A/N: CHAPTER 11 HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RE-WRITTEN! PLEASE GO BACK AND READ IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND THIS CHAPTER! THANK YOU!
I sat upright before my organ and let my long, thin fingers graze the keys. Christine listened contentedly from my right side, sometimes unconsciously humming the melody. We were both woken from within our minds by several rings resounding off the walls.
"What was that?" asked Christine, her body leaning off the divan in alarm. I growled softly in annoyance before uprooting myself from the bench and heading for the door. Her voice was edged with fright as it followed me, calling my name.
"We have a guest, my dear," I replied sarcastically. "I really must go out and greet him."
"Erik!" she called frantically, but I was already out the door.
…
I did not shiver even as I waded deeper and deeper into the icy waters of Lake Averne. Slipping the reed between my lips and firmly pressing together, I submerged myself fully, waiting in grim anticipation for any new rippling in the water. I knew the boat would be coming near any moment, and so I began the siren's song—low, soft, entrancing. As the poor fool came closer I could feel him slowing with curiosity. Stopping completely, the boat was nearly over me. I rose with my song, only seeing the faint, blurry outline of the man's face before grabbing his collar and dragging him down. He screamed incoherently beneath the water as I struggled to drown him. I turned his head up meet my eyes, the last things I assumed he would ever see. Yet when I saw his face it was I who became stunned at its familiarity. Grabbing him by his shirtfront, I hoisted him above the surface, letting out a long growl as we broke through the water.
"What were you doing?" I cried harshly, half-dragging him onto the boat. He sputtered violently on his knees before breathing in deeply and moving to lie against the frame. "You know, Daroga, you're dangerously close to being on my bad side!"
"What was that?" He shuddered.
"The siren," I explained, calming my voice as I hopped into the vessel. "And it would have gotten you, had I not been there to intervene." I gave a quiet, sarcastic laugh, and he glanced at me with dark, wary eyes.
"I've been following you, Erik," he said, sitting up and trying pathetically to seem stronger than he was.
"Have you?" I cut in. "Well, you should know that I'm not the only one who has been followed. You say you've been tracking me? Do you mean the two times you were sneaking around my cellars, and were brought back by the man in the felt hat? Or the days prior to those, when you wandered around at rehearsal time for stories of the infamous Opera Ghost? Yes, daroga, I know very well what you've been doing, and I'll tell you now that I won't answer for anything!"
"Where is Christine Daae?"
"What makes you think she's with me?" I asked, half avoiding the question.
"I know you, Erik, and I know she's here. Your actual confession is of little concern to me." He paused. "However, I am concerned for her sake."
"Concerned?" I arched an eyebrow. "And what reason is there for alarm?"
"For haven's sake, Erik, you've kidnapped the poor girl! She's being held against her will!"
"That's where you're wrong, daroga!" I shot back. "She…she loves me…for myself." The words flowed so sweetly on my lips that for a moment I was glad to have Nadir near me that I could share my grotesque fantasy with another being.
"That is a lie, Erik! You abducted her and now she's your prisoner!"
"No, no, it isn't a lie," I said softly. "Oh, you should see her, daroga! You should see her when she looks at me without the mask—"
"She has seen you without the mask?" He asked incredulously, his eyes wide and unbelieving.
"Yes, and she isn't disgusted. Weeks ago she threw my mask into the fire, and then we wept, together." I shuddered. "Oh, I love her so!" Nadir remained silent, and so I began again.
"Will you come to my wedding, daroga? It will all take place in the Madeleine Church, where I'll play our wedding mass for her. Kyrie, kyrie, kyrie eleison…" My heals slapped against the wood in an imitation of the mass' tune.
"I'll believe you," he broke me out my dream state, "when I see her leave and return to you of her own accord."
"Ah, but that has already happened. She left me yesterday, and returned just this morning. Never mind that, though. You will see. Come to the masque tonight, daroga. Christine and I will be there for a time, and when you see her go into her dressing room at the end of it all you'll know she has come back to me willingly. Yes, she'll come back to me because she'll want to."
"I'll be there," he returned quickly, "though I doubt I'll see what you believe I will." I shrugged it off.
