"L'Ange de la Musique"
Chapter 9
"Love's Duet"
Christine's insides gave an uncomfortable squirm as Erik pronounced those last words.
Would you make me the happiest man on Earth…by becoming my wife?
Her eyes widened in utter surprise and a deep feeling of nervousness invaded her. Erik was proposing to her? Erik wanted her…to become his wife? She couldn't believe it…She was imagining things, surely. It was quite late at night; it must've been the tiredness playing some odd trick on her. Erik was proposing to her? It couldn't be!
'Well, he's on his knees brandishing an engagement ring in front of you… Deduce it.' A tiny, little voice in the back of her head said in a matter-of-factly tone.
"W-what?" Christine stuttered in a slight whisper, not really meaning for him to hear her.
"Would you marry me, Christine?" Erik asked again, the anxiousness getting the best of him, making his voice shake a bit. His hands quivered slightly as he held the rose with the ring, waiting for Christine's answer with the feeling of dread rising inside of him. He had not planned what he would do if he received a negative answer.
Damn it, Erik cursed in his mind.
He saw Christine avert her gaze, deep in thought.
She's going to say 'no'…I can feel it… She's going to reject me… I should've known better, Erik thought unhappily, I shouldn't have come… I'll just make a fool of myself…and Christine might not want to talk to me after this. Damn it…
Erik, with his head downcast, began lowering the rose slowly in defeat. He made to stand up, but his legs were shaking so badly, that he couldn't bring himself to stand. Instead, he withdrew his hand and made to put away the rose in his inner chest pocket, but Christine caught his hand swiftly with her own, stopping him on his tracks.
With her free hand, she took the rose from his hand and brought it closer to her, surveying it with interest. She brought her other hand back and ran her fingers down the soft, satin ribbon tied around the stem. She moved her hand to the top, feeling the soft, red petals, and then shifted her hand down to the firm, cool stem, resting her fingers on the cold surface of the diamond ring.
Her eyes admired the beautiful gift before her, but her eyes gleamed with even more awe at the meaning behind the objects. Crystal tears invaded the corners of her eyes as she bit her lower lip, fighting the tears back.
Perfect… now I made her cry… I shouldn't have dared…it's too soon… Erik thought, …she must hate me now…
Erik, being the pessimist he was, wasn't aware of the blissful happiness flooding Christine's senses at that same moment. That happiness made the tears roll down her cheeks into her lap in silent contentment.
"Why…." she whispered, her voice cracking.
Erik lifted his head to look unto her eyes. He was quite taken aback as she gazed back at him with a wide smile on her face, and a gleam in her eyes as she held the rose close to her heart.
"Why did you take so long?" she asked softly, smiling sweetly as her tears fell more freely now down her face.
Erik stared at her, confused.
"Oh, Erik!" She lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and sobbing happily unto his shoulder.
"Chr-Christine!" Erik muttered as he was pushed from his kneeling position into a sitting one.
"Yes!" she said happily in his ear, "Yes, Erik!"
"W-what?" Erik inquired, not believing his ears.
She drew back to stare at him, her tears of happiness staining her face.
"I want to become your wife!" she said, "I want to marry you!"
Erik's eyes widened in complete surprise. He blinked a bit and shook his head slightly, not believing what had just been revealed to him.
"You want?" Erik said, "You really mean it?"
"Yes!" Christine exclaimed excitedly.
She embraced him again, smiling broadly as tears still streamed down her cheek. Erik wrapped his arms around her as he tried hard to keep his own tears of happiness back with a warm smile plastered across his face.
Erik stood and helped Christine up. Upon seeing her, he cupped her face and brushed the tears away with his thumbs. He took the rose from her and removed the ring, sliding it down the stem. He returned the rose to her, and she took it. He then took her left hand and slipped the diamond ring into her middle finger.
