side was to tuck a strand of hair back behind her ear. Throughout the entire time she was with him, she seemed to do that. Simple things that might indeed keep her from reaching out to him.
"To be honest with you Erik, I haven't the slightest clue as to what to say to you or the words to use to make you feel better. I have never been in a situation where I've had to think for myself and live by my rules. But I can tell you this, I do have the arms to wrap you up in and hold, I have the ears to listen to whatever you have to say, and I have a heart; a heart that's aching to see you smile again. Please Erik, for me? I can't stand to see you so hurt and broken all because you believe you are unfit for my love. You were made just for my heart to love and you do not get to choose who or how I love. I don't care if you don't feel worthy. All that matters is this moment. Us, together. Living our lives in one another's presence without doubt or feelings of unworthiness. I want you. That should prove to you that this feeling you're having is irrelevant. Please, just smile and enjoy this moment Erik. Just be with me without doubt. No amount of ugliness can ever bring shame to me, not when I have the man that has always destined to be mine by my side. You are man that inspired my voice and has inspired me to, well, just be me. We complete each other."
"I don't need you to complete me, Christine." He snapped. "I only need you to accept me completely."
She knew that he didn't snap at her with fierceness but with longing. He longed to show her want he wants and nothing thrilled her more! Christine wanted to be taught how to love Erik, but not only by his standards. A smile formed on Christine's face and Erik knew that she loved him. His hand slowly reached out to her.
Christine watched as the hand he brought towards her was trembling. That was certainly not like Erik, not when ever movement he made was with grace and beauty. Now, he seemed like a frightened child, not daring to cross a line. Her smiled widened as she sat down on the side of the bed. Once on the bed she allowed him to bring his trembling hand to her face and cup her cheek.
When they touched, Christine didn't shudder at all with disgust like Erik thought she would. She actually brought her hand up to capture his hand and press harder into her face. Then she closed her eyes and squeezed his hand harder. Even though it certainly cannot be love in that small simple gesture, and he thought to ignore it at first; but then again she has never looked at him that way before. A smile formed on his lips as he spoke with confidence and question, "This must be a dream because I am looking at the most beautiful angel I have ever laid eyes upon. Oh, Christine, are you really here?"
Christine's eyes fluttered open and she smiled. "Of course. I'm here, Erik." She said. Then, she leaned toward him as if to tell him a secret, and whispered, "And you'll be glad to know that I've made my choice."
The only thing Erik could do was to stare into her eyes, dumfounded. This had to have been a dream.. Something that was happening inside of his head, a dream he longed to never awake from. But how can it be a dream if he was feeling pain and happiness at the same time? It must be reality.
His smile widen as he looked into those tear filled eyes. She was crying, and yet, he knew those were tears of joy and relief. She was relieved he was alive and nothing thrilled him more than the the thought of Christine worrying over his well being. Never in his life has another human being cared for him as he knew Christine did. He grinned. "Oh? And what was your choice in the end?"
Christine smiled down at him, and turned her face to kiss his hand. "Well, to cut conversation short, at this very moment I am looking into the eyes of the man I hope to spend the rest of my life with." She paused for a moment and simply stared. Then she said, "And somewhere, deep down, I've always known it was you."
He chuckled. It might have pained him to do so but he didn't care. Erik drew his hand away from her face and mustered up enough strength to sit up against the headboard of the bed. Christine smiled because she loved the man she was staring back at, and Erik's smile brightened because he knew. Then he brought his hands to her face to cup her face, then after only a moment of this did he finally drag her head down towards his. He leaned forward and he set his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes. God, to feel her warm and soft beneath his hands proved this was not a dream and she was truly here confessing her love. He felt tears form in his eyes but he didn't care. At this moment all he could think about was the love of his life siting here in his hands. He let go off her face and she pulled away. Erik wiped the tears away and smiled up at Christine.
"I'm sorry, it's just that I've waited a long time for those words, Christine. And to finally hear them has filled me with such happiness." Erik looked at Christine and studied her. She certainly wasn't the young girl he had once known the day before. There was a new found confidence in her, something that startled herself, let alone Erik. He sighed. "Christine, if you truly mean what you say then all of your bridges will be burnt."
