Hey everyone, thanks again for the reviews. Eastern State Penitentiary tonight, for the ones who have no idea what that is it's the scariest haunted attraction in the country. I went two years ago and it was definitely the scariest thing I ever attended. Anyway here's the latest chapter, enjoy and don't forget to R&R…
The next morning, Erik awoke in such agony. All through the night, Christine had kept her arms tightly wrapped around his body as she did any other night. Only last night was the night Erik had gone and got himself injured and suffered through the night without even letting Christine know. He rolled over to notice that Christine was no longer lying next to him, which was probably the reason for his pain dying down a bit. He would now finally be able to close his eyes and get at least a steady hour of sleep. As Erik closed his eyes and nestled his head against the pillow beneath it, Clorinda jumped onto the bed causing such agony in his body. Without a second to spare, Erik sat up and looked at his daughter with such anger.
"What on earth do you want? Get out of my room!"
Within seconds, Erik watched his little girl's blue eyes turn to tears as she turned to run out of his chambers. Usually he wouldn't mind her being beside him but her jumping on the bed had caused him such pain releasing his anger. Before he could even close his eyes again, Christine was standing at the door way. She was one of the last people he wanted to talk to at the moment.
"Something wrong Erik?"
God how he hated when she asked a question so sarcastically. The tone of voice agitated him to no end, making him want to pull the covers back over his head until God knows when.
"No, I'm perfectly fine."
Christine crossed her arms and waited for him to tell the truth instead of telling such lies.
"I'm just tired, that's all."
"Then there must be something wrong, because I remember many nights when you wouldn't come to bed. You once told me that you don't need more than two hours of sleep a night. As I recall I remember your crawling in with me around midnight, it's 8am now Erik and that's way more than two hours."
"I'm not feeling too well Christine, I'm feeling very lethargic this morning."
"That's not a reason to yell at Clorinda."
"She came in here and jumped on me like some wild animal."
"Maybe that's because she's just a little excited about her birthday being tomorrow Erik."
Before he could answer her, Christine walked away with her arms still crossed. How had he forgotten? He had been so worried about Christine finding out about his wound that he had forgotten about the date of Clorinda's birth. Five years, it would be five years to the day when she was brought into the world. Erik leaned over to the night table, and picked up the music box that Christine had given him for Christmas and opened it. He reached inside and picked up the picture of him holding Clorinda in his arms and cursed himself. His birthdays had never been celebrated at his house because of his mother's loathing. She had only ever given him one gift his entire life…..a mask. That dreaded mask was thrown on his face before he even reached Clorinda's age. He did remember his mother once coming to him on his seventh birthday and asking him what he wanted. Erik's smile had widened at the thought of it and asked for two kisses. Never had his mother ever kissed him, and that is what he wanted more than anything. She of course beat him for even requesting such a thing and locked him in his room for a week without food. After experiencing such a heartbreaking event, Erik ran away from her, never turning back to take one last look. By the time he turned sixteen, word had gotten to him that she had died of a serious illness.
After deciding to get out of bed instead of wasting time on trying to sleep, Erik stood in front of the mirror, and unbuttoned his night shirt. When he pealed back the blood stained bandage, Erik noticed that the stitch had formed a crusty scab over it. He quickly took a bottle of ointment off of the night table and rubbed it all over his wound before putting the bandage back over it. Afterwards, Erik changed into his day shirt and began to change into his pants. As he was adjusting the cummerbund, it tightened around his waist which was right where his wound was. Erik immediately cringed in pain, and through the cummerbund aside before grasping his side in pain. A few seconds after he regained his strength, he angrily through on his trousers and walked out to the kitchen area of his room to see Christine standing there heating a pot of water over the stove. The first thing she noticed was the missing cummerbund from around his waist.
"You ok?"
Erik grabbed a cup from off of the counter, and poured some of the hot water into it from off of the stove.
"Perfectly fine, why do you ask?"
"In all the years that I have known you Erik, never have you forgotten to put on a cummerbund."
Erik paused before placing the hot cup of tea down on the counter and turning to answer her.
"I told you before that I'm not feeling well today."
