Erik
I became concerned for Annie's health when she failed to come down to my home, or even attempt to make contact with me, for three days. I noticed that she was also absent from rehearsal and taking precautions so as not to be discovered, I ventured to the dormitories while the ballerinas were practicing. To my dismay, I found that Annie was nowhere to be seen within the cramped quarters, leading me to the conclusion that she must be in the infirmary.
I rushed down the creaky wooden steps, not giving a damn if anyone saw me, and brusquely headed down the corridor. The sick ward had been sealed off with heavy wooden doors to prevent the spread of infection, but they were unlocked and I hastily pushed my way through. As I entered, I was blinded by sunlight and the glaring sterile whiteness of the room. I squinted my eyes, but managed to see that Annie was sitting up in bed, apparently healthy. I strode towards her, simply relieved that she was no longer violently ill, but she seemed apprehensive, downright scared, that I was suddenly there.
"Annie, my love, you are looking so much better now. Has the nurse diagnosed your ailment?" She just nodded, casting her eyes on the faded blanket that she was wringing with her hands. "I would have thought that you would have been happier to see me. Are you contagious, is that why you are worried? I can assure you that I have been in excellent health and that I will be fine," but again Annie said nothing. "Annie, I have been all over this damned opera house looking for you, risking being seen by everyone, the least you can do is say something to me!"
"You will be mad," she choked out.
"Mad, why would I be mad, ma cherie?"
"Because something bad has happened; I've ruined my career," she replied as tears formed in her eyes.
"Why is that, have you hurt yourself? If that bastard Sergei dropped you-."
"I am with child, Erik."
I stared blankly at her as it did not sink in all at once. In truth it didn't fully start to sink in until her belly began to blossom, but I was frozen not only by the meaning of her words, but the ice that had filled them.
"How?" I stuttered at last. She shot me a vile, incredulous look, and I shrank back with guilt. "How long?"
"Two months, at least. I asked the nurse if anything could be done to rid myself of it, but she said that she had nothing. She said that her being a Catholic woman, she would not stand any actions like that, and that it would be on my conscience if I sought some of those drugs elsewhere."
Again I was rendered speechless, capable only of thinking how ruined our lives would become upon being burdened with a child. I supposed that if we were truly wanting to rid ourselves of the babe we could ship it off to an orphanage upon birth, but I could not abandon this child as my mother had abandoned me.
"What are we going to do? I will not be able to work and you do not have a means of income," she said, tears coating her eyelashes.
"I suppose the honorable thing to do is to marry you. I cannot sully your reputation because of my lust, and I am, above all else, a gentleman."
I was pleased to see Annie smile and nod her head in agreement. "I am thoroughly embarrassed, however, as I am unable to provide you with a proper wedding ring at this time. I do have a ring that I took from my mother's jewelry box as a keepsake. You can wear that until you acquire the proper funds with which to buy a deliciously gaudy diamond." Annie beamed with pride and laughed, beckoning me closer for a kiss.
"So this is the elusive suitor and father-to-be?" I whipped around, started at the sudden intrusion, and found a lean, slightly graying man grinning at me. "You must be Erik whom I have heard much about. I am Jean Perrot, the ballet master here at the Garnier."
I took his outstretched hand in order to appear friendly, though I did not smile or warm to his company.
"I am so pleased that you two have finally become acquainted; people were starting to think of you as a phantom!" Annie joked. Jean laughed, though I did not find her comment to be particularly amusing.
"Do you see my face, Monsieur?" I asked bitterly.
Jean stopped laughing and quickly sobered at my menacing tone. "No, I do not, it is mostly covered by your mask."
"Indeed, it is, and were you to see me remove it, you would think worse than a mysterious apparition. I am a monster, unworthy of anything, especially Annie's love. I am certainly not fit to be a father."
The ballet instructor put his arm on my shoulder and I instinctively jumped back a bit. "Children come at the most unexpected and inconvenient times in our lives. The first step is to marry Antoinette so that your child is not deemed a bastard. While she can no longer dance, she can earn her means in the costume shop until she begins her confinement. Do you have an useful trades by which you can procure a living?"
"I will get by," I stated simply, and Jean just shook his head.
"How soon should we get married, Jean?" Annie asked timidly.
"I will make the arrangements, dearest. I believe the wedding can take place in a few day's time, but is there any place in particular that you wish to be wed?"
