Chapter 24: Conclusions Undrawn

The tension in the air stank up the tiny dressing room, so it had been conceded to move the action to the de Chagny mansion outside of the city. A carriage with beautiful wood upon it bearing the de Chagny crest pulled up in front of the Opera Garnier carrying four tense passengers. No seating arrangement seemed safe enough to prevent awkward encounter.

Unfortunately, no time could have been taken to arrange the perfect seating for the long journey. Christine instinctively grabbed Rosalie and pulled her next inside the carriage next to her. Rosalie hid her fear through her mother's warm grip on her hand. This left Raoul and Erik on the other side facing the two women. Rosalie seemed to sense the tension of the situation, seeing her old and new fathers trying to maintain their dignity and control.

Erik sat across from Christine looking out the window, Raoul sat near the door looking across at Rosalie. She gazed back at him with mixed emotion and slight fear. He tried to ease her emotions by smiling but any bond they might have had, had been broken. Rosalie leaned against her mother and caught Erik's eye. He winked at her and she smiled briefly.

Erik's hands gripped his knees trying to channel the anger and frustration he felt. All these years and this constant triangle had still found no solution. The journey to the Vicomte's abode gave Erik time with his thoughts and memories. Visions of Christine when she had been a naïve chorus dancer danced through his mind, her face when she had seen his grotesque face for the first time, and then the time when they had made passionate love in his lair. He always tried to not think about that time; it made him feel vulnerable.

Suddenly his thoughts turned back to before he had been granted an attractive face and an enviable career. His thoughts traveled to thoughts of Isabelle. Erik delved into his memory, he had not thought of her in such a long time. Her deep emerald eyes pierced his mind and the smell of her red hair made him close his eyes. The look on her face when she had left him on the street that day still haunted his dreams. He wondered what had become of her all these years.

Raoul's thoughts were not so unlike Erik's. He thought of Christine as a young girl and when he had rescued her scarf in the ocean that day. The sound of her father's violin struck his heart. He saw Christine singing that aria on the stage when he had come to the opera. He saw the birth of Rosalie and how happy he had been. He looked at Erik's child now and felt his one hope of being happy crushed. He thought about Josette at home and wondered if she too was Erik's.

He broke the silence with this crucial question, "Not to be rude and break the comfort of the ride but Christine, is Josette the spawn of this monster too?"
Christine gave him a look that shut him up and prevented Erik from knocking his block off but she answered Raoul's question in a tone that was queerly tranquil,

"Josette is yours and mine, Raoul. Never doubt otherwise."

Erik almost smiled but kept any emotion to himself. Rosalie lie on Christine's lap and soon fell asleep. Christine felt relieved; Rosalie did not need to be a part of this crazy argument. She looked out the window and saw the long road that ended at her home. The mansion looked unfriendly as the carriage drove up. At last the carriage stopped and Christine carried Rosalie out. Erik and Raoul stepped out and sat in the drawing room waiting for Christine to put Rosalie to bed.

Raoul stood up and paced the room anxiously, stopping only to pour himself a brandy. He made the offer as a well brought up man would, disregarding his dislike of his guest, "Sir, would you care for a drink?"

Erik looked at his host narrowing his eyebrows and coolly but politely declined a drink. Raoul drank his first glass down with ease and then poured himself another to carrying around with him while he walked around the room. Erik grew irritated at the Vicomte's need to move about but made no threatening remarks.
At last Christine appeared and closed the drawing room doors behind her. She looked worried but had a resolved look on her face. Tonight was the night; everything would be put in proper order. The men in the room stood up in her presence, rather Erik stood and Raoul stopped pacing.

Christine gestured for both men to sit next down. They all took their seats and began a long a tiring dialogue about the last seven or eight years. The men sipped their drinks concealing their large gulps when they thought no one was looking. Christine braved them both by speaking,

"I love both of you and I don't want anyone to feel hurt. I don't know how to resolve the mess I've made."

