Hey everyone, thanks for the reviews. Enjoy the latest chapter…much more to come.
Over the next few days, Erik had gotten better. He was still tired, but the spots on his skin had gotten better. Early one morning, Christine awoke to a knocking on the door and rose from Erik's side to see who was at the door. When she opened the door Nadir rushed in and locked the door behind him. "what's going on?" asked Christine. "we have to get you out of Persia tonight, it's not safe for Erik anymore. More of Philippe's men are out searching the streets for him." said Nadir. "how are we going to get on the ship without Erik being spotted?" asked Christine. "I'm not sure but it's not going to be easy." said Nadir. "we have to distract Philippe." said Christine. "and how are we going to do that?" asked Philippe. "well I told him that my boyfriend was coming to get me. I think that if maybe you posed as my boyfriend we could go have dinner with him and give Erik a chance to run for the ship." said Christine. "well where is your boyfriend?" asked Nadir. "Erik is my boyfriend." said Christine. "I had no idea." said Nadir. Christine smiled, and said "that's why I'm so worried about him." "then we'll do that. It might actually work and have Erik safely back in Paris." said Nadir with a smile.
Erik awoke to see no one around. He got to his feet and stretched his arms and legs and heard then crack. Erik then walked over to the counter and washed his face in the basin of water that was sat there. He turned around when he felt a tap on his shoulder. "hi Erik." said Christine with a smile. Erik wiped his wet face with the sleeve of his shirt and said "oh Christine, how are you?" "fine, thanks." she replied. Erik put aside the basin and saw Christine reach for a towel and begin to dry the distorted side of his face. "Erik could we talk?" asked Christine as she through the towel aside. "is everything ok?" asked Erik as he took a seat on the end of the bed. "yes everything is fine, I just need to talk to you." said Christine as she took a seat next to him.
Erik touched the side of her cheek, and said "go on." "well things are getting really bad with Philippe and his men. They are on every corner searching for you and so Nadir and I have decided to risk getting caught to get you back in Paris tonight." said Christine. "what will happen if I am found?" asked Erik. "he will kill you." said Christine. Erik looked away and said "then I will risk getting back to Paris." "it's not going to be easy." said Christine. "yes I understand that." said Erik. "Nadir is going to pose as my boyfriend tonight and we are going to go eat dinner with Philippe tonight. While I am distracting him, Nadir is going to come back here and get you and put you on the ship. The ship leaves at midnight and so I will eventually come join you." said Christine. "what if you don't make it to the ship?" asked Erik. "don't worry Erik, I will." she replied. "when will this end? When will people leave me alone?" asked Erik with sorrow in his voice. "when you're dead." said Christine. Erik put his head down, and said "yes, right."
That night, Nadir arrived at Christine's room to find her dressed and sitting with Erik who had on his suit and white mask. "ready." he replied to the both of them. "as ready as I'll ever be." said Christine getting to her feet. Erik approached her, and kissed the palm of her white hand. "my angel, I shall be with you soon." "promise me Erik." said Christine as she held back her tears. Erik lightly squeezed her hand and slipped something on her finger. Christine looked down and saw the ring that she had found in his pocket on her left hand. "think of it as my promise to you." Christine ran into his arms, and gave him a passionate kiss before he placed her back onto the ground. "oh Erik I love you so much." she replied. "as do I angel." "come now, times wasting." said Nadir as he checked his pocket watch. "I shall see you soon angel." said Erik as Christine started walking out the door with Nadir.
Nadir and Christine walked down the streets until they approached a building where they saw Philippe sitting inside it. "ready?" asked Nadir. "yes." said Christine taking a deep breath. Nadir held the door for Christine and she entered and walked with him to Philippe's table. Philippe was sat at a table drinking a glass of wine and conversing with his men. "Christine." he replied as he saw her approaching the table with Nadir. "evening Philippe." she replied. "who is this man?" asked Philippe as he looked up at Nadir. "this is my boyfriend Marco." she replied. "come Christine, I am much better looking than this man and he is much too old for you." said Philippe with a laugh. "excuse me sir but she is a free woman and may chose who she wishes to be with." said Nadir interrupting. "I'm not saying that she doesn't have a choice but you of all men." laughed Philippe as he took a sip of his wine. "well he has come to take me back home to Paris." said Christine. "when are you leaving?" asked Philippe. "tonight." said Christine. "yes well I would love to go back to Paris but I have yet to find the monster." said Philippe. Nadir looked around, and said "darling I have to go take care of some business but I shall return in a bit." "ok." said Christine. Nadir was about to walk away when Philippe said "what? No kiss?"
