Chapter 17: The masquerade continues
As the brilliance of the masquerade continued, a dark figure stood outside in the warm spring air, watching them. Erik's thoughts drifted back to that masquerade at the opera house all those years ago. How he had busted in, seeing the looks of fear on the guests faces. How he longed to do that now, to instill fear in the people's hearts once more, to have them under his control. But he had to resist, he had to wait intil it was time for his plan to unfold. He looked closer inside and saw Christine and the Vicomte dancing close together, still so clearly in love even after all of these years. He remembered that night when he had seen the Vicomte's engagement ring around Christine's neck. At that moment, he had been truly angry with her. How dare she betray him that way! He often wondered these days if she even had the smallest ounce of respect for him at all, if she still cared about what he had done for her voice. But this thought drifted away as he saw a young man, a very familiar young man, slip a ring onto a young girl's finger, and that girl was Marie Claire.
Marie Claire stood in awe as she looked at the beautiful golden ring with a pearl in the center and diamond chips surrounding it.
"Marie Claire," Arthur began, "I know that we're young, and it hasn't been very long since we met, but I love you." he said, getting down on his knee. "Will you marry me?" he asked, his eyes full of loving hope.
Marie Claire's face lit up and her blue eyes glowed. Her heart soared a million miles. Had she heard him right?
"Yes," she breathed, her smile reaching her eyes. "Yes, oh Arthur I love you!" she exclaimed as he spun her around and they kissed.
Arthur's chocolate eyes sparkled with ultimate bliss. He embraced his new fiance and kissed her forehead with tenderness.
"Oh I'm so happy my love. I've already talked it over with you parents and they give us their full blessing. And since we're so young, we were thinking a long engagement, a year or two perhaps." he said as he squeezed her hand.
"I couldn't think of anything more perfect." said Marie Claire as they kissed once more. Marie's heart was full of such intense love as she had never felt before as she looked into Arthur's eyes. It may have only been a few months, but she loved him with all of her being.
"I must go and tell my parents, they'll be so thrilled! See you in a bit my love." she said, kissing him on the cheek.
Marie found her parents dancing together somewhere in the middle of the room. She ran over to them, a huge smile lighting up her face.
"Mama, Papa!" she exclaimed, "I have something to tell you." she said as she put up her finger, showing the ring.
Raoul and Christine grinned, they had known this was coming.
"Arthur proposed to me and I accepted." said Marie breathlessly.
Raoul and Christine's faces glowed with happiness for their beloved daughter, but their eyes teared slightly, for she had grown up so fast. They both embraced her at the same time, as the noise and the grandeur of the party fell into the background for a moment.
"Oh my girl, I am truly happy for you," said Raoul, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I just can't believe that you've grown up so fast. But I can take comfort in the fact that it will be a long engagement, so you won't be leaving me just now." he said, hugging his daughter once more.
Then Christine took her daughter's hands in hers, smiling a watery smile.
"Oh sweetie, I know you must be about to burst with happiness right now. Arthur loves you so much, you can tell by the way he looks at you. I am so glad that you found your true love so soon, just as I found your father when I was about your age." said Christine, smiling over at Raoul. "Congratulations sweetie, and we love you." she said, kissing her daughter on the forehead.
Marie Claire hugged her parents again, and gazed up into their happy faces. She could only hope that she and Arthur would still be so in love at their twenty first anniversary, as her parents were. She was pretty sure they would be.
"I love you Mama and Papa, and thank you so much for giving Arthur and I your blessing. I couldn't marry anyone without that. And don't worry, it'll still be a while before I'm married and out of the house. And even then, no matter where I go, I'll always come home to Paris."
Raoul grinned. "Well that makes me feel better, because I don't want to lose my little girl." he said, winking at Marie as she smiled back. "But now I believe that it is time for a toast." he said as he picked up a glass and tapped on it.
Everyone turned and looked and Arthur made his way over.
"Everyone, I have an announcemement." said Raoul, smiling over at the couple. "I would like to announce that my daughter has just told us of her engagement to Arthur Page'. I propose a toast to them." he said raising his glass, his blue eyes sparkling with happiness for his daughter.
"To Arthur and Marie!" they all cheered.
Lizzie came over to Marie and swept her friend up into a bone crushing hug as Raoul turned to Arthur, smiling.
"Congratulations my boy, I know that you love my daughter and will take good care of her. Welcome to the family." he said, shaking Arthur's hand heartily.
"Thank you Monsieur de Chagny." said Arthur as Christine came over and hugged her son in law to be warmly.
Erik stood outside, fuming. How could he have let this happen again? How dare that boy propose to Marie Claire, knowing that he would endanger himself even more by fueling the Phantom's wrath? He kicked a nearby deck chair in rage. He stormed off the deck, his soul burning with anger and sadness at the same time. He was so tempted to go back, and he wasn't saying that he wouldn't. He shook with fury. If they wouldn't do what he wanted by their own free will, then he would make them. He took off his mask and glared down at the white porcelain. And he wondered, not for the first time, why it had to be this way. If he was a normal person, he would never have become involved with these people. But he didn't allow himself to feel sadness for he considered it to be weak. He replaced his mask, storming back towards the de Chagny estate.
