Chapter 18
Erik's Lair
Christine and Erik, resolving their inner pain at the ruin they've encountered, are finally able to resume the order of business. Christine's ankle still stinging from turning it when they left the train, Erik set about trying to get her down to his lair, where he had materials to bind her ankle and keep it from further injury. They had checked the wardrobe in Christine's changing room and discovered that all the clothing had been pilfered, there was nothing there but some dried up flowers and old play bills from Carlotta's stint at the Populaire as resident diva. That repulsive prop head she held up in Hannibal, if Christine lived to be 100 she would never care for that scene, holding that head, prop or no, was too much. Naturally, that was still there; disgusting her further.
"I am ready to go, Erik. Take me down once more my love!" She gazed into his eyes; there was that magic, her angel of music again.
Erik looked at her with eyes shining brightly with the undisguised love and desire overwhelming him. It really did come to him at the oddest times. That was the last thing that they needed to be thinking about right now, but he was powerless to stop that feeling when his eyes drank in his beautiful Christine and caught her full gaze; when he looked into her eyes and encountered her soul and her longing for him there wantonly mirroring his. He shook his head, blinked his eyes and turned away to lead them through the mirror as he had done that first night, after "Think of me" bound him to her in utter obsession ever after. If he needed to think of when he truly felt they were one meant to be united, that would be when he would say it happened. God forgive him, he loved his blessed angel of music. She was a prayer and he was worshipping God with her very essence when he consumed the vision that is his Christine. Onward they walked; slowly entering the long corridor cold and damp, though neither one noticed this. They found themselves staring at each others hands as they walked. Erik lit the way with his candelabra, lighting the torches on either side as they encountered them.
He finally said; "Wait here, my dearest Christine, I shall be right back." He raced ahead swiftly and deftly, lighting the way for them on either side of the wall, down the stairs, to the lake and thus returning to her side. Then Erik blew out the candelabra and placed it on the ground where they stood. Erik bent down slightly in a bow, of sorts, in front of Christine, looked her in the eyes the whole time, straightened up and said: "My darling, I know that your ankle is painful and you have been so brave to continue to move on it, I wish to relieve you of your pain for a few moments. If I may be permitted, it would be my great honor to carry you to the lake, mademoiselle."
After Erik said this, he bent down and grasped her around the waist, pulling her up to him; he lifted her up his length slowly and leisurely, leaving no question of his desire for her, until she was face to face with him. Erik knew he would not be able to do anything to squelch their insatiable needs where they were here in the tunnel made of stone, however he could kiss her. He lifted his head from where he had momentarily nestled in her neck, breathing in her heady scent of fresh flowers. He drew their lips closer and closer together, looking hungrily at her, until her mouth could take it no more. Leaning across the small space that still remained between them and placing her hands behind his neck, she met his lips with such eroticism, tugging at his lip before they began to search one another's mouths exploring all the promises each held for the other. They drew apart some time later, Erik unsure if he would be able to move with her against him, God he wished that he would have closed his eyes when he said he would carry her, but he could not block Christine from him, it was a losing battle. He took every ounce of self control he had and breathed deeply before swinging her to his side and collecting her legs in his waiting arm. Christine rested her head upon his shoulder, she was so grateful to him for all he had done to heal her memories.
The trip down to the lake was unhurried and intimate, with much stopping along the way so that Erik could regain control of his reeling senses. He just could not shake his longing for her. He wondered if she truly knew how deeply and totally she had affected him. There was no space between where he existed and she existed in his mind anymore, they were one soul with two bodies, truly that was the only way to try to explain the extreme unction, yes that was it! It was as if he knew this was all he wanted when they were here last, communion between the two souls, to attach forever together through this passion they ignited at the mere sight of one another. He needed to have her here to put things to rest. His body would not stop insisting that he complete his ache, put a stop to the torture this place held for him so many, many years.
"Erik, my darling, you are so silent, are you alright? I worry that maybe I am too much weight for you to bear on these stones. I will try to walk if you need me to."
Erik paused at this, she could not have been further from the reason he was not talking, was the torchlight so dim that she could not see the longing etched in every feature visible for her to view. Could she not feel the longing stabbing her as he would slacken his hold on her to look down at his next precarious step? He was so utterly powerless;
With a groan he let her to her feet and crushed her to him, kissing her with deep abandon, Oh glory to be able to do this and not fear capture or recriminations for his desire. This was total ecstasy holding her against him, having her melt with him; quite finding it difficult to speak. With thick longing in his throat he spoke at last; "We must rest when we get to the lair, I fear that my concentration has been deeply compromised, if you don't mind mademoiselle, I wish to claim you here in this place which held so much unrequited love for me. Put my sorrow and loss to rest at last. Then we shall move on, if my lady will oblige me, perhaps even feel the same way?"
