Erik's POV
"You want me to what?" I gasped.
"You heard me… I want you to kill yourself. What's the fairness in all of this if you win Christine? You said it yourself that you want her to be happy. Well, if that's the truth, then let her be happy without you."
"How do I know that you're not just tricking me? How do I know that you won't wait until I'm dead and come right back to her?"
"This is my promise, demon. Hell, you can leave a little note to your Persian friend if you want… Tell him about our deal. He'll be sure that I never come back to her again. One thing is for sure, fail to do so and I won't think twice about taking her back to Paris and making the remainder of her life a living hell…So, what is it? Death, or her happiness?"
I looked down at my feet… Could I really kill myself to salvage Christine's life? I loved her, really I did.
"How should I do it?"
"I'll leave that part up to you. You're creative, think of it yourself. Though, personally, I would want to die quickly."
Raoul reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bottle that was filled with some sort of clear yellow liquid.
"Here…"
"What is that?"
"I told the guards that it was my medicine, but it's really a poison. I was going to use it on myself if the judge decided to give me the death penalty, but seeing that I'll be walking out of here come tomorrow morning, I think you could put it to better use."
I took the bottle off of the man and looked at it.
"Just drink every last drop of that stuff and it will have you dead within an hour tops. Once the poison reaches your heart, you'll drop dead and all will be well."
"I have to say goodbye to her," I crooned. "I can't do it now…"
"Take all the time that you need, Erik… But if your obituary isn't in the papers come Friday, I'll know that you chickened out and that our deal is off."
I was about to say something to the man, when I was cut off by the guard warning me that my time was up. I placed the bottle into my pocket and left, Raoul's voice echoing through the corridor.
"Remember, demon…Friday!"
Throughout the night I laid in the confinements of my bed, staring at the glass bottle of poison. I sighed and snuggled into my pillow, wondering how I would ever say goodbye to her or my boy. It hurt me deep inside to know that I would never see him grow into a fine young man, or live to make love to Christine again.
"Erik?"
When I heard Christine's soft voice, I placed the bottle into the top drawer of my nightstand and approached the door. It was early in the morning, too early for the sun to be up, for it was still dark. I reached out for the door knob and pulled open the door to find Christine standing there.
"Erik, I know it's early, but I've been worried about you. I…I had a nightmare about Raoul. I was hoping that I could sleep with you for a little while?"
When I nodded, Christine passed me and I closed the door behind her. When we were both beneath the blankets of my bed, Christine draped her arm over my chest and sighed into my shirt. Oh, just thinking about never being able to feel this again caused tears to come rushing to my eyes.
"Erik?"
Christine must have heard me cry, for she sat up and turned on the small lamp that was placed on top of my night table.
"Erik, what's wrong? Did I hurt you? Oh, I shouldn't have placed my arm over your sore chest. Forgive me…"
"It wasn't that," I cried. "You did nothing wrong. It's just that it frightens me to think that one day I'll wake up and never feel you doing that to me again."
"Why would you think that? I'm not going anywhere, Erik, and neither are you. Nadir believes that you're going to be just fine now…"
"But what if I did die, Christine?" I questioned. "Would it break your heart?"
"Extremely…I couldn't imagine life without you. I know you are still coming to terms with trusting me, Erik, but you have to believe me when I tell you that I really did want to start a life with you after that night. I wanted to wake and continue our journey, I wanted to build a home with you…I even thought about being your wife."
My heart was swelling with happiness, so much so, that I claimed her lips with my own. She did not back away, nor did she protest… No, she sighed and pressed her lips even closer. As our kiss became more intimate and filled with want, I felt her hands softly running down the fabric of my nightshirt, her fingers wresting to undo each button. She was easy with my chest, her hands being gentle when stroking each scar with her fingers.
"Oh, Christine…I need you, now more than anything."
I concentrated on breathing as her hands slipped beneath my sleep trousers and grasped the one thing that made me want her. I softly called her name as her fingers began to stroke my length, causing it to throb with heat.
"Don't stop," I begged into her ear. "Don't stop…just like that. Oh, Christine…"
I curiously pressed my lips to her neck, causing her to sigh. Her flesh was milky and tasted wonderful against my tongue. This only intensified her strokes, for the once slow and agonizing ones became faster and heightened everything around me.
"Oh, Christine…Yes…"
I was getting close now, for I could feel my climax approaching. I quickly reached down and grasped her hand, stopping her from pleasuring me.
"If you continue," I warned. "I'm afraid I won't last another second…"
Christine wrapped her legs around my waist and pulled herself closer to me.
