Christine
I sit quietly at my vanity, brushing my curly hair, thinking only of Erik's words so many months ago. "I love her more than I could ever love you," I sneer mockingly. "I met and loved her long before you!" I repeat his words in defiance again. Slamming the brush onto the vanity, I glare angrily into the mirror. "You still love me, Erik," I say through gritted teeth. "You will be mine again, and you're little wife will not stand in my way." I clench my fists tightly, making my knuckles white. Anger is welling up in the pit of my stomach, making its way up my throat, until I cannot contain it. I scream at the top of my lungs.
"Christine!" Raoul hurries into the room, immediately taking me by the shoulders. "Christine, are you all right?" He looks my features over, studying every detail carefully. "Why did you scream, my darling?"
"Oh, Raoul, I just got so angry thinking about all the horrors I faced years ago in the Opera at Erik's hands," I lie.
"He's probably dead, Lotte; we don't have to worry about him anymore. Now, I must insist that you push all those terrible memories from your mind."
"Of course, Raoul." I smile reassuringly. "Could you have Collin take this to the listed address?" I hand a folded piece of parchment to him.
"Who's this to, Christine?" Raoul aks, reading the address.
"Oh, no one...just an old friend."
"I'll have him take it immediately, cherie." He leaves slowly, calling for Collin.
I haven't told him of my encounter with Erik at the Girys', and he doesn't know that I went to the site of Meg and Michael's home to try to seduce Erik...make him love me again. Meg would have told him, no doubt, but I made her promise not to. I could have easily informed Raoul of Erik's whereabouts so he could be arrested, but I did not. I cannot permit any harm to come to Erik at the hands of anyone...especially Raoul. Raoul will show no mercy...not even if I beg for it on Erik's behalf.
Kiera
Donato is three months old now. He wakes less often at night and causes very little trouble. Erik and I can sleep through most of the night without having to get up to sooth our son. I am nearly as small in the waist as I was before Donato was concieved, but I know that I'll never achieve such thinness again. Erik is happier than he's ever been and has held my statement true. He is an excellent father. I love to watch him hold Donato while singing or telling him a Persian fairytale.
Even at the young age of three months, Donato already shows signs of musical talent. I had taken him into the musicroom to listen to Erik play his newly completed piece. As always, when he finished, Erik pulled me down to sit at his side. While we were talking about any changes that could be made to his work, Donato reached out and pressed a key on the piano. We thought nothing of it, at first, but when he continued to strike keys, we noticed that he was hitting them in a rythmical pattern. He was playing a song. Erik and I had assumed he'd be talented in music, but we didn't expect it to be apparent so soon. We stared at each other for a moment and then watched Donato's little fingers press down the keys within reach.
"Well, what do you know? He'll be a musician after all." Erik grinned from ear-to-ear, pride no doubt swelling inside him. "And a fine one at that."
"He gets it honestly." I, too, smiled proudly and continued to gaze in wonderment as our son played the piano innocently and easily.
Donato's cries wake me just as the first grey light of dawn comes to the sky. "I'm coming, mon beau." I crawl from bed and lift him from the cradle.
"Right on time...as usual, son." Erik laughs, getting out of bed and stretching his arms to their full length. "He's a biological alarm clock." He kisses my cheek and goes to dress as Donato nurses hungrily.
"Indeed. Where are you going today, love?" I ask, sitting down on the bed.
"A couple from Orleans has asked to speak with me about the house they want built on the coast in Le Havre. Apparently, they came here on vacation, saw Meg and Michael's house, and loved it. They asked who designed it, and Meg instantly pointed them our direction. If I they want me to design and oversee the construction of this house, I'll probably have to be away from home for a while," he explains.
I sigh, saddened by the thought of Erik leaving Donato and me alone. "Erik, I don't want you to be away from home." I button my gown back up and pat Donato's back until he burps, then wipe away the milk that didn't make it into his mouth. Laying him back in the cradle, I hurry behind the changing screen to dress for the day. I put on a dark blue dress that's sleeves come just past my elbows. "I'm so used to having you here with me; I don't think I can go back to being alone."
"Kiera..." He appears in his normal attire but without his mask; he must retrieve it from his nightstand. "You will never be alone. So long as Donato is here, you will always have a part of me with you."
I come from behind the screen and make my way to the vanity to fix my hair. "I don't want only part of you, mon chere; I want all of you." I begin to brush out the tangles from my hair.
He stands behind me and looks at me in the mirror, his hands resting on my shoulders. "You haven't had all of me in nearly a year, my sweet." Smiling playfully, he presses his lips to the curve of my neck, kissing my skin gently.
