Christine lead Erik to the couch and kissed his hand softly. "Your fingers are magnificent, in many, many ways." She blushed at her compliment but desperately wanted to make him relax. She knew he was nervous to share this part of his past with her.
Erik was surprised by her boldness but appreciated it, nevertheless. "My angel." He caressed her cheek. "You are so much more than I ever dreamed possible."
Christine picked up the glasses of wine from the tray she had placed on the table and offered one to him. Erik waved it away.
"Is it not good? I know you don't really partake much in it but I know we have enjoyed a glass together on occasion. I thought it might help you."
"Ah Christine, if you knew the next part of my life, you would know why wine would not be the best option right now."
"Erik?"
He stood up and placed his hands behind his head as he messed up the back of hair. "I feel so foolish."
"Don't! You have nothing to fear from me Erik. It is part of your past and all of us have done things we regret. Do you understand? All of us." Me most of all.
He nodded but looked away. Instead he walked over to the window. As he looked out over the garden, he spoke. "After I came back from Persia, I was rather restless. I didn't want to return to the fairs and Annie needed me close by. Her husband had died and Meg was just a baby, she wasn't even walking yet. However, I could hardly be as present as I wanted to be due to my face, so I came up with an idea."
Christine sat at the edge of the couch. "What was it?"
"They were making revisions to the Opera House."
"Revisions?"
Erik turned around. "Indeed. It wasn't always the building you knew it as. It was really more of a dormitory of sorts with a large stage. The owner at the time, commissioned a young architect by the name of…."
"Charles Garnier." Replied Christine with little modesty.
"Your history lessons paid off, my dear. I thought that if I could convince him to allow a small portion, say five cellars below, remain untouched, I could live there and be close at hand for Annie and Meg."
"But how did you get him to agree?"
Erik shrugged. "Do you remember Father Mansart?"
She nodded.
"Years ago when I was about six, at least I think I was six. It was a year after I turned five and I'll never forget that birthday… Anyway, Father Mansart had heard of a school for gifted children. I wasn't accepted because of my deformity but Charles was. The drawings I submitted for my application to the school, were later used to show the students that not everyone is accepted and they were very fortunate to be chosen."
"How did you know this, angel?"
"The priest told me. He also told me that there was a boy who found it very unfair that I not be allowed to study, for he found my work to be even better than his."
"That boy was Charles Garnier?"
Erik sheepishly nodded. "I thought I would show him my work and then maybe… He'd have pity on me." He scoffed. "Pity, I hated to be pitied but what choice did I have?"
"What happened?"
"I found a way to meet him and…."
"Found a way?"
Erik grinned mischievously. "That tale can be told another time. Anyway, he couldn't believe that I was that boy but the drawings were the originals. He had no choice but to take me at my word because he said my work would prove it sooner or later."
"Precious, you mean he allowed you design the catacombs?"
"Not quite. You see I began looking at his drawings and making recommendations and suggestions. My time with Giovanni served me well. Soon, he looked at me and said that I should be taking on the project and not him. He wanted to step down and have me take over but I refused. I had another alternative in mind. I asked that he never let the plans get up to the cellars. The Seine river was under the building, so I asked that he instruct they work around it. Meanwhile, allow me to design the catacombs as my dwelling, in exchange for my expertise in the rest of the building and offering him full credit."
"Erik, you mean you are responsible for creating one of the most beautiful buildings in France?"
"I am."
"Heaven above! Erik, before I even came to live there my Papa and I would stare at it for hours and hours and admire its craftsmanship and detail. He told me that the man responsible for such beauty is a man rich with a deep soul who knows that true beauty can be found if you look inside."
Erik was deeply moved. "Your…. Your father was a very special man, Christine." He found he needed to sit down.
"Oh precious, how I wish you two could have met. I know he would have loved you."
Erik smiled at that.
"So what happened after that? Nothing you said sounds selfish or greedy for acceptance. Far from it."
Erik's smile faded. "Charles had friends…. Two brothers, Phillip and Raoul de Chagny."
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Meg had just finished rehearsing and saw her Mother coming up to greet her.
"Mama, I was going to come and see you after I had a chance to clean up."
"You looked very good, Meg. I am sure the photographs the Jaime will take tonight will be just perfect."
Meg blushed. "We'll see. I hope it helps business."
"It will help you too, Meg. Once people start reading about all Phantasma has to offer, you may get a few offers of your own."
"What do you mean?"
