After handing the letter off to the messenger, Erik immediately returned to his lair and made his way towards his bedchamber, hoping Catherine was there waiting for him. When he came to threshold, he stopped in his tracks and was in awe at what he saw. Catherine was still sleeping peacefully in his bed, as she slept her hair created a ring shape above her head, like a halo, her chest was moving up and down slowly as she breathed softly. To Erik she had the appearance of an angel. He approached the bed carefully and sat down beside Catherine on the right and looked at her with admiration. His minded drifted back to the events earlier and still couldn't wrap his mind around how the beautiful young woman before him, a living angel, show such kindness, compassion, and love towards someone as hideous as him. He had not felt such love from any woman since his mother was alive and together he and Catherine consummated their love in the ultimate act and couldn't help but feel honoured that she had chosen him above any other man, he vowed to cherish her for ever. Without hesitating he raised his left hand towards her, slowly bringing it to Catherine's face to touch her cheek, gently. His touch made Catherine stir a little, but she did not open her eyes, Erik pulled away for a moment but then felt a compulsion to touch her again and to do more. He rested his left hand upon her cheek again then leaned forward until his lips touched her's and he kissed her lovingly for a few sweet seconds then pulled himself away. The feeling of Erik's lips upon her own stirred Catherine completely from sleep, she gave a small yawn before opening her eyes slowly. Her vision was distorted at first, she blinked a few times and once her vision cleared she smiled to see Erik looking down at her.
"Erik my love, you have returned" she spoke in a groggy voice as she pushed herself up from the bed.
"Yes Catherine. The letter is on its way to Christine and the Count. Now we just have to wait" said Erik, smiling.
"Oh, and what shall we do to pass the time?" asked Catherine, curiously.
Erik's smile changed to a smirk.
"Oh, I am sure we'll think of something" he teased with a chuckle.
He leaned forward once again and captured her lips with his.
Catherine returned the kiss, gladly, with the same passion as he was giving her. She placed her arms around Erik's neck, he didn't clench as he did before, he had now become accustomed to her touch, instead he responded by placing his arms around her waist and pulled her a little bit closer to him. They were in this position for quite some time until they had to pull away for air.
"As much as I would like us to continue what we were doing before, my love. I'm afraid we'll get distracted and miss our meeting with my sister" said Catherine, reluctantly as she lowered her arms to her side.
Erik sighed.
"You are right, my darling. And I think I know just what we can do to occupy our time for now" he said.
He rose from the bed and walked towards his writing desk. He opened the top drawer on the left, reached inside and pulled out a brown, leather bound book. He closed the drawer and walked back towards Catherine, with the book in hand.
"Do you like poetry?" he asked as he sat back down beside her.
"Yes" said Catherine with a beaming smile.
Erik gave a happy sigh.
"I thought you would. My favourite poet, William Blake. Do you know his work?" he asked, holding out the book to her.
"No" said Catherine, her cheeks colour with embarrassment.
"Oh, then you have such pleasure ahead, such bliss. This man knows my heart and he has seen God, know this book and you will know me more" said Erik, excitedly.
Catherine took the book from him, opening it to the first poem and started reading aloud.
"My mother bore me in the southern wild,
And I am black, but O! my soul is white;
White as an angel is the English child:
But I am black as if bereav'd of light.
My mother taught me underneath a tree
And sitting down before the heat of day,
She took me on her lap and kissed me,
And pointing to the east began to say.
Look on the rising sun: there God does live
And gives his light, and gives his heat away.
And flowers and trees and beasts and men receive
Comfort in morning joy in the noonday.
And we are put on earth a little space,
That we may learn to bear the beams of love,
And these black bodies and this sun-burnt face
Is but a cloud, and like a shady grove.
For when our souls have learn'd the heat to bear
The cloud will vanish we shall hear his voice.
Saying: come out from the grove my love & care,
And round my golden tent like lambs rejoice.
Thus did my mother say and kissed me,
And thus I say to little English boy.
When I from black and he from white cloud free,
And round the tent of God like lambs we joy:
Ill shade him from the heat till he can bear,
To lean in joy upon our fathers knee.
And then I'll stand and stroke his silver hair,
And be like him and he will then love me."
(The Little Black Boy by William Blake)
As she read the poem she could see how Erik could relate to the little boy in the poem. He had lived in darkness all of his life and longed to be in the light, but he let the fear of people judging him because of his face hold him back from doing that. And the mention of the mother in the poem made her think of Erik's mother and the love she had shown him. The poem also brought an idea to mind. She knew that, sooner or later, the police would find their way down to Erik's home and arrest him, or even kill him, and Catherine couldn't bare it and thought the only way to avoid this is they would have to leave soon and that ultimately meant bringing Erik into the light just like the boy in the poem.
Erik saw she had a troubled look on her face and was concerned.
"Is there something wrong, Catherine? Does the poem upset you?" he asked, with concern.
"Oh no, Erik, the poem is beautiful. It's just got me thinking about..." she said, she couldn't find the right words to finish her sentence.
"Thinking about what, my love? You can tell me what ever is troubling you" he said, placing his hands over her own as she kept holding the book open, reassuringly.
Catherine smiled nervously and slowly closed the book. Erik's hands still rested on top of hers as she did this. He moved his hands away as Catherine placed the book down on her right. She turned back and looked up at him.
