Thanks to all of you that reviewed, subscribed favorited and the like. I am sorry for some confusion that the last chapter brought out in some people and I hope that this chapter clears some of it up. I would like to personally thank LeAngedeMusique for reviewing and bringing to light some of the very confusing aspects of my phic. I think I covered all of them in this new chapter and I am very sorry for making things so difficult to understand. Thank you again for reading the last two chapters and I think that you will all understand a lot more when this chapter is read by all of you.
I do not own POTO
Christine felt the weight of what she had just said come crashing down on her like a falling boulder. How could she have been so stupid? This was the man who had pledged his undying love to her time and time again, and here she was asking him to give her away at her wedding! He wanted to marry her, not give her away to his rival! Christine felt very insensitive and foolish to have said something so selfish. However, the past few months had been very trying for her, and sometimes she was so focused on the problems she was facing that she forgot where she was and who she was talking to. Now was one of those times, and the result of her distractedness would be catastrophic.
"Erik, I…" she started, but could not continue. Her words had taken their toll and she knew that nothing she could say, no excuse that she could come up with could possibly heal the wound that she had inflicted upon him.
Erik had no words for the feelings he was experiencing. It felt as though he were falling. Yes, it was a falling sensation in the pit of his stomach, and he felt as though he would fall forever. He could not comprehend what Christine had said to him. Rather, he could understand what she had said, but could not understand why she had said it. She knew how he felt for her!He had made a point of telling her so several times! But what had she just asked him? Certainly not to marry her! No, it was quite the opposite! She wanted him to give her away to that boy on their wedding day! It was cruel, and he did not think Christine capable of doing such a thing.
So Erik laughed. Erik laughed at the absurdity of what was happening. His world had been turned upside down and he did not have any control over it. He laughed at the request and how silly it would be to answer her. He laughed so he would not cry in front of Christine. He laughed to keep his anger at bay. He laughed to release his anger. He laughed, and the laughter was exhausting. It relayed all of his emotions and kept him from doing the things he desired to do.
But as hard as he tried to keep laughing, the laughter turned into tears, and he was soon in fitful sobs during which he also laughed, trying to put up a bold front. He was at a loss for what to do, and he continued to laugh and cry, jut to keep from having to answer her. But it could only last so long.
Christine was horribly confused to say the least. Erik had been laughing, an eerie, demented, insane laugh. It filled the night air and surrounded Christine, frightening her. Who knew what he would do now? He had clearly lost his cool at her inquiry, and the worst was surely about to come, but no, for he began to weep, doubling over with his hands on his knees to remain steady, half laughing and half crying. Christine felt guilty for causing this reaction, and she knew she had been the cause of it. Words were useless, but she had to satisfy some instinctive need to provide him with some small comfort.
"Erik I am a fool, please stop crying," she begged, knowing full well that it was of no use to try and make up for her mistake. "I didn't think about what I was saying, and I did not think about whom I was saying it to."
Erik could not collect himself enough to respond. He was content to keep laughing and crying, even if a stitch was forming in his side. He didn't care, he was thinking. How could he deny his Christine what she wanted, no matter how much it hurt him? He made up his mind, but his laughter faded away at the sadness it brought him to even think of such a thing. Now he was simply crying. The falling sensation faded away as reality sank in and a painful bruise served as his heart. He felt gravity take hold on him again, and he resolved to dry his tears and be mature about this. The boy had won, he had lost, that was all there was to it. With a few coughs, Erik stood back up, though with slumped shoulders and back, and looked at Christine. It took all his power to resist the urge to stroke her hair and face. He had to put his eyes elsewhere in order to do what was necessary.
"When are you to be wed?" Erik choked, fighting back the fresh tears that threatened to pour out of his eyes.
Christine's jaw dropped and she gazed in bewilderment at the man that stood before her. Was he really going to do it? This was lunatic! Perhaps he had really and truly lost his mind after all.
"Erik," Christine warily started. "You need to sit down."
"No," Erik shook his head. "Now answer my question."
"The eleventh of February," she answered immediately due to his serious tone.
"Where?" he asked flatly. "What time?"
"At the Palais Garnier, at three in the afternoon," she answered sheepishly.
"I see," Erik answered. "I shall be there."
How ironic this all was! He would be there regardless of the wedding, but now he was attending the wedding and participating in it! Oh the things he did for her!
"I will look forward to seeing you my dear," Erik managed to say before crossing to the other side of the balcony and sliding down the drainpipe.
Christine watched as he departed, shocked that he would actually do such a thing. He had come and gone very quickly, and it was all with relatively no trouble. Usually it would have been Erik that proposed something ridiculous, but now it had been her. But there was yet another difference; he had agreed! He had agreed to do it, and it was probably the hardest thing he would ever have to do. He had not given Christine room to refuse him, and he was going to do it, simply because it was what she wanted.
Christine felt truly awful. She had been selfish, asked him to do something that would likely kill him, and he had told her he would do it. He had even asked her where and when the wedding would take place; giving her no doubt that he would come and do his duty at the wedding. Christine felt like she was committing an unforgivable sin.
