Chapter 14: Mourning, Morning

(Takes place three months later…)

Erik knelt beside an elegant yet simple grave in his lair. It was away from the lake and down several passages. There was a small waterfall and a beautiful cavern. It was peaceful, it was calm. It was there that Camille's body was buried. Erik visited her every day since her death. He spoke to her today in a low voice. He spoke to her in her native language, Italian. His was rich but full of pain. He spoke to her in a language that wouldn't be understood by his own family- should they care to listen.

"Perché, perché, perché Camille? Perché lei me ha partito? Ha parlato la verità quando è morto, quel raoul di bastardo. Ha detto che me perseguiterebbe per sempre fino ad ora fa. I suoi occhi bruciano lí quando chiudo i miei occhi. Vedo che lui pugnala la sua spada nel suo stomaco. Di tutti i giorni, ogni giorno solo io relive la sua morte e me uccide. me uccidendo." His voice cracked

translation: "why, why, why Camille? Why did you leave me? He spoke truth when he died, that bastard raoul. He said that he would haunt me forever as yet he does. His eyes are burning there when i close my eyes. I see him stabbing his sword into your stomach. Everyday, every single day I relive your death and it is killing me. killing me."

Christine stood in the hallway and looked down it at Erik with fury in her heart. The sight of him crying over another woman's grave angered her greatly. She approached him when she couldn't take it any longer.

"Erik! Please stop crying and answer one question for me. If she was still alive- who would you choose- me or her?" her eyes flashed dangerously warning Erik to watch what his answer would be

Erik rose slowly and went to her singing softly (and yes I made this song up- sorry if it sucks)

"I will always love you…
Every day….
You are my hearts desire
And I would die for you….
No matter what I say and do….
I will always love you!"

His hand brushed away the tears staining Christine's cheeks.

"Christine- I would choose you. Camille was more than just a partner to me though. The world was cruel to her and I met her- an abused, tormented widow who had borne more than her share of pain in life. I could relate to her. I love her like a sister, my dearest friend, my confidant. But you Christine- you are my world."

"I would believe you Erik- I would. But everyday I find you here- in tears mourning her death and I am sick of it. Camille this and Camille that… Erik I am here with you- I have your daughter- not her- not Camille!" she broke off panting slightly after her outburst

Erik turned and answered her back in a low voice "Why are you so damn jealous of Camille?" going slightly red in the face from keeping in his anger

"ME- are you asking me why I am jealous of your whore? Why should I be jealous of that slut? She had you every night while I was being abused by Raoul. You and your whore- how was she? Did you whisper words of true love in her ear too? Did you let your whore see you for what you are? Did she see the monster that you so fear?"

Her curls were falling down in wisps from their up-do and her face was covered in tears- her face white as snow in sharp contrast with her angry red lips and blue eyes searing in their fierce mood.

Erik was enraged by her words- he lunged at her grabbing her arms and pinning them above her head and pushing her back forcefully into the stone wall of the cave, he shouted into her face while still pinning her to the wall with a strength born of anger

"YOU WILL NEVER SPEAK OF HER LIKE THAT AGAIN!"

He raised her hand to slap her across her face but watched as she flinched and cowered away from him "I wont strike you." He said as he slowly lowered his hand, his voice still shaking with anger, he released her abruptly pushing against the wall as he did so. Her head bumped painfully into the wall and the tears rose to her eyes

"You love her." She said quietly, she turned and began to run from the lair

Erik watched her coldly as she ran from his home. Anger still burned too strongly in him to go after her- he knew she would be back. She always came back.

He stormed into the music room and began to pound dark oppressive notes out on his organ. He became so absorbed in his music he barely even registered the cold, small hand that pressed gently against his cheek.

"Papa…" came a hesitant voice with a lilting accent of a child

He turned his face into her hand relishing its gentle caress.

"Yes Aimee? What is it my dear?" his voice was low and gentle

"Why do you and mommy fight so much?" her innocent voice inquired

Erik opened his eyes and sighed "I love your mother but it seems that she is having trouble believing that."