And before he could do anything about it, Christine had pressed her lips against his in a grateful kiss, which Erik (after a few seconds of regaining his composure), returned blissfully without hesitation. She wrapped her arms around his neck, enjoying the feeling of his warm body against hers in that cool night.
Erik then lifted her by the waist and spun her around, her dress billowing behind her as she laughed delightedly. After some moments of bliss, Erik lowered her and kissed her forehead. He nuzzled against her cheek gently as he leaned over to her ear to whisper, "Thank you for making my life worth living."
She smiled as she closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest, playing with the black ribbon of her rose.
Erik saw and took the rose gently from her. He proceeded with snapping the rose in two and discarded the stem, keeping only the rosebud with only a tiny bit of stem. He removed the white, false rose on her hair and tucked the red one on instead.
A soft, cool breeze blew past and Christine couldn't help shivering slightly against the cold air. Erik took his cloak off and wrapped it around her thin frame, shielding her from the light wind. He enveloped her in his embrace, bringing her close to him to warm her.
She rested her head on his chest, feeling safe and secure, sure that nothing would ever harm her as long as he was by her side always.
"He did what?" inquired an incredulous Jean as Kyrian and Colin told them what they have seen up on the rooftop.
Kyrian and Colin had met the rest in the stables, where they've been waiting eagerly for news on the little dinner; even Cloud, the mare, was restless. Colin told them that he had stayed a few moments behind while Kyrian continued his way down, missing the proposal.
"Yes, I stayed behind some minutes to watch, and Erik proposed to her!" Colin said.
"Brother…. you were spying?" asked Briand incredulously.
"Don't start, Briand!" retorted Colin, rounding on his brother angrily.
"I mean, you were actually spying on them while they shared an important moment together? There's something called privacy Colin!"
"Don't make such a fuss! I only stayed some minutes…" Colin said defensively.
"It was still indecent!"
"You sound just like mother," Colin said, rolling his eyes.
"So… did she say yes? Are they going to get married?" Jean asked, ignoring the brief fight that had occurred between the twins.
"Yes! She accepted, but the idea of proposing to her on their first date? Now, that's what I call 'going straight to the point'," Colin sniggered.
"From what Colin told me, Christine seemed quite delighted," Kyrian said.
"How exciting! Christine and Erik are finally going to get married!" Renna exclaimed delightedly. "They're finally going to be together!"
"Yes, I can't wait to see their babies!"
"COLIN!" everyone retorted at his tactless exclaim.
"What?" Colin inquired, raising his eyebrows in faked innocence, "We all know what happens after a couple gets married! You know…" and he began counting with his fingers, "…ceremony, marriage, party, honeymoon, and in the honeymoon-"
"Yes, Colin, we get the idea!" Yvonne interrupted, glaring at Colin.
Colin shrugged and smirked.
Erik and Christine remained on the rooftop, enjoying each other's company in their embrace. Erik glanced up at the sky once in a while, examining the heavens like if waiting for something to happen. He took his golden pocket watch and checked the time; 10:20 pm. Almost time.
Christine gave a tiny yawn and Erik took her to the same stone base under the Pegasus in which he had proposed to her minutes before. He sat her down and took his place beside her. He wrapped his arm around her and she laid her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes. He checked the time again in his golden clock; 10:25 pm. Five minutes to go…
Suddenly, the lights coming from the opera flickered off, leaving them in a partial darkness.
The only thing that produced light now was the dying candles above the table, the silver moon on the sky, and the dim lights from the city below, which citizens were preparing for a good night's sleep.
"Erik… the Opera is closing… shouldn't we go back?" Christine whispered, stirring in his hold and moving closer to him while bringing the cloak closer around her. She looked up at him and he turned his gaze to her.
"We have to wait a few more minutes. There's one more thing I wish to show you before we retire," he said softly, lifting her chin slightly with his finger.
"And what can that be?" she asked curiously.
"It's a surprise," he smiled.
Two minutes passed and all the lights in the city below extinguished, except the streetlamps.
