Happy New Year!
I would like to thank all of you who helped me reach over 500 reviews. I am still blown away.
We still have much to accomplish. We must find Christine, reunite her with Erik, provide Mac Daddy fluff, perform the opera, deal with the crap brothers, and what about Justin and Meg? Wait, there's also Madame Giry and her Persian. Yikes…. Enough of my yapping, let's get the story moving. LOL
Meg walked away slowly from the music box, shaking her head. "Uncle Erik must have had far too much time on his hands." She started to leave, but glanced behind her and got an eerie feeling. She decided safe was better than sorry, so ran through the kitchen stopping at the sight of her friend lying face down on the floor, grasping one of Erik's masks.
"Oh My God! Christine! Christine!" She kneeled down and slowly turned her over. "You're freezing." She saw the fire had long since died out. "Don't panic, Christine. Uncle Erik sent me here to make sure you would be safe. I'm going to do just that. I'll light a fire and then….."
"No….."
"What?" Meg was forced to look around the room as the voice that replied sounded so frail and weak, it could not have belonged to Christine. "Christine, did you speak?"
"Don't light the fire. Leave me. Do not trouble yourself with someone like me. I'm not worthy of his concern or yours."
"I see your mouth moving, but I cannot believe it is you speaking in such a way. "Now you stop your nonsense. The cold has affected your sense of reality. Let me…."
Meg felt her shoulder being tugged. "Please, just leave. I can't bring you down with me." Christine's voice gained strength, but her spirit seemed lost. "Go to him now. He needs you."
Meg shook her head. "First he denies treatment, because he wants you safe and now you do the same for him? Answer me this. I love Justin, but if I am not alive to receive that love, what good will it do him? What good will it do me? You and Erik are older, but know nothing about matters of the heart. Now release my shoulder, for if you do not wish to be warm, I do."
She stood up, but didn't let her eyes leave Christine's lifeless body. She quickly placed the extra wood onto the fireplace and began heating the flue. She next started the fire and rubbed her hands close to the burning wood. "Maybe that will bring some sense back into you."
Meg went back to her friend and saw her shaking. "I'm going to get some blankets from the bedroom upstairs. Do you want any water?"
She closed her eyes and didn't answer her. Meg saw Christine was still holding onto Erik's mask. She thought for a moment, but then dismissed the idea. She couldn't, it would be too cruel. She made her way upstairs and realized that Christine's actions of just giving up were equally cruel. She hurried and gathered up the blankets and then came running back into the room.
"Christine, these will warm you. I can see the fireplace is doing nicely. Now, please lift yourself up from the floor so we may talk."
Silence.
Fine, you leave me no choice. You have no one to blame, but yourself. Meg walked over to Christine and stayed standing. "Why would you be so distraught? Why would Uncle Erik come to my home in complete disarray, destroying Mama's furniture? Why would he….. Unless you. Of course you! You are always causing woe for him. What now? Let me guess he showed you his face and you….Dear Lord that's it, isn't it? He trusted you enough to show you his face and you betrayed him. You turned away. Denied him all you said you would provide."
Christine griped the mask tighter. She saw Meg standing, looking down on her and saw her face form in disgust. "I….. No, it wasn't like that."
"Oh now she speaks with reason. Well, what was it like then, Christine? He pours his heart out to you and you pay him back by refuting him? What did I tell you the very first day we met again on the streets of Paris? I said do not mention his mask. To think I thought you were different. I begged him to give himself to you. I told him you two stood a chance. He may never recover from what you have done. Do you even care?"
Meg watched Christine intently, daring not even to blink. Come on, Christine. Fight me. Tell me I'm wrong. Slap, me… Anything.
The tears were free flowing now. She slowly sat up, bringing the mask up with her. "You think I give a damn about his mask? Or his face?" She flung the mask across the room. "I hate his mask!" She huffed, trying to regain control of her breathing.
"I never wanted him to wear it. Never! I never wanted him to hide from me all those years ago. It killed me being away from the very being that possessed that voice. I fell in love with the spirit, the voice and then the man. How dare you say, I would willing deny him what I so longed to give since I was no more than a child?"
