Chapter 11
Christmas Eve
Emma walked up from her bed chamber wearing a red velvet house coat, in her hand she held two santa's hats that she had made over the few weeks from Thanksgiving. The quarrels between her and Erik had died down tremendously after that night. Both started to be nice to each other, well kind of. Some days they wouldn't talk that much, other days they would joke around with each other.
Tonight Erik felt depressed. He had another passionate dream about Christine. They were starting to get more and more intense. This dream was different, his face was normal, there was no deformity and no more mask. Christine loved him and they lived peacefully together. Christine smiled at him, a real smile. She hugged him and kissed him like he was the love of her life. Then he woke up and he was back in his lair, with his mask and his ghastly features. Is normalcy so hard to ask for. . .?
His fingers traced his twisted lips, circling the abnormal swell of them, attempting to attract the sweet kisses he received in his dream. Emma walked in and gave him a wide smile. He only stared at her, his mood too heavy to be affected by her usual tranquility. Her smile faltered and she proceeded farther into the room. Erik stiffened and moved to get up and leave. He didn't want to snap something at her, to let his desperation be burned on her. All he wanted was to be alone, for once he wanted to be by himself.
Emma looked into his eyes, those deep eyes that unveiled all his emotions. Something was on his mind, and she wanted to find out what is was. If it was that Christine girl, she was going to strangle him!
" All week you've been moping around the house. Yesterday you didn't even come out of this room. Erik what's wrong now?"
" It is none of you business. Haven't I told you to stop digging into my affairs." Erik snapped, his hand shielding his eyes, the burning sensation of salty tears formed in his eyes. He knew if he talked about it, he wouldn't be able to contain them anymore. His head lowered farther down till his chin almost touched his chest.
" I know, but I don't want a sour thumb on Christmas. Just for one day, be happy. Even if you kill me afterwards. At home, this would be my favorite holiday. The smell of burnt wood mixed with the strong scent of pine. . .white snow flakes falling outside the window, while I sip a cup of hot chocolate. I'm afraid to say I'm actually homesick, never in my life would I guess I would. Anyway, Christmas is very important to me, and it would make me glad if you would at least act happy to be here."
" Emma, it is not my fault that you are homesick, or that you are even here! Do not insist on telling me that I need to be happy in my own home."
" But these last few weeks have been actually enjoyable. We talked to each other and joked around. What happened. . . ? I think I might have a hunch."
Erik looked up and glared at the girl, his eyes throwing daggers at her. His face furrowed up into an angry feature. " You may know but you don't understand. I loved her. . .I loved her very much!" His eyes opened up and the storm of tears streamed down his cheek. His sobs rang out into the music room. Emma stood frozen, dumbfounded and speechless. " I loved her. . . she left me. . . running away with that fool! But what did he have to offer her. . .money. I have enough money to feed the whole city of Paris. . .No that's not why she left you Erik, she left you because of your face. Its evil markings and torn skin!" The man fell to his knees, landing heavily on the floor, his fists pounding the stone. Emma walked over to him and put her fingertips on his arm. He flinched away from her touch as if burned by acid. The man moved away from her, crawling away on the stone floor. " She didn't love me."
" Erik. . .I truly am. . .really sorry. I can't believe how stupid I am to be so insensitive." Emma knelt down to the floor. Her head hung low and her fingers wrung around one another. Erik looked up at her, not glaring or smiling. Tears stained his face, tracks of their flight glimmered in the firelight. His hands fell from his face and rested on his curled legs. Emma reached out and placed her hand on his, trying not to jerk away from the abnormal temperature of his skin. Erik tried to escape it but with no avail. Emma held on tightly, her eyes digging deep into his. " I will not stop you from loving Christine, nor will I ever really understand what happened. I will help to make you realize that Christine loved you, just a more fatherly love. But I can do this only if you allow me."
". . .Emma, sometimes your mouth can be so irritating," Erik stood up and moved to his organ. His long skinny fingers aligned themselves along the smooth keys. " But sometimes, only a few, do you know what to say."
Emma got up and walked over to the music bench. She motioned Erik to scoot over and took a seat next to him. While Erik played a quiet tune, the girl put her hair up into a messy bun. Then turned back around to face the organ.
" Can I attempt to play a song. I'm sure you'll recognize it from the music I let you listen to. It took me four months to perfect it so, no critiquing. If you feel the need to sing, which I do recommend, please enlighten me with that voice of gold."
" My voice is nothing to get excited about." Emma raised her eyebrows in surprise.
" Stop being modest. If you're anything like Michael Crawford, then you have a voice of gold. If you can sing better than him. . . lets just say I'll be forcing you to sing all the time."
" Who is this Michael Crawford you seem to obsess over?"
" Ah, Michael Crawford. He was the very first Phantom of the Opera for Webber's musical. I call him the King of all Phantoms. Well, other than you of course. . . But Michael was always thin, and pale and he had the nicest body and-"
" Mademoiselle, please just play the song. I do not wish to hear about someone's physic."
