((and it continues...))

"Your wife?"

"Yes... She chose me of her own free will."

"Free will... Pooh. She was practically forced to with your endless threatening..."

The Persian and Erik talked of her as if she were invisible, but then, she had tried to be invisible. Her own shock made her quiet and submissive, busying herself with whatever she could find to do. Of course, there was no question of her decision when it came to life or death. But wouldn't living with the monster for the rest of her years be death anyhow? Her body may live on, routinely doing the things needed to survive. But would her soul survive... Of course, it was a little price to pay when weighing one soul against hundreds of lives.

But it was her soul...

That was much more significant to her than just anyone's soul. It was her soul, and she was willingly putting her own life on the line.

Yet, she could not say that life with Erik would be completely sorrowful. At least, if he was not a comforting companion, his music was. She could close her eyes and forget the face of the one who played her such surreal music, and she could imagine the Angel again. The faceless Angel with that melodious, alluring voice. The voice that had complete control over her body, her will, her mind. She now understood first hand why Erik's music and darkness were so important to him. They were his only escape from the truths of the world.

Now she understood the meaning of those words that so often rang in her mind: Close your eyes for your eyes will only tell the truth, and the truth isn't what you want to see! In the dark it is easy to pretend that the truth is what it ought to be...


Music and darkness veiled the truth...

They made it possible for him to hide from his curse.

Would she, too, succumb to blinding herself?

"Christine, we are alone now..."

Christine's eyes closed, savoring the deep tones in his voice, tasting of the sweetness in them. No one but he had the ability to make simple words wondrous masterpieces of the mouth. No one but he had the power.

Eyes again open, she was dazed for a moment and then batted her eyelashes over her glittering eyes. She did not breathe for a moment, and then sighed to let go of her thoughts.

"Yes... We are quite alone."

Silence passed... What had he intended in his words? All of the possibilities floated through her mind, and she found herself suddenly very bashful and feeling... vulnerable.

"Do you know what this means?" he whispered, unintentionally sending his breath cascading across her ear.

She shuddered.

"I have an idea."

It took all her strength to speak.

'Oh help me, Lord..." she whispered in her mind, pleading with Him to give her strength and reassurance.

A cold sensation came to her arm, and she soon realized that it was his hand, his fingers wrapping themselves around her warm flesh. Thrice she felt quivers run through her spine, both from cold and from anxiety.

"Erik... say something. You're making me nervous."

A smirking chuckle filled the room. A chuckle with intentions to intimidate and to caress.

"Still, I make you nervous? Even after all we've been through... I thought you'd be used to it by now. My silence, that is."

She stood and turned to face him with every ounce of courage that was still alive within her, "All silence worries me, Erik, now that I've met you. Especially yours, because you are so..." she sighed and fingered the collar of his tux, "So unpredictable."

He placed his hand over hers, becoming distracted. The two stood for a moment, averting their eyes from one another's faces. They were entirely still, like they didn't know what to do next. Now that everything was over... Now that there were no more choices to make and there was nothing in their way.

They veiled their underlying attraction for each other so well in each other's presence: she was attracted to the mysterious power he held over her, he attracted to her beauty and purity. And yet they still could not hide it entirely.

"Christine..."

She partly could not understand what he'd muttered, for it sounded more like a saddened moan than a name.

Her eyes turned to his, which were still focused on her little fingers. Her precious little hand that could fit in his palm easily.

"You are so..." he seemed hesitant to breathe, should this moment end, "Soft..."

His breath was coming in rasps, but remained slow in its rhythm.

Christine was startled at this blatant and new response of his. Was this how he spoke when she was asleep, and he watched her? When she could not hear him? She dared to hope he would say more.

"Thank you, Erik..."

"Do you realize.." he was suddenly caught up in this new way of expressing himself to her, "This is the first time I've touched you, and you were not asleep? Or even better than that... You are not afraid."

She hadn't really recognized this as being a monumental moment, but now she, too, realized the significance of it.

"I do realize.." she whispered with more enthusiasm than she'd intended.

She had the idea to bestow upon him more of her touch, but an instinct in her mind blocked thought from action, and she instead pulled away and turned with her back to him. Her fingertips slid from his hand, and he expected nothing more from her.

He was again aloof, and he spoke, "I suppose you're wondering what is to happen next. God forbid I expect us to consummate our marriage."

Christine took in a sharp breath.

"I... was not thinking that." her cheeks grew hot as she replied.

"You're a terrible liar."

She did not speak.

She heard rustling behind her, footsteps and a myriad of metal objects, like keys, clanking together. Then, she heard a creaking, wooden door open and hit the stone wall a couple of times.

The honeymoon suite...

"Come, Christine. It is time."

How could he be so calm? So resigned while she stood, nervously gripping her dress and gnawing at her lip. Was this not an eventful evening? Wasn't he looking forward to this? Wasn't it his dream to force her to be what he wanted her to be? To promise what he wanted her to promise? So cold... He was so cold to her. She regretted ever having faith in him.

