Chapter Eight
Bedside Confessions
The days passed slowly for those closest to Maria. On the second day of her illness she was moved to her room. Madame Giry kept giving her wine, but she couldn't see that it was helping. Meg spent all her spare time, waiting for Maria to come back. Raoul also spent all his time with her. Despite what the managers and everyone else advised, he had to be with her. When he did leave her, it was only to pray in the chapel. The waiting was unbearable for everyone.
When the third day dawned with its grandness, things started to change. Maria's color finally returned and her breathing became less labored. Everyone hoped that the sunlight would bring her out of her darkness. The sun quickly faded into a moonless night, and Maria was still lost to the living world. Raoul left late that evening. He was needed somewhere, and he was almost glad to get away. Madame Giry stayed with her until she could no longer hold her eyes open. She left a small light burning and went to bed.
The darkness of the night deepened as midnight approached. The opera house slumbered, but one still light burned. The dim orange light cast an eerie shadow around Maria's room but made her face all the more beautiful. The light flickered a little, sending life back into her body.
Gradually Maria's eyes opened and adjusted to the dim lighting. She looked around, wondering where she was. Her eyes and senses finally became clear. She recognized the room, the bed, but not the shadowed figure sitting in the corner. She wanted to scream for help; however, her voice was much too weak for that. She sat up a little and tried to see the stranger's features.
"Who are you?" Maria asked hoarsely.
The figure stood slowly. Maria felt fear clutch at her heart. Then she noticed the handsome features that caught the light. She moved and noticed the white mask.
"Erik," she said softly.
The figure nodded and walked toward the bed. As he got closer, Maria could see that it was her strange angel. He sat down and gently touched her face.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Weak but alive," Maria replied, closing her eyes.
Erik smiled a little. He could see that her beauty was amplified by the darkness in the room. He felt the softness of her flesh underneath his leather gloves. He ran his fingers up her face and pushed an unruly hair back. Maria smiled at the simple gesture.
"What happened?" she asked.
"You got locked in the set room," Erik answered.
"What? Why would I even go down there?"
Erik
shook his head. He looked at her and sighed. "Carlotta put a note
on the door of the Costume Room."
Maria looked down at her
tattered sheets. "And I was dumb enough to go."
"Why would you if you knew it was dangerous?"
"Because
I wanted to see you, and I thought that you wrote the letter."
Erik
slowly bent down to her. Maria didn't flinch. He hesitated for a
moment and then put a hand on her shoulder.
"I would never lead you somewhere you could get hurt."
Maria nodded. "Did you save me?"
Erik looked away from her. Maria reached up and pulled his face to hers. He looked into those soft green eyes and nodded. She slowly reached up and put her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly, letting her cheek touch the white mask.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Erik gently pushed her away. He longed for her to touch him, but he couldn't stay. The morning was coming very soon. She looked up at him as she settled back against her pile of pillows.
"Good night," he said, standing.
"When can I see you again?"
"Tomorrow night."
Erik reached for the door. He looked back at her and smiled. He quickly walked out, before his strength failed him, and he stayed. He shut the door without a sound and vanished into the blackness of the shadowed hall.
Maria watched the door silently close. She could still feel his touch on her skin. She hated herself for acting like she was. She couldn't love a man like him. She sighed and felt her eyes get heavy. She was fast asleep in a matter of seconds.
Maria awoke the next morning, feeling much more alive. She was still weak, but the pain in her chest and throat was bearable. She sat up and found Raoul asleep on the edge of the bed. She couldn't help but smile at seeing him there. He looked so handsome and innocent. She laid back down, her eyes scanning over the room. She found the small chair that Erik had sat in the night before. She sighed, thinking about him.
"Hey, look who finally woke up," Raoul said, yawning.
Maria turned her eyes from the corner back to him. He was barely awake but smiling kindly. He sat up, his eyes never leaving her.
"Hi," Maria said softly.
"You look a lot better this morning," Raoul commented.
"Thank you," Maria said moving around to get more comfortable.
