Chapter 23: Waiting
Erik gazed down at the empty bottle in his hand. Absenthine was truly very distasteful, but it murdered his emotional pain.
Christine could be back any minute, moment, second.
And he was dangerously intoxicated, greedily drunk.
"Damn!" Rage shook his body violently as alcohol possessed him. He threw the bottle at an expensive painting on the wall. The smashing of the dark green bottle brought his attention to the painting. I t was one of the rose in flames that he had saved for only one reason, because Christine had adored it. The red of the rose and orange of the fire that engulfed it's petals mixed well together. The colours could mesmerize you endlessly.
A rose engulfed in flames, how appropriate.
Erik collapsed on the divan.
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Christine awoke with a feeling of nausea. She didn't need to try to remember why she had fainted, how could she forget? People were standing all around her, staring down with concern.
"Alright, give the young woman some room to breathe!" A familiar voice rang out as familiar pale hands pushed people away.
The swarm of people drained away, none of which was Erik. This left one welcoming face however.
"Madame Giry!" Christine breathed out, she was still trying to catch her breath. "What are you doing here?"
A blonde head bobbed beside that of her mother's.
"Meg! I'm dreaming, I must still be faint…" Christine laid back into Christian's lap, where she had been laying since he caught her.
"You are most defiantly not dreaming Christine, we arrived with Raoul." Madame Giry was trying to keep the ballet brats from peering over her but it was useless since she was no longer their teacher.
Meg offered her arms out to Christine to help her stand. "Come Christine, Raoul said he wanted to see you."
Christine accepted the sturdy assistance of her friends arms, and pulled herself to her feet, with a little help from Christian.
"That doesn't mean I want to see him!" She snorted loud enough for everyone to hear. "I love Erik!"
"Yes we know that Christine, but the victome will not except being brushed aside so easily. Christine this is beyond childhood friends and little lotte, this is about love jealousy and the poison called madness." Madame Giry lowered her eyes. "This is about betrayal, pride and blood. Amazing how well evil and good mix so well."
Christine was silent.
"Christine?" It was Toulouse. She turned to him. "Do what your heart tells you to do. Do what is best." Every one nodded in agreement.
"Do what will make you happy." Harold's voice came in a rare, raspy whisper.
Christine turned to Meg, she was not the one to ask on this matter. A hand grasped hers.
"The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Learn, Is Just To Love, And Be Loved In Return." Christian gave her hand a squeeze, then left her to be watched over by the Madame.
Christine was about to turn to him, a million questions written across her face through her tears, but he was walking away.
Away.
"Come Christine, we must clean you up for Raoul." Madame Giry led her away. Away. Away, to her husband.
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She waited.
Hours had passed.
Erik was probably dying of worry. What in the hell was she still doing here, she could easily slip through the mirror, warn Erik and have him whisk her away to another fantasy. Why was she still here?
She was still here because she was torn, ripped between two worlds that could not mix. She just wanted to go away, away from the Moulin Rouge, away from the Opera….
Away from Raoul!
She wanted to run to Erik and his love, he was her world. He was her choice. He was the angel of music.
She picked up a tiny glass perfume bottle and flung it at the door, narrowly missing Raoul's head.
"Damn, you couldn't walk in a few more inches to the left?" Christine spat, mocking him fully without regret. She sat at her vanity, her back to him.
Raoul ignored her hatred as if she was a mother talking of school subjects. He was the obnoxious child. "Christine, darling, we will leave tonight, away from that horrid monster. He will never find us, I promise you." He came over and kissed the top of her head.
She shoved him off of her with strength he was unaware of, and walked as far away from him as possible. A moment of a breath needed passed and Christine turned on him.
"He's not the monster Raoul, you are!"
Raoul walked right up to her and slapped her.
All reason broke.
Christine hit him back with her fist, causing him do double over with shock and pain.
"What in the bloody hell did you do that for!" Raoul screamed at her as she began throwing things into a small case.
"Raoul if I did your thinking for you, you would be smart enough man to not return here." Anger oozed from Christine's words and attacked Raoul.
Insulted and outraged, Raoul took her case and threw it at the mirror.
It didn't even crack.
Raoul stared stupidly for a moment, realization tinkling slowly on to his face. Then an impish and triumphant grin took over his boyish features.
"Christine, I will let you stay and finish your little show, if you come to me when the curtain falls."
Christine looked at him with a slightly open mouth, then continued packing.
"I forgot to mention, if you refuse to see things my way, I will kill your lover." Raoul knew Christine was wondering why the phantom had not come to her rescue yet, and he knew the answer to that. The phantom had probably over heard his conversation with Zidler, probably doesn't know what to do with himself. Which suited Raoul just fine.
Christine froze, her back to Raoul. Although she tried to hide it, he could hear the wracking sobs in her throat. She brushed the tears away and looked up at him, hatred the only thing visible.
Raoul continued. "Tell him you don't love him, lie to save him. This is the point of no return." His voice was cool and calm.
Christine nodded, holding back the wave of fresh tears.
Raoul turned on his heal and left, his eye was starting to throb. He knew Christine would go through with it. She was weak.
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Christine re-dressed herself in a long, black sleeveless dress. Red embroidery outlined few roses along the bottom of the skirt. She had taken everything Erik had given her and put it in a small trunk, everything except the diamond and silver necklace that he had given her, saying it was their love in physical form. She would not part with it, could not. It would be her secret, she would kiss it every day.
Christine fanned her curls out, there was no point in putting them up. They would just muss again when she started crying. She inhaled deeply, taking up the trunk and walking through the mirror.
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Erik had awoken to the sound of distant shouting, it had ceased however, and he got off the divan and went to clean himself up before Christine saw him like this. He splashed cold water on his face and changed into fresh clothing, nothing amazing just light fabric. He retrieved his mask and replaced it on the right side of his face, careful not to catch any reflections.
Then he waited.
