Chapter 17
"Sasha, you can't stay here." Christine pleaded, as she slowly approached her daughter.
"Why? So I can go back to being a shadow in Raoul's home? Hiding in the horses stall to read? No, I don't want that life." She stood as erect as her body would allow her to add to her strong, stubborn appearance.
"You just met Erik. How can you possibly know you will be happy with him? You don't know what he is like!"
"I think I have a pretty good idea, especially the way you threw yourself on him, the way you dream about him, and call out his name when you think no one is listening? He can't be as horrible as Raoul." Sasha spat at her mother, as she stepped away from Erik. Her body shook with the feeling of power, never before had she raised her voice to her mother, she was taken by surprised how intoxicating the feeling was, she never wanted it to end.
"What would you do down here with him? Your willing to leave your family behind for this," She extended her arms and rotated around, "A home underground, surrounded by a slimy lake, and rats?"
They were now screaming at each other. Erik's heart crumbled at the sight of his girls so upset, and over him no less. Despite his emotional pain, he knew that he shouldn't take a side in the matter, he would have to let them settle it, either way, he realized he could not win. If Sasha stayed with him, her heart would break, and he knew that even for knowing her for such a small time. Sasha lives for her sister, they are best friends, as close as they could possibly get. If Sasha left, he knew his own heart would shatter, after losing the one thing he ever loved, he knew he would surely lose himself without her. Before he met her, he felt old, and one his last few days of life, but now, his youth seemed to be restored, he was given something to live for. Maybe God didn't hate him after all, either that, or he has a cruel sense of humour, like a wicked boy holding a scrap piece of food above a dog's head, who lowers it just enough for the dog to get a lick, then raises it out of reach.
"Why don't you stay then? You love Erik, not Raoul. Stay with us, divorce Raoul."
"Divorce! Thats completely absurd! What would society think? Oh heaven! A public affair would be acceptable compared to that! And what pre' tel would Kathrine do? She is your closest companion, but she would never leave her father, she cares to deeply for him." Sasha hung her head, for the first time in her life, she really didn't consider all the consequences of staying behind.
"Talk Raoul into moving back to Paris." She suggested, as she slowly came to realize her plan wasn't going to work out.
"Do know how much pleading I had to do just to get him to agree to Three days? I could never talk him into staying, he despises this place, for good reasons." She looked over at Erik, then back at her daughter.
"He only hate it because of Erik! And he thinks Erik is dead."
"Erik isn't the only reason he hates this place," Christine lowered her voice to a soft whisper, "His brother Philippe drowned in the lake, trying to get down here." Sasha took a step back in surprise.
"He had a brother?" She questioned, she couldn't understand why she didn't know about her 'fathers' family. Christine nodded her head. "Why wasn't I told?" She was trying to understand her parents reasonings, but no solution came to mind.
"Raoul wanted to remove our family from that old life completely. And if you knew about Philippe, or Phil..." Her voice became inaudible with the last words, but Sasha didn't care any more, a marvelous plan had been formed in her cunning mind. She turned to Erik, and slowly approacher him.
"You could come with us." She spoke softly, as she took his hands in hers.
"Little One, Don't tempt me." He pleaded with her, as he shook his head in protest. His eyes traveled back to her eye. The minute he saw her, he knew he couldn't resist her plead, he never wanted to see such emotions in her eye. The small glimmer of hope she had was fading fast, leaving just disappointment, and sorrow in her hollow eye. He could see he was breaking her tender heart, and he hated himself for it.
"You heard Mother, she can't live without you you. I swear, if they take me back there, I will come back, if I have to run away I will return. Although I don't know the way." She widened her eye, allowing her face to look more childish and ignorant. She knew how to play a man to get what she wanted, when she wanted something, she always found a way to get it.
Erik's mind raced over thoughts of her getting lost in the city, of her alone on a dark, empty, cold street, and the worst image he could conjure up, her being taken advantage of by some low class peasant man, looking for some fun. Erik looked up at Christine for support, but she gave no indication of even knowing about Sasha's plea. She stood completely still, her eyes focused on nothing, as if she was in deep thought.
"No, Little One. I won't allow you to make such a dangerous trip." He pulled her hands up to his mouth, and kissed the tops of each one. Sasha's wanted to pull her hands away, but she let his lips gently press against her soft skin. She didn't want to pull away for the reasons most would, but because it hurt Erik. The mask had to be pushed up for his lips to be exposed, the sharp angle of the eye hole cutting into his flesh, to the point were the right side broke skin, giving him the appearance of tears of blood. "I couldn't live with myself knowing you put yourself into such danger for me. No young lady should wander in a foreign land alone. Trust my experience, there are wicked people in this world of ours, who wouldn't think twice about taking advantage of you."
"So, the only solution if for you to follow us home. Erik, think about it. Think of all you would gain. Someone to be with, to talk to, to sing with, and well... Mother. Are you honestly happy living in this cellar?"
"God didn't make me to be happy." He said plainly, but he knew he was losing this battle.
"But you can be happy, I sure I could make you. Look how we laughed last night."
"Your persuasive, Little One."
"Just call me Mephistopheles." Erik raised his brow to the opera reference.
"have you heard the entire story, Little One? Because Faust doesn't get his happy ending." He commented.
"Oh, I haven't finished it." She dropped her eyes to the floor, embarrassed by her mistake. "Please, Father." He sighed heavily, then tilted her chin up with his finger.
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
"Yes, I want you to be happy, Erik. I want you to be with me." He turned away from her, and leaned up against the Mantle.
"I have never given in to someone's demands, not even Christine. If I don't like something, I change it, or someone... I am stubborn, Little One. I am as stubborn as any man can come, But you have me beat. One look in that precious gold eye of yours, and I would give you the world if I could, although, I don't think you would want it, it's rather disappointing." He turned back to her, and began to kneel on the floor, so that he looked up into her face. She moved closer to him, as he placed his large hands on the sides of her face. "There is no way I can win this debate, is there?" She smiled, as a single tear of joy ran down her cheek.
"No, you can't." She wrapped her arms around him, and hugged him tightly. He sat there rigid for a moment, but then gave in, and returned her embrace.
"Erik." Christine spoke. Sasha and Erik snapped their attention to Christine, both had forgotten she was in the room. "How do you expect to get to London, without Raoul noticing you? Were will you hide?" she spoke fearfully, but Erik just laughed.
"You have forgotten on very important little detail, my dear Christine, I am the Opera Ghost."
