Chapter 11: Conflicted

Erik decided it best to take Claire down to the underground caverns below the opera house where he had lived during the years they were separated; Claire was stunned to find the home that Erik had built himself beside the lake that ran through the caverns,

"This place... It's amazing" she murmured causing Erik to smile gently as he went off to light some more candles to given the cavern some more illumination as Claire admired a model of the opera's stage with figures upon it representing the house's production of Hannibal,

"It is not the most habitable of locations but I had to make do with what was available to me. Madame Giry also assured me that I would be safe and undisturbed... When I began planning to return to Persia to rescue you I decided it best to purchase the Chateau. I was not about to have my wife living in a cave" Erik explained with a slight chuckle as he turned to smile at her and saw how she looked at him sadly and Erik sighed,

"... I am sorry about my actions involving Carlotta... It will not happen again. You have my word" Erik promised and watched as she moved and sat down in the chair that stood before the desk on which the stage model sat,

"... Claire... You told me that you refused to fall in love with the shah but yet..." he tried,

"I still fell in love with you?... Yes, I remember what I said" Claire responded sadly as Erik came and knelt before her and took her hand in his own,

"If you will give me the chance. We can start again and I shall be the husband you deserve... I shall give you the love you have been yearning for these past years" Erik vowed and Claire smiled sadly, giving his hand a gentle squeeze,

"Oh Erik... There is nothing I want more in this world but... I already know that your heart belongs to someone else" she told him sadly with a gentle gesture of her head towards the paintings of Christine that lined the cavern walls; Erik looked towards his drawings before looking back at Claire and shook his head,

"No... You don't understand. I don't..." he tried but Claire cupped his cheek gently,

"Erik. You always get this sparkle in your eyes whenever her name is mentioned... It's alright. This world has been so unkind and shown you so much hardship that you deserve to be with someone that causes that sparkle to appear in your eyes" Claire told him, leaning forward and resting her forehead against his own, closing her eyes as Erik did the same,

"... But what about you?" Erik whispered,

"Being your friend is enough for me... As long as you're happy... I'm happy" Claire told him before Erik embraced her in a hug which she happily returned.

Little did Claire and Erik know that a dark storm was approaching that would either bring upon great happiness... Or a terrible disaster. Erik began planning the evening in which he would reveal himself to Christine and it was this plan that was in fact the calm before the storm that was to follow.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNN! Let me know what you would like to happen next in order to unlock chapter 12!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996