Erik looked down at Christine, his heart bursting with joy. "My dear, precious wife…forgive me for not believing you, for doubting your heart." Erik turned away, walking several steps from her.
"I've never known love without conditions…perhaps never have I known love at all…compassion…a little, but only inside the confines of this building. I've trusted only a very few in this world…but now I will learn to trust you…believe in you." He turned to face Christine.
She was smiling at him. It was odd to her how it had only been a day that he'd not worn his mask, and yet she no longer saw the disfigurement when she looked at him. He was handsome to her. His tall frame, well defined features, and piercing eyes. Even with his clothes in a bit of disarray, his hair not smoothed and perfect, he was still the most handsome man she had ever known.
"What is it?" Erik became increasingly uncomfortable for her staring at him, sly smile on her face.
"It is just that I think of you differently now…without shame…I can think of you differently now." Christine blushed a little, looking down from his gaze. Erik smiled too, knowing what she meant.
"Christine, these are the intimate moments I've not known in my life…I've read about them in the great love stories, but never dreamt it would be part of my life. Forgive me if I seem a bit…..inexperienced."
Christine smiled moving toward him. "Erik, it occurs to me we may very well experience many things together for the first time, as I am inexperienced myself. At least we won't be able to take notice of any mistakes, as we have nothing to compare it to!"
Erik chuckled, the first laugh he'd had in ages. It had not been since he saw Carlotta fall from a trip on her dress during one of the rehearsals nearly a year ago. Christine smiled at him, and he at her.
Erik brought his hands to his face, "hmmmm, what should we do now. We could eat biscuits and strawberries, although I'm afraid that won't quite do." Christine looked back at him, being able to offer no suggestion.
"Is it safe for us to leave…I thought we needed to wait for darkness, for nightfall." Christine said. "Are you not hungry?" Erik asked. Christine looked down. "Yes, I must admit, I am a bit hungry now…but biscuits and strawberries wouldn't be awful until night falls." She smiled timidly at Erik.
Catching the glint in her eye, he moved over to her. "My dear, as sweet as love is, one cannot live on love alone." Christine reached up and tugging Erik's neck toward hers, lips nearly touching. "My husband, I know what you say is true, but right now my heart is telling me otherwise." She kissed Erik tenderly.
Erik's mind whirled as he swept her up into his arms. She wanted him, he was her husband, how could one refuse such a request? He turned to lay her softly on the bed, coming to rest next to her. Her big brown eyes shining in the candlelight. He would have been content to stay there forever. They met in an impassioned embrace. Light, time, and everything else, passing into a distant fog. The darkness of the room, the flicker of the candle all melding into a sweet orchestration of a memory in the making.
XXXX
Raoul woke from his slumber, hearing footsteps and voices. Surely the officer's men had come now to assist. He gathered himself together, letting go of the dress that he had been clinging to. He was on his feet, straightening out his clothes.
"Monsieur De Chagny, at your service sir." The first man to arrive greeted Raoul. "Thank you for coming." The twelve-man assembly, looking rather like a small outfitted army.
"I'm afraid to tell you that I've searched the caves myself extensively, and have found the escape route. Sometime during the night, I am certain, he took Miss Daae out that way, unnoticed."
The men looked a bit disheartened. They had prepared for a long day, and a good fight. "Sir?" one of the men said. "What would you have us to do, as we are at your service for the entire day, under instruction from our commanding officer."
Raoul shook his head. "I'm not entirely certain. Perhaps we could search the streets, inquiring if any has seen anything unusual. If any horsemen have taken…" Raoul thought better of that. With the Opera Populaire burning, many would have left the city by carriage. "Let us search the streets, and the area around the Opera House. We will meet back at your officer's station mid-afternoon in order to determine what our next move will be."
"Good sir, would you like us to take any of this with us?" The man motioned around at the items that lay scattered about the cavern. "No, you needn't spend your time with this junk…it can rot down here for all that I care." Raoul snapped, distain obvious in his tone. "Very well sir. Men, let's head back to the boat," the man yelped an order. The men in uniform, single-file made their way back to the boat.
"Boat?" Raoul questioned. "Yes sir, we carried it with us here sir as the last company that came this way talked of being soaked to the bone trying to pass through the waters. There is room for one more, if you'd like to join us." The man motioned toward the boat. Raoul looked around one last time at the cave. He wouldn't even bother to put out any of the torches he had lit…with any luck they would start a fire and destroy all those awful memories, turning to ash the memories of a monster.
Raoul jumped into the boat, taking a seat at the stern. The men began to row their oars, the craft being propelled toward the gate. Raoul thought bitterly, "I shall never again cast a shadow here…"
The boat careened around the entrance to the lair, far down into the dark corridors. The light of their torches disappeared from sight.
XXXXX
The curtain behind the mirror moved. "At last they are gone." Erik emerged. He looked around at the shambles that had been made of his home. It broke his heart to see the small busts now laying in splinters on the floor. The curtains to the rooms shredded, the books and sheets of music scattered about without regard. He was grateful that they hadn't damaged his piano. He walked over to a large pile of rocks that lay haphazardly in the corner. Rolling away the first, the second, and yet a third large stone, he uncovered a mid-sized box. Inside he had nearly a year's worth of salary, over 200,000 francs. He wasn't certain how far they would have to travel, but he knew this would be a necessity. Much more was hidden, and perhaps he would one day return for it, but for now, this is all that they required.
