I still own nothing :(

Chapter 31 – Heaven Is Now

Erik

Entry 15

My Christine is asleep in my arms. Her head against my chest and once again heaven has changed. Heaven is right now in this moment.

But perhaps I should write of what has happened tonight and over the past few days.

It was the second opening night of Don Juan this evening.

The few rehearsals involving me went well and I am thankful for the hours of practise that Christine and myself had while I was helping her to learn her part. Our time together allowed us to act seamlessly both tonight and during cast rehearsals.

One thing during rehearsals that I have noticed was that neither of us seemed to throw ourselves into our parts as we had done while at my home. I thought at first that Christine may have felt a little self conscious but she told me that the rest of the cast would expect her to act a certain way with a complete stranger, while I resented the hungry gaze of the men upon my Christine and the flirtatious glances of the women directed towards me.

Our evening rehearsals together continued however. I would leave the Opera - giving the impression that I live outside the Opera (as would be expected of the leading baritone and composer of the performing opera), only to return once everyone was having their evening meal and too busy to pay any attention to the shadowy figure walking through the halls.

I enjoyed the time spent above ground with Christine my only regret being that out engagement was not made common knowledge.

Despite my warning to him I was still concerned over the actions of the vicomte and my concerns proved to be with foundation.

As soon as I was officially introduced to him I saw the slight flicker of recognition within his eyes and knew that he had remembered my voice from when I had extracted revenge when he had cornered Christine and bruised her that night.

He thought to embarrass me before the whole company when he asked me to prove my "skill" in singing. I bit back the sharp reply to his comment that rose to my lips and walked towards the conductor who was holding out a pile of sheet music for me to examine. My hatred for the boy only grew when I heard the condescending, ordering tone he used when addressing Christine.

I reached for the music but not before stealing a glance at Christine. She was smiling politely but I could tell from her expression that she was trying to keep her temper in check.

I flicked through the music and a piece caught my eye. I had not heard it in some years - it had been used in an opera the year before Christine came to live in the dormitories. I smiled slightly remembering the lyrics and music effortlessly. They described my feelings for the woman before me perfectly and it would show all those on the stage my ability and how our voices sounded together.

I handed the conductor the sheet music, holding back a copy for myself and Christine. I gave her one of the sheets.

She read the title and smiled at me. Her smile gave me courage and filled my chest with light.

"This is perfect Monsieur," she told me softly and I smiled in return as the music began to play, washing over us and encasing us in a bubble where there was only the two of us.

"No more talk of darkness,"

From the moment that I saw her as a child she had been the light of my life, driving the darkness away from my existence, away from my soul.

"Your safe: No-one will find you – your fears are far behind you..."

I would protect her for as long as I lived. She would have nothing to be afraid of.

"...and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me..."

As long as she needed me I would be there for her. I would hold her in my arms for the rest of time if she wished it.

The music continued to wash over us as we weaved the same spell that we always cast when our voices join together. I was aware of the silence around us and the eyes upon us – we were casting the very same spell upon our audience.

The music came to an end and silence engulfed the room until our audience began to clap in approval.

"Well I think that settles that question," laughed one of the managers coming up behind me and clapping me hard on the back. I tore my eyes from Christine and stopped myself from flinching. I had never been surrounded by so many people before – not since I was a child - and I found myself becoming uncomfortable in the presence of so many bodies.

The managers continued to prattle on about the rehearsals and costumes while the rest of the company drifted away into their own groups. I glanced quickly away from the managers to try and find Christine. When my eyes finally settled on Christine her gaze was fixed on the vicomte. The boy's eyes were filled with fury. I was more than glad of Madame Giry at that point than I have ever been for she still made sure that Christine was accompanied wherever she went.

The performance flowed easily this evening and Christine and I left the audience spell bound with our performance. She played the part perfectly and we held nothing back - unlike during the rehearsals. We swept the whole auditorium into our world and none of them resisted the pull.

