Chapter 2
Christine pulled back from Erik. The song playing in her mind over and over again.
"You betrayed me, Christine." was the whispered remark. The music on the organ had fallen silent, and he turned around. He watched her intently. The mask that Meg had left, and he had returned to. The mask that haunted her for the past six years in her dreams. She knew it no longer would.
'I gave you my music, made your song take wing, and now, how you've repaid me, denied me and betrayed me...' his voice drifted on the last word.
Christine reached down and stroked his cheek, the un-scarred one, softly.
"But I've returned, Erik. Don't you understand?" Christine implored. "To my teacher, my guide and guardian, my Angel!"
"What's this?" he whispered dangerously. He grabbed her wrist, lifting her hand. The gold that glinted on her finger in the lone candle's light gave it away.
"But, Erik," she squirmed uncomfortably. His grip was tight.
"I loved you, Christine," he said, "But I will not have another man's wife. I would have in the past, but not now." His grip loosened, and he sighed wearily.
"I'm leaving, Christine," he continued, "This was supposed to be my last visit here...to collect ny music"
She could say nothing for a long while. "Where will you go to? Where will you stay? Come with me, Erik. Leave the past..leave the night alone. Please, Erik."
"I closed my heart to you when you left me that night. Left me broken, in pieces like that mirror that I shattered that night!" He shouted out that last part before leaning his head in his hands and sobbing. Christine knelt before him, placed her hands on his.
"Don't leave me just, yet, Erik. I will think of something..." her voice trailed away as she left him alone for the second time in her life.
Meg knocked on the study door, The servant who had showed her in told her Raoul would be in the study.
"Come in!" the voice called out. Meg timidly opened the door.
"Raoul?" she said.
He looked up from his writing, " Yes, Meg?'
"It's Christine, sir," she said quietly,"I don't know where she is. I was wondering if you knew."
Raoul stood up sudden;y, scattering his papers by the sudden movement. "No, she did not tell me anything. I wasn't even aware she was gone. What did she tell you?"
"She told me she was going for a walk," Meg answered, "But she has been gone for sometime. Hours, I should think."
"I told her..." Raoul's voice trailed off, "We would start a new life...Told her to stay away..." He looked at Meg with a ferociousity in his voice.
"The Opera," Meg finished for him, as Raoul grabbed his coat and rushed out of the room.
He flew down the stairs with Meg close behind him.
He was stopped in his tracks as Christine came in through the front doors of the de Chagny estate.
"Christine! Where have you been?" he asked as he rushed up to her. He pulled her into an embrace. Christine looked at him, in those eyes that she loved.
"You knew that I was gone?" Christine asked icily, her gaze falling on Meg. Her best friend. She trusted her.
"Well, " Raoul started as he pulled himself away from her, "Meg told you were gone for sometime. I just started to worry."
"I'm back, so you needn't worry anymore," Christine said, and brushed past them both.
"Christine!" he shouted after her as she began to climb the steps to her room."If you had enough respect for me, you would tell me where you were."
Christine turned around when she reached the top stair, "Visting an old friend, Raoul, just visiting an old friend." With that said, she hummed a tune in her head. She had much to prepare.
"That's what I was afraid you'd say," he said quietly watching his wife's retreating back.
