Chapter 15: The Masquerade
Erik's P.O.V
Last night was a blur of events, the raging headache was proof enough that I had been drinking the night before. Stretching out I opened my eyes and was greeted with darkness, nothing out of the ordinary. However, there was this unfamiliar presences that was weighing down the other side of my bed. Shifting in my bed I realized that I was nude, the sild sheets glided against my skin.
"What the hell did I do last night?" I whispered to myself. The woman next to me shifted in her sleep and yawned.
"Chr-Christine…" I felt my hopes go up. My Christine had returned to me! She must have realized that she loved me not that incompetent man of a fop Raoul. Rushing to my bedside table I yanked the drawer open and grabbed my matches. I snatched the candelabra off of the table and struggled to strike the match. Once I heard the familiar crackle of the match igniting I quickly lit the candle. Eagerly I held it over the sleeping figure… my blood ran cold. That was not Christine.
"Claudine…" I groaned and set the candelabra on my night table and sat there.
I slept with Claudine last night… I was too drunk to even care who it was. All I saw was Christine, all I heard was Christine, and all I ever thought about was Christine! Looking back at Claudine I slowly rose from my bed and grabbed my pants and other assorted clothing. I dressed and casted one last look at the bed. She was sleeping serenely and she had the smallest smile on her face. Could she have actually enjoyed my company last night? I was about to leave the room when instinctively my hand flew to my face. My mask… I didn't have it on and Claudine saw my face. But that couldn't be right she was still here any sane person would have fled… Christine even fled.
I walked back towards the bed and searched for my mask lo and behold it was in Claudine's hands. Groaning I cautiously walked towards the bed and peered at her sleeping face… she was perfection. Taking her arm away from the mask I grabbed it softly from her grasp, she groaned slightly and shifted allowing the sheets to slip and show off her…parts. I could feel my face heating up as I covered her frame with the sheet. Her dark red hair fell slightly in her face, carefully I brushed it away with my fingers.
"Erik?" Her small voice erupted me from my thoughts as I peered down at her.
"Oh… Good Morning Claude." My words were slow and nervous but she smiled anyway.
"Good Morning." She sat up and held the sheets close to her.
"Look Claude, I need to talk to about last night." I sat down on the bed and looked her in her eyes.
"Alright then talk." She grabbed my hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze that was accompanied with a sickly sweet smile. I felt guilt ridden.
"Last night was a mistake." I said it bluntly and emotionlessly. Her smile fell as she slowly removed her hands from mine.
Claude's P.O.V
The words rang in my head, a mistake. I removed my hands from his and placed them in my lap my smile fell and my mouth was now a tight frown.
"Erik… I told you I loved you last night. You mean to tell me that, that means nothing to you at all?" The anger was evident in my voice, my fists balled tightly in my lap.
"No, it didn't I'm in love with Christine last night was just a drunken mistake." Tears were forming in my eyes now as I rose from his bed holding the sheets to my body. I walked over to where my clothes were scattered and began to dress myself.
"You know Erik, you are a sick and twisted man really you are. Christine won' love you damn it!" The words left my mouth freely, and I did not fear the backlash.
"Why because you think I'm a monster?" His voice was cold.
"No, because she does. She won't allow herself to love you, why can't you see that?" My head snapped towards him as he stood silently.
"You have to know deep inside that this will not end well Erik, you will end up hurt in the end and guess who gets to walk away with a happy ending without a care for you?" I took a step towards him.
"You're wrong Claude. She loves me I can see it in her eyes." He looked down, his own fists were now balled tightly.
"Then you are no more of a fool than I am. If you can really believe that a naïve girl like Christine will ever allow herself to be kept her in the darkness then everyone is right you're a mad man."
"Claude…" Just as I did with Raoul I held my hand up to stop him.
"I am so sick and tired of allowing myself to open up and become vulnerable to men who won't appreciate me. Now if you excuse me I have to go and get ready for the masquerade." I stormed out of his lair and up the steps to where my Aunts room was. I didn't bother to knock on the door, my Aunt looked at me in shock.
"Claudine dear? Is everything okay?" Her soft voice, and motherly look broke me I ran into her arms and began to sob.
"He doesn't love me…" I repeated those words for what seemed like hours until my sobs grew into quiet hiccups. My Aunt held me until I had completely calmed myself, she then held my chin so I could look up at her.
"Let's get you ready for the Masquerade." She stood and began to shift through her closet.
"I completely forgot about a costume to wear Aunt Giry, I figured that I could just wear one of my more formal dresses." She turned to face me and she set a hard glare on me.
"No, we will do much better than that. Besides I have something I've been putting away for years. I haven't had the gull to wear it since I bought it all those years ago." She handed the box to me as I sat down. I opened it, inside the box was a white ball gown with gold embroidery.
"Aunt Giry…" She smiled and held the dress up.