Nadir turned around and said "we don't believe in showing public affection." "why not? It's just me." said Philippe. "why do you want to see it?" asked Christine. "well if you two say that you love each other like you say you do then one kiss wouldn't hurt." said Philippe. Nadir un affectionately placed his lips to hers and then broke away really quick. "I shall see you later dear." he replied. "oh some kiss that was." said Philippe. Christine sat down and then Philippe poured her a glass of wine and said "I have good news Christine." "and what might that be?" asked Christine. Philippe playfully took out his hand knife and then jabbed it into Christine's sleeve pinning it to the table. "what are you doing?" gasped Christine. "you little viper, I know that your not dating that man. You're with the monster, so don't lie to me." said Philippe angrily. Christine didn't say anything and Philippe said "ah yes I'm right aren't I? well here's my little secret, right now my men are going over to your room to catch the creature." "you leave him alone." said Christine. "once he is dead I shall marry you my love." said Philippe.
Erik sat in the room, waiting for Nadir to come and get him. Just then the door was kicked in, causing him to run and hide under the bed. He watched as five of Philippe's men walked into the room and searched, probably for him. Just then he saw the bed flip over and the men staring down at him. "ah creature, it's time to die." said one of the men. Erik scrambled to his feet and fought the men who jumped him. Nadir ran down the streets trying to get to Christine's room as fast as he could. By the time he reached his destination, it was up in flames. Nadir gasped, and ran into the burning building but all that was left in the room was Erik's mask, which was covered in blood. Nadir picked it up, and ran back out to go get Christine. Once he arrived back at the building, he approached the table where he saw Christine's arm pinned down to the table by Philippe's knife. "what is going on here?" asked Nadir. "ah back so soon?" questioned Philippe. "he knows Nadir." said Christine.
Nadir threw down the bloody mask in front of Philippe and said "are you happy?" Christine gasped in horror, and began to sob. "what the hell is that?" asked Philippe.
"I went back to Christine's room and it's up in flames, go see if you'd like." said Nadir. "no, I believe you." said Philippe. "good, now let her go." said Nadir. "she's mine, she was given to me by her ex." said Philippe. "you have what you want now let her go." said Nadir. Philippe looked at the mask, and said "yes you're right." he then took the knife out of Christine's sleeve, and said "go on back to Paris, I shall be back for you and you'd best be ready to marry me." Nadir grabbed Christine's sobbing body, and walked with her to the ship bound for Paris. "come let us board." said Nadir.
Christine looked around once more as she sobbed, and then boarded the ship with Nadir. Her tears only ran from her eyes faster when she heard the whistle blow and the ship begin to move. Nadir put his arm around her, and said "Christine forgive me for that horrible kiss." "it's ok, you helped me so much if only I could repay you." she cried. "you can, keep a secret for me." said Nadir. "what?" asked Christine. "the reason I didn't want to kiss you tonight is because I am a homosexual." he replied. "I'm sorry, I had no idea." said Christine. "yes, promise me that you will not say anything to anyone? If I were to be spotted then I'd probably burn at the stake." said Nadir. "you have my word." said Christine. "you made Erik very happy Christine. He was lucky to have you in his life." said Nadir. Christine wiped her eyes, and said "he promised me."
Just then from out of the shadows Erik came walking towards them and said "that I have." Christine ran to him, and hugged him tightly, never letting go. "you're alive, you're alive!" was all that Christine kept saying to him as she continued to hug him. "yes, I gave them all a fight." said Erik. "you set the place on fire?" questioned Christine. "well when I was fighting them a candle hit the floor and caused the whole place to burn up. They escaped of course and I will once again be in danger once they tell Philippe." said Erik. "don't worry Madam Giry will protect us." said Christine. "I cannot always have her in danger for the good of myself." said Erik. "you know that this means we cannot move out of the opera house. Not at the moment anyway." said Christine. "I understand." said Erik. "I don't mind your lair Erik, it's always been my second home." said Christine. "yes, very well." said Erik with a smile. "don't worry, I live in Paris and will help to keep you safe as well." said Nadir. "thank you, Christine and I appreciate it." said Erik. "so tell me Erik what happened to your face?" asked Nadir. "I was born like this." said Erik. "Born like that?" asked Nadir. "yes you don't believe me?" asked Erik. "no I believe you it's just that I thought maybe you got that in the war or something." replied Nadir. "nope I've had this my whole life." said Erik. "not everyone is as nice to him as I am." said Christine. "fuck people Erik, most of them just can't take the time to see the beauty beyond the face." said Nadir. "are people nice to you?" asked Christine. "no, I may be a doctor but people only see me as a faggot and nothing more. They don't know that I'm homosexual but I can sense that they do by the way they treat me. Just because of the way I may talk about things men aren't supposed to like talking about and things like that. They only want me when I'm saving their lives or healing a wound. You two on the other hand have been so kind to me and treated me like family." said Nadir. "you know Nadir just because you like men doesn't make you any different than any other person living on this earth. It doesn't effect your work and surly doesn't change the way you are around people." said Christine. "so you live in an opera house you say?" questioned Nadir. "yes Erik has lived there his whole life and I have been there since I was seven." said Christine. "so you are a ballerina?" asked Nadir. "no she is the diva." said Erik. "and yourself?" asked Nadir with a smile. "I only live there." said Erik. "oh come now Erik, you write the music and run the place for crying out loud." said Christine. "not legally." said Erik. "but you write music you say?" asked Nadir. "yes but none of it had willingly been preformed." said Erik. "I'd like to hear some of it sometime." said Nadir. "I think that can be arranged right Erik?" questioned Christine. "maybe." said Erik. "well you do owe me for saving your life and I do love music." said Nadir.