Christine just looked at him, totally rocked by the heady emotions, memories and the pain that had been throbbing more and more, she certainly was completely unable to answer him at all. She stammered out; "Oh Erik, my God, I don't know what to say about anything, yes, I agree with you."
Erik picked her back up and with supreme effort to concentrate a bit longer; he got her to the lake. They entered the boat and he lit the torches on the boat. Woodenly guiding the boat across the lake, they arrived on the other side; his lair at last. This was such a foreign feeling to be longing to arrive here. He went ahead, docked the boat and stepped onto the ground. He lit the lanterns and candelabra's that were left intact. Erik hardly noticed the destruction in his lair right now, as he was so focused on arriving and seeing if the swan bed was still intact. He moved automatically over to the room, of sorts, and saw that there was nothing on the bed but the sheets he had left on. He gave a wry smile when he saw that, then he returned to Christine, eyes smoldering.
"My darling, we are here. Let me weave my power over you yet again. Forever I will cherish you. Allow me wipe the memories of torment from us with new memories of our love." He carried Christine from the boat and ever so slowly began to move over to his bed.
Christine was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed at the implications as it was so much since she was still recovering; "Erik, if you can stand it could we rest for now. I'm feeling so feeble after the journey back here that I really have to rest. Come and set me on the bed. Please come and hold me."
Erik let out a groan as he softly set her down on the bed; churlishly he replied; "I think I shall take stock of what is still around here we can actually use!"
Christine looked at him instantly regretting her demands. "Erik, I am sorry for needing to rest, it has been such a long day with so much emotional release and I must rest for my head to relax as well as my body."
Feeling foolish for being so forward on his demands suddenly Erik looked at Christine and really saw her lack of color and ashen features dimming her radiant beauty; his heart twisting in his chest with guilt over his selfishness.
"I am such a fool Christine, of course you may rest, I am sorry for my impatience. I shall be quiet in my quest for supplies, when I am done I shall join you to rest for the evening. Sleep well, my dear." Erik went over to her once more and gently kissed her forehead. She looked up at him and smiled a weak smile, suddenly she was so much more then simply exhausted, she felt warm to Erik's lips when he met her forehead, and she was slightly feverish once again. The day had taken its toll on her; she really needed the rest. When she was asleep he would check on her ankle and attempt to fix it more effectively to heal fast from its sprain. "Sleep easy my dear, I shall guard over you while you recover your strength. Fear not, you shall be safe in my care."
"Erik, will you sing to me? It seems to be the only thing I can think of right now, your beautiful voice lulling me to unconsciousness once again. The dreams you evoke are so exquisite they cause me to feel as if I am floating through the world in a haze of flowers and sunlight. You are the warmth around me and your promise of security my wings." Christine shivered and Erik, noticing this, gets the blanket and brings it over to her to cover her. He is moved to tears by her great beauty; such a contrast to his great disfigurement. "Thank you Erik." Christine said simply, smiling a sweet smile and closing her weary eyes. He knelt by her side, cradling her head in his arms he began to sing in a voice little over a whisper;
(La donna é mobile)
Qual piuma al vento,
Muto d’accento - e di pensiero.
Sempre un'amabile
Leggiadro viso,
In pianto o in riso - e menzogner.
Esempre misero
Chi a lei s’affida,
Chi le confida - mal cauto il cor!
Pur mai non sentesi
Felice appieno
Chi su quel seno - Non liba amor!
Translation( for the uncultured, like me) of "La donna é mobile" from the opera – Rigoletto by Verdi. (Not my work!)
The women are unsettled
As feathers in the wind,
Each moment changes their minds.
In tears, or even smiles,
Yes, women's lovely face,
Forever beguiles us!
The men that is so mad
to trust a women's heart
forever must be sad.
But still there is no bliss,
Upon this earth compared
To that of a sweet kiss!
Erik chose to sing a song from Rigoletto because of the ironic twists the opera has in it. He rather likes the deception in the story and particularly finds repose in the words of this song. He has never sung this song to Christine before however she is too exhausted to even hear most of it, the voice being the main thing she wants to hear softly.
As he sings the closing notes, he softly kisses her forehead yet again before laying her gently against his pillow. He must get up now and move or he will not allow her to sleep.