Chapter XXXIV.

They did not really want to go back to the inn. The soothing presence of each other made them want to stay there forever, or just for a long time. They did not talk. There was no need for words between them at that moment. Christine lay her head on Erik's chest and listened to his heartbeat and she hoped she will hear that sound forever. That tortured and troubled heart of his beats in a calmingly even rhythm, and makes the perfect music. He stroke her chin with his thumb, and they were hugging there for a long time. The small candle slowly melted on the tombstone and finally burned out.

- Come. – Erik suddenly said. – I think Mahtab is afraid without us.

- I wish we could stay here for some more time.

- Me too. But… the Daroga and the kids and… you know. We have to go back home.

- I do know, but please promise we will come back here one day together. All the family. I miss the old times in my childhood when I spent summers here with Papa.

- I understand. We shall. Yes, all kids and the dog as well. Next summer… then Noel will be old enough to walk on his own as well, hopefully and… they would be so happy to spend some vacation here.

- And you too. You will see how refreshing it can be here. When did you spend some time to yourself, Erik dear? You work too much.

- Not anymore. – He smiled. – Don't worry about me. Well, we could take a walk back to the inn, that will give us some more alone time, if you don't mind it.

- Of course I would love that. – Christine smiled. – I love spending time with you, my Erik

- Oh my sweet Christine. – He sighed in delight, when he felt the woman's hand on his back.

They had a nice walk in the foggy and chilly, but still beautiful spring morning, hand in hand. They did not know when was the last time they could walk together just the two of them. Their Sunday walks were shared with the children now, and even though the children's presence was heartwarming, they still appreciated alone time more right at that moment.

When they returned to the room, they were surprised to notice there were 3 people now in there. Raoul de Chagny was laying on the bed, awake and noticeably in better condition, Mahtab, who was helpfully running up and down, bringing Raoul any necessities, she placed a mug of water in his hand when the parents stepped in. And on the small wooden chair next to the bed there sat that great booby, that nosey parker Persian!

- That's sweet of you, Mahtab dear. – The Daroga praised the small child who helped Raoul drink.

- Daroga! – Erik gasped, rushing to the bed. – How did you get here…?

- I wanted to follow you so you won't do anything terrible.

- Meh. – He shook his head in frustration. – Where are my sons? Did you leave my SONS alone?

- No. They are with Darius.

- That fool?

- He is my servant and he took care of Ardashir as well, many times. He did it great. If my son did not die with him, yours won't either.

- Did you just remark that he died with me? – Erik retorted angrily.

- You killed his son? – Raoul gasped.

Silence came. One could have easily heard a fly in that room, not even Mahtab dared to ask any questions, and after a few seconds, Christine found it a better idea to send Mahtab to the other room. She hurried out obediently. After the door closed shut behind her, the Daroga took a few steps closer to Erik, who was trembling with rage.

- You killed his son and you killed my brother! You kill everyone's relatives! – Raoul continued, seeing Erik's reaction.

- Monsieur Chagny, please stop. – The Persian warned. – He did not kill my son. He tried to save his life.

- But he killed Philippe! – Raoul yelled.

- Erik, are you all right? – Christine inquired with worry as Erik did not seem to be there mentally.

- He killed Philippe! - Raoul accused again, sobbing into his pillows, reaching out to point at Erik with his remaining fingers.

- Monsieur Chagny! – Mohammed walked close to the bed and shook Raoul by the shoulder. – Stop it, please.

- I have the right to know what has happened to him! He killed Philippe and…

- Silence. Monsieur I will try to talk to him but you need to stop accusing him as it will only cause trouble. Do you promise to stay silent?

- Yes. – Raoul fell back on his pillows with a deep sigh. – Everything I do for finally knowing the truth.

- Erik, please let's get this cleared up. – The Persian said softly, slowly approaching Erik again. The ex Phantom of the Opera did not move, only his shaking gave away that he was totally aware of the subject they were talking about.

- Erik did not mean to kill the Count! – Erik burst out in a sob. – Erik did not… - He fell on his knees with crying hard so hard.

- Erik, tell me what has happened. Please. – The Daroga leaned closer to the sobbing man, but he was already too deep in his crying fit. He wasn't able to think logically, he was shaking even in the kneeling position, he was sobbing and he couldn't hear anyone. They were trying to call his name several times with no success. Christine lifted her fist in front of her mouth in worry and watched Erik finally hitting the ground with his fists. She wanted to comfort him, but as she wanted to approach her husband the Daroga lifted his hand up cautiously.

- Stop Christine! He won't recognize you! Don't touch him.

- He is a mad monster. – Raoul sat up in bed, staring at Erik in horror.

- Do something, please, he will get a heart attack! – Christine cried out.

