Rose22

Following breakfast, Christine happily returned to the upper floors in order to change her clothes and have final measurements taken for her Bal Masque costume. She expressed her concern that Madame would notice her absence and worry.

"How long shall you be away?" Erik asked, his voice unable to hide his anxiety.

"Not long," Christine answered. "I must gather my clothes, my shoes, my belongings that I will need if I come here for my lessons.

"Then I will wait behind the mirror until you are ready to return with me."

With a smile, Christine shook her head. "I know the way and you've shown me the electric bell. When I'm prepared I'll ring the bell and wait for you to guide me. I promise."

Erik hesitated, but there was little more he could do to convince her. "You will return to me tonight?"

"I will return when no one is suspicious. Erik, you must understand that if someone were to follow me down…it's far too dangerous. You risk your livelihood with your impatience, my dear. A night or two and I will see you again."

Her words made him increasingly anxious, which Christine noticed when she turned to face him. She stopped at once and placed her hand against the masked side of his face.

"Have I given you reason to distrust me?"

"No, you haven't, Christine."

Standing on the tips of her toes she pressed a kiss to his left cheek before cautiously placing her hand on the masked side of his face and pulling the leather covering away. By the remorseful expression on her face, Erik knew he appeared as terrified as he felt. He couldn't move as she kissed him tenderly, her lips fluttering across his cheek and to the corner of his mouth. The warmth of her lips made him shiver, a sensation mixed with pleasure and fear.

"I have always been true to you. Don't worry yourself, Erik."

"I know, but Christine…"

"Yes?"

Erik felt his mouth go dry. She made him experience the desperation he'd known throughout his childhood, the absolute fear of rejection he knew would never be avoided. It was his fate, it was his face that damned him.

"Eventually," he said under his breath, lacing his fingers through hers and bringing it to his damaged face. He allowed her fingers to skim over his red, uneven flesh, pulling her hand away before she drew back. "Everyone realizes that this will never change."

Christine shook her head. "I didn't say—"

"This face that earned a mother's fear and loathing, this mask my first unfeeling scrap of clothing." With a heavy sigh, Erik turned away, intending to return the mask to his face. "Pity comes too late."

"Turn around," Christine said gently. "Without the mask on."

Erik froze. Her request was one he was all too familiar with, as many people had asked him to remove his mask so that they could mock him.

"The feelings I have for you are not pity."

Erik merely nodded. Amongst the jeers and taunts he had experienced pity once in the form of a young ballerina. It made Erik wonder if Madame still felt the same, if even as an adult he garnered her sympathy.

"Do you want me to pity you?"

"I want…" Your compassion, your acceptance, your unwavering love, Christine. I want you as my own, as the dream that always leaves when I wake to stay at last. He exhaled hard. "I want only you."

Christine turned his face toward hers. "Look me in the eye and you will find I have no intention to deceive you as long as the feeling is mutual."

"I wouldn't," Erik started, realizing his words were false before he spoke. "It was the only way to win you, Christine. The only chance I have ever had with you was through deception. If I had come to you—"

"What's done is done. I will not worry about what is in our past." She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "A night or two at best will give you ample time to complete your costume." Straightening his lapels, she grinned. "Blue will bring out your eyes."

Erik's eyes closed to her touch, to the one sensation he was not accustomed to experiencing. He still hated himself for knocking Christine to the ground when she removed his mask. Part of him wondered if she would have screamed when she saw his face for the first time or if she would have continued to caress him.

"I have something a little different in mind," he murmured in her ear. There was no end to the overwhelming feelings she brought to him, the sensations he never knew existed but couldn't imagine living the rest of his life without knowing.

"I trust you," Christine replied before they parted. She paused and looked at him one last time. "When I return, we must rehearse for your opera."

"What if they refuse?"

Christine shook her head. "Sometimes you must see the glass half-full."

Erik nodded before she disappeared, his gesture only meant to appease Christine. In his lifetime he'd only known the glass to be empty.