Down Once More
By: Lady Serenity

Chapter One: Notes

Christine sat at her desk to sort through that day's mail. Christine had
been happily married for eight years and retired for two. Oh, she hadn't stopped
singing, just singing professionally. Raoul finally persuaded Christine to leave
the Opera after their daughter, Meagan, had turned six. Now Meagan was eight
and Christine gave her school friends singing and violin lessons.
Christine sorted the mail into seperate piles for Raoul, Meagan,
and herself. Today's mail was mostly bills and letters for Raoul. There was a
letter from Meg for Christine and an invitation to a party for Meagan. Christine's
eyes stopped on an envelope with the all too familiar handwriting and the
unmistakable red ink.
"Erik," she breathed.
Christine didn't even bother opening the envelope. She simply
shoved it into the bottom desk drawer. Perhaps if she ignored them, they would
go away.

~~~{~@ ~*~ @~}~~~

A week later, the letters were still coming. Everyday Christine
reseived an envelope with that same handwriting and red ink. She couldn't
take it anymore! She had to open them.
Each letter held a similar message, "Please come see me," but with
each day the message became more urgent.
That day's read, "Dearest Christine, please, I must see you. I implore
you, come to my house today. I shall be expecting you at 5 o'clock sharpe. O.G.
P.S. There is someone you should see."
Christine glanced at her watch. It was 4:30 already. She had to hurry
if she was to get there on time.

~~~{~@ ~*~ @~}~~~

When Christine arrived at Erik's gate it was 4:59. A young girl in a
cape and hood appeared at the gate and let her in. The girl said nothing, but led
Christine to Erik's living room. Erik looked up as she walked in.
"Ah, you're just on time, my dear."
He got up, took Christine's hand, and kissed it. He gestured to the
chair across from him, "Sit down, Christine."
Christine sat and cast a glance to the girl standing behind Erik. Erik
twisted around to see what she was looking at.
"Oh, hello darling. I hadn't noticed you were behind me. Take off
your cloak, dear. You've been home for almost a quarter of and hour now.
There you go."
The girl pulled back her cloak to reveal the tear-stained face of Meg
Giry.
Christine gasped, "Meg! Good God, what are you doing here?"
"I-" Meg started, but Erik interrupted her, "You may speak with my
wife later."
"Your... your wife?" Christine stammered.
"Yes. Does it surprise you that someone would marry your poor,
unhappy Erik?"
"No but, why Meg?"
"I said you will speak with her later." Erik said through clenched
teeth. Meg scurried off and Erik smiled at Christine, "Now, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine, and yourself?"
"Good... good..."
It seemed odd to Christine to be speaking with Erik like this.
Nevertheless, she would not beat around the bush, "Erik, why have you married
Meg?"
"She agreed."
"What?"
"She agreed to. I didn't force her."
"That explains nothing to me."
"You may ask her later."
"Have you shown her your face yet?"
"No."
"Your bedroom, your music room?"
"No, not yet."
"You claim to love her, yet you keep secrets? There should be no
secrets in marraige. You say you love her, yet you were a mask in front of her. In
front of the society, in front of the world!"
By now Erik was standing, furious, "SOCIETY WEARS A MASK IN
FRONT OF ALL OF US! And I do not claim to love her, I do not. Nor does she
love me!"
Christine choked back tears of anger and pity for her friend, "Then
you must have a very unhappy marraige indeed."
"No, we have a very happy marraige because we have tolerance,
which I have none of for you! Now, if you are done prying into MY life kindly
let me ask you about yours. Why have you stopped singing?"
"Erik, I have a daughter now. I can't keep up my career and a child at
the same time! I had to give one up. Besides, Raoul makes enough money for us
both."
"I take it he has been succesful at his new theater?" Erik said,
sneering.
"Yes, he has. Now may I please speak to Meg?"
"Very well, you may. Meg, dear, Christine would like to speak to
you."
Meg practicly tip-toed into the room, as if she was afraid the slightest
disturbense would upset the delicate balance on which Erik and Christine's
tolerance for each other stood.
Erik got up and Meg took his place. When Erik had left the room,
Christine hugged Meg, "Oh, my dear friend, why did you marry that aweful
man?"
"To save you, Christine, to save you."