Morning crept in, much like an unwanted guest. However, no typical sounds of the early dawn were found in Erik's lair. Neither the melody of birds singing to one another, nor the calls of street vendors selling their fresh pastries could penetrate into the depths of his private sanctuary. By all accounts, Erik should have been able to fall asleep once more and yet for some unknown reason, he could not.
As much as Erik did not want to admit it, the reason for his insomnia was lying beside him. Turning onto his side, Erik regarded the sleeping form of Marie-Christine. A sense of contentment filled his soul. He brushed a stray lock of hair from her face and propped himself up on his elbow. Watching the peaceful way in which she slept, her breathing becoming quite rhythmic in nature, Erik recalled the events of the previous night.
Even though he did not wish to acknowledge his feelings for Marie-Christine, he found that he could no longer ignore them. Marie-Christine did not help in this matter either. Her boldness both shocked and excited Erik in ways he could not have imagined. Her reactions to his touch only heightened Erik's excitement further. Their joining was something that Erik would have thought by no means possible. Although she would never know it, Marie-Christine was the first woman with whom Erik had shared his bed. He almost had Christine once . . . long ago . . . but then things changed. That however, was the past and as Marie-Christine would often remind him, it was better to look towards the future.
He continued to contemplate their night together along with what would happen next, and Erik soon found his head was beginning to throb. Pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort to stem the impending headache, Erik began to think.
Is there any future for Marie-Christine with me?
The question was one that, no matter how hard he tried, he could not make disappear. Could he have a future with Marie-Christine? What kind of future would it be? Erik thought back to the time when he almost killed Raoul to force Christine to stay with him. Did he really want to condemn Marie-Christine to a life of shadows and darkness? What kind of life would that be? What could he give her? What of children? Although the thought of children gave Erik a momentary hint of pleasure, he could not and would not risk the chance that his child would be born as he was and therefore subjected to the same existence in which he now lived.
The more Erik tried not to think of Marie-Christine, the more she invaded his every thought. He placed his head in his hands, feeling a small tear cascade down his right cheek. Erik doubted that he would ever know the answer to a question that plagued him since the day he was born.
Why does love hurt so much?
Just then, Erik's thoughts were interrupted by the touch of a hand at his back, accompanied by a gentle and soothing voice.
"Erik?" Marie-Christine whispered; sleepiness still evident in her voice. She smiled at him.
"Good morning," he answered as he turned to face her. He tried to wipe the tears from his eyes. Marie-Christine slowly extended her hand, catching one that flowed down his visage.
"You've been crying." It was more of a statement rather than a question.
Erik quickly wiped the remaining tears away and brought forth a smile. He reached for his mask, but Marie-Christine took his hand in hers.
"You do not need to do that," she told him. "I love you as you are Erik."
Erik did not speak. He could not. To have a vision as beautiful as Marie-Christine admit her love for him was something he could not have imagined.
"How can you love . . . a monster?" he asked, a pleading look quite evident in his eyes, tears welling up once more.
"Erik?" Marie-Christine whispered gently. "You are not a monster. You are the man I love."
The damn was broke. Erik did not respond but instead began to weep. The sobs started softly and grew, becoming louder. Marie-Christine drew Erik to her bosom, offering comfort as best she could. Marie-Christine began to stroke his cheek, paying no attention as to whether it was the scarred side or not.
"Shhh…Erik. Everything will be fine. You gave me more than I could have ever asked for in my life. For the first time, I am truly happy Erik, happy that you came into my life, happy to have come to know you, and happy to be with you for the rest of . . ."
Marie-Christine suddenly broke contact with Erik, a look of puzzlement adorning her face. That look soon changed to what appeared to be . . . anger? A stern looked now crossed Marie-Christine's face. Erik was equally confused.
"Erik?" Marie-Christine began, her brow furrowed as she stared at him.
"Yes?" Erik answered, not sure of what she going to say, but then he realized his mistake. His emotions were like an open book to Marie-Christine and at the moment, she'd found the page on which he had placed himself.
"How dare you . . ." she spoke in an irritated voice. "How dare you think to leave me after all that we have been through. I cannot believe that you would . . ."
"Marie-Christine," Erik interrupted. "Allow me to explain please?"
"Explain? What is there to explain? You were planning to leave me! Into how many pieces would you break my heart? I thought you knew me and you loved me! I thought you cared about me? How could you . . . ?" Marie-Christine's voice quivered with each passing question and accusation.
"LISTEN!" Erik shouted, startling Marie-Christine as he firmly took hold of her, his hands placed on each of her arms. "You do not know . . ." his voice suddenly retreated to that of a whisper, realizing that his temper had gotten the better of him. He relaxed his hold.
"I want to know . . ." Marie-Christine responded, her body relaxing, the tension she felt moments ago slowly ebbing away. She pulled a blanket up around her body, the chill of the lair causing her to shiver somewhat.
Erik turned and looked at Marie-Christine. He sat back on the bed, propping himself up into a sitting position. Erik pulled her into his embrace, his massive arms enveloping her, the warmth of his body comforting hers. Finally, he sighed. "I will try to explain, but all I ask is that you grant me a modicum of patience." He looked into her eyes seeking answer. She nodded her head.