"Come, it is almost time," Erik muttered. He stood up and offered his hand to her. She took it and Erik led her back to the table. He blew off the candles; fine, thin streaks of smoke trailed upwards from them, and they were nearly surrounded by complete darkness.
"Erik?" Christine said. Erik returned to her side and glanced once more up to the skies.
One more minute to go…
"Erik? What is all this abo-" but she was cut short when Erik placed his index finger above her lips.
"Shhh…." He whispered, "Look up at the sky…"
She did so and was met by a star-stricken, dark-blue sky. That night the heavens were clear, free from clouds, and the moon shone brightly far in the horizon. Erik and Christine were bathed in darkness, with only the moonlight outlining their profiles.
"That's beautiful," Christine said in wonder. She had never seen the sky so clear. She returned her gaze back to him; moonlight traced his features, and Christine saw a small smile on his face.
"Look up again," he whispered once more.
Christine frowned in confusion, but returned her watch to the skies above. Then, she saw it. A swift pinprick of light flashed across the sky and vanished as fast as it had appeared.
"A shooting star!" she exclaimed.
Then, there was another. And another. Two more. And then a downpour of shooting stars decorated the heavens, their lights flashing everywhere as they disappeared into the firmament. It was a beautiful sight indeed. Millions of lights danced steadily above; the bright spectacle surpassed by much the fireworks Christine used to see on the Balls that took place at the Opera.
After some minutes, the downpour began to diminish into a light shower, finally ending with a few flashes, until it ended completely.
"Oh, Erik that was amazing!" Christine exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him lightly. "It was truly beautiful,"
"But not as beautiful as the angel standing before me," Erik whispered. Christine flushed slightly and smiled at him.
"Come, my love, it's getting cold," Erik murmured, placing a soft kiss over her temple.
She offered him a warm smile and he wrapped his arm around her waist, guiding her to the door back to the opera.
They made their way down the halls, everything quiet and peaceful at this time of night. The lights were beginning to dim off, leaving just a soft glow on their wake. Erik escorted Christine back to her dressing room, igniting some candles for her to allow her to change to her nightclothes with light.
She settled on her elegant, mahogany dresser with a triple mirror, one in front of her, and two extended ones at either side of the first one. She removed the red rosebud from her hair with a smile and placed it among her valuables inside her jewelry box.
"Thank you for the wonderful night, Erik," she sighed contently, taking a hairbrush from one of the drawers and brushing her soft curls. "It was perfect," Her eyes glowed brightly and her heart felt as free as a bird in summer. Erik had made her the happiest woman on earth tonight without him realizing it. He had fulfilled a long forgotten dream that had remained hidden in the darkest corners of her mind- a dream that had shattered the moment she went with Raoul on confused ideals and promises. But that dream… it had come back, but not only that, it had been granted. She couldn't feel happier.
"It was my pleasure, my dear," he said softly. He approached her and took the hairbrush from her hand. He slid the hairbrush down her chestnut hair, combing her tresses gently. He finally had her. She was his now. Just his. His love. His angel. His Christine.
How his life came ricocheting from the pits of misery to the heights of delight in such a short time was still a mystery for him. Maybe there was indeed a God, and He had heard his pleas.
Erik took some stray curls and tucked them behind her ear, but his skin made such a close contact with the sensitive spot behind her ear, that she held her breath abruptly as her skin tingled and the tiny hairs on the back of her neck stood on an end. Erik noticed this with a small mischievous grin upon his face.
He lowered the hairbrush on the dresser silently and stroked her curls with both hands.
He slid his fingers down the back of her neck and to the front of her collarbone. He ran his hands to the sides of her neck, caressing the skin there with seductive movements.
She moaned as he touched her sensitive spot behind her ear again, massaging the flesh.
"Oh," she whispered, closing her eyes in delight.
She tilted her head to a side, giving him more space. But instead of his hands, it was his lips, which now trailed down her neck with soft, loving kisses.