I laugh. "With good reason." I put my hand under his chin and pull his lips away from my neck to my lips. "But that won't last much longer. Soon I'll have every inch of you again."
He growls and continues to savour my lips. Pulling away, he says, "I'm looking forward to that day."
"You mean night?"
"What does it matter? As long as we're together, I don't care if it's night or day, rain or shine, summer or winter." He returns to his own height. "I'm afraid I have to go, love. I probably won't be back until late this evening. We're meeting at Cafe Maria in Paris, and I'll stop by to see Mother if it's not too late."
"Donato and I will go along, then. Your mother hasn't seen him in almost two weeks, and I haven't been to Paris in months." I place Madam Bardoix's favorite hair clip, the one with diamonds shaped into a crescent moon and star, in my hair and take Donato from his crib.
"Very well. I'll hook Caesar to the carriage, and we'll be off." He disappears from the room.
I pull on my cloak, and lifting Donato from his cradle, leave the house to meet Erik outside. A cool breeze blows, chilling both our son and me. A shiver runs up my spine.
"Keep him warm under your cloak, cherie; the early morning air is quite cold." Erik puts his arm around me and helps me into the back of the small carriage.
"Merci, mon maestro." I settle down in the back, my cloak wrapped tightly about my left arm where Donato rests, wide awake. "I am surprised it is so cold at the end of October."
"Well, if you'd rather stay here..."
"No." I am quick to stop him midsentence. "We'll be all right."
He laughs and hands a thick, woolen blanket to me. "Wrap up in that, dear."
The ride seems much longer in the cold, and Erik is going a bit slower than usual. He doesn't want to hit a bump and thrash Donato and me about. We finally arrive outside the inn, and Madam rushes out the door, a shawl wrapped round her shoulders. "Bonjour, my dears." She hugs me tightly.
"Good morning, Madam. I'd embrace you, but as you can see, my arms are full." I pull my cloak and the blanket wrapped round myself back, revealing only the small bundle in my arms.
"Of course. Quickly, come inside; we don't want the little one catching a cold." She ushers me up the steps. "Erik...aren't you coming inside, my son?"
Erik comes up the steps. "Only to kiss Kiera and Donato goodbye." He kisses my lips and Donato's delicate forehead. "I will be back later today."
"Where are you going, son?"
"I'm afraid I haven't time to explain at the moment. I shall inform you upon my return. Au revoir." He climbs onto the driver's seat and starts Caesar in the direction of the Cafe Maria...at least five blocks away.
"A couple from Rouen has asked to meet with him; they'd like for him to design and oversee the construction of their new home on the coast in Le Havre," I explain, sitting down on the sofa, removing the blanket and cloak from my shoulders. Donato coos quietly, his lovely eyes darting about, exploring his new environment.
"Sounds intriguing." After putting a cup of tea for me on the sidetable, she folds a quilt and lies it on the floor. "Let little Donato lie there, while you enjoy your tea and give your arms a rest."
"An excellent idea." I lie my precious son down cautiously, making certain I will not harm him in any way, and encircle him with pillows from the sofa and chairs.
"He looks just like his father...very handsome. Piercing blue-green eyes, light-brown hair, and a great curiousity for the unknown." Madam sips her tea as Donato's tiny hands grope at the quilt and surrounding pillows. "He's a bright-minded lad; he'll crawl much earlier than most."
"Yes; he's an exact replica of Erik." I sigh and watch him in amusement and wonderment. It's hard to believe that only three short months ago, I could only feel him kicking and moving within me, and now, I carry him in my arms as he stares up at me through such beautiful eyes.
"Kiera..." Madam notices that I am lost in thought and sits her tea aside. "I can see you in him, as well." She answers my questioning eyes, saying, "He isn't as wary of newcomers as Erik. He can tell when someone is friendly or not, and he grows attached to those he finds to be kind."
"I agree, but he'll learn down the line that attachment leads only to pain." I look away. "Don't say that no pain has come of my love for Erik, Madam."
"What do you mean, Kiera? I don't understand. The two of you are always so happy."
"That selfish little brat he chased at the Opera has seemingly appeared out of nowhere. I made Erik go back to the cold cellars of the Opera after I stumbled upon the two of them. I wanted to strangle the little devil the moment I saw her lips locked with Erik's."
"You're possessive of him? It seems that it should be the other way around."
I move from the sofa to the floor, sitting at Donato's side, letting him grasp my index finger tightly as he studies my fingernail. "I hate for him to be around other women his age or younger. I grow wild with jealousy at the very thought. I know I cannot keep a man like him from what he wants, but...I wish I could."