Christine approached him, and wrapped her arms around Erik's waste. Her hands landed right onto his wound, causing such agony to enter his body again. He wanted to shout out and push her away from him, but didn't have the heart or the courage to do it. That's all he needed was for her to find out about the stab wound. When she pulled away, Erik turned away to take another sip of his tea and to calm himself down enough to face her once more.
"I have to go into town, I shall be back later."
"Why don't you take Clorinda with you?"
"But of course."
Christine gave him a quick kiss on the lips, before Erik walked out of the room, and entered the hall of mirrors to get outside. Once outside, the cool brisk air hit his ribs so fast that he couldn't think straight at first. Seconds later, he looked around and saw Clorinda sitting hunched over on a rock. He slowly approached her, and stood beside his daughter as she angrily kicked the dirt.
"I owe you an apology Clorinda. I had a bad night last night and you coming in this morning and jumping on me only made the situation worse."
"You yelled at me."
"Clorinda, you have to admit that I have been keeping my temper under control lately. I made a mistake and I'm dreadfully sorry about yelling at you. I have to run into town to mail a letter and to get some things and I would like it if you joined me."
"No, I don't want to."
"I know that you're mad at me Clorinda, I'd be mad at me too but please forgive a stupid man."
Clorinda turned towards him, and touched his cold hand.
"You're not stupid Monsieur Kire. You just don't have any patients is all. I'll go with you to town now on one condition."
"What's that?"
"I get a shoulder ride."
In seconds, Erik lifted the small girl up over his head and placed her on his shoulders before heading to the bronze gate to head to town. It was still the early morning and the only people out were the ones that owned small shops. Erik entered Herr Ebersbach's
shop, and lifted Clorinda from off of his shoulders and set her on the ground. Aaron, his grandson was standing there behind the counter. The boy was thin with scruffy dark hair and the most haunting blue eyes any one could be born with. Erik thought that he was still handsome for his age.
"Morning Miss Daae."
"Morning Aaron."
Erik turned to his daughter.
"You know him?"
"Yes, he's Herr Ebersbach's grandson."
Seconds later, Bertram was at the counter and surprised to see Erik.
"Ah Monsieur, what can I do for you?"
Erik removed the letter that he had written out to Madam Giry, and handed it to him.
"I should hope that it will arrive at it's destination."
"But of course Monsieur. How is the show coming along?"
Erik reached into his pocket, and took out a small bag of franks and set it down on the counter. Bertram looked inside it, and cringed at the sight of the gold franks.
"But Monsieur, this is way more than you agreed to pay me."
"Don't worry about it, Lord knows I'm grateful to know you. Now you must excuse me, I have to get some supplies and get back."
"Of course, and thank you for stopping by."
Erik motioned Clorinda to follow him, and once outside, Erik began to look around for the things that he needed. It wasn't much but they were the necessary things such as bread, milk and some more ointment for his wound. After lifting Clorinda back on his shoulders, Erik continued to shop and as he was he wondered what his daughter was thinking.
"Something on your mind Clorinda?"
"Nothing really, just thinking about what to ask for my birthday."
"And is anything coming to mind?"
"Well I just want you and Mother to be happy Monsieur Kire. I know that Mother isn't happy, she hasn't been happy in a long time."
"She misses Paris Clorinda."
"And do you?"
"I can't think about the past, not with who I am. But anyway don't worry about such problems, tomorrow is your special day and it should be spent the way you want."
"Well could Mother make pasta and then could you tell me scary stories before bed?"
"I don't know if your mother would like me to do that."
"Please Monsieur? Pleaseeeeee?"
"We'll see, now we must get back before your mother begins to worry."
After grabbing his supplies, Erik walked back to the fairgrounds and set Clorinda down. Christine unpacked the supplies, and began to put them away in the kitchen. She held out the ointment in front of Erik, and gave him a confused look.
"Erik? Why did you buy this? I just looked the other day and we had a full container of it."
"No, we've run out."
"What have you been using it for?"
"You know that I've been sore Christine. What do you think I've been using it for?"
Christine put the bottle of ointment down on the counter, and approached him.
"We need to talk Erik, I need to tell you something."