Christine's face harden and Erik could have sworn he saw regret. She pondered the idea of leaving her world of light for a world of darkness and desire, and quite frankly she could not think of anywhere else in the world she'd rather be. Christine smiled and all of the regret was gone. "Well then, hand me the matches and I shall burn them myself!"
He chuckled. Erik waited for a moment and watched as every simple gesture she made, made his heart beat 100 times as fast. The way she bit her lip, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and the way her eyes gave away her ever emotion. He grinned and spoke with such softness and desire that he could not believe it was him talking! "Christine, when I looked upon you for the very first time, I thanked God over and over again for introducing me to the most beautiful angel. I love you."
Christine smiled widen, to the point where her cheeks began to hurt, and leaned forward toward his face. Erik held his breath because he thought she was going to kiss him, but was disappointed when she stopped just a few inches away. "And I love you, Erik."
Love.. She had said she loved him. Yes. Christine loved him. He knew it from the very beginning, but to hear her say those three words out loud changed everything. Erik felt pain shoot through his body and he closed his eyes for a moment. He will not let this pain take over. Erik knew that no man was able to handle this much pain but he was use to it. He was able to survive just about anything, but this pain was harder to defend against. He could feel himself slipping but how on earth could he leave when his heart was telling him to stay? He must stay. No amount of pain will ever drive him away from Christine. Nothing will keep her from him. But now, he must fight a war that was going on in his body. He won't give up. Not when he finally has something to live for.
Erik released a sigh, slowly allowing the hidden pain in his chest time to disappear for the moment. The pain kept coming, and at moments it almost seemed unbearable, but he had to get through this. Christine was finally his.. Erik then opened his eyes and looked at Christine. He could immediately tell that she was frightened and he felt guilt flow through him. He needed to be her guardian angel, not some weak pathetic man that might just lose his life. He needed to feed her words of comfort even if the outcome may not be so great. Erik must try something. Then, he smirked and noticed her eyes lighten just a little bit. A small victory in a war filled with long battles.
"Christine.. Do you truly think that I will just give up this life with you? For a whole other one without you? I think not. You are my life now, the very reason I am still breathing at this moment, and I will fight to be with you, to have and to hold you until the moment comes when we leave this world together. My very soul lives and breathes only for you to hold it in your beautiful hands. Never has there been a doubt in my mind that you were not to be mine. I want and need you. I love you, Christine, more than you ever know." He looked into her eyes and for once, saw her pure and whole. "My God Christine, you are so beautiful."
His eyes looked upon her with such desire that her cheeks began to burn as tears formed in her eyes. She took one of his hands and pressed it to her lips, and those mere meaningful kisses were memorable moments that will forever be embedded in Erik's memories. How can he live without those? After this moment she will be his. No matter what she or anyone else says. Erik's gaze moved from her eyes to her lips. They looked so soft and small. A kiss.. Maybe it wasn't unwanted, maybe Christine wanted to kiss him just as much as he wanted to kiss her. Maybe the thought of his misshapen lips upon her perfect ones didn't grant her disgust, but pleasure and longing. Erik took his chance by leaning into a little, all the while keep his gaze on her lips. Then he stopped to look at her eyes for approval.
Christine was watching him the entire time and nearly cried out when he stopped. Her cheeks burned, as her innocence was begging her to turn and run. But she is not about to become the little foolish girl who never spoke her mind. Now is the time to stand up and tell Erik her feelings. Christine smiled and giggled. "Erik, you can kiss me."
He let out a sigh of relief as he pushed his lips up to hers in a fierce motion that nearly knocked the wind out of Christine.
