Happy Saturday! Thank you for your reviews and views. I must admit, I'm like an addict. I crave more! A shameless ploy to get more reviews, I know but I never claimed to be anything else. J
I won't be able to update next Saturday, as I am taking one short day and celebrating in the city with a few friends. So I'll try to make this one count. ;)
I own nothing and you know what? It's okay. I think I can get past it.
Erik was beside himself. His Christine actually was relieved to see his face. HIS FACE! Yet he couldn't really focus on that when he had frightened her so. He tightened his hold on her as her tears subsided.
"I'm so very sorry Christine. I never meant to upset you."
She pulled away and wiped her eyes. "Erik, how could you not think to tell me about your mask? What did you expect me to do, welcome a perfect stranger into our room?"
"No but I didn't…. Christine, it was a normal looking face. I was only concentrating on making sure it would stay on and…."
"Erik, did you think because your mask made you look normal, I wouldn't have been frightened?"
He paused. "No, but I…. I didn't really think of the effects it would cause. I just wanted to…" He stood up, unsure of what to say next. He picked up his flesh mask. "I suppose I thought you would ask me who I was. Maybe even be a little intrigued at the sight. I know it's not perfect but it's decent looking, no?"
Christine walked over to him and touched his free hand. "Erik?"
He avoided her eyes. "I never thought you would think you were in danger. My God, I do hope you don't think I wanted that."
"Look at me, please."
He shifted in place and frankly wanted to run from the room, so he could have a moment alone to pull himself together.
"Please, angel?"
How could he resist her when she spoke so sweetly to him? He brought his eyes up to meet hers.
"Erik, it doesn't matter to me if a man is handsome or not. If he came barging into my room and I did not know him, all I would do is scream and panic and call for help. Anyone would."
He shook his head. "No, not everyone."
She had to force the tears to stop forming in her eyes. What kind of life has he known? I hope one day he trusts me enough to tell me. "Erik, your real face is the only face that will always calm me, bring me comfort and make me smile. I know that, as sure as I know my own name. And for what it's worth, you are handsome."
He pulled his hand away. "I know you aren't scared of my face and I should have told you about my plans but you don't have to lie to me and frankly, I would prefer that you didn't."
"It's not lying. It's looking at things another way."
He couldn't believe he was still standing before her, without his mask. "One time, a woman said she didn't care what I did to her, as long as I didn't remove my mask. She was willing to endure any torture or humiliation, just not the sight of my real face." He placed the flesh mask back on. "And you… You scream if it's not my face you see?"
"Erik, you don't have to wear any mask, when we are alone. I understand if you feel you must but at least, let me see part of your real face."
"You… You don't like the craftsmanship?" He sounded offended.
She slowly brought her hands to his face. "May I…. Feel it?"
He swallowed hard but then nodded his head.
She let her fingers feel the mask and noticed how thick the material was. She wondered if it made his skin hot or irritable. She also wondered if he could even feel her hands touching him at all. Would he be able to feel her lips?
"Your skin should breathe. It feels hard, the texture, I mean. It feels rough. I can understand why but…."
"What?"
"Your real skin is much softer. Can you even feel my fingers on you?"
"I feel the pressure but it's not the same caress, I long for." He closed his mouth at once. What the hell was he saying to her?
"I want to kiss you." She shook off her blush and said it again. She had to be strong, especially now for Erik. "I want to kiss you twice. Once now, with this on you and once without your mask. Then I want you to tell me which do you prefer."
"Two…. Two kisses?" Erik felt as if he was going to faint. He had only asked one other person to give him two kisses in his lifetime and she locked him away in the attic for making such a sinful request.
"Why are you so surprised? We have kissed before and more than twice." She giggled, hoping to relax him.
"It's not that, it's how you said it. Two kisses…."
"I don't understand."
"It isn't important right now." Erik was glad he had his mask on, that way he could hide the tear that ran down his cheek.
Christine disagreed but she let it go for now. Instead she stood on her tip toes and kissed him on the lips with all of her might. She didn't realize how much taller he was than her, until that moment. It was a struggle to try and find exactly where to feel his real lips.
As she kissed him, she felt Erik trying to kiss her back but it felt cumbersome, as if the intensity that she typically felt whenever he would kiss her was blocked. She broke away and watched him before she spoke.
Erik looked frustrated and conflicted. Finally, he ripped off his flesh mask. "That simply won't do at all. I couldn't take comfort and lose myself in your warm lips. The feel of real, human contact. The electrical exchange between two people when their souls come together as one…. I felt as if I was kissing burlap."
She giggled. "You want to try it again?"
"Hell yes!"
This time when they reached for one another, their kiss was unencumbered and passionate. Their embrace was smoldering and the second kiss turned into a plethora of kisses, all consumed with a fire that neither could resist or wish to tame. Their kisses intensified so, that Erik pulled her up against the wall and both let out a heavy moan of delight. It was in that moment, that Erik realized he needed to regain control of himself. He pulled away in agony to take a short breath and then pecked her lips tenderly as a finale.
He exhaled and tried to speak, only Christine beat him to it.
"Clearly we both agree you are to never wear any mask again when we kiss."
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Back at Phantasma, Meg was able to sneak back into her room around 2am. That was the easy part. The part that she wasn't able to handle was the silence. In the silence, she couldn't stop the echoes of when Thompson laughed at her and said all those vile things to try and shock her. She had no distractions to help her block the mental images from her mind of her humiliation, as she was forced to eat and drink, naked in plain sight of his monstrous eyes.
Even though his hands never touched her, she felt dirty and used. She washed herself thoroughly and crawled into bed. There in what she thought would be a safe haven, turned out to be a place where she felt trapped and closed in. She yanked the blankets from her body and began shaking. Then as if she had no control over herself she began to cry. She cried and couldn't stop. How could she have gotten so deep, so quickly. What would happen to her now? What would happen to all of them?