He stared at the cave wall wondering where Christine had run this time- the roof, her old dressing room… he then remembered the unbearable hurt in her eyes but behind it a single unnamed emotion- one of farewell…

He cursed himself and jumped up, picking Aimee up and running through the passages of the lair, avoiding the lake and bursting into mme giry's room.
He stopped still at her shocked face

"Erik… "

"Madame- I have no time to explain but I must ask you to take care of and watch Aimee until I get back. I cannot tell you how long it will be but I will come back when I have found her!"

He gently put Aimee down on the bed and planted a soft kiss to her forehead "I will be back.."

With those words he turned and rushed out into the darkening night…

Christine ran blindly through darkened alleys and twisting streets, tears poured down her face as she ran and wondered. Why did he save her if he loved someone else? Why did he allow her to believe her loved her?

She stopped for a moment so that she wouldn't collapse of exhaustion. She sank to the ground on the side of the dark alley and her body shook with sobs. She was lost. She was hopelessly and utterly lost in the twisting alleyways. She couldn't have been far from the opera house considering she had only been running for a few minutes but the streets were dark and confusing.

She gasped as a cold hand encircled her neck and someone hissed at her with whiskey laden breath "Are you soliciting?"

She tried to push the hand away but felt herself yanked to her feet and pushed against the cold stone wall.

"No- no please leave me alone." She begged

A dirty grimed hand rose and scratched down the line of her chin "Such a pretty little thing to be out so late…"

She tried to scream but felt a knife press against her throat

"We are going to have fun tonight little one…" he pinned her hands above her head with one large hand and easily cut her dress in the front, her corset strings then received a sharp slice from the blade.

Christine cowered away trying to get away from the man but he was too strong, she fully realized his intentions when he began to undo his pants.

She cried out begging him not to do it but he slapped her across her face leaving a harsh bruise across her cheekbone- it was enough to quiet her.

He thrust into her suddenly and viciously causing her to cry in pain. He pinched her breasts harshly as he drove repeatedly into her, rocking back and forth satisfying his animal like lusts.

When he was finally done he threw her to the ground and delivered a blow to her head rendering her unconscious. He left the street with her lying a little to the side, her body bare to the night wind, covered in blood and other foul substances.

Erik ran through the darkened streets trying to figure out where Christine could have possibly run. He figured that she would have been upset and run as straight as possible and so he tried to go as straight as he could.

He entered a shadowy alley and ignored the many calls of prostitutes aimed at him. The voices of girls trying to sound like women echoed in his ears. He ignored them and kept running but stopped suddenly upon entering a small, sinister alley and stared at the prone form on the damp cobblestones.

He was at her side in a second, his eyes running over her abused bare body.

"Oh god- Christine…" he wrapped his cloak around her naked form and wrapped her in his strong arms.

He hurried back to the opera house and entered Mme Giry's room. He spoke quickly and quietly to avoid waking Aimee who was curled up in bed.

"Madame- I will need you to take care of Aimee until Christine is well again. It may be a few days Madame- but please just keep her mind on other things!"

"Of course Erik. What happened to her?" she pushed a curl out of Christine's still face

Erik began to shake slightly with anger "She was raped and left to die naked in a dark alley!" he cast a glance at Aimee to be sure she still slept, which she did.

"I am taking her down now- please watch Aimee carefully!" he turned and made his way down to his lair where he laid Christine gently on the swan bed and began to wash away the blood and other substances that were on her body.

Her eyes fluttered as he continued his tender ministrations and she moaned softly

"Christine-"

"Erik-"

She buried her face in his strong chest, but she didn't cry- she was past tears. She had shed too many in her life to shed any more. Erik stroked her curls and whispered

"It's ok Christine. You are home now." He gently raised her chin and made her look at him "I love you Christine, I love you and I always will…"

She smiled and for once in a long time it wasn't a smirk. "I love you too Erik."

His lips claimed hers in an eternal dance of beauty, passion, love and tenderness.
…………
Fin
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thats it! i hope yall like it! please review and tell me what you thought of it!