A/N: I wasn't going to update for a few days. But then when I saw the reviews for this story I was inspired to continue.
I love you all hugs you tightly and hands you cookies and milk
It wasn't until the early hours of the next morning that Christine, Raoul and the Giry's arrived at the De Chagny chateau. Christine now sat on the bed in the room that had been prepared for her. She looked around at the light pink walls and the chaise lounge that was against the wall opposite her bed. Her bed was covered with pillows the color of cream, and lilac. The blanket and sheets were lilac and the same pink as the walls, the curtains which enclosed the canopy bed were pink as well. All in all it was an extremely feminine room and Christine did not like it all. She missed the gold's, reds and blacks that she was now so accustomed to from being in the opera house and being around Erik.
Christine was exhausted, but found she couldn't sleep. So instead she sat up in bed, surrounded by the darkness of the early morning hours. Her knees were up and her chin rested upon them, with her arms wrapped around her legs. She thought back to the encounter with Erik. How she wished he could see just how much she longed for him, how much she loved him. She wished it hadn't taken her till now to realize that what she felt for that amazing man was nothing other than affection and longing.
But for too long Erik had been rejected and when he believed Christine was going to choose Raoul and leave him it had been too much. It seemed that no matter what she said or did Erik would never forgive her nor believe that she loved him and not Raoul. How foolish she had been!
She had no idea what she was going to do now. How could she tell Raoul that she didn't love him, that instead she loved a masked genius who the previous night had tried to kill him and harmed many others along the way? How could she leave him and live on her own. How was she to support herself? Her father hadn't had anything to leave her when she died. When she lived in the opera house everything that she needed as far as food and shelter was provided. But she was now only 17, she had no relatives and no money. She would need to get a job, but as what. All she had was her voice and beauty to offer and that only did you good when there was an opera house around. The only thing she loved and was actually good at she wouldn't be able to do, because the only opera house in Paris had now burned down and who knew if it would ever be rebuilt.
Maybe Madame Giry would be able to help her find a job. She hoped so because she had no one else to turn to. Never before in Christine's life had she felt this alone, this empty, not even when her father had died. Worst of all was the fact that the only person who had ever made her feel whole, was the one person she would never see again. Christine sighed and fell back against the pillows, sleeping finally claiming her body and mind.
That same morning Christine woke to sound of knocking on her bedroom door.
"Yes?" Christine said groggily.
"I am sorry to disturb you mademoiselle, but the viscount would like you to join you for breakfast. May I come in to help you dress?" Came a slightly high pitched female voice from behind the door.
Christine groaned inwardly, just what she needed. To see Raoul before she even knew what she was going to say to him. "Come in." Christine said, climbing out of bed.
The maid, who's name was Mandy helped Christine to dress in a light yellow dress and pinned up Christine's hair in a simple, yet elegant style. Christine then had left her room and headed to the dining room where Raoul was waiting.
Taking a deep breath Christine walked into the room, faking a smile when she saw Raoul approach her.
"You look beautiful as ever." He said, kissing her on the cheek. He pulled out a chair for Christine and she sat down, he took a seat facing her. He looked happier then she had ever seen him before. She felt her heart drop when she realized why. Now that the phantom was out of the way Raoul would have his bride. Meanwhile she felt absolutely miserable and would have rather swallowed arsenic then to be in the position she was in now.
Raoul noticed while breakfast that Christine was extremely quite but decided not to question her, thinking that she was still tired from the night before.
Christine was relieved when Raoul said he had some business to attend to and he would be back later that night. Christine immediately headed from Madame Giry's room hoping that she would be able to give Christine the help and advice that she was desperately seeking.
"No going back now." Christine said under her breath as she knocked on Madame Giry's door.
"Come in." Came the voice that Christine knew so well from the other side of the door.
Christine opened the door and stepped inside closing it behind her. She saw the older woman sitting down on a chaise that was in the room, facing a fireplace. She was peering at Christine with a look of concern and Christine knew she had come to the right person. Over the year Christine had come to look at Madame Giry as a mother. She did after all raise Christine into womanhood after her father had died. Madame Giry loved Christine and Christine loved her. Meg was also like a sister to Christine, and she felt blessed to have the two women in her life.
"Is something the matter Christine?" Madame Giry asked, motioning for Christine to take a seat on the chaise.
"Maman, I need to speak with you about something very important and I need your help as well." Christine said, sitting down next to Madame Giry.
"What is it?" The other woman asked looking more worried than before.
"I cannot marry Raoul." Christine said, getting right to the point. "I have come to realize that I do not love him, as one should love a husband. I love him as a friend, of course. But I was so confused I didn't realize till now that I cannot marry a man who I don't love. I cannot!" Christine said, becoming frantic. She felt trapped and the walls were starting to close in on her.
"Calm down, child. You are just nervous. And after what happened last night I cannot blame you for feeling apprehensive." Madame Giry said, looking relieved that Christine problem wasn't serious. Little did she know that to Christine it was a matter of life or death.
"I am not nervous maman! I cannot marry him. I do not love him. This isn't just cold feet. I do not love him, the way I love Erik!" Christine said, before she stopped herself. She gasped and clamped a hand over her mouth.
Madame Giry shook her head, but said something that surprised Christine. "I had wondered how long it would take you to realize where your heart truly lies. I would have thought you daft not to love him. He may have done things that were wrong in the past. But he is a genius and he loves you more than life itself. He was there for you and was able to reach you and lift you out of your despair when nothing else worked. God knows, I tried to make you smile when you were a child. But even the life seemed to have left you. Your eyes were dull and you barely ever spoke. But then things changed. And it wasn't up until recently that I realized why. I never knew of the voice lessons till just a few months ago. Christine, I know that Erik has done some horrible things. I know that most people think he is a beast. But I also know that he is capable of loving you more than anyone else. But I am afraid that it may be too late. Erik will have left the opera house and I have not a clue where he will have gone."
Christine took this all in and never even realized the tears that slowly crept down her cheeks as she listened to Madame Girys words. Christine had known before that Erik would have left the opera house, but she believed that one way or another she would find him.
"Maman, you must help me. Even if I can't find Erik, I cannot stay with Raoul. I will do anything. Just please, help me leave her and live my own life." Christine said, hysterical now. She wrapped her arms around the other woman's frame, feeling like a little child. Madame Giry stroked Christine's hair lovingly.
"Shhh everything will be alright. Trust me." The older woman said, as you would to comfort a small child. Christine fully believed Madame Giry's words. If she said that everything would be alright, then Christine knew they would be.
I am terribly sorry that is so short, but I wanted to switch to Erik's POV but I am having writer's block with that at the moment. But I do promise an update soon.