Chapter 7: Here to be With Him
2 months later
A carriage pulled up to the dark estate and the coachman opened the carriage door.
" Mademoiselle," he said
Gaston walked over and took the luggage that followed the young woman.
" Mademoiselle Giry, it is a pleasure to see you again," Gaston said
" Call me Meg," she said
" I'm afraid I would be scold if I called you by your name Mademoiselle," Gaston replied, " Come, let me show you to your room."
They entered and Meg removed her bonnet and cloak. The other servants took both items for her as Gaston guided her to her room.
" Tell me, in your letter Gaston, you said that it was important that I came as soon as I could. What did you mean?" she asked
" I'm afraid Mademoiselle that Comte Montague as fallen ill," Gaston said
" Ill?" Meg questioned, " but he was fine three months ago."
" I'm afraid not that type of ill, but ill in the mind," Gaston said, " Your presence here at the estate will pull him from his fallen state."
Meg nodded and Gaston opened the door to the room. He laid her luggage on the bed and stood there.
" May I see him?" she asked
" Yes," he replied
Gaston walked down the hall and knocked, but Erik's voice did not call out. Gaston opened the door and let Meg in. Pandora and Delilah looked up from the foot of Erik's bed and began to wage their tails. She smiled and rubbed their ears then walked over to Erik's side. He was sleeping rather peacefully, but there were tear marks on his face. She took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears from his face.
" Erik," she whispered
Meg sat down and touched his face watching sleep, but then he stirred. His hand reached up and touched her hand and he opened his eyes.
" Meg," he whispered
" Hello Erik," she whispered
Erik grabbed her hand and kissed it, she leaned forward and kissed him.
" I heard you weren't well," she whispered, " so I came to take care of you."
" You were suppose to in Belgium," he whispered
" I pushed my trip back to be with you, Erik," Meg replied
Erik sat up and Meg looked at his wrapped wrist, she looked up at him.
" What happen Erik?" she whispered
" I cut it on something," Erik replied
Meg lifted his hand and then kissed his wrist, she returned her gaze back to him and wrapped her arms around him.
" I'm here," she whispered
Erik returned the embrace and Gaston left the room to leave them. He called the dogs to get them fed. She looked up at him and kissed him with hope in her kiss.
A little while after they walked downstairs together, the dogs came running and barking. Erik silenced them and then knelt down next to them, they sniffed Erik for the usual hidden treats in his coat pockets. Meg smiled as Erik pulled out the treats and tossed them down the hall. The dogs ran towards the treats while Meg and Erik entered the dinning room. A warm meal was provided for them already and they sat down. Erik looked at his bandaged wrist and then felt a hand rest on his. Erik looked up and Meg smiled at him, he admired her beautiful smile which showed hope.
They ate and then walked through the gardens, Erik confessed of many things that bothered him. Meg looked at him as he spoke and then stopped him, she silenced him with a kiss. Breaking the kiss Meg placed a finger on his lips, she grabbed his hand.
" Erik, you and I have been in friendship for many months, but we also have had love," she said
Erik looked at her and took her hands into his own as she spoke.
" You seem unhappy, being alone," Meg whispered, " Let me remove that burden from you Erik. Let me lift it off your shoulders."
She reached up and kissed him and Erik returned the kiss, the woman he desired was right there in front of him, but why couldn't he bring himself to confess. Erik broke the kiss and turned away, Meg looked at him with a worried gaze .
" Why do you turn away from me Erik?" she asked, " Have I offended you?"
" No," he replied, " I love you Meg."
Erik turned to her and Meg looked at him, but there was something in his eyes that Meg could see. She could see past the love, Erik was still in darkness, that he yearned for the past as much as he struggled to gain footing in the future. She shook her head and grabbed his hands.
" You do love me Erik, I know that, but darkness still holds you," she said, " I can't fight against your past. That is why I'm asking you to allow me to help lift it off your shoulders."
Erik kissed her and Meg pulled away from him. He looked at her and she walked on through the garden, then knelt down near a tree. She reached for something and rose, Erik looked at her as she opened her hand revealing a fledgling. She held it up to him and Erik took the bird into his hands. He stared at it with awe and Meg smiled, seeing Erik's life had be so sheltered that he never experienced new life.
