A/N: Ok, I am done begging for reviews. I had a mind block for this chapter so that's why it's been delayed being updated, but I finally figured it out and here it is. I hope you like!
Chapter 7- Unknown Decisions
Erik sighed and opened the doors to enter the small opera house in Nice. Stepping in, he looked around at the foyer, nothing like the Opera House in Paris, but still somewhat luxurious. Seeing no one but cleaning staff, he walked up to one of them.
"Excuse me." He said to a young maid and she looked back at him with an odd look and he knew it was because of the white mask gleaming down at her.
"Could you tell me where I am to go to apply for the management position?" She remained staring at him and then finally spoke in a quiet, nervous tone,
"Go past the staircase and down the hall on the right side until you come upon the manager's office."
"Thank you." Erik said politely. He quickly followed her directions and came upon the hallway. Walking in a quick pace he came to the managers' office and knocked on the door.
"Come in." A male voice came from behind the door. Erik turned the doorknob and stepped in the office.
"Raoul, what are you doing? I didn't think that you were coming. I mailed that letter three days after I was forced to flee Paris."
"I just received it three days ago and I immediately left to come and get you. But I can see that I am a little late."
"A little late? I am already married, to Erik."
"I know, and I think that you can still escape with me." Raoul said.
"But I am married, I have vowed myself." Raoul smiled and said,
"Christine, you were always such a moral being, but you deserve true happiness and I know that you can be happy with me. We can escape and go somewhere where he would never find us. You would never have to see or worry about him ever again." Christine's face fell and she looked down at her shoes.
"Unless, you realized that you're in love with that monster." Raoul said. Christine's head shot up and she looked him right in the eyes angrily.
"No! I am not in love with him. But hehas changed, Raoul, he has changed to become a better man for me and that and my vow of marriage is the only thing keeping me with him." Raoul laughed at this,
"No one can change in just three days Christine. No one!" Christine sighed and sat heavily on the lounger.
"Erik can." She responded. Raoul looked at her and took a place next to her taking her hand.
"Christine, you say that Erik has changed and good in that matter, but as fast as he changed, he can easily change back and do something harmful to you. Just a week and a half ago, you were his prisoner wife. You still are, for he won't allow you to come back to Paris and see the people who are dear to you. If it weren't for the maid you wouldn't even know where you lived and he still hasn't told you himself. That goes to show something, you still are his prisoner." Raoul reasoned. Christine understood what he was saying but a part of her was torn back toward Erik. Raoul suddenly and forcefully leaned forward and kissed her. Christine became caught up in the kiss and closed her eyes leaning forward and returning the kiss. When she finally came to her senses and broke the kiss Raoul opened his eyes and stared at her.
"I forgot what it felt like to feel this way." She said quietly. Raoul smiled at her and asked,
"So, you'll come away with me?" Christine closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
"Let me think about it." She said finally. Furiously, Raoul stood up. For the first time she was actually considering staying with Erik instead of easily giving him up for Raoul like she did before.
"Christine! You wrote me a letter to come and rescue you, you said that you wanted to get far away from here and I didn't waste all of my time to come down here and wait around for you to make a decision especially since in your letter you made it sound like you were so unhappy!" Raoul said almost screaming.
"I did and I was unhappy, but Erik is changing and I believe that since I am married to him now that I should give him a chance now that he has started to change for the good." Christine argued back, she then continued,
"I still love you and I want to be with you, but there are barriers holding me back now, and I don't know if I can go against my vows and God." Raoul looked stunned; he couldn't believe what he was hearing and remembered the events that took place between Christine and Erik the night before.
"Why the hell would you give him so fast anyway? From what I witnessed between you two last night would convince anyone to stay with him. Is he really that good in bed Christine?" Raoul yelled at her. Christine's face turned pale and she became extremely angry.
"What exactly did you witness last night?" She asked between clenched teeth.
"I was there on the balcony watching the two of you outside your bedroom window last night. Did he force you to sleep with him or did you do it willingly?" Raoul asked sarcastically. Christine began to cry, his harsh words with her embarrassment was enough. Raoul softened and sat down next to her again.