A kiss! Something Christine has longed for since the moment she knew she loved him! This was true bliss and the instant his lips met hers, her eyes closed and she felt desire and joy flow through her. She never kissed Raoul with this kind of passion. Of course he has kissed her before but his kisses were simple and empty. Erik's were filled with desire, love, and warmth and when she kissed him, her whole world rose up into flames that would eventually consume her forever. Erik was like fire, ice, and rage. He was the complete opposite of Raoul, but Erik was everything Christine loved. Raoul, might have felt safe to be with, but Erik was absolutely indispensable for Christine to ever truly be happy. At this very point in time, Christine knew she had chosen the right man to spend the rest of her life with. So, Christine kissed those misshapen lips as if they were always meant to be hers. She slipped her hands up and grabbed his face. Christine pressed her lips harder against Erik's and kissed him with such force, but also with tenderness and love, that nearly astounded Erik.
Erik could not stop kissing her. How on earth could he ever think about leaving this blissful moment for a lifetime of darkness? This meant fighting a battle that might already be lost. He could feel himself slipping but he knew that he could make it. When he was beaten by humanity, and most of the time it left him begging for death and basically he was put on the verge of giving in, but in reality Erik had a strong heart and he knew that giving up would prove only weakness. He never once has had something to live for, well expect for music, but now it was love and he most certainly will not just let it slip out of his grasp so easily. He kissed her and hoped she would kiss him back, and when she finally did kiss him with just as much passion as he did, did he moan and allowed his desire to take control.
Erik slowly parted her lips with his tongue and entered her mouth, tasting her at every moment. He feared she would get scared, but it was her who said she wanted this, his desire. There was no backing out now, now that he has finally tasted her. As his tongue made its way through her lips, it explored her mouth and taking in every little detail. Tasting her as though she were a rare delicacy. Erik felt her smiled against his kiss and shivered with longing, which then encouraged him even more.
Christine knew nothing about this feeling but, something deep inside her longed for her to take action and find out what these desirous feeling can do. She longed for it to take control and to never allow release from it until she granted Erik complete and utter ecstasy. How on earth can society dubb these feelings a sin when they felt so good to endure? Maybe it was sin because it made her senses weak, and made her forget the world and of her actions. But Christine was not a girl who followed the rules anymore. From now on, she only followed what her heart told her and it told her that this was worth it.
Erik moaned as he kissed her harder until finally he drew away gasping for air. Christine smiled and giggled.
"My god Christine, you're going to be the death of me if you keep kissing me like that!" He grinned as he chuckled.
Then Erik's smile faded as he caught a movement out of the corner of his eye. He must have been too much involved with Christine to even realize the small Meg Giry standing in the corner near the door with wide eyes and a dropped jaw, she almost looked frightened by what was taking place in front of her. His eyes travled to the object in her hand and noticed it was his mask.
Christine noticed Erik's gaze and looked over her shoulder. She saw Meg standing there with a shocked expression and Erik's mask in her hands. Christine stood up and walked towards Meg slowly. She held out her hand.
"Meg, give me the mask." Christine stared at Meg as Meg watched Erik with shock.
"Christine, do you even realize who you just kissed?" Meg never looked away from Erik as she spoke directly to Christine. But Erik's gaze was solely on Christine, watching her every moment with adoration and amazement. She was becoming so strong..
"Of course I do, Meg, don't be silly."
"You must have mustered a lot of courage to do that Christine. To announce that you love the Opera Ghost." Christine sighed. Meg turned her head towards her and smiled. "You know, courage in women is often mistaken for insanity."
Christine smiled at her friend, "Well then insane I shall be! But Meg, please understand that I love him. I have always loved him. And I don't care about his past or the things he's done. All I care about is his present and his future; and quite honestly I can't see a future without him." Christine turned her gaze back to Erik.
Meg watched her friend with such amazement that she nearly forgot that the Opera Ghost was even there. Never in Meg's life has she seen Christine so strong and so sure of herself. Christine has always been a girl to be pushed around by La Carlotta and others but now, now she looks like a woman in charge. Now, she finally looks as though she has a purpose in life, and for that Meg envies her. She wishes for a love like Erik and Christine's but, Meg knows that someday her prince will come. With that thought, Meg, reluctantly, handed Christine his mask and walked out of the room without another word.
