Still own nothing :(

Chapter 30 - Surprises

Christine

I could not help but panic when Erik reached for his mask a few days ago. Do not get me wrong I was not worried about what was underneath the mask and I will never be worried about that, but I did not want Erik to feel pressured into revealing himself to me. My mind spun with all our conversations as I tried to think if I had ever led him to believe that I wanted to know what was under his mask. If I had ever led him to think that I needed to know.

"I have something to show you." he had whispered to me and he had reached in a very determined manner for the ties that keep his mask in place.

I tried to stop him immediately and held his hands firmly in mine telling him that whatever it was that he was going to do he did not have to. He only smiled at me and continued to do what he had been planning.

My heart nearly stopped when he slowly took the mask from his face.

He was so handsome.

I could tell that it was not his face – it looked like the stuff used for stage make-up, but I did not care. I could not think of anything to say to him. I could only stand silent and watch him. I had always thought him handsome even with his mask but without it...

"I know that you have never seen my face as it truly is sweetheart," he whispered. Raising one gentle hand and cupping my cheek with it, he traced under my eye with his thumb and I could not stop myself from leaning into his touch.

"But do you think you could live with this?" he asked me and my heart clenched within my chest. I could live with anything as long as I could be with him. How could he think any different?

I reached out and as gently as I could I cupped the side of his face that was now uncovered. It was not skin that I was touching and I knew that whatever he deemed unfit to be seen was still hidden.

"I love you, Erik," I told him, willing him to believe me, never meaning any words more than I did at that moment. He needed to believe me. I did not care what he looked like. I would never care.

"Whither you wear a mask or not." I added firmly, needing him to know that I did not care.

I could still see the doubt dancing deeply within his eyes and I did the only thing that I could think of. I reached for him and wrapping my arms around his neck I drew his head down to me and kissed him for all I was worth. As soon as our lips met I realised for the first time how much his mask had been in the way. Erik tightened his grip on me and deepened the kiss. He went to move away but I would not let him. I knotted my fingers in his hair - not allowing him to pull away from me.

I felt a pang of regret when the need for air finally made us part from each other.

"That is definitely a bonus," I breathed, still gasping for breath and I knew that a deep blush was travelling across my face. Yes there was an upside to him not wearing his mask.

After we had both regained our breath he began to tell me about his plan to take the place of Piangi in the opera. Which explained him wanting to be able to appear without his mask.

I agreed whole heartedly with the idea. I would have the chance to sing with him before the whole of Paris. I was so excited that I insisted that we went to see Madame Giry that night, so I dragged him to my foster mother's room and stood before the door.

We spoke with the ballet mistress for some time. She had been more than a little shocked when she had seen Erik's face.

I still could not get over how strange it was to see him with no mask on. I have always thought him handsome. He has a presence that I cannot explain. But now, even though I knew that whatever he had done to his face was basically another kind of mask I could not deny that he looked very attractive.

But to get back to my story.

After Madame Giry had gotten used to Erik's new appearance she agreed with his plan and when we were both leaving I could see the look of pride cross her face and shine in her eyes.

The next day Erik accompanied Madame Giry to the managers' office. I was so nervous. As everything had been put on hold I had nothing to do other than to sit and worry about the outcome of the meeting.

What if they did not accept him?

What if they asked things that he was unable to answer?

Of course they would accept Madame Giry's word as to his identity but the list was unending within my panicking mind of things that could go wrong.

But all my worries where put to rest and proved to be without basis when I saw the smile upon Erik's face that evening.

Out of respect for Piangi and Carlotta all things to do with the production were cancelled for a further day. On the third day from the accident Erik was introduced to the company. We had thought it through carefully and thought it best that for the time being everyone else be under the impression that we had never met before.

I watched as he was introduced to the company and I could not help the twinge of annoyance that bloomed within my mind when the dancers and chorus members fluttered their eyelashes and pressed closer to him than was strictly necessary. I could see Erik becoming uncomfortable – after all he has never been in the company if more than two people at a time since coming to the opera.

I hated seeing him so trapped and uncomfortable so I decided to rescue him and pull the 'lead soprano' act as I had not yet been officially introduced to my new leading man.

I marched across the stage where we had all been summoned to and made my way towards the buzzing crowd where right in the centre was Erik. They all stood aside to let me through and I was thankful for the power that I held over the rest of the company as it allowed me to reach Erik quicker than if I was just a dancer still. I smiled when Erik let out a visible sigh of relief when the overzealous dancers drew away from him.

As I stood before him I watched as he composed himself and within seconds he was once again the calm and collected man who had taught me to sing.

"Ah," exclaimed one of the managers pushing their way through the crowd towards us.

"Monsieur Carriere this is our rising star Mademoiselle Christine Daae - our soprano,"

I dropped a curtsy while he bowed slightly at the waist but not before winking at me. I fought the blush that threatened to set my face alight.

"Mademoiselle, Monsieur Carriere," he finished just as I rose from my curtsy.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Mademoiselle," Erik said softly, reaching for my hand and placing a fleeting kiss on the back.

I tried not to laugh while the whole company watched to see what we would make of each other.

