Her Story by GoldenLyre
Chapter 12
Previous disclaimer applies.
His crystalline blue eyes shone with tears, his heartbreak apparent in his expression. I stood there, agape, my hand still on his marred cheek. He looked at me as if it were the final time he was going to, and he waded away from me, his shoulders hunched in painful defeat…
Hearing Raoul choke broke me out of my reverie. "Christine!" I quickly, dutifully, waded over to him and untied him. As soon as the ropes came loose, Raoul had me in a tight embrace. My heart wrenched in my chest as I heard Erik's voice resound in heartbreaking pain, "Go now! Go now, and leave me!"
I immediately pulled away from Raoul and looked him in the eye. He looked confused as he asked, "Christine, what's the matter?" My bottom lip trembled as I knew of the pain that I was going to cause him. "Raoul I can't marry you!" I blurted with a sob. Tears collected in my eyes again – the thought of losing my friend again flooding my mind.
He looked at me in shock. I sniffed, and he still did not say a thing. He eventually looked away from me, still unable to say anything. When he did, he gulped and whispered, "It's him, isn't it? The Phantom - it is the Phantom whom you love, right?" I shakily looked up at him and nodded uncertainly.
Jealousy and defeat battled for dominance on his features. He looked away, unable to say anything. I was trembling all over in anticipation of what he had to say of my confession. His reaction was somewhat… subdued, however.
"Christine, I love you. Does that mean anything anymore?"
He looked at me again, and I saw frustrated defeat blaze in his eyes. That frightened me slightly… Raoul was a man of power in society – God knows what he's capable of doing when driven emotionally! I chose my words carefully…
"Raoul, I took comfort in your company once, I truly did. And I did love you once, I think. That was probably when we were children… You loved Little Lottie, Raoul… But now she has grown up. She has fallen in love with her Angel of Music…"
He looked at me, tears filling his eyes. Sorrow and helplessness engulfed me at his reaction. Then he said softly, "Then let her go to him. He's waiting."
I gave Raoul one last embrace which he returned hesitantly. When I pulled away, I looked at him once more and whispered to him, "Goodbye, my friend…"
He smiled shakily and pushed me away, encouraging me to go to my beloved.
I walked into the bedroom that Erik always gave me whenever I had come to stay for our lessons. He was sitting on the edge of the bed, tearfully singing along to the tinkling music that came from the music box.
"Masquerade…
Paper faces on parade…
Masquerade…
Hide your face so the world will never find you…"
The Erik I had once known to be so strong and composed was broken… Before me sat a man whom could very well die of heartbreak. Tears blurred my vision again as I knew how much those words had more meaning to him than it did anyone else. My heart swelled for him, once again clarifying that I wanted to do anything possible to keep him from the atrocities of human nature.
He turned his gaze to me, and sang to me ever so beautifully despite the tears that shone in his azure eyes, "Christine, I love you…" I bit my lip, gulping back a sob at his proclamation, which was sung with such defeat… His eyes never left mine as I walked over to him and held him in a tight embrace.
I could feel his shoulders wrack with sobs as he buried his face into my corset. His arms came around me desperately like a man hanging onto a lifeline. I planted a kiss on his forehead and whispered loudly enough for him to hear, "I love you too…"
He pulled away from me hesitantly and looked up at me. I knelt before him and my hand stroked his deformity. His gaze held mine disbelievingly, as if I were only a cruel illusion. I leaned forward and planted kisses all over his scars, silently proving that I was there, I was real. His cheek was wet with tears, and I kissed them away too, providing what comfort I could to this man who had given me so much. So much that I did not deserve.
"Do you mean it this time?"
Erik's voice was almost childlike in its soft nervousness. I looked at him, my fingers tracing his scars as my lips just did. I whispered to him, "I always have…" Desperation returned to his eyes and he exclaimed, turning his face away from me, "Do not jest, Christine! I heard you on the rooftop with your Vicomte! Why didn't you go with him and leave me be!"
By this time he was pacing his room with his head in his hands. I stayed where I was and explained myself softly, calmly… Well, attempted to: "Erik, you killed a man that night… tell me I hadn't the right to be frightened of you. And to seek comfort in an embrace of a friend. The kiss was completely uncalled for, and I didn't feel a thing… I kept comparing that to you… Look at me in the eye, Erik! Tell me!" I ended up yelling hysterically, desperate to get him to understand how I felt that night.
