Chapter nine: Just a kiss
I didn't mean to scream. His face was badly deformed, I could see his skull in a few places. But I hadn't expected him to just pop out of nowhere and running into him scared me most of all.
"Damn you!" Erik shrieked his voice almost unearthly.
I gripped my pounding chest. "I'm sorry."
Erik grabbed his mask and fled the room. I grabbed my skirts and went after him. He slammed the wall behind me and I knew he'd lock it. Quickly I ran up the stairs, Raoul was charging up behind me.
"Christine!"
"I knocked his mask off!" I said.
"Oh dear God!" Raoul shouted.
I went to the closet and my fingers frantically searched for a button. I found it and the door swung open. Raoul jumped in behind me.
"Christine," he hissed. "Leave him alone. You've done enough."
"I have to!" I said. "I didn't mean it!"
"Leave him alone!" Raoul said searching for the button that opened the door. "He'll kill you!"
I yanked free from him, pushed him out the door, locked it and hurried down the hall ignoring Raoul banging. I could hear Erik crying. I began to wish Raoul were there. This was a side of his brother he'd never seen before and it would do him good.
I crept out to find Erik, his head on the piano, crying and cursing himself. I remained silent until I could touch his shoulder.
"Erik!"
He yelled and jumped up. He clapped his hand over his face. "What the hell are you doing down here?"
I grew angry as he swore at me. "Erik de Chagney, will you shut up?"
"How dare you!" he yelled. "I'm your master!"
"True! But I don't need to stand by and hear you curse at me!"
"Get out of here!" he screamed and I feared he'd damage those golden vocal chords. "Now!"
"No!"
"Why?" he shouted, dropping his hand. I fought to keep from wincing at the sight of his face. "Is this what you wanted to see? Or did you come down here to scream at me some more?"
"Erik!" I shouted. "I didn't scream because of your face." He laughed. "You scared me!"
"I knew that much!"
"I didn't expect to come around the corner and smack into you! You shouldn't eavesdrop!"
"Eavesdrop!"
"Yes!"
"I was coming upstairs to get breakfast, then retire as always."
"How do I know that?" I demanded.
"How do I know my bumping into you scared you?" he demanded. "Every person in this damn household, especially my family is scared of me! Why should I believe that you're not scared of me?"
"I can't prove that! You'll have to trust me as I'll have to trust you!"
"Why should I?"
"I haven't ripped your mask off!" I said. "The first time I saw you I've always wanted to know what was under it!" his eyes flashed. "But I didn't. I have too much respect for you and your face isn't that bad!"
"Ha!"
"I mean it Erik!"
Erik stared at me. He stepped closer to me until we were almost nose to nose. "Prove it."
I blinked, "how?"
"Kiss me."
My eyes bulged. "Erik! It's not right….I'm courting your brother."
"There are many types of kisses Christine." He said. "Or else, am I right? You can't prove it because you're too disgusted by this hideous monstrosity. If I were handsome like my brother, you wouldn't hesitate."
I gripped Erik's face in both my hands and kissed him. I felt his face contort in shock. A corner of his lip was deformed and felt a little odd. But that didn't scare me; what did scare me was the shortness of breath I had. The heat in my stomach and the desire of feeling him close to me. His hands covered mine and he broke the kiss.
I stared at him, stunned. Erik shook with sobs. He pushed away from me and went into another part of his house. The door slammed and I heard the lock turn. I stood there for a few moments with shock vibrating through my body. Then my feelings turned to fear as I thought of Raoul. I grabbed my skirts and ran upstairs. How had I allowed that kiss? It wasn't right!
Erik was right, I gave into the desires of the flesh and Erik was the most inviting piece of temptation, inspite of his scars. Father told me to resist temptation, and I was going to, by doing the only thing possible.
I pushed the door open to see Raoul frantically pacing the room. He was so relieved when I came through the wall.
"Oh Christine." He pulled me into his arms and out of Erik's world. "Oh, are you all right?"
I nodded and Raoul gently wiped my tears away I hadn't known I was crying. "I'm fine Raoul."
"Shh," he soothed. "I'm here. Nothing will harm you."
I gripped Raoul, desperate to soak up his warmth and goodness. His lips touched my cheeks. "Raoul?" I asked.
"Yes, dearest?"
"Raoul, if you still want me," I pulled back and gazed into his eyes. "I'll marry you."
I was partly trying to escape Erik, but I did love Raoul. I'm not sure if was the kind that would last. But where would I ever find another man with Raoul's nature? He was a good man.
So is Erik. My mind said. I pushed the thought away.
"Oh Christine," Raoul's joy was so contagious that I felt my heart overflow. He spun me around and kissed me. I clung to him and I enjoyed the taste of summer and happiness on his lips. His arms held the promise of future of freedom.
I laughed as we broke the kiss. Raoul's hands caressed my face and he stared into my eyes adoringly. "Christine, I love you."
