Chapter 10
Raoul looks too, and moves to my side. Erik begins to descend down the stairs. "Erik… Raoul is leaving." Raoul moves in front of me. "Was he?" Erik's voice drips in sarcasm. "It's a shame he can't stay…" Raoul puts a hand on my arm, "I'm taking her with me." Erik laughs, "Are you now? Interesting… How does Christine feel about that I wonder?" I look at Erik, pleading with my eyes. Don't do this. Raoul pulls me closer to him, "You've hurt her, you monster, her face is bruised. Her hands are bandaged."
Erik pauses on the steps, "True… Perhaps you should have considered the consequences of your actions. She only took the punishment for your sins… And her hands, fool, were of her own doing… But really this isn't about who gets Christine. This is about who Christine chooses." Raoul says darkly, "And you really think she would stay with you?"
"I only know what I see in her eyes." Raoul glances to me, "What? Fear?" Erik begins down the stairs once more, "Only fear of what she feels… I see lust, want, need. Ask her. Ask her what I make her feel." Raoul looks at me. His eyes show hurt. "If you touched her." Erik chuckles, "You'll what? Christine. Come here. Come to me. This boy tries my patience." I can't make myself move. If I don't he'll kill Raoul. If I do go to him… I turn to Raoul, "Leave, I'll be all right. You have to leave."
Raoul creases his eyebrows, "No, I'm not leaving without you." I look to Erik, "He'll never let us go, Raoul. If you leave now he won't hurt you. I can't let him hurt you. This is the only way." Raoul puts a hand on my cheek, "I'll come back for you. I'll bring others." I shake my head, "You can't. You must forget me, forget all of this. You'll never be free if we're together." Erik has calmly made his way down to the bottom of the stairs.
I kiss Raoul on the cheek, then move away from him to Erik. "Christine, don't." Raoul says behind me. Erik takes my arm. I close my eyes. Please leave, Raoul, please leave. I'm doing this for you. Please leave. I avoid Erik's eyes. I couldn't look at him. I couldn't face him. "It would seem she has made her decision." Erik sneers at Raoul. He begins up the stairs again, calmly pulling me with him.
I focus on the steps, trying to keep up with Erik's fast pace, and not trip. "Let her go." Raoul says fiercely. I close my eyes. Don't Raoul. I gasp as Erik lifts me into his arms then. "Let her go? She came to me willingly, boy… But if you insist." I cry out as he holds me over the stair railing. I cling to him, "Please stop Erik."
He ignores my pleas, "Tell him, Christine. Tell him to leave and never come back." I desperately hold onto the folds of Erik's cape, "Put me down. Please put me down." Out of the corner of my eye I see Raoul has moved halfway up the stairs. "Tell him, Christine." I close my eyes, "Go Raoul. Don't return. You have to leave." Raoul says bravely, "I won't let him hurt you. I love you, Christine." Erik loosens his grip on me. I cry out. Erik growls, "Leave, fool. Do you want me to let go?" I look to Raoul sadly; "If you love me… then you'll leave."
Raoul looks from me to Erik, and back to me. He shakes his head, "I… I won't let him take you." He looks at Erik, "Let this be between you and I. Leave her out of this. She shouldn't have to choose you…" He swallows bravely, "…to save me." I cry, "No Raoul. He'll kill you." Erik looks at me then, "You're foolish, boy." He pulls me over the railing to him. I bury my face in his cape. He say soothingly, "There, there now. Don't be frightened." He sets me down on my own feet. I cling to him still. He whispers, "I would have never dropped you, love…" He tips my chin up, so I look at him.
"Your young friend is about to make a grave mistake." I try to turn my face to look at him, but Erik firmly keeps my gaze on him. "Perhaps… we could persuade him not to." He brushes a tear from my cheek with his gloved hand. "This is his last chance." He speaks softly, too softly for Raoul to hear. "You don't want to see him hurt do you?" I shake my head, "No." He nods, "No, I knew you wouldn't. Then tell him, Christine. Tell him that you've given your love to me. Tell him that you've given yourself to me."
I swallow hard and look at Raoul. He's frozen on the steps staring at us. I look down. Why wouldn't he just leave? Why did he have to hear this? I close my eyes for a second then open them and look up to Erik. "Christine?" I hear Raoul's hurt voice. I shudder, "I'm with Erik, now, Raoul." Raoul says disbelieving, "You can't mean that, Christine. Do not lie to him to save me… I know you love me. You would never be with someone who mistreated you." I don't dare look away from Erik's eyes.
"You heard her. She's mine now." He turns to Raoul swiftly, angry, "Get out! Leave now or I will kill you in front of her!" Raoul backs away. He looks crushed and afraid. I turn away. I can't look at him. I hear footsteps down the stairs and the door slam. In the next moment Erik has me pressed into the wall, "Why did you bring him here? Do you know what you've done!" I gasp, "He followed me. I didn't know what to do!" Erik looks away disgusted, "Why did you come back? I told you to leave."
I say defensively, "You said only to return if I meant to stay." He snarls, "As if you plan to stay." I look down hurt, "But I do…" I look up to him, "Don't you see? I chose you, Erik. You, not Raoul. What more can I do to make you see?" His eyes seem to flash with fire, "You only chose me to save him." He hisses. New tears stream down my face, "No! I mean… yes; I didn't want to see him hurt. But I wouldn't have chosen you if I didn't…" His eyes narrow, "If you didn't what, Christine?" His voice is harsh, demanding. I look down and say softly, "If I didn't… If I didn't… care for you, Erik. If I didn't want to be with you, but I do… I do."