"Everything that I have touched in my life has died. I am afraid of what will happen to you if we were to continue our liaison." Erik waited for a response.
"I do not understand," Marie-Christine answered. She looked into his eyes. "I do not mean to be trying but Erik; I truly do not understand what you mean."
Erik sighed once more, hoping he could make his thoughts clear. "From the moment I was born, everyone that I have loved in my life has died before it was their time. First, there was my mother. While it is true she did not perish giving birth to me, she made it quite clear that she'd wished she had not lived. Each passing day of my existence was very much like a painful reminder of the abomination that came from her womb."
"Your mother never saw beyond the physical aspect of your beauty Erik. Your soul . . ." Marie-Christine nestled herself further into Erik's arms, placing her arm across his chest.
"But there is more, and I know you are quite well of the circumstance of events at the Opéra Populaire." Erik closed his eyes for a moment and allowed the memories of Christine to trickle back.
"I am aware of what occurred, but Erik, Christine did not die at the Opéra Populaire. Granted, you did kill, but I have looked deep within your soul and what I have found is a gentle being that simply needs to be loved. Why will you not allow me to be that person?"
"If I love you . . . then you will . . . just like Christine . . ." Erik could not finish his sentence.
"Erik, I will not die. I am long past dying." Marie-Christine assured him.
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"Well then I would venture to say that it is my turn to explain things. Erik, for a good portion of my life, I have stood looking out, allowing life to pass me by. Each year on my birthday, I try to tell myself that this year will be different. I will attempt new things, meet people I have not seen before, visit places to which I have never been." Marie-Christine paused for a moment, a small lump formed in her throat.
"And you have changed," Erik interjected.
"No, I did not. Nothing truly changed until the day you entered my life. I knew I wanted to take control of my life but there seemed to be no reason. Now things are different." A small tear began to glide down Marie-Christine's cheek. Erik caught it on the tip of his finger and brought it to his lips. It was salty.
"Please continue." Erik requested.
"Erik, you have stirred within me, emotions I have never felt. I have been shocked, surprised, appalled, angry, brought to the brink of tears and . . . to the brink of ecstasy. From the moment you entered my life, nothing has been the same and . . ." she paused for a moment.
"And . . . what?" Erik looked into Marie-Christine's eyes. He was afraid of her answer.
"I love these feelings and as I have said so many times Erik . . . I love you." With those words, Marie-Christine drew Erik's lips to hers. The kiss was sweet and tender. It had the taste of fresh morning dew. There was a passion much like before, but now, it was as if Erik could sense not only the delight but the love that Marie-Christine had long tried to make him understand.
They paused for a moment, realizing that they'd been caught up once more in their emotions. It was then that Marie-Christine spoke. "I have a solution."
Erik watched as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, not bothering to cover her naked form. Her boldness again surprised and excited Erik at the same time. He looked on as she made her way to one of the small chests on the bedchamber floor. Marie-Christine knelt down and began to rummage through the chest, searching for something it appeared, but Erik could not figure out what it is that she sought. Finally she stood up and turned to him, one hand behind her back, a triumphant smile adorning her face.
Erik waited as Marie-Christine made her way to his side of the bed, curious as to what she held behind her back. Extending her left hand forward, she took his right hand in hers and brought forth the surprise. It was a ring, a piece of costume jewelry but a ring nonetheless. "Erik . . ." she began. "Will you marry me?"
He did not know what to think. Erik did not move. This was something he could have never predicted that Marie-Christine would have done. She wants to marry me? Why? I cannot understand . . . It was true that Erik did not comprehend Marie-Christine's motive.
"Erik?" she looked at him, waiting for an answer.
"I . . . uh . . ." he stammered, unable to produce no more than a few syllables from his lips.
"You do not wish . . . ?" Marie-Christine started to cry. She quickly turned and ran from the bedchamber, taking a small blanket with her to cover her nude form.
Erik now realized what she thought and he also knew he was about to make the most horrific of mistakes if he did not correct things immediately. Putting a robe on, he made his way across the lair to where he found Marie-Christine sobbing. She was seated at the organ. Taking a deep breath, he turned to the table nearby. This was where they had made love. This was where they . . .
You know what must be done. It is time to move on with the future and it is with Marie-Christine.
Erik took his attention away from Marie-Christine for a moment and opened a small drawer of one of the work tables. Turning back to Marie-Christine, he walked over the organ and sat beside her. Erik drew her to his side, whispering softly, hoping to ease her pain.
"Marie . . ." he spoke softly.
"It is okay, Erik. I can understand. I'm used to rejection and to being alone. I will remove my things so that you may . . ." but Marie-Christine was not allowed to finish. Erik had placed his index finger to her lips.
"No, I am afraid you do not understand everything," he told her. Marie-Christine watched as he took her left hand in his and placed a ring on her finger. It was the ring that belonged to Christine.
"I know this is not exactly as things should be. This ring has been a source of sorrow and pain in the past. I would like to start anew and have it become a ring of happiness and joy for the two of us. Marie-Christine, will you marry me?" Erik's heart skipped a beat as he waited for her response.
"Erik . . . I cannot . . . I uh . . . oh my god . . ."