Chapter 1: Christine and Erik's Death
(Christine's POV)
I'm a woman of nobility and like most women; I'm interested in what's happening in the news. For the past three weeks, I've been the news and everyone questioning the same thing: What was your experience? It gets annoying when your fiancé is the Viscount and had all this power but does nothing for you (I've thought of divorce and it will happen later this year). I've answered the same thing to every reporter: I wish not to discuss the matter – yet they persist and I excuse them to leave.
I get the Époque every week and this week has been the most devastating. Erik – my beloved Angel of Music, my Phantom – was dead. My heart shattered. My ring now glowed ever brighter even though it probably didn't but it was the only thing I had left of him and it was now my most precious item. (This ring was the ring from the book. The gold band) I started crying.
"Christine, what's..."I shook my head, covered my mouth, and took the newspaper up to my room. I tore around the room looking for scissor to clip the article for safe keeping and I finally succeeded. I knew what had to be done.
(line)
I exited the house with a blank face. Raoul was petrified seeing that and he came over to comfort me; he had seen the morning paper. I gently shoved him aside and went out to the carriage waiting for me. My fiancé, being the overly protective kind, stared out the door dumbstruck. I just sat there with my funeral gown on and my hair piece in front of my face but with a strong look ahead.
"To the Opera House," and the carriage was off.
Raoul may never know that I was forced to go with him but when Erik said to go, I didn't want to. He may have been frightened of love but he knew I loved him. I knew I loved him, too. It's a mystery that may never unfold.
I arrived to the house about 30 minutes after I began my journey to rescue Erik. How the article appeared in the paper is another unsolved mystery but that's not the point whatsoever. I slipped into my old room, still untouched since Don Juan Triumphant and since it wasn't destroyed in the fire, the lock remained and my key still worked perfectly.
The mirror was replaced with another replica and my hopes were high it still worked, in terms of the walk-in to his lair. I found it to open just as easily as it had been when I first discovered the magical world of my love. It was a bit dusty from all the days it had not been operated but I managed to pull the cob webs out of the way.
What surprised me most was the boat. It was still in place where Raoul and I had left it when we left. I cried when he carried me up the stairs. Mostly because of the stress and fear that they would kill Erik but then for the sake that I left him and I was his only love. I rowed all the way across the lake and came to the grand entrance. The organ was still intact while papers covered the floor and the figures littered the shore line. My mannequin still stood in the little gap that it had always been.
I heard a familiar tune coming from his room and decided that was where he would be. Instead of finding him dead, he was still breathing but it was obvious he was on his death bed. I ran over to him and kneeled by him.
He started stroking my hair and spoke but a whisper. "It's an odd little devise, is it not?" I looked up at him with a teary face. He smiled at me and I knew I was safe for the time being. "I see you read the paper my dear protégé." I grabbed his hand like a child to her father.
"Sadly. When I heard that you had...passed, I couldn't bear it but your alive!" He shushed me quickly.
"Christine, I am dying. It's my time." He pointed to the monkey and I handed to him. It must have stopped playing while he was speaking. I lifted to him and it magically opened. I stared at it, amusing my angel and he held out a chain with my old engagement ring looped through.
"I want you to have it. As a wedding present, Viscountess." He made a move to put it around my head but I grabbed it from him.
"A wedding present? I never said I was to marry him, Erik"
"Who told you my name?"
"Nadir. When he came to tell me of your condition. He said it would be two weeks until...until..." I couldn't finish. I slopped down and cried on him torso while he gently sang 'Music of the Night'. "I'm not marrying Raoul. I can't...I just can't." He placed his index finger under my chin and asked a question.
"Who do you want to marry?"
"I want to marry you." He smiled but I could tell he didn't believe me.
"If you really wish to wed me, kiss me and hand me the ring." I handed him the ring and gently kissed his lips. They were cold but warm with passion. He slipped the ring onto my finger and gasped for a breath. "Christine, this will be the last time I can speak to you..."
I mouthed the word 'No,' to him. "Christine, you must understand. I'm dying and the Opera House is in need of a prima Dona. You must take the lead. I've taught you all I know. You're now my wife...and my soon-to-be widow, please do this...as a dying wish..." his eyes closed and he exhaled his final breath. I leaned down to kiss him. I swear he kissed me back and then faded into the darkness but I understood what had to be done and it was the exact opposite of his final wish.
'I must die with him.'
A/N: No, she didn't die like suicide. You'll understand in the next chappie.