Knock, Knock.
"Meg? Meg, are you alright?"
"Nadir…" She panicked. How could she face him like this? He would know instantly that something was wrong. She had to keep him away and yet she couldn't. She needed to see him. She knew only he could calm her down. She ran to the door and embraced him, causing him to move back in surprise.
"Meg? I heard crying when I came by your room. Are you alright?"
"Crying?! You head that? What if Mama…."
"Relax, sweetheart. She is…" Nadir wasn't sure if he should reveal that Annie was still out with Claude. "She is sound asleep. I'm sure she can't hear anything." He then looked at her with concern. "Why were you crying?"
"I…. I had a bad dream, Nadir." She held him tightly.
Nadir smiled. "Thank goodness, that's all it was. I was worried, when I heard you. I wanted to say goodnight but you went to bed so early and then didn't answer when I came up."
"Can you please come inside?"
Nadir hesitated.
"Please! Only for a minute. You always calm me down and I need it."
"Poor dear." He walked her back inside her room. "The dream must have been terrible. Do you want to talk about it?"
"No!"
Her reaction startled Nadir but he didn't let on and walked her back to the bed and sat beside her. "I know you were frightened but dreams can't hurt you, Meg. It's over. It's over and I'm right here."
She clung to him again. "Nadir, don't leave me."
He chuckled "Silly girl. You know I love you. Where else would I go? How about at first light we take a ride in the carriage and get away for a little while? Would you like that?"
"Yes, Nadir. I would love some time alone with you, far away from here."
He kissed the top of her head. "Why don't you lie back down and try and get some sleep? It's so late. You'll need your energy for tomorrow." He winked.
"Nadir?"
"Yes?"
"Will you stay with me tonight?"
Nadir shook his head. "Meg, I hardly think that would be appropriate."
"Why not? You said Mama can't hear us."
"I… Meg, I don't think we should do that because it isn't right. Annie has nothing to do with it."
She knew it wasn't right. She knew they shouldn't be alone like that but if she was going to go through with that horrible deal with Thompson, then he would be her first time. She couldn't have that. No! She wanted to be with the man she loved and not a vile man. She wanted to have her first time be with her love, not…. She couldn't even mentally say his name. She would scream if she did, she knew she would.
"Nadir, I love you and I want to be with you. Please, don't deny us. Make love to me, tonight. I want it to be with you. No one can stop us. This is our time. We have to take it."
Nadir jumped from the bed. "What has come over you? Meg, you aren't teasing. This isn't right and I won't have it! I could never take you like that! Not until we were married properly. I can't just take you like a common whore. I love you. I will not have our time be shamed and in secret."
"Nadir, we have to! We have to be together right now. Otherwise, we won't…"
"Won't what?"
"You don't want me, is that it?"
Nadir thought he was the one having the bad dream. "Meg, what are you talking about. I love you and all that comes with that. Of course I want you but not like this. And if you love me, really love me, you would know that I could never do what you are asking right now."
She looked down in shame. "I'm sorry, Nadir. I… must have lost my head. The dream and the fear of being alone. I…." She ran to him. "Please, please don't say I've ruined this."
He was so confused. Something was wrong with Meg but he couldn't begin to figure out what. He wished Annie were home, so he could talk to her about it but frankly, then he would have to reveal more to her than he was ready to and that didn't cause him any relief either.
"You are confused. It happens when you wake up crying in the middle of the night. You've ruined nothing. I should say, I am flattered at your zeal." He smiled at her and received a weak smile back. Suddenly, he realized what was wrong. "I think I know why you're upset."
"You do?!"
"All this secrecy. It has to stop. Tomorrow, we will tell Annie we are in love. Then everything will be alright. You'll see." He hugged her. "I can't believe I didn't realize this before. No wonder you are so anxious."
"I just don't want to lose you."
He lifted her heard up to meet his eyes. "Just try to get away from me."
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Erik and Christine sat overlooking the view while they had their lunch in their drawing room. It was a comfortable silence, considering how they started their afternoon. They innocently held hands but both did their best to hide the rush their hearts felt at the touch.
Steady Erik. You have to remain in control. You can't risk her thinking you are a monster again. That can never happen again.
Christine, stop trembling, he'll think you don't want him to hold your hand. My God, what if my palms start to sweat? She looked at his unmasked face and asked herself how she ever found it frightening. Although it wasn't a natural beauty, it really wasn't something to gawk at. Besides, how can you see anything else when those magnificent eyes look right into yours?
She felt the train start to slow down and she turned back to the window. "Erik! Is that a fair?"
He looked out and nodded.
Christine didn't bother curbing her enthusiasm. "Erik, look! It's like Phantasma, well not quite. Your park is better but maybe we could walk around and explore and get some ideas? Look! There's a music hall! Erik, could we go for a little while?"
Erik placed his mask over his face. "I'd have to wear this."
Christine nodded in understanding. "I know. I don't like it but I know. I guess that means no kissing." She pouted but Erik didn't notice. "Erik?"
"Are you sure you want to get off? This train isn't going to wait. We'd have to take another."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that. I know you're anxious to…."
"I said I'd find us a place to rehearse. I know that music hall. It will work."
"You know it? How? Have you been here before?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "We are in Rouen."
"It looks so beautiful."
He didn't answer.
"Erik, what is it?"
"I was born here."
A/N: So in the next chapter we will start to learn of Erik's past. We had a small reference in this chapter with two famous scenes from Kay's novel. Can you guess which ones? Yet I'm going to make sure Christine gets the full effect. After all, she wanted to get to know all of him. We will also see how far Thompson will go to get what he wants. Until July 2nd!