Annie touched her daughter's hair. "That you have a brilliant career ahead of you, Meg. You will have choices and not have to be stuck working here for the rest of your life."
"But this is our home. This place is a wonderland and Uncle Erik and you made it what it is today. I'm not ashamed of it."
"Meg, you deserve more."
"But what if I don't want more?"
Annie suddenly understood. "This has nothing to do with Phantasma or choices in your dancing does it? You are letting a man distract you!"
"I am not! I am focusing on me and dancing. I only told you what makes me happy."
"And does that include lunch with Thompson? He needs to focus on why he is here too."
"Mama, I swear to you that this is not about Charles or Nadir or…."
The mention of Nadir's name made Annie change her tone. "Have…. Have you heard from him?"
"No." Meg replied, wondering if her mother had. "You haven't heard from him either?"
Annie thought for a minute. "I am sure he has good reason. Either way, he's probably at his destination by now. He will send word when he can. I suppose I just didn't realize how long it had been until you spoke his name."
"Mama?"
Annie was still thinking when Meg called her name again. "Uh, Yes, Meg?"
"You're worried. He should have checked in by now, shouldn't he? Where is he? Where did he go?"
"Meg, he's fine, I'm sure of it. Nadir is probably waiting until there is something to report. I am sorry I worried you. Please, it's nothing. I'm sorry I overreacted. I just want you to be open to what is out there. I worry for you, Meg."
"Why?"
"Because I fear that in the end, it won't matter if others see you worthy of more, if you do not see it for yourself. The biggest waste in life is wasting your talent. Remember that."
Annie walked off the stage but turned around quickly. "I will let you know the moment I hear from him. I will see you later tonight." With that, Annie left the tent.
Meg only nodded. "Please Nadir, don't be a hero. Keep yourself safe."
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Erik looked up at Christine who was taking large sips of her wine.
"Angel, are you alright? I haven't even told you what happened yet." He went to her side and took her hand. "Angel?"
"I…. I just can't believe that everything I thought I knew was all a lie."
Erik swallowed hard and nodded trying not to look scared.
"No, No, angel! Not you. Never you." Christine wrapped her arms tightly around Erik's neck. "You are wonderful, then and now."
Erik eased himself away from her hold. "Christine, once again maybe we shouldn't sit so close for this next part."
"Once again, angel you talk nonsense. Now is the time that we need to hold each other closer than ever."
"You want me to tell you like this?"
She whispered into his ear. "Yes."
The sensation it brought Erik was indescribable. He moaned silently and then proceeded to go on.
"I can deny you nothing." He whispered back and kissed her brow. "It was the night of the grand re-opening. Earlier that day, Charles and I had a final meeting. I showed him what had occupied me down below and he was speechless. Many times, prior to that night, he had wanted to give me the credit for the Opera House, he even tried to compromise with me and allow me to be a silent partner but I wouldn't hear of it."
"But after he saw my new home, he said he wished he had my vision and offered to buy it from me as his own personal dwelling." Erik smiled at the memory. "However, since he knew I would refuse, he insisted that I come to the gala the managers were throwing."
"He did?" Christine was so very happy that another person wanted Erik rewarded for his gifts.
"Of course, I refused but all day, he and Annie kept on me. Finally, I relented just so I could have a moment's peace."
Christine giggled. "You mean you really went?"
"Charles insisted that my mask would not be a problem and it wasn't. He told everyone that I had come from a masquerade ball and was having an issue with the mask. Thus, I would just have my servants fiddle with it once I returned home. Fiddle with it, indeed. I can remember Charles just praising me for making time in my busy schedule. He was a good man."
"Angel, how did he die?"
"Train crash. I didn't know it then but I would see him only a few more times after that night." Erik's mind drifted away but he brought himself back to the present.
"Erik…."
"He introduced me to the de Chagnys. I was cautious and very distant. Noblemen, I mean I couldn't see this going well. Yet Charles kept bringing me into every conversation. He even went so far as to purposely give inaccurate statements which left me no choice but to correct. He knew I wouldn't be able to keep silent! He reminded me of Daroga."
"What happened then?"
Erik began to tense up and Christine's response was to hold him tighter. "Erik, it's alright. We've got each other now."
He leaned into her and continued. "After the night ended, I found myself taken with both of them. They really seemed interested in me and Charles talked so highly of them, I thought…. Maybe. Well, the next day, Charles sent a note, telling me that Raoul and Phillip were throwing a party at their estate and demanded that I attend."
