The disclaimer (don't own it!) goes for all chapters. just fyi.
This part was a bit hard to write, as well as a little rushed, and I apologise if there any any mistakes. But at the same time, this was a nice excuse to take a break from studying for finals!!!
Anyways, you remember my notice from last time- so sorry!
But this is a very long update. Hopefully that sort of makes up for it...
"You really have to leave tomorrow?" I wrapped my arms around my love and pouted. "You couldn't stay just one more day?"
Erik leaned down and kissed me briskly. "I'm sorry, ma petite moineau, it is impossible. I cannot miss the boat." Then he returned to packing with a few weather-beaten bags Madame Giry had scraped up for him to use. I sat on the feather-soft bed beside him. "And where exactly are you going?"
He didn't glance up. "We are docking in Nice, then heading on a larger ship to Italy. From there I'll make my way east. Perhaps to Persia."
I mulled that over and then flopped heavily onto my back. A surge of misery and helplessness overcame me, and I cried, "Don't you love me, Erik?"
"Of course I do," He answered automatically, pausing from his drudgery to gaze into my tear-filled eyes with his green-gold ones. Then his brow furrowed, and he was at my side. "Why are you upset, my angel?" He cradled me to his chest.
"You're leaving!" I sobbed into his shirt. "Why, Erik? I love you! Why are you leaving me? Why is my angel of music deserting me?!?"
He held me tighter as I wept, carressing my hair and murmuring words of comfort in my ear. "Ma cherie, I love you too. Never think for a second that I do not. I just... need to do this. I need to travel, to expand my knowledge, to learn how to be something other than a... a monster."
I bolted upright in his arms and swept his mask off his face before he could stop me. Then I gripped his face tightly and made him look at me. "You must never, ever think that about yourself, not ever, you understand? No matter what others tell you, no matter how horrible you think you are, you are not a monster! Promise me you will never think like that again." My voice shook with emotion.
He took one of my hands that was on his cheek and kissed the palm. He closed his eyes and sighed. "I can't do that, Christine."
I sat on his lap and held my face inches from his. "Yes, you can. Swear to me, Erik."
His amazing emerald eyes opened. "I love you, my darling."
I shakily laughed. "I know. Now promise."
He took both my hands in his. "I promise." Then he smiled and pressed his lips to mine.
---
"Where are you taking me, Erik?" I whispered as he guided me in an extremely long and damp tunnel. He had told me to shut my eyes, which I willingly did, although I was itching with curiousity.
"Someplace special," he answered, helping me up a flight of stairs. "Keep your eyes closed tight."
"I know," I muttered, causing him to laugh. Then I felt the sudden nip of an early autumn breeze. "Where are we?"
"We're almost there..." I heard a heavy door shut, and Erik led me a few feet before stopping. "All right," he announced. "Look around."
I opened my eyes and immediately my jaw dropped in wonder. He had taken me to the opera house roof. I stood near the edge and gazed out at the vast scene before me. I could see all of Paris below my feet, and I could feel the city as though it were alive and in my soul. "Unbelievable," I breathed.
Erik, I noticed, was doing the same thing I was. "It's pretty incredible, isn't it?"
"Yes," I mumbled. I faced him. "Erik, this place makes me...I..." I twined my arms around my neck, inhaling. "Erik, I love you."
He kissed the top of my head. "I love you too."
He did not understand what I was attempting to say. "Erik, I want you. With me. Tonight." I kissed him fiercely.
It took him a few moments, but then he broke apart from me and held me at arms' length. "Christine," he began, his face a bit flushed and his eyes unsure. "You can't possibly-"
I took his hand and sqeezed it reassuringly. "Yes, Erik. Please, before you go. I love you so much..."
He surveyed my desperate expression. "Are you... positive, Christine? This is... this is what you want?"
I smiled and met his gaze. "You are what I want."
Erik bit his lip, but then nodded. He appeared to be in shock. "All right, then." He kissed me urgently on the mouth, and we held each other close. Then all of the sudden I was off my feet and we were moving inside, the door slamming neatly shut behind me.
---
I awoke in the midst of what must have been the very small hours of the morning. Erik's arms were still around me, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath he took. I sighed in the memory of just a few hours previous. We had made love in the most gentle and loving way anyone could ever hope for.
