A Place In My Heart
Chapter Ten
The group turned and four sets of stunned eyes fell on Christine. She took a step back, letting out a cry of dismay. Lady Chanson looked appalled.
"Christine, dear, what's the matter?"
"Christine, is that you?" Philippe said in amazement. But her eyes were fixed on Thomas de Fenz, who had gone pale at the sight of her. Christine wasn't so sure that she had much colour left. To him, and the de Chagnys, it seemed as though they were confronted by a spirit, a ghost. How could Christine have possibly ended up here, and dressed wonderfully, looking so beautiful? How could the girl who had been so traumatised come to be in another country, resplendent and glowing?
"I'm sorry… you know each other?" Lady Chanson said in surprise. Thomas moved towards Christine and she cried out, turning and rushing away as fast as she could, pushing past people. Instantly Thomas, Philippe, Monsieur and Madame de Chagny went after her, with a curious Lady Chanson in tow.
Erik had been talking quietly with Nadir when Christine appeared at his side, looking ill. He frowned.
"Christine, what is the matter?"
"He's here, Erik! Thomas is here!" She cried desperately, looking behind her.
"What?" Erik hissed. And then he caught sight of the group of people struggling through the crowd and turned to Nadir.
"Fetch Meg and Marie. We're leaving immediately."
Nadir disappeared into the crowd and Erik took Christine's hand, pulling her along. They both started to walk swiftly towards the doors of the ballroom. But there was a shout and Christine felt a hand on her arm. The music stopped abruptly and everyone fell silent as the de Chagny family and Thomas stared at Christine.
"Christine, what on earth happened to you? We were looking everywhere for you!" said Monsieur de Chagny. Lady Chanson interrupted,
"You have already met?"
"Christine grew up in our household. She was engaged to our son, Raoul, before he died." Madame de Chagny explained. These revelations brought forward a few murmurs and Thomas said,
"We assumed you had been kidnapped, Christine. What happened? And who is he?" He looked distastefully at Erik.
Christine swallowed hard and stepped back from Thomas, moving closer to Erik who said calmly,
"I, Monsieur, am Erik Dumas. And frankly, if you have nothing further to say, my wife and I were just leaving.
"Your wife?" Philippe said incredulously and Thomas stared at him.
"What the hell are you talking about? Christine is my fiancée!"
A gasp went up. Erik's jaw was set stonily and he said in a cold tone,
"I beg to differ."
"We were engaged before she vanished. I suppose you're the man who kidnapped her and held her hostage for months!" Thomas spat. Christine glared at him.
"Thomas, stop it! You know exactly what happened."
"How can you be married?" Madame de Chagny said faintly.
Nadir, Marie and Meg moved to stand with Christine and Erik. Thomas' eyes fell on Marie and he frowned in recognition. She looked at him icily. Lady Chanson was wringing her hands.
"I'm sure this is all just some misunderstanding."
"I can assure you, Lady Chanson, that there is no misunderstanding here. Christine Daae was engaged to me." Thomas said furiously. Christine spat,
"No, I was not! You're insane, Thomas. Why don't you tell them the truth? Tell them how you killed Raoul in front of me, how you took Marie hostage, how you tried to rape me!"
Gasps and mutters went up at this. Madame de Chagny stepped towards her, looking concerned.
"Christine, why do you keep insisting these things? They can't possibly be true. You and Thomas grew up together, you were close friends, how can you say those things about him?"
"Because they're true, Madame. Thomas de Fenz murdered your son." Christine said quietly and Madame de Chagny put a hand to her mouth. But she still did not believe what Christine was saying.
Thomas turned to Lady Chanson.
"I'm afraid that Christine has been suffering from insanity for some time. She just doesn't know what she's saying."
"Don't you dare, Thomas. Don't you dare to lie to them again. I am not insane and have never been your fiancée." Christine said in a cold, quiet voice. Thomas looked at her sympathetically.
"Christine, my darling, you don't have to pretend anymore. I want to take you home, we can be happy and safe there."
Erik pulled Christine closer to him.
"Monsieur, I would appreciate it if you did not make those suggestions to my wife." He said angrily. Thomas looked from him to Christine. She instinctively moved to Erik and his arm moved around her protectively.
"Who are you exactly?" Monsieur de Chagny demanded. Erik said,
"As I have already said, my name is Erik Dumas. I am a musician."
"And you… you're married? When? How?" Madame de Chagny said in disbelief.
Philippe moved forward.
"Why don't we let Christine tell us what happened to her, in her view?" he looked at Thomas who shrugged, looking towards Christine longingly. Erik looked down at her.
"Tell them, Christine."
