Chapter Nine
DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple
Erik shot up out of the chair after he realized that she had taken his mask. His hand covered his face; and he had knocked Karen to the ground. Swearing at her in french.
"You lying Harpie! I can't believe I let my guard down!" He shouted at her. "Your just like the others! Your just like Christine! Now I can never see you again!" He picked up his sword and held it too her throat. "I should have killed you when I had the chance! I should have let that stage hand have his way with you! I can't believe I was so stupid!" He threw his sword down and the clash echoed through the catacombs. He wouldn't even look at her; as tears streamed down her face.
"I'm sorry.." She whispered. Erik wouldn't even talk to her. He couldn't look or speak to her; not after what had happened. She looked down at her hand; which was clasped around his mask. She tapped him on the shoulder and when he looked at her; she handed him the mask. He took it and covered his face back up.
"Come." He rose to his feet and started off for his boat. While he spoke; his voice almost cracked. "We must return. Madam Giry and the others will be looking for you." Karen nodded and he took her back; escorting her silently to the mirror and leaving without a goodbye from her; or himself.
Karen returned and wiped the tears from her eyes. Meg had met up with her; and asked what had happened. She told her everything; of how she took his mask off to see what he looked like; how he wished he'd killed her; or let the stage hand have his way with her; everything. Meg hugged Karen and told her that he didn't mean it.
"It sounded like he did Meg." Karen protested. "His voice was so cold. I really thought he was going to kill me."
"Give him a few days." She continued. Trying to make her best friend feel better. "He'll cool down and soon enough-"
"I don't think so Meg." She shuddered. "I really don't think so. I've never seen anything like that face before."
"I thought you didn't care about a man's looks." Meg recalled. "You said that if he cared about you; you wouldn't care what his face looked like or anything."
"and I don't." Karen told her. "I wanted to see what everyone said was ugly as sin. I wanted to see behind his mask. I did; and at that moment; it scared me."
"What do you think of it now Karen?" Meg asked. "Now that it's sunk in? Now that you've seen it?"
"It really wasn't as bad as I've heard. But he scared me and I couldn't tell him that."
"Like I said. He'll collect himself and sooner or later, you and he will be hiding out again. I'm sure of it."
That night; as Karen tried to sleep; she found it difficult. She kept hearing him yelling at her; screaming that he should have never saved her. Karen sat up in her bed and hugged her knees. She knew what she wanted to say to him; but she was afraid of what he'd say. Of what he'd do to her if she ever returned to say it. She didn't know if she should take her chance with attempting to see him again; or wait a few days like Meg said and hope it all blows over. She thought about it for fifteen minutes; and then got up and shook Meg awake.
"What..?" Meg asked tiredly.
"Meg. I'm going to see him. If anyone asks; I'm with Raphael." Meg nodded and went back to sleep; Karen changed out of her night gown and into the dress she wore the first time she saw him; and started for his lair.
Erik sat up late; tracing the outline of his mask with his finger. It was because of his horrid face he couldn't be with his first love. Because of his face he was banished under the opera populaire; never to see anyone again. His own mother didn't even want him. He rested his mask on the end table which had a candle burning; and his music box sitting silently next to the candle.
What did he do to deserve such a horrible face? He had it as long as he could remember; had he done something horrible in a past life and he was being punished? Had his mother or father done something bad and they were being punished with an ugly son?
And why hadn't anyone tried to see past the face? Christine took one look at his horrible face and soon enough she hated him. He had loved her so much; and he had given his entire soul to her; but she stabbed him in the back. Now he had shouted at the only person he's had contact with in three years. It wasn't like he didn't care about her; he didn't mean anything he had said. He regretted nothing. But with his luck; Karen will treat him just as Christine had; and he'll be all alone.
No. He won't give himself that chance. If he can't have a normal face which will not deny him the love of a woman; he will take his life and keep anyone from caring. The next ballet girl who comes for his skull will actually find one that is his.
He rose up out of the bed and put the mask on his face. Then he walked down to the kitchen area and searched for a knife. He had always kept cooking utensils down there because he needs to feed himself for one thing. He pulled out a butcher knife just and walked back out to the area with the organ and everything else. The candles were all lit; giving him perfect light as he tried to get himself to get it over with.
Just before he did it; Just before he gave up all he had; He heard splashes in the water.
"Erik!" He turned his head and saw Karen; soaked to the bone and trying to reach him. "Erik don't!"
"What do you care?" He asked coldly. "Your just like the others. Wanting to see only the normal."
"No! Erik don't!" She pleaded. Running to him and snatching the knife from his hand. She threw it in the water and turned back to him. She was trying to catch her breath before she yelled. "Are you really that much of a coward? Taking your own life because of something so insignificant as a deformed face?"
"Your the one that just had to see it!" He yelled right back. "You just couldn't leave it be could you?" Karen was so flustered she couldn't even reply. Erik almost went to find another knife; but she grabbed his sleeve and drug him over to the mirror. She lifted the drape and it showed their reflection.
"Take the mask off Erik." She told him. But when he refused; she asked him too again. He lifted his mask off and she snatched it. But almost instantly; he put his hand over his face.She put he mask on the table and lowered his hand. "What do you see?"
"A monster." Karen kept her hand on his; so he wouldn't try to hide it anymore. "Why?"
"Do you know what I see?" He shook his head. "Someone who has been through a lot, but he didn't complain when the only girl he ever loved, loved someone else. He gave up willingly; knowing he couldn't win." He lisoned as she went on. "But I don't see a monster. I do see a handsome man. A genius. A man of magic."
"That was Optics." He corrected. But she went on.
"But if he took his own life; I'd sure as hell miss him." Erik looked at her; and then back at the mirror.
"Do you mean that? Or are you just lying to me?"
"I mean it."
omg yes I'm done! So peachy you can't kill me:DD
