A/n: Okay, so here's chapter two. I have decided to have three to five paragraphs in each chapter as this story will go rather quickly but I do so hope you enjoy it! Raoul is acting out of character for the play/movie, but quite in character for the book, which this is based on.
Oh and I feel SO stupid! Somehow in the editing process of chapter one, the link got deleted. The name of the community is loveforerik. We have only three members thus far and welcome all Erik
Goddess of the Dead
Chapter two: Love Me True
Christine had paced in that tiny room in the cellar for more than an hour trying to piece together the lie she had just learned the truth of.
She entered the master bedroom to find Raoul waiting there, about to go into a secret passage by the mirror.
"Christine where have you been? I've looked all over for you."
She slowly took the chair nearest the window and looked down.
"I know Raoul."
He looked slightly perplexed.
"Well if you heard me calling than why didn't you answer?"
She shook her head.
"I know...Raoul."
He stared at her in sudden fear.
"So that's where you were."
Christine nodded and looked up into his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
He sat down on the bed, taking a deep breath.
"I didn't want to loose you."
She glared at him angrily.
"So you lied to me?!"
He looked away.
"I didn't know what else to do. My sisters were hounding me, I saw him lurking around...I thought that if I paid him enough he might..."
Christine cut him off.
"What do you mean PAID him?!"
Raoul's mouth dropped open and he visibly began to shake.
" You mean you weren't in the...oh God, the cellar?!"
She stood and walked over to the window, leaning on the edge as she opened the panes.
"So you not only lied to me in saying that the passageway was not used in years, but also didn't tell me that you were paying Erik to stay away from me? What kind of a husband are you? Paying your own..."
He stopped her.
"Don't say it Christine. That monster is not my brother...not half at least."
She flung back around.
"How can you call him that? He is not a monster Raoul, he has feelings, human feelings!"
Raoul looked into her eyes as he stood and slowly approached her.
"No Christine you're right. He's not a monster, he's just mad."
She looked to the widow again and this time saw Erik's reflection and took a deep breath.
He was standing unseen behind the large swinging mirror.
"Yes Raoul he truly is mad...mad with love. As you once were."
He stepped forward.
"That's different, I would do anything to keep you safe! I would..."
She looked straight into his eyes and the look sent chills through him.
"Go on Raoul, tell me what you would do."
He looked down, suddenly finding the carpet pattern a very intriguing thing and took a heavy breath.
"I would kill who ever got in my way."
She looked up toward the mirror where he had edged ever closer to being seen, and reached out her hand.
"Like you...Erik."
His eyes caught in hers as Raoul steadied himself.
"Christine I..."
She stopped him.
"I want both of you to leave me. I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that you lied to me and you..."
She cast her gaze back to the ever-silent Erik.
" I do not appreciate you eaves dropping on my personal affairs."
Erik looked down as Raoul left silently.
"You don't need to be alone Christine. You need to make up your mind."
She glared at him.
"And I should leave Raoul and return to Paris with you? Surely you don't think me stupid Erik. You've been trying to win me back from Raoul for the past week."
He walked to the window and took a step onto the ledge.
"Very well Christine. I have all the patients in the world and if I must die before I have you than I shall. My heart is devoted to you alone."
And with that he was gone.
Once again her heart was thrown into turmoil.
She truly loved both of them.
While Raoul was far more attractive and younger, Erik was a very lusty older man who knew how to bring her to her knees with a single note of his dark voice.
He was far more alluring than Raoul could ever be.
Early the next morning Christine began to wander around the grounds.
Raoul was still asleep on the couch in the living room and she hadn't the faintest clue where Erik might be but she was happy for the solitude and peaceful quiet in the mist.
She hadn't slept at all that night.
When she dozed off she would have horrible nightmares.
She sighed as she walked to the end of the dock and sat down.
"This is just too much."
She didn't turn as she heard the voice behind her.
"I did what I thought was best. I'm sorry that I lied to you and should you so choose to take me back I swear to you that I will never do it again."
She closed her eyes and spoke quietly.
"I'm not sure if it's because you lied or that you had the audacity, knowing who he was, to pay him money to stay away from me. You couldn't honestly think he would comply."
He walked slowly up and sat beside her.
"I hoped. I hoped for a normal life, for children, to spend Saturdays shopping and Sunday's in church. A life without us constantly looking over our shoulders, afraid of the opera ghost...afraid of my family secret."
He then smiled sweetly and kissed her hand.
"Today is Saturday. We can go into the market, I'll buy you anything you want."
Christine liked the idea of shopping for the afternoon but her answer was bitter.
"You're sisters have probably ruined my name and I wouldn't want to be accused of using you."
Raoul looked down.
"They really aren't very nice to you are they?"