Christine took a deep breath and looked towards Monsieur and Madame de Chagny.
"It was when Raoul and I were travelling to Paris, to see family. Our carriage was overtaken by Thomas' men and he came to us. He asked me to break my engagement to Raoul and marry him instead. I refused and he… he shot Raoul."
"How can you possibly believe that to be true?" Thomas said, turning to the de Chagny family. But Philippe hushed him and looked at Christine.
"Go on, Christine."
She licked her dry lips, her hands shaking.
"Thomas set off back to Nice, so he wouldn't be able to be blamed for Raoul's death, leaving the men to bring me back. He was going to claim that the trauma of Raoul's death had driven me mad and he was going to marry me. But… but when the carriages stopped for the night, I managed to escape into the woods. The men were chasing after me and I found my way to a castle, to Erik's home. I climbed a tree and jumped onto the wall, so I could get inside and find help. But I slipped and fell inside the grounds. Erik found me and took me to his home. I lived there for several months, with Erik, Marie and Meg."
Christine gestured to the Girys.
"And soon Nadir joined us as well. Erik… Erik and I fell in love. One day Marie and Nadir went to the local town to buy supplies. Whilst they were there Thomas' men attacked them and took Marie prisoner, sending Nadir back to the castle. He was told to tell me that if I wanted to help Marie, I had to go to Thomas. I went and he released her in exchange for me staying with him."
She breathed deeply, recovering herself. Erik took her hand and that simple gesture gave her strength.
"I was with Thomas for over a week. Twice he tried to rape me, but failed both times. I tried to tell you, Monsieur, Madame, when you visited but he told you that I was insane. That night I managed to escape. Erik had come to find me and when we were reunited, we all of us left the castle. We came to England, Nadir has a home here. We've been living here since."
Christine fell silent and a tear fell down her cheek. She brushed it away and turned to bury her face in Erik's chest. He held her tightly and she let out a sob.
"I won't, Erik… I won't leave you!" She cried, looking up at him, "Don't let them…" She couldn't go on and Erik kissed her chastely, pressing his lips to her mouth, her forehead, holding as tightly as he could.
"No. No, I won't let them take you." He said in a choked voice, curling his fingers into her hair as she clung to him.
"This is ridiculous!" Thomas said furiously. Everyone turned at him, Christine with tears running down her face. He looked at her, a heart-wrenching look on his face.
"Christine, how can you say that? I love you. How can you accuse me of…?"
Erik looked at him and said in a dangerously calm voice,
"That is quite enough. We're leaving. My apologies, Lady Chanson, but I will not subject Christine to this any longer."
"Don't you move, you bastard!" Thomas spat. Lady Chanson looked appalled.
"Viscount de Fenz!"
"You're not going anywhere." Thomas hissed. Erik glared at him.
"Frankly, monsieur, you have neither the right nor the power to stop me." He said angrily.
And then several people screamed as Thomas drew a pistol from his belt and pointed it, with a trembling hand, at Erik and Christine. Christine gasped and Erik quickly moved to stand in front of her. Philippe moved forward to stop Thomas but he jabbed the gun at him and he stopped. Thomas turned his gaze back to the couple before him.
"Christine… Christine, come to me. You don't have to pretend anymore." He said.
Christine shook her head, shaking furiously.
"Thomas, you're mad." She said fearfully. Thomas frowned slightly.
"Christine, what are you doing? I love you. Come to me. We'll go back to France, we'll get married, everything we ever wanted can be ours. Just come to me now."
"Christine, don't move." Erik murmured. Thomas glared at him and aimed the gun at his chest.
"Let her go, you monster!"
"Thomas, no!" Christine cried. This was impossible… this couldn't be happening again. No… she had lost Raoul. She would not lose Erik!
Thomas looked at her, the gun still pointed at Erik.
"Come to me, Christine. I'll destroy him, he won't hurt you anymore."
"Don't, Christine." Erik said. Christine swallowed hard.
"Thomas… Thomas, don't shoot him. I'm coming. Just… just put the gun down. Don't shoot anyone."
She stepped past Erik and he cried out, catching her hand. She looked back at him and shook her head quickly, pulling her hand from his grasp. Everyone watched a horrified fascination as she moved slowly towards the trembling viscount. Her eyes flickered from his face to the gun. She became level with his hand and slowly placed her own over it.
"Thomas… put it down." She said gently.
Thomas stared at her. She met his eyes and said again,
"Put the gun down." Slowly, painfully slowly, the gun lowered. Christine watched its descent until it hung limply at his side. She looked quickly at his face again. He was staring at her, his eyes glazed over again. And then he smiled brightly.
