A.N: Flames just hurt. So, in an attempt to get less in the future, I'm going to explain a few things:
Yes, it may have been rather quick to have the characters fall in love. Yet I strongly believe in love at first sight. Erik, in my mind, realized that he waited too long to tell Christine of his true feelings, so he was afraid of losing someone he cared for even minorly. So, he decided to make his intentions known, and strongly. I understand that he loved Christine dearly, but she also hurt him badly. In a situation such as that, one tends to look towards anyone who shows any sense of affection, and in this case it was Sarine.
The opera. As stated, it was one year after the "strange affair". He didn't just write it in a day, he wrote it over the year. But he never had the incentive to finish until he met Sarine, and she asked for an opera. He finished and edited it for her. I didn't type this into the story because I figured, if you read close enough to the fine print, that you would figure that he would have been doing something during that year, and the best thing to do is write about his heartache. Anyway, he wrote Don Juan Triumphant in half a year.
About how big the opera house is, and how it couldn't have been cleaned that quickly. Well, if you read the first chapter, Andre and Firmin had been struggling, but have been attempting, to put on another opera. They would not let the opera house stay in such a bad condition. They never got the chandelier fixed, but they kept it in rather good shape. And the chandelier. I think we all know that Erik is a genius. He can do anything he sets his mind to. He is an artist. He can fix a chandelier in two days. If not, then accept it that he can.
About how Sarine would never have owned an opera house. She's unconventional. If you couldn't tell that, then you must be just… weird.
The Erik displayed in the movie is completely different than the one in the book, but I am basing it on neither. How do you know what Erik would do in this situation? It's a completely different situation than before. And you said that the fanfic is more "lust" than "love". Must I mention Erik's creation of "Point of No Return"? Them being touchy is just reassuring that they have each other, heart, soul, and body.
And also, I have not yet introduced all of the cast members. So, please abide by the rule "Patience is a virtue".
Finally, please keep in mind that IT IS A FANFICTION! Not everything will be perfect, and once you find one, than it's not a fanfiction, it's the original story! If you don't like the "errors" in my story, then don't read it. I'm not forcing you.
Finally, one good piece of news: LoverOfBalto gave me this honour: I dub thee the #1 fan of Little Lotte's Guardian of Music and new owner to my Erik Plushie.
Well, finally, on to chapter 11!
Chapter Eleven: Pain beyond Survival
The next day marked the first day of Christine's reign of Prima Donna. She walked out to the stage and stood, hands on hips, until everyone was ready. When they were, she clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.
"Excuse me, but what are we working on today?" she asked.
Everyone looked to Sarine, who was sitting with her head in her hands. Without looking up, she replied, "Whatever you need the most practice on."
"How about Point of No Return?" Christine said, causing Sarine to look up. Christine gave her a malicious look. "I haven't done that song in a year, and I have to perfect the choreography again."
Erik looked from Christine to Sarine and recognized the hatred, "Well, we could do a different piece. Maybe Phantom of the Opera?"
"No," Christine said, taking Erik's hand and pulling him center stage. "Point of No Return."
And so, with Amy playing the piano, they began the song of seduction. Sarine stared at Christine, who was so obvious in her pleasure. Sarine looked to the vicomte, who seemed indifferent. Standing up and running out to the lobby, Sarine was surprised to hear footsteps behind her. She turned to find the vicomte following her. She collapsed to the floor, sobbing. She looked to the vicomte as he came to her and held her.
"How can you just watch that indifferently? How can you watch her take such pleasure with another man's hands all over her?"
Raoul rocked her in his arms, "I know that she chose me before. She can take as much pleasure as she wants, as long as she comes home to me at night."
"Does it matter that the pleasure is with the man I love?" Sarine asked, sobbing. "I can't stand this anymore. I have to leave."
Raoul helped her to her feet and walked her to her office. After she had all of her clothes packed, he carried them to the front of the opera house. Raoul flagged down a carriage and paid for the trip to Jonathan's.
"Be safe, alright? I'll try and separate them. Erik will be easy, but Christine might be a little harder."
Sarine gave Raoul a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He helped her into the carriage and told the driver Jonathan's address again. It took not even ten minutes for the carriage to get to Jonathan's house. Once there, Sarine jumped out and knocked on the door. Emily opened the door and ushered Sarine in. Two of Jonathan's manservants brought in her suitcases.
"Master Jonathan is in his study, ma'am."