Christine watched Meg leave with a kind of sadness before her gaze turned back on Erik. She smiled at him and he smiled back. Then she walked over to his side and placed the mask in his hand.
"I hope that when we are alone in our own home you will not wear that thing in my presence. I hate its very existence and I want you to wear it only when we are out in public." Christine stated as she sat on his bed, and placed her hand softly on his chest. She could feel the slow rise and fall of his breaths. She leaned her head down and placed her ear over his heart. Erik let out a soft gasp as he felt her small head against his chest. Her head rested where his heart was and he knew that she was listening to his heart.
As if listening to his thoughts, she breathed, "I can feel your heart beating."
Erik put the mask on the other side of the bed. He didn't need that right at the moment because he knew that Christine loves this accursed face just as much as she would have loved a perfect one. To her, this face was beautiful and when he looked at her, he didn't see hatred and disgust. No, he saw love and kindness. Erik carefully placed his hand on her back and slowly rubbed his hand in a circular motion.
"Yes Christine. Feel it. It only beats for you. When I was drowning in the darkness just moments ago, you saved me. Your voice brought me back to life. Its as if you were a breath of fresh air for a drowning man. This heart of mine will beat for you and you alone. My heart is yours to bend to your will. Bruise it, mark it, brand it as yours, Christine, and I can assure you it will remain like for all of entirety. Just like your heart has always been mine."
"Yours," she whispered just loud enough for him to hear.
"Mine", he breathed.
Christine took in his words. Hers.. His heart was hers. She knew it always has been but to hear those words come out of his mouth was absolutely amazing. And good God, to hear his heart beat! It was as though it were some sort of symphony playing in her ear. A symphony she never wanted to end! She turned her face and kissed the spot where her ear had lain. Erik gasped and held his breath as he felt her lips against his bare chest. He closed his eyes and savored the small, but monumental kiss.
They were so warm and soft against his cold hard skin. He knew she could see all of the damage done to him over the course of his life, but she seemed to not care. Just another factor that made her even more amazingly strong in his eyes. She could see all of the beatings he's taken and all of the pain he was put through, but at this moment he didn't care. Normally he would have felt weak and humiliated by the very sight of her looking at his body bare but now, nothing seemed to thrill him more than to have her lips over every inch of his body. Covering it with kisses that will leave a mark of love and desire, not of pain and violence.
Christine lifted her head, placed her chin on top of his chest and gazed up at Erik. His eyes were closed and he was smiling!
"Oh, Christine," he breathed as his eyes fluttered open and immediately met her gaze. "Mon amour, you have given me everything I could have ever hoped to receive. You have made living bearable and also, you have fixed my damage soul. Because of you I have learned to see the light and understand that not all of humanity can be cruel. And I've realized that I truly don't need the world to love me, just you. I need you. You are everything to me. You are the shining star I reached for in my ever hopeless quest for life fulfillment. You are my love, and I for one plan on spending the rest of my days showing you just how much you mean to me and making you happy. I will make you happy, Christine. That I can surely promise. Anything you desire will be yours."
Erik reached up and grabbed Christine's hands and in the process, she sat up on the edge of the bed. "If you will have me, take me as everything I am, I will give up the Opera Ghost. I will become any man you want me to be. I will move heaven and earth for you if it means I get to have you in my arms every night. Christine, I want you here beside me. Forever." He brought her hand up to his lips and pressed a simple kiss to her knuckle. Then, as he released her hands, he noticed she was crying. He gathered her face in his hands and wiped away her tears. Erik starred into those big blue eyes that brought him so much joy and for once, all he could see was love in them. That is all he ever wanted from her, was to love him without boundaries or anyone in their way.
She smiled through those tears and said with confidence and pride, "I am so in love with you, Erik. I really want to spend the rest of my life with you. But, I have to go."
Erik's smile faded. He removed his hands and leaned back against the headboard of the bed. She leaned forward and placed her hands on his face, the same exact spot where his hands were on her face.
Touching Erik's face was a completely new feeling to her. Feeling the scars beneath her fingers, the strange texture and the way they were shaped on his face. Of course now Christine didn't care about his scars, but she was going to have to get use to the unusual feeling of touching them, because they were not only on his face but his whole body as well.