" This bird probably came from that tree," Meg said
" It's so young," Erik whispered
Meg giggled and said, " Of course it is, it's probably not ready to fly. It might have fallen or to eager to fly."
Erik looked at her and she took the bird from his hands. She reached up to the tree, but couldn't reach it. Erik walked to her and lifted her up and she placed the fledgling into the nest. Meg looked at Erik as he set her down and she smiled.
" You are unaware of the world around you because you have been in darkness, you know so much, but don't use it outside of your own home," Meg said
Meg and Erik enjoyed lunch out in the fields, Erik laid back and closed his eyes as he felt the breeze on his face. Meg looked at him and stared at the mask upon his face, she had not seen him without his mask. She looked at the white mask and reached for it, but found herself pull back. Meg laid beside Erik and laid her head on his chest, he opened his eyes feeling her head upon his chest. He looked down at her and smiled a little, feeling Meg's compassion. He closed his eyes and let Meg fall asleep in his arms as the day went on.
That evening dinner was in silence and the servants looked at them. Erik had return to his state of silence when he ate. Meg looked at him as he ate, she reached for his hand, but found he moved it away from her touch. Marie looked at Erik seeing he was acting strangely around Meg. She walked into the kitchen and looked at the other servants.
" Is he well?" the servants asked
" He looks to be," Marie replied, " but he's acting strange around Mademoiselle Giry. One minuet he's fine the next it's as if he doesn't want to be touched."
The servants watched the couple and Meg stood up. Erik looked at her as she walked towards him. She gently wrapped her arms around him and Erik looked ahead.
" Your free Erik, break away from the pain," she whispered, " I'm here to break the chains of misfortune."
Erik breathed deep and closed his eyes as Meg continued to embrace him. Colette and the other servants watched in fear, afraid he may slap Meg or even have the dogs attack her for her sudden gesture. Erik dropped his fork and knife to the table and placed his hands on Meg's embracing arms. Colette approached the table and waited for the order that he was finished. Meg kissed his head and her hand reached for the white mask.
" Don't," Colette said
Meg looked at the girl, her eyes pleading for her not to remove his mask. Meg nodded, then came to Erik's side, she grabbed his hands.
" Come, lets get some fresh air," Meg said
Erik looked at Meg and turned away, then rose from where her sat. Erik walked with Meg outside the dinning room and Colette breathed easier. Marie walked out the back and helped her.
" Marie, she was going to remove the mask," Colette said
" She's entitled to, she wants to be with Erik and would take that risk," Marie said, " Why did you stop her?"
" Because I don't want to see his face," Colette said, " I don't want to serve him for eternity."
Colette walked into the kitchen and set the plates down onto the counter. Marie walked into the kitchen and looked at Colette.
" What truths are you hiding child?" Marie asked
Colette looked at Marie and shook her head, some of the servants looked at the two servants.
" Speak child, what are you hiding under that innocent face?" Marie said
" I speak no lies Marie, I mean what I said. I don't want to see his face, I don't want to be in hell forever," Colette said
Colette ran out the kitchen and Marie sighed as she watched the child vanish.
" If you ask me the girl has falling in love with the Comte," a servant said
" She's a child, to young for that," Marie said
Meg walked with Erik outside and he looked at her, she smiled at him. He stopped and turned to her fully.
" That night," Meg whispered, " at the opera house, I led a mob down to hunt you, but you were gone when we arrived. I found your mask by a music box and I kept it with me for three years. I wanted to picture you without it, but I couldn't cause I really didn't know you."
Erik stared at her and Meg reached up and kissed him.
" Erik, I know I'm not Christine and never will be. I can't replace your love for her, but I can give you my love and all I ask is for your love in return," Meg said
" I do love you," Erik replied
" No, you love me as a friend, but I want you to see that I can be your companion, when you wake up every morning. I want you to smile at me and tell me from your heart that you are happy with me…that I please you," Meg said
Tears began to fall from Meg's eyes and she reached up and kissed him. A kiss that only lovers would share.
" I want to be beside you until the end of the our days," Meg whispered
She touched his face and traced half of it, then trailed her hand to his mask. Erik grabbed her hand and Meg looked at him.
" I want to be with you," Meg cried, " Don't you see that Erik?"
Erik pulled her into his arms and she cried into his embrace. Erik leaned his head down on hers as she cried.
" I am not the man you want Meg," he whispered, " I am just a forsaken angel that can not be saved."