Raoul gruffly answered, "Well, my dear, you could start by making up your mind which of us you are in love with and whose children you'd like to have from no on."

Christine flinched at his harsh words, "Please Raoul, you have no idea how hard this is on me…"

Raoul stood in anger, "Hard on YOU? Your life has not been continuously ruined by one human being. I used to think it was him," he yelled pointing at Erik, "but now I'm wondering if you aren't the cause. I fall in love with you from the moment I lay eyes on you. Think about you every day, wishing I could hear your voice again. And then… I see you. But—you're already in his grasp. He clawed his way into your heart and since then I haven't had a moment's piece! He steals my wife's heart and then… my firstborn… so I thought… turns out to be his. Everyone I love is somehow tainted by this ghost. That's why I wanted to make sure that Josette was mine. Who knows, it could all be some plan. Have his children, raised by me, and completely crush me."

Christine stood up and slapped Raoul's face, "Don't you dare speak to me that way! I am sorry I lied to you, but I only lied because I knew what you would say and I knew you would try to uncover Erik. And I could not let that happen!"
"I'll be you couldn't," Raoul sneered speaking more frankly as a result of his second brandy, "Couldn't let the love of your life, a MURDERER, live. Where is the justice in that!" His sarcasm ripped through her heart and she tried to conceal the tears.

Erik stood up not standing for this anymore, "Sir, you will lower your voice."
Raoul laughed, "Sir? Don't bloody sir ME! I should ask you to leave my house for making love with my wife."

Erik turned away at this remark and paced the room, "Monsieur le Vicomte, all I ask if for my child."

Christine spun around, "Rosalie is my child too, Erik."

"Well, then we will figure out a way for me to see her. Custody."
Raoul walked towards him, "You know damn well Rosalie is not the issue here. Christine is the issue, my wife is the issue."

"You will speak to me, Raoul, I am right here." Christine sat down on the couch angrily.

Erik had to agree, "For once dear Vicomte I agree. I agree with you."

"Erik, how dare you, both of you, I am not your prize, sirs."

Raoul sat down next to her and held her hand hopefully, "Christine you must choose which of us to love. You cannot have both and I will not be embarrassed by you committing adultery anymore under my nose. If you do not love me…" he turned away letting go of her hand, shaking in upset, "Oh Christine…"

Christine looked desparately from Raoul to Erik, she stood up away from Raoul and walked towards Erik. He looked nervous but hopeful as she got closer to him. Stopping inches away from Erik, she looked into his eyes. Turning towards Raoul she spoke, "There is only one way for me to decide, look away, love." Wrapping her arms around Erik's neck she kissed him with an urgency that he had never known before. When they parted he knew the answer, how could he have thought otherwise?

Christine looked quizzically into his eyes, "Oh Erik… I never would have thought…"

"It's gone, angel. The passion is gone." Christine put her hands to her mouth in shock. Raoul stood up and Christine kissed him in the same manor. The look on her face said it all to Erik. Raoul had never been the passionate choice but that was the only element alive between her and Erik. Now that it was gone, she knew who to be with.

Christine looked at Raoul, "Love… look at me. You are my husband and you are the one I will spend my life with, give you more children, grow old with. That is, if you will forgive me for hurting you all of these year?"
Raoul hugged her tight and observed Erik from the other side with satisfaction. Erik began to walk towards until he felt something clamp onto his leg. He looked down and saw Rosalie hugging him with such intensity; she was crying his name,

"Please Maestro, don't leave me, don't leave me, I want to go with you please!"
Christine rushed into this scene and spoke firmly to Rosalie,

"Rosalie, go upstairs now!"

"No, I want to go with him. He's my father and you lied to me!"

Erik looked pleadingly at Christine and picked up his daughter; she clung to his neck like a monkey. Erik spoke softly, "Christine, I can take her with me for the night and you can come pick her up in the morning." Christine began to say something but then nodded in defeat.

Erik smiled at Rosalie and walked towards the door. He put her on the floor, helping her with her cloak and after fastening his own he led her out the door.