There's that fire and light. She's back. Now what really happened? "Then explain to me why this? Why were you sprawled out on the hard floor giving up and why was Erik nearly out of his wits? Why do you wish for death, when knowing if you leave this life, it would cause him nothing but agony and pain? You might as well kill him yourself."
"Meg, don't you see? My coming back….It was wrong. I have no place here anymore. Raoul saw to it that I would never feel at peace or be able to truly love and give love in return. I was taking….. No, stealing his love, but I do not deserve it. He's everything and he deserves more than me, so much more. A life with me would be settling at best, and I refuse to make Erik pay for the sins which are mine."
"Damn it Christine! Raoul is the one who hurt you. He sought to destroy you, to rob you of your light. He was jealous. His precious title and money could not get him everything. You were not for sale. You wouldn't accept him, because you knew you were made of finer stock. He couldn't accept that.
You say he robbed you of feeling and giving true love? No, my dear. He can only succeed if you let him. You are not to blame for his inferiority. He is nothing more than a gland that preys off innocent humans. He tries to suck the light out of those who shine bright, out for those he knows are far better than he. He knows he doesn't deserve it, so he steals and tries to force his way in. Oh but Christine, mark my words, one day the person he tries to inflict his poison on will poison him instead."
She froze. "You know?"
Meg walked up to her and sank to her knees. "You feel as if you don't deserve love, Christine but you do. You deserve it tenfold and I know you love my uncle. I'm sure of it as I am sure my Name is Megan Giry. I came here to…"
Christine trembled. "How…. How do you know? When? Who?"
"Christine, I knew the night that pig tried to attack me."
"But I…."
"Yes, you covered, but Christine I was almost violated, and I still felt ashamed and disgraced. You told me long ago he hurt you. You told me it was far more than just other women. Then after I was almost attacked, you denied it so adamantly. Don't be ashamed. It could have been me too. I do not look down on you and neither would Erik."
She couldn't look at her. "Does he… Does my Angel know?"
Meg shook her head. "Christine, I know if Erik knew the truth, he would be here with you. He would be trying to comfort you, letting you know that you are not to blame for anything. What that bastard took from you is nothing that can break your soul, your heart and your light."
Christine started to cry again, but this time Meg took her in her arms. "You cry, Christine. You cry and get it all out."
"You can't think I am afraid of his face, do you? I love him, Meg. I love the man, the face, the phantom and the Angel. I love whatever he is and will ever hope to be."
She held her tighter. "I know. I knew you could never fear him. Forgive me, but I had to get you to start talking." She let out a nervous laugh. "I'll tell you what we are going to do. First we cry. Then you and I are going to go away for a while."
"A….Away?" She looked at her puzzled. "But what if…."She shook her head innocently. "I'm foolish. Too late for that. He'll never take me back. When he left here, he was so cold, like ice. I knew what he was saying and yet I could see in his eyes, he was begging me to stop him. If only I had the guts to tell him, to scream and tell him that it was me and not him. I was the imperfection. I was the abomination, not him. Never him."
"Sh…." She hugged her again. "Just cry, sister. Remember, first we must cry."
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The cabin was secluded far into the outskirts of the city. It stood alone, next to a small stream and generous walking paths. There was a fireplace and a small stove, but it didn't appear to have the comforts necessary to make it a permanent living quarter. Christine eyed the four rooms suspiciously.
Strange, but what it lacks in appearances it seems to make up for in intimacy. "Meg, how did you of all people ever find such a place?"
"Oh, well you know one wanders…. I mean one sometimes needs a quiet place to think and ….." She dropped her head low. "You do promise that what I tell you is in the strictest of confidence, no?"
"Meg, really. I am hardly able to cast any stones." She continued to eye the rooms, while sitting next to the fireplace. "At least we'll be warm."
"Justin and I….. He owns this…. Well his father does and this cottage used to belong to the caregiver of the grounds. They really are quite marvelous…. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?" She fought her blush.
"Oh Christine you can be so prudish. It's perfect alright if you are in love. We are going to be married. I have nothing to be sorry for and no guilt is to be felt." She then thought for a moment. "Promise you won't tell Uncle Erik. He'll have my hide!"
She didn't know if it was the playfulness in Meg's voice, or the vision of Erik's protective nature getting the best of him, but she suddenly started to laugh. She laughed loudly and uncontrollably, causing Meg to burst into giggles as well. It felt familiar. It felt welcomed. It felt natural.