She shook her head, never opening her eyes.
"No they don't. I can't feel comfortable wearing nice dresses and having perfumes without them making some kind of comment about how well you treat me."
Raoul looked away.
"As I should. I am your husband. To not shower you with fineries and silks would be unacceptable."
She looked over at him, a sudden thoughtfulness in her eyes.
"Raoul...do you really think of me as your wife?"
He looked over at her.
"Of course I do, what would make you ask me that?"
She paused for a moment before glancing up at the sky.
"Well, when you came to the opera, I was convinced that you were in love with me but I've begun to think about it. It seems that you loved me before, but you've become so much more protective of me since you learned of my fathers death."
His eyes widened in shock.
"Are you suggesting that I'm confusing paternal love for the way a husband loves his wife? Christine you can't really think that!"
She looked away.
"Why not? There is only one thing you and I do that you and your sisters don't. Outside of our bedroom you treat me like a child. And inside...well I don't think I should have to ask."
Raoul blushed furiously for a moment.
"It just doesn't seem right for some reason."
Her tone was sharp suddenly.
"That's exactly what I'm saying. You seem to be confused. It's okay to be careful but exceedingly so is unnecessary. I'm not a fragile woman Raoul...and I want children too."
He sighed.
"I guess you're right. I've been over protective of you. But Christine that doesn't mean I think of you like that. Have I made you so unhappy that you no longer wish to live with me?"
She shook her head.
"No Raoul, I love you...the question is, do you love me?"
He took a deep breath and stared into the water.
"All I can answer is yes, I can only hope that you will believe me."
They sat there at the end of the dock for over two hours in absolute silence.
When finally Raoul broke the silence, Christine couldn't stop the giggle from escaping her soft lips.
"I need to go shop. I'm so depressed. Christine please come into town with me!"
She rolled her eyes, giving in and nodded as he kissed her cheek.
After returning home Raoul went up to bed, being exhausted from carrying the sixteen bags and twelve dresses around all day.
He chuckled to himself as he dozed off.
'Seems you got more out of it than me.'
Christine had promised she would be up no later than midnight, wanting to curl up in front of the fire with her new book.
This proved to be impossible as she had something on her mind.
Throwing Raoul's cloak about her shoulders she headed out the front door.
She glanced around the darkened yard and whispered softly into the night, half hoping not to be heard.
"Erik."
After a moment she nearly screamed as he descended upon her from the roof.
"Can we talk?"
He looked concerned and softly brushed his leather-gloved fingers against her cheek.
"Of course. Come with me."
He took her hand and pulled her behind him, leading her around the house.
She smiled, amused as she saw candles lit in the upper window of the kitchen.
"So you've been hiding here while the cook is away? If Raoul knew he's be very angry."
He stopped and kissed her hand with a smile.
"But you won't let him know will you?"
She shook her head.
"Not as long as you're civil."
The room above the kitchen was the De Chagny family's cook, however he was away with his sick mother and had no idea when he would be back and this is where Erik took up residence temporarily.
Erik being Erik had added his own touches to it, namely the mask stand and roses.
She briefly wondered when Raoul would find out on his own.
She had completely forgotten about what she wanted to talk to him about as she looked into his deep eyes.
He gave a heavy sigh and led her over to the couch near the window.
She sat with him and he pulled her closer to him.
Absentmindedly she laid her head on his chest.
Never in the year and a half that she had truly known him for the man that he was, had she ever felt this safe with him.
All the insanity of the previous year was replaced by a gentle touch and a meaningful stare.
It was clear to her that the genius had returned.
Aside from being deformed he was a normal man now.
A man terribly in love.
She closed her eyes as he stroked her hair.
"When did I lose my sway over you Christine?"
Her reply was bitter.
"You haven't."
He thought quietly for a moment.
"You say that like it hurts."
She sighed.
"It does."
He stared at her, continuing to play gently with her hair.
"Why?"
She sat up and looked into his eyes.
"Because part of me is still under your control. I feel nothing but happy now, but in the morning I will feel like I've betrayed Raoul."
He slowly brushed his fingers across her cheek.
"You only let me control you Christine. You still love me, there's no need to lie about it. No need to feel guilt, you're not cheating on your beloved knight."
She laid back against him and placed her hands over his as he traced the laces up her blouse then up to her collar bones.
His left hand trailed back down, resting loosely over her stomach, the right softly caressing her neck.
As she laid there in his arms, she couldn't seem to keep her eyes open.
She jumped slightly as he blew out the candles with a wave of his hand.
"You will wake in the living room. Sleep now...and trust me while I sing to you."
This is a bit longer than the last one. I'm three hours late. Lol yeah, it's three in the morning right now. I should have the next chapter up between tomorrow and Thursday. In the mean time, please review!