"Erik," she moaned his name. He slid his hands down her arms, feeling her skin tingle beneath his touch. He smirked against her neck. Before, he wouldn't have dared touch her as closely as he did now. But now, she was his fiancée, she loved him, and he loved her above anything else.
She raised her arm back and tangled it around the back of his neck, pulling him forward. As he traveled up her jawbone while placing kisses on the flesh, his mouth found hers and they kissed gently, her petal-soft lips caressing his tenderly. As he moved down again, she craned her head back and allowed him to give her more heated kisses.
After a while, his kisses became so fiery and loving that she couldn't resist anymore; she felt a tickling sensation in the pit of her stomach, and an irresistible urge to hold Erik in her arms, to never let go; suddenly, her urge become way too intense to ignore. She stood up and faced him. He did the same and both locked their lips instantly in a fervent kiss, wrapping their arms around one another tightly as if fearing separation.
They had broken the last barrier, the last barrier that kept them at bay and distant. That barrier had crumbled to the ground the moment Christine took hold of him desperately as he returned the action with the same zeal. She felt the same way as he did; he'd been afraid of finding out Christine didn't share his feelings exactly. But he had been proven wrong and had discovered a side of his Angel of Music he had never seen; a side which he had caught only a glimpse, a preview, of once in his lifetime. He had taken in that glimpse almost 4 years ago, just above the bridge on the stage while they sang together The Point of no Return. She had showed her seductive side, her passionate side… her lust-hungry side; a side that allured to him to the brink of insanity. His innocent and pure Angel of Music had revealed to him at last her darker side. Now nothing mattered… nothing… only them.
Suddenly the room became too hot for him to bear and, without breaking their kiss, Erik removed his coat and handkerchief and threw them to a side carelessly, pulling Christine closer to him in his embrace. The cloak slipped down her shoulders as she tangled her arms around his neck. Their kiss became so deep and passionate, that they barely noticed when they both landed on Christine's bed; him a top of her.
Their kiss only became deeper as their passions flared. With all decency thrown aside, his tongue nudged tentatively at her closed lips in want for admission and she gave him full access, parting her lips. He explored her mouth. She was so sweet, so enticing, so…intoxicating. She was his drug, his addiction; an addiction he couldn't be saved from.
He could hear her moan into his mouth as he ran a hand down her hip and over her lower abdomen. They were so enveloped in their love. The room dissolved into nothing. It was only him…and her; their heated ardor almost deprived them of all rational thought. He slid his lips to her collarbone, eliciting another soft moan from her. She ran her hands through his soft, black hair as he kissed the crook of her neck passionately.
Their bodies heated up with an overpowering feeling beyond their control. After a short while, they totally lost track of time and space; it was only they in that oblivion of passion and love. Their minds both became clouded by the indubitable haze of desire, while their bodies craved desperately to become one.
They had become so engulfed in their heated passion, that Erik could feel his forehead transpiring slightly as he kissed her neck ardently again. His hand moved against his will and slid under her dress and up her thigh, moving his hand up and down in a slow, enticing motion, and making Christine give a muffled moan as his lips claimed hers again.
Her hands instantly flew to the buttons of his vest in their fervor, and she began to unfasten the first couple ones. Erik hardly noticed her actions and just concentrated on pouring his love for her in his kiss, but he knew it wouldn't be enough. As she finished with his vest, she proceeded with his shirt, undoing its buttons as well. Halfway down, her fingers brushed against his chest lightly and he shivered.
Suddenly, Erik returned painfully to his senses. He broke the kiss, prying his mouth away from hers, and stopped her hand from advancing, taking it in his own. He stared down at her with glassy eyes, both breathless and panting from the intense passion. Her chest heaved up and down in a hurried pace, as did his. Both their hearts beat rapidly against their ribcage. Her cheeks, he noticed, were heavily flushed in a crimson shade, and her lips had swollen up a bit. Bangs of his hair fell untidily over his forehead, having come loose in their vehement zeal. Her hair was also a mess, sprawled all across the bed like a many-legged spider. He could still feel the intense heat emanating strongly from her body, and see the hidden desire burning within her eyes.