"Now, you really must be on your way. Christine seemed rather upset when I left her so rudely, all on your behalf. You can paddle back up through these waters, but I swear to you, daroga, that if I ever catch you sneaking around down here again I will not be so merciful as today." Pushing myself back into the lake, I treaded through the water and walked back onto the shore. Nadir stared at me with contempt and idiocy before finally grabbing the oars and rowing away.
After pushing the stone in the wall and opening the door, I was surprised to see Christine standing before me, her face tear streaked and her body shaking tremulously. For a moment I could only stare at her, feeling guilty for a sin I didn't even know I'd committed.
"I-I heard splashing," she informed me quietly. I crossed through the wall and attempted to lead her to the divan, ignoring the fact that my soaking clothes were probably not easing her mind.
"Christine—" For the first time in a long time she flinched as I drew closer.
"Who…who was it? Why are you wet?"
"I mistook the identity of a friend of mine, and we ended up turning over the boat. I'm sorry to have frightened you."
"Please don't lie to me, Erik. Where is he?"
"That is the truth!" When she would not meet my gaze I jumped to my feet and asked her to do the same. "I want you to see something," I told her. Opening the door back up, we both looked out across the lake.
"Do you see a body, Christine?" No answer. "Do you see the boat?" Still, nothing. "I don't suppose you would, seeing as the only way it would have gotten back to the dock is if he had taken it there!" There were fresh tears on her face now, and with a guilty stab I knelt before her, and said softly: "Trust in me, Child. I would never lie to hurt you. I… I never want to hurt you." She nodded.
"I'm sorry, Erik," and she truly did look it. "I believe you."
"Come," I told her gently. "Why don't we have lunch?"
"Yes," she nodded, walking towards her room, "Give me moment, please, and then I'll meet you."
"Christine? Are you in there, angel?" I passed a hand over my face to calm myself before replying.
"C-come in," I said through the wall. He pushed open the door, carrying with him a long white dress bag.
"I thought you might need this for the masquerade," he said before laying it down on the bed. I nodded gratefully.
"Thank you." He dismissed it with a quiet wave of his hand before turning to go.
"Lunch is ready when you wish it, my dear." When the clink of the door shutting reached my ears, I turned back to the dress bag. Unzipping it, I saw a long, flowing black gown made of rich velvet. Running across the shoulders was an almost translucent dark shawl. I brushed my fingers across the light fabric, my lips unconsciously twisting upward. It was beautiful.
During our afternoon meal both of us seemed reluctant to talk. Every time I stared at him I could only think of the visitor he had encountered today. I truly believed he had spared whatever man had found his way down here, and that wasn't what troubled me now. It was, strangely enough, the thought that Erik had friends. I suppose in some odd way I believed if Erik had had anyone at all, he would not have kidnapped me. Who was he then, really? Had there been other girls…? Erik was an extraordinary being, and old enough to have had experience in many matters. Yet I felt nauseous at the thought of any other girl close to Erik…kissing him when I would not. I pushed it in the back of my mind, desperately to clear my head, and asked somewhat tremulously:
"Are…are you going to the masquerade, Erik?" He smiled slightly.
"It would seem a perfect a occasion for one such as I, wouldn't it?" He laughed lightly. "Yes, I'll be there. After all, how could I miss an opportunity to parade my favorite mask?" I smiled in spite of myself.
"I wasn't aware you had a favorite. Which one shall you be wearing?"
"That, my dear, will remain a secret until tonight." He paused. "Now, if you're finished, we can resume our work on Faust."
…
I spent the last hours of daylight preparing for the ball, but not only physically. My stomach felt so tight with stress that more than once I had to sit down, and simply breathe. I kept telling myself to be strong, that Erik would never know of my rendezvous with Raoul, but how could I be certain? Over and over I heard Erik's threatening voice, telling me coldly:
Then you might break your promise, and that would certainly put you in dangerous circumstances.
More than once I had begun to hope Raoul would not come at all. I prayed that the letter had never been given to him, that it was trampled and unrecognizable beneath the wheel of a carriage. Standing before my mirror, I breathed out, and pulled my shawl tightly around my ivory shoulders. I couldn't hesitate any longer.
"Erik?" I asked, opening my door. I turned to look in the shadows, and was surprised to see a tall strip of striking red. It walked farther out, and in the illumination of candlelight I slowly realized this was what Erik intended to wear to the masquerade.
