Chapter 5

I once pictured life down under the opera house lonely and depressing, but as days went on I found that I was actually more lonely living as a chorus girl on the main floors of the Opera Populair. Erik paid me endless little attentions and he would greatly appreciate any little attentions I gave him. He knew when to leave me alone when I wanted him to, though it would drive him crazy after the first two hours and he would eventually try to charm my mood back to where he wanted it to be. Most of the time he would succeed.

The hardest part about living down in Erik's lair was not being able to see the light of day. Though the sun was something I definitely missed, I missed all aspects of the weather. It definitely affected my mood, but I tried my hardest to control it.

Even though Erik knew how much I despised the boat bed, he didn't seem to want to do anything about it. I at first anticipated him getting or building me another one, but he didn't, and the more I thought about it I came to the conclusion that he avoided it because he liked the idea of sharing his bed with me. Once I came to this conclusion, I knew it would be almost impossible to get another bed of my own.

He did however make me my own little bench so I could sit at my vanity, and I liked it very much. He was quite the craftsman when he put his mind to it, or I put his mind to it. It felt good having so many things done for you.

As I sat there brushing my hair, I could see my ring glistening through the mirror. How pretty it was, sitting delicately there on my finger. I hadn't noticed it for a while and soon I was lost in its luster. When I was done I placed the brush down and walked over to where Erik was writing notes down for a new song he was creating. When I leaned over to peak at them, he playfully shooed me away.

"Ahh, bashful now are we my angel of music?" I said, teasing him. He wasn't usually the one to hide his music from me, especially since that is what he used to impressed me.

I saw him smile a little out of the corner of his mouth, but continued to work on the piece. I walked over and sat down in the throne chair, and picked up a novel I started reading the day before. I only got to read a page when suddenly I lowered my book to find Erik standing right infront of me. I jumped and the book fell from my grip. I placed my hand on my forehead shaking a little.

"Erik, you mustn't keep sneaking up on me like that!" I laughed nervously.

He knelt down and picked up the book, and placed it neatly on the small wooden table next to me.

"I'm sorry," he said.

I reached over to retrieve the book but he took my hand. I looked at him and he seemed to want to tell me something.

"Christine, I want my mask off - if that's what you really want."

I looked into his eyes and tried to see where he was going with this. I was a little worried he would get angry again if I took off his mask, and I was also worried he was trying to trick me in some way and my actions would make him angrier. I glanced down at my hands, pulling them away from his. I was afraid to make a move or say anything because I wasn't entirely sure what he was expecting me to do.

Erik seemed a little distressed when I wouldn't respond.

"Please don't," he said.

When I looked up at him, his dark eyes were on me, silently pleading.

"Don't what?"

"Don't feel afraid to talk to me," he said softly.

"Please talk to me Christine."

I sat there for a while, choosing my words wisely.

"I want you to want to take off your mask Erik." I said quietly.

He looked down at the floor, thinking about this. I waited patiently for his response, still feeling nervous. Finally I heard him take a breath before he spoke.

"I do Christine, though I think it will bring nothing good, I don't want to hide from you anymore."

Though he wasn't looking at me I smiled at him.

"You will learn the good of not hiding Erik, I promise you will."

I then saw him reach up and remove his mask from his face, exposing the ugly tragedy behind it. He placed his mask on the floor, and looked up at me. I could feel his nervousness now, and I tried as hard as I could not to change the expression on my face. I leaned in and wrapped my arms tightly around him. When I did I felt him calm down a little and I placed my cheek next to his.

I felt his deep loving voice vibrate against me.

"I love you Christine, more than you'll ever know."

There they were again, such heavy words he was throwing at me. But I didn't let them get to me, and I just let them in. Maybe someday I would be able to determine my true feelings for him and he wouldn't have to go without a response. Or perhaps he was right, and I would never truly understand how much he really loved me.

Though his mask was now off around me, he still acted nervous around me. Sometimes when I would approach him about something he would be sure that he would face me using the better side of his face. It was then that I realized how bad it felt when someone was nervous around you; it made you feel like less of a person.

I was feeling drearier by the hour for some reason, and I was beginning to think seeing Erik's face was doing this to me. I sat there, by the lake starring into the water. It felt almost as my spirit was dying. Erik saw me sitting there, and I felt him approaching me.

