Chapter 5: The Sparkling Diamond
Erik was furious with himself. He had again fallen in love with Christine, after trying so hard to relieve himself of her. The only reason he had let her go in the first place was so the Viscount wouldn't say anything. If Christine was with him, at least she would keep him quiet.
"Oh God what insanity had come over me? Why couldn't I just kill the little bastard!" His yells echoed of the walls.
In his rage, he picked up a bottle of wine, which was now almost empty from his attempt to drink all thoughts of Christine away, and threw it full force at the wall. It made a satisfying crash sound to Erik's ears.
"You know my friend, you really shouldn't drink so much, it's bad for your health."
Erik laughed. "Hello Toulouse, come to play mother again?" Although he was drunk, Erik's words weren't slurred but they were dripping with sarcasm.
Toulouse came out from the shadows, frowning. "No actually I'm getting quite tired with that game, I thought we could play something new."
"Like what?" Erik snarled at Toulouse, then went in search of another bottle of wine.
Toulouse kept his temper low and continued. "Like, two grown, mature men going to a party tomorrow night. I think you'll find it quite rewarding."
Erik stared at Toulouse, until Toulouse clicked his tongue impatiently, then he laughed, long and loud.
"You want me to go to the Moulin Rouge, with you?" Erik doubled over with drunken laughter.
Toulouse stood his ground and waited.
Erik saw this, and stopped laughing. "You're serious? You want me to go with you to the Moulin Rouge tomorrow night?"
Toulouse just nodded.
Erik sighed. "I suppose. No strings attached?"
"None."
Erik was beginning to regret drinking so much, all this thinking was making his head hurt.
"Alright Toulouse, but only because I'm too drunk to see any reason why I can't."
For the first time, Toulouse made a face that slightly resembled a smile.
"Well, I'll leave it to you then." And he headed back to the staircase that he had used to get there.
Erik watched him go, then remembered Christine and smashed a full bottle against the wall, causing his hand to bleed.
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"Never forget me."
Christine looked sadly into Erik's eyes, making him regret his decision.
"Why Erik, I still don't understand, I want to stay with you." She clung to him, feeling his bear, muscular chest with her fingers. He responded by holding her around the waist, and burying his face in her neck.
"It won't work," He whispered, feeling the hot tears on his chest, "it just won't, not now."
She was violently ripped away from him by the now free Raoul. Erik just watched as she struggled, and cried out his name.
"Erik! Erik!"
Then Raoul hit her across the face to silence her. Christine hung limp in Raouls arms.
Something told Erik to forget about the things Christine had said and to rip Raouls head off. Which was exactly what he intended to do.
He walked right over to him, and punched Raoul in the face, catching Christine as she fell from his arms.
"Christine?" Erik asked softly, sinking down to the floor with her in his arms.
Her eyes fluttered, but didn't open.
Erik stood, with Christine still in his arms, and headed out to the throne room, expecting to leave through one of the passageways, but was instead greeted by the angry mob. Erik tried to run. But the last thing he remembered was black.
Erik woke with a start, he had fallen asleep on the organ. He rubbed his temples, trying to win the battle against a raging headache.
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Toulouse decided on tulips for Christine's bouquet and paid the flower girl for them, ignoring the stares as he did so.
"Your change monsieur, and have a good night."
Toulouse took his change, and hailed down a cabbie. The ride to the Moulin Rouge wasn't a long one, and Toulouse was soon exiting the cab.
"We've got a good show tonight Toulouse, one of the best I've ever seen." Gaston, the guard, greeted Toulouse.
"Thank you Gaston." He replied as he passed through the gate, and into the crazy world of the Moulin Rouge.
He took a seat with a good view of the dance floor, and ordered two drinks. He knew Erik would be making an appearance, just because of his curiosity. It wasn't long until Erik appeared from within the shadows, dressed in complete black attire. Except for his mask, which was as pure as the light of day.
"Alright Toulouse, I'm here so what do you want?" Erik hissed the words almost violently.
Toulouse simply put a finger to his lips and pointed up as the music started, and glitter fell from the shadows above.
A figure on a swing was lowered down, she had dark brown curls and porcelain skin.
"It's her, the Sparkling Diamond." Toulouse said, taking a sip of his drink. But all Erik could do was stare. Then she started to sing.
What an amazing time
What a family
How did the years go by
Now it's only me
The band started going faster and they lowered the swing to the ground.
"Christine…." Was allErik could say.
Baby, I don't know when the danger came,
I wanna find some one that I can't blame,
Call the doctor cause,
I' am sick in Love
And I can't help it.
Baby,
I'm worried about my mental state
Don't know if I'll recuperate.
Think it's serious,
Gone from bad to worse.
And I'm in trouble.
She got off the swing, and started dancing around, using her hips to tease the men. And the band started playing yet faster. Anger was slowly starting to fill Erik.
If I was a rich girl,
See I'd have all the money in the world, if I was a wealthy girl
Think what that money could bring
I'd buy everything
Clean out Vivien Westwood
In my Italiano Gown
No one would have just one hood
Hollywood imagine if I could
Please put me first class to my fancy house in London Town
All the riches baby,
Won't mean anything
All the riches baby
Won't bring what your love can bring
After making the all the men follow her around, and toss her up in the air a couple times, she started to dance seductively with men that had given her things. Then she yelled "Take off your hats!!!" And she kicked off her latest partner's hat, giving him a good view of her legs. Erik swallowed his drink in one shot. She was soon upon her swing and being raised back up.
It's you there when I close my eyes and in the morning
I never thought that you'd still be mine
Or that I really need to have you around
Don't go away,
My love...
She had stopped singing. They had made eye contact, a connection that could never be broken.
Christine started breathing heavily, then fainted.
"NO!" Toulouse shouted, his heart skipping a beat as she fell down, down.
Erik was there in an instant, even though he really didn't wan't to be, and caught her unconscious body in his strong arms. Then seeing everyone staring at him, he stole away into the shadows, once again taking his fallen angel with him.
