24) Trust your heart

„Well... yes.", Erik muttered uneasily. "I´ve seen a similar case when I lived with the gypsies. It was a small boy who fell from a tree. His mother underestimated how serious the injury was and let him play outside too soon. He was never able to move his leg as before." Seeing the expression of pure horror on Christine´s face he seized her hand and squeezed it in what he hoped was a reassuring way.

Little did he know that there were other things tormenting the girl´s mind. Of course she was worried about the possibility that she mightn´t use her leg again. But what was this compared to the prospect of spending two days with the man whom she loved and who didn´t love her? What if Meg came to visit him? It occurred to her that this probably was the very bed in which they usually lay next to each other, in which they made love. The thought made her stomach turn, and she started trembling.

"It´s all right.", Erik said soothingly. "It´s not very likely that this will happen to you. I´ve put on the bandage soon enough and I´ll care for you till you´re better." At these words the trembling grew stronger. "Oh…", he made as comprehension dawned on him. "I see. You are frightened by the idea of spending so much time with someone like me." He briefly indicated his mask.

He also wanted to pull back his other hand, yet Christine didn´t let him. Holding it in a firm grip she said: "Forgive me my honesty, but that´s utter nonsense. I didn´t withdraw from you when I found out about your mask in the first place, so why should I do it now?". "You did withdraw from me.", he corrected her. "Not directly afterwards, but some time later, when Meg and I became a couple."

The girl looked at him, her eyes wide. He was right, and she had no idea what excuse she could come up with. Yet it turned out that he had already found another explanation. "Is my new mask bothering you?", he asked quietly. "Well, maybe a little.", she replied truthfully. She had quite liked the left side of his face. It had been a handsome sight. With his new mask he looked slightly frightening, almost like a grotesque puppet.

"Why do you wear this?", she wanted to know. "Was the old one broken or didn´t you like it anymore?" Slowly she reached up and brushed over his cheek with her index finger. The material was cold, so different from her skin. Now it was Erik´s turn to tremble. A sigh escaped his lips, making her shudder as well.

"Can´t you take it off for a moment?", Christine whispered. "I just want to see you properly." "Only if you tell me the true reason why you´ve been avoiding me.", he said instantly. She nodded. It seemed to be a fair bargain for both of them. She swallowed hard, trying to get over with it quickly. "I… I…", she mumbled. Her stammering was interrupted by a knock at the entrance door. Christine and Erik looked at each other in surprise. Finally he stood up, his hand slipping out of hers. The moment had passed.

He left the room and walked the few steps to the door. Opening it he saw a very unlikely visitor. Outside stood the Vicomte, holding not one, but two lanterns in his hands and looking like a wealthy version of a street seller. "I apologise for coming to your home uninvited.", he said with a little smile, which Erik didn´t return. "Yet I have reason to believe that Mlle.Christine Daaé is with you. Mme.Giry told me so, and on the way I stumbled over a lantern that could belong to her."

"Yes, she´s here.", Erik admitted. "Do you want to come in?" Reluctantly he stepped aside, creating enough space for the other man to go through. He could have thought of a thousand better things than having the Vicomte in his house, but all the same he knew it was impossible to avoid a situation like that. Raoul seized his chance and entered before Erik closed the door behind him with a determined snap, nearly jamming his guest´s coat.

It wasn´t difficult to find the room in which Christine was; the door was open and there was light. Raoul saw her lying in bed and rushed to her side immediately. "Where´s Meg?", she asked, almost at the same time as Erik, who once more stood at the doorframe. "She had to remain up there.", he answered, gesturing vaguely at the ceiling. "You don´t have to worry, though – she´s fine. But when we met her mother she was with this new member of the chorus… Ariane. She insisted on Meg staying, so that Mme.Giry could do a lesson with both of them. Ariane said something about how much she could learn from Meg."

When he thought he had given them enough explanation he asked suspiciously: "Why are you lying there?". For a second he wondered if she had managed to seduce Erik, yet as far as he could see she was fully dressed. Besides, she didn´t look happy, only anxious and slightly annoyed.

"Mlle.Daaé sprained her ankle on the way here.", Erik told him. "To make sure the injury can heal properly she won´t leave this bed for the next two days." Mentally he prepared himself for an angry outburst, but nothing like that happened. Raoul merely leaned closer to Christine, whispering: "I´ll need some time to think about us anyway. There are certain things I´ve understood today.".

He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and went on: "This is your chance. Do tell him! Good luck!". Nodding briefly in Erik´s direction her went out. It was only when he had walked for several minutes that he allowed a single tear to run down his smooth cheek. He felt as if he had just lost Christine.