"I'm sorry, it's just I'm not ready to give you up yet." He said wiping her tears off of her face. She sniffled and choked back another sob.
"I will wait for you, and I will come to see you everyday." He said standing up again. Christine looked up at him while he reached into his pocket and produced a card,
"This is where I am staying and will continue to stay until you tell me what you have decided." He handed her the card and she stared at it. Raoul put on his hat and knelt down kissing her on the forehead.
"Just remember that I love you." He said while Christine's tear stained face looked at him. Quickly he walked back in the house and out the front door.
"I look forward to having you on board here. You seem like you have quite a lot of experience." saidan older man in his 50'sMonsieur Thomas Badeau the main manager of the Nice Opera House. The two men stood outside in front of the entrance and Thomas shook Erik's hand.
"Thank you Monsieur and I will be back tomorrow morning." Erik said.
"Good." Thomas replied suddenly looking up to see a young man fly by very quickly on his horse, Erik turned around to also get a glimpse of the young man.
"Young men these days, they're always in a hurry." Thomas said shaking his head while Erik agreed. Something is familiar about that young man. Erik thought to himself, but he couldn't grasp what it was. Coming to his senses, he bid Thomas farewell and walked a block down the busy street until he caught a cab to take him home.
Raoul's horse was trotting down the main street of Nice heading toward his hotel
When he caught a glimpse of Erik's white mask talking to another man outside the entrance of the opera house. He pulled on the reins to make his horse break into a run to quickly run past his rival. As he rode past, he quickly glanced back to see that Erik and the man he was with were watching him. Did he see me? Raoul anxiously asked himself while his heart nervously pounded in his chest.
Christine remained sitting on the lounger on the back porch thinking intently on what she was to do. She still loved Raoul deeply, but she wanted to give Erik a chance to prove himself to her because she still cared deeply for him as well. She decided to put Erik to a test, if he became angry and violent in the next week, she would leave him. But she would have to come up with a plan that would ordinarily anger him. Troubled, she began to plot.
Erik burst through the front door happily dumping his cloak and hat on the floor and running into the kitchen. Madeleine had her back toward him mopping the floor.
"Where's Christine?" Erik asked urgently. Surprised, Madeleine jumped and dropped the mop on the floor. Apologizing, she bent over to pick it up.
"Madame is on the back porch." Madeleine said picking up the mop and Erik rushed through the back door to see Christine sitting on the lounger he left her on that morning looking very troubled.
"Christine, guess-is something wrong?" Erik asked when Christine looked up at him with a pale face and red swollen eyes.
"No, nothing, I am just a little tired." She said wiping her face with her hands.
"What did you want to tell me?" She asked. Erik's frown turned into a small smile.
"I got the new job." He said excitedly. Christine smiled up at him and said.
"That's great!" She stood up and he went over and hugged her. Taking her hand he led her inside and into the kitchen where Madeleine was still mopping.
"Listen, everyone, because I landed a new job today I am making dinner tonight." Erik said loudly. Christine gave a slight smile while Madeleine smiled brightly knowing that was one chore she didn't have to do. Madeleine resumed mopping and Erik left the kitchen retreating to his study. He shut the door and poured himself a glass of whiskey, chugging it down, he then sat down heavily at his desk. He pulled out some of his financial papers when he heard a soft knock at the door, shoving them back in the drawer he called,
"Come in." Christine opened the door and quietly shut it behind her.
"Ah, my favorite woman." Erik said standing. Christine gave a slight smile and said,
"Congratulations Erik." Erik frowned.
"What is troubling you?" He asked concerned.
"Nothing, I am as normal as ever." She answered.
"Christine, you might be able to fool an audience, but you can't fool Erik. Tell me what is wrong with you."
"Why do you think something is wrong?" She asked defensively.
"Because you have been quiet all day and this is the most quiet you have been since we've been married."
"Erik, it hasn't even been a week yet."
"But I still know that this is the quietest you have been. Did I do something wrong last night? Are you regretting what we did? If you are then we never have to do it again." Erik said suddenly worried. Christine smiled.