"You tease me, woman…"
"Wait…Erik, I don't want to hurt you. If this causes you to breathe harder, I don't believe we should do it now. We have the rest of our lives to repeat that night from so many years ago."
I knew that I wouldn't have my entire life to do this… I knew that I only had a few days.
"Christine, I promise you that I will pace myself. There is nothing more that I want to do, than to spend the rest of the night wrapped in your embrace."
Christine lowered her night gown and pressed her lips to mine once again. I kissed her neck once more, causing her to sigh my name. I kissed her for what seemed like hours until I couldn't take another moment of torture. When I joined us, she gently dug her nails into my back, causing me to want her even more. Over and over again, I thrust into her with every ounce of energy that I had within me. Tonight was even better than that night all those years ago, for I was no longer scared, nor was I embarrassed. Yes, I was still wearing my mask, but it didn't matter for I loved this woman just as much as I had back in Paris. I made love to this woman until we both climaxed at the same time. Afterwards, we concentrated on breathing and fell asleep beside one another. If I died tonight, I wouldn't care, for I had made love to Christine and it was the best moment I had ever spent with her.
I woke when I heard the birds chirping outside. I sighed and opened my eyes, feeling an unusual breeze against my cheek. I wasn't sure what it was at first, but when I saw my mask placed on my night table, I gasped and reached for my face, taking notice that I was maskless! No, she couldn't see me, for if she did, she would be frightened and regret what we had done. I rolled over expecting to find the woman fast asleep beside me, but she wasn't there…No, she was gone. Fresh tears rushed to my eyes, for I already knew what had happened…She had awoken and saw my face. Christine must have run…She must have fled from the bedroom.
"Good morning, Erik…"
When I heard my angel's voice, I gazed to the door to find her entering the room with breakfast in hand.
"Oh, I wanted to surprise you with breakfast…What's wrong?"
She placed the two plates beside my mask and sat down beside me. I wiped my teary eyes and looked at her, speechless as to how she was looking at me without fear.
"Erik, what has gotten into you?"
"I'm sorry…I…I thought you woke and saw my face. I thought you fled in fear."
Christine cupped my distorted cheek and smiled.
"Erik, I know that your face is something that's hard to look upon, but it's the face of the man that I love. So, I'll put aside my fear and try to look upon you with a smile, much like I'm doing now."
I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed it, savoring the wonderful sensation.
"I have to work, Erik," Christine reminded me. "And your shift is later. I'm going to leave you with breakfast and I shall see you in a few hours."
She pressed a kiss to my cheek and began to change into her work attire.
"Rest today, Erik…Work is going to be hard with the condition you're in. And don't forget your promise you made to me."
"I'll talk to Dr. Gangle as soon as I get into work, Christine."
When Christine was gone, I picked up my plate and began to nibble at the toast that was placed there. I didn't like to eat much, but since Christine had made me breakfast, I decided to force down the delicious meal.
"Maskless this morning?" Nadir questioned as he walked into the room and took a seat at my side.
"It's a break from the mask," I began. "I need it… My face has been bothering me lately."
"Ah, and I see that Christine doesn't mind it either? She certainly does love you, doesn't she?"
"Of course, just as much as I love you," I sarcastically replied.
"Well, I came up here because Reza hid my notebook…I need to take it to work with me today, so I have to find it. Have you seen it?"
I shrugged my shoulders and continued eating.
"I wouldn't know, Nadir."
"I did see him up here the other day…He loves to take my things and hide them. It's a game he plays…an annoying one at that."
Nadir rose from his spot and began to search around the bed. I wasn't sure what he believed he was going to find, but I didn't argue. I was just putting aside my empty plate, when he began rummaging through my night table. No…I couldn't let him do this!
"Man, it's not in there! Now, get out and stop rummaging through my things!"
"Ah, found it…"
Nadir lifted the notebook out of the top drawer of the night table, but his smile quickly faded, for he reached back into the drawer and brought out the bottle of poison.
"Erik, what is this?"
"It's nothing…It's nothing, Nadir."
"Oh, really? Because I have seen this stuff before in Persia. Only men who are in danger keep bottles of this in their drawers. What is wrong with you, Erik?"
"It's nothing! I told you that it's nothing, so put it back where you found it and leave me alone."
"Oh, really? If this is nothing then it would be all right if I drank it then?"
Nadir pulled out the cork and lifted it to his lips.
"Stop! Don't do that…"
"Right, because it's poison!"
Erik is in a pickle now, isn't he? I believe he needs to borrow Harry Potter's cloak of invisibility right about now and skedaddle out of there... But, this isn't a crossover story, so that's obviously not going to happen. Please review everyone! And if you haven't already, check out my newest story "The Angel In Winter..." Thanks again!
