I feel compelled in this chapter to let you know that while I still hold strict to not going in the bedroom during the most intimate moments, I have heavily alluded to this and there is no question left in the mind what happens. If you feel that I went too far into their privacy, let me know. I was not sure, however felt that it was so significant that you know how they buried the wounds, gashed and raw in their memories, it was worthy of more attention this time around. That is why the intensity and detail in these last two chapters really. I see the character of phantom, Erik, as very emotional and sensual, with his great capacity for passion and his denial of reciprocation to be the largest character flaw as well as strength. Not to mention his ability to anger and hate, the flip side of great passion and emotion. This story explores all of that, at least I hope so. I have tried so far to take it there. The original story itself seems much more a love story than horror or stalker novel to me. It is sad and needlessly harsh on Erik. I greatly appreciate the support; I am a very self conscious writer and have never shown my work to others before. The decision to write this started as a way to see if I had a chance to allow my writing to be open to others. I am so grateful that you are enjoying it as it has quickly become an important labour of love. I have even put my original fiction novel I am working on in archive for the time being as these characters have much yet to say. Now, I shall shut up and let you get back to the story, please review and let me know if you think that I am way off base. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your time and what reviews you have lavished upon me thus far. Marykate.

Oh, and Prophet of hell: we are revisiting that dark place in this chapter a bit more. Hope you like it.

Chapter 19

Shades of Gray

Erik set about looking for the plans he had created of the Vicomte de Chagny's home when first he became the Patron of the Populaire. When he heard Christine first tell Meg of their previous knowledge of one another he could see that he should begin to find weaknesses forthwith. He once held them in a notebook he drew all his architectural designs in, but he moved it because he was planning obscenely cruel things to do to Raoul if he didn't leave Christine alone. The only thing that stopped him was his love for Christine and the knowledge that she would probably guess he had done whatever he ended up doing to him. He was sure it was on the table he painted his watercolors on, where was it now. Nothing was where it had been when he left. Probably just as it should have been, a mess after they pillaged through his things looking for any evidence of his whereabouts or his reign over the Populaire. He was puzzled at some of the things that were missing, the life sized automat, his masks, the unfinished music he had been composing prior to Don Juan Triumphant. These were very unusual things to find missing, he wondered who would have taken them. There were boxes lying in the corner of the music room, one box atop the partially destroyed pipe organ he used to lovingly create amazing compositions. There was a pang when he realized his organ was incapacitated, it was his best friend all those years when he was healing from the life he lived in the company of cruelty and deception.

There were other boxes down the corridor he had between where he lived and where he cleaned and dressed each day. Erik grabbed a box and lifted it upon the others stacked waist high. Opening it up he ran across the different herbs and various medicinal supplies he had collected to fend off illness. He was prone to that in this damp cavern. Then the thought hit him, he could do it, yes. This would be the best way to ensure that Raoul was thought to be insane. He would enlist the help of the gypsy magic he had picked up in his youth. Now he just had to find the plans he drew up of Raoul's residence to finish his plot to overthrow Raoul's tenuous grip on reality. He had, in the recent past shown a particular talent in that arena. He sat down and began to draw out more detailed plans of what to do and when. The blueprint he had created of Raoul's house was located and he was totally engrossed in his plotting.

Lost in thought for what seemed to be moments, he was startled when Christine roused and asked him if he ever meant to join her in slumber? He stood up and realized how stiff he had become, the combination of sitting in one spot for so long and the dampness and chill down here had him achy with stiffness. He still felt himself harden the moment he heard her vocal interruption. She was the maestro of his heartstrings, commanding him to do her bidding with but a sound. This could be the headiest thing for him, or the most dangerous darkness he had ever faced. Only time would tell which it was.

"I shall come to you as soon as I finish what I am doing here."

Christine actually managed to startle him by walking up behind him and reaching up she placed her hands on his shoulders. Her hands sent electrical currents rushing down his body, so hot were they even through his shirt. "Erik, it is so damp in here, you must warm yourself and you will end up ill if you don't. Let me rub some of the tension from your neck, you are so tight. Come my love, to the bed and I shall warm you and relieve you of your aches."