I didn't have to lie, "I love you too."
I did love him. I honestly loved Raoul.
"Raoul," I said. "Let's not tell Erik or anyone, until my contract is over."
"Why?"
"Please Raoul, I beg of you. Let's wait till the time is right."
"It's an engagement. Not a crime!" he gazed deeply into my eyes. "Christine, what are you afraid of?"
I pushed away from him with a careless laugh, "let's not argue. It's also too soon. You don't want to shock your parents considering how I blew up at them."
"All right." He kissed my forehead. "I'll honor your wishes."
"Also, I'm going to act as if we're not engaged," at his frown I added as I patted his face. "But I'll always be true to you dearest."
"Raoul!" Mrs. Chagney called as she came up the stairs. "Where are you?"
We separated and put enough distance between us so when Mrs. Chagney appeared, it would seem nothing had traversed.
She groaned, "oh thank goodness! You won't believe this!" she shrieked. "We've been invited to la Carlotta's party of the century!"
I gasped and clapped my hands in excitement. "Oh my word!"
Raoul spun me around as I laughed, "you will be the most beautiful woman there."
"Is it a masquerade?"
We all spun around to see Erik standing by my dresser. I flushed and immediately dropped my gaze. Still, his eyes burned into my back.
"I fail to see how it concerns you!" she said sharply.
"Let me put it this way, if you expect Christine to go, it'd better be a masquerade."
Her gaze narrowed, "what do you mean?"
"It means, I won't be go if he doesn't go." I said. "So, is it a masquerade?"
"Erik! You have no right to order such a thing!"
"Mrs. Chagney," I asked. "Please, is it a masquerade?"
Raoul took the invitation and nodded, "it is."
"Then we have nothing to worry about." I said. "It's a masquerade."
"If you've no objections, Erik." Mrs. Chagney said sarcastically. "I'll be taking her into down for a dress."
"I do object." He said. "She'll have no need to go into town for one!"
"Confound it Erik!" Raoul snapped. "It's a dress!"
"It's all right," I said, turning and held Erik's gaze. "Trust me. Everything's fine."
Erik turned back to the closet; "I'll see you later."
He then vanished, leaving the Chagney family gaping at me in astonishment.
I smoothed my silken robe, Erik hadn't come up yet in his costume and I knew he was bringing me my costume. I felt a little silly that a man was making my costume; but like with Gerald who was I to complain?
A creaking wall announced Erik had come in the room. I turned to greet him with a smile. "Hello."
He ignored me and stepped forward with a box, "Still upset?" I asked him as I opened the box.
"Confused." He said. I set down the box and looked at him. "Open the box."
I obeyed. I gasped and stared at the cloth. It was a magnificent gown. The finest I'd ever seen. Only once I pulled it out. I could barely describe it. The top left my shoulders bare. My left breast area was black, while my right was white. My right side also had a transparent red, puffed shoulder sleeve. One side was black and the other was white. The gown was full and a puddle of colors. The colors puddles edges touched, but never mixed. Unique swirls kept the gown interesting; a yellow puddle would have red swirls. A purple puddle, orange swirls and so on and so forth.
In my excitement I slid off my robe and got into it. I wrestled with the buttons, only once I felt Erik's hands on mine did I remember he was in the room. "Allow me." he cleared his throat. I was so embarrassed, my excitement got ahead of me. "Pleased?"
"I love it Erik." I said.
"It will be a shame." He said. "That you'll outshine the hostess tonight." He took me by the arm and turned me around, admiring me. "Very nice."
"Erik, how is it you always say nice things in such a casual manner?"
He frowned, "what do you mean? Is it because I don't fawn over you like Raoul does?"
"No." I said. "Well, in a way. I mean, it's a refreshing change. I get so tired of him showering me with praise sometime. It's flattering, but deep down I know I'm not beautiful."
Erik gripped me by my shoulders and pushed me towards the mirror. "Look at yourself Christine." I did and I stared at what the dress looked like. "At yourself, not the dress." I obeyed. But I still didn't like myself. "You've got a lovely face. Good cheeks, fine nose, pretty blue eyes and smooth skin."
I turned around and looked at Erik. I realized he was dressed up as Robin Hood. The green was very becoming on him. "You look handsome Erik."
His face grew hard, "why do you lie Christine?"
"Why did you lie to me?" I countered.
"I'm telling the truth!"
"So am I!"
"Why?" Erik asked. "Why do you delight in making me believe that you care for this loathsome gargoyle."
"You're not a loathsome gargoyle Erik," I said touching his face boldly. "Gargoyle's are made of stone, you're made of flesh and blood."
Erik tilted my face up and he asked, "what happens when this breathing gargoyle desires the living angel?"
My heart stopped. There was no mistaking his words. Erik leaned forward and I prepared myself for a kiss that would cause me to doubt again.