The costume was a deep scarlet velvet, drawn out like his normal evening attire. He wore long black gloves and fitting boots. Before looking up I thought of how tall, and less sickly it made him look. But then my head turned to meet his, almost merrily, to see which mask was his favorite. I nearly screamed.
It was as white as bone, and seemed truly made from that human source. The expression was set in a cruel glare reminiscent of that first flash of anger. The lips were twisted in a snarl, and the nose was unsurprisingly nonexistent. He was death himself, hiding the scythe that was to be my end. I shut my eyes tightly before whispering:
"Do not come near me with that on. Please…" His voice was too gentle to come from the mouth I had seen as he answered:
"Does it truly frighten you so much?"
"Yes." I heard a soft rustling, and when I looked up the mask had disappeared.
"This is more to your liking, Christine?" He gestured to his face, the one that now paled in comparison to his disguise. For once, it was honestly not so bad.
"It is," I said quietly.
"Forgive me, then. I had not thought it was possible to frighten you by putting something over my face." His tone was not condescending, only surprised.
He walked towards me, and I saw the long, velvet cape that dripped like fire from his back. Had I not been so enthralled by its elegant stance and color I would not have seen the golden words that read: Do not touch me. I am the red death passing by.
Grabbing something off the counter, he told me to hold still as he stood behind me. For a second I held my breath, but when a black domino passed over my eyes I felt secure again. He hadn't even touched me. Feeling the fabric, I turned around to face him and heard his breath catch in his throat.
"It suits you," was all he said. Grabbing his plumed hat, we passed through the door once again, got swiftly into the boat, and headed uneasily for the Opera House's main hall.
It was time.
A/N: Yes, I'm stopping there. –sticks out tongue- It took me forever to write. Anyway, I have a huge project to work on, so I hope you'll all forgive if the next update takes a while to get out. Thanks you for your reviews!
Quiet2885—Thank you so much! And yes, I know I've been rather vague about Christine's feeling for Raoul, but that will all be cleared up in the next chapter, when he throws a hissy fit. ;)
Clever Lass—Good, I'm glad you'll back me if I end it E/C, which I will, and I'll try very hard to make it tasteful and in-character. And yes, Mama Valerius will be appearing two chapters from now, and I can't wait to write that scene as it was one of my favorites in the book. Also, I'm sorry that the masque wasn't in the chapter, but I'll hopefully get that one up soon.
Reading Redhead—Yeah, stupid Raoul, he'll come in soon, unfortunately. Thank you, I hope you like the revision, and I also hope it was less confusing. )
Mini Nicka—Thanks!
LonelyBlueCat—Erik's mask is made of silk? Ooooo, sexay! ;) Lol, I'll have to go back and change that. And please, I'm happy for you to critique me, and I agree that she was ooc, which was one of the reasons I re-wrote it. Thank you for dropping a line!
Allison—Haha. Well, since I don't want you to cry and I've heard form Raoul that being punjabbed isn't painless, I'll have to give in and make it E/C. ;)
Allegratree—LOL! When I read your review I laughed so hard. I hadn't even realized I'd written the man as having a 'thick, French accent.' Geez, the things that spew out of my mind when I'm not paying attention. Btw, I'll try to make it as un-ridiculous as possible, and hopefully the ending will turn out as tastefully as we're both hoping for. Thank you!
Wendela—No, you didn't spoil it at all, you actually just saved me a bunch of money. That ending is almost more depressing than the original! Anyway, thank you!
Leonsalanna—Lol. And actually, no he won't. ;)
Cmdr. Gabe E—Aww, thanks! I really hope you'll like the revision, then, and even if you don't, I swear this story will get better. There's going to be fluff in the next chapter, too! Weeeee!
Blaze—Are you aware of just how insane you are? Holy mother of pearl, I'm giving you the award for longest review EVER! And when I say ever, I mean EVER! Anyway, wow. Thank you so much, you have no idea how much I appreciate it when you take the time help me out like that. I really hope you thought my revision was better. And hey, lol, if you're moving into the POH, so am I! ;) Sorry this reply is short, I'm in a hurry to get my psych paper out. Thank you again! –hugs-
Miranda—Thank you so much! Erik is obsessed with money and goes around in a CLOWN suit! -laughs for half an hour and then goes back to typing- Oh man, I have got meet this guy!