"I can't talk now, I have things to do."
Erik threw on his cloak, and walked outside of to the fair grounds to give his workers their pay. He had given all his performers the night off because of the great job that they had been doing, and would resume in the next night. A while after Erik was finished, Christine found him in his chambers working on his music. She approached him, and sat her hands on his shoulders.
"You're being very quiet today Erik."
"I told you, I'm not feeling so well."
"You don't have to run the show tonight, so would you like to go out and have some dinner with me?"
"I don't know Christine, I'm not feeling too well today. I'm in a lot of pain right now and all I really want to do is relax."
"It would make me happy Erik."
Erik put down his quill and placed his hand over his wound.
"If that would make you happy, then Erik will do this for his angel."
"Thank you Erik, and tonight we need to talk about something."
"Yes of course, what about Clorinda?"
"I'll drop Clorinda off with her friend Petri. Esmeralda will let her spend the night with him."
That night, when the sun had gone away and left the sky full of darkness, Erik and Christine walked into town. He wasn't much for outings in town, but he was desperate to do anything to make Christine happy again. As they walked side by side with each other past the small shops, Erik couldn't help but wonder why his angel wasn't smiling.
"Is something wrong Christine?"
"No why?"
"I just noticed that you seem upset."
"No, I'm happy Erik, I was just looking at all the shops. Before my father died we used to walk in the shops every Sunday evening. He used to buy me dresses and candy before taking me to the music shop to buy his supplies. Sometimes I wish I could relive those days if only for a second. Which brings me to my next question, did you get anything for Clorinda's birthday?"
"I was going to ask you the same question."
"I thought that tonight would be the night to do it. I just don't know what to get her Erik."
"Don't ask me, you know as well as I that birthdays were never celebrated in my house. What did your father give you on your fifth birthday?"
Christine thought a moment, and then answered.
"That was the birthday before my father died. He bought me my first pair of ballerina slippers."
"That won't be any use to Clorinda, she doesn't dance."
Christine sighed as they continued walking in the cool night air.
"Don't worry Christine you'll think of something. I already have something for her actually and if you can't think of anything I would be happy to tell her that it is from both of us."
"No, it's fine Erik I'll have something for her don't worry. You're a better father than I would have taken you for. It breaks my heart that she can't know the truth about it."
"I wouldn't want her to Christine. It's better that she doesn't know she has a monster for a father. I like her to think that she was conceived by the most handsomest man in all of Paris. She's beautiful just like you and that scar on her cheek reminds me everyday of how much worse things could have been."
Before Christine could answer, the both of them spotted some of the town's people gathering in the a circle with the constable and a man standing up on a podium. Erik recognized the man as the one that got away from him the night before. He pulled Christine aside to stay out of the mob's sight when she gave him a confused look.
"We need to stay away from them, they might be dangerous."
"I want to listen to what they're saying."
"This is close enough."
Christine looked at the crowd, and listened to what the man and constable were saying. The constable was standing close to the scruffy looking man and came forward at the crowd's request.
"Now from what the man is telling me is that last night he and another man were walking threw the woods when a demon came out of no where and killed him."
In anger, the scruffy man pushed the constable aside to tell his side of the story.
"No! that is not how it went! Me and my friend were walking along, minding our own business when a tall man dressed in a cloak appeared out of no where. I couldn't get a good look at him because it was dark but his voice still haunts my mind to this day. He asked us what we were doing out in his woods? When I told him we were looking for town he took out a knife and slit my buddy's throat so deep that his head nearly came off. While he was chasing me, I thought I was next, until he tripped and fell onto his own knife. The man is a maniac that needs to be brought to justice! He's still out there in the woods waiting for the next person to walk straight into his path!"
Hearing this revolted Erik so much. Lies, complete lies is what he heard and how badly he wanted to come out and call the man a liar! Tell the crowd how helpless Curtis was at their knees! The bastard deserved to die for what rubbish he was telling the constable and the town. He pulled Christine aside, and walked beside her as they began to walk back towards the fair grounds.
"Oh Erik isn't that horrible? The woods are such a dangerous place to walk in. I just don't know what this world is coming to."
