Escaping to the Roof

The evening went well after that, though I still noticed a few lingering stares. I was happy to stay at the side of the room but Raoul managed to talk me into dancing with him, which only fueled the curiosity. I tried not to care but it was difficult for me to ignore.

I noticed that Monsieur Khan had not made an appearance though yet. I couldn't help but feel suspicious over that. Given that he was now a manager, his presence tonight was surely important.

Meg seemed happy in the company of Marcel Bonneville as they talked busily to each other. It was lovely to see given that at the Bal Masque, both of us didn't have a date. It was lovely to see her enjoying herself now.

As the celebrations continued, Raoul wondered off to talk with Marcel, leaving me alone with Meg.

"You appear calmer than you were at the start of this evening."

I nodded. "Yes, I guess so. Talking with Raoul certainly helped too."

She smiled. "Well I'm glad to hear that. Thank you again for giving me your blessing to come with Marcel tonight too."

"Oh nonsense, I am glad to see that you are happy." I insisted, before glancing towards the exit to the gallery. "I'm feeling a little warm. I think I shall go outside, just for a breather whilst Raoul is busy talking to Marcel."

Meg nodded. "Well I shall come with you, if you like?"

"No don't be silly, I shall be back before long, I promise." I insisted with a smile, before quickly slipping away.

The truth was that I was feeling a little overwhelmed by tonight's festivities. I didn't mind it before, when it was just me but I felt as though I was a little more under the spotlight due to our relationship. I felt suddenly bare without Raoul by my side too. I seemed to have grown accustomed to his company over the last few weeks.

Instead of moving to the outside of the opera house where I realized that there was bound to still be a few people around, I moved towards the roof. As soon as I stepped outside, I breathed a sigh. It was always so peaceful here and so beautiful. Stars twinkled between the dark blanket they were set upon and a million glowing lights were aglow from each building. I stepped forwards, reaching the edge of the roof to glance across the city.

There was a slight breeze, cool enough to help me feel more relaxed than I had felt inside.

"I feel that I should thank you for your recommendation of me and Christine to Monsieur Bonneville."

I practically shrieked at his sudden voice, spinning on the spot. I rested a hand on my heart as my eyes found his shadowed figure a few feet away from me.

"You frightened the absolute life out of me!" I hissed.

He offered a roll of his eyes as I looked him over, feeling my eyes grow wider at his appearance.

He was dressed just as immaculately as he always was, with his dark hair brushed away from his face. But there was no sign of his deformity. Instead, the right side of his face showed no sign of the gaping holes to which I had become used to seeing by now. If you looked closely enough, you could notice the twist of his upper lip and the edge of the incredible mask he had crafted, but it was barely even noticeable.

"Is that mask not irritating against your skin?" I asked curiously.

I knew he was probably used to hiding his face and I imagined that his porcelain mask was not particularly comfortable either, but this one looked fine and I wondered if it felt a little scratchy against his skin. I was more intrigued, honestly.

Both of his now visible eyebrows rose at my question.

"Given that it disguises this monstrous disfigurement, I do not see how that hardly matters."

I cringed at his choice of words. I could barely tolerate Raoul labelling him as a monster and it had the same effect when Erik described himself in such a way.

"Of course it matters. Your face truly isn't that terrible."

"I think the majority of others would disagree with that."

"Does that still include Christine?"

He dropped his gaze, moving gradually to stand beside me on the roof. His face was unreadable as he stared across the city and I turned to do the same, waiting for his response.

"I do not have the audacity to frighten her again with this face. I should simply think myself lucky that she continues to remain with me."

"But you cannot live like that forever and you cannot believe that she is still frightened of your face. She would not have remained with you if that was truly still the case."

"She was the one to think of acquiring this new mask, was she not? No, it is not worth the risk given all that she has given me."

I sighed, sensing that it would take a lot more to change his mind about that. "And it is not worth being in pain simply to continue tiptoeing around Christine as you are. Anyway…did you receive my warning from Madame Giry about the new manager?"

He frowned. "Yes, she told me that the Daroga has unexpectedly become a manager. I have been a little distracted lately so your warning was definitely required."

I nodded. "Okay good, do not you think that his sudden appearance might be a little strange, especially because he does not appear to be here tonight?"

"Yes, I believe he was asking around about Christine and me. It appears that that is why he chose to become the new manager."