Once the ship anchored in Paris, Nadir, Christine and Erik got off of it. It was very late at night and Nadir said "come we have to get back to the opera house before Philippe and his men get back." Christine led them back to the opera house when Nadir said "what the hell happened here? A fire?" "yes a long time ago." said Erik. "what happened?" asked Nadir. "look it was my fault but it's getting re built." said Erik as he opened the old doors. Inside, Erik lit a candle and led Christine and Nadir up the stairs of the opera house. Once they Madam Giry's door, it opened and seeing Erik she immediately came running out to greet him. "my dear Erik I have missed you so much." "same here." said Erik. Madam Giry examined Erik and said "you have a few red spots on you, what happened?" "long story." said Christine. "if you must know, I was kidnapped by Philippe and his men and put back into the freak show. Christine and Nadir helped me and I suffered for about a week with a bad infection." said Erik.
Madam Giry shook Nadir's hand and said "this boy means a lot to me so for that I thank you." "no problem, I am always happy to help." said Nadir. "anytime you would like to come over for tea you are more than welcomed to." said Madam Giry. "I might hold you to it." said Nadir. "Christine, Firman and Andre have been looking for you. I have been telling them that you are out of town helping a friend." said Madam Giry. "what did they want?" asked Christine. "well the opera house is being repaired and ready to be opened again, they need a diva." said Madam Giry. "what about Carlotta?" asked Christine. "she has quit. Ever since the night Erik almost burned the place down she has been scared to return." said Madam Giry. "I shall see them in the morning." said Christine. "if anyone other than Nadir or Firman and Andre come looking for me don't let them in." Madam Giry nodded, and said "you shall be safe." "nice meeting you Ms. Giry." said Nadir kissing her hand. "same to you too." she replied. They began to walk on, and as they were Erik said "Nadir, when ever you want to come and see me or Christine only use this passage way because the moat is un passable at the moment." "that I will." said Nadir. They arrived down in Erik's lair, and Nadir looked around and said "this is amazing." "well it used to be in better condition but an angry mob came down here and trashed the place in search of me." said Erik. "ok, I live only but down the road so if you two need anything don't hesitate to ask." said Nadir. "thank you so much Nadir." said Christine giving him a hug. Once Nadir left, Erik lied down on his swan bed and was joined by Christine. "it feels so great to be back home." said Christine. "yes it does." said Erik. "don't worry Erik we'll be safe now." said Christine as she wrapped her arms around him. "Nadir seems to like Madam Giry." said Erik as he touched her hair. "Erik he's homosexual." said Christine. "I didn't understand what he was talking about when he said that back on the ship. What was he talking about?" asked Erik. "he likes men." said Christine. "what do you mean "likes men?" asked Erik. "he doesn't like women." said Christine. "then why is he talking to you?" asked Erik.
Christine could tell that Erik still wasn't getting what she was trying to tell him. "Erik, he has sex with men." she replied. Erik sat up, and said "my god woman are you joking?" "no, that is why it must be kept a secret, in these times it is considered ungodly to do such a thing." said Christine. "his secret is safe with me…..but men?" he replied. "some people are like that." said Christine. "you know I like when you lie here with me." said Erik. "yes so do I." said Christine. "I see you are still wearing the ring." said Erik. "yes, why wouldn't I be? You made me a promise." said Christine. "you know I miss my mask." said Erik. "you have others." said Christine as she touched the distorted side of his face. "I suppose that you are right." said Erik as he touched her cheek. Erik then leaned in and passionately kissed her on the lips. He felt her kiss him back and slip her tongue into his cool moist mouth. Erik moaned at the feeling of it touching his and gently lied his body on his angel's as the kiss continued. "Oh Erik I love you so much." said Christine as she smiled at him.
"Sing for me my angel." said Erik. "now?" asked Christine. "yes, I haven't heard your beautiful voice in days." said Erik. "will you sing with me?" asked Christine. "yes of course." said Erik. Christine lied next to him, and began to sing.
"past the point of no return, no backward glances.
Our games of make believe are at an end. Past all thoughts of
If or when. No use resisting, abandon thought and let the
Dream descend.."
Erik smiled, and began to sing to his angel of music.
"what raging fires shall flood the soul, what sweet seduction
Lies before us? Past the point of no return, the final threshold. What
Warm unspoken secrets will we learn we've passed the point of no return."
He then looked down at Christine who was fast asleep in his arms. Erik looked at his angel and began to wonder what sweet seduction really lied before them?
More to come…lots more…R&R