"I was thinking how this poem doesn't have to apply to you any more Erik. You don't have to live in the shadows out of fear people will judge you by your face. I have lived in the light I can guide you into it and be by your side as long as you'll have me" she said taking him lovingly by the hands.
Erik's face dropped, he gave a sad sigh before pulling away from her, rose from the bed and turned his back on her.
"That sounds wonderful Catherine, but I fear it will not be possible. Not with my face" he said with dishearten as he raised his left hand over his masked face.
"What if you and I found a secret place? Somewhere that is like your forest. Somewhere peaceful and private, just you and I" said Catherine.
She rose from the bed, walked towards him, and placed her arms around his waist and held him close.
"That sounds like a dream come true Catherine. But how can we possibly fulfil it?" asked Erik, feeling hopelessness.
He lowered his left hand from his face then turned around to face Catherine. Catherine dropped her arms to her side as he turned.
"Count Phillippe could help us. I know you're not fond of him, but he is like a brother to me and I know he'd want to see me happy, just as much as I know Christine would. And I have never been happier than I have been when I'm with you" she said.
Erik didn't say anything. He felt reluctant about the idea of leaving his home and more about asking Count Phillippe for help.
"I know you are afraid of the change, but you won't being going at it alone I will be with you always. And I know you would do anything to protect us and your home but sooner or later the police will find a way down here and will tear us apart and neither of us want that to happen" Catherine continued, a single tear fell from her eye as she spoke.
Erik still didn't speak. He looked at Catherine and contemplated her words and knew what she said was true. Although he did have confidence in the traps he set would keep them safe he did not think far as to how long they would keep him and Catherine safe which started to make him worry.
He sighed with reluctant.
"You are right my love. We cannot stay here for long. Very well, we should ask the Count for help" he said, offering Catherine a small smile.
Catherine looked at him with a beaming smile.
"Oh Erik!" she exclaimed as she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a quick kiss.
Erik returned the kiss gladly.
They pulled away for air and looked at each other lovingly.
"Until then, shall we read some more poetry?" Catherine suggested as she lowered her arms and placed both hands in his.
"That is a wonderful idea my love" said Erik.
He kisses her hands.
Catherine pulls her right hand from his grasp gently then pulls him towards the Swan Bed. She picks up the book then gives it to him and climbs in the bed. Erik climbs in after her and the two snuggle up together. Erik opens the book and begins to read aloud. Catherine listened closely.
XXX
"So you are absolutely sure of this?" asked Inspector Ledoux.
Christine and Phillippe finished explaining their suspicions about Madame Carlotta.
"Absolutely, Inspector" said Christine with a voice of confidence.
There was a knock at the door.
"Yes?!" exclaimed the Inspector, signalling for whoever was behind the door to enter.
The door opens to reveal the tall, moustache policemen Christine and Phillippe had met earlier and in his hand he held a sheet of paper.
"What is it?" asked the Inspector.
"Forgive the intrusion, Inspector. I have the lab results from the metal cup Mademoiselle Daae and Monsieur La Count found, along with the fingerprints that were found on it" said the officer as he approached the Inspector.
He walked around the desk and handed the piece of paper to the Inspector. The Inspector read the document briskly and when he reached the end he made a 'hm' sound before looking up at Christine and Phillippe.
"It seems your suspicions were correct, Mademoiselle. The report says there was a residue of a substance in the metal cup that is known to cause an adverse effect on the vocal cords and the fingerprints that were found matched your sister's and Madame Carlotta's" he stated factually.
Christine and Phillippe felt as if their hearts stopped for a moment. Their fears were proven to be true.
"How could she do that to Cathy? My sweet little sister!" exclaimed Christine as she began to cry.
Phillippe placed his arm around her and pulled her a little closer for comfort.
"If I could pose a guess Mademoiselle, Monsieur La Count. It sounds to me that jealousy is the motive. From what I have been told, your sister had a triumphant performance at the Bistro and Madame Carlotta saw her as a threat to her career" said the Inspector.
Christine calmed down a little as the Inspector spoke but was sniffling a little. She tried her eyes with a handkerchief that Phillippe gave to her as they listen to the Inspector speak.
"But it may please you to know, justice has been served, in a way, against Madame Carlotta" continued the Inspector.
Christine and Phillippe looked at him with, identical, confused expressions.
"How?" they asked simultaneously.
"It appears someone had released dozens of rats into her private suite. She was so traumatized by the experience it seems her mind has come undone" explained the Inspector.
Christine and Phillipe turned to each other with wide eyes expressions. They had a suspicion of who was responsible for what happened to Madame Carlotta and were grateful the Phantom was the one who served justice in Catherine's name. They turned back to face the Inspector, keeping in mind not to let their facial expressions show what they were thinking.
"Thank you for telling us this, Ledoux. We should be going now" said Phillipe as he rose from his chair.
Christine followed suite. Phillippe moved to the left a little to allow Christine to make her way to the door first and followed after her.
"I bid you both good day and I assure you, Mademoiselle Daae, your sister will be recovered soon" said the Inspector as he watched them leave his office.
"Merci, Inspector" said Christine as she turned for a moment to bid him farewell and she and Phillippe continued on their way out.
They walked straight out of the police station and climbed inside Phillippe's carriage. Phillippe checked his pocket watch, once he climbed inside, and saw they had been in the station for quite sometimes but still had a few hours until they were supposed to meet Catherine and so he and Christine decided to wait out the remaining time back at the hotel. Phillippe grabbed the reins and urged the horses to walk on to their destination.