"Christine you don't look well," he said observing me.

I sat there frowning, not really knowing what was wrong with me.

"Erik, would you take me to the roof to get some fresh air?"

He was quiet for a while, but then agreed and picked up his mask. After he put it on he took my hand and led me to his boat. Once we got in it I suddenly heard the rumble of thunder. Erik looked down at me when he heard it too.

"Christine, I don't know if the weather is going to allow us to give you fresh air."

I stood up and desperately tugged on his shirt, getting his attention.

"Please Erik, it won't take long - I don't mind a little thunder."

He seemed worried about me, probably wondering why I was so desperate all of a sudden to be on the roof. I really didn't know why either, it was just something I really wanted to do.

Through long stairwells and confusing trap doors, we slowly started making our way to the top of the opera house. At one point we actually had to climb, and Erik held on to me making sure I wasn't going to fall. When we finally reached the roof, the sky was dark with clouds, and thunder was becoming more threatening. I let go of Erik and ran to the edge of the roof, looking up at the sky. I closed my eyes to hear the clean beautiful sound of rain. Erik was behind me standing there covering his head, looking at me with concentrated eyes. He didn't say anything, but I could feel how confused he was.

It was pouring down rain, and lighting tore though the sky. I lifted my arms out and laughed joyously. Erik took a step closer to me as I twirled around, my face feeling cool rain drops on them. I turned to him, smiling.

"Oh it's just been so long – since I have felt the rain Erik! It has been so long since I have seen such beauty in these dark clouds!"

I could feel my spirit returning to me again, and for some reason it just felt so good to be out in that rain.

Erik lowered his arm, amused. He hitched an eyebrow and grinned at me with pleasure. His grin turned into a smile when I started dancing and twirling again, holding my arms out to the sky soaking wet. Pretty soon I tried playfully running past him but he caught me with his arm and lifted me up, twirling me around as I squealed with laughter. He laughed with me and it was the first time I had ever heard him laugh. He had such a beautiful laugh, so enchanting and cheerful. The world had heard him laugh once before but it was maniacally, right before he destroyed the chandelier listening to the duet between Raoul and I.

But this was different, he was laughing out of pure delight and happiness. He held me there waiting for me to meet his eyes. I looked down at him and removed his mask, and he let me. It was easier to look at him now, and I took his face in my hands. He gazed longingly into my eyes, and it seemed for a moment he got lost in them. He then closed his eyes as I leaned in and kissed him tenderly. I could feel his arms weaken and even tremble as he struggled to hold on to me, and his strength temporarily allowed him to. Though we were both soaking wet, his lips felt so warm against mine and despite how twisted and deformed they were, nothing felt more incredible. I lovingly deepened the kiss and he held me tighter, cherishing it. He anxiously sighed against my lips and I could feel him struggling even more to hold me up. He kissed me back affectionately and I could feel such devotion in his kiss. It was the first time I felt him actually kiss me back, being that he was so blown away the first time I kissed him. Finally his arms gave out and I was forced to leave his gentle kiss as he steadily lowered me to the ground. I giggled a little feeling how affectionate he was now, muttering words of love in my ear as my feet finally got to the ground.

The lightning was going like crazy now, and I rang out the water in my dress as Erik put his mask back on. He looked up at the sky and reached out for my hand.

"Come my darling the lightning is getting dangerous," he said, still looking up.

I took his hand and soon we were crawling back down into the catacombs of the opera house, to where his lair was. When we finally reached his boat, I sat in it shivering as he rowed it toward the lit candles.

The boat hit ground and I staggered out of it, feeling the weight of my wet dress as it threw my balance off. I went to my chest and got out a soft dry night dress, and slipped it on. It was a beautiful white cotton dress, with ruffles at the bottom. I buttoned it and started to brush my wet limp curls. I suddenly heard beautiful singing fill the room and the sound of Erik's piano playing. I closed my eyes and listened intently and found it was 'music of the night' he was singing. I still remembered the first time he had ever sang that song to me. What a beautiful song it was, and how beautiful it still sounded, even now. I sat there listening and felt my soul give in to the power of chords on a piano and the vocals of a man.