A/N: Yeah! An update for Lotte! With all these fics it's hard to keep up! Oh well, here goes.
Chapter Five: A Dream and a Mask
Lotte woke in a cold sweat trying to remember what had made her wake... then she remembered. She'd had her usual nightmare, only this time she'd watched through Erik's eyes, which was quite odd, but she still remembered that mask. That was what disturbed her the most, the awful, hot, sticky feeling of that mask. She didn't like the fact that Erik would put himself through that discomfort, for anything.
Lotte looked out a window and saw the sun rising, she wondered if Erik would be up yet. She decided to see.
Erik looked up from the organ he was composing at and saw what it was that had disturbed him, Lotte, and in her night clothes no less. What was she doing?
"Erik..." Her was soft and tearful.
"Yes Lotte?"
"W..Why do you where that mask?" The question caught him off guard, he wondered why Christine hadn't asked. He touched the mask remembering that awful incident, just two days ago.
"I...Why do you want to know?" His voice was icy, he hadn't meant it to be and the look that crossed her face hurt him.
"I.. I had a dream, my usual nightmare only.. only I saw it through your eyes..." She looked up at him and the conviction in her eyes and voice touched his heart, she was really concerned. "Why would you wear something so uncomfortable?"
"You wish to know why? This is why..." His voice held such sadness, the sadness he usually hid. He removed the mask, closing his eyes and waiting for her reaction, the fright. He was surprised when instead he felt her cool hand touch the hideous distortion and even more surprised when she kissed the distorted side of his face.
"I don't see why Christine was so afraid... I see nothing here to fear. Erik, would you... when your around me, could you please not wear the? It hurts me to think of you wearing that awful thing." All he could do was nod silently as he fought back the tears that threatened to spill at her compassion.
"Lotte...Lotte my child..." His voice was barely above a whisper. The tears fell and she reached up and wiped them away smiling sadly. "Lotte, you have done me a great kindness. You have shown me compassion that no one else has ever shown me, not even my own mother. Thank you." Once again Erik found himself pulling Lotte to him and kissing her, before he realized what he was doing. He finally pulled away and looked at Lotte's flushed face, she averted her eyes, he knew she was waiting for the reaction he'd had last time. He slowly sat down and placed his head in his hands. "Lotte... I don't know what to do... I-I love Christine, but I find myself thinking of you, and here you have shown the compassion for me she lacks..."
"Erik... Erik I love you more than life it's self," she said softly, lowering herself to her before him. She took his hands in her's. "Erik, all I want is for you to be happy, but when I'm with you, all my fears from the past disappear... I... I feel like myself. Like those horrible things never happened to me..." Erik closed his eyes, trying to think.
"Why... why do you do this to me? Do you not know what torment this is for me?" He whispered.
Lotte grimaced at the pain in his voice. It her to know she was hurting him.
"Erik, I am truly sorry if I am causing you pain, I only wanted you to know how I feel. I suppose I should leave….. so you can try to win Christine…" Oh, how it hurt to say that. She rose from the floor and turned to leave. She took a step forward and ten felt Erik's hand close around her wrist.
"Lotte…." She loved the way he said her name.
"Erik, say my name, my real name….." She closed her eyes, relishing his touch, but she did not turn.
"Angelique…..Angelique Lireal Chastain…" Lotte shivered with delight, his voice sent chills down her spine.
"I love the way you say that…" she whispered. She turned, Erik still had her wrist, and he was still sitting. His eyes were so full of sadness….. He let go of her wrist and she through her arms around him. "Oh Erik…" she sobbed. "Erik.. I love you so much."
Damn her….. he thought. He put his arms around her. He loved her, he knew, but he felt that he was betraying Christine….. He loved her first. He did love her didn't he? But she tore the mask from your face and then was frightened remember….. a small voice in the back of his nagged at him. He hated his indecision, it was starting to get annoying, it truly was. He sighed, and then inhaled the lavender sent of Lotte's hair.
"Lotte, I love you so much,…. but Christine…." He regretted the words, as soon as they left his mouth.
Lotte pulled out of Erik's embrace.
"Christine? Christine!" She felt her heart breaking. "I don't know what to say to you Erik, I have professed my undying love for you and you still insist on loving her. She doesn't love you Erik! She loves the Viscount! She fears you, I do not. I wish I could make you see reason, but I see now that I won't. I'm afraid I can't see you any more, my love. It just hurts to much. Good bye and good luck." She turned from him, from his beautiful face, tears streaming down her cheeks and she began to walk away.
My love…. she had called him my love…. Erik watched helplessly as she walked away. He had hurt her and that hurt him, but Christine was priority. Christine was his first love, Lotte.. Lotte was something else entirely. He felt an overwhelming loneliness as she disappeared.
He put the mask back on and began to prepare for the Il Muto gala.
A/N So depressing. Oh well please review… please. I think the next story I update will be Creature of Darkness. Oh well, until next time! Review….review…..