" Sorry, I sometimes go on long tangents about him. Anyways, here we go." Emma started the song and before she knew it, her eyes were closed and she was rocking in complete ecstacy. Erik stared surprised at her emotion, but truly she played it like a dog. The melody and general idea of the song was indeed soothing. The music smoothed over his anger and chiseled some of the built of layers of hate. When Emma finished the song, her lips parted into a smile.
For a time now she has wondered what it was like outside. She hasn't been out since Thanksgiving. This was her favorite time of year, fall and winter. Just to be able to look at the snow falling, the fresh smell of fallen snow and the sensation of coming in after a long walk in the snow. Yes, she did love snow. Emma would do anything to go outside, and since it was about one in the morning, maybe Erik would make an exception.
" Erik, can I ask you a favor?"
" Whatever it is you wish to ask me, my answer is no!"
" But I haven't even asked you yet."
" Yes, but most likely the chances that I say yes are unlikely."
"But-"
" No!"
" Erik, it's not fair. . . I'll start singing again!" The ghost sat there with his arms crossed. " Alright. . . Cause I
had the time of my life,
No I never felt this way before,
Yes I swear,
It's the truth,
For I owe it all to you...
" Fine, what is it that you want?"
Emma worried her lip and twirled the ends of her hair. This was harder then she thought.
" I waswonderingifwecouldgoonawalkinthepark."
" Was that even a language Mademoiselle? Slow down so I can understand you."
" I was wondering," Emma sighed. It's best to just get it out. " If we could go for a walk in the park."
" No. We have already been through this. You can go, but I am staying here."
" I don't want to go by myself. There are wacks out there and I don't want to be killed by one. Please! I promise I won't ask you again!"
" Then do not go if you're afraid of being murdered."
" It's not fair! You're used to not going outside, but this is new for me. It's one in the morning. Is it common for people to take walks in the park at this hour?"
" Not that I would know, but I doubt it."
" I will do anything! I will go anywhere as long as it's outside!"
" Anywhere?"
" Yes, anywhere. Other then the sewers, but yea."
" Alright then, go get dressed. I'll meet you down by the dock. Dress warmly, it's quite cold outside and I don't want you to catch an illness."
Erik waited by the boat holding a lantern in between his fingers. Time was passing by and Emma still didn't come through the double doors. It had to have been at least fifteen minutes. How long does it take to put on gloves, a cloak and a scarf? Finally just as his temper was about to explode, Emma walked through the double doors and Erik's heart jumped a beat. She was wearing a black cloak, one with red velvet on the inside and her hair cascaded spiraling down her chest. His breath quickened an he tried desperately to peal his eyes away from her body. His mind raced for something to say, something that would hide his attraction towards her.
" I thought you were never going to show up. What took you so long?"
" Can't a girl look pretty sometimes?" Erik saw the dark black coloring on her lower eye lid and saw the cherry lipstick on her intoxicating lips. His heart quivered at the thoughts in his head.
" What is that on your eyes?"
" It's called eye-liner, it's to make a girl more attractive. It's very popular in the future."
" Only women who sell themselves wear it on their eyes today. You looked fine before. . .Never mind that, just get into the boat." Erik moved to help the girl but only found her shoving his hand way.
" I can see Monsieur, I don't need you to help me now."
Emma walked across the dock slowly, making sure she knew exactly where to go. Her foot slowly probed the bow of the boat until she was safely standing inside it. Erik inched into the boat and began to row across the lake, humming the song Emma had played for him. True it was addicting and very sensual, but he found it annoying that the girl was right in saying that he thought the song was good deep down. It seemed all he could think of lately was Emma, but he didn't want to let go of his precious Christine. The thought that he would be deceiving her would crush his heart. They reached the shore, a beam of moonlight poured through the Rue Scribe. Emma walked toward the exit but was greeted with Erik telling her that they weren't going to the park.
" What the hell do you mean we aren't going to the park! I asked if we could go for a walk?"
" If I may correct you Mademoiselle, you said I could take you anywhere. This time it will not be as eventful as the last trip I took you on. Even so, you will still have to climb."
Erik led the girl towards the oversized steps and they walked up the stairs, talking about Christmas and decorations. Once they reached ground level, Erik took Emma through a hallway which ended in another set of steps. They climbed flight after flight of stairs up until they came to a low ceiling. Erik hitched open a door up on the ceiling and climbed through, a light wind swirled through and hit Emma's face. He lowered his hands down and pulled Emma up onto the roof of the Opera house. Emma gasped and closed her eyes, panting as if she just ran a marathon. She groped at Erik's jacket and feverishly grabbed hold of his neck. Small whimpers of terror escaped through her mouth. The poor man tried to calm her, telling her that nothing would happen to her. He walked over the Apollo and leaned against the golden sculpture, the girl clinging to him like a bur.
