This chapter is fairly short and is probably about the only thing where Mina's Vampirism comes into play. Oh, and the note is important now :P Honestly, if you choose to skip out on this chapter, I understand completely. Just be sure to glance through the last part with Erik and Christine and the note, okay?


Chapter eight: Dormant

Erik sat at Christine's side, gently stroking her cheek as she laid on the bed in the Louis Philippe room, still unconscious from the Mazenderan parfum, which she had been exposed to, at Erik's hand, in Romania. She began to stir and her eyes opened. She had a dazed look upon her face.
"Wha?… What happened? Erik?"
"I'm here, Christine," he said. "Don't leave me like that again!…"
"How long have I been out like this?" she asked him.
"About two days now…"
"Where is Mina?"|
"She's in the living room."
Christine began to get up, but she began to feel light-headed and fell, Erik catching her.
"Christine! You shouldn't be trying to move yet. The effects of the parfum haven't fully worn off…"
"What? The effects of the parfum?" Erik, What have you done to me?"
Christine starred at Erik with a confused and startled expression. Erik sighed sadly.
"Christine, I'm sorry… It was the only way that I could bring you back without hurting you…"
"But you have hurt me, Erik! You have taken away my freedom."
"Well perhaps you should have thought of that before you removed my mask!"
Christine sighed.
"Bickering is getting us nowhere," she said.
"You are right," Erik agreed, and he helped Christine to her feet.

The two walked into the living room, where Christine caught sight of Mina, lying unconscious on the sofa, and was sent into a panic.
"Erik! What happened to… Wait… I remember now! It was you! When you hit her on the head with my brush!"
Erik walked over to Mina and bent down beside her, checking her pulse.
"No," he said. "She needs blood!"
"Blood!"
"If she doesn't get blood soon, she'll go dormant. She needs fresh blood…"
"Then here," said Christine, holding out her wrists to Erik.
"Christine, have you gone completely mad!" asked Erik with a look of disbelief.
"No, Erik! If it is only blood that Mina needs, then I am willing to give it."
"Christine, listen to me! Go into my room and get the ink well from the table beside the organ."
"But how will that help?"
"Just do it!"
Christine rushed into Erik's room, grabbed his well of red 'ink', and brought it to him.
"Good," said Erik. "Now I suggest that you hide your eyes…"
Christine covered her eyes and Erik poured the blood red 'ink' over Mina's lips. Mina licked her lips slowly, then sat up and opened her eyes.
"Is it safe to look yet?" asked Christine.
"It's safe," replied Erik.
Christine opened her eyes to see Mina sitting on the sofa.
"Mina!"
"Christine!"
Christine ran up to Mina and the two hugged.
"I was so worried…," said Christine.
At this moment, Erik cleared his throught and Christine and Mina turned toward him.
"I hate to break up this little reunion, but I would like to speak to Christine for a moment. In private."
Erik glared at Christine. She shrunk a bit and turned to Mina with a worried expression.
"It's going to be alright," whispered Mina, giving an optimistic smile.

Erik took Christine's hand and led her into his room, closing the door behind them. He brought her to a wooden chair and motioned for her to sit. He then pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, which Christine distinctly recognized as the love letter which she had brought with her to Romania.
"I believe that I have found the source of the problem…"
"What problem? Erik, what are you talking about?"
"Don't play all innocent with me! I know your little secret! I know all about your friend…"
"Erik, I honestly do not have the slightest idea as to what you are talking about…"
"Then perhaps this will ring a bell to you…" And he began to read from the letter. "To my dearest Christine. My love, it is I, the boy from so long ago on the beach, who rescued your scarf from the sea…"
Christine put her hands over her ears in a desperate attempt to block out the words.
"Stop it!" she cried.
"So you'll admit it! You know this young man!"
"He is only a friend! Nothing more."
"Friends do not write with such romantic language! 'Tis the language which lovers use! I can finally understand the problem now. It's not your fault! No! It's his! And the only way to solve the problem is to eliminate it completely!…"
"No!" she said tearfully. "You cannot possibly think that this has anything to do with it! We were just children."
"And that has grown into something more."
"No, Erik! Please! Do not hurt him! I promise to stay in your care from now on…"
"Until when? Until you elope with him!"
"No, Erik! I could not marry him even if I wanted to! His position in society forbades it!…"
Not satisfied with her answer, Erik threw her letter into the fire. Christine tried to stop him, but alas, she was too late."
"No!"
"And if I should so much as hear of, or in any way find out about any visits or arrangements between the two of you – of any kind – let his and your fate be the same!…"
Christine knelt by the fire and watched in tears as her lover's letter burned amongst the flames. The letter which she saw as her salvation and her only hope of escape from that underground prison.