Sarine thanked her and walked upstairs to the study. She hesitated at the door, and was surprised when Jonathan pulled the door open.
"I saw the carriage pull up," he said, pulling her into a tight hug. "And I saw them take out your bags. Where are you going?"
Sarine lay her head on Jonathan's chest, letting her tears soak his shirt, "I was hoping you would leave Paris with me."
"Why?" He asked concernedly. "I'll go, but why?"
And she told him everything. Leaving nothing out, she told him whatever was hurting her heart, starting with what Christine said.
"Did you know the girl was Christine Daae?" Sarine asked, looking into his eyes.
"Yes and know," Jonathan replied. "I knew what Christine Daae did, but I didn't know that was her. She had told me that her name was Christine de Chagny, so I didn't make the connection."
Sarine nodded. Jonathan called down to Emily, "Emily! Pack my necessities please. Ms. Toumont and I are going to Venice."
"Venice?" Sarine asked curiously, sniffling.
"Second opera capital of the world," he said, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Just because we're leaving Paris doesn't mean you will have to stop singing."
After his necessary belongings were packed, Jonathan harnessed a carriage and put his and Sarine's bags in it. He instructed Emily to keep up the house while he was gone, and to redirect any guests to his Venice residence. The carriage was then ready and they climbed in.
The ride took all of ten minutes. They got out at the boat harbor, and Sarine looked up at the ships.
"I think I'm going to be sick…" Sarine said, looking very pale.
Jonathan laughed and helped her out of the carriage and up the gangplank. At the top, Jonathan paid for their tickets and gave the stewards their room numbers. He then gently led Sarine to the side of the boat, in case she did get sick. He rubbed her back gently and looked out at the crowd of smiling people on the dock.
Sarine, on the other hand, had never felt worse. Not only was she seasick just thinking about being on a boat, she thought she kept seeing Erik amongst the crowd. She turned away from the edge. The apparition must be from her sickness and grief, so she dismissed it as such. She leaned against Jonathan as the boat set off, afraid she wouldn't be able to stand if she didn't.
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Halfway through 'Point of No Return', Erik got fed up with Christine's attempts to make the dance more provocative.
"What are you doing? Yes, the dance is seductive, but this is ridiculous! Where's Sarine? She can show you how to do it right…" Erik said, looking around the room.
When Raoul walked back into the room, Erik walked swiftly over to him and pinned him against the wall.
"Where is she?" he snarled.
"She's gone," Raoul sputtered, trying to breathe with Erik's arm against his throat. "She left when she saw you feeling up my wife."
Erik fell back, stunned. How could I have been so ignorant to that? He thought.
"It wasn't you alone. My wife was detailing your previous meeting in bed to Sarine. And her plan of seducing you as well. Sarine knew you still care for Christine and would go back to her if she showed any signals of interest," Raoul said, coughing.
Erik looked at Christine with a look of pure, unfiltered loathing. He shouted over his shoulder as he threw his cloak on and walked out the door.
"Vicomte, you better do something with your wife before I do. And I don't mean in a good way."
He left them staring at Christine, who had a look of disbelief on her face. Erik neither noticed, nor cared. The only thought on his mind was of Sarine. And he knew just where she went.
Pounding on Jonathan's door, he nearly hit Emily in the face as she was opening it.
"Where is Mademoiselle Toumont?" Erik asked the frightened maid.
"She's not here," Emily said, looking up at the strange masked man. "Her and Master Jonathan left for Italy not even five minutes ago."
Before she could finish, Erik was already halfway down the street. Once he heard the word Italy he knew that they would be heading for the docks. Running as fast as he could, he arrived just as the Cruse carriage was leaving. He ran into the crowd, not caring if anyone saw him or not. He looked up to the boat when she wasn't in the crowds.
There! She was leaning against the railing, Jonathan supporting her. He caught her eyes a few times, and continually called out to her. Apparently she hadn't seen or heard him, because she turned away. At the sight of the boat leaving with her, he broke down. Due to his ignorance, he had just lost her. He would not let her go for good, though. Walking to the dockmaster, he bought a ticket for the next boat to Italy.
"Anywhere you go, let me go too," Erik said, letting a tear fall on the ticket.
A.N: Well, the Vicomte is the good guy here. It's not his fault that Christine is a slut! This chapter may have been a little choppy, so please forgive me. I needed this chapter out of the way, for the real storyline to begin!