***Sorry for the mistake with the previous chapter 32 Confessions and Accusations. I accidentally replaced its content with that of Chapter 33. If you saw the double post of content, please go back and read chapter 32 again. It's vital to the story. Thank you!***

Marie returned to Christine's room shortly after Erik left, leaving the front door ajar. Her maid was busy shooing people back into their rooms, explaining the commotion as a drunken guest who had caused a stir. Christine lay on the rug weeping inconsolably for her loss. She curled into a ball and cried so hard she nearly gagged. Marie helped her off the floor with a little coaxing and some physical persuasion. Christine stumbled into her bed, still warm from Erik's body. She could smell him on her pillow and that made his absence all the more cutting.

"He's gone," she sobbed. "They're both gone."

Marie sat at the edge of her bed and stroked Christine's hair away from her face. Now was not the time for her to deride. "Shhh," she whispered motherly. "Everything will be alright," she consoled.

"How could I do that to them?" Christine asked to no one in particular. "Those things Raoul said to me; I deserved them all."

"Of course not, Christine," Marie comforted. "Oh dear, I had a feeling something like this might happen when you told me of the jealousy Erik had for him. I know it's not easy for you to lose your friend over Erik, but perhaps it's for the better. Raoul would never have been able to understand why you didn't choose him in the end. He always had everything handed to him on a silver platter and he doesn't take rejection lightly, I can see." Marie continued stroking Christine's hair until her violent sobs calmed to an exhausting cry of torment.

"But now I've lost them both," Christine pointed out. "I've made such a mess of everything. Why did I tell Raoul that I loved him?"

Marie sighed and shook her head, "Because you obviously do. It would have eaten you away to never tell him so," she patted her shoulder. "Remember how I told you there are more kinds of love than just one? I cannot condone Raoul's behavior tonight or what he said to you but he must have been very hurt to realize you do not love him the same. It's going to take a long time for him to come to terms with that and even then he may never stop trying for you."

"I can't do this to him again. It was hard enough telling him to leave twice today. Why can't he just understand?" Christine cried.

"Because he loves you," was her simple reply.

"Do you think Erik will be back? Do you think he believed me when I told him what really happened between Raoul and me?" Christine asked desperately.

Marie was silent. "I don't know Christine. You've obviously hurt him very badly. But if he loves you as he says he does, he will forgive you and come to understand the pain it caused you tonight to be with him at the cost of losing your friend."

Christine sniffled, "Oh, Marie I hope so. I cannot bear to lose them both like this. I don't know what I would do if Erik never came back."

"I know sweetie I know," Marie said gently, remembering all too well the pain a first love can cause if everything falls apart.

"I love him," Christine said softly. "I love him so much and I've never told him."

Marie smiled sweetly at her friend. "When he comes back, tell him. Ask his forgiveness and understanding."

Christine nodded her head against the pillow. She curled tighter into a ball on the mattress and Marie drew the blankets up around her shoulders.

"Try to get some sleep. Let those boys blow off some steam. They will come to see reason in time." She was sure Christine would never have fallen asleep if she had not been so completely exhausted, but she soon heard her soft breathing slow and saw her body relax under the warm blankets. Marie stood and blew out the lantern by her bedside then quietly shut the door behind her, saying a little prayer for the girl.

Erik walked numbly out to the place on the cliff side where he asked Christine to be his. He kicked at the remnants of the fire with his boot, wishing for some remaining burnable fuel for a fire. He felt cold inside as well as out as the ocean wind blew over the rocks and cut through his shirt. How fitting he thought. The wind felt as chilling as the sinking feeling in his stomach when he thought of Raoul's words over and over again. He heard the statement and saw the images in his head of Christine's precious lips pressed to that boy's perfect mouth. Christine's lips were for his and his alone and he couldn't stand to think of her kissing anybody else now.

He sat down on the damp wild grass that grew sparsely here and there, not caring that the dew seeped into the seat of his trousers. As much as it hurt to think about it, he replayed out the day in his memory from when Raoul showed up and spoiled everything. He analyzed and scrutinized Christine's every word and action. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he knew she was telling the truth. It would be easier for him if she was lying so he could feel anger towards her to match the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach caused by what he perceived as betrayal. As much as the doubt in him wanted to blame her and see Christine as a conniving deceitful girl, his rational mind argued with the evidence.

Christine had separated himself from Raoul in order to send him away. She had returned to him, crying into his arms. She had slept by his side, begging for him to hold her. She confessed telling Raoul to leave.

But why had she omitted the part about kissing him? Erik knew the answer before he asked himself. She knew he would react just how he had. What had it cost her to try and spare them both from the heartache and pain they were all feeling now? No wonder she was crying so much when she came back to the inn after talking to him.

Erik picked up a sea-worn branch of wood that had mostly escaped the flames those few nights ago. He drew with it in the sparse sand that was spread in patches along the ground like tide pools. What am I to do now he wondered as he scraped Christine's name out with the tip of the wood. His pride prevented him from returning to the inn just yet. He was in no shape to confront her now and he needed time to sort out his feelings.

What it boiled down to, he realized, was whether or not he trusted the facts and admissions as they were laid out before him. Christine's behavior this past week towards him had not led him believe anything contrary to the fact that she had feelings only for him. She seemed as dismayed by Raoul's appearance as he had. Whether or not that was because she had not yet made her decision between them, her admission of telling him to leave and slapping him for the kiss he delivered impermissibly did seem to Erik like her mind was made up. Why else would Raoul have stormed into her bedroom the way he did if she had not denied him?

Erik curled his knees up against his chest and hugged them, laying his chin upon his forearms. He wondered if he could forgive Christine for what she had done.

Yes.

He already had forgiven her. He always knew she felt for Raoul. Otherwise he would never have been so terrified of losing her to him. If she felt nothing for him, he would never have been at threat. Her actions to him today showed she had made her choice, but now he wondered if she regretted it. Would she change her mind?

And what of Raoul? Erik still burned with outrage at his mistreatment of Christine for her rejection. He still longed to make him suffer for causing her pain and torment. But then, did he not deserve the same? His accusations just before he left her room echoed inside his head. She was there pouring her heart out in confession to him and he dismissed it like so much rambling from a liar. He threw the burnt branch out over the rocks in frustration. He knew he had hurt her by walking out, but had he stayed, he might have said more and irreparably damaged further what he had struggled so much to build between them. However, Raoul was a problem. He was still here in town, and even if they returned to Paris on the next train, he would follow them back. As much as Erik hated to think of it, he knew that once Raoul sobered up he would come crawling back to beg Christine's forgiveness and once again attempt to make her see that he was the better option.

That is, unless Erik could stop him or convince him otherwise.