Christine, whom was in a deep sleep, suddenly opened her eyes with a gasp, sitting up in the bed. She looked down, the pure white dress still as perfect as ever. She lifted her left hand to find the ring still there. It had not been a dream….rather, a nightmare.
A lone candle burned in the corner of her room, casting shadows on the walls. After so long she was still afraid of the dark. What time was it? Had it only been a few hours? Days? She could never tell down here in the pits of hell.
She smoothed her hair over, still sitting up in the bed. She slowly removed the covers, stepping out of the bed carefully, immediately her skin raised with gooseflesh at the cool air.
Her closet was in one corner, which she eagerly opened to find a different dress. A blue one, simple, her favorite. She set the dress on the bed hurriedly, undoing the few ties and buttons at her front.
"Aren't you going to tell me to leave?" Erik's voice startled her. She jumped at the sound and covered the small openings at the front of her dress.
"For God sake! I didn't know you were here…" She whispered, now trembling, her heart pounding.
She raised her eyes to wear the candle burned, Erik rising out of the shadows.
"Please…leave…" She turned from him, another unwanted blush at her cheeks.
His own face was hot underneath the mask. She would of never have known he was there! He cursed himself for a moment for giving himself away, but then realized that only becoming a gentleman around her would lead to any sort of positive feelings from her in the future.
He silently ignored her, turning around. "I was just about to wake you, my dear…It's near ten in the morning…"
Her heart sank. Raoul didn't come. What if he had tried? What if he was hurt…or dead?
A sob choked her and she stayed silent, less she give away her emotions and anger him.
"Are you…hungry, perhaps? We did have a trying night, didn't we? Although I hardly slept at all…"
"You…stayed in this room all night?" She shivered, finishing the ties at her front.
"Yes…of course…" He whispered, turning around to face her.
She looked up, finding him staring right into her eyes.
"Wedding gown or simple attire…you are still so beautiful…" He said gently, coming toward her with heavy steps.
She stood still, fighting the urge to back away from him. Christine knew he could sense her fear and she tried desperately to stop trembling, to look him bravely in his eyes.
"Come, wash your face and meet me for breakfast…" He said happily, taking her hand and kissing it. Her expression met his unchanged, the fear in her eyes betraying her.
He left her in silence.
Like in a trance she stepped towards her wash basin, freshening her mouth and washing her face and hands. What if he wants to kiss me again tonight, or asks more of me?
She stared at her reflection in the only mirror in the house. She was beautiful, even after so many tears! A blush still lingered on her face, terrifying her to know that he could see it. Well, I won't let him touch me…ever!
And what of Raoul? Should she dare even ask Erik? No…she couldn't. He would probably tell her out of pride! She swallowed, leaving her room and entering the small dining room, a little table and two chairs. She took a deep breath not realizing she had been holding it.
"Ah! There you are…please…sit…" He pulled a chair out for her and she sat obediently. This would have to be the game she played with him. He brought fresh fruit, breads, jellies, butter…it was a heavenly breakfast! Her mouth watered, even though her mind told her not to eat it.
"Please, Christine…eat…for me…"
I'll eat because I am hungry…not for you! She took some fruit on her little plate, a piece of bread and some butter. Her stomach churned, both from intense hunger and nausea.
Erik sat opposite her, staring.
"You are going to watch me?"
"I like watching you…studying you…It is a habit I seem unable to break…I have watched you for years….and now you are right before me…"
She took another deep breath, nibbling on her bread.
"Why now, does it make you uncomfortable?" He asked, his eyes still on her.
"You took me from the only world I knew…and now…I am to be a prisoner in this house!" She cried out, fighting back tears.
He squeezed his fists closed. "You didn't listen to me, Christine…I told you if you betrayed me again…it would be the final time…after all I have done for you! Given you! You repay me by running away with your lover? Tsk, tsk…I thought I taught you better…" He rose from the chair, Christine pressing herself to hers.
"But that is the past now, my darling…" His arms were behind his back as he stepped forward, like an angry teacher at his student. 'Even though…I am sure you wondered what happened to your dear ex-fiancé…."
She immediately looked up to him, anger now making her tremble. "He came for me…didn't he? He's dead…isn't he…" She stated rather than ask.
"Oh no, my dear…quite alive. On his way to London, I suppose…" He looked down at her finding pleasure in her reaction.
"London? But…why…why would he-"
"He left you…don't you understand?" He barked, now behind her.
"How do you even know this?" She stammered, keeping her gaze downwards.
"This…" He magically made a newspaper appear and smacked it on the table in front of her.
OPERA SINGER DISAPPEARS, FIANCE BOARDS SHIP TO LONDON
RAOUL DE CHAGNY SUSPECT IN DISAPPEARANCE
She was silent. The tears did not come, as if she half expected it.
"Daroga purchased it for me…for proof for you…I know you wouldn't believe me yourself…"
"Why do they not blame you? Everyone has to know it was you who took me…"
"Why then would your beloved immediately be bound for another country? It seems…Meg boarded the ship with him…"
Her heart seemed to stop. She gasped, her hand over her mouth dropping the paper.
"Do you see now, Christine…what I've been trying to tell you along? He only loved the idea of your fame…your beauty…not you. "
She began to cry, her hands over her face. Erik took her by the shoulders, standing her up and embracing her.
"Forgive my words, my Christine…It is the truth…and you have to accept it…" He caressed over her hair, the feeling of her so close to him making hold her tighter. Her little body trembled with sobs. He let her cry on him, savoring the feeling of her while it lasted.
"Hush, my love…shhhh…" He whispered, one hand tracing up and down her spine. He could feel her breathing slow, her body seeming to press against his without tension. The smell of her hair was intoxicating to him.
"I..I thought..h-he loved me…" She whispered, clutching Erik's shirt. The smell of Erik's cologne seemed to relax her and she felt it strange to be in his embrace and feel so content.
Erik stayed silent, cursing the boy in his mind for causing Christine so much pain…yet relishing in the feeling of victory.
"I will never leave you, Christine…" He whispered to her, his hand still caressing her hair and her back. She closed her eyes against him, his touch which used to make her cringe with fear now warm and soothing.
"I don't expect you to love me today or even tomorrow…but you will come to love me…you will stay with me now, happily?" He asked, his own voice on the brink of emotion.
"Y-yes…" She shivered as she spoke, half of her face lying on his chest as they stood. He took her by the shoulders again, both of his hands sliding up to her face. He wiped her tears, and she thought for a second he was going to kiss her again. Instead he kissed her eyes, her forehead, and her hair. She started to cry again, burying her face in his neck.
"Please, do not cry….you know I can't bear to see you cry!" His hand came into her hair again, the softness and smell of it nearly driving him mad.
"Forgive me, but I must!" She begged. Meg? Meg, Raoul? How on earth could of all this happened while she slept? Her heart ached…for her loss of Raoul…and to her new life with Erik. Where else could she go?
The laudanum worked quickly in her tiny veins. She was fast asleep in mere minutes. She was near having a panic attack and he had to do something!
He watched her, flooded with guilt, as she slept. He closed the door to her room, not locking it. Placing his cloak about his shoulders and getting his hat, he left the house to meet Daroga.