Erik: She lay in my bed like the Angel she was. Her warm breath sighed against my pillows, her docile body caressed the sheets, and my heart ached.
The evening had been going all right, until the poor child fainted. I had not expected that. Apparently she had been surprised at my manniquin, which was wearing Amnita's wedding costume for Act IIV of Don Juan. I had brought her down through the mirror, and she had begun to sing for me. I was glad to know her realization that I was The Phantom and not really an actual Angel did not scare her, and together we sang sweet music as Ceaser brought us to my gondola.
She had the perfect pitch, the greatest tone, and I was lost within her voice. It was intoxicating as I began to sing my personal song for her. She allowed me, the sweet young woman, to touch her, to caress her skin. Of course I was slightly agitated that she had not finished dressing and so was here, in my lair, in her corset, slip, and robe.
It hurt me to be so near her body, so warm and delicate, and I tried to control my passion. I sang to her as I showed her my home, my sancturary. Only Ann had ever been allowed here, and now I allowed Christine to breach my solitude. I had planned a wonderful gourmet meal after my song, and I planned to talk to her, yet that was when she fainted. I carried her delightful body to my bed, and gently touched her flushed cheeks.
It was all I could do not to ravish her then and there, but I am a gentleman, and I was not about to harm my love, my life, my Christine. So I ran to my music and played. I tried not to make too much of a racket, so Christine could sleep. After she awoke I wanted to talk to her, to actually have a conversation, and to let her know my true feelings. I wanted to ask her if perhaps, when we got to know each other better, that we could dare to court. I wanted to court her, seriously, to take her on picnics in the park, sailing, and to the museum.
So I became enraptured in my thoughts and music, and she lay in my bed like the Angel she was. Soon I heard her soft voice behind me, and I turned. She was rather alluring and so I turned again to my music.
I felt her soft hands caress my cheek, and it felt so good to have someone touch me without anger or hate. I melted into her embrace until her other hand snuck up to my mask. Before I could stop her she had ripped off my only safe haven! I was shocked, angry, and hurt. I knocked her to the ground, screaming in fury and bitterness.
I was both angry and depressed. I asked her if that was what she wanted, did she want to laugh at me? To mock me? and then I began to cry. I tried to explain that I was only a man, a lonely and deformed man who needed love, companionship, compassion. Why did she hurt me so? Why hadn't she simply asked, simply sat beside me and talked. That was all I had wanted from her, to talk, and yet her nimble fingers had revealed the true monster I was.
Was I a monster? I suppose I was, for now Christine lay crying before me. I wanted to reach out, to hold her, yet that moment was gone. The magic of a few hours earlier was now no more, and I knew she would not consent to have a cold supper with a hideous beast. I felt my heart turn to ice, and I tried to stifle my tears. She handed me my mask and I kissed it before I put it back on. "Come, we must return, those two fools who run my theater will be missing you." I told her.
Ann: I don't know exactly what happened between Erik and Christine during their meeting, but he had run in to my apartment red-eyed and tear streaked. It was early morning and the Opera was beginning it's daily existance. He shoved several notes at me and told me to leave Christine alone. I asked what was wrong but he walked away.
I noticed that several of the notes had to be delivered outside the Opera, and so I had one of the "easy girls" who was just now leaving take them with her, on strict intructions that if she read them or did not deliver them, the police would be notified of her activities. Megan came to me and apologized for the night before.
I had caught her sneaking down the passage behind Christine's mirror, and had stopped her just in time. Those two, whatever may have been going on, needed privacy. I knew it was ineveitable, that Megan and Erik would meet, but I wanted to delay that as long as possible. I went to see the Managers and was baraged by chaos.
The Managers were furious over the strange O.G., and Erik had demanded several changes to the performance of Ill Muto. The Vicompte was throwing a tantrum over Christine, and it appeared Carlotta was behaving as usual. Carlotta began to throw one of her Prima Donna Fits and the new Managers had no idea how to handle her.
I tried to warn them, it was worse to anger the Opera Ghost, and even Raoul seemed to agree. We finally managed to get Carlotta under control, and when I went to see Christine I was surprised that she did not accept her Angel's rose in the manner she usually did.
She seemed subdued, almost listless, and I noticed small dark circles under her eyes where she had not slept. I sighed and marched my ballet troupe out for performance.
I had no clue just how dastardly wrong things were going to get.