I hope that chapter 13 isn't unlucky.
Maska: Sorry, but you can't have Christian.
HPOTOV: Thank god someone noticed. Yes I did do that!
Chapter 13- Another Lost Love
Rene was true to her word. For the next few days, Rene did not leave Christian's bedside. She kept watch with a vigorous eye. Every time Christian moved, Rene became alert and would sit up to examine him. She would watch for a few minutes only to be disappointed when he did not open his eyes.
She dutifully watched over Christian, never parting from his side. She ate and slept out of necessity now, instead of exhaustion. Several times Meg told her that she should go to her room and sleep. Rene declined. After three days Madame Giry insisted that Rene return to her lessons.
Rene would sit next to Christian all night, watching him sleep, peaceful and lightly pale. After lessons she would return to his side, and talk to him about what she done that day. He always seemed to be having a good dream when she spoke to him, and it helped her feel better that she might be helping him, even if it was just a small and insignificant thing.
When Rene had time alone (as there seemed to be a lot of that when she was up late at night) she would think of Erik. She wondered if he was so angry with her that he would never come to her again. She waited for him to sing to her, but for days he was unseen. She worried that she would never see him again, "But then again…" she thought, "Do I really want to see him again? If he could hurt Christian like that then who is to say that he will not hurt me?" These thoughts filled her mind, but in her heart she knew that her angel would not harm her.
Late at night, Rene would fall into a light doze, and awake because she thought she had heard Erik singing to her. She would look around the room, and find it had only been a squeaky window or a bird outside. Then Rene would stare at the full sized mirror in the corner, hoping it contained a secret passageway to Erik's lair.
Madame Giry would come in every night and check on Rene and Christian, and tell Rene how she needed sleep. Tonight was no different. She stuck her head into the door, and looked at Christian. She shook her head as she entered the room. She walked to them and placed her hand gently on his forehead, looking down at Rene.
"Rene, you need sleep." she said. "I would like you to go to your room, now and please try to rest." She told Rene, although she already knew what Rene's response would be.
"I can't." She answered.
Madame Giry understood. She was about to leave when Rene burst out with her questions. "Madame…?" she asked quietly. Madame Giry looked up at her. "Have you… Is he… I mean is he… Have you heard from him?" Rene said, not finding it within herself to say his name.
Madame Giry shook her head. She bowed slightly, and then left Rene and Christian alone. She closed the door lightly and headed down the hall.
Rene burst in to tears. "I'm so sorry, Christian." she proclaimed for the thousandth time. "I'm sorry…"
The next day, Rene was shaken awake by Meg. The sun was shinning and Meg was already dressed in her leotard for practice. "Oh, no!" Rene exclaimed. "I can't believe I overslept!" She stood to go to her room to change.
"No, Rene." Meg said, gently pushing Rene back into her chair. "Mother said that you did not sleep well last night and that if you wished you should sleep, instead of attending classes today."
Rene gave Meg a sincerely grateful, but weak smile. "Thank you, Meg." Meg held out a tray with two pieces of toast, an egg, and a glass of water. Rene turned down the toast and egg, but gratefully excepted the water.
Her throat was soar from crying, and her eyes were red and puffy. Two black circles dawned beneath them. Her hair lay in a loose curtain of curls down her shoulder, unwashed, but brushed.
"How long has it been…?" Rene asked, a slight longing in her voice.
Meg didn't look at Rene, but she answered, "It has been 5 days, Mademoiselle Delacour." She turned to Christian. "I hope he wakes soon, if we continue to force water down his throat he may not last."
With her grave words, Meg left. Rene stood and walked over to the mirror in the corner of the room. She stared for a moment, looking at herself. She was quite a mess, but she still looked unearthly beautiful.
Rene was sick of crying, and so she held back the tears welling up inside her. She returned to Christian. She sat her chair close to the head of his bed and sat in it. She touched the back of her hand to his face. He was cold, and colorless.
She didn't know how to help him. The doctors had tried everything. She had tried nearly everything. Everything except… but she couldn't. Erik would be angry with her. "But," she told herself, "Erik was the one who started this… and I shall end it."
A melody burst from somewhere within her. A song she had sung before, but this time with different lyrics.
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime. Please, don't give up on me now… Say I can keep you with me, here beside me. Please don't go where I can't follow you…" She whispered softly into his ear, "Christian," Then she sang. "That's all I ask of you." A single tear rolled down her cheek, in simultaneous time with the one rolling down Erik's as he listened to his heart break while another lost love professed her devotion to another.