"Christine! Where have you been? I've been looking for you!" He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately. Christine jerked her head back and he frowned.
"Darling, what's wrong?"
"Thomas, don't." She said. Thomas blinked and smiled.
"Don't be so shy, my love."
"Thomas, you have to stop this." Christine said desperately. She looked down and saw the gun still in his hand. He looked down too and his eyes widened. For some moments he didn't speak and then his face creased.
"I don't understand… Christine, why did you leave me?" He moaned in despair. And then he fell forward on her, holding her tightly, his head on her shoulder and she could feel his tears on her skin. She hesitated and then touched his arm.
"Thomas…"
But he fell to his knees, still grasping her, so she was forced down too. And still he wept. Christine stared down at him as he clung to her. She looked up at the de Chagny family who were looking at her in horror and amazement, as was every other person in the room. Christine wanted nothing more then to stand and run to Erik. But instead she placed her arms around Thomas and held him like a mother holding a scared child, forcing herself to be brave.
"Christine…" He sobbed.
"I'm here. I'm here, Thomas." She whispered. She swallowed hard and began to recite quietly, "'Little Lotte let her mind wander. Little Lotte thought… thought am I fonder of dolls or of goblins or shoes? Or of riddles or frocks…'"
Thomas fell still, his head falling into her lap. Christine stroked his hair softly.
"'Or… or of chocolates." He didn't move. Christine squeezed her eyes shut, repressing the tears, determined to finish. Thomas lifted his head to look up at her, his eyes pleading.
"'No – What I like best, Lotte said, is when I'm asleep in my bed." Christine choked, feeling a sob rising in her throat.
"And the Angel of Music sings songs in my head. The Angel of Music sings songs in my head."
A tear slid down her cheek and Thomas touched it tenderly. Christine watched him and he looked at her. A look of sorrow and despair filled his handsome face. Christine licked her dry lips. Thomas stared at her and then whispered,
"What have I done, Christine? Why can't I remember?"
"You're not well, Thomas. You've got to see a doctor. Someone to help you get better."
"Where is Raoul?" He asked in confusion.
Christine couldn't help giving a sob. She covered her mouth with a hand and Thomas frowned.
"Why are you crying?"
"Thomas… Raoul is…" She stopped and closed her eyes briefly before looking at him again, her breathing shallow and ragged. "Raoul isn't here. He's… he's gone away for a while."
"He'll be back soon?" Thomas asked.
Christine nodded. Thomas smiled.
"Good. The three of us together again." He frowned slightly and touched her face.
"The blood is gone now."
Christine bit into her lip so hard she could taste the metallic tang in her mouth. After a moment she managed to say,
"Why don't you… why don't you go to sleep for a little while? I'll… I'll wake you when Raoul gets here." Thomas smiled and nodded. He seemed to be completely oblivious to the crowd around them.
"Alright, I'll sleep."
He lay down with his head nestled in Christine's lap. Her heart almost stopped. It was… just as she'd held Raoul when he died. Thomas looked at her.
"Sing to me, Christine? You always sang so beautifully."
"Yes… yes, I'll sing." She said quietly. He closed his eyes and she began to sing quietly, so they had to strain to hear her.
"Think of me
Think of me fondly
When we've said goodbye."
She took a breath to stop herself sobbing and carried on, her voice painfully constricted.
"Remember me
Once in a while please
Promise me you'll try
When you find
That once again you long
To take your heart back and be free
If you ever find a moment
Spare a thought for me."
Thomas' breathing had become regular and there was a peaceful expression on his face as he slept. Christine couldn't help it. She let out a heart-wrenching sob, the tears falling freely. She gazed down at the man in her lap and wailed, covering her face with her hands.
And no one could move. No one could say anything or do anything other than stare at the weeping girl in their centre.
Eventually Philippe moved forward and lifted Thomas, Monsieur de Chagny moving forward to help his son carry the viscount. They took him out without speaking. Madame de Chagny gazed at Christine who was staring at the floor, and then she followed her husband and son out.
Nobody spoke. All attention turned slowly to the girl who still knelt on the floor. And then Erik moved forward and knelt beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder and she turned to him, eyes streaming.
"Erik…" She whispered and he put his arms around her.
"Christine. It's alright." He told her. She sobbed heavily into him, letting out keening cries and not caring for a moment what everyone around her thought. Erik lifted her in his arms, much as he had earlier that day. But he did not want that from her now. All he wanted now was to make her safe and happy.
He looked over at Lady Chanson, who looked like she was about to start crying. He murmured an apology to her and she nodded dumbly. The first time he had ever heard her wordless. And then he carried Christine to the doors, Nadir, Marie and Meg following.
A/N: Another update coming tonight!