"No, no no Erik. Please, don't misunderstand me, love! I have to go and tell Raoul that I am no longer his fiancee. I need to get him alone and tell him the truth. I will not sit here and have the rest of the world believe I am with Raoul when in reality, I am yours. I love you but, sadly, I really have to go." She leaned in and brought her lips to his.
Erik inhaled sharply as he felt her lips against his once again. This was something that was going to take him awhile to get use to. But even so, it was exhilarating to feel her lips move against his and know that this is what she wants, that she is kissing him of her own free will and not forced upon her like he so wanted to do when he was her angel. She kissed him with such kindness and love that he could have sworn it was still only just a dream! Then the moment it began, she ended it with a smile. Christine looked at Erik and giggled.
"Erik, don't pout like a toddler. I will be yours, mon amour. Come for me at the Vicomte's mansion. I shall be there waiting for you."
Erik searched her eyes to find bits of doubt or hesitations but found neither! She truly meant what she said!
One more moment of just gazing into one another's eyes and Christine made a move to leave, but before she could walk away, Erik grabbed her arm and with a quick jerk of his wrist, pulled her down on top of him. The pain that shot through his chest nearly killed him, but the moment he placed his lips on hers the pain slowly began moving to the back of his mind. This time, he kissed her with passion. He kissed her and he was thrilled because slowly, she kissed him back. Her hands were flat palmed against his chest and she pushed her face deeper into his. He slowly slid his tongue between her lips and entered her mouth, tasting her at every motion. He groaned and pushed farther into her mouth as he grabbed her face with both of his hands.
Good god, what on earth was this man doing to her? He was unleashing this flood of emotion within her as Christine felt his tongue in her mouth! Christine slowly placed a hand behind his neck, her fingers gripping his hair, while the other hand stayed on his scared chest. Erik brought one hand from her face to her back and placed his hand inside of her curls, entrapping them in his fingers. They were so soft against his hard fingers and touching them was what he longed to do for so long! His fingers raked through her hair as he pulled her head up, allowing him to move his mouth to her throat and grant kisses along it, down to the collarbone and back. Christine gasp and uttered a low moan as her hand tightened around his neck. She pulled him closer to him just enough to press her chest to his bare one, making him gasp and moan.
Christine just could not stop teasing him! She very well knew that she was playing with fire, and would most likely be burned, but the feeling of desire was too impeccable to resist. She could endure the pain of burns as long as Erik was the one granting them. Christine brought her mouth to his once more and slipped her tongue into his mouth to taste him just as he had done to her. The moment her tongue entered his mouth, her heart quickened. Erik began to tease her just as she had with him, by pressing his hardness against her abdomen, knowing very well that she could feel it through all the layers of her dress. Christine moaned against his mouth and Erik smiled with victory against her kiss.
This feeling built up in Christine just longed to be released. Never, in her life, did she think she would have desirous feelings for a man of Erik's traits, but here she was, kissing him and allowing him to provoke her with just the brush of his manhood against her. All her life she feared this and her innocent always screamed to run in the other direction, but how could she when she enjoyed this feeling far too much?
They ended up falling into this blissful moment until, reluctantly, Erik slowly pulled his tongue out of her mouth and pulled away to look her in the eyes. Christine gave him a questioning look and waited until he replied with a long and heavy sigh.
"I'm just so scared of losing you. That the moment I release you the Vicomte will pull you back into his clutches and keep you away from me. I'm scared that you'll leave me and this, this beautiful moment, will become only a memory inside my head, torturing me because I won't ever be granted the chance to re-live it. Christine, promise me that when I come for you you won't deny me. That you will want me then just as you do now. Scars and all. Just myself and no one else."
Tears began to form but he didn't care. He wanted to show Christine just how much he loved her and how hurt he would be if she ever chose the Vicomte again.