"I hope you enjoy your time with us Monsieur," I did not know what else to say. I desperately wanted to giggle and by the glint in Erik's eyes he was not doing much better either.

Suddenly and thankfully the voices of both the managers cut in and I turned to see Raoul approaching the stage. I could not stop myself from tensing and Erik squeezed my hand in encouragement before releasing it. Before I knew what was happening Erik was no longer anywhere near me and both Madame Giry and Meg were standing next to me.

Raoul reached the stage and sprinted up the stairs. I felt his burning gaze rest on me before his eyes settled on the managers and they stood huddled together for some time - no doubt speaking of the upcoming changes and production dates.

I did not know what turn the conversation had taken but I heard Raoul's voice rise in volume and anger and I flinched involuntarily. I tried to calm myself down. It was Erik's first day the last thing he needed was to get angry if he saw my reaction to my old childhood friend.

I saw the managers indicate for someone to come to them and saw Erik emerge from behind one of the many stage settings and approach the other men. Seeing them both side by side for the first time once again highlighted with a greater force the differences between my Erik and Raoul within my mind.

Erik with his dark features eclipsed Raoul's boyish, fair features. One was a man while the other a mere boy playing in the adult world.

I cringed when I saw Raoul's mouth set in a grim line and I knew immediately that he did not like the idea of Erik playing in the opera. I felt anger rise within me at this point. The opera was Erik's creation if he wished to play within it, it was his right.

"Perhaps you would wish to give us a demonstration as to your skill," Raoul sneered, his tone telling everyone present that he doubted Erik's ability to perform. I lurched forward wanting to tell him what I thought of his opinion when Madame Giry gripped my arm firmly. I breathed deeply and threw her a quick smile, grateful for being stopped before I did something that I am sure I would have regretted.

"I am sure Christine will not mind assisting you," he added turning angrily towards me.

I nodded my head in agreement and plastered what I hoped was a genuine looking smile onto my face.

"Not at all. I would be honoured,"

My heart thundered within my chest as Erik was handed a bunch of music by the conductor and began to flick through it. I was going to sing with my angel, my Erik before the entire company, I was so happy. He settled on a piece and handed the music to Monsieur Reyer keeping two copies of the lyrics.

He walked towards me smiling and held out one of the copies to me.

I read the title.

All I Ask of You – a duet.

I looked up at him and smiled.

"This is perfect Monsieur,"

The orchestra began to play gently and softly as everyone fell silent.

Erik's voice filled the auditorium and I allowed my eyes to drift shut for a few seconds.

"I'm here nothing can harm you – my words will warm and calm you."

I opened my eyes and began to follow the words as I remembered just how safe and loved I felt within his arms. I am untouchable when he holds me.

"I'm here, with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you..."

Just as he had since I was a child.

I drew in a deep breath and began to sing my lines.

"Say you love me every waking moment..."

I knew that he loved me. The light shinning within his eyes tells me that whenever I see him but I will never tire of him telling me.

"Let me be your shelter, let me be your light,"

Always, I thought as his words washed over me, filling my mind and heart.

I no longer cared that we were standing before the entire cast. They all seemed to melt away until there was only myself and the man I love.

The music reached its climax as we sang together. Our voices merging seamlessly as they had done on so many other occasions.

"Anywhere you go let me go too...Love me – that's all I ask of you..."

Our voices drifted away to nothing as we looked at each other lost in each other's eyes.

When the music finished the company began clapping breaking the spell that we had weaved upon each other. The managers were smiling as one of them clapped Erik on the back.

"Well I think that settles that question," he laughed.

It was then that I remembered why we had been singing anyway. It had been Raoul questioning Erik's ability. I scanned the crowd looking for him and when my eyes settled on him I could not suppress the shiver that travelled down my spine.

His eyes were glowing with a fury that I had never seen before and his gaze was locked on Erik who was still being congratulated by the managers.

I wanted to drag Erik from the room not wanting him to be on the receiving end of such unpolluted hatred.

As though sensing my gaze Raoul's eyes suddenly spun to meet my own and my heart stopped beating.

I did not know what was going on within his mind but I decided that I was never going to be alone with him.

All of this happened yesterday and today was the first official day of rehearsals with Erik as the leading man. Everything has gone smoothly though Raoul has insisted on being present for the rehearsals. We have both held back from putting our all into the stage directions as we did during our own rehearsals and practises. I do not know what Erik's reasons are for doing so but I do not wish to give away our relationship. I am supposed to have just met him and everyone knows me well enough to know that I would never be able to act in a certain way with a complete stranger.

I nearly died of embarrassment after we had sung Point of No Return for the first time. Meg came up to me and told me that we were both oozing seduction. That was when I decided to try and under act everything. During the actual performance I can throw myself into it but not when my every move is being analysed by the over active imaginations of every member of the company.

Hey guys, hope you like.

I got Erik's last name from the 1990 miniseries with Charles Dance.

I finally got All I Ask of You in whoop whoop - goal achieved :).

The remaining chapters will be in Erik's point of view and will be up very, very, very soon.

Let me know what you think.

:-)