Erik got up, putting everything back into place. He walked over to a small chain that was latched to the shore of lake. Pulling it up, he took the small cage from its end. Unhooking it he retrieved several jars, one of meat, one of milk, and the other of peaches. Having no proper icebox, he had learned that the chill of the depths of the waters there were perfect for storage. He put the jars in the bag he had brought with him. He moved quickly over to the large vase of roses that were sitting in Christine's room, unbelievably untouched. Carefully lifting them from the vase, he lashed them securely with a large black ribbon. Tucking them under his arm, lifting his bag, he moved back into the corridor behind the curtain. He wasn't certain, but he hoped that Christine would have slept during his absence, having had an exhausting day, and night.
XXX
Christine woke, a bit chilly, pulling the cover over her bare shoulder. "Erik?" He had become so good at disappearing, she wondered if he were part magician. "Hmmp." Christine sighed. She stretched out fully under the blankets, and then curled up into a ball. Her stomach was growling now. She almost wished she hadn't agreed to wait until nightfall for dinner…well….almost.
She smiled to herself. The world seemed so distant. Reality was for her the music of the night. She rather enjoyed not knowing what time it was, or where exactly she was, there was an air of mystery around it that delighted her. Christine got up, wrapping the silk sheet around her and walked over to a piece of paper lying on the table. Reading it "My dear Christine. I've gone to retrieve a few things we will need in the coming days. Do not worry, you are quite safe. I will be gone a short while. Love Erik." Her very first love note; she smiled in sweet satisfaction…a love note from her HUSBAND.
She wrapped the sheet tightly around her and went about tidying up the bed. She went to her bags and selected a dress and the undergarments she would need. Taking a small cloth from her bag, she went over to where Erik had retrieved water the day before. Reaching into it to soak the cloth she took notice of how very cold it was, it made her shiver. Holding the cloth between both of her hands to warm it before touching her skin.
She washed her face and then her neck and shoulders. Even though it was frigid, the sensation of clean skin was a welcome one. She sat awkwardly in the chair, washing each of her feet. Finished with that, she ran a brush through her hair, pulling it back into a ribbon. She went about dressing; this time with a corset. She nearly reached the top, but could not. She decided to pull her dress on along with her stockings and shoes. She would ask for help finishing when he returned. She smoothed the beautiful sapphire satin over her waist. She only wished she had a mirror to admire it. Reaching in now she grabbed again the lip stain. She wanted to look a proper lady when he returned.
"Where on earth would he go during the day…it was day still wasn't it?" She sat down in the chair, putting the lids back on the biscuits and the strawberries. She poured out the water in the pitcher, and went to refill it. Then she heard it. A crunching of boots on gravel. Someone was outside the room!
She slipped over to the candle, extinguishing it as she had been instructed. She heard the moving of the stones, and at last the curtain moved. She didn't know whether to scream, or pretend to faint. There was nowhere to go if someone had found her. She stood motionless.
Then she heard the moving of the stone, the groan of a breath, and the movement of the curtain. It was Erik, she breathed a sigh of relief. "We must really come up with some sort of signal so that I know it is you. Not that I could have done anything if you hadn't been!" Christine scolded.
Erik smirked at her chastising and replied, "my dear, I had rather hoped you'd still be sleeping, but I noticed that you put the candle out as you've been instructed. You are an obedient pupil!" "I'm hardly your pupil anymore." Christine said as she felt her way back to the table. "Where have you been?"
"I had to retrieve a few things, as I said in my note. In my haste the last time, I'd not taken them with me." Erik reaching the table took a match and lit the candle again. Christine's eyes grew wide as she saw the jars that Erik was putting on the table.
"Where on earth.." Christine said. "A little something that I had in my home." Erik smiled at her sitting the jar of peaches on the table. "You traveled all the way back there Erik…was it safe for you?" Christine said with concern in her voice. "Yes, quite. The men had damaged some of the thing there, but had not found the things that I went for. He smiled, pulling the roses from behind his back, handing them to Christine. He leaned down placing a tender kiss on her neck. She smiled coyly, staring down at the flowers. "Thank you."
"Now sit my dear, we shall have something to eat." Erik opened the jar of peaches, the sweet fragrance greeting Christine's nose; her mouth began to water. The jar of milk, how old it was mattered little to her, but it looked to be just fine. The meat she was unsure of. Erik noticed her look at it strangely. "It's pickled. A bit salty, but good with the biscuits...rather an acquired taste I'm afraid."
Christine just smiled at him. "Do not worry, tonight you'll have a hot supper, and a warm bath." Erik smiled at Christine. She pulled out the plates and looked around for utensils. "Over there in the first crate, you will find what you are looking for." Christine got up and went to the crate, finding forks and spoons inside. She brought them back to the table.