"Go try it on." I left the room and began to dress myself the dress was just my size and the sleeves fell just below my shoulders. A soft knock came from the bathroom door as my Aunt entered.
"Oh Claude… If only your mother could see you now, you look absolutely beautiful." She then started to adjust the necessary places.
"What should we do with my hair?" She studied me for a moment.
"Let me try to put it up." She sat me down in front of her vanity and began to play with my hair. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the human contact. After about an hour my Aunt had finished.
"There, now you can look." I opened my eyes and smiled. My curls were braided intricately and was laced with ribbon and flowers. My Aunt studied me once more an began to apply some makeup.
"Mother I can't find my fan… Oh my gosh Claude look at you!" Meg gushed over me and smiled.
"Thank you Meg, we should get going soon so your mother can ready herself." I stood and straightened my dress.
"Have fun girls I'll see you soon." With that we left Meg and I began to walk through the empty quiet hallways of the Opera House.
"Meg?" I looked at her.
"Hmm?" She answered with a far off look in her eyes.
"I'll be with you in a few moments go ahead without me okay?" She looked at me.
"Are you alright?" I nodded my head.
"Yes I just have to get something." She smiled and hugged me.
"Don't be too long." She then ran off towards the ballroom. Taking a deep breath I walked toward the ballerina dormitories where my old room was. I found my old room and walked in, I looked around and took a deep breath. My gaze fell upon one of the corners of the room and I walked towards it. Each step echoed off the walls of the tiny room. I crouched down and removed the loose floor board, taking the tiny box that resided out of it. Opening the box I was greeted by the locket that was given to me by father all those years ago. "I took the locket and clasped it around my neck.
"Alright, let's do this." I stood back up and began to make my towards the party which was in full swing now. I came down the stairs and stood there so I could collect myself. The chatter below me came to a halt and all eyes were on me. I panicked.
"Uh, hi everyone… don't mind me… just go about your business…" I smiled and chuckled lightly. Yet everyone continued to stair.
"Claude over here!" Meg bless her soul waved me over. I quickly made my way over to her and thanked her quietly.
"Mademoiselle?" I turned to see a dashing young man.
"Yes?"
"May I have this dance?" I nodded and took his hand, that dance was just the beginning of many. I was passed off between partners until I came face to face with a gentleman dressed in red.
"I believe it's my turn." I glared at the man I knew exactly who was behind the mask.
"Not a chance in hell Erik." But before I had a chance to walk away the music had begun again and he grabbed me into his embrace.
We danced together silently for most of the dance, I even refused to make eye contact with him.
"You look beautiful." He finally broke the ice.
"Glad you think so." I continued to avoid eye contact.
"How long do you intend to hold this grudge Claude?" I scoffed at him.
"I'm thinking maybe a lifetime to eternity." I returned coldly.
"Seems a bit extreme." He smiled and I pulled away from him.
"This is just some big joke to you. I'm a joke to you. I'm just some girl who you slept with you can't tell me you actually cared about me. You're just like Raoul." I stormed away from him and ran from the party. I hid myself away in a vacant hallway and allowed myself to cry as I held my locket. I wished I had never left America or my mother coming to France was a mistake. Sleeping with Erik was a mistake. Eventually I calmed myself and walked back in and everything had gone to hell in a handbasket.
"What the hell did I miss?"
"It's the Phantom he's gone completely mad." Meg said as she consoled a frantic Christine.
"That son of a bitch ruined the party." I shook my head and walked over to Christine.
"Look I know we've had our differences but everything's going to be fine." I held her hand and gave her a firm squeeze.
"Thank you." She smiled softly at me.
"I'm sorry about everything by the way." I laughed nervously.
"So am I." She chuckled.
After everything settled down my Aunt thought it would be best of Meg and I slept in her Chambers with her. I tossed and turned all night thinking about the previous night and how I would probably never feel that way again. Getting out of bed I walked out of my aunts room, hugging her shawl close to my body.
"Claudine?" I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard that small voice.
"Oh Christine! Damn it don't do that you wanna give me a heart attack?" I hissed as she giggled.
"Sorry."
"Where are you going?"
"To my father's grave, actually I'd rather not go alone would you like to accompany me?" She asked.
"Sure I can't sleep anyways." I smiled and then we were off both unaware of pair of eyes watching us.
Don't say I don't love you guys! I just wrote the longest chapter in my life for you guys and I enjoyed it! Im going to sleep now... I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Don't forget to Review and feel free to message me guys! For the dress image look up stunning 19th century masquerade ball gowns costume it should be the first image. For the hair look up Elven hair updo with headpiece and it should be the sixth picture in the first row. And Finally for the locket look up unique antique lockets and it should be the seventh picture in the ninth row *Disclaimer: I Do Not Own These Images* I hope you guys find them!
-Kara