"I thought it was strange how quickly he took over from Alfred too. Perhaps his departure had something to do with him."

"It seems unlikely but I shall certainly investigate his sudden appearance further, especially if he is asking after Christine too."

I nodded, about to say further when I heard the door of the roof begin to open. I gasped, spinning round on the spot to see Raoul making a timid appearance on the rooftop.

"Meg thought that you might have journeyed here." He murmured, his soft voice automatically inviting me back into the warmth of his presence.

I smiled, glancing towards my right and breathing a sigh of relief to see that Erik had suddenly disappeared.

He came to stand a few feet away from me. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle as they gazed upon me. A shiver broke free at the glorious emotions reflected in them.

I smiled. "You didn't have to follow me outside though, you know?"

"I know but I wanted to. The truth is that I was missing your company already. I fear that that might sound rather pathetic."

"No, it doesn't." I promised quickly. "I missed you too actually. As lovely as Meg's company is, I started to feel a little overwhelmed by the crowds."

He took a step closer as he spoke, offering a small smile at my words. "Yes, I know that feelings quite well."

I felt my forehead crease. "But surely, you must be quite used to it by now."

"You would think so," he shrugged, offering a sheepish smile. "But sometimes, life seemed much easier as a child. Running around without a care in the world, playing silly games and even reading dark stories of the North-"

"With Christine, of course." I interrupted his reminiscing.

It was almost impossible for me not to feel a little jealous when he mentioned stories of his childhood. It was absolutely ridiculous. But I had nobody like that growing up as a child and I also knew how close Raoul and Christine were growing up together. I couldn't deny that I wished I had been around to be a part of his childhood too, but it was obviously not meant to be.

He frowned a little. "Yes, sometimes. It is true to say that Christine's friendship was a valuable influence on my childhood. When we met again at the opera, I hoped that that friendship would develop into the love I was convinced I had for her for all those years. And it did for a while, but it was nothing compared to the intensity of my feelings for you. And that shall never change. So, whatever memories I have of Christine will always be just that."

I shrugged, feeling my cheeks flare with color at my silly jealousy. He was right of course. "I'm just being silly. I suppose I would have liked to have seen you as a child. I never had anything that you and Christin had either, besides my mother of course. I know I'm being selfish in wanting more than that."

"You could never be selfish." He insisted adamantly.

I offered a roll of my eyes as a shiver caught me by surprise. "I don't know about that-oh…thank you." I flushed as he instantly retrieved his jacket once he caught my shiver, pulling it around me.

I met his gaze as he did, glancing from underneath my eyelashes as his hands paused against the front.

I moved a little closer as he slipped one hand around my waist to press me closer. He leaned his head downwards and I followed his invitation as I pressed my lips to his.

A shiver broke free, trailing down my spine leisurely. His kiss grew in urgency as I returned it. His arms wound further around my waist, pressing me closer still. I gasped as his tongue then lightly traced the texture of my lips, the motion more confident than our last embrace. I paused for a moment before quickly remembering to breathe again. My heart was hammering in my chest and I was certain he could hear it for himself as his hand tightened against the material of my dress. His lips were as soft as his initial kiss. My fingers reached, clinging against the front of his shirt as he gradually pulled away from me a little.

He offered a deep chuckle as he met my eyes. My breath caught at the beautiful intensity lingering within his bright blue eyes. He truly was beautiful.

"You really do look beautiful tonight." He complimented me again and I offered a sheepish laugh at his words.

"It's funny; I was just thinking the same about you."

He smiled at that, stepping forwards again. He leaned downwards to press his lips to mine once more. It was a slow, intense kiss that left me breathless and my fingers tightening against his shirt a little again before he stepped back. Reluctantly though, I withdrew from him in the same way.

"I was admiring you whilst I was talking to Marcel."

I raised an eyebrow, glancing upwards as we began a slow trail back to the door of the roof. "Was the conversation really that bland?"

He grinned at my teasing as we paused again besides the doorway.

He reached a hand forwards, pausing for the briefest second before capturing a loose curl as he pushed it back. I shivered again, at the slight touch his skin made against my face.

"No, I meant what I said earlier. You seem to mesmerize me. It is like what I wrote in the note, when I am near you, your brilliance explodes. You seem to capture attention without even knowing it."

I gave a shaky laugh. "I'm starting to think you might be watching the wrong person."

He gave a crooked smile that caught my breath once again. "I do not believe there is any chance in that."