"I thought the little chapel here might be nice, since this is where I have grown up," she offered.
"In the dead of night, so no one would see us," I replied quickly.
"Oh, how dreadfully romantic!" Annie practically squealed and I could not help but smile at her uncharacteristic display of female excitement.
"So it will be done," Jean continued. "Have you a suitable dress, Annie?"
Her face fell visibly. "Nothing suitable for a wedding, I am afraid."
"I'm sure we have something in costume storage. We can browse through the items later and see what suits you." Jean left the room after discussing what other arrangements were to be made in the meantime, and Annie and I found ourselves alone for the moment.
"This is going to be so great, Erik! At last we will be united before God, no longer living in sin and shame. Life is going to be so wonderful, and I know I will be a good wife to you." She reached for a lead pencil and notepad on her side table, and began scribbling feverish notes and ideas of what would need to be done for our hasty marriage. However, I could scarcely share her enthusiasm as I contemplated what sort of husband I would be.
"How could we possibly live together? I am solitary, antisocial, not to mention hardly a father figure. What if she becomes pregnant again?" Annie saw my panicked expression and asked what was the matter, but I told her that I was just thinking of the future, which was true, as she rambled on. "I can't scare myself now. After all, I do love Annie with all of my heart, and we will just have to take extra care not to make another baby."
Annie remained in the hospital wing for a few more days until Jean Perrot was able to procure a priest for our ceremony. In the meantime, Annie's few worldly possessions were packed up from the dormitory and transported to my subterranean labyrinth. The ballerinas came to visit her after their mast made up a lie about Annie's illness and departure, and she said her goodbyes, saying that she hoped to return soon.
Our night finally arrived, and I dressed myself in the fine suit that Annie herself had stitched. I rarely looked at myself in the mirror, but this night I thought myself rather handsome, despite the mask, as I pinned my navy cravat and fastened my gold cufflinks. I realized that I was smiling, only now acknowledging that I would shortly become a husband to a woman that I adored, and in months time, a father as well. I knew that Annie would be a stunning bride, and I whistled happily to myself as I quickened my pace up the chipping stone steps.
I emerged from the faux panel nearby the chapel, catching the faint glimmering shadow play of candlelight and water dancing on the wall. I stepped through the stone archway and beheld a cherub-faced priest clutching the sacred Book and smiling warmly. I suppose I would have returned the facial gesture if I believed the farcical religion of my childhood, but I did acknowledge him with a nod.
"Are you ready for God to join Antoinette and yourself in this blessed union?" he asked eagerly.
"Of course I am ready, you imbecile, I would not do it otherwise!" I instantly regretted my harsh thoughts toward the kindly wedding officiator. "Annie is a special woman, I feel that I am both honored and blessed to have her accept me as her husband." "I am just nervous, nervous and anxious, for this to be done with." Thought I was elated a short while earlier, the gravity and permanence of the situation crashed into my brain. "Annie and I could live below the opera house, but it would be unfair to expect an innocent baby to remain down there in the dark and dampness, not to mention unhealthy for their developing body. I have no way of earning a living, how can I possibly support a family!"
It was at that moment that my Annie entered the small chapel, Jean Perrot, her surrogate father, entwining his left arm with her right. She looked radiant, despite the apparent shabbiness of her gown, and she smiled at me from beneath the modesty of her wedding veil. I could not take my eyes off the site of her slowly gliding towards me and my gaze followed her as she came to stop beside me, taking her delicate clammy hand within mine. She heaved a sigh of contentment, and we listened to the mass amidst our distracted thoughts, counting the seconds until our vows would be spoken.
At last the time came for us to recite them, and I had to consciously think of every word that I was repeating in my state of nervousness. Annie did the same, albeit with less trembling and more confidence, and I lifted the blusher to kiss her.
Her eyes were filling with tears of joy and she beamed proudly at me. "Say you'll share with me, Erik, one love and one lifetime."
"I will," I whispered, kissing her lightly on her quivering lips.
"I pronounce thee man and wife, Monsieur Erik and Madame Antoinette Giry."
I know, I stole part of their vow from All I Ask of You, but that just makes it hurt Erik more when he hears Christine say it to Raoul. I'm sorry about the duration between updates, I've been distracted with other things lately. Thank you for reading.All I Ask of You
