Christine dans Deux Chapter 9: Waiting, a phantom of the opera fanfic

Christine dans Deux

An Alternate Multiverse - A Phantom of the Opera Story

Nyasia A. Maire

DISCLAIMER: See Chapter One
Chapter Nine – Waiting

Erik turns to me smiling. "True love?"

"Love? True Love? Most certainly." I agree.

"So, how do we spend the time without falling asleep, my dear heart?" And he tries to take me in his arms, but I pull away. His smile falters.

"Please don't. I need to do something first."

My hands reach for the mask and pause. "Will it hurt if I take it off?"

"A little. Why?"

"I much prefer you without it." I add. "If you don't mind. Kissing you with the mask is nice, but without it is so much better."

His smile returns and he shakes his head. "I'm not certain I will ever become accustomed to someone wanting to see my face, but your wish is my command."

He gently grasps the edge by his nose and peels the mask away. He then removes the black wig. He places them on a nearby table.

I smooth his hair and kiss his cheek.

"Erik, I told you I wrote about our meeting yesterday …"

"Yes, you did. Why?"

"And you remember the movie I showed you?"

"Of course. Why are you asking?"

"I write fiction, but I would like to write about you. After all, in my world you are a character in a novel, a musical and a motion picture. The idea has been rolling around in my mind since I realized why I knew you were innocent of the horrible things they accused you of in the movie. I would like to write a story which carries on after Raoul leaves the music box in the cemetery, but from your point of view."

"Interesting, but why?"

"I detest lies, but I find these lies about you intolerable. I would like to set matters right."

He leans back on the settee and gives me a bemused look.

"What possible difference will it make?"

"Well, since you are a fictional character in my world, none. And yet, lies feed chaos. And when chaos swells fat and bloated on the filth of lies, it belches forth entropy." I shudder. "Erik, there is nothing I fear more, so whenever I can I try to be kind when someone is cruel or shine the light of truth on a lie. I don't know if it will make any difference, besides the voice tells me it's the right thing to do."

"Well, then, I suppose you must." He sighs.

"Please feel free to correct me should I get any of it wrong. You will do that for me, won't you?"

"Correct you? You will tell my tale for me? But, you weren't there. How could you possibly know? I thought you would have me tell it to you."

"No, my dearest. I would never ask you to betray your promise to her. I would never ask you to choose between us. We are both Christine and we are yours. Your Christine in twos. Christine dans Deux."

He gasps.

"I told you I've always been able to hear things. Last night as we fell asleep, our minds touched and I heard you speak your promise to Christine. That promise could only mean one thing, so that thought led to another and then another."

Worry, guilt and horrible fear wash across his face. He opens his mouth, but I hush him by pressing my lips to his before the deluge of words break free.