"Yes, yes I know Christine."
Once they had gotten back to the fair grounds, Erik walked with Christine into his room, and took out some wine glasses. He was still confused about her asking him to dinner, and then never going. It was more or less a walk around town in the dark to stretch their legs and nothing more.
"Are you hungry Christine?"
"No, not at all. I'm just thirsty."
Erik poured her a glass of wine and handed it to her before pouring himself a glass. Afterwards, Christine followed him to their chambers where they had a seat on the bed and relaxed themselves. Christine leaned over, and began to passionately kiss Erik on the mouth as he ran his hand through her brown locks.
"Oh Christine."
Moments later as Erik lied in the pillows enjoying the sensation of Christine's kisses, he felt his shirt being unbuttoned. Before he could stop her, he felt her hand stop at the bandage and his world stop. The kissing stopped, the touching stopped and Christine was starring down at him. She glanced down at the bandage, and then back at Erik.
"Erik, what happened to you?"
Erik immediately moved her hand away from the bandage, and tried to button his shirt back up over his distorted flesh.
"Nothing, it's absolutely nothing Christine."
Christine pushed his shirt back open, and glanced back down at the bandage.
"Yes it is Erik."
Christine pealed back the bandage, and stared at the stitched mess.
"Erik, that looks terrible, how on earth did you get such a wound?"
"It was an accident ok? Just leave me alone Christine."
Christine thought a moment, and then backed up in fear. She figured it out, the man who had killed in the woods was him.
"It was you Erik, you killed that man in the woods! don't lie to me, it was you!"
"That man was lying, it didn't happen like that Christine!"
"Really Erik? Because the first thing I asked of you was to be able to trust you. You promised me that you wouldn't kill again! Look what you did Erik!"
Erik got to his feet in anger, and braced himself up against his night table.
"Oh really Christine, did the man tell everyone about how they had Curtis in a noose? Or how they promised to let him go if he handed over the bag of franks? No he didn't Christine, he was telling complete lies! Those two fools had Curtis in a noose and were calling him obscene names as they beat the hell out of him. He handed over the bag of franks and ran off with him hanging at death's door. I cut him down and went after the two fools and stabbed the one for trying to beat me up. I did it out of the protection of my performers Christine. I'm not a cold blooded killer anymore but god help the ones who try to hurt me or my workers. I tried to catch up to the other one, but I tripped and fell onto my knife."
"So this is what the ointment is for?"
"Yes."
Christine looked away for a few seconds in disgust.
"I can't believe you lied to me again Erik. You agreed to always tell me the truth and you lied to me when I asked about the ointment."
"I'm sorry Christine, I was afraid of being caught."
"Can I tell talk to you Erik? Talk to you about what I was going to talk to you about earlier?"
"Go ahead."
"Part of the reason that I have been in mood swings lately is because I found out something….."
"Found out what? That you'll never visit Paris again? Or see Madam Giry or Meg ever again? What Christine? What is your problem?"
"No Erik, I found out that I'm with child."
Erik's whole world came crashing down with those two words "with child." no it couldn't be, she couldn't be pregnant. He had done everything in his power when making love to insure that it could never happen. How could she have gotten this way under his caution?
"How Christine? I did everything to insure that it wouldn't happen….I…I"
"Pulled out early Erik? Sometimes that doesn't work. It's so easy to make a mistake when you're making love. I'd thought after having Clorinda, you would be happy about it happening again."
"Happy? Look at Clorinda Christine! She came out with a scar on her cheek. This time we might not be so lucky! It could come out looking exactly like me! I don't want this to happen Christine."
"I love you Erik, and any child that belongs to us will be loved. I'm happy about having another baby Erik."
Erik had began to cry. How? How had God let him conceive another child destined to relive the life that he has? Years ago he was glad to hear that he was unable to conceive children and then for God to come along and play that evil trick on him. It was nothing more than a joke when he found out that Christine was pregnant with Clorinda. Five years of making love to her with no pregnancy and now this….how was he going to face Clorinda or Christine ever again? There was nothing more he could do….it was set in stone……Christine was once again pregnant with his monstrous gene.
More to come soon!