Chapter 10: Learn To Love
Erik stirred and found that he had fallen asleep whilst sitting and leaning against his organ but what surprised him more was to discover Rose sleeping peacefully with her head rested in his lap whilst he absentmindedly brushed his fingers through her hair... It took a few moments for Erik's mind to fully awaken and the night before came back to him.
The phantom remembered his anger when Christine had removed his mask but it was her face of pure horror that had truly made him angry... He had practically destroyed his home despite Madame Giry's desperate attempts to calm him down... He had only seen red after that until hearing Rose's voice calling to him which allowed his vision to slowly come back into focus... She had brushed a tender had against his sinful distortion without any trace of fear upon her face or within her eyes... He only saw the compassion and concern before she had pulled him into a gentle embrace and had allowed him to cry until they both had fallen asleep.
Erik chose to savor the moment whilst Rose slept peacefully before he finally shaking Rose's shoulder gently,
"Rose?..." he whispered until she finally stirred and the first thing she did was sit up and look at him with the same concern that she had the night before,
"Are you alright?" she asked, standing before helping him to do the same and he nodded,
"Yes... Yes, I'm alright" he told her and Rose offered him a gentle smile,
"I'll make us both some tea" she told him before heading off and the words fell from Erik's lips without really thinking,
"I love you" he called after her quickly and he saw her stop in her tracks and was still as the agonizing silence fell between them,
"... Please say something" Erik begged her in a whisper and watched as she finally turned back to him, offering him a soft smile that was laced with sadness,
"... Erik... You and I both know that isn't true. You love Christine... Even after everything she has done... You don't love me" Rose reasoned and Erik strode over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders with a pleading expression,
"But I could learn... I could learn to love you. You have given me the one thing I have wanted since I was born... You looked upon my face without fear. Even now you look upon me as if I were any other man" Erik told her with a shaking smile and cupped her cheek softly,
"Yes... I look upon you like you were any other man because you are a man to me, Erik. I hate what this world has done to you and yes... You we could live like this and you could send me the empty 'I love you's'... But at the end of the day... It wouldn't be real and you wouldn't be happy... There would be moments that you would look at me and imagine that it was Christine standing in my place... And then when you realize its not... You'd resent me for it" Rose told him gently, stepping into his arms and hugged him gently... Erik could only return the gesture as he rested his mangled cheek against the crown of her head,
"... I'm so sorry" Erik whispered as a secret tear fell down Rose's cheek,
"It's alright, Erik... I'll always be here" she vowed in just as quiet a whisper and they just continued to hold each other for what seemed like hours.
It was the afternoon when Rose returned to the opera house above and had intended to go straight to Madame Giry and tell her that Erik was doing well but her intentions were diverted when she bumped into Christine whom was carrying two suitcases,
"Oh thank goodness. I thought the monster had taken you" the singer said, dropping her bags and hugged Rose tightly,
"Come. Raoul has the carriage waiting for us. I can tell him to inform the police that the creature does not have you as we first thought. We can be long gone from this place by the time that devil is caught" Chirstine said quickly before picking up her luggage once more and tried to lead Rose towards the exit but she stepped away,
"Christine, I am not going anywhere" Rose said firmly and looked at her disgustedly,
"Erik is not a monster, a creature or a devil... If you wish to find one of those things then I suggest you take a look in the mirror" Rose accused causing Christine to look horrified,
"How dare you speak to me that way?" she demanded,
"I dare because you looked upon a broken man and still managed to break him even further just because you couldn't accept something as petty as physical appearance... And now you've disgusted me even more by telling me that you're just going to run away and let the authorities murder him..." Rose said, shaking her head and took another step away from the singer,
"... Get out of here, Christine... I should never have tried to contact the angel of music on your behalf because the truth is... You were never worthy of his help and I hope that Mr Daae is looking down upon you in shame... You are no sister of mine. Not after this" Rose told her before turning away and headed off towards Madame Giry's office,
"Oh my god... He's bewitched you. You've become the devil's concubine!" Christine accused in loud disgust,
"Well I guess the authorities will have two people to kill when they arrive!" Rose called over her shoulder, not looking back as she continued to storm away.
Madame Giry was helping Erik to pack away his belongings frantically when Rose came down to join them and had Caesar by her side, patting his mane soothingly as she placed her suitcase down and Erik looked at her guiltily, walking over to her,
"I'm sorry... I wish you weren't being dragged into this" Erik told her but Rose smiled up at him,
"I'm not about to let you go on this adventure without me" she assured him and Erik couldn't help but smile brightly,
"Ok... We're almost ready to go. I just need to pack my music box" Erik informed but Madame Giry looked at him horrified,
"Erik there's no room. You'll just have to leave it" the ballet teacher reasoned,
"That monkey has brought me comfort since I was a boy. There is no way I am leaving it" he said firmly and the two began to argue but both were stunned when they saw Rose empty the many books she had packed into her suitcase before placing Erik's monkey music box inside her case and locked it securely,
"Rose... Your books..." Erik tried,
"I can always buy more books, Erik" Rose reasoned, offering him the suitcase and Erik smiled brightly, accepting it before hugging her tightly in thanks and turned towards Madame Giry whom nodded,
"Ok, Rose you and Caesar are going on ahead to the docks. Myself and Erik will meet you there. I have a friend of mine whom works at the docks and he owes me a favor. He will allow us safe passage" the ballet teacher recited for nearly the hundredth time,
"Us?" Erik questioned firmly,
"Of course, You both are not going anywhere without myself and Meg" Madame Giry informed and Rose giggled before placing a hand on Erik's shoulder when he had gone to protest,
"It is best not to argue, Erik" she reasoned and the phantom sighed with a grumble,
"Very well... Let's get this over with" he said before helping Rose to mount Caesar and looked at her concerned before handing her his cloak,
"... I don't want you to be cold" he told her causing her to smile softly, accepting the cloak before clasping it around her shoulders,
"Be careful, Rose" he told her before reluctantly ordering Caesar to carry Rose away and he watched her vanish into one of the many dark tunnels before beginning to help Madame Giry to load their belongings into the cart that the ballet teacher had waiting for them.
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TheAuthor1996