Unmasked Love
Squee! 3rd chapter! Okay, I tried to make it longer, so hopefully that worked out…Anyway, onto the review thankies! I had this chapter ready a looooong time ago, but because fanfic was being very loser like I couldn't update! So blame fanfic for this, not me!!! GAH!!!!! grumbles
An Jing: Hehe, most people hate cliffhangers. Hence, the reason why I put it in. Erik: She does that because she is rather evil, actuallyMe: Shut up, or I'll get Raoul in here.
Erik: grumble fine, sorry
BlackTippedRose: Nah, I have the brain of a turnip. Why? Because I thought you were telling me that I had the brain of a turnip. You probably are the only one on this section that dislikes Erik, yet is a Fop basher also. I totally agree, females are not possessions ;)
Snapedreamer: Yes, I am insane. I have at least 300 people to back me up on that, too. But, beside the point (lol) thank you!
Moonshine's Guide: No way! I love E/C! And Weddings! And PIRATES!!!!!!! Tee hee, I totally hearts that movie ;) Who doesn't take offence to Raoul's totally uncalled for statement?
Virginie: WooHoo! I made someone curious!
LittleLottexoxEriksTrueAngel: Wait no longer, you will find out!
Madbrilliant: Gotcha, longer chappies, more description. Hopefully this chapter is better. Thank you, by the way.
Dudett Angel: I tried to make this chapter longer, and hopefully my story's awesomeness will continue!
Disclaimer: I needed to put one of these in here… Okay, I DO own Phantom of the Opera! I'm selling this for money! Mwahahahaha! Wait, no, it's a joke, guys. A joke! Don't send the angry mob out! Um yeah, so, don't own anything except the DVD, soundtrack, and the ticket stub from the show :D Oh, and its program. You know you are jealous.
As Raoul and Christine got out of the gondola, they looked at the scene before them. Broken glass was everywhere, papers were strewn about, and candelabras were turned over. It was an utter mess. As Raoul looked at the mess, Christine looked for Erik. Raoul stopped to look at Christine. He saw her expression and was somewhat concerned. In Christine's face he saw horror, worry, and sadness. As Raoul looked on tears began to stream down Christine's face once more. He walked forward to comfort her.
"Christine, perhaps he is still here. I am sure we will find another way out," Raoul soothed.
"It's not that!," Christine shot back. She was astounded at how cold her tone was, and so was Raoul. But she was not crying because there wasn't a way out, she was crying because Erik wasn't there. She couldn't help but think that he had truly left his home and was somewhere hiding, or worse, captured. She knew in her heart that he had no reason to stay; investigators would surely come and inspect his home. What she didn't know was that Erik was hiding in his cave once more, as soon as Christine's sobs had broken the silence.
But it wasn't really silence then. If you listened closely you could hear Erik's own sobs and tears of pain and sorrow. He listened intently as Raoul tried to soothe Christine. He couldn't stand it. It was hard enough letting Christine go off with the young man, but for them to come back… it was just too much for one broken-hearted soul to bear. As Erik listened to Christine's angry "It's not that!" he was just as, if not more, taken aback as Raoul. He never knew Christine to be that bitter before. Nor had he ever heard her speak sharply to anyone, much less Raoul. "Stop thinking," Erik whispered to himself, "Just listen!" And he did.
Raoul nodded and put an arm around Christine's shoulders. "Then what is it, Little Lotte?"
Christine cringed at "Little Lotte". True, she knew it was her nickname that Raoul had given her when they were younger. But she was older now, and even though the story of Little Lotte was her favorite, she couldn't help but somewhat dislike it now. Now, it seemed to young for her, too little girl like. She wondered why just now she disliked the name so. Not so long ago she had smiled every time Raoul had spoken it. But why did she cringe? Why now? Christine then realized that the concerned man beside her was still waiting for an answer. But how could she possibly explain this to Raoul? Yes, he was a very good listener, but he was also, well, rather simple minded. (A/N: Mwahaha! Raoul bashing!) There was no way she could tell this to him, so she said the only thing she could think of.
"I don't know," she finally said, after Raoul had begun to doze off, causing him to jump at the sudden sound.
"What? Oh, um, yes, of course, my love." Raoul stuttered.
Christine nodded and sighed. Through her sigh, Erik heard her pain. Oh, how he wished he could do something to help her, but what? It was quite clear that the boy was doing nothing to help her. If he could only get her alone….
In Erik's mind he had an idea, but it could help or hurt him. But Christine was upset! He had to help her! So he did the only thing he could think of that could help Christine. Erik desperately hoped that she would understand what he was trying to do.
"Christine, Christine," he sang, loud enough so the sound of his voice would travel, but soft enough that only Christine would hear it.
Christine jerked her head up at the sound of his sweet, melodic voice. She had to stop herself from crying out with joy. Oh, yes! Erik had not left and was still in his home! Christine knew she had not just imagined this sound, she had plainly heard it through her own sobs. But she could not speak with him when Raoul was present; she had to get him away.