Erik busied himself making "sandwiches" of the meat and biscuits. He saw Christine looking at the jar of peaches, and it tickled him. She looked like a child peering through the window of a candy store. "Perhaps we should ask for our blessings first. The two bowed their heads and said a short prayer together…their first as husband and wife.
Erik took a fork and stabbed it deeply into a peach slice. Lifting it out of the juice he brushed the edges, removing the traces of the syrupy liquid. Reaching across the table putting the fruit to within several inches of Christine's lips. "Eat…a sweet for my sweet." Christine smiled, closed her eyes and carefully bit one corner of the fruit on the fork. Its sweet juices pricking all of her taste buds to life. It was sweet, juicy, and simply wonderful.
Christine's reaction brought pleasure to Erik as he watched her enjoy the sweetness of the fruit. He cherished her in a way he could only have imagined. Such simple pleasures had been denied him until now. He held out the fork, beckoning Christine to take the other bite. She did with a grateful smile, and a muffled thank you.
Christine reached out, doing the same for Erik, plucked a peach with her fingers from the jar. She reached across the table slipping the fruit easily between Erik's waiting lips. She touched them with her syrupy fingers, running her index finger along the edge of Erik's lower lip. He shivered. How long would this last? How long would her touch seem foreign? He would grow accustomed to it, but for now, he reveled in the fact that she wanted to touch him.
Christine pulled her hand back to her now, daintily licking the ends of her fingers. She knew it was most improper, but felt compelled none-the-less. Something seemed so natural about it all; it came without effort. Erik gazed at her across the table a small smirk rising at the edge of his face. "Christine…you have no idea how you move me." She blushed a bit and smiled. "Of course I do…my husband…of course I do…it is the same way you move me." She glanced down and then up into Erik's flaming eyes. "Let us finish our dinner first, then I have something to ask of you." Christine said sweetly.
"Of course." Erik said trying to regain his composure. "Now you need to try a bite of this. It will be salty at first, but the peaches will help with that." Christine looked at the sandwich that Erik was holding out in front of her. She wasn't sure, it smelled awful, but she would try it if it pleased him. She took a nibble, pretending to chew. Erik looked at her. "I said a bite, you are not a squirrel." Christine smiled at him, she reached out, taking a full bite.
It was odd, a bit crunchy at first, then decidedly salty. "Now, quickly take a peach." Erik held out a peach on a fork. Christine bit off one end. To her surprise, the peach did add an odd flavor pairing with the meat and biscuit. She began to chew it, and found it was actually quite pleasant. "Mmmm." She responded.
"It isn't too bad once you become accustomed to it." Erik said, pouring milk from the jar into both of their cups. Christine reached down for the milk, lifting it to her lips, taking in a full drink. It felt good to have something in her stomach. Erik finished the sandwich that he had given Christine a bite of and went about making each of them another. "We will let those sit a moment, the juices from the meat will soften the biscuits a bit, making it easier to consume."
"Where do you suppose they are now…Meg and Madame Giry?" Christine ventured. Erik looked down, having been excised unwillingly from the frothy bubble of unreality they had been floating in. "I am not certain, but I feel comfort somehow knowing that they are being cared for. Madame Giry is much beloved in this city. I am certain that someone would have taken them in." Erik said, not looking up at Christine.
"You don't think they would have perished in the fire do you Erik? Christine said. "No, I am quite certain that they were able to escape." Erik replied. "How can you be so sure?" Christine inquired. Erik looked a bit agitated, exhaling coarsely. "Christine, I know of the mother's love that Madame Giry had for her daughter…she would never have allowed Meg to come to any harm." Erik replied.
Christine sensing this was not a opportune time to talk of this, abruptly changed the subject. "The sandwiches are quite good with the peaches, as you said." Christine looking down at the ones Erik had assembled. Erik placed one on her plate and one on his own. Each took it in their hands, taking a bite, then diving into the jar of peaches, extracting a slice of fruit, reaching across the table and feeding it to one another. They sat simply looking at each other, smiling as they finished their dinner.
The last of the milk jar poured in their cups, the jar of peaches now half-empty, and at long last the pair was full. Christine reached up, wiping the crumbs from her the corners of her lips. She noticed Erik did the same.
"Now then, you had something to ask me," Erik said, leaning back a bit in his chair, looking across at Christine. He could only imagine what she might ask for. He had funds to supply nearly any dream she might have, and he was pleased that he might procure anything for her that her heart desired.
"Its nothing much really, but I need your assistance." With that Erik knew exactly what she wanted. He smiled, rising from the chair moving around to Christine's back.
He reached down to her dress, seeing that it was not fully laced. She felt his caress on her back. His strong hands moving over her shoulders, gently massaging her neck. They traveled up and down her neck and shoulders, melting her into complete relaxation. Erik bent down soothingly kissing her neck just under her jaw.
Christine turned to meet Erik's lips. Erik found himself doing the opposite of what he had intended, unlacing instead of lacing. Christine fumbled with the tie beneath Erik's jaw, and then with the shirt on his shoulders. The two found themselves as they had several times before, in a warm embrace, surrendering to one another as husband and wife. A love so strong, a bond so secure, a bright light piercing the darkness.