Christine's POV
For days after we arrived at the estate, I spent endless hours starring out the window of my one bedroom shack. Nadir had wanted to give me my privacy, but I wanted to be in the same house that Erik was in. I did not argue and spent the hours reading by the fire and staring up at Erik's bedroom window. I had done him wrong and all I wanted to do was apologize for the horror I most likely caused him. When a knock occurred at my door, I stood up to open it, finding Nadir standing on the other end.
"Nadir, how are you?"
"Good, may I come in?"
When I nodded, I allowed the man to step inside before closing the door behind him. Nadir had come to visit me every day, but today, the man was acting a bit strange. Usually, he would come inside and take a seat, but today he was standing with his arms folded behind his back.
"How is Erik?"
"Not so well, Christine. His actions are why I'm here right now."
"Actions?"
"Erik has requested that you return home to Raoul."
"Raoul?" I snapped. "I left Raoul. I told Erik this when he came out of surgery. Why is he acting like this, Nadir?"
"Well, seeing the events that have taken place a week ago, Erik finds it in his heart that you fear him."
I placed my hand over my mouth to cut off the gasps that wanted to emerge. God! I had hurt him…I knew that I had and I should have apologized sooner.
"So, my mind goes to the only question I wish to know," Nadir continued. "Do you fear him?"
I thought long and hard before answering him. Did I fear Erik? Yes, there were a lot of things I feared about Erik, his temper being one of them, but did I fear his soul? Did I fear the love that he wished to bestow upon me? How could I fear a man for loving me? I was a horrible person for screaming, but how could I not be frightened when a man was forcing me to do something inappropriate in front of him for his own amusement?
"I screamed that day, Nadir," I cried. "I kicked and screamed and pleaded no…Erik took this the wrong way and I know it. I'm sorry…"
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me, Christine."
"I didn't fire your gun. I should have…God, what was I thinking? I froze, Nadir, froze out of fright, and because of that fright I almost got raped and killed. I caused Erik the pain of a bullet because of my fear."
"Erik does not blame you for that, Christine. He's told me this himself."
"I don't want to return to Raoul ever, Nadir. I've enjoyed Erik's company this past week and I wish for it to continue. You stored me away in this shack, believing that I wanted my privacy, when all I wanted was to be next to him. My distance these past few days has caused Erik to believe that I don't want anything to do with him. This entire charade is a muddle…One big muddle that needs to be put right."
"Indeed…"
"I wish to speak with Erik…Is that all right with you?"
"Of course. And if he still feels the need to have you around, then I will move your things into the house."
After hugging Nadir, I hurried out the door and into the house. I ran up the stairs and fled into Erik's bedroom, ready to apologize like nobody apologized before…Only, his bed was empty. I stepped inside and closed the door behind me, only to hear a small rustling coming from the bathroom.
"Erik, is that you?"
Before he could even answer, the man emerged, leaning on his staff as he approached his bed. He was wearing his mask, and it was apparent that he was angry or upset by the look upon his face.
"Don't you have a boy you're supposed to be returning to?" he growled, nearly falling as he approached his bed. I tried to come to his aid, but he jerked away and painfully sat down on the side of his bed.
"Erik,"
"Don't call Erik that! Christine does not deserve to talk to Erik after what she has done to him…"
I sat down beside him and sighed. "I know I should have apologized earlier…"
"Apologize for what? Christine screamed at Erik and pleaded that the gypsy take her. Anyone but Erik…"
Erik pressed his eyes closed and I could sense fresh tears falling down his cheeks.
"Erik, when I screamed and begged, it wasn't because I would have rather of had the gypsy man. It wasn't like that. I was pleading for us to be left alone. I was screaming in fear because you had been shot."
I wrapped my arms around his torso and lightly embraced his body, causing him to sigh…
"Oh, Christine, is that the truth?"
"I wouldn't lie to you, Erik. I've wanted to come up here for days now and apologize to you, but Nadir thought that staying out in the maid's shack was for the best…"
"What about Erik's face? He…He made Christine scream."
"And I'm sorry about that too. I shouldn't have screamed…It was a natural reaction. I'm just not used to it yet. But please, don't send me away. Please tell me that we can work this out and give me time to see things your way."
Erik was so interested in the hug I was giving him that he didn't even respond to my answer.
"Christine is hugging Erik…Oh, a hug. His first hug…"
I giggled and broke away from his body.
"You were never hugged before?"
Erik shook his head. "Who would want to touch Erik's body? He is repugnant…"
"No he's not, mon ange…"
I was about to continue, when I heard Erik's stomach growl.
"Oh, it is about lunch time. Would it be all right if I made you something to eat?"
"Of course…"
I smiled and headed to the door.
"Christine?"
