Chapter Sixteen - The Devil And The Angel

"So are you finally going to say why we're all here Erik?" Christine asked. Erik looked round the room then back to Christine "Well everyone's here now so yes I guess now is the put his wine glass on the windowsill and held out his hand "Leave your glass there and come with me." Christine placed her glass next to the other one and took his hand. He led her to the middle of the room and clapped his hands three times. "Can everyone please gather round" he called and soon all the guests were gathered all aroundand Christine stood at the front with them. "First everyone I'd like to thank you for turning up reason I asked for you all to come tonight is because of something very special. But before all that I'd like to tell you a story."
"Many years ago while I was still in high school I met this girl. This girl was very special not just in her wondrous beauty, it was her Magical singing voice which drew me to her and made me fall in love with her. When I introduced myself to her it turned out she had the same feelings about was then that we became romantic lovers. I would play on my piano and she would sing for me for countless hours and nothing could have made us both happier. Then when we received our college scholarships and it turned out that we were going to different collegesthat were very far apart. This broke both our hearts but I said to her that love never dies and that we would be together again someday. The years passed by and each day I wondered when I would find her again. And two days ago something unexpected happened. While I was observing the auditions for this show, a girl walked on to the stage and at first I thought I was imagining things then she spoke her name. She sang like she had never sang before and finally after what has felt like forever she had come back to me. And now ladies and gentleman I have something very special to ask her."

He turned to face Christine and gestured for her to come forward. Christine took a few steps forward towards him and he slowly got down onto one knee. Christine's heart started pounding as she recognized this. Erik then reached into his pocket and brought out a small black velvet box. He looked up into her eyes and as he opened the box he said. "Christine Day, I have loved you ever since the day I first saw you and even when we were apart I still loved you with all my heart. No other women has touched my heart the way you have,and there is no other women who I want to spend the rest of my life with. So would you do me the extraordinary honour of becoming my wife?" Christine looked at the ring in the small box. It had a big hexagon diamond in the centre and another diamond on either side of it. They both sparkled like little stars. She looked back at Erik's expectant eyes and she smiled and said "Yes, of course I will. My only love." Erik's smile stretched wide, he took the ring out of the box and rose to his feet. And slowly he slipped the ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand. Christine smiled as she looked at the ring that now laid on her finger. Then quickly she threw her arms round Erik's neck and kissed him full on his lips. As his arms came round her back she heard thunderous applause from all the guests.

All of the sudden there was a tremendous crashing sound. The whole room shook and Erik and Christine fell to the floor. As sudden as the shaking started it all stopped. Christine and Erik quickly sat up and saw everyone had gone and that their location had changed. They were no longer in the restaurant. They were in what looked like a huge stone walled dungeon which was lit by burning torches on the walls. Before Christine could even speak a word, she was flung against the stone wall and held her there by the same invisible force which had pinned her on her bed in her nightmares. Looking up she saw that Erik was pinned as well on the wall opposite to her. "Erik!" She cried out. "Christine!" he shouted.
Then they both heard a wicked laugh and from out of the darkness walked the devil. He stepped up to where Erik was pinned "So Erik Destler we meet again" he chuckled. Erik spoke through his teeth. "I hoped we would never meet again" The devil laughed "I must say I admire that mask you're wearing. It's a real improvement from those human skin masks you used to use. It seemed to work better than the others on this young lady." Erik struggled against the force with no success. "You leave my Christine alone!" he growled and the devil laughed again. "You almost evaded me, but I happened to be watching you two and I intervened just in now I have you here and you're fiancé I can fix what you tried to break." Erik froze "What do you mean, you bitch." The devil folded his arms "You and I Destler made a bargain. And you should have known that every gift comes with a price, you can't have something for nothing. No woman can ever want you and that is the way it will stay. And so you are going to watch me kill your fiancé slowly and painfully." Erik felt as if a red hot rusted poker had stabbed him. "No! NO!" He screamed. "Yes, yes" the devil said "And the pain you will go through while you watch her die will be your punishment for trying to outsmart me." And with that the devil turned round and approached Christine as she struggled. Erik too struggled with all his strength but it was no use, he was going to witness his only lover die and there was nothing he could do. As tears broke from his eyes he cried out "Christine! I love you!" Tears of her own fell down her pink cheeks "I love you more!" She cried back. "How sweet" The devil laughed and as he rubbed his hands together he said "Now then my sugarplum let's get started. I think to begin with, we'll deform your face just like his" Christine screamed and his small hand began to raise to her face. Erik cried out in horror for his beloved.