"Erik?" she inquired breathlessly, brushing her fingers softly against his unmasked cheek.
"No," he murmured, "I…I-I can't…"
He felt awkward, doing this. He hadn't really asked for her consent, he was acting out of his own urges, thinking that she felt the same way… but… did she? He inwardly reprimanded himself sternly. What could he have done to her if he hadn't stopped? But most importantly, he didn't know if she felt the same. For a moment he thought she did, but now he was unsure.
Christine just gazed up at him. She still lay on her back, and Erik looked down at her with insecure eyes. She brushed away some stray hair from his forehead and smiled confidently at him. Upon seeing her expression he understood, and his eyes softened; she did share his feelings.
"No…" He whispered softly yet again, removing some curls from her rosy face with his hand, "Not yet, mon amour…"
She pouted in faked disappointment and Erik kissed the pout away.
"It would be improper my dear," he said, to add an excuse to his sudden refusal. "We must wait." He cupped her chin and gave her a soft, tender kiss, quite the opposite of the kiss they had shared just moments before.
Christine nodded knowledgably and brushed his bangs back off his forehead. He made to stand and she sat up. Before he could stand up fully, she stopped him in his tracks by snaking an arm around his neck again, pulling him closer and giving him one last kiss.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too, angel," he whispered back.
Erik stood straight and smiled down at her.
"Good night, mon ange," he said softly to her.
"Good night, my love," she replied, smiling warmly.
Erik smiled one last time, collected his coat, cloak, and handkerchief from the floor, and disappeared through the mirror. As she saw the huge mirror slide close, she ran to her dresser again. She gazed unto the mirror at her reflection; she noticed her cheeks were still flushed. Never had she had such a close contact with someone else before. It had awakened in her a feeling so new and overwhelming, that for a moment she was afraid of losing control... It felt… so good… Erik's body pressed against her own; it didn't feel wrong or improper, it rather felt completely natural; like if they belonged unsurprisingly together, like if they were meant to be together. His touch always made her melt, and his voice, succumb to his wishes without hesitation. But regardless of the intense power he had over her, he never did anything to harm her, or make her do anything against her will that she would later regret. He loved her so. And so did her.
She could still feel her lips throbbing, craving for more love, but Erik was gone now. She brought her hand to her rosy lips and brushed her fingers softly against them. She smiled and lowered her hand again, looking down and admiring the glinting diamond ring around her finger. She couldn't help but smile broadly.
She combed her hair hurriedly and removed her dress, replacing it with a comfy, light, cream nightdress. She slumped unto the soft bed, a smile playing across her face at the prospect of consummating her love with Erik at last in a near future. She closed her eyes and sighed out his name before falling completely asleep.
The next morning, Christine woke up with the warm morning sun leaking through her open window. The sunrays trespassed her closed eyelids and she frowned against the light hitting her face mercilessly. She tried pulling the blanket over her head to fend off the strong rays, but it was proven a futile attempt; the light just got through the thin material of the blanket and she decided to give up.
She sat up and yawned, stretching her limbs. She narrowed her eyes to adjust them to the intruding light. She rubbed her tired eyes with her hands and looked around. Her gaze instantly fell on her bedside table, where a single blooming, red rose rested with a black satin ribbon tied around the stem.
She smiled warmly and reached out for it. She caressed the gift, her fingertips brushing against the soft surface of the silky petals. She inhaled the rose's aroma and sighed.
Erik
Oh, how she loved him! Her soul soared to new heights now that she had her Angel with her forever. She found herself yearning for him and incapable of bearing one more minute without his company.
Jumping out of bed merrily, she changed her nightgown for a simple turquoise evening dress she took from her dress-filled wardrobe. Taking a hairbrush and brushing her hair with it, she lowered the rose as she sat on her dresser; she closed her eyes and hummed a soft melody.