Tears stung her eyes and she pressed her eyelids together in order to stop them, but she couldn't prevent any more than a few from falling. A slow breath came from her lips and she made a quick, whispering prayer with her hands folded together tightly.
Turning, she did not look up from her feet, afraid of seeing anything more than darkness. Fear gripped her heart, sending nervous chills throughout her entire body.

"Erik... perhaps... another night. I know it is plucky of me to ask... But I..."

"But you what?"

"I..."

A soft fingertip lifted her chin to face a masked villain, whose mouth was set in a strict line, "Speak to me."

In one soft whisper she replied, "I'm scared."

"So am I..." he replied in a hushed voice which she had not expected, "But it must be done.".

It must be done??

The tears began to flow even more rapidly now. She gave out a sob and placed her hands over her face in shame, for she was angry that she could not control her emotions better, and she wept bitterly.

Another tear, foreign to her own, cascaded across her cheek and landed in the nook of her collarbone. A mournful sound, matching hers but in warmer and more despairing tones came to her ears. He was crying too...

"Why are you crying?" she lashed out in half anger and half surprise, "This is what you wanted!! And you don't even seem to care! I am your play thing! This is what you wanted!"

Despite her effort to turn around his hand gripped her arm and pulled her toward him. His mouth leant to her ear. She struggled against his iron strength but had little success. She was pressed to him firmly without much choice.

'Monster...' she thought.

"No, it is not. It is what you wanted."

She was oblivious to the real meaning of his words, blinded by her loathing for him.

In one swift movement, she was facing the door that he had opened and she hadn't dared to look at. Her abundance of fears left her to be replaced with suspicion, slight disbelief and her absolute shock.

His hand still remained on her arm, but looser now, willing to let her go.

"I cannot force you to live a life that stifles all your dreams, your happiness..." his voice was full of sorrows that no common man could relate to, "The only one here who deserves to die of loss is I."

"I don't... understand."

Erik's grasp tightened and he whispered through his tears, "Go..."

"Erik..." she was surprised to hear in her own voice a sort of regret.

"Go, please, before my heart burns a hole through my chest..."

The hand released her, and applied force enough to her back to make her step over the threshold. His other hand remained at his breast, clutching tightly to his clothing. She suddenly feared that he was experiencing real physical pain.

"Erik." she was worried now, "Erik, wait. What will happen? What will happen now that.."

He began to close the door, losing his will to look at her face any longer.

"Erik! Erik, wait!" she pressed against the door with her hands, then with herself.

They were feeble attempts, for he had strength enough to quadruple her own.

"No!! Erik!!" she cried as he closed the door.

The reality of the situation was now obvious to her. Erik was letting her go, to live with whoever she chose, while he would die, alone, with no one to care for him. With no one to ease his pain.

"Erik!!" she struck the door once, twice, three times with her fists until she had no more hope left, "Erik..."

Oh, the wailing she heard inside! Like the screams of a tortured man, about to be put to death. No more hope, no more dreaming, no more reason left to live! He shattered mirrors, took a knife to his crimson throne, turned over tables and chairs, and mutilated the organ as much as his human strength would allow. He sought ways to let out his anger, finding rooms not yet touched by his destructive hand. He threw the house into disarray and devastated all that meant anything to him like others had devastated him. As careless as she had been with his heart, he carelessly undid all that took his entire life to establish.
The entrance to the torture chamber was, at last, calming. Here, in the presence of death itself he felt at peace. Erik found comfort in the thought that each of these mirrors only reflected that of a dead man. There was an end to all tragedies. He'd simply looked in the wrong places for the answer.

Christine sagged against the door, her nails scratching at the wood as she sobbed loudly in her grief. Her mind was so unsettled, so wrought with confusion that she could barely believe this was reality. It was all so surreal!
Something startled her from inside... silence. She slowly stood, stumbling once but regaining her balance against the stone wall. With her ear pressed to the thick stone she could hardly make out any sound at all.

She wiped her eyes with the back of her wrist, and then pushed her messy curls back into their place. There was nothing to be done but leave. He wouldn't allow her back in, and she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to come back...
Finding the strength in her weary legs she began the journey back to freedom.

"...gone..."

Christine glanced up, blinking furiously to gather her thoughts. Nadir lifted an eyebrow.

"Did you catch that?"

"Please, pardon me... What did you say again?"

The Persian sighed and looked up again, "Erik. He is gone."

'Gone where....'

"Dead?"

Her heart hastened.

"Perhaps... But, simply... gone."

"Gone..."

To where could he have gone? In the state she had left him, there were endless possibilities.

((Ok, I know this is mostly fluff. I tried my best. I write only for fun, not to be perfect. I know, I know. My grammar could definitely use tweaking, I am a rambler, and my lack of vocabulary is certain. But forgive me! Please R&R, and try to be kind! I'm a little wary because my last couple stories that I posted got really terrible reviews. Not that they were great, but I'm not asking for lots of put-downs. Constructive criticism is fine with me! If you have any ideas feel free to help out! I am not quite sure where this is going yet, but I think I know. Thanx for reading! Oh, and by the way... What's a Mary Sue?))