" Emma, my dear, you are strangling me. You must let go, you are not going to fall." At that moment, the girl clung tighter around Erik's neck. He could smell the sweet essence of her hair, and felt the warmth of her fingertips against his neck. Her heart was racing one hundred beats per minute, almost as if she was about to have a heart attack. Erik, for a last resort, started to sing the song she played for him back at the house. Emma began to relax, the music danced around her ears. The panic and worry she felt before started to melt away and her grip around his neck loosened. Emma's head tilted up to look at Erik. His eyes dazzled in the cloudy night, and his face shone pale in the white sky. She didn't dare look down, for she knew her panic would grow stronger. Her mouth managed to breathe out a thank-you, but her mind was clogged with the seductive tone of Erik's voice.
" There, there. Nothing is going to happen. If you would just stay calm you will be able to enjoy this scene of Paris." Erik grabbed Emma's wrists and uncoiled them from his neck. He turned her around to face the city. It was very difficult to make the girl move but after some reassurance, she gave up. The city was a spectacle of colors and the air was light and cold.
Emma grabbed onto the statue next to them and held on until her knuckles grew white. It was scary facing her fears, but it was worth it. In fact, to look back on it, she must have looked stupid freaking out like that. A sea of red crept up her neck and invaded her cheeks. Her legs started to notice the cool air as it climbed up her body. Each finger slowly began to freeze and her nose responded to this by turning a light pink.
The breath of fresh air was definitely worth the bitter cold. Emma looked up at the endless color of grey and from the pit of it saw a single, gliding snow flake fall from it. A few seconds later, the sky was scattered with white pin-tops of snow. A gasp escaped her throat, except this one was out of excitement. She was witnessing snow!
" Erik, look it's snowing! I can't believe it's snowing! HA! I caught one on my tongue! Don't look at me like that! Try it. . .Come on stick your tongue out, like this. Ah." Erik stared at the girl with a mocking grin on his face.
" I am not going to do such things as catch snow flakes on my tongue. It is absurd."
" Don't be so uptight. If I can subside my fear," Emma inched back from the edge and turned back to Erik, her eyes glowing in amusement. " Of heights, then you can catch a snow flake on your tongue."
" My answer is still no. I would rather watch you make a fool out of yourself so I can bring it up later to plead for your insanity."
" Come on!"
" No!"
" Just do it. It's really fun." Emma stuck out her tongue and caught a small, diamond shaped snow flake on her tongue. Then, making an exaggerated munching sound, attempted to persuade the man to try it.
" Emma, I told you I will not do it! That's final."
" Erik, you need to pull that cork out your ass and have some fun!"
" What did you say?"
" Don't make me make you try it."
" ALRIGHT! If I do it will you shut your endless mouth?"
" For the time being, yes."
Erik tilted his head back and grudgingly stuck out his tongue. Emma let out a snicker and watched as a lonely snowflake landed on Erik's tongue, he rolled his eyes at Emma's amusement. He closed his mouth and finally really smiled. It had been a long time since he smiled, a foreign action to him. His eyes traveled from the sky down to Emma, her hair a shaggy grey with the snow mixing with her long, shiny black hair. He noticed she was shivering and suggested they head back down. But the girl refused and shook her head, sending tiny flakes to the rooftop.
"I want to soak up all the fresh air and snow until there is none left for the world. Call me selfish, but I want to remember how this feels, and how it tastes." Emma caught another snowflake as the sky really opened up and sent bigger chunks of snow sailing down to land on Emma's body.
" If you soak up too much, you will become ill and I don't have the patience to deal with you when you're sick. I can barely deal with you now."
Giving up, Emma shook her head in agreement let go of the statue. But before she moved to go back down, she turned to Erik and smiled at him. The man broke out into a sweat, even in the bitter winter air. She walked towards him, careful not to slip on the snow covered panels. Once face to face with him, she opened up her arms and hugged the man. Erik, heart beating and lungs working hard for him not to faint, stood dumbfounded. He slowly wrapped his arms around the girl, his long skinny arms encircling around her back. Emma quickly nestled into his chest, the top of her head fitting neatly under his chin. She broke the embrace and quickly pecked Erik on his uncovered cheek and walked down the opening in the roof.
Erik breathed deeply in for the first time since Emma began to hug him.
His fingers traced the spot where her lips met his skin. Was it real? Did that actually happen? Erik thought about pinching himself, but was stopped by Emma's voice yelling up to him from the cut out square in the roof.
" Merry Christmas Erik. See you in the morning." She yelled. The next thing Erik heard was a loud bang and Emma trying to cover up her mishap. " My heads fine, I just didn't see that beam there."
Erik chuckled, " Merry Christmas, my dear Emma." He began to walk back, but turned around and looked straight out into the white speckled air. " Merry Christmas, my beloved Christine, where ever you may be." He breathed out into the winter night, but the only thing that heard him was the drifting silent snow and the sleeping city of Paris.
