Okay, here we go again. This chapter is a retelling of the Erik-Christine tale in the movie, but from Christine's pov. It shows what she was thinking and why she did what she did. I don't know, it just shows her logic. I own none of the characters, etc. Enjoy!
The Soprano's Tale
Later that night, a dark figure moved through the halls of the Giry home. Fabric swirled around a mysterious shape that padded silently down the corridors, then turned into a doorway. A match was struck, and a candle was lighted. It moved closer toward the bed, illuminating the figure of a sleeping girl. A hand reached out and took the girl by the shoulder, shaking her awake. The girl's eyes fluttered open, and she drew a short, sharp breath to scream, but a familiar hand covered her mouth.
"Meg, it's me," Christine hissed as she sat down on Meg's bed. "Why is it so warm in here?" she whispered as she removed her cloak.
"My God, Christine, you scared me! Oh, I hate sleeping in the cold, so I keep a fire going during the night. Seems to have gone out tonight, though," she frowned. "The embers aren't even glowing anymore... Anyway, what are you doing here? What time is it?"
"About two. Now-"
"In the morning?" Meg gasped.
"Of course, in the morning. Meg, I need to talk to you. It's important."
"Is it why you asked to stay with us for a few days instead of going with Raoul?"
"Yes. It's about the Phantom... and the man I love."
"What does the Phantom have to do with Raoul?"
"Not Raoul," Christine said as Meg quirked a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "I thought I loved him, but I...met another man. I lost him during the fire and now I'm staying with Raoul until I can find him."
"Well, who is it?" Meg demanded.
"I'll tell you, I promise. But not yet. First, I need to tell you about the Phantom... and how I'm connected to him.†It started a long time ago. When I first came to the Opera House, really. Before I had even met you. I had gone down to my father's memorial, to light a candle for him as I did every evening. I had recently heard a haunting melody from one of the plays being rehearsed, I don't even remember which one now. But I was singing, quietly, for my father. Suddenly, a voice seemed to drift out of the darkness, lulling me almost into a trance. It spoke to my very soul, and I had to know who it was. It was a man's voice, deep and rich. I recognized its power even though I was so young... He said he was the Angel of Music..." A voice played in her head, low and seductive: I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music. "...sent to me by my father. I was told to meet back there, with him, every evening after rehearsals, and he would train me to use my voice. I was entranced, and of course I returned.
"Every night for the next nine years, he came to me, and he taught me to sing. Not merely to let the proper notes slide through my throat, but to feel the music well from the soul, releasing it in pure joy, or anger, or sorrow. He taught me, not to feel the notes that I sang, but to become part of them, to immerse myself in them and share their beauty. I learned that music, true music, is never dead- it lives, it has a spirit of its own, that comes alive and dances within me as I sing. With him, my lessons did not involve putting wisdom inside my head, but rather lifting back the veil over the soul and glimpsing within. With him, every moment was... magic. I felt myself falling in love with this voice that had consumed me, and I cursed myself for a fool. Even if he had been a mortal man, which I did not believe he was, how could so perfect a creature love me? So, I told myself I did not love him, would never have him, and, though love forever burned in my heart, attempted to continue with the lessons I had come to depend upon for release from this bleak world.
"That is, until a few months ago. After Carlotta resigned, and I took her role as lead soprano, I moved into her old quarters- Do you remember, the room with the full-length mirror? The first night I slept there, he came to me..." Her own voice echoed across time: In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came. "Not as the Angel of Music, but as the Phantom of the Opera. To me, they became one and the same. He took me by the hand and led me, trembling with awe, through the mirror, the portal to his lairs deep below. We passed through dark tunnels and traveled across the vast lake, and came to his home. It was beautiful, Meg. I'll never be able to describe it, but it touched something deep with me. I knew I was losing myself to him... And I didn't care. How can I tell you how it feels to be around him, what that intoxication feels like? I knew I never wished to be parted from him again. But I was stupid. My curiosity overcame all else, and I tricked him and removed his mask. What I saw..." She shuddered slightly, recalling the horror of that first glimpse. "I will not tell you. But he was horrified, and explosively angry." She heard his voice, wincing inwardly at the wrath she had incurred: Curse you! You little prying Pandora! You little viper! Now you cannot ever be free! "...I feared for my life. So, I fled, and returned to the world above.
"I tried to move on. Raoul came here and I threw myself into his embrace, hoping to comfort myself over the love I had lost. I convinced myself I loved him, and I still do, a little, but I lost my heart that night with Erik... I saw my Angel again at the cemetery, once, when I went to visit my father's grave. I was still so confused... I went to him, but Raoul found us and interceded. Erik and Raoul fought, and I ended up leaving with Raoul. After all the violence I had seen in Erik, I was truly frightened of him. And the longer I was away, the more I forgot how much I loved him. then, during the performance of Don Juan Triumphant, when he sang with me in the Point of No Return, I fell in love all over again. I knew if he stayed with me, on stage, he would be killed. So, I did the only thing I knew how, to save his life... I removed his mask. I never expected he would cause such damage... But I could not allow him to die. So he took me down to his lair again, and I was surprised as how viscous, how cruel he acted toward me. So, I was spiteful, resentful that he didn't understand that I had saved his life. I pretended to hate him still, angered that he could not see otherwise. Then Raoul arrived, to save me, and was captured by Erik. He threatened to hang Raoul if I did not agree to marry. My choice was to either save the man Erik believed I loved and marry the terrible Phantom, or go free and let Raoul die.
"So I kissed him. I let him believe that I made the agonizing decision to give up my life, and I kissed him. I have never been... happier than in those few seconds. I pulled away, and he kissed me. Then, he sent me away. I was horrified, but he was so adamant that I did leave. I was so confused, Meg. By the time I finally realized what I wanted, to be with Erik, I had already left with Raoul. I told him how I felt, and he eventually gave in to my will. So we went back. But by the time we got there, he was gone. I didn't know what to do. So, I agreed to say with Raoul until I can find Erik. If I don't find him, Meg... There will be no reason for me to live. I love him so." She began to weep softly, cradling her head in her hands. Meg soothed her and held her until she had regained her composure.
"Christine, we'll find him. I never knew how strongly you felt for him. I'm so sorry that you've lost him. But I promise you I'll help you get him back."
"Thank you, Meg." Christine hugged her best friend of ten years. "I don't know how I would ever get along without you."
"You wouldn't," she grinned. "Now, get to bed. It's very late. Or is it very early? Either way, I'm not bearable in the mornings without sleep. And you've had a very trying day." She hugged her again, picked up her candle, which had burned down almost to the wick, and pushed her out the door.
Christine wandered back to her room, her thoughts still circling, but finally feeling tired. She removed her cloak and lie in bed for a few minutes, and finally fell into a deep, but troubled, sleep.