Christine returned to her suite just to have a sleepless night. As much
sleepless as Eriks.
Erik stared up at the ceiling. She had come back, and she was his. This time he wouldn't loose her. But Raoul was still between them. He was the stone that was being thrown in the glass-house. Well, it was Christines problem, he prayed to God that it would end up all right.
* * *
The clock stroke eight and Erik was going down to the dining-room. He could see that the Captain was waving eagerly to him.
- Oh, monsieur Dequense, at last. Erik shook the Captains hand and sat down.
Christine and Raoul entered the dining-room, and this time when Raoul glanced at the Captains table, he saw something familiar, wearing a white mask.
- Oh, my God, he said quite loud.
- What is it, Raoul? Christine asked concerned.
- It is him. Look, he's sitting at the Captains table. Christine looked at the table and saw Erik. She smiled to herself.
- What are you smiling about? Raoul asked.
- Oh Raoul, Erik has been here since yesterday, he was the one that was playing the piano, don't you remember?
Raoul remembered all right, he could feel the heat of anger rise in him. He had hoped that the mob had killed that monster when they reached his lair. But obviously they hadn't. His throat tightened with emotions of hate. Would he take Christine from him? No. In that case he would have already been doing it.
The Captain came towards them.
- Vicomte de Chagny and mademoiselle Daae, would you please join us this evening?
Raoul looked up.
- Of course, he said.
- Wonderful, there's someone that I'm dying for you to meet, mademoiselle, the Captain said and lowered his eyes to Christine.
They went over to the table and Christine could feel the heat rising in her cheeks when she was coming closer and closer to Erik.
- Monsieur Dequense, meet mademoiselle Daae and her fiancé Raoul de Chagny, the Captain said with a smile.
- Charming, Erik said and kissed Christines hand, he could even feel the warmth from it through her glove.
- Likewise, she replied and met his eyes. Then Erik turned to Raoul and only shook his hand.
* * *
The dinner succeeded to all odds.
- You must really love music, monsieur Dequense, Christine said, her voice very intense.
- Only when the ladies sing, he replied and gave her a warm look. Raoul sat in his chair more furious than ever.
The women around the table took up their fans and started waving with them, the captain smiled and started to realise what was going to happen.
- Well, are the gentlemen joining me for a brandy? he said.
- Yes, Raoul answered right away.
- Monsieur Dequense? the Captain asked.
- No, I have to work, but I'll see you down here tomorrow, he replied and took a pen and started to write on his napkin.
- Christine, shall I walk you to your suite, Raoul asked.
- No, I'm staying here, she replied.
When Raoul and the Captain and the other men had disappeared, Erik rose from his chair.
- Erik, do you really have to leave? Christine asked.
- Time to go and write something for the ladies to sing, he said to her with a smile and Christine smiled back.
- Good night, Christine, he said, then took her hand and kissed it. As he let go of her hand she could feel some paper-material in her palm. A note. She opened it when she couldn't see him anymore.
"The ladies have to sing, meet me by the stairs."
Christine started to walk out from the dining-room after about a minute. She saw Erik with his back turned against her.
As he heard her steps he turned around.
- Say, do you wanna go to a real party?
Erik stared up at the ceiling. She had come back, and she was his. This time he wouldn't loose her. But Raoul was still between them. He was the stone that was being thrown in the glass-house. Well, it was Christines problem, he prayed to God that it would end up all right.
* * *
The clock stroke eight and Erik was going down to the dining-room. He could see that the Captain was waving eagerly to him.
- Oh, monsieur Dequense, at last. Erik shook the Captains hand and sat down.
Christine and Raoul entered the dining-room, and this time when Raoul glanced at the Captains table, he saw something familiar, wearing a white mask.
- Oh, my God, he said quite loud.
- What is it, Raoul? Christine asked concerned.
- It is him. Look, he's sitting at the Captains table. Christine looked at the table and saw Erik. She smiled to herself.
- What are you smiling about? Raoul asked.
- Oh Raoul, Erik has been here since yesterday, he was the one that was playing the piano, don't you remember?
Raoul remembered all right, he could feel the heat of anger rise in him. He had hoped that the mob had killed that monster when they reached his lair. But obviously they hadn't. His throat tightened with emotions of hate. Would he take Christine from him? No. In that case he would have already been doing it.
The Captain came towards them.
- Vicomte de Chagny and mademoiselle Daae, would you please join us this evening?
Raoul looked up.
- Of course, he said.
- Wonderful, there's someone that I'm dying for you to meet, mademoiselle, the Captain said and lowered his eyes to Christine.
They went over to the table and Christine could feel the heat rising in her cheeks when she was coming closer and closer to Erik.
- Monsieur Dequense, meet mademoiselle Daae and her fiancé Raoul de Chagny, the Captain said with a smile.
- Charming, Erik said and kissed Christines hand, he could even feel the warmth from it through her glove.
- Likewise, she replied and met his eyes. Then Erik turned to Raoul and only shook his hand.
* * *
The dinner succeeded to all odds.
- You must really love music, monsieur Dequense, Christine said, her voice very intense.
- Only when the ladies sing, he replied and gave her a warm look. Raoul sat in his chair more furious than ever.
The women around the table took up their fans and started waving with them, the captain smiled and started to realise what was going to happen.
- Well, are the gentlemen joining me for a brandy? he said.
- Yes, Raoul answered right away.
- Monsieur Dequense? the Captain asked.
- No, I have to work, but I'll see you down here tomorrow, he replied and took a pen and started to write on his napkin.
- Christine, shall I walk you to your suite, Raoul asked.
- No, I'm staying here, she replied.
When Raoul and the Captain and the other men had disappeared, Erik rose from his chair.
- Erik, do you really have to leave? Christine asked.
- Time to go and write something for the ladies to sing, he said to her with a smile and Christine smiled back.
- Good night, Christine, he said, then took her hand and kissed it. As he let go of her hand she could feel some paper-material in her palm. A note. She opened it when she couldn't see him anymore.
"The ladies have to sing, meet me by the stairs."
Christine started to walk out from the dining-room after about a minute. She saw Erik with his back turned against her.
As he heard her steps he turned around.
- Say, do you wanna go to a real party?