"Raoul!" she said suddenly, causing him to jump once more, "I just thought of a possible way out! I am not absolutely sure, but it is very possible. Go in the gondola, and go back the way we came. Instead of going up to my dressing room, there must be another way. Please, dear, go look for me. I am so very tired now", Christine rushed, hoping that Raoul would oblige.
Erik heard this. She had understood! Now he just had to wait for Raoul to leave.
"But Christine, love, what if he comes back?" Raoul questioned.
"I am nearly certain he will not, but if he does, I will ask him of a way out, and I know he would tell me. He let me go with you, and he will do the same again if the opportunity comes along." Christine replied.
Raoul nodded and kissed her forehead lightly before standing to leave.
"Christine, if anything happens to one of us while I am gone, I want you to know that I love you very much." Raoul called over his shoulder. Christine smiled and waved goodbye.
As soon as Raoul disappeared around the corner, Christine stood.
"Erik? Erik, are you there? Raoul left, I am alone," Christine called.
Erik stepped out from the curtained passageway. "Christine," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears," You came back here, to this Hell, why?"
Christine turned around and went to him. She saw that tears were spilling from his sad, gold eyes(A/N:Thanks Rose!)
, yet he was trying to hold them back. She found herself crying also, and threw her arms around his neck. Erik was surprised at Christine's sudden display of affection. To comfort her, he put his arms around her also. Christine felt this, and pressed herself against him. She raised her head and answered his question.
"When we went back to my room, it was in flames, and we don't know another way out," she said.
Erik sighed. This was the reason they had come back. Not because she loved him, but because they needed to leave, and figured that he would know all the ways out. He did, and he wanted to help Christine, but it stabbed another knife through his heart that she had only returned to leave.
Christine felt his disappointment, and said what she knew would make him happy.
"And, Erik, because I love you."
Erik's body stiffened in shock. He was not sure of what he just heard. Did Christine really say that she loved him? Or was he just completely going out of his mind? No, she said that she loved him, he was sure of it.
"Christine, I am sure that you are somewhat delirious at the moment from lack of food, and you do not truly mean what you are saying right now. You wait here, I will get you some food."
Christine nodded and watched Erik leave. She had to prove to him somehow that what she was saying was true. She could barely even believe that it was true. But it made sense. The way she didn't get butterflies in her stomach after kissing Raoul, the feeling that she got when she was with Raoul, it was gone. She felt, and was sure that Raoul felt it too, that the magic in their relationship was gone. But all of those feelings returned whenever she was with Erik. It was an inexpressible feeling that she was experiencing. Just then Erik returned.
"Here," he said, setting down a tray, "I have a loaf of bread, butter, apples, cheese, and preserves. Eat as much as you want, I have more."
Christine thanked him, and then realized how hungry she really was. She quickly ate most of the food on the tray, and thanked him again. What she really wanted to do was talk to him. She never really knew him. She had only spoken to him in song before, and it was usually in a lesson, or in one case, on stage. Christine wanted to know the man that she loved. But all of a sudden she felt extremely tired and laid down on the floor, and almost instantly went into a dreamless sleep.
Erik watched her sleep from his organ. She seemed so peaceful, and so beautiful…
He strode over to her and picked her up from the floor and laid her in the bed just as he had not very long ago. She didn't move. Erik smiled and kissed her lips softly. Just then she woke up and looked into his embarrassed face. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him passionately on his shaking lips. He almost drew back, but instead he deepened the kiss. When they were both nearly out of air, Christine ended the magical kiss. Finally realizing what she had just done, she immediately began to apologize.
"Oh, I am so sorry! I should not have done that, I was rushing things too fast, you must think me horrible now-" Erik stopped her with another kiss, more magical than the previous one.
"I can and will never think you horrible. I can only think of you of an angel. A perfect, beautiful, and kind angel who loves a lonesome demon, and I will be forever grateful to you, Christine. But what of Raoul, my love?"
Christine had nearly forgotten about Raoul. How would she explain this to him? How would he react? She knew it would not be a happy reaction, but she knew Erik would not let him harm her. She supposed she would just have to explain it to him calmly. But then another thought came to her.
"Erik, how long has it been since Raoul left?" Christine asked.
"About 6 hours, why?" Erik replied, wondering why Christine was asking him this.
"It couldn't have possibly taken him 6 hours to find a passageway that I made up, where could he have gone?" Christine inquired.
"Oh, no.," Erik said, "The torture chamber, he must have fallen in!"
Ah, another chapter done! It wasn't that much of a cliffhanger last chapter, now was it? No, I think not. So, hit that little bluish purpleish periwinkleish button right down there in that lower left hand corner. See it? Good, now press it, sign in if need be, and tell me the good (or bad) things about my story. Or to praise me, whatever :D