Erik must truly love her to be able to do anything that she wished him to. He would likely cut out his heart if it would make her happy and not even care that it would leave him dead. Even after she had repeatedly wronged him he still felt this way for her. But he had tried to kill Raoul, he had kidnapped her. Still, he had only done this because he loved her so much. Thinking on it, that was really his only crime; he loved her too much and he felt that he couldn't live without her. She could not understand how any person could love in this way, but it was possible, for Erik loved her in that way.
"What's wrong?" she heard Raoul's voice from behind and turned around to see him coming from the bedroom. "You don't look well."
Christine realized that she must have looked a bit shaken from her recent encounter with Erik and she hurried to find an excuse.
"Oh, it's nothing." she waved a hand. "It's just a little bit chilly out here, that's all."
"Well here," he took off the coat he was wearing and wrapped it around Christine's small frame. "Is that better?"
"Yes, thank you" Christine nodded, savoring the smell and the warmth of his clothing.
"Don't worry Christine," his soothing voice sounded in her ear. "We'll have all this worked out soon enough and we'll go away, just as we intended."
Christine nodded, listening to what he said, but not really hearing it. Her thoughts were distant and jumbled; she wasn't really able to tune in enough to give him a verbal answer.
"What are you thinking of?" Raoul asked her.
"The wedding," Christine lied, but he did not question her.
"Ah, I see," he sighed. "We will get it all worked out before we even need to worry."
"Actually," Christine mused. "I think I know someone who will give me away. He won't really mind."
Christine winced internally at her last words. Erik did mind, and it would likely be causing him pain to just think of it. Christine wondered what he was doing at this very moment.
Little did she know Erik had not gone back to the Opera House. He stood beneath the balcony and had been unable to move from that spot, so overwhelmed he was by what had just taken place. He was well hidden, and did not fear being seen by anyone. His heart felt leaden in his chest and each beat sent pain coursing through every fiber of his being. How could he possibly be doing this? He was practically going to gift wrap Christine and hand her over to that boy! He didn't know how he was going to do it! But he had to, for Christine's sake he had to. It was the least he could do after all he had put them through. He couldn't help but respect the boy in some small way, for there had to be something about him that attracted Christine so much. If only he had that something!
He heard the conversation between Christine and the boy and felt immeasurable pain each time they spoke. The clear, crystalline tones of Christine's voice and the rich sound of the boy's voice made him feel incredibly lonely. The boy's voice could not compare to Erik's but the accompaniment of her voice would make any voice sound wonderful. He wished it were his own voice mingling with hers.
He could not bear to hear their voices any more and slowly began the walk that would take him back to the house by the lake. His heart seemed to actually add weight, and he found it difficult to take a single step. But he eventually made it back to the Opera House and took the longest possible route back to his house.
Upon arriving at the lake, he stared at its glassy surface and allowed his mind to wander. It would be so simple just to fall into the water and all this would be over, no more hurt, no more anything. Just nothingness for the rest of eternity, what a welcoming thought! But he had promised Christine, and he would keep his promise! With a heavy and mournful sigh, he looked to where his boat was usually docked. However, to his great confusion and anger, the boat was not there, but docked on the other side of the lake. Someone had been here in his absence!
The Persian had been watching the house by the lake for some weeks. He had realized his error in assuming the monster was dead almost as soon as he had posted the obituary. But now he stood in the house by the lake and stood, wondering where Erik could have gone. He had been tempted to follow him, but realized that he would have been discovered. He then made the decision that he would go into the monsters house while he was away. He would go in, investigate, and then leave. Things had been going according to plan and he was about to row back across the lake. That was when he heard an angry cry that could only belong to Erik. He had been immediately concerned and called out to the man.
"Erik!" he called out, as loud as his voice could be. "It is I, the Daroga!"
"Erik may kill the Daroga if he is not careful!" the voice called back. "Now bring back my boat! Or would you rather me swim across the lake?"
Erik was infuriated, but not as angry as he would have been if it had been someone else. What was he doing in his house? The Daroga emerged from the door that Erik had hidden so well, hurrying over to where he had tied the boat. He rowed across the lake to where Erik stood and got out of the boat. Erik tried his best to look intimidating but failed miserably.
The Persian noticed the diminished air of this man who was once so bold and frightening. He took advantage of the moment of weakness to assert himself.
"Erik, what is wrong?" he asked. "You are not yourself today."
"No," Erik sighed. "According to you I am dead."
The Persian felt very ridiculous. How did he always know?
"Yes, well I was obviously mistaken," the Persian countered his courage building. "Now what is wrong? I know you too well than to think you are not upset."
"Ah, Daroga," Erik started, shaking his head. "I, apparently, am going to be a part of Christine Daae's wedding."
The Persian was utterly confused and could not speak.
"Now, if you don't mind," Erik stepped into his boat. "I will return to my house and you will leave unscathed."
Erik rowed back to the opposite shore and entered his house again. He was vaguely aware of the Daroga saying something, but he was not listening. His music was gone again, except he had to give it away this time.
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Well, there it is. Hope you liked it, please review. Thanks for reading.
Hope it clears things up a little.
H.E.