Chapter 4
A Large Mistake
It was morning. During the night, I had delivered letters to the managers and the Vicomte. I was sitting at my organ when Christine awoke. She was walking around my lair, examining my belongings more closely than she had the previous night. I watched her for a few seconds before going back to my work. For the past few years, I had been composing an opera. The name of the opera is "Don Juan Triumphant." At the rate I was going with it, I would be done it in a year. However, if I worked on it for several months without rest, I might be able to finish it.
I heard Christine walking up to me. I glanced at her for a moment before returning to "Don Juan." I felt her hand touch my face, and I closed my eyes, savoring her touch. Her hand moved onto my mask, and she caressed it gently. I trusted her too much. I thought that any curiosity she had with my face had faded. Apparently, I was wrong.
Without warning, Christine pulled off my mask. As soon as she saw what was behind the mask, she screamed in fright. Startled, I covered the abnormal half of my face with my hand and looked over at Christine, who was on the floor, crying. My shock quickly changed to anger, and I shouted, "Dm you!" I stood up and continued yelling at her. "You little prying Pandora! You little demon! Is this what you wanted to see?" I moved away from her, still fuming. "Curse you! You little lying Delilah! You little viper! Now you cannot ever be free! Dm you! Curse you!" My anger had burnt itself out. I paused to catch my breath.
"I'm sorry," Christine said apologetically, her voice shaking.
"Stranger than you dreamt it," I said, feeling empty on the inside. How could she ever love me now, after what she has seen? "Can you even dare to look or bear to think of me: this loathsome gargoyle who burns in hl but secretly yearns for heaven. Secretly…secretly…But Christine, fear can turn to love. You'll learn to see, to find the man behind the monster: this repulsive carcass who seems a beast but secretly dreams of beauty. Secretly…secretly…" I gazed at myself in a mirror, hating myself thoroughly for having scared her so badly. I walked back over to her and fell to my knees, feeling drained of my energy. "Oh, Christine," I whispered.
Neither of us moved for what felt like hours. Finally, Christine held out my mask, and I took it. I stood up and placed it back on my face. Once I was sure that it was on securely, I turned back to Christine. "Come, we must return," I said. "Those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you."
I took her hand and led her back to the boat. I took her back along the passageway to her dressing room. Once we were there, I unlocked the door and began making my way back to the tunnel behind the mirror. "Wait," Christine said. I turned to her. "Do you have a name?" I considered whether or not to tell her for a moment before I responded.
"Yes. I'm Erik." With that, I went into the tunnel and sealed the entrance. I gazed into her room for a few moments. Christine was looking at the mirror as though she knew that I was behind it watching her. I returned to my lair and grabbed the letters that I had written for André, Firmin, and Carlotta. I delivered the letter for Carlotta before searching the opera for Madam Giry.
"Do you have another letter for me to give the managers?" she asked me when she saw me. I nodded and handed it to her. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes," I answered. "Miss Daaé is in her dressing room. I would suggest that she go home without anyone questioning her. She has had a trying day so far."
"I will ensure that she gets home immediately," Madam Giry said. I felt a surge of gratitude toward her.
"Thank you." I returned to the passageways in the walls of the opera and made my way to the main lobby. I wanted to know how everyone reacted to my letters. I was in for a very entertaining time.