"Child, I don't believe for a minute that Erik would want any other woman but you. If he didn't, he would not have married you...let alone fathered your child." She takes my tea cup and disappears into the kitchen, returning shortly.
"I don't want Erik to leave."
"Even for the oppertunity of another part of the country seeing his genius? Kiera, forgive me, but that's a bit selfish, don't you think?
"What kind of wife would be if I did not want the world to see his brilliance? It's just..." I pause. "Never mind." I take a deep breath and continue to let my son inspect my fingers and hand.
After another hour or so, I decide to confront Monsieur le Vicomte and discuss his wife's attempts to steal away my husband. "Madam, I'm going to pay the de Chagneys a visit. All of Christine's attempts to tear Erik and I apart have got to stop; I will not allow Donato to grow up in an atmosphere where I'm constantly stressed by the appearance of his father's past flame."
"Would you like me to keep Donato for you?"
"If you can handle him; I'd rather not expose him to that little serpant's poison." I pick myself up and put on my cloak. "If Erik's comes before I get back, don't tell him where I am; he'll come to find me straight away and get himself arrested."
"Then what am I supposed to tell him?" She lifts Donato from his protective fort and comes to the door. "Kiera..."
"I went for a walk through town," I answer. "Au revoir, mon petit; be good for your grandma. I doubt he'll be any trouble. I won't stay gone too long." With one last look at my son, I close the door and start down the streets towards the de Chagney mansion. The walk is long, but I soon find myself at the steps of an enormous manor. Taking a deep breath, I walk up the white limestone steps to the double doors. Summoning all of my courage, I knock three times and wait.
An older gentleman opens the door and asks, "Can I help you?"
"I would like to speak with Monsieur de Chagney. Is he about?"
"The Master..."
"Who is it Collin?" Raoul appears behind the man.
"This woman wishes to speak with you, sir. I was just about to tell her you were not to be disturbed and send her away."
"Go tend to something, Collin. This is Mademoiselle Torque; Reyer's prized violinist from the.." He stops, clearly not wanting to say "opera". "Won't you come inside?" He steps aside and lets me pass through the door, leading me to the parlor. "I was just about to have some tea. Would you like a cup?"
"Yes, please." I take the cup he hands to me. "I'm sure you're wondering why I'm here."
"I am." He takes a sip of his tea and sits down. "Care to explain."
"It's about Madam de Chagney." I sit my cup aside, preparing to be overwhelmed by a flood of questions.
"Christine? My wife? What is going on, Mademoiselle?"
"Do not be angry with me for all that I'm about to tell you; I speak nothing but the truth." He nods. "For one, I am no longer Mademoiselle Torque; I am married and have a three month old son."
"Who is your husband? Perhaps I know him."
"Erik...the side of the Opera Ghost few have seen."
"The Phantom!" He chokes on his tea. "You married him? And you have a son? Are you mad, Kiera?"
"Erik is not the man you saw; he's very kind and would do anything to protect our son and me. However, that's not the main reason I am here. On to the matter that concerns Christine."
"I'm listening intently."
"Your wife had a run in with my husband quite some time ago at the Girys'...pure accident. I was angry with Erik for a time, but I realized it was not intentional. Later, she came to the site of Meg and Michael's home, which Erik had designed and was overseeing construction. I had the misfortunate of finding her kissing him. My husband has been trying to avoid her; neither of us wants trouble between our family and yours. I know you think I am lying, but I assure you it is all true. I am here to inform you of all this before a rumor is started and my family is forced to uproot and flee for our lives."
"You've always been truthful. It's just that I...I'm not certain what to say about this."
"Monsieur, please, I beg of you...find some way to keep Christine and my Erik from bumping into one another again. I'm tired of worrying about losing him to her."
He takes a deep breath, obviously deep in thought. "I'll have a word with her. Thank you for informing me of all this."
"Monsieur, can I rest assured that you'll not send a spy to find out where Erik and I live?"
"You have my word. Congratulations on your marriage and the birth of your son." He sighed heavily. "I promise I will have a word with Christine. She won't interfere in your lives again."
"Thank you, Monsieur, for your cooperation and hospitality." I get up to leave. "Promise one more thing, Monsieur."
"As long as it's within reason."
"Erik has not meddled in your life with Christine, am I correct?"
"Yes. What are trying to say?"
"Promise me that you will forgive and forget all that happened at the Opera, call off the gendarmes, and leave my husband in peace. If he deserves anything, it is that. For a long time, Christine haunted him, but now, he sleeps well. I want things to stay that way. Christine and you belong among the aristocrats, and Erik and I belong with each other and our music. Simply promise that our familes will live in blissful unawareness of the other."
"I promise." He walks me to the door and waves as I start down the street.