Christine took Meg's hand. "I think sisters are allowed a few secrets."
"It is good to see you smile. As I was saying, the grounds are beautiful. There is even a very pretty church with an open field. We can go exploring after supper."
A few hours later the girls had taken a walk to clear their minds and satisfy their desire to see their surroundings.
"That was fun. I must admit, whenever Justin and I would come here, there was never much time for… Er….Never mind." She giggled.
Christine smiled. She was happy for Meg, but a part of her longed to have that bliss. She was so close to having that with Erik but she let her past destroy any chance of ever hoping to aspire to what Justin and her friend had.
"Meg….."
"Yes, Christine."
"I need to tell you something. Something else about my past with Raoul."
"Christine, you don't have to tell me anymore. It makes no difference to me." She went to move, but Christine stopped her.
"I have to tell you." Her voice was full of conviction and although she sounded strong, she looked as if she were to pass out at any moment. "Meg, it wasn't just because Raoul…violated me. He not only took my innocence and the right that was to be my husband's, but he wasn't….. That is to say he didn't think about….."
She saw her start to shake again. "Christine, don't. You don't have to….."
She couldn't contain herself anymore, but the tears followed suit as she spoke these words to her. "I killed a baby. My baby!"
Meg held her in her arms. There was no need to make her go through that pain, when she already knew the horror she faced. "Christine I know all about that. Justin told me. Justin confirmed that you were…. That Raoul hurt you and he told me how you almost died. Christine once again, you are not to blame. He forced you, you had no choice."
"No, Meg I am to blame. I…I can't even say it out loud. But God knows. He knows and he will seek to punish me."
Meg closed her eyes. God above, please. I never question your existence but right now, I beseech thee to prove you are just and merciful and take this pain away from her. She took Christine's face in her hands. "Listen to me, you are not to blame. God knows this, but it won't make a bit of difference if you do not believe it."
"If Erik ever found out…."
"Christine how much do you love him?" She stared at her in defiance.
"Meg, you know I…."
"Answer the question, please. It should be simple."
Christine shook her head. "Simple, no Meg. My love for my Angel is not simple. It is pure as it is passionate. It is reality as it is magical. It is decent and holy, as it is erotic and tempting." She blushed, but continued on. "He is my center, my core and I ache to be near him. How can something so powerful, ever be classified as simple?"
Meg was at odds with wanting to know more of this love as a supportive friend, but then wanting to change the subject as a slightly uncomfortable niece. Instead she carried on with her original purpose. "So you love him, then?"
"I love him."
Meg nodded. "So, why can't you trust him?"
"Trust him? Of course I trust him. You can't feel what we feel and not trust one another. I….." Suddenly Meg's point dawned on her. "Oh Meg! You think I'm doing him a disservice by not telling him. I was trying to protect myself. What if he can't look at me in the same way?"
"You know Uncle Erik showed a lot of trust by showing you his face. Granted, he needs to have more faith in you, as he clearly still lets his self-esteem dominate him, but trust was there.
"I want to believe that so badly." She sighed. "Yet I don't have him with me now, so technically I have nothing more to lose."
"And everything to gain."
She was silent for a moment, but then nodded. "I want to try. Meg, will you help me?"
She grinned. "I thought you'd never ask."
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Erik made his way home in a fury. He had to get to her. He had to throw himself at her feet and hope that his merciful angel would allow him back into her precious heart. He vowed then and there to never be the cause of her unhappiness and would do anything to be near her. He didn't care what it cost him. Being in her life was worth any sacrifice.
"Whatever it takes, my heart. We have our music, we have each other's arms and I can be the protector you need. I can suppress everything else. I can love you how you wish. Just please say I'm not too late."
He entered his home and called her name. "Christine…Angel!"
"She's not here Uncle Erik."
His eyes did a double take. "Megan? But what are you doing here? Is….Is Christine here?"
"She's gone, uncle."
His mask less face turned white. "Gone?" He could feel his legs start to give out. He knew he shouldn't have listened to Antoinette. "All the time I wasted. She left. She could have gone anywhere. She…."
"Uncle Erik, calm yourself. I know where she is."