Raoul stood up and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Maria closed her eyes, wishing for someone else. He let go of her and caressed her cheek. She could only smile a little.
"I'll tell Madame Giry you're awake," Raoul said and walked out the door.
Maria's stomach growled loudly, reminding her that she hadn't eaten in a few days. She reached over and took a sip of wine that had been sitting there. It had a very strange taste to it. She took the glass from her lips and smelled it. The smell was very different from most wine. It was pungent with a fruit like scent. It was enticing, yet sharp. She took another sip. The liquor burned all the way down, but after the sensation passed, it felt better. She slowly swung her legs out of the bed. Her body was still weak, and she felt as if she might fall. She held on to the bed and took a small step. Her knees quickly gave away. She slipped to the floor with a crash.
The door flew open and Meg rushed in. She quickly helped Maria back into bed.
"What are you doing?" Meg asked.
"I was trying to get up," Maria replied.
Meg only smiled. "You're too weak for that."
"I can see that."
The two girls suddenly laughed. Maria began to cough; Meg grabbed the wine. Maria only waved her away; she wasn't sure if the wine was safe. She could feel that the cough was going to pass soon. Finally she caught her breath. Her throat and lungs felt like they were going to explode.
"Are you alright?" Meg asked.
Maria nodded. She didn't trust her voice not to betray her. She lay back against the pillows. She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. Finally she opened her eyes and sighed.
"I'm better now," she answered.
"I was really worried about you."
"I think everyone was."
Maria let the word everyone hang in the air. She was hoping that her friend wouldn't see into her thoughts.
"Raoul barely left your side," Meg said out of no where.
Maria could only make a small smile. He wasn't the one that she wanted with her. He wasn't the one who had saved her. Meg gently reached up and touched her arm. Maria looked over.
"Where were you the other night?" she asked. "I went looking for you."
Maria sighed. She had feared this question would be asked sooner or later. She had wanted it to be much later. She looked around the room. The door was closed, so no one roaming in the hall would hear her.
"I was with him," Maria said frankly.
"Raoul?" Meg said astounded.
"No, the Phantom of the Opera."
Meg's color slowly drained. Her bright, curious eyes clouded over. Maria's fear of saying too much was slowly coming true. Meg looked back at her friend.
"Why were you with 'him'?"
"He's teaching me to sing."
Meg just kept staring at her friend. Then she looked down at the floor. She wasn't sure what to say. Maria wasn't the type of girl to make up stories like the one she was telling now.
"Maria, if you were with Raoul," Meg started.
"No, Meg, I was with the Phantom," Maria cut in. "I got to see his beautiful world of candlelight and music. Oh, Meg, it was the most perfect place I have ever been."
"Perfect?"
"Yes. There were candles everywhere, and an organ, and a lake. That's how he took me there."
Maria closed her eyes, thinking of that perfect place. She didn't want to miss a detail. She wanted Meg to know everything. She slowly started recalling each memory from that night.
"It sounds wonderful," Meg finally admitted after Maria had finished.
"It was, and his sweet voice singing to me. Meg, it was like for once I knew where I belonged."
"But Maria," Meg hesitated on saying what she thought. "You don't belong with him."
"Why not Meg? What does Raoul and this world have to offer that the Phantom cannot give me too?"
Meg went to answer and stopped. She looked at her friend. Maria didn't have to say another word, because it written across her face. She had said it in every word she had spoken. Maria had fallen in love with the Phantom!
"Have you seen his face?" Meg asked.
"Yes," Maria replied firmly and simply.
Meg looked down at her shoes. She didn't know what to say. She knew that his face had to be horrible if he hid it from the world. She looked back at Maria, who was thinking back on some recent memory.
"I better go," Meg said. "I have ballet steps to learn."
Maria looked over at her. She nodded. She knew that she didn't have to swear Meg to secrecy, because she would stay silent. Meg smiled and left. Maria turned back to the corner, wishing the night would descend soon. She focused on the task and fell asleep. She slept all day and night, never knowing that her strange angel stood watch over her.