We were applauded and encored until the rafters rang out with the noise. My heart swelled with pride. They were cheering my work...my opera.

I gripped Christine's hand in my own as we bowed before the audience. I looked towards her to see a smile lighting up her face. She looked radiant. She squeezed my hand in encouragement.

The after party was busy and crowded and I stopped myself from darting from the room and away from the throng of people. I was approached continually throughout the night and congratulated on my success as both the composer and the singer. For the first time in my life I was being accepted. For my talent and gift with music I was being accepted by the world.

Christine stayed close to me and on one occasion when everyone was preoccupied she leaned in close to me and planted the faintest of kisses on my cheek.

"I love you Erik," she whispered before pulling away. Her eyes were shinning as she looked into my own.

When finally the celebration began to wind down I let out an audible sigh of relief that thankfully no one could hear. Those that were still lingering were to drunk or tired to notice when I slipped away and instead of leaving the Opera to return later I went straight to the passage that leads to my home glad to be away.

I was not surprised when I saw Christine standing in the alcove still in her costume. The silk caught the light making her shine and I heard the heels of her boots echoing along the corridor when she ran towards me her arms outstretched and a wide smile on her face, her eyes dancing.

She jumped into my arms and I spun her around. We both laughed with joy and happiness. I lost myself in the sensation of having her in my arms. All night I had wanted to hold her but it had been impossible.

I returned her to the ground sooner than I wished and she planted kisses across my face.

"I am so proud of you Erik," she told me between kisses.

I took her hand in my own and planted a quick kiss on it before I dragged her along behind me. I was desperate to get the horrible mixture that was covering my scars of my face and allow my scarred flesh the chance to feel air upon it.

We arrived at the lake and Christine stood at my organ facing away from me while I made quick work of stripping my face of the stage make-up and replacing my mask.

I went up behind Christine holding her against my chest. She had been looking out across the lake with misty eyes.

"You sang beautifully tonight," I whispered into her ear remembering how she had looked and sounded on the stage – her eyes had never left mine during our duet. I gently kissed her neck and she leaned more heavily against me.

"You weren't too bad yourself," she replied playfully turning in my arms to look into my eyes.

"You deserved every rose and clap this evening Erik," she told me raising a hand and stroking my masked cheek. I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch. Her praise and pride meant more to me than that of the whole of Paris.

She placed her head against my chest and yawned sleepily, rubbing her head against my jacket. She was adorable - acting like a tired kitten within my arms.

"My sleepy angel," I laughed softly into her ear and she slapped my chest playfully with her fist.

"I'll take you back above," I told her drawing away from her and taking her hand in mine.

I led her through the dim passages until we reached the passage that lead to the Opera's corridors and she trailed behind me sleepily. I stopped suddenly when I noticed someone standing against the wall. Christine walked into the back of me and I reached out a hand to steady her.

"Erik what is..." she trailed of as she too caught sight of the shadow figure.

My mind raced. No one knew of the entrance or the secret passages. Who was it?

They began to clap and a humourless laugh filled the empty corridor.

Christine tensed behind me.

"Bravo, Monsieur," came the chilling voice of the vicomte as he stalked towards us. I did not know what he wanted but I did not trust him, I was on my guard.

"I did not get the opportunity to congratulate you on your performances this evening but it would seem that you have both had your own celebration," he continued. Christine's ever tightening grip on my arm was the only thing that stopped me from flying at him. I remembered what Christine had told me he had thought the night that he had attacked her and it would seem that his mind continued to twist our actions into something that they were not. Though I did not give into the urge to grab him by the throat I could not stop the growl that rose from my chest.

He insulted both of us with his words and insinuations.

I moved backwards trying to move Christine out of his line of vision when he sprang.

Dun, dun, duuunnnnn.

Hehe. You will not have to wait long though as the next and last chapter (sniff, sniff) will be up tonight as well - it was going to be one long chapter but I didn't think it really worked so you are getting 2 chapters instead.

:)