Chapter 9 Truth

Sometime before dawn he woke her gently, and they talked quietly. His mind was in a turmoil but he didn't want to leave without reassuring her. "Christine, you needn't worry. Things will return to normal soon, I promise you. Mme has told Andre and Firmin my story, and I am composing a new piece for the Operahouse. We could stay here he said softly, "you could be the new diva, and I the maestro. With you I could have the courage to seek help from the doctors I ran from before. There are some who can heal my face-- and some that can help with… my anger."

She was quiet for a moment. " Could that really happen?"

" Yes definitely. It is why I am here-- I ran from the surgeons in fear as a young child and was kidnapped and displayed in a gypsy carnival." He looked away in shame, feeling very conscious of the morning light starting to creep over the horizon. "Mme helped me to escape and I have been here since. I'm not sure about the psychologists --doctors of the mind Mme keeps telling me to seek. There are none here, as it is a new science-- I would have to go abroad. And the surgeons are in Germany. You are why I have not left."

" This would be wonderful…you are my angel. This is the dream. Oh…. I don't know what to do about Raoul," she said with a furrowed brow. "He is an old friend Erik-- you did not understand that." And I do love him… you cannot harm him." She softened her look as she could barely make out his features that revealed a frowning Phantom. "I love you though, as I have for so long. He loves me…he would not understand. If we decided to run away now-- he would hunt us-- send everyone in his power to find me. He would never believe I went with you willingly, and would not give up."

"Very well. You must go on as if nothing happened, for awhile longer. Break it off with him gently, perhaps he will also give up his patronage of the opera house when he is discouraged." He looked outside and saw the light was beginning to show and felt instantly vulnerable. He still could not bear for her to see him, even with the mask on, he knew he was disheveled. " I must go now. I will talk to Meg and Mme and tell them why you haven't seemed-- well. He grasped her hand before he left. He bent to kiss her, then vanished. She made her way through the opening between the rooms, which then vanished as she crossed the threshold.