The party continued for a few hours, with everyone dancing and carrying on. It was truly a party to be remembered. Around midnight or so, the guests slowly trickled out a very full, very tired, but having had the time of their lives. The de Chagnys certainly knew how to throw a party. Marie Claire bid Arthur a heartfelt goodbye, promising to see him tommorow. Then she bid her parents goodnight and went to bed. Raoul and Christine stood next to each other in the empty ballroom, thinking of all the fun that they had had this evening. Raoul went to check on Felix before he locked up the house, while Christine went outside for a breath of fresh air. She breathed in the warm evening air of spring and sighed contentedly. But as she stood there on the deck, fondly recalling the events of the night, suddenly, as though out of nowhere, a cold, hypnotic voice called to her.
"Christine, come to me my angel of music, come to me Christine..." it whispered softly.
Christine's blood turned cold as she whipped around to try and find the source of the voice.
"Erik?" she questioned to the seemingly empty night air.
"Yes Christine, it is me." answered the silky voice.
Christine's heart hammered in her chest.
"Erik I have asked you not to come my family. You have done enough harm already. Can you still not see the error of your ways?" asked Christine, still not able to see him. Her face, which had been so rosy a moment ago, was now pale and drawn.
"Come now Christine, must you be this way? You are just making this more difficult for yourself. Come to me, sing for me!" said Erik becoming irritated.
"I won't!" said Christine, trying to resist his trance like powers over her. But even as she said this, her legs seemed to carry her away from the welcoming house and towards the cold voice.
"In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came..." the words came uncontrollably out of her mouth until a warm hand was placed on her shoulder, braking the trance. It was Raoul.
"Christine dear, what's the matter? Are you alright?" he asked gently.
Chrsitine turned and fell into Raoul's arms, shaking violently.
"He's here.." she whispered.
Raoul held her tighter to him.
"Erik , leave here. If you are looking for a fight, you will not find one here, because the two of us fighting would only hurt Christine." said Raoul calmly. "Can't you see that you have scared the living daylights out of her? And I know that's the last thing you wanted to do!" said Raoul, his voice rising as he looked about, trying to locate Erik.
The Phantom stopped, thinking that for once, the young vicomte was right, he didn't want to scare Chrsitine anymore than he already had. He cursed silently and dissapeared. Raoul gently took his beloved inside and held her to his chest, stroking her hair.
"Raoul," she whispered softly, "Sing our song, please, its the only thing that comforts me."
Raoul smiled down at his wife and began to sing.
"No more talk of darkness, forget these wide eyed fears. I'm here nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you." he sang, looking her lovingly in the eyes. "Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears. I'm here, with you beside you, to guard you and to guide you."
Christine stopped shaking so much in the warmth of her husband's strong arms and at the sound of his soothing voice.
"Say you'll love me every waking moment, turn my head with talk of summer time. Say you need me with you now and always, promise me that all you say is true. Thats all I ask of you." she sang as she reached for his hand and held it in hers.
"Let me be your shelter. let me be your light. You're safe, no one will find you, your fears are far behind you." he sang as he twirled her about and spun her to him, embracing her gently.
"All I want is freedom, a world with no more night. And you always beside me, to hold me and to hide me." she sang as she smiled up at him, her eyes asking for comfort and love. She sweetly brushed a stray hair from his face.
"Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime, let me lead you form your solitude. Say you need me with you here beside you. Anywhere you go, let me go to. Chrsitine, thats all I ask of you." he sang as he picked her up and spun her around as she began laughing joyfully.
"Say you'll share with me onelove , one lifetime. Say the word and I will follow you." she sang, hugging him tightly.
"Share each day with me, each night, each morning." they both sang as they moved closer to each other.
"Say you love me."
"You know I do."
"Love me, that's all I ask of you." they sang as they became wrapped up in a kiss, and waltzed around the room.
"Anywhere you go let me go to! Love me, that's all I ask of you."
As Raoul looked down at Christine, he could see that all traces of sadness, fear, and worry were gone from her face and it shone with happiness..
"Better?" asked Raoul as he picked her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs.
"Yes," she said sleepily, "Much better." she smiled, closing her brown eyes.
Raoul smiled down at his sleeping wife, her brown curls cascading over his arms, glad that she was safe in his arms. But worry for his family still plauged the good man's heart, for he realized that Erik would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. And he did not want to have another encounter with the Phantom, for he did not want Christine to hurt anymore.
Erik slammed the gate to his lair shut as he stormed in, trying to fight back the tears of anger and lonliness threatning to overcome him. He had come so close to having Chrsitine in his grip. He kicked his organ in fury. But of course the Vicomte had gotten in the way. Again. And the nerve of Arthur, proposing to Marie Claire, and openly defying his demands like that.
"But that will soon change." he breathed, "And my plan will follow through."
He began laughing and uncontrollable, insane laugh thatt seemed to ring throughout the entire opera house.