"What did you do?"
"I refused. I told Charles to go to Hell. There was no way he or Annie could convince me otherwise. Until…."
"Until?"
"Charles came to see me and said that he told them about my face."
"What?!" Christine shook her head in protest. "How could he betray you like that?"
"He said they were honest men and he knew them to be good. He said that he told them about my face before they asked me to come to the party. Moreover, they offered to make it a masked ball, so I would be comfortable all night. I couldn't believe that there was such kindness in the world."
Christine feared for what Erik was going to tell her happened next.
"I arrived to the party, dressed in my best and it wasn't until I got there that I learned Charles had an urgent meeting and couldn't attend. Needless to say, I was disappointed. Raoul kept encouraging me to talk and mingle with guests but I told him I felt better off to the side. That's when he suggested an alternative."
"What was that?"
"He said that his brother always organized a card game later in the evening. He said he was finally asked to play but needed to bring his own money and his own partner. That's when he asked me to play."
"A card game..." Christine started to play back the time Raoul told her that Erik had stolen his family's property. Did Raoul gamble it away and lost to Erik?
"I turned him down. He then suggested that I start applying some liquid courage to help me get more comfortable. He led me to the bar and told the waiter to keep serving me. I was no stranger to wine but I never really cared for it. Yet he was gone for a long time and I never saw Phillip. Therefore, I was in a room full of strangers and felt completely alone. Soon, I didn't need any encouragement to keep drinking."
"He just left you there!"
Erik shook his head. "Not for long. Well, it didn't take long for me to be a bit out of my wits. That's when Raoul appeared and asked me to join the game. This time, I was too confused to say anything but yes. I won the first few rounds and people at the game began to cheer me on. They even started betting on me to beat the players and I did. Before long, I was playing against Raoul."
"Had you played cards before?"
"No. It was a very peculiar game of beginner's luck, or what I like to call now as fool's bluff."
"What do you mean?"
"Phillip proceeded to get me more and more drunk and in one hand, I lost. I lost all the money I had won and money I didn't have. I owed Raoul a very large debt."
"Erik, they tricked you! They let you win the other hands, so you would think you were better than you were and got you inebriated in the process! They should be arrested! Don't tell me you paid him any money."
"No…I gave him the land that occupies Phantasma and the land that sits beside it. All of it."
"But…."
"It was the only way I could avoid going to jail. Phillip threatened to put me in jail and expose me for what I was, if I didn't do right by his brother and pay off the debt. Gentlemen's agreements are always paid."
Christine let go so she could see his face. "Then how were you able to build Phantasma?"
"Charles learned what happened and was outraged. He apologized to me profusely and swore he would get the land back for me. However, it turned out that Charles wasn't so very good with money. He was able obtain funds to buy back half the land. He didn't have the money for the other half and soon enough, it was sold. However, Raoul put in a stipulation that under no circumstance could the land ever be sold or gifted to me. If I ever came in possession of it, he would tell the world of my…" He pointed to his face. "This."
"That insufferable bastard! How could he do that? Why?! What did you ever do to them?"
"Christine, rich people don't need a reason. I was an interesting game of sport for them. Something new and certainly different."
"Precious, I am so sorry. But you are not to blame…."
"Yes, I am. I was weak. Weak to drink and weak for praise and acceptance."
"You were human. That is not a sin."
"It is when you were never meant to be human."
"Stop! I refuse to have you berate yourself like that in front of me. It's not true. You are the best of men."
He shook his head and Christine grabbed it and pulled his mask off.
"You listen to me; you are a man. A beautiful man who was tricked and robbed and lied to. They are the monsters, not you. The only time you can say you aren't human is when you acknowledge that you are my angel. Otherwise, I never want to hear you say or have you think otherwise, do you understand me?"
"My Christine…." He had tears in his eyes. "You are a gift from heaven. A true angel. If my face and past were the price I had to pay to have you in my life, then so be it. I will gladly accept this face and never curse it again, if it means I can have you."
She buried her face into his chest.
"I will always be yours, Erik. Always. You can have me and all that comes with that." She locked her eyes with his.
When she looked at him like that, he knew what she was referring to. He was left breathless and couldn't bring himself to speak when the butler came into the room.
"Excuse me, Signor Erik and Signoretti Christine but you have someone here to see you."
Erik blinked rapidly. "We do?"
"A Signor Khan is at the door."