"No, it's nothing like that. Last night was very enjoyable. I just have been doing some thinking today about how this is the rest of my life and living the rest of my days here."
"And that makes you sad?" Erik said almost yelling.
"Well, to tell the truth, yes. I mean, I didn't exactly want to get married and you knew that and still know it. But that's what I have been thinking about today, about the good things about you to make myself love you." Christine said trying to make it sound as nice as possible. But Erik didn't take it at all the way she planned.
"I'm sorry that you have to live the rest of your life in misery! I wish that you would find happiness with me! Don't you see that I am trying? I am sorry that I can't look as perfect or be as charming as the Vicomte, the only thing I have on him is that I am more heroic. I can take care of you more than he ever can and I will always love you more than he ever will! Just lie to me! Lie to me and tell me what I want to hear from now on, don't tell me the truth and let me live this last section of my life in happiness. After I die, then you can run back with him! Please do so! But until then Christine, you are MINE!" Erik boomed in his Phantom voice rattling the glass on the desk. Christine looked at it and then back at him and saw the hurt and anger in his dark eyes. She suddenly ran out of the room with tears in her eyes, up the stairs and into her bedroom. Flinging herself on the bed she sobbed into her pillows.
"Oh Raoul, why didn't I leave with you today? Why did I set myself up for more misery?" Christine asked herself sobbing. Calming her breathing down, she laid on her side and looked out the doors at the ocean. Why can't I just swim away like the fish? She asked herself.
Erik stared at the same spot Christine was standing at a second ago before she ran out of the room. He cursed himself for yelling at her once again. He wished that he wasn't so defensive in everything and that he could just keep his mouth shut. But a thought in his mind would tell him that he was not the one to blame here, but he was going to take the blame anyway.
Two hours later, Christine sat on the balcony and watched the sun begin to set out in the ocean when she heard a small knock on the door. Sighing, she got up from her chair, walked into her bedroom and crossed it to the door. She opened it to see Madeleine's face.
"Yes?" She asked.
"The master has made dinner and it is now served." She said turning around and walking down the hall. Christine took in a deep breath and followed the maid down the stairs and into the formal dining room where Erik sat in a tuxedo at the table and stood when Christine entered.
"I hope you enjoy what I made." He said pulling out her chair for her. She sat down and he pushed it in, her eyes followed him as he walked around the table and sat across from her in his own chair.
"Erik, I.." Christine started to say about their latest fight, but Erik cut her off.
"Shhh…No more arguments." He said softly. Madeleine came into the room and brought two plates and set one in front of Christine and the other one in front of Erik. Christine stared at what was chicken and looked mouth watering.
"That, my dear, is my special chicken ginger. It is quite tasty." Erik said sipping on his wine. Christine cut a little piece with her fork and tasted it. She closed her eyes at it because she had never tasted anything so good in her life. Erik was already forgiven in her mind, for some unknown reason, she could always seem to go back to him after allof theterrible things he had done or said to her. She continued to eat in silence wondering about Raoul and how she had a choice again. Who would she choose? Did she still love Raoul, or was she starting to fall for Erik? Christine's mind became entranced as she thought about her choice, but it was interrupted with Erik invading her mind.
"Something is wrong with you. You are thinking about him." Erik said aloud reading her mind. Christine lowered her head and said,
"I was just wondering if he had forgotten about me and if he was going to start a life of his own." Erik looked deeply at her for a moment and said without any expression,
"You're lying." Christine looked at him again and tried to cover up her secret.
"No, I'm not. It's not fair for you to invade my thoughts Erik." She said calmly. Erik stared at her for a moment and sighed,
"You're right, I'm sorry." Christine looked at him amazed that he had apologized, Erik was usually too proud to apologize. Christine turned back to her food and continued eating watching out of the corner of her eye as Erik did the same.
"If he did come back, I wouldn't hurt him, I would just tell him that you're a married woman now." Erik said looking back at her. Christine looked at him amazed and suddenly leaped out of her chair and ran to him putting her arms around him. Erik stiffened at this sudden touch of affection he had been so deprived of over his lifetime.