Then suddenly the devil's hand stopped as a cracking sound came to his left. All their heads turned to the sound. The stone floor cracked and opened up into a deep gorge which glowed red just like the crater of a volcano. Then on the other side of the room a bright white light shined, as the light dimmed and tall man appeared. The man was dressed in a long white robe and had flowing gold hair. He pointed his long finger at the devil and the small man was thrown against the far wall and pinned there. The tall man then clicked his fingers twice, and Erik and Christine were freed from the wall and fell to the floor. Erik crawled forward quickly on his hands and knees towards Christine. He took her up in his arms and held her protectively against his chest.
The white robed man approached the devil and spoke in a voice that echoed "They evaded you and you defied your own rules. This girl proved you wrong and you tried to kill her. Now you will go back to where you belong and will never come between these two people again." Flames of fire burst up from the gorge and wrapped round the devil like a fiery rope. And as the devil roared in fury the flames pulled him down into the gorge and it closed up completely.

Erik had watched all this with wide eyes and was still holding Christine within his embrace. Then he looked up at the man who now turned to face them. Erik held Christine tighter as the man seemed to float forward. "You have no reason to fear me Erik Destler. I am Gabriel, Bringer of Peace." Christine now looked at this man for the first time and stared in wonderment. And he smiled down at her "Your acceptance to Erik's hand in marriage proved the devil wrong Christine Day, and showed that he can be loved even with a deformed face." He turned to smile at Erik "Because of this, I release you from your curse Erik Destler." He held out both his hands towards Erik. "Now the world will love you for both your music and for yourself." Erik suddenly cried out in pain, let go of Christine and took his face in both his hands. "Erik!" Christine cried and tried to reach out to him but Gabriel's hand gently touched her shoulder "Don't worry Christine, it will be over in a few seconds" he whispered in her ear. Erik continued to hold his face and writhe in pain, but after a few seconds he relaxed and was taking deep breaths. Gabriel removed his hand from her shoulder and Christine put her arms round Erik. As he reached up to hold her in turn they both turned when they both heard Gabriel's voice. "I shall return you both now to the same moment before you left. I hope you two have a lovely life together."

The earthquake from earlier began to shake again and Erik quickly caught Christine in his arms and buried his face in her shoulder and she buried hers in his chest and held on for dear life. As the whole place shook they then heard panic cries all around them and shattering glass. But they didn't let go or open their eyes to see what it was. Then after about ten seconds everything stood still again. Christine looked up and saw that they were now back in the restaurant everyone was huddled together and there was broken glass and spilt drinks everywhere.
Across the room she saw Mr Henderson helping Meg to her feet "Is everyone alright?!" he called out. A few voices responded that they were fine. Meg hurried to where Christine and Erik were "Chris, are you ok?" she asked. Christine nodded "Yeah, but a bit shaken." Meg's eyes looked down "Erik, are you ok?" Christine looked down and saw that Erik still had a hand over his face. "Erik?" she asked starting to worry and placing a hand on his shoulder. He lowered his hand to look up at her, Christine saw that he didn't look injured. But his eyes were so wide as if he didn't believe that what he was seeing was true. "I'm feeling a bit dizzy." He said. Christine then noticed that Mr Henderson had now joined them. "Maybe you should both go home and relax. I mean you and all of us have had a shock from that earthquake." Erik nodded "Maybe that's a good idea, Roger." Christine and Mr Henderson each took one of Erik's arms and helped him to his feet. "But before you go, I'd like to wish you both a happy engagement" Mr Henderson said shaking Christine's hand. "Thank you Roger." She replied. "You feel better Erik" Meg said kindly giving Erik's shoulder a rub. He nodded but didn't answer. Christine got her bag and their coats, put her arm round Erik's waist and walked him to the lift.

Author's Notes

Oh, My God!

This was a chapter that took ages to write. And now you know what Erik's plan was and what happened after that.
However it's still not finished yet, just wait and see! :D
But don't forget to leave your reviews guys!