Disclaimer: If you have nothing better to do than sue me, go for it!
*****Author's Note: Thanks everybody for your kind reviews! They were truly encouraging. A special thanks to Midasgirl; I will try my best to watch the authenticity of my language from now on! I must apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter. I had originally intended to make it longer, but as I've been pressed for time lately, I thought it best to just post it as is. Anyhow, please read and review! Be constructive but kind please ( ********
Chapter Two: Erik's POV-
Two years have passed since I last saw Christine. Two years, such a short time really, but yet every day, every second that I have spent without her is permanently etched upon my soul. I have tried in vain to forget her, to perhaps find some peace, but my attempts have been futile. As long as I shall continue to linger upon this earth, her ghost will haunt my every step. Her ghost, and the guilt that I readily accept. Yes, I accept all blame for the tragedy that I had ensued. Christine had come to me an innocent, unassuming child, and through the intensity of the passion I felt for her, I had corrupted her. I had made her to sing more beautifully than an angel of heaven, loved her more than I had ever loved another human being, but ultimately I had succeeded in nothing but making her madder than myself.
After Christine had left with the Vicomte, I had departed before the mob could enter my domain. I took with me only my most valued possessions; my beloved cat, Ayesha, Don Juan Triumphant, money, and the ring I had given Christine. I had then fled to the only place that I would be welcomed in this damned city.
Nadir gestured me inside after having opened the door.
"Erik," He said in surprise as he closed the door. "You know you are always welcome here, but what could possibly bring you at this hour?"
"I'm sorry to trouble you at this time of night, but I must once more ask a favor of you. I need your help, Daroga."
Feeling Ayesha squirm in my grasp, I gently placed her on the floor. She ran swiftly behind a chair, glaring at Nadir contemptuously. It was then that Nadir took notice of the obscure items I still held in my hands.
"Erik, you are fleeing something! What is it you have done?" He inquired hastily. "It has to do with that soprano, doesn't it? That Christine Daae! I'd heard she had gone missing! What have you done with her?"
"I have done nothing!" I replied more sharply than intended. Pushing past him, I sank down wearily on a chair. "Nothing.and.everything."
"Erik."
"I made her leave, Nadir. That boy promised me he would take care of her, and I made her leave. It was the right thing to do. I love her too much to force her to live out her days in the darkness with a monster." Sinking my head to my hands, I continued. "She kissed me," I wept. "The angel kissed me." I paused, attempting to compose myself.
"Erik, whatever mess it is you have entangled yourself in, I will help you as much as I possibly can." He said sympathetically.
"I thank you, my friend." I replied softly.
"You are more than welcome to stay here tonight," He continued. "In the morning we will further discuss this matter. Until then, you may use the guest bedroom down the hall."
I nodded gratefully.
"And Erik," He said consolingly, "Do try and get some sleep. You'll need it for whatever trouble you are in."
With that said, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my troublesome thoughts. I had actually had every intention of heeding to his advice and getting some rest, but somehow I stayed glued to that chair for most of the night, as my mind cruelly replayed every event of that day. I recalled the kiss most vividly; the way her perfect lips had felt pressed to my own misshapen ones, the way our tears had mingled together. And the way she had looked at me, it had almost been as if.No, it couldn't be! The kiss had been a plea for her lover's life, for me to stop my madness, nothing more. The tears she had shed had been solely for him. It was simply preposterous for me to think anything otherwise. But yet how I longed for it to be so! Unworthy though I was of her love, if she had even for a moment felt the tiniest hint of affection for me, I could very well have died blissfully, for in that moment I would have known true happiness. But just as the white rose and the nightingale, we were never meant to be.
I arose quite early the next morning to prepare for my journey, but waited until twilight to begin, needing the veil of darkness to travel.
"Erik, you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need." Nadir offered.
"Yes, and I thank you for your hospitality, but I must leave Paris for a time. If you wouldn't mind looking after Ayesha for me." I let the question linger for a moment, knowing very well his feelings for cats.
" I suppose I could do that," He replied wryly.
" I'm not certain how long I will be gone, Nadir. But I cannot stay in this city, where I am constantly reminded of her, her face beckoning to me everywhere I turn."
"Where will you go?" He inquired.
"I intend to do a bit of traveling, perhaps visit a few old haunts, and seek out architectural sites that interest me."
Nadir had insisted on my taking his mare, and I did so reluctantly, feeling that once again I was taking advantage of his kind generosity.
"Erik," He said as I was beginning to leave, "This time do not let twenty years pass before we see each other again. I have few friends in this strange city, and I must confess I am often lonely. Not to mention, I'm certain I'll soon grow weary looking after that devilish feline for you."
I chuckled. "Not to worry, Daroga, I am sure I no longer have twenty years left! But in all earnestness, I will be gone at the most for two or three years, and I will write often."
" I wish you the best of luck in your travels, Erik. Do take care of yourself."
" The same applies to you, my friend."
We had then bid one another farewell, and I had rode off into the blackness, hoping desperately that the love I still held for Christine would not follow me outside of Paris.