"Christine, if I ever lost you.. It would tear me apart, and since I am the almighty Opera Ghost, I can't let that happen. I refuse to give you up so easily. I will fight. So, from this moment you are now mine. You've always been mine but now, I am enforcing it. I will not let you walk out of my life so easily, not when you have shown me everything life now has to offer." He could feel the tears stream down his face and yet, he has never felt more invincible. All his life he taught himself that tears were a sign of weakness.. Not anymore. Not when he has a beautiful angel in front of him to wipe them away.
She removed her hands from his chest and placed them on either side of his face and wiped the tears away with her thumbs.
"Erik," she breathed. "I love you."
She leaned forward and placed a kiss on his forehead and, drew away from him. His first impulse was to grab her and push her back down on him once more, but he knew she had to rid herself of that wretched boy first before she could truly be his.
Just before Christine reached the door she stopped and looked at the book on the table. Then she turned her head around to look at Erik. "Oh Erik, would you like your book back? I know it was for me but I would not mind it at all if you kept it."
Erik looked at the book on the table and recalled it. It was Beauty and the Beast, the book he had boughten just before the Vicomte attacked him.
"No," he stated with a shake of his head. "Take it with you, so you'll always have a way to look back and remember me while we are apart." He smiled at her and she smiled back. Christine picked up the book, gave Erik one last look and rushed out the door. Erik watched her go with sorrow filled eyes until she was completely out of the room.
True love. Erik chuckled. He finally knew what true love truly felt like. It felt like just how it would if he were in a fairytale. But true love now, in his definition, was not about the moments together, the kisses, or how many 'I love you's were spoken were spoken between them. It was about that feeling they gave you. That feeling that made any man believe he was capable to do anything. The feeling that if she was not in your life, that you become nothing but a speck of dust roaming around an empty room. True love was that feeling that gave you hope, longing and desire. And Erik finally found it.
For a few moments, Erik sat there gazing at the door wondering if what had just happened actually occurred, and for the most part it did. After a few more moments of convincing himself did he finally pull on his mask and tried to sit up. Erik winced, as pain was the immediate feeling that came with that struggle and sadly it forced him to lean against the headboard again. Anger swelled up inside and his hands clenched into fists. This was going to be a long night if he expected to get to Christine as soon as possible. He was going to have to work fast and quickly before any of the doctors noticed he was gone.
Then as if it were the most funniest thought ever, Erik chuckled. Why, the doctors probably wouldn't give a second thought to him if he just walked out the front door limping in pain! The thought amused him but then Christine came to mind. He shook his head. No, he has to be strong for her. She needs a man right now, one that will take her away.
Sadly, he can't do that at the moment because of this damn wound in his side! Curse the Vicomte and his childish tactics! Of course the Vicomte had to make the scene public and completely embarrass Erik, but none the less, he did get in quite a few blows in the Vicomte with should have him stuck in this accursed hospital much longer than Erik should be.
He attempted to sit up once more, with much more success than the first try, and looked down at his wound. The blood was visible through the bandages, hinting that the doctors did a pathetic job at treating it. They were probably too worried about the Vicomte to even care about Erik and his needs.
Damn this face, he thought to himself.
Erik looked at the clock. It was just a little bit after 10. He sighed. His entire body felt as though it were crushed by a hundred boulders. He knew he could endure the pain but he still silently cursed the Vicomte and the doctors. Erik looked around and noticed, on a tray next to his bed were the tools and the bandages needed to fix his wound. Without another thought he leaned forward, pushing through the pain and grabbed the tray with shaky hands. Erik set the tray down next to him and quickly began to work on dressing his wounds properly.
He was knowledgable in many areas and luckily, medicine being one of them. Erik took his time but worked fast because he knew he could not waste anymore precious time that should be spent with Christine. Soon she would be back in his arms and he would feel whole again. Soon, but not yet. Just before he began he sighed and closed his eyes, and sent up a silent prayer. He never did believe in a God but, he had to thank someone for sending him Christine, even if the prayer was sent to no one. Erik missed Christine's presence and touch already, and longed to see her smiling face again. The sooner the wounds were dressed, the sooner he could leave this infernal hospital.