Christine didn't have to act like she was out of breath, she was certain that at any moment she would lose consciousness, her face pale, her lips taut. Her breathing shallow and forced, straining to inhale. She nearly collapsed as Madame Giry led her inside her room. Christine dropped to the side of Madame Giry's bed, putting her head in her hands she began to sob. Madame Giry was at her side, her hand on Christine's back trying to soothe her.
"Whatever did that woman say to you that frightened you so?" Madame Giry asked, running her hands over Christine's dark locks. Christine tried to speak, but her words were indistinguishable. "My dear, you must calm yourself, you'll hyperventilate!" Madame Giry said to her, acting out a slow breathing pattern, motioning to Christine to follow suit. Christine tried, although difficult, she managed to stifle her hysterics briefly.
"She…she…gave me this!" Christine pulled the gun from beneath her dress, thrusting it into Madame Giry's hand.
Madame Giry stood, placing one hand over her mouth, gasping. "Whatever for? Why did she think you'd have need for such a thing?" Madame Giry's eyes began to dart back and forth in the room as though she was expecting someone to jump out from behind a dresser or divan.
Christine pulled in a labored breath, wheezing she whispered "we've been followed…there is a man…there is a man…" Madame Giry was once again at her side. "What is this you speak of, what man? Where is he? Does Erik know?" Christine shook her head. "Yes….he knows…he was up last night watching him…that is why he didn't come to breakfast. He never spoke of it."
Madame Giry, in a very unladylike fashion dropped to the ground, back against the bed, feet splayed out in front of her. "What on earth could he want? Has he presented himself to the innkeeper? Perhaps he is a sentry to guide or guard…." Madame Giry offered, not believing a word of the shallow comfort herself.
"Who is Nadir?" Christine asked, wiping her face, the powder dissolving into a paste on her skin.
Madame Giry sighed and began, "that was a very long time ago….why do you ask of such things?"
Christine looked back at her "Claire, the innkeeper, is Nadir's sister. She said that her brother had warned her that we might come, and that Erik had many enemies. She believes that the man might be one of them!" Christine's lips began to quiver, her face contorted in a pain far beyond her years. "There is so much I don't know about Erik…isn't there?" Her glassy eyes looking pitifully at Madame Giry.
Madame Giry slipped her arm around Christine's shoulder. "My dear….we all have things we've not shared with another living soul….Erik has never had anyone care enough for him to wonder about his past or care about his future….some things he will share with you in time…others…." she paused and swallowed hard… "let us just pray that he can forget them, and learn to be loved."
Christine lifted her head, wiping her eyes. "I must go to him, tell him what she's given me, ask him what to do." Madame Giry patted Christine on the shoulder, and stood over her, straightening her petticoats.
"Christine, I have been your ballet mistress for many years, and given you much advice about movement, poise, and the like. Not wanting to trample on your mother's memory, personal matters were not talked about, but now I must offer you some unsolicited advice. Do watch for Erik's temper. He has known few he could trust. He is fiercely protective with what he loves…and my dear…he has loved you since first he laid eyes on you. Do not expect that he will well receive your information, it may make him, well, let us just say that he will not take kindly to your thinking about having to defend yourself. It was quite bold of Claire to give this to you without talking to him first." Christine nodded.
She would have to learn how to deal with Erik's in all matters…this was just the beginning. She opened the door to the hallway, looking back at Madame Giry who was still resting on the floor by the bed, "I shall do my best…pray for us both."
Christine walked quickly to her room, the ballet training having perfected her light steps, agile and light as a gazelle she barely creaked a board underfoot. Opening the door to her room, seeing the bed empty, her eyes quickly turned to the window. There Erik stood, black waist pants on, feet and chest still bare. She closed the door, and moved toward him. He turned embracing her warmly, but then leaned back, tensing at the sight of her face puffy now from the tears she had been shedding.
"Christine, my dear, what causes you to weep so?" He kissed each of her cheeks, reaching down to take her hands into his, but Christine backed away. Erick flinched, this had been the first time he'd felt any response remotely cold from Christine since their wedding night, and somewhere deep inside it frightened him. "Christine?"
She didn't know how to broach the subject so she merely reached beneath her dress and produced the gun. Erick's eyes turned wide, a frightening rage flashed in them. "Where did you get this?" he sneered coming forward, snatching it from her hand. His eyes searching her face with a curious hunger. "Claire…for our safety…." Erik spun on his heels, walking back toward the window. Christine, fearfully uttered, "he's still out there…we saw him from the kitchen."
Erik pressed his eyes closed. "What else has that woman told you?" he snapped at her coldly. "Just that you have many enemies…and that she is Nadir's sister…." Erik swallowed, staring blankly out the window. He'd hoped to keep this part of his past away from Christine's delicate heart, so that she could love the Erik that she knew…not the Erik that he had been. Now the two worlds were colliding and it frightened him.
"Who is Nadir Erik? What enemies does she speak of? Are there others that hunt you now?" Erik could hear loud noises in his head, lights flashing before him, people mocking and poking at him, nooses, gunfire, splattering blood, chanting. "Erik?" Christine could see him trembling.
He flew around the room, waiving the gun above his head, too and fro. "It was another time…another life…Nadir is an old friend…I've just made his sister's acquaintance yesterday….there is nothing more to say about that now." He huffed as his hand caressed the gun in his palm. "You shan't be needing this, I am here to protect you…no harm can come to you…to any of you…as long as I am here!" Erik tried hard to stifle the seething rage that was growing inside of him. HE WAS A MAN! He was more than a man, he was a legend! HE COULD PROTECT THEM! His chest heaved as he tried to calm himself…for Christine had never seen this side of him, and it was sure to terrify her.
Christine took off her bonnet, and walked to the water closet shutting the door. Once inside she fell to her knees raising a fervent prayer. "Please let this be over soon…please protect us…"
There were several long moments of penetrating silence. The door behind her flew open, Erik rushed in and swept her up into his arms, holding her face close to his neck. "I shall be here to protect you….." his voice muffled by the mounds of dark curls. "You shall come to no harm…I'll see to it. I do not yet know what it is this man wants, but he will be dealt with at the appropriate time, do not worry, all will be well with us."
Christine grabbed him about the neck, holding on as tightly as she could as he sheltered her with his strong arms. She felt safe, but part of her couldn't help but wonder where the gun had gone. Claire had entrusted her with that, and she had decided to keep her word.
As he stood holding his most precious possession in his arms, Erik struggled with a fraught inner turmoil. He'd not wanted her to know of his past with Nadir. He wanted him to be a simple acquaintance, a new friend, in Christine's eyes. He'd sheltered her from the nefarious secrets of his previous existence. She'd come to love the changed Erik, the one who loved and served music, who shaped her voice, who loved her. He was no longer that wicked spirit. She'd changed him….improved him….healed him….saved him.