"Are you sure you are rested and well enough to do what you promise? It shall be great exertion for you to relieve me of my aches; they run deep, my dear." Erik said this with a voice thick with unspent and barely contained passion. The fire she was creating along his shoulders spread through him like wildfire and he was fast losing rational thought, being consumed by the fire that re-ignited from the smoldering depths in which it was waiting since they arrived.

Christine answered by pulling his shirt out of his pants and placing her hands under the fabric to spread slowly up a tight and taught back. He immediately tightened his hold on the papers in his hand, needing to place them down somewhere quickly; he rested them on the box they had been in. The muscle in his jaw was tightening with effort not to lose control, to be deliberate and treasure each sensation. Turning around slowly and reaching out for her, even with his eyes closed to the pleasure she was creating in him he found her. She slowly and very, very seductively removed his mask and set it atop the plans for Raoul's house. He paused holding his breath, looking to see if she would react this time. Satisfied that she was past his disfigured, distorted flesh, he pulled her to him, bent down and kissed her with gratitude at first, burgeoning into wonton passion while she moved her hands around to his chest and settled into his embrace with a wiggle. The feel of her hands on his cold skin warmed him so quickly that she no longer felt anything cold on him. He was flushed with desire and had to move to the bedroom before he could no longer breathe. The wiggle was torture to his body, he needed to breathe, just breathe. After a moment to compose himself enough to move her; now in his arms he slowly climbed the few steps and navigated the walkway to his bedroom. The whole trip up there his lips were searching her neck and throat, kissing the pulse points with velvety soft kisses. They reached the bed, unaware of exactly how without falling, but they were there and they were breathing in a lovers rhythm of total abandon at a pitch they could not control. Having used up all self control to make it to this point there was but one thing left to do.

Much later resting, both spent with the wonder of their bodies, Erik was grateful to be able to at long last erase the darkness with the beauty and glory of Christine. The memories of this place would now hold bittersweet to his mind instead of torturous and unrequited as they had been before tonight. Another flaw to his soul had been repaired by Christine's love.

Pondering that metamorphosis he began to see if he could drum up that dark place still, and devise the plan to be Raoul's undoing. Surely with his soul free of this great pain, he was able to fill the dark place and not lose sight of the light Christine had shown him to.

Looking down at her beautiful body curled around his so intimately, he felt loathe to move from the spot he was now so attached to. There were things to do; he needed to be alone to find the cunning and devious side of him that would take them through this journey into the hell he would make of Raoul's mind. Before he was through with Raoul, he would most certainly want to kill himself. Shame someone born with privilege, title and fine feature should find himself entering Erik's realm of existence. Maybe Raoul would find his dark place; maybe it would actually make him more formidable for Erik to fight. Maybe he would lose his life at Erik's hands, the thought of this made him shiver with emotions he had locked away. How was it that he felt remorse for the deaths of the Populaire chandelier disaster, but not at the thought of killing Raoul? Simple, the Populaire disaster would not have happened if Raoul had walked away, however Raoul was directly responsible for nearly ripping Erik's soul in two and destroying both himself and Christine through that great sin. The anger began to surge through Erik, he felt that he could not let Raoul live, he didn't deserve any of his blessings and did nothing to ensure their safety, so Erik felt the need to take them from him one by one.

Christine stirred, moving her soft and seductive leg up his leg and he began to feel another surge of longing well up inside of him. The heady combination of darkness in his mind right now, and the light of Christine needed to merge and thus lessen the intensity of his darkness. Christine was his conscience as well as the church with which he worshipped all that was good and pure and right in the world. He needed to feel her with him once more, he was ready to disturb his angel's slumber and once more affect his soul with the mercy of her love.

The sun rose and they drowsily roused themselves from the great swan bed that beheld their resurrection from darkness last night. Though they didn't have literal light there in the lair, they felt it about them, the catacombs and tunnels were not as damp as the previous evening; that always happened as the Populaire and the grounds were warmed by the heat of the sun. That was the imperceptible change that always told Erik it was day.

