Natalie's POV
What was the point in that? I was brushing my hair when the force brought to the rafters for the worst part. I am guessing Erik could sense me, or something, because after Christine took off his mask he looked up at me and then he opened the trap door. Some help I am. I haven't changed anything. I was quickly brought back to the lair by that damn invisible force. I sat on the bed thinking and smiled. I can still change things I have one more chance. What should I do though? I can be a mermaid again and when Erik goes in the water, I can swim around him in circles. Maybe I should let things go the way that they are supposed to and just be here for him. Ugh… I don't know what to do. I went to the bathroom and sat in front of the mirror brushing my hair when I heard him. He is all the way at the top of the stairs and I can hear him down here. "down once more to the dungeon of my black despair. Down we plunge to the prison of my mind. Down that path into darkness deep as hell!" What ever I am going to do I need to think of something fast.
Erik's POV
I grabbed Christine's wrist and dragged her roughly down the stone passageways. She grabbed at the walls, grabbing at my hand trying to escape. "Hounded out by everyone
Met with hatred everywhere." I pulled her over toward the mannequin. "No kind words from anyone
No compassion anywhere Christine, Christine, why" I shook her a little and caught a glimpse of Natalie in the bedroom; she got up and went behind a curtain. "Why?" I asked Christine again before taking the dress off the mannequin and handed it to her. She took it and went into the bedroom to put it on. Natalie came out from behind the curtain that was surrounding the mannequin and just stood there looking at me, she looked somewhat upset. "What do you want now Natalie?" I said as I looked at the ring that was intended for Christine. "What do I want? There are plenty of things I would like Mr. Erik." I looked up to her as she walked over to me and dragged her hand down my chest and over my stomach. "What is with your attitude?" She turned away from me and crossed her arms. "Oh huh let me think. Quote no kind words from any one no compassion any where end quote." I went back to looking at the ring and she walked off as Christine walked over to me. Natalie was really the only one who showed me compassion and showed me kindness, but if she's from the future and she knew what was going to happen why didn't she try to change anything? "Have you gorged yourself at last In your lust for blood? Am I now to be prey to your lust for flesh?" I lifted my head and turned to her grabbing the veil. "That fate which condemns me to wallow in blood, has also denied me the joys of the flesh. This face the infection which poisons our love." I forcefully put the veil on her head. "This face which earned a mother's fear and loathing, a mask, my first Unfeeling scrap of clothing. Pity comes too late. Turn around and face your fate. An eternity of this before your eyes." She walked over to one of the mirrors and pulled the fabric off. "This haunted face holds no horror for me now. It's in your soul where the true distortion lies."
Natalie's POV
I heard splashing. This is my chance. Christine and Erik looked toward the portcullis and I jumped in the water muttering "fish legs" so no one could hear me and I turned into a mermaid, swimming out into the lake. "Wait! I think, my dear we have a guest. Sir, this is indeed an unparalleled delight. I had rather hoped that you would come and now my wish comes true. You have truly made my night!" I swam back and forth, knowing that if I stopped I would have to surface and that would ruin what I had planed. "Free her Do what you like, only free her. Have you no pity? "Raoul grabbed the gate. "Your lover makes a passionate plea." Erik said with a mocking tone, turning to Christine. "Please Raoul it's useless." It's amazing how clearly I can hear them as I am under water it really is. "I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion." I knew what he was going to say next but before he could say anything, I flicked my tail drenching Erik with the water. Erik just grumbled. Raoul continued to beg with Erik. "Christine . . . Christine . . . Let me see her." Erik walked over to a lever that I had not noticed before and he hit it opening the portcullis. "Be my guest, sir... Monsieur, I bid you welcome. Did you think that I would harm her? Why should I make her pay for the sins which are yours?" Erik walked out into the water toward me; I stayed under the water not doing anything… yet. "Order your fine horses now! Raise your hand to the level of your eyes! Nothing can save you now, Except perhaps Christine Start a new life with me Buy his freedom with your love! Refuse me, and you send your lover to his death! This is the choice; this is the point of no return!" Erik grabbed a rope from the water that I had not notice that was there his hand almost brushing my arm. "The tears I might have shed for your dark fate, grow cold and turn to tears of hate!" Christine came to the edge of the lake. They all started singing at once so I couldn't really understand what they were singing. I caught a few words here and there. Then I heard Erik yelling. "You try my patience you make your choice!" He tugged on the rope as I started swimming circles around Erik. "Pitiful creatures of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone..." Christine sang as she came closer and closer to Erik. My Erik. When she said alone she slipped on the ring, I jumped up in-between Christine and Erik. To say Christine was confused was an understatement. Raoul was confused to but this story is not about him. I draped my arms over Erik's shoulders and kissed him with all I had. I broke the kiss reluctantly and looked at him. A few emotions passed threw him the first of them was confusion. Then he got royally pissed off but not as much as when he pushed me off the roof, and then realization. He pulled me into him and kissed me with twice as much as I gave him. Christine rush passed us over to Raoul and we broke apart looking into each other's eyes. "Take her, forget us, forget all of this. Leave us alone, forget all you've seen. Go now don't let them find you, Take the boat. Swear to me, never to tell. The secret you know of the angel in Hell." He walked up out of the lake and I followed, going into the bedroom. "Go now Go NOW and leave us." Raoul had to say something stupid. "See you aren't alone you have a mermaid." Ok so it wasn't as stupid as I thought it was going to be but I still forced myself not to do a face palm. Then him and Christine went over to the gondola. I went into the bedroom and quickly changed into something dry. Erik went and sat over by his monkey playing the symbols and turned it on. I went into the bathroom grabbing a towel and dried my hair. I heard soft foot steps coming into the bedroom. I watched as Christine came over to him. "Masquerade Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade Hide your face so the world will never find you." I came out of the bathroom with the towel around my head. Erik looked between us. Christine looked at him sadly. She picked up his hand, placed the ring in his hand, and closed his hand around it. She turned while still holding his hand and waked back toward Raoul. I walked over to Erik picking up the music box and sat on the chest that it was sitting on and sat on it. He was crying. Why was he crying he should be happy? This means I changed absolutely nothing. "I love you Erik." He sobbed harder and then looked up at me. "Love, why are you crying?" He pulled me onto his lap and I dropped the music box. "I have been so stupid. You were here with me all these months. There in front of me, all this time and you tried, you tried more then once to tell me." I gave him a chaste kiss. "We need to go the mob will be here soon." I stood up, found one of my empty backpacks, and started to fill it with my stuff making sure to grab my laptop. I grabbed another bag filling it with things for Erik. Erik stood up and I walked over to where the three mirrors are and stood by the third one. Erik came over picking up a candleholder and started smashing the mirrors. "It's over now the music of the night. Lets us make a new song take flight." I giggled as he came up to the third mirror. "It's this one love." He lowered the candleholder. "You couldn't have told me that sooner?" He growled. I placed my hand on his cheek. " I could have yes, but you looked sexy smashing the mirrors." I kissed him and backed away so he could smash the third one, he did so then looked at me. I picked up a bag and I walked into the passage and looked back at him he was looking at his lair his home as if for the last time. We could come back, couldn't we after every thing settled down about the Phantom? He stepped into the passage and closed the curtain, taking the bags from me. He took my hand and we headed down the passageway to what lay ahead. Who knew what was in store for us.