She heard the door creak open slowly behind her, but she didn't open her eyes or stop the combing of her hair.
She heard the footsteps of someone draw near in her direction, but she didn't budge. The 'intruder' stood behind her and took the hairbrush gently from her hand, brushing her soft curls. Christine smiled, her eyes still closed. She could feel his presence behind her.
"Good morning, Erik," she said softly.
The person stopped combing her hair abruptly. Christine felt the man stiffen slightly behind her and stand motionless. Without opening her eyes, she frowned and asked,
"Erik, are you all right?"
"Whose Erik?" the man asked with a cool voice. She gasped. That voice… it was not Erik's! It was a voice she had hoped to forget, to never hear again. A young, youthful voice that had once driven her away from Erik with promises he would later break.
Her eyes snapped open and she whirled around violently with such a force that she almost fell from the bench in her haste. Her heart sank horribly and a lump formed in her throat. There, standing imperiously in front of her, was none other than… Raoul.
"Ra-Raoul!" she gasped, unable to believe what her eyes were seeing, trusting that it was just some trick of the light, or that maybe her eyes were deceiving her and she was still too tired to see correctly. But her eyesight was clear, and…were her ears deceiving her too? She had heard his voice…there was no doubt.
"Raoul, what are you doing here?" she asked urgently, standing up hastily and knocking the bench in her alarmed hurry.
"What? Have you not missed me, my love?" Raoul asked in a mocking voice, advancing on her. It seemed the sun had suddenly forgotten how to shine, for it had stopped doing so, and the room was bathed in semi-darkness. A disembodied, extremely weak and dim light, illuminated the room brightly enough for her too see him.
She stepped backwards and away from him. He followed her with a mysterious slow pace, with glowing, hungry eyes, and a smirk playing on his features while stalking her like a predator would with its prey.
"No! Go away!" she screamed, her anxiety getting the best of her and making her voice tremble. She continued stepping away from him, keeping as much distance as possible between them.
"That's a shame," he murmured in a faked sad tone, "Because I have. I miss you, Christine,"
"Leave me alone!" she screamed while darting to the door desperately, but just as she reached out for the doorknob, Raoul ran after her and stepped in front of the exit, blocking her only means of escape.
"I won't let you go," he said slyly, "…not this time…"
He made to grab her hand, but she jumped several steps backwards.
"I won't lose you, Christine," he said, advancing on her again, "You'll be mine forever,"
"No…no," she said helplessly. She continued backing away, until her legs hit something solid. She turned her head around and found her bed blocking her path, disallowing any further escape. She gulped the lump in her throat as apprehension built up inside her.
She turned her head back at him and gave a loud gasp as he lunged at her, knocking her unto the bed. She fell unceremoniously on the soft surface. Raoul towered over her and pinned her down, capturing her hands and holding them above her head on the bed. She gave a despairing wail as he held her down brusquely, his grip on her hands hurting her and his weight crushing her. She could feel her eyes burning with unshed tears.
"Get off me!" she cried, trying to kick him off, but to no avail; his weight was crushing her lower body, preventing any further struggle, and his hold on her was inhumanly strong.
He gave an uninterested chuckle, gazing down at her with mocking eyes and a sardonic smile. He leaned down to her face, inhaling her scent. She twisted her head to a side, away from him.
He brushed his face against her cheek, sending shivers down her spine.
"You're mine," he growled in her ear. She gave a whimper as he kissed her neck. His cold lips froze the skin underneath them and she shuddered unwillingly. He slipped his hand under her dress and massaged her inner thigh, sending her strength ebbing away as an unwanted pleasure flooded her, "You're so beautiful, Christine." She couldn't stop the tears from falling now
"Oh, don't cry," he said with a fake innocent voice, returning his hand to hold her wrists forcefully, "It won't hurt, I can assure you. In fact, I think you'll quite like it."