"What shall we do about clothes and food, Erik? I am so famished and I don't think I can prowl the streets of Paris in this silk sheet. Though I guess it would be a good costume if I am to play a ghost of myself." Christine said as she sat up in bed and pulled the soft silk covers to her body in modesty. The effect it had on her outline was anything but modest.

As Erik looked at her he smiled and said; "My darling, that is not going to scare anyone away, I am quite sure that would inspire a different undoing for our tragic Vicomte. Then I shall have to become insane, then heaven help him. It does just so happen that I found some dresses I found for you when I was planning to bring you here the first time. I think you will be satisfied with them."

"Really, you had clothes for me here, I had no idea. How did you know what size to get? Oh, never mind that is not necessary for you to answer. Knowing you, you came to my dressing room and measured me while I slept." She smiled at him as she stood up from the bed, letting the sheet slide just a bit before she was able to retrieve it. She suddenly grew very embarrassed and looked down ruefully.

Erik's sharp intake of breath left her red all over with the heat of her embarrassment. When she looked back up Erik smiled at her and swung himself to the side of the bed, gathering his pants from the stool he had next to the head of the bed, he placed them on. Looking at her when he rose he smiled and said; "Since the sheet was already used, I needed to put something else on, in the interest of modesty, that is." Grabbing his mask, he left the room to fetch her some clothes.

Christine felt composure return to her slowly, she knew they could continue to amuse themselves in bed forever, but they really did have to try to get back to the real reason they returned to this place. She was trying, it seemed the harder she tried the more she became seductive in Erik's eyes. They really had to put an end to running and get on with things. This was the most thickly saturated place with things that she didn't understand about Erik, she was confused and a little disconcerted to be here and know that there were so many souls wondering about here after the tragedy. She was certain those souls were here waiting to take out revenge on Erik and it worried her now. She must get them out of here soon, before they got to Erik and took him from her. She felt that another anonymous note needed to be sent to the cathedral to have a Priest come and exorcise the souls from here, to their final rest at last. She would have to do that later today; she was not going to spend another night here with Erik, risking him for anything.

Her father told her often of people denied proper funerals, how they were doomed to walk the earth until they were prayed over and the sacrament of a funeral was performed. Was it a sacrament, she didn't recall, but they needed to be remembered spiritually or they would go after Erik, she was sure of that.

Erik returned with a beautiful emerald green dress made of the finest silk and a velvet chemise. There was so much silk contained in this dress, she would need help getting it on. Suddenly she became curious, coloring once again with embarrassment to have to ask this; "Erik, did you get me a corset and under things to wear too?"

Smiling at her, he showed her what he had behind the dress; it was all that and more, in a bag. She was very touched that he would pick such finery for her. Erik said quite simply; "A fine lady always wears the proper under garments. I would do no less, my dear, than allow you to continue to be beautiful."

Christine shooed him out and got her corset on, then she realized that she needed his help; "Erik, I um…I can't um…"

He was at the doorway to the bedroom with a curious look on his face; "Yes, my dear? May I be of some assistance?"

"You know you can, I need help dressing, my corset and this dress is so much material, I shall need help getting it over my head." She was so flustered that she could not even look at him. Unbelievable that she is always so helpless.

As if sensing her frustration and self loathing for needing his help to dress, he decided to say something to ease her consternation; "If you want to know the truth, it is because I would have to help you with these things that I got them in the first place. I dreamt of doing this for you some day. You have just made me very happy, my dear."

Christine smiled as he said that. She was not becoming too tedious for his patience yet.

When they finished the considerably demanding chore of dressing Christine in something warmer and infinitely more beautiful then she could have imagined, they set about the next problem at hand. The only problem with the problem at hand was that they both had different ones in mind.

"Christine, get down and come here." Christine's heart raced frantically as Erik said in a low voice barely above a whisper "Now, get down I said. There is someone down here."