Erik really did not look good. Of course, he did not anyway, but his pale-ish yellow skin started turning to a shade of blueish white due to the lack of oxygen. He was too busy sobbing and started gasping for air. The Daroga, with very careful movements, tried to remove Erik's human mask, to at least make it easier for him to breathe, but Erik got aggressive to the attempt of unmasking him, and bit the Daroga's hand as it slowly reached out in front of his face. Oh that wicked man had so sharp teeth…

- Erik! – Christine screamed.

- He can't hear you. – Mohammed explained. – I have seen him like this before.

- And what to do now? He will die!

- There is only one solution that works. – The Persian walked to the nightstand next to Raoul's bed and picked up the floral patterned ewer that was full of cool water and with one movement, he dumped all of its contents all over the still gasping Erik. As he felt the cool liquid on him, he shuddered and finally with a tiny gasp followed by some coughs, he looked at the Persian with surprise.

- What are you doing…? You ruined my… favorite suit! – He wheezed.

- I did not want to give you a slap and make the wall give the other one to you, so the only thing I could do was pour water over you Erik. I am sorry but you turned insane.

- Erik is… sorry. – He spat out some water and shook himself like a dog does when they fall into water.

- Erik are you all right? – Christine walked closer, patting Erik's wet coat on his back.

- Mhm. – He nodded insecurely.

- Erik… oh Erik don't do this again… you scared me.

- Erik… can do… nothing about it.

- Erik, please stay calm. – The Daroga offered his hand to help him up, and then Erik noticed a small but fresh wound on Mohammed's thumb.

- What has happened to your hand? – He wondered.

- You just bit him! – Raoul exclaimed.

- Did I…? I am sorry… - Erik tapped the Daroga's shoulder penitently, then reassured. – I am sorry.

- Erik calm down, it is all right. – The Persian gently grabbed Erik by the shoulder and started slowly rubbing it to make Erik at least a bit calmer. It seemed to work and finally he was able to guide Erik to a chair and push him down in a sitting position. Christine put a towel on Erik's soaked hair and was rubbing it dry.

- Laughable. – Raoul moaned. – A grown up man acts like a little snot. Two people are needed to keep him at least somewhat sane. You… thing… you…

- I can hear you, Chagny. – Erik sighed. – I can hear you. Maybe you think me laughable. Erik thinks so too. I think, with such a life I had it is not a miracle if my nerves are in a bad shape. You are not obliged to accept or understand it, but at least don't make fun of my reactions. You don't know what reason lays behind my illogical actions. Erik hates himself enough, but thank you for helping him with it. Yes… you have the right to know what has happened to your brother. Erik will tell you. He won't lie to you and… and… he swears what you hear is the complete truth. He swears to his children's lives, maybe you accept that?

- I do. – Raoul nodded, talking a bit of quieter since he got a bit of ashamed about his previous words.

- All right, but before I start to talk, I have to ask my wife to leave the room. Will you let her leave?

- Yes. – Raoul nodded.

- Erik, I would like to stay. – Christine stated. – I want to hear it too.

- No. – Erik shook his head. – That's not your business. You had and have nothing to do about Philippe de Chagny. Only the young man and the Daroga may stay in the room. Go and watch the child. You know how she can be, I don't want her to be left alone for a long time.

- Are you sure you want me to go out?

- I order you to go out, if you stay Erik refuses to say a word about that subject or maybe any other as well.

- All right. – Christine sighed and walked out of the room to see what Mahtab was up to.

When they could no longer hear her footsteps outside, Erik closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then looked Raoul in the eye and started speaking.

- I did not mean to kill your brother. I only wanted to talk to him so I called him to meet me at the lake that night.

- So that's how he knew the way there… - The Persian murmured in front of himself. – I always wondered how he managed to get there without any help.

- Even Christine told me once that she still wasn't able to go there without your guidance. – Raoul added. – Did you just… tell my brother how to get there…?

- Yes. – Erik nodded. – I ordered him to be there by 10 o' clock if he had any morals.

- How did you two meet? – The Daroga asked.

- I showed up in his box, and just threw my glove in his face. I wanted a duel.

- What for? – Raoul asked with sudden anger. – It was me you hated, why did you want a duel with Philippe? He had nothing to do with you!

- He insulted a lady. – Erik lowered his head. – He insulted a lady who was the dearest to me.

- Insulted….? Christine?

- Yes.

- What did he say? – Raoul gasped.

- He called Christine a… a… he called that angel… a cheap little thing… a girl like THAT! – Erik shook even by thinking back at the Count's words.

- Oh… he murmured it… during Faust. – Raoul nodded. – He did once. Yes.