"No!" she cried desperately, her tears blurring her vision. His hands still clutched her wrists imperiously above her head and she tried to struggle away from his grip, which only caused him to tighten his hold to a point were the pain upon her wrists was unbearable.
"Come on, Christine," he whispered again, "Say you love me."
He attempted to kiss her, but she quickly turned her head away and his lips landed on her damp cheek. He kissed her throat as she looked away. Her eyes then fell on her dresser, where the red rose laid.
"Say you love me, Christine," he growled hungrily in her ear, "Say you want me. Say my name…Say my name…"
Her lips parted as she attempted to talk. Her voice was breaking considerably and her low whisper was barely understandable,
"Erik…" she murmured unsteadily.
"What?" he asked, moving his mouth away from her skin to survey her. "What did you say?"
"Erik," she whispered again, her tears clouding her sight slightly.
"Who is this man you call for?" Raoul asked softly, yet angrily.
"ERIK!" she screamed. She needed help. Erik must be here, near. He would save her. He had to! If he heard her, he'd come! Erik wouldn't let this happen! "ERIK!"
Her eyes darted back to the rose on the dresser a few meters away whilst she struggled desperately. Raoul followed her gaze and gave a sardonic chortle as he spotted the crimson flower.
"He won't come," he said in a soft, triumphant tone, "Your 'Erik' won't come."
"No!" she screamed, fighting, "He will! He will come for me!"
"Poor, innocent fool," he said with a laugh, "He won't come. You know why? Because that filthy monster you dare call 'man'… is dead."
She froze, ceasing her fight abruptly. Her eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat. No… this wasn't true. Erik is not dead. He couldn't be! He was not dead!
"You're lying!" she spat at his face angrily, unable to believe his venomous words, "He's not dead! You're lying!"
"Sweet, little Christine," he said sarcastically, "So innocent, yet so annoyingly stupid."
She glared at him, shooting cold daggers at him, wishing to make him suffer, to see him recoil in pain upon the ground. How dare he speak like this about her? about Erik?
"Won't believe until you see, won't you, Christine?" he asked with a sneer. He gave a defeated sigh and withdrawn one of his hands, holding her wrists tightly with his other hand.
With his free hand, he dug it inside his coat pocket, rummaging for something. His hand stopped and he smiled victoriously. As he took out his hand from the pocket, she noticed his sleeve and wrist were suddenly drenched in crimson blood. As he withdrew his hand completely, she made out a thin, white figure clutched between his fingers.
He brought the object in front of her face and she gasped, fresh tears welling up in her eyes.
Raoul held Erik's white, porcelain mask in his hand, but what sent the color draining from her skin was the crimson liquid dripping from the mask, just beneath the eyehole and atop the nose bridge. The once white surface was shimmering with fresh blood. The thin trail of blood sliding down the eyehole looked like a morbid tear, sending an unwilling chill through her body and a feeling of nausea to her stomach.
A little, red drip of blood fell on her cheek from the mask. It was warm and yet so cold.
"What …did you do to him?" she muttered in an extremely breaking voice as her grief consumed her and her tears fell.
He gave a hearty laugh.
"You needn't worry about him anymore," Raoul muttered, "He's dead… burning in hell like he ought to be."
"NO!" she cried, closing her eyes and crying like she had never done before.
"You cry for him? You cry for that monster?" Raoul asked mockingly, "He's not worth your tears or your love."
"He meant everything to me! You filthy bastard!" she spat, struggling once more.
Raoul delivered a dizzying blow to her cheek in his anger, but she didn't cry out. She turned her gaze back to him, glaring as thought her stare could kill him if she concentrated strongly enough. Her cheek ached and burned, but that wouldn't lower her spirits or weaken her.
"He was not worth of you," Raoul muttered through clenched teeth, "that monster deserved what he got."
"He's not the monster…" she said, glowering, "YOU are!"
His eyes widened, "How dare you compare me to that beast, you ungrateful little slut!"