" You have been blessed with many gifts and much more, just open your eyes," Meg said, " Darkness isn't what you have to see."
Erik let her go and kissed her cheek, he walked inside and Meg turned away with tears. She cried, leaned against the railing and cursed the day she found his white mask. Marie walked out and Meg remained in tears, she walked to her.
" Mademoiselle," Marie said
Meg wiped her tears and turned to the older servant and gave a soft smile.
" Marie, he's so closed up," Meg said
" He's scared," Marie said, " He needs something that he's never had before."
" What is that?" Meg asked
Marie looked at Meg and Meg gave a look.
" What all men need, a woman's touch," Marie said
Meg looked at the servant and shook her head.
" No, I can't do that," Meg replied
" Of course you can, you love him don't you?" Marie questioned
" More than anything," Meg whispered, " but Marie if he won't let me touch his mask than he won't let me do that."
Marie placed her hand on Meg's shoulder and told her that all he needed was a little hope. Meg walked inside and looked at the staircase, she walked up then went to her room. She cleaned herself up and looked at herself in the mirror, tears filled her eyes, but she did not cry.
" I love him to much," she whispered
The 10 o'clock chimes from the clock in the foyer, Meg walked down the hall. She opened Erik's chamber door and entered with little sound. She shut and locked the door then lit a small lamp to light only a little of the room. She saw the dogs were gone, knowing Marie took them out so she could keep things quiet. Meg walked to Erik's bedside and looked at him, she touched his face ever so gently. He stirred and opened his eyes to see her standing beside him.
" Meg," he whispered
She silenced him and kissed him with love and devotion. Erik kissed her back not resisting this gesture. He pulled away and looked at her and she climbed into bed. Erik looked at her as she laid him back down on the bed. She undid his shirt and kissed him and he kissed her yearning her touch. She tossed his shirt to the side and worked her way down until he was no longer clothed. Erik kissed her as she leaned over to him, letting her hands explore his strong body. Erik's hands caressed her clothed form, then he untied her robe, reveal she wore nothing underneath it. He pushed it off her body and caressed her nude body with his gentle touch. Meg kissed him more and kissed his neck; Erik laid her down on the bed and got on top as they began to open up to each other's lustful intentions. They pleasured each other before truly making love, the sounds that escaped their lips were heard from down the hall.
Marie looked her husband as he covered his ears, she looked at the dogs as they scratched at the door.
" Delilah, Pandora, their not killing each other," she said
" They don't know that," Gaston said
Marie looked at her book and Gaston looked at her.
" This is your fault, you encouraged her to do that, and if he's angry the next morning I blame you," Gaston said
" Trust me Gaston, he's not, if anything he should feel relieved," Marie said
Gaston threw a pillow over his head as the sounds continued and Marie smiled. She was very proud of herself, helping Meg go past morality. She knew Erik longed for it, but he would not bed just any woman.
" Soon, things will become brighter," she thought
They continued until the early parts of the morning and then laid in bed. Erik looked at her as she stroked his arms. She kissed his chest and looked up at him. He pushed away locks of fallen hair from her face and kissed her head. Meg smiled at him and kissed him.
" I love you Erik," she whispered, " I want to spend my life with you."
Erik didn't say anything he remain in silence as he stroked Meg's back. She sat up and Erik looked at her, she leaned over and kissed him passionately. She pulled away and Erik looked at her, he pulled her to him and kissed her. She fell into the softness of the bed and Erik laid over her. She looked up at him and touched his face then reached up for his mask.
" No," he whispered
" I told you Erik, I want to spend my life with you," she said
Her fingers curled under his mask and she felt already the disfigurement; she pulled it off and looked at Erik. What Meg saw was horrifying at first, but then she could see the same face as she saw on his other half. She touched the unsettled flesh, traced each part with her hand. Meg turned his head and reached up and kissed his disfigured half.
" This is the face I want to see when we make love," Meg whispered, " the face of a man who needs a woman's touch."
She kissed him all over his disfigured half, Erik closed his eyes as she did this. Tears began to fall from his face as she kissed him.
" I don't care if your face was perfect on both sides or even disfigured on either side. Your still Erik and I still love you," Meg said
Meg wiped his tears and kissed him on his lips, Erik took her into his arms as once more they made love until the first sight of morning light. They laid, holding each other in each other's arms.