As if on command, his teary eyes looked into mine, silently seeking the forgiveness that I had already given him by accepting him. Hesitantly he asked, "How could you possibly forgive me for that? I even attempted to kill your friend! How could you give yourself to a murderer, Christine, how?" His expression turned hysterical. I stood up as quickly as the soggy gown would allow and wrapped my arms around his waist in a warm embrace.
"Because no matter what, he's my Angel of Music too. And I love him… more than anything else in the world…" I whispered into the opening of his shirt, against his skin. I felt him shiver and his arms came around me, almost overwhelming me as his frame was larger than mine. He planted small kisses on my shoulder, up to my neck… I shivered in response.
"I'll spend the rest of my life to prove my worth, Christine. I swear it…" He whispered into my ear. I replied just as softly, "Erik… you already have…" Then no more words were said, we only remained in each others' embrace…
The fragile peace was shattered as I could hear angry yells of a mob making their way down to the lair. Erik heard it too as he pulled away and spoke softly, "We have to leave." He made his way out of the bedroom with his hand in mine.
The mob had come sooner than expected, with Meg and Raoul on the sidelines. A dreadful cloud of sudden silence fell over us.
TBC
A/n: MOOHAHA the glorious twist. I figured I wanna make it longer than usual, just to spice things up ;) And also, I don't want Erik and Christine to be on the run from the fuzz coz hell, wat about the kids? P and I highly doubt that a life of a criminal is a life that they both deserve to live. I've read so many fics where they were living on the run, and I didn't want that to happen. Ok im done rambling…
I LOVE my reviewers! You all are incredible and this fic would have been nothin without ya'll!
monroe-mary : Poo. I forgot I reassured you. P meh took the fun out of it. Oh well! You are 100 right about Le Fop having the gift (which is probly the only thing hes good at) of ill-timed appearances. Stoopid fop. And hope you enjoyed the explanation bit ;)
Bumble0Bee : girl, I'm hardcore EC! Never ever will you see me write something that will have Christine romancing Le Fop. I mean, she could get hair gel all over her hands if she runs her hands thru his hair! Gross.. The gel really sticks. It's disgusting.
Number 356 : honey when you're an EC shipper, no matter how hardcore, you NEVER apologise for it! It sez so in the EC Union Handbook :P
SilverRose12 : oohh.. new reviewer! Hey there! Hahaa.. glad you saw my point about Erik's split personality.. ok I never thought he was schitzo, just the fact that he was one person once, and another the next moment :P haha, thank you so much.. I was actually really iffy about capturing Christine.. But I'm glad you think I did it well :D it boosts the confidence a lot ;) Aand.. YEAH LETS BURN LE FOP! Wahaha we're evil shippers. Moohaha – hope you enjoyed the new chapter!
ElvenLadyOfLegolas : Hahahaa! Thank you so much! (bows) I try to make it as believable as possible… and yes, Le Fop is rather ridiculous for sleeping outside her door. And everyone calls the PHANTOM obsessive? Lol! Heeerre's the update! Hope u likeys:D
LovingMemory : HELLO! I think I reviewed one of your stories beore.. :D totally luved it Kat 097 is my favourite author! Her works are just the best ever! She had my vote for the PhanPhic Awards :D oh yeah – invisible camels? Do they eat hair gel:D that would be REALLY handy! ;)
Cara and Hans : Hahahaa! Your review is by far the most enthusiastic – thank you so much! You really know how to make an author feel luved hugs I was also frustrated with the ending, so I decided to change it! Well duh :P Hope the update was satisfactory.. I knew it took forever, but I had exams. Still do, actually :P anyway.. here ya go!
Maeve of the Nile : WOW! After disappearing you're back! Hahaha! I suppose the cliffy MADE you review.. lol! Well, moohaha! I have updated. And another cliffy. MOOHAHAHA!
Razzy : oooh! I promoted my story didn't I.. ehehehh.. (sheepy) I got no shame, as you can see, and I am psyched that you're impressed.. and thanks! I'm gonna need it! Hahaa! Hope this was worth waiting for:D
Ps to everyone : I know it took forever and I'm really sorry. Damn the GCSE people! Next chappie comin soon hopefully ) Till then, hope you guys enjoyed this!
Heaps of luve
GoldenLyre / Kel