He raised his fist as to deliver another blow. Christine closed her eyes shut, expecting the hit, but none came. Instead, she heard a grunting sound followed by a choking gasp, and then the weight was lifted from her body. She opened her eyes and found herself free from Raoul's grasp. She sat up and found Raoul grabbing his neck desperately as he choked, some meters away form her. Christine made out the thick strands bound tightly together in a rope. There was a noose tied firmly around his neck and he gasped for breath. Behind Raoul, she could make out a shadow of a man clutching the other end of the rope with might. Both men grunted and fought against one another; one to get free and the other one to hold him.
With an overwhelming force, the man snapped Raoul's neck with a deafening crack. His body fell limply to the ground as the man stood still, his chest heaving rapidly as he panted. He was all covered in shadows and she couldn't make out an identity.
She saw the man turn to look at her and step over Raoul's body as he walked towards her.
As he got nearer, Christine distinguished Erik's both demolished and perfect face and her eyes widened.
"Erik!"
She jumped off the bed and flung herself to his arms, crying unto his chest. Erik wrapped his arms around her comfortingly and stroked her hair delicately in a nonchalant way.
"Oh God! I thought he had killed you!" she cried, clinging to him.
"Shhh…" Erik mumbled soothingly, "It's all right… I'm here."
She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes and placed her hand upon his left cheek.
"What happened, Erik?" she asked.
"Shhhh…." He mumbled again, placing his index finger above her lips.
Before she could retort, Erik slid his arm under her legs and brought her up to his arms. They locked their eyes and he carried her to the bed. He laid her down gently and brought the blanket above her frame.
"Erik," she said, reaching out with her hand and caressing his cheek. He took her hand and kissed it.
"Shhh….I'm here… I'll always be…." He whispered once again. He leaned over her and placed a sweet, gentle kiss over her lips. She gazed warmly at him and smiled sweetly. His eyes were soft and welcoming and his demeanor tender and gentle. It seemed that everything that had occurred just moments ago had just been a bad dream and hadn't really happened. A sense of peace reached her and she began to drift away into an oblivion… Erik leaned once more and kissed her cheek tenderly.
"Wake up, Christine…" Erik whispered in her ear. His voice drifted into a soft echo, piercing her mind quietly with the words she couldn't yet understand.
Wake up, Christine…Wake up…wake up…
Christine squirmed in her sleep and her eyes suddenly snapped open. She had been dreaming? Had all been just a dream?
She sat up on her bed, gazing at her surroundings, confused. The scene before her was the same as in her dream; soft sunlight filtering through the window, a pleasant, warm environment, and a red rose with a black ribbon resting on her bedside table. Everything was on its respective place. She got out of bed tiredly, squinting her eyes to see through the dashing light intruding her eyes. She walked to the wardrobe and looked at the dresses. Her eyes fell on a turquoise evening dress. She stared at it for a while, and shook her head. She took a light yellow dress instead and switched her clothes.
As she combed her hair in front of the mirror, she ventured some glances at the closed door reflected on the mirror from time to time. She was being paranoid, she knew, but just in case her dream decided to become a premonition, she opted to be cautious.
She couldn't help uttering a small smile before she took the blooming rose in her hands from the bedside table.
She darted to the door and pulled it open, but before she could get out, she glanced sideways for any sign of the Vicomte, but there wasn't anyone there. She sighed and went to find Erik.
Lame chapter, I know. I promise the next ones are going to get better! Please review! I need your comments! I'm having a really bad week and your reviews would brighten my day considerably! Please! I also want to know what you think, but NO FLAMES please! It's enough with my dreadful week (cries) Hope you like this chapter anyways :)! Your reviews would mean a lot to me! Honest!
Also, sorry for the delay. School and disrupted sleeping pattern are keeping me very busy/distracted/tired. I'll honestly try not to take too much time on chapter 10. Reviews would encourage me to update faster, though! ;) Thanks for reading!
R&R!
Luv,
Feri-san