Chapter 12
"Christine, what is this man- no, monster, doing in my home?" Raoul pointed an accusatory finger at Erik, who sat innocently on the couch, wishing beyond all wishes that Meg was here right now. Erik by nature, was very non-confrontational, hence his notes through the Opera House, so to have both guilty persons here, and no Meg was very hard for Erik to process.
Christine rushed over to quiet her husband for a moment. Raoul's eyes never left Erik's, while Erik's were busy figuring out how he would escape. "Raoul, stop. Erik and Meg have been here for a while, we've been speaking." Raoul looked between the Phantom- or Erik, he supposed- wondering what exactly had happened in his household.
"Erik? So you know him personally now? Christine, has he tricked you again, or are you just playing some game with me?" He roared defensively, grabbing Christine's hands and searching her for some answer. From the corner of his eye, he saw Meg descending the stairs in a simple blue leisure dress with her long hair pulled over to one shoulder, as if nothing were out of place.
"It's Erik, Raoul, it- he's changed. He's different." Christine said gently. She watched Meg enter the room, greet Raoul, and rejoin Erik's side on the couch. Raoul was sure he looked as confused as ever. "They're engaged to be married. Look at them, how happy they are. Look at how he looks at her, and she at him." Christine said dreamily, looking on at the couple. They were holding both hands and speaking to each other in low voices, chuckling or giggling every so often.
"I don't understand how someone could love that. . .that thing. That person that tortured you all for years, made your life a personal Hell. God help me Christine, I don't understand it and frankly, I don't like it one bit!" Raoul hollered, as quietly as possible, if at all possible.
"I don't suppose you would understand. It's not the same, straight-laced love you've ever known. It's tragic and beautiful all at once. Two lonely people, finding each other and changing one another. We looked like that once too." Christine said sadly, returning to her seat opposite the couple, returning to the outside world.
"Christine, Raoul, if you wouldn't mind lending me your ear for a moment, I would very much like to apologize for my past." Erik started shakily, unsure if he was ready for this moment or not. Raoul reluctantly took a seat in the arm-chair, away from everyone excepting his wife. The former menace of these people's lives took a deep breath and began. "Being shunned and put on display for entertainment at my expense severely distorted my knowledge of customs, suffice to say. And moving to the chambers of the Opera Populaire, I learned quickly that I could gain respect, or maybe just simply fear, by remaining an enigma. Someone unseen, yet all-seeing.
"And then a young child stepped into the doors, a child orphaned, quickly friends with my own savior's child, whom I protected, I took her under my wing as well. Not long after they both became young women. One a dancer, a graceful and light-footed prodigy, another a wonderful dancer, but a better performer. So soon after I began training her as a ghost, an angel sent from her father and my downward spiral began. I watched her grow, her talent broaden, her self mature. She was my only contact to the outside world. My savior stopped checking on me so often, but remained a confidant, I contracted money through notes and frights throughout the years, and I became obsessed with the child I found I taught." He stopped for a moment, to begin pacing the room, leaving Meg on the settee.
Raoul moved and possessively placed an arm around Christine, and a hand on her growing stomach. After a pregnant pause, he continued; "After her first performance I became even more obsessed. I made her. I molded her into this great star, that they were hearing me through her singing, and in my own mind, I molded her into this great beauty myself. I read about love, and quickly associated the similarities. I was in love. I took cautionary steps to make sure everything was planned perfectly, that she would come with me and have no desire to go back. We would live there forever, in love. Stupid, and in love. I let my obsessions take control.
"Of course you all know what transpired thus far. But I suppose I started all this, to clear myself. To both of you- no, to all of you. I realize there is no proper explanation, or forgiveness for what I have done, but I have laid my peace. Meg has let me see the light in not only life, but everyone around me and even myself." He sat back down, and Meg gave him a moment to breathe. He felt a huge weight lifted off his chest and felt so much lighter.
"Of course I forgive you Erik." Meg was the first to say, the others were quite silent.