- And you, my young friend, just sat there and said NOTHING! No one calls Christine Daaé, my sweet modest girl a… a… I wanted Count Philippe to apologize about what he had said about my wife.

- And did he? – The Daroga asked.

- We did not get to that far in the conversation. – He sighed brokenly. – I did not… mean to kill him, Chagny. When I showed up, he casually asked me the time. I think his watch stopped or something like that. He told me he was waiting for someone here and he is searching for the O.G. I turned to start to talk… but he just… started questioning me about the mask. Why am I wearing a mask… when I call myself an honest man… I fight for a cheap… woman… covering my face… he told me I must be on wanted posters… he wanted to turn away and run to fetch that idiot Milfroid and… send the whole goddamned police to the lake. He told me he had no idea where you are, and my … whore… just twisted you around her fingers. – Erik slammed his fist against his knee, then continued. – I lost my mind. He ripped off my mask. He screamed. With horror… screams of horror always hurt my ear… I… I… pushed him… a bit too forcefully… he slipped… he fell… he bet his head against a column and fell into the lake… as he was holding me still, I lost my balance and fell with him, that's why I became wet too. I did not play the Siren trick with him, Daroga. I know you think so, but… I did not. I swear… it was an accident. I tried to pull him out… but he was already dead. I could do nothing… just dragged him to the lake side that faced Rue Scribe, and hoped they will find him there… I couldn't help any more.

All three men fell silent for a while, then the Daroga broke the silence.

- That's what you told me when you came to me after the happenings. You had been honest with me? That really surprises me.

- Erik… - Raoul called out after they did not get any more words spoken by the Phantom. – That's why you sent Christine out?

- Mhm. – He nodded. – She would blame herself over it. I know her. There is no need for that, it is… Erik's fault. All his.

- Erik… - Raoul stood up from the bed and walked a bit closer.

- What do you want?

- Thank you for telling me the truth.

- Do you believe me then? – He lifted his head up in surprise.

- I do. – He nodded. – You swore to your children's lives and I know you love Mahtab and the boys. You would not want their death.

- I know Erik for a long time and usually I can tell when he is lying by his metacommunication – now he seemed to be honest. – The Persian nodded. – We believe you Erik.

- I told the truth. I know I lied to you a lot. But now I told the truth. But please… Chagny… please… don't tell it to Christine… ever.

- I won't. – Raoul nodded. – Erik… It… still hurts me that my brother died… but… you did not kill him… I mean not by intent. And… it… does put things in another scenario. Up until your confession I thought you just forced Christine into this marriage without loving her truly… - He took a short pause but continued. – But I just realized you really love Christine.

- I do. – Erik stated simply.

- Erik… I think we will never be best friends… and I will need time to forgive you the night at the Torture Chamber and… Philippe… and…

- And I will need time to forgive you shooting me, calling me names, and… ehh… nothing… what did you want to say?

- I just wanted to offer peace pact. I won't call you by any harmful names anymore and won't hurt you any physical way either. Just I ask you one thing: let me see Christine from time to time without you getting jealous over the fact we meet.

- It is a hard thing you ask, Chagny, I mean Erik not being jealous about you seeing his wife but we shall try. – He stood up and bowed his head towards his arch enemy. – Erik promises he won't harm you either by any means.

- May I shake your hand…? Sorry, I can do it by only left hand, but… I hope it counts. – Raoul reached out.

- Sure. – Erik hesitantly placed his large cold bony hand in Raoul's, and squeezed it firmly.

- Please call me Raoul. – The boy offered. – And… thank you for… taking care of my wound.

- You are welcome, Raoul. – Erik nodded gracefully. – Well, if you permit me now, I would like to leave the room and check on my family. You two may do whatever you want to. Raoul, I advise you to see a doctor with your head soon. Daroga… see you later. We are going back to Paris and collect my sons from you.

- I accompany you home. – The Daroga patted Raoul's shoulder, said a quick good bye and followed Erik quickly. – I have nothing else to do here since you did not murder anyone this time.

- All right, you may come. Erik shrugged. – At least you babysit Mahtab so she won't cling to my neck all the time on the train.

- Erik…?

- Yes?

- I am proud of you.

- What the Hell are you proud of?

- You told the truth and you seem to be able to handle your emotions better. The Erik I knew ten years ago would just have murdered everyone without a second thought.

- Let me clear this up: You are proud of Erik for acting somewhat normally?

- That's an achievement of him. – The Daroga patted Erik's shoulder as they walked outside to meet Christine and Mahtab who were walking on fresh air.

Erik was thinking about he might have really changed to the better. He did not know he was capable of something like that. Maybe he isn't such a monster anymore? Maybe he can be somewhat lovable? What has happened that even the boy doesn't want to hate him from now on?