"Yes, Erik?"
"Tell Nadir to move Christine into the spare bedroom and to stop keeping her locked away in that shack like a farm animal…"
I smiled. "I will, Erik…"
Erik's POV
For a while after that hug, all I thought about was simply that. My first hug…By Christine, even. Oh, it was beautiful. Yes, she had kissed me once, but that was to save her boy. That wasn't to say that the kiss wasn't beautiful because it was…Even if it was out of pity, that kiss lit the spark in my heart forever more.
"Erik, your lunch is ready…"
When I heard Christine calling me from downstairs, I gathered to my feet and weakly maneuvered my body down each stair with my staff. Oh, it was painful, oh, so painful. I gripped my side after stepping down each stair, groaning in agony as I did so. My cries must have reached the kitchen, for Christine came running to my side the moment I reached the fifth stair.
"Christine does not have to help Erik down the stairs like a child," I growled. "He can get down himself."
Yes, if there was one thing I was, it was stubborn. I had always done everything on my own since day one, and I hated allowing someone to help me.
"Erik, you're in pain," Christine insisted. "Let me help you…When you're feeling stronger, I'll stop helping you."
Once we were down the stairs, Christine pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and helped me sit. Oh, to think that she was helping the likes of me. It was painful to sit down, but once I was situated in my chair, I felt better.
"There you are," Christine said, placing a glass of water down in front of me. "Nadir found a nearby market last night and purchased some meat and bread. I made a vegetable stew…Nothing elaborate, but it does have the essential things in it, such as peas and some carrots."
"Erik's favorite…"
When Christine sat the bowl down in front of me, I began to wonder how exactly I was going to eat, for I couldn't take off my mask. Christine was at the counter and spun around to find that I hadn't touched my meal yet.
"Is something wrong with your lunch?"
"N…No…" I stuttered. "How is Erik supposed to eat? He…He can't take off his mask. He will frighten Christine."
"You can't eat with your mask on?"
This hurt my heart to the core, for I couldn't…I used to attempt to eat with my mask on, but the material was so hard, that it cut into my cheek, tearing away all the flesh.
"Erik? Are you all right?"
"Erik can't eat with his mask on, it hurts so, so badly… Oh, Christine, the material cuts so deep into Erik's cheek when he chews."
"Then how do you eat?"
"Alone…Erik eats alone when no one is around."
"Haven't you ever designed yourself a mask that enables you to eat around others? Like one with a higher lip… Yes, part of your scars around your mouth would be showing, but that's better than being fully exposed."
"Erik has never had to eat around others. He's always been the only one at his table…"
"What about when you used to make me dinner?"
"Erik never sat with Christine at the table…Remember? He always left until she was finished."
I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but to my surprise, Christine poured herself a bowl of stew and took a seat beside me.
"Well, I'll be having lunch with you now."
"Erik can't take off his mask…He…He will frighten Christine."
Without hesitation, Christine took a napkin and began folding it strangely. Next thing I knew, she was standing over me and pulling away my mask. I was about to protest, when I realized that she had her head turned to the side so that she wasn't staring at my face. When I felt the cool air against my cheek, she placed the napkin over my deformity and titled my head up.
"There," she said. "Now we can both eat together."
"Erik cannot see…What if the napkin falls off his face? Oh, he will frighten Christine."
"You think too much, Erik…"
I was about to say something, when I felt the spoon at my deformed lips. What was this? Was Christine truly feeding me? Oh feeding me! Erik was never fed before…His own mother never allowed him to nurse from her breast, for it disgusted her. No, I was lucky that I was bottle fed at times. Fresh tears slid down my cheeks as I accepted the delicious stew Christine had cooked. After each spoonful, she would wipe the side of my mouth with a napkin. It was beautiful! Oh, so beautiful.
"Good?" Christine questioned.
"The best stew Erik has ever eaten. Oh, Erik never knew that Christine could cook."
"I've only done it a few times," Christine assured. "When my father was too sick to do so. When I arrived at the opera house, everyone cooked for me, including you."
"Erik can't cook as good as this…"
"Oh, please, Erik, you're flattering..."
When the stew was gone, Christine removed the napkin and replaced my mask back over my face. Only when the knot in the string was tied did she turn to face me once again.
"There, all done. Are you full?"
"Yes, thank you…"
Christine took a seat in her spot and began to eat her meal. Feeling exhausted, I rose and began to hobble with my staff towards the stairs.
"Erik is going to rest up in his room."
"All right…"
And as I climbed the stairs, all I could think about was the day when Christine and I would enjoy a meal together without a mask or napkin hiding my face…But that was a fantasy and nothing more.
Please review! And a special thanks to my personal Beta who has been helping me along with spelling and such...