"I don't know if I'll ever quite recover from what took place, the manipulation and lies and misguidance, and finally abuse, but I will forgive you on the sake that you've realized your wrongdoings and seek redemption." Christine said, after a long while. Raoul did not seem as convinced. "And because Meg is my closest companion, and I would never wish ill-will on her."
"You faint of hearts may forgive him all you would like, but I will never forget what he put us all through. He has murdered people, set your home on fire, and manipulated you all." Raoul said resolutely, much to the horror of his wife, and everyone else in the room. "Meg, you are always welcome in our home. Please visit again." He glanced at Erik, and left the room. Christine gasped in shock, and left the room crying.
Long forgotten, the tea had gone cold, and the cakes stale. Meg wrote a note to the de Chagny's and left it on the coffee table signed for both herself and Erik, thanking them for their hospitality and listening ear. They left in silence, the only person to see them off was an elderly maid, who stopped sweeping the large porch to watch them stroll down the street toward town, mixed between relief and heavy hearts.
"That went both how I expected and not how I thought at all." Meg said, to ease the tension. Erik had closed off again. She wasn't sure if he was trying to process having a positive relationship with Christine without it being romantic, or the fact that Raoul was adamant about Erik being an evil monster.
"I suppose I didn't expect anything less from that pompous ass." Erik said grimly, as Meg tried to hold in her urge to giggle.
They stopped in the city for a rather silent dinner, and to Meg's surprise, Erik requested they return to the Opera House to stay for the night, Meg in her mother's room, and Erik would return to the underground to see if there was anything left to salvage, or if they had gutted the place. Meg had walked him to the passage he was fairly confident was still there, though there were hundreds, and asked her to stay away from the dungeons.
"I don't want to smother your light with my cave of darkness. I just need time to let go, alone, and grab a few things if any are left. I will come for you in the morning, dear Meg." She nodded quietly, in understanding, and he left her with a kiss to seal the day.
Meg walked slowly and leisurely to her mother's quarters on the lowest level of the Opera House, other than the caverns. Madame Giry gave her a spare nightie and quickly made her a spare bed, and both ladies turned in for the evening, after Meg disclosed the details of the day.
"You're doing more for that man that anyone in his entire life could have, my dear angel, Margeurite."
Erik easily remembered the layout of his caverns the farther down he went, carefully avoiding his traps. Hopefully no one would come, had already been down here; though he already knew it was unlikely. Surely everyone was interested in seeing where the cretin of the Opera House had housed.
He wasn't sure what became of his horse, if he parished in the fire or had escaped. Maybe he waited it out, and someone rescued him. There was really no telling. He arrived where his boat had been haphazardly docked at the end of the stone path, as if in a rush, and knew it hadn't been touched since Raoul and Christine had made their ultimate escape.
That was another thing. He understood Christine, she had been welcoming yet hesitant to the odd pairing, and ultimately understood his position, but was upfront about not having a close relationship. Raoul, on the other hand, had not been convinced. He always had to be a hero, always had a plan to come out on top. Erik realized there was no way to remain with either of them on good terms. He would not visit Christine with Meg behind Raoul's back. Meg may visit freely, but he would not join her.
He had not meant to avoid Meg after the visit, it had all just been too much. Erik found himself very tired. So many changes had occurred, so much new ground laid, and so many fresh wounds opened. He was ready to break down and let it all go. But he knew he wanted Meg to be there. He wanted her to know that he wasn't emotionally detached. That she was his shoulder to cry on as much as he was hers, he wanted to completely open up to her and have her there for everything, instead of hiding away and leaving everything to the shadows.
And tomorrow they would surely visit his mother, and his old home, their new home. He arrived at the shore of his old abode, and resigned himself to taking an inventory tomorrow. The room was a mess. He laid down for a few hours of restless sleep before the day ahead.
A/n: Hey all! I just got too excited for this chapter and decided to upload already, whatever. hahaha
We have about 3 ish chapters left in the story (sad day!) But who knows, maybe a different idea will come to me or I'll decide to rewrite if I don't like it as much later on.
Good? Bad? Lemme know!