Thanks for the support everybody! I hope you like this chapter, it was difficult to write, so if you don't like it... please, be kind! smile

Chapter 16

I continued to coach Christine but I made sure that she was at the Opera House during rehearsals. Though I do find enjoyment in tormenting the managers, I felt that Christine should rehearse on stage. I looked in on her practises from my hiding spots around the stage. I was glad to see how she has improved.

Everybody was in preparation for an upcoming opera. Christine happily accepted the role as the main character. As expected, rehearsals went very well, since there was no Carlotta ruining them with her nonsense. I decided that I wouldn't ruin them myself since they were going so well.

But I was hoping that the actual performance was going to be even better...

As usual, I requested that Box Five was to be kept empty for me, or a "misfortune beyond your imagination will occur". But the night of Christine's performance, it was not. I cursed inwardly, glaring at the man who stood, stunned by Christine. The young man was wearing an expensive suit and his hair was a light brown color, brushing at his shoulders. His eyes were wide and blue as he stared at Christine. I clenched my teeth and my fist until it bled in my leather glove. That look on his face and that fact that he was in Box Five made me sick.

I didn't want to say anything or interrupt the opera since Christine was doing so beautifully. I could tell by the sound of her voice and yes, even that expression on his face. I left Box Five and watched from somewhere else, where I couldn't be noticed. Christine stood at the center of the stage, smiling out at the audience. The people in the audience also had wide grins stretching across their faces, and my lips curled into a smile, as well. Christine glanced over at Box Five as she was singing and when she noticed that thieving man in Box Five, the look on her face transformed. Her eyes widened in shock and she came to a sudden stop in her song, and eventually, the orchestra came to a stop. Monsieur Reyer panicked silently and the faces in the audiences changed. Christine peered out and saw the people. They were shocked, annoyed, angry, and disappointed... Christine tried to sing again but was at a loss of words. Every time her mouth opened, she choked. She began to shake in nervousness until she eventually ran off of the stage. People began to leave, angrier than ever. I hurried away to the mirror so I could meet Christine back in her dressing room. The managers dashed out onto the stage after the curtains closed. They apologised and said that they would postpone the opera until another day.

It didn't matter, I had to find Christine. I threw a glance at Box Five and it was empty. He must have left because of Christine's flop.

When I reached Christine's dressing room, she was sitting on a divan, staring at the lavish rug beneath her. She seemed to be deep in thought. Her head shot back up suddenly when somebody started to pound on her dressing room door. Weakly, she called, "Come in," and the managers shoved the doors open and stomped towards Christine.

As they approached her, Christine's eyes slowly fell to the floor again. Christine was silent as they yelled at her.

"Miss Daae! You ruined the entire opera tonight! Because of your performance, we had to postpone! We will have to find a new star!" Firmin roared, mercilessly. Andre followed up with another harsh comment, "Thanks to your brilliant performance, everyone is demanding refunds!"

Christine answered, softly and timidly, "These things do happen..."

"And they are never to happen again!" Firmin hollered, and Andre agreed with a nod. "Yes, and we will ensure that nothing like it will ever happen again. You are no longer prima donna, Miss Daae. I am sorry, but having to refund a full house is unacceptable!"

"Monsieur, please understand--" Christine pleaded, her eyes filling with tears.

"I apologise, but this is no longer your dressing room." And with that, Firmin turned and left, with Andre close behind. Christine began to sob and she leaned her elbows on her knees and covered her face. She cried into the palms of her hands. I was angry enough as it is, but now my blood was boiling. I clenched my fists so tight that both hands were bleeding. I was ready to break the mirrors when I noticed that young man in Box Five appear at Christine's door. The man who made that misfortune beyond imagination occur. If it wasn't kept empty, I would cause it but this boy sadly beat me to it. Now everyone has to pay... except for the disappointed audience.

He opened his mouth but hesitated to speak. When he finally found his voice, he whispered "Little Lotte..." loud enough for Christine and I to hear. She looked up at him and her eyes widened in surprise, just like they did when she was on stage. Why did this boy intimidate her so? What was it about him?

She cracked a smile and licked away the tears that rolled onto her lips. "Oh, Raoul..." She responded.

"Oh, Little Lotte, how I've missed you..."

"I've missed you, as well. Oh, God... I thought I wouldn't ever see you again!"

Christine jumped onto her feet and threw herself at Raoul, embracing him. She sobbed into his shoulder, but she was smiling. Raoul hugged her back and ran his fingers through her beautiful hair, something that I often do as a sign of affection... He spoke, "Well, I am here now. And I will be here at the Opera House very often! I am the patron, after all."

Christine giggled and Raoul pushed her away. He grabbed her chin and had her look into his blue eyes. She turned red and he questioned, softly, "So what happened this evening? You were doing beautifully... why did you stop?"

She avoided his eyes as she answered, "Well... I suppose I choked up when I saw you."

"Really?" He let go of her chin, chuckling and so did she, stuffing a curl behind her ear.

They both stopped and stared at each other, silently. They both seemed so awkward. Raoul turned around and I was glad that he was leaving, but he actually shut the door and locked it. "Christine, you do know the reason I came isn't just to see the opera," He said. She eyed him, nervously, "Oh?"

