The trip back to the opera house went by in a daze. Thought the carriage rattled on relentlessly neither of its occupants spoke, each too distantly wrapped in their own thoughts. Christine had left the house without a word, her focus solely on the task approaching, filling her with terrible anxiety. An image of Erik flashed constantly in her mind as she struggled to hold back tears, she refused to cry in front of this man who'd been his friend, not when she was the reason all this was happening.

The carriage jerked to a stop in front of the grand building bringing her thoughts sharply back to the present. While opening the door a gust of wind hit her as she stepped out of the carriage. Wrapping her cloak tightly around her she took in the sight of the building that had once been a second home. The Persian man paid the driver and started to lead her around the side of the building with a strange haste.

Too many memories she had thought she'd forgotten became crystal clear as they retraced the steps she new all too well. Simple things really, a sideways glance over the shoulder, a gentle steadying hand when she stumbled, his cloak being gently wrapped around her shoulders in the cold...

Smiling, a particularly fond memory came back to her. She had stepped outside with Erik for the first time in a new dress he'd recently bought for her. The elegant beading caught the moonlight effortlessly as it danced and reflected the silver streams in the most enchanting display. His luminous eyes gazed at her with an intensity she didn't then understand, causing her to blush shyly lowering her head.

"You see Christine," Erik had said lightly to her as his hands had softly taken hers, helping her out the doorway. "Your beauty has allured even the moon to your side."

Reluctantly she was forced away from her thoughts as they came to the entrance down Rue Scribe. Christine watched for a few moments as the Persian made his way through the darkness without even a glance back to her. The man hates me. The thought passed through her mind quickly, his opinions of her were of little concern now she realized oddly.

Looking down at the ring which adorned her hand she realized she didn't want to enter, at least while she was out here she could pretend he was still alive, that he was still waiting for her. Oh cruel Christine, this is your last duty to him. I can not simply turn my back on it; I've acted like a foolish child for too long now. I owe it to him.

With wavering resolve she began down the passageway, her steps echoing the rapid beating of her heart as the damp cool air ran chills throughout her body. She found her way to the house on the lake with ease, barely ever looking up until she reached her destination. Too many memories. How could I have forgotten them.

The warm glow of the fire and the figure of the Persian man standing by the door relaxed her thoughts. The house seemed alive, not a place of death, cold and empty. Slowly Christine stepped inside, taking in every sight, every detail, every change.

"Where is he?" her voice was low and soft as she refused to meet the man's eyes. Part of her still expected Erik to be alive, longed, hoped, begged even that this was just some sort of elaborate scheme to get her back here, that he was just waiting for her now. But all that faded as the man gestured towards a door, his door while turning away.

"I'll give you some time alone, I'll be out preparing the site." Only then did Christine notice the man was struggling with his own emotions. Strategically he was keeping his back turned to the girl; he couldn't look upon her own sorrow and not become lost in his own.

In the most pained of steps Christine brought herself in front of the door to /his/ room. Her eyes were squeezed shut, as they refused to open, while slowly she pushed the door inward. A short prayer escaped her lips before she forced her lids open. She always hated this room, its macabre décor, it reminded her too much of death, it frightened her. How fitting it all seemed now, she realized now that Erik had spent the last years of his life simply waiting for death, that to him this was the only mercy life would offer.

The coffin bed stood imposingly before her, not yet could she see as to its contents. An ominous glow was cast across the room from a single lit candelabra placed on the opposite side of the coffin. She stared deeply yet unfocused at the black coffins lustrous surface, her feet refusing to step further. You can do this now, just look inside. With her heart pounding wildly against her chest she stepped forward, her eyes had long turned to glassy blue lakes before rested upon his body.

He was there, lying more peacefully then she ever saw him in life, dressed in his regular best attire along with his mask. It was too much for her, all too much as her legs gave out beneath her. An inhuman cry of pain escaped from her throat as tears cascaded down her pale cheeks. The utter horror and reality of the situations finally came into view in an instant. No! This can not be! It's simply not real! Christine's mind was screaming at her all the things that her senses denied.

With force she clumsily made her way to the edge of his bed and peered down slowly. Her entire body trembled fiercely as she failed to silence her cries. Lost in despair she withered by his side with uncontrollable grief. "Erik," she choked out at last. The girl could only stare at him for a moment before the calm left her again. "I'm sorry! Oh god I'm so sorry!" crying she fell back to her knees, burying her head in her hands. "This is all my fault! Why did I have to be so selfish, so blind! How could you ever forgive me" Guilt, unhindered, and unrestrained filled every inch of her body bringing her relentless cries to new hysteria.

So tired she now felt as her cries turned to sobs due to nothing other then exhaustion. Is selfish self pity all I have left? That I can't even look at him, only cry that he is no longer here waiting for me? Sniffing back a few more tears she cautiously looked down on him again, but this time her heart filled with warmth and compassion. Her eyes softened as her face became placid. Tears that continued to trace her face fell gently over him, staining the fabric of his clothes possessively. In silence she committed to memory every miniscule detail, the creases of his pants, his elegant folded hands, the flat lapels of his jacket, the cool white porcelain of his mask. His mask! She now saw it staring in all honesty back, accusing and taunting her for her foolishness. "No! That wasn't it, that wasn't why!" She yelled back at its blank expressionless face.

Allowing frustration and passion to get the best of her Christine tore the mask away, smashing it to the floor with triumph. The shards spread like that of a broken mirror across the ground, staying in a recognizable pattern of white. It was now love that pained her heart as she once again looked over him. Her tears were no longer of guilt or regret but of joy as she gazed at his face for the first time with nothing but love in her heart. Unconsciously she let her hand graze his cheek, "I love you Erik," her voice was barely above a whisper. She found herself pressing a gentle kiss to his lips, no longer did she question her actions. His still face remained motionless when she rose. "And I always will."

A gleam of light from her hand caught Christine's attention, she brought her hand up between them and peered into the rings reflections. She was in mid motion to take it off when she hesitated and stared at her hands oddly. Lost in thought she frowned at the scene in front of her. "This isn't right." You meant for me to give this back as a symbol of your release. "But I don't want that."

Her eyes rested on her right hand where a simple gold band Christine's father had given her adorned her middle finger. It was a woman's ring but it would suffice. "Erik please accept this... I never should have left, but if I could, I would be yours now." Confidently she slipped her ring onto his fifth finger with ease, glad that it wasn't too small. Again she kissed his cold lips tenderly, wishing with some vague hope that it could return some warmth to his body.

Christine folded Erik's hand between her two smaller ones as she sat at his side, his face hugged her body in a blanket of warmth as her eyes remained fixed upon him. Shyly a quiet melody emerged from her lips as she sat there enjoying the strange feeling of comfort around her.

R&R please ; )