His touches were so hesitant, so careful, as though he was trying out notes on the piano keys. Through a strange and welcome mixture of pain and pleasure I felt as though I'd never felt before, I had realized that Erik was my life now. It would hurt immensely when he left. Shuddering at the thought, I drifted back once again into deep sleep.
I opened my eyes again the next morning to an empty bed. I jolted awake immediately and sprinted out to the lakeside. "Erik?" I called. He was nowhere to be found.
Hurt and disoriented, I stumbled back into the bedroom. It was then I spotted a torn sheet of parchment on the bedside table.
"My sweet Christine," he had written:
"I could not wake you, my angel, when you were sleeping so peacefully. You of all people know that I am not partial to interrupting beauty. Last night was beyond description, beyond the limits of what words can express. I truly mean that, Christine.
My boat leaves at midday- yet I do not know when you will receive this letter. If it is too late to say adieu, then this is my farewell. Saying good-bye is something that I have always loathed doing; I apologise for not doing so personally. I think it is better this way for both of us.
I love you, my dear angel. Never forget that. If at all possible, wait for me. I swear to you, darling, that I will return, sooner than you think. Until then, I will write every week, and with addresses that you can reply to.
Do one more thing for me, Christine- continue singing. Keep working with your voice, using the exercises I taught you. Also, Madame Giry has taken care of my absence, so do not be surprised if letters from the Opera Ghost continue.
Watch over my heart- you possess it for eternity.
I love you.
Erik."
My falling tears left wet drops on the page. He didn't stay to say farewell. I looked down and saw that next to the note there lay a beautiful necklace with a yellow diamond framed by gold. On the back of the golden pendant a message was engraved there: "For mon ange. My music, my heart, my life." Once I had begun to cry, I could not stop myself.
I clutched the necklace to my chest and fastened it on. Then suddenly something occurred to me. "What time is it?" I muttered, glancing about me. I ran to the lakeside once more and spotted a large grandfather clock. Half past eleven. I can make it.
Without another thought, I dressed and raced out of the grotto and towards the bright Parisian daylight.
---
Fashionable women strolling arm-in-arm with gentlemen in waistcoats glared disdainfully at me as I hurtled down the street as fast as my gown would allow. "Pardon me," I said breathlessly as I skirted around a particualry slow-moving couple to run to the docks. Oh dear God, please don't let me be too late...
Within minutes I had arrived at the docks, wheezing heavily, searching for the correct pier. Erik, wait for me.
Then I saw it. They were still boarding, the luggage was still being loaded. I felt like screaming and crying and cheering all at once as I sprinted up the gang plank.
" 'Suse me, mademoiselle," One of the crewmen grabbed my arm. "D'you have a ticket?"
"I'll just be a moment, monsieur!" I yanked out of his grasp and kept going. "I just have to tell someone good-bye!" I said over my shoulder.
'Erik!" I called, looking about me. Surely he had not already gone below? "Erik?"
"Christine?" A confused, wonderfully familar voice spoke my name.
"Erik!" I exclaimed triumphantly, spinning to leap into his arms. "How could you not say good-bye to me?" I questioned as I kissed every part of him I could reach, including his stark-white mask. "Why did you do that, Erik?"
"I thought it'd be easier," he mumbled, still stunned, kissing me back. "I thought that then..."
I pressed my mouth to his, silencing him.
When our lips were free, he met my gaze willingly. "I'm so sorry, Christine. I don't know what I was thinking."
"Easy," I replied, smiling slightly. "You were thinking too much."
He grinned back. "God, I love you," he groaned, kissing me once more.
A loud, clanging bell interrupted us.
We looked at each other sadly. "It is time," he murmured, pulling back.
"Erik, can't you take me with you?" I pleaded. I clung to him desperately like a small child.
He shook his head. "I'm so sorry, Christine, it's not possible." He kissed me once more, then removed my hands. "You have to go back to the opera house."
My eyes welled once more. "I want to be with you."
He smiled forlornly. "As do I. But it's too late now. We'll be together soon, Christine." He bent and kissed my cheek. "I love you."
I nodded. "I love you too." Slowly I began to pick my way back to the pier. Then I hesitated for a moment, and wheeled to give Erik a passionate last kiss.
"Good-bye," I whispered, tears streaming, as I finally stepped off the boat. I turned back to miserably wave to Erik.
"I love you!" I shouted as the vessel chugged away down the river. I don't know if he heard me.
Awww.
R&R s'il vous plait!