He kissed her passionately and her eyes were wide with shock. I was about to interrupt, assuming that she wasn't enjoying it and thoroughly disgusted that this fop would even dare to touch her, but then I noticed that she shut her eyes and kissed back. I hesitated to move, feeling so overwhelmed.

Then I realised what was happening; Christine lied to, deceived, denied, rejected, left me! I felt like my heart exploded... not only did it break, it blew into countless pieces!

'There is nothing more important than you, Erik!' She said. But it was a lie. Every single time she said she loved me was a lie. Why would Christine do this to me? I wanted to make her pay... regret what she had done... but I couldn't hurt her! I could never hurt her! I love her! Raoul would be the one to pay!

My anger and hurt was unbearable so I couldn't stay in my hiding spot. I violently slid the mirror out of my way, and it shattered. Christine and Raoul broke free of their kiss and Christine, who was very out of breath, exclaimed, "Erik?" She gasped for air, and also, like she was surprised to see me here.

"Who's Erik?" Raoul wondered aloud. I walked over, my eyes were tight, gold slits, staring at him. His eyes narrowed at me. "I am Erik."

I wasn't going to hurt Raoul yet, so I kept my temper but my anger burned in my eyes. I couldn't hurt Raoul with Christine so close to him. In my angry haze, I could throw a lasso around Christine and not even realise it. So I smirked menacingly at him, pacing around him in a circle. He drew back, gulping, but he quickly recoiled. He threatened, "..Get the hell away. Why are you in Christine's dressing room... behind her mirror?"

"It is no business of yours, boy. Take your damned hands off of Christine, and get the hell away." I mocked him and he growled, pulling Christine close to him. "Never! Go away before I get the police!"

"Is that the best you can do, boy? Now, let go of Christine or I will make you," I reached my hand into my cloak and yanked out a rope. I couldn't wait any longer. It was already tied into my infamous punjab lasso and his grip on Christine tightened and she flinched. He couldn't find anything to say. I inched closer and closer, until eventually, "I will not let go! She is my fiancee!" He yelled, stopping me in my tracks.

"'Fiancee?'" Christine and I repeated in unison. Raoul's eyes wandered, in embarrassment, "Well, I was hoping you would be. That was partly the reason I came here. I was going to ask if you would marry me, Christine! I tried to fall in love with other women, but you were the only one whom I truly loved!" Raoul reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a ring, "Christine..." He murmured, staring down at it.

I faltered and looked at them both. Christine panicked because she knew that if she said something wrong, Raoul could be suffocated by my lasso. "Raoul, this is too soon! We haven't seen each other in years and you decide suddenly that you want to marry me? I-I can't!"

I kept quiet as long as I possibly could. I exploded and threw the rope around Raoul and he gasped. Christine ran backwards to save herself, just in case the rope was in her direction. She backed up until she hit the wall where she watched us, fearfully. I knocked Raoul to the ground and I towered above him as his eyes filled with tears of fright. I tightened the rope around his neck and he began to choke. "How dare you try to take Christine from me?" He kicked and fussed as he tried to take the lasso from his neck. Christine cried, "Erik, please do not kill him!"

But I kept pulling until he was quiet and Christine pushed me out of the way and stared at Raoul, who lay on the ground, motionlessly. "Erik! Why did you kill him? He did nothing wrong! All he did was love me!"

I tossed the rope onto Raoul and spat, "I didn't, but he will be out for days. Oh, Christine... I'm not losing you again!"

Christine hesitated, "Erik, I'll always love you... but could you loosen the rope, Erik? Please..."

I rolled my eyes and did exactly that then I started back down to my home. "There. Now you can go nurse your lover back to health." She glanced at Raoul then at me. "'Lover'? Erik, just a moment!" She followed and cut her foot on the glass shards on the ground, then winced in pain. "Erik, I'm coming with you!" Her bleeding foot couldn't compare to my broken heart, I didn't care if she was in pain. She limped over to me, her eyelid twitching as she stepped on her cut foot, "Erik, please! I am sorry you saw Raoul and I kissing! And I'm sorry that I ruined everything... after all you've taught me, too! Please, Erik! I love you!"

I continued to travel to the underground lake, wordlessly, and Christine lagged behind. She grunted every now and then because of the pain in her foot. I pushed the boat into the water and stepped into it. "Erik, wait! Please, listen to me!"

I didn't turn to face her, but I reached my hand out and she gladly took it and pulled herself into the boat. I rowed and I never looked down at her.

When I went to help her out of the boat, then she saw my face. My cheeks were wet with tears and I wasn't looking at her. She began to sniffle, "Erik, I'm so sorry..."

I slowly turned to face her and her cheeks were already moist with tears. "I am sure you meant no harm. Come, you're leaving a puddle of blood in my boat." I allowed her to step out of the boat. She began to walk towards the bedroom and I stopped her, "You shouldn't be walking on that, Christine. You will just agitate the wound." I scooped her up in my arms and brought her to the bedroom. On the way, she asked me, "Are you angry at me?"
"I suppose."

She sighed and I smiled down at her, "But I will forgive you... if you tell me what that fop has to do with you and that you will stay away from him."

"Oh, Erik, I cannot stay away from Raoul!"

"Why not?"
"He is a friend of mine..."

"Do you kiss all of your friends that way? Because I surely have not seen you and Meg greet each other in such a fashion." I said, sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, Erik. But Raoul and I were childhood sweethearts."

I froze. "So you kissed him... because you love him."