*********What do you think so far? Whether you like it, love it, or hate it, please review!**************************
*****Author's Note: Thanks everybody for your kind reviews! They were truly encouraging. A special thanks to Midasgirl; I will try my best to watch the authenticity of my language from now on! I must apologize in advance for the shortness of this chapter. I had originally intended to make it longer, but as I've been pressed for time lately, I thought it best to just post it as is. Anyhow, please read and review! Be constructive but kind please ( ********
Chapter Two: Erik's POV-
Two years have passed since I last saw Christine. Two years, such a short time really, but yet every day, every second that I have spent without her is permanently etched upon my soul. I have tried in vain to forget her, to perhaps find some peace, but my attempts have been futile. As long as I shall continue to linger upon this earth, her ghost will haunt my every step. Her ghost, and the guilt that I readily accept. Yes, I accept all blame for the tragedy that I had ensued. Christine had come to me an innocent, unassuming child, and through the intensity of the passion I felt for her, I had corrupted her. I had made her to sing more beautifully than an angel of heaven, loved her more than I had ever loved another human being, but ultimately I had succeeded in nothing but making her madder than myself.
After Christine had left with the Vicomte, I had departed before the mob could enter my domain. I took with me only my most valued possessions; my beloved cat, Ayesha, Don Juan Triumphant, money, and the ring I had given Christine. I had then fled to the only place that I would be welcomed in this damned city.
Nadir gestured me inside after having opened the door.
"Erik," He said in surprise as he closed the door. "You know you are always welcome here, but what could possibly bring you at this hour?"
"I'm sorry to trouble you at this time of night, but I must once more ask a favor of you. I need your help, Daroga."
Feeling Ayesha squirm in my grasp, I gently placed her on the floor. She ran swiftly behind a chair, glaring at Nadir contemptuously. It was then that Nadir took notice of the obscure items I still held in my hands.
"Erik, you are fleeing something! What is it you have done?" He inquired hastily. "It has to do with that soprano, doesn't it? That Christine Daae! I'd heard she had gone missing! What have you done with her?"
"I have done nothing!" I replied more sharply than intended. Pushing past him, I sank down wearily on a chair. "Nothing.and.everything."
"Erik."
"I made her leave, Nadir. That boy promised me he would take care of her, and I made her leave. It was the right thing to do. I love her too much to force her to live out her days in the darkness with a monster." Sinking my head to my hands, I continued. "She kissed me," I wept. "The angel kissed me." I paused, attempting to compose myself.
"Erik, whatever mess it is you have entangled yourself in, I will help you as much as I possibly can." He said sympathetically.
"I thank you, my friend." I replied softly.
"You are more than welcome to stay here tonight," He continued. "In the morning we will further discuss this matter. Until then, you may use the guest bedroom down the hall."
I nodded gratefully.
"And Erik," He said consolingly, "Do try and get some sleep. You'll need it for whatever trouble you are in."
With that said, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my troublesome thoughts. I had actually had every intention of heeding to his advice and getting some rest, but somehow I stayed glued to that chair for most of the night, as my mind cruelly replayed every event of that day. I recalled the kiss most vividly; the way her perfect lips had felt pressed to my own misshapen ones, the way our tears had mingled together. And the way she had looked at me, it had almost been as if.No, it couldn't be! The kiss had been a plea for her lover's life, for me to stop my madness, nothing more. The tears she had shed had been solely for him. It was simply preposterous for me to think anything otherwise. But yet how I longed for it to be so! Unworthy though I was of her love, if she had even for a moment felt the tiniest hint of affection for me, I could very well have died blissfully, for in that moment I would have known true happiness. But just as the white rose and the nightingale, we were never meant to be.
I arose quite early the next morning to prepare for my journey, but waited until twilight to begin, needing the veil of darkness to travel.
"Erik, you are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need." Nadir offered.
"Yes, and I thank you for your hospitality, but I must leave Paris for a time. If you wouldn't mind looking after Ayesha for me." I let the question linger for a moment, knowing very well his feelings for cats.
" I suppose I could do that," He replied wryly.
" I'm not certain how long I will be gone, Nadir. But I cannot stay in this city, where I am constantly reminded of her, her face beckoning to me everywhere I turn."
"Where will you go?" He inquired.
"I intend to do a bit of traveling, perhaps visit a few old haunts, and seek out architectural sites that interest me."
Nadir had insisted on my taking his mare, and I did so reluctantly, feeling that once again I was taking advantage of his kind generosity.
"Erik," He said as I was beginning to leave, "This time do not let twenty years pass before we see each other again. I have few friends in this strange city, and I must confess I am often lonely. Not to mention, I'm certain I'll soon grow weary looking after that devilish feline for you."
I chuckled. "Not to worry, Daroga, I am sure I no longer have twenty years left! But in all earnestness, I will be gone at the most for two or three years, and I will write often."
" I wish you the best of luck in your travels, Erik. Do take care of yourself."
" The same applies to you, my friend."
We had then bid one another farewell, and I had rode off into the blackness, hoping desperately that the love I still held for Christine would not follow me outside of Paris.
*********What do you think so far? Whether you like it, love it, or hate it, please review!**************************