"You really have changed Erik; I would stay with you forever if you continue to be like this!" Erik for the first time praised himself in his mindand relaxed in her embrace putting his hands on her arms.
"I love you Christine, even if you don't love me yet." He whispered.
"I know." She whispered back and slipping slowly away from him and back into her seat where she silently began eating her food looking up at him and smiling every once in awhile.
After dinner was finished, Erik stood and walked over to Christine taking her hand.
"Now it's time for dessert." He said seductively. Christine felt her heart beat harder in her chest as her stomach filled with butterflies of excitement. He helped her stand up and walked out of the room and up the stairs to their bedroom. Without lighting any candles, he looked at her in the moonlight until she came closer to him and took his mouth in hers kissing him passionately. Erik was caught up in the kiss and took his mouth away from hers to undress her. Undoing the laces and ties of her dress and corset, she eventually stepped out of the mess of undergarments that lay at her feet. Christine smiled slightly at him and pressed the top of her head against his neck as she looked down at his body and began undressing him. When everything was revealed she placed her hand on his member and looked up at his face at his expression filled with nothing but pleasure of never being touched before. He stopped her and put his hands on her waist lifting her off the floor and carrying her to the bed.
"Last night you pleasured me, now it's your turn." He whispered in her ear. Christine smiled faintly at him and gasped as he put his two fingers inside of her. She moaned as he continued to thrust and move his fingers within her. Suddenly he stopped and she opened her eyes quickly to see why he stopped, but looked down to see him putting his head between her legs. Pushing his tongue into her he began probing her while she gasped in pleasure. Screaming his name and begging for more, Erik continued to pleasure when he couldn't take it anymore and pushed himself within her. Thrusting, moving and learning together, they pushed and pushed until they reached their climax together. Panting, Erik laid on top of her for a moment before pushing himself off of her.
Rolling onto his side with his back against her, Erik wondered what Christine thought of him now and if she still wanted Raoul. Christine continued to lay on her back staring up at the ceiling pulling the blankets up to her neck. Erik broke the silence when he asked,
"Do you still love him?" Christine sighed and said,
"Yes, I do. But I am married to you now, so it doesn't matter whether I still love him or not." Erik turned around on his other side to look at her.
"Do you think of him when we do this?"
"No, I only think of you because it is you whom I am sharing this with." Erik looked at her while she closed her eyes and kissed her cheek gently.
"Goodnight, Christine." He whispered.
"Goodnight." She whispered back.
An hour later, Christine was still awake thinking about what she was going to do about Raoul and Erik. Listening to Erik's labored breathing, she slowly rose from the bed and walked over to the wardrobe. Pulling out a nightgown, she put it on and slipped a robe over top of it. She looked back at the bed to see Erik still sleeping and walked quietly over to the balcony doors and opened them. Stepping out on the balcony, she closed the doors behind her and looked out at the ocean. Staring at it, she watched as the moonlight reflected off the water when she heard a quiet voice.
"Christine!" She heard the voice again and looked down at the beach to see Raoul standing there.
"What are you doing here?" She asked quietly.
"I had to see you."
"Raoul, I don't want Erik to see you." Raoul began climbing up the pipe that he climbed up the previous night and was soon standing in front of her. Pulling her closer he kissed her and she kissed him back deeply. Suddenly pushing him away, she said,
"I don't want Erik to see you, for if he does he won't ever let me go and I will probably have a lot less freedom than he allows now." Raoul looked behind her through the glass and could barely see the sleeping form in the bed.
"He's not awake anyways. I will call on you tomorrow morning, what time does he leave for work?"
"Oh, I don't know, it's his first day tomorrow. Come by at noon, he will be gone, but he won't be back that early." Raoul kissed her again before climbing back down the pipe.
"See you tomorrow." He said blowing a kiss when he reached the beach. She smiled and did the same as he ran to the front of the house. When he was out of sight, she quietly opened the doors and slipped back into bed next to the sleeping Erik. She laid awake all night trying to sort out her troubled thoughts, they pulled her in two directions at once and she had no idea which way was the right way to go. Sleepily, she decided to put her thoughts aside and get some sleep.