Disclaimer: I do not own any of these wonderful characters. They are, however, archetypal, so of course they really belong to me, as they do to all of us who love them!
A/N:
Well...I had hoped for more reviews...I was not planning to continue, but the story is begging to be written! My muses started pounding on the door of my mind, giving me no peace, until at last I gave in! Also, I did get some very nice reviews from some very sweet "phellow phans" who wanted me to go on with the story. So here it is! Thank you for your comments! I certainly hope to be getting more reviews now!
Just a few notes about this chapter...
I have made Erik more responsive to Christine's conscience. She is able to persuade him not to do anything to alter the performance of Faust, allowing Carlotta to sing as planned. Also, the title role Carlotta did sing in the movie was for a fictional opera titled Il Muto, not Faust, which is really mentioned in Susan Kay's book. So I suppose some influences from this unforgettable author have also crept in...
Please enjoy, and review if delighted!
Chapter 2: Love's Call Answered Again...
Christine's participation in the rehearsals for Faust were at first nearly mechanical. Madame Giry, noticing her pallor and dream-like demeanor, attempted to question her, but Christine evaded her.
Even her very best friend, Meg, who was also her adoptive sister, became concerned. Christine merely sighed, smiling, and told Meg that there was no need to worry, as she was quite happy. Meg, puzzled, ran to her mother, who immediately knew whom to suspect...
Daily his voice came to her through the mirror. With endless patience and a teacher's detachment, he gave her instruction. His constant striving for perfection drove her on, as she did her best to meet all of his exacting demands. More than once, he had to apologize for bringing tears of pain to her eyes. Yet, his love was constantly with her. She could feel it in the timbre of his voice. She could feel it in his vibrant presence, even through the mirror.
"Christine..." There was such yearning in his voice tonight...
"What is it, Erik?" She suddenly became concerned.
"When can you return, my sweet love?"
She felt the rapidly accelerating thudding of her heart.
"The first performance shall be tomorrow night."
"With you in the principal role!"
"What do you mean? You know I am not singing Marguerite !"
"Ah, but that may change..."
Instantly she became alarmed. She knew that he was quite capable of doing something terrible.
"I am afraid, Erik...Why are you so adamant about this? Do you intend to force the Opera directors to remove Carlotta, placing me in her stead?"
"Mademoiselle, never underestimate the resources of a Phantom!"
She felt a wave of anger.
"Erik..." she said, evenly, " I do NOT want you to do anything to prevent Carlotta from singing tomorrow night. If you do, I shall... refuse to come to your house again!"
There was a deathly silence. Then, she heard his voice, full of thunderous anger. Sudden fear speared through her body.
"You dare to threaten ME! You insolent little fool! Do you know whom you are speaking to?"
With wildly beating heart, she spoke against her fear.
"Yes...I am speaking to a very wounded man, who believes that the only way to get what he wants is to exert control based on fear."
She heard his sharp intake of breath, and this emboldened her.
"Yet, I have seen another side to this same man...a beautiful, tender side. I love that part of you, Erik. I love the man who can love so passionately, so sweetly. Please tell me that this side of you can be stronger than the other...I want to believe that it is possible, with all my heart..."
Again there was silence, a longer one this time. Then, his voice came to her again, thick with emotion.
"Truly you are an angel of light, my sweet Christine...I do not deserve such an angel..."
Her eyes filled with tears. "Whether or not you deserve her, she is yours, Erik. You are fearsome, but I have seen beneath the fear you inspire in me. You have taught me to be strong. Your love can be daunting, but I am ready to accept the challenge of loving you. You must know that. Now promise me that you will do nothing to prevent Carlotta from singing tomorrow night."
"In return for what, Christine? Surely you are aware that seeing you triumph on the stage will be immensely rewarding to me. Would you take that away from me?
"Yes!" she cried out. "Yes, I have to take that away from you, if it is unfairly achieved! Carlotta has a wonderful voice, and you shall not sabotage her career to further mine! Do you not care about my feelings in the matter? I do NOT wish to triumph at another's expense!"
She was trembling with anger now, tears streaming down her face, her small fists clenched.
There was silence again. This time, it stretched out interminably...
"Erik!"
There was not a sound to be heard from behind the mirror.
"Erik!"
Still there was no answer from him...
She turned from the mirror, shoulders slumped, and retreated to the small sofa across from it. She sat down slowly, wringing her hands, her head down.
"Do not weep, my sweet angel..." One of his gloved hands softly caressed her chin.
She lifted her head, and saw him standing before her through the blur of her tears. She smiled up at him, tremulously.
He sat down next to her on the sofa, and gathered her into his arms.
"If it means that much to you, I promise not to interfere." He whispered into her ear, causing her to shiver involuntarily.
Holding on to him tightly, she sobbed into his shoulder.
"Forgive me, my love. I am a monster, after all. You are right, I have been grievously wounded. Sometimes I lose control of my temper, to an alarming degree...And I have fits of black melancholy, in which I seem to hear the very voice of the Evil One...But you have brought light into my darkness. You are an angel of heaven..."
Lifting her head to his with one black-gloved hand, he gently placed his lips on hers.
The ensuing kiss was full of tenderness, of consuming love. She returned it blissfully, clutching him more tightly to herself. The kiss then turned ardent, as he sought entrance to her mouth. As their tongues met, a frisson of desire coursed through their bodies, and they held each other even more tightly. Breathing had become almost difficult for them both. Erik's right hand began to wander, and she felt it move down her back, below her waist...
Her head tilted back involuntarily, allowing him full access to her neck, which he then began to cover with kisses and passionate little nibbles...
There was a knock at the door.
Both of them jumped, startled, and Erik, lifting a finger to his lips, stood, and swiftly disappeared behind the mirror.
"Who...Who is it?" Christine called out in a shaky voice.
"It is your mother, Christine. I wish to speak with you, dear. Will you please open the door?"
"Mother Giry! I cannot speak with you now!"
"What is wrong, Christine? I am concerned about you! Open this door at once! "
Christine looked wildly over at the mirror. She wondered if he was still there, waiting...Making a sudden decision, she quickly bounded over to it.
"Erik! Are you there?" she whispered as she stood close to the mirror, her hands on it.
Her answer was to see the mirror suddenly move, turning inward. Then she was through, and in his arms. Hurriedly kissing her, he then grasped her hand, and began guiding her along the still unfamiliar corridors, as Madame Giry's voice continued to call out to her, at the door.
After a few paces, they could no longer hear her. Only the sound of their own heavy breathing came to their ears. Down they went, ever downward, and Christine felt as though she were Eurydice, traveling with Orpheus through the underworld...
Once they paused, briefly, to feel each other's faces in the darkness, to kiss and pledge love once more to each other. Then they went on, she relying on his uncanny ability to see in the dark, on to the house where the magic throne of Music awaited them...