He sighs and looks down almost in defeat, "Fine, Christine. Just know that now you can never go back... Come, we must pack. We're not safe here. He'll come back with others." He holds out his hand. I take it.
Phantom's POV
Thoughts raced through my mind. I had thought she was going say she loved me. She cared for me. Fine. If that was how it would be. Let her only care for me. An eternity together might change her mind. How could I expect her to love this face? Would I ever feel her lips on mine? Her bare skin against mine? I tighten my hand around hers. I would indeed. I would show her what her decision was to reap. I would bed her, claim her, and she would be mine in every way. Soon. It would be soon.
But she was so young. Could she deal with the emotions? I was almost certain she had done nothing with Raoul of that nature. Their love was so innocent, so childish. And now I was dragging her into an adult relationship. Would she be willing? Would I have to force myself on her? No, she would never forgive me. I would never forgive myself. I could not hurt her. Had she even kissed passionately? I would have to teach her so much, with so little that I knew of passion. My only experience was from those I had paid… Those times had been short and to the point, no time for tenderness or love. It could not be like that with her.
I stop at her room, "I trust I can leave you to gather your things?" She nods silently. I sigh, "Good. I will return shortly. Please be sure to pack warm clothing. Where we are going it can get quite cold."
I leave her. I doubted she would try climbing out the window now. Besides there was no time to lose, I couldn't be bothered waiting for her. If she left, she left. There was nothing I could do to convince her to stay. Why she was still here puzzled me. Why didn't she leave with that fool? Had she only stayed to save him? No matter, I suppose. She could learn to love me. She would have no other choice. Fear can turn to love.
I stop in my study and quickly drop things into a leather sack. I might have a chance to return later to gather more things, for now we would travel lightly. I quickly go down to the underground portions of the house. I gather the things I had brought to her temporary room down there, her letters, her doll, her journal. I collect some musical scores I had written. I stare at the wedding dress on the mannequin. I run my hand over the white satin material. She would have been so beautiful in it. There was no time now, though. Everything had changed. This life was over.
I pack some of my own clothes. Anything else would have to wait. Time was of the essence and we needed to leave now. I go back upstairs to her room and knock on the door. I open it not waiting for her to say anything, half expecting her not to be there "Are you ready?" She is sitting on her bed, a chest at her feet. I sigh… Well, I hadn't told her to pack lightly, and there was no time to change it now. I put my own leather bag over my shoulder and pick up her luggage, "Follow me. Come."
We travel by carriage. I let her ride in the back, out of the wind, while I drive the horses. I take all back roads; there was the risk of being seen in daylight. It is dusk when we arrive. The opera house is buzzing with activity. A show was to begin soon. I leave the carriage outside the stables; the help would know what to do with them. They would know it was me. I pick up the baggage, "Follow me, quickly." I whisper.
Christine is looking around in amazement. I quickly lead her down to the depths of the opera house. I knew the route by heart now. I feel her hand on my shoulder. It was dark; she didn't know the way. I slow down so not to lose her. Finally we reach the gondola. I load my burden and help her in. "What is this place, Erik?" She whispers in wonder. I begin to move the boat away from the shore, "It is the opera house, Christine, surely you know. We were just here." She settles into the bottom of the boat, "Yes, but… never down here before."
I say quietly, "I grew up here, Christine. I come here often still. The managers know of me, as does one of the ballet instructors. No one will find us here. They know enough to hold their tongue." She looks down, "You mean this is where we are going to live." I sigh, "For the time being, yes." She wraps her arms around herself, "But it's so cold. So dark." I wince, "The reason I told you to pack warmly. The darkness… you will grow accustomed to it. This is only temporary."
She draws her knees to herself, making herself seem smaller. The opera above starts. She looks up at the sound of music, "The music. You can hear the music." She smiles. I had almost forgotten what her smile looked like. I had been so harsh with her. I grimace at the bruise on her cheek. I had lost my temper with her. I had frightened her, terrified her, and still she was with me. Still she had stayed with me.
I let the boat run up on the shore where we would stay. Here I kept an almost second home. I had an organ, library, and bedroom. I silently curse. I had only one bed. I sigh, no matter she would have it. I needed little sleep anyway. I easily lift her onto the ground. I keep my hand on her waist, "Stay with me while I light some candles. You must be careful down here." She clings to my arm as I illuminate the room with soft light. I gently push her down into a chair, "Sit here for a moment. I'll unload your things."
I carry her trunk to the bedroom. She should have privacy. I put my own bag in the library. It would do for now. She is huddled in the chair shivering. It was too cold down here for her. She could not stay here. She was never even meant to come here. I take off my cape and sit in a chair opposite her. "Come here." I say softly. She looks at me, her eyes wide with fear or maybe nervousness. She pauses only a moment then stands up and walks to stand in front of me. I take her hand and pull her down onto my lap. She's tense. I wrap my cape around her and bring her closer to me, "Let me hold you. You'll be warmer that way."
I rest my chin on top of her head. "Erik?" She whispers. I close my eyes, enjoying the fact that she was so close to me, "Hmm?" She shifts in my arms, getting more comfortable, I assume, "What happens now?" I open my eyes. What did happen now? I sigh, "I don't know, Christine. I'll figure out something. We won't have to stay here long, I promise." She says, "It's not that… I… what happens with us?" I find her hand with mine. I hold it stroking her knuckles with my thumb. Finally I say, "Everything."
