A/N: Ah, finally, a new chapter! Unfortunately, my preferred browser on my BlackBerry (Bolt browser) was discontinued, so I had a tiny bit of trouble getting this chapter added to the story. *le sigh* Anyway . . . There's just something about the winter solstice that makes me so happy and inspired! Happy holidays and Merry Frostmas, everybody!
Oh, and Eldunari, yeah, 'gnomes' does look a little like 'tomatoes'! Hehehe!
Lady Cavalier, ah, I remember those days when I was a teenager . . . It feels like so long ago! Oh, wait, it was so long ago . . . -_- Heh, your mention of Legend of Zelda made me think of Cody Rhodes!
Guest (2014), yes, thank you! I don't know how I could have typed that ('De ryan' instead of 'De rien.') I wrote this chapter a couple of years ago, and I guess my old spellchecker changed it on me. Urgh. Fixed it now.
Last chapter, we got inside Christine's head. Let's hear from Erik this time, shall we? Then we'll switch back to a narrative. Enjoy!
(Erik's thoughts in the days after Christine has unmasked him)
I cannot believe my dear Christine has seen my face and not been repulsed by it! She is such a sweet girl, always smiling and trying to make me more comfortable. She had told me that she wanted me not to feel it necessary to wear my mask when we are in the house by the lake.
Soon, my other mask will be complete. I have managed to get the substance to a suitable consistency and colour that will appear as skin should. That will be applied over gauze and allowed to harden on the plaster mould of my face. The substance will remain pliable once it has dried and can then be placed on my face and will remain in place with a bit of adhesive that I have found is quite suitable for my skin. Any other type of adhesive only irritates me and leaves my face chafed and reddened.
And I must not do anything that would make me feel embarrassed in Christine's presence!
No, no, I shall take better care of myself for her sake. She has encouraged me to eat more, as well. She refuses to dine unless I join her now. Oh, what an angel has entered my life!
But would she continue to care about me as much if she knew all the horrors of my past? If she knew how many lives had been ended by my very hands, would she still allow me to brush those golden locks? Had she ever heard the orders I had barked, condemning men to gruesome fates, would she be so eager to listen to the things I say to her when I instruct her in her music lessons?
He gazed down at his hands then, and sighed. Would that he could change the sins of his past and be a good man for her! But he could not. All he could do was be a good man for her now.
'Ah, dear, sweet, innocent Christine! What did I ever do to deserve to have your beauty in my life? How did you wander into my path to -'
Christine knocked tentatively at on the door jamb. He had been so lost in thought, and she was loathe to interrupt him when he had that look in his eyes. She made a soft noise in the back of her throat when she noticed he was wearing his mask again.
He lifted a hand to the stiff material. Erik knew that his angel didn't like it when he hid himself from her, but it had been necessary that day. There had been errands to run after breakfast, and, as she had still been exhausted from the previous day's lesson, she had needed rest.
She had, mercifully, fallen asleep in the Louis-Philippe room the moment her head had hit the pillow. Better she should not be awake to bombard him with her curious questions as soon as he had re-entered the house.
But now, she was wide awake, and she was clearly none too pleased.
She crossed the room in a huff and plucked the offending scrap from his face. She traced a cautious finger along his bony curves to check for any return of the rash that she knew plagued him on occasion. Satisfied when she found nary a patch of irritated or red skin upon his cherished face, she sat beside him, her skirts rustling to the same rhythm as the crackling of the fire.
They simply sat there, enjoying the nearness of each other, for several moments. What was it about him, Christine wondered, that made her feel so safe in his presence and yet, as though . . . She couldn't quite place her finger on the other thing he made her feel. She loved him, of course, but there was an undercurrent of . . . Was it unease? She knew there was much he had not told her, so much she still didn't know.
She was still terribly naive to so much, Erik mused. She found nothing inappropriate about being his house, away from anyone else, with no chaperone to scold them for being too affectionate. No, she seemed not even to worry about what a man might do to her or that no one could hear her screams.
It was at that moment that he knew he could never leave her alone in the house again, not even to discuss business with the managers. How could he have been so stupid as to have gone traipsing about just to buy her a new dress? He should have taken her with him, of course!
He shook his head at his own foolishness. She needed to be returned to the world above. He could not allow himself to be selfish where she was concerned.
"Christine?" he broke the silence with a whisper.
"Yes, Erik?" She turned to him with a shy smile.
"It will be time for you to return to the opera soon . . ."
"I know," she sighed. "I've been trying not to dwell on that."
"I shall still visit you - to tutor you, that is - as often as you wish."
"Every day?" she queried with hope.
"You know I could deny you nothing."
She blushed. Oh, how he adored that blush! He would have to find flowers that matched that beauty and present them to her in her dressing room. Yes, milky white petals with just a hint of pink. Perhaps a bouquet of pale flowers, bundled together with a ribbon to match her hair. How lovely she would look with that ribbon holding her hair back from her face as she bustled about the kitchen . . . in a house out in the countryside . . . a garden along the wall . . .
He was stirred from his reverie by the pressure of her head against his shoulder. 'Is this what Heaven is like?' he pondered. 'No, even Heaven could not compare to this bliss! Whatever might await me in the afterlife, at least I've had this moment with her!'
Christine took one of his gloved, bony hands in her own. She removed the black material and marvelled again at how long his fingers were! She was always marvelling at him, it seemed. 'I might give up a professional singing career if he so desired. But I know that he would never allow me to set aside that dream or waste all the hours of training he has provided.' She lifted that bony hand to her cheek and shivered slightly at how cold it felt! But she would not trade any part of Erik for any handsome or rich or dashing man.
This was her Erik, and she loved him. She would stand beside him for the rest of her life. She sighed, contented to be here with him.
Knowing that it would be over soon cast only a slight shadow over their happy mood.
"Oh, but Erik, must I really go back today? Could I not stay for just one more night?" she implored him with tears just starting to form at the corners of her eyes.
"Now, now, my sweet, you knew this day was coming," he remarked. It was clear that he was going to have to be strong enough for the both of them. He sighed for the umpteenth time that morning. It was still remarkably early, and he knew that no others would be out roaming the streets at this hour. He had managed to steal away from Christine during one of their outings to advise Madame Valerius that Christine would be at her door on this date. The older woman understood why he should wish not to wait until later in the morning to return her ward and assured him that she and her maid would be waiting.
He swooped Christine up into his arms and promised her, yet again, that he would go up to her dressing room and visit her before her performances, just as he had done before.
"Will you also come see me at Maman's sometimes?" she sniffled.
"You know I could deny you nothing, my dear girl," he vowed with a kiss to her forehead.
She pressed herself to him then, inhaling his scent as though she wanted to memorise every nuance of him. When his arms tightened around her, she let out the softest whimpering moan he had ever heard, and his resolve faltered. She wanted to stay with him, and who was he to say no to her?
No, he had promised Madame to have Christine back today! He would not go back on his word, and Christine would just have to accept that. She was still so very young, with much of the world to learn . . .
He hoisted her heavier bag and waited for her to retrieve the smaller case she had packed. They would have to make haste if they were to avoid the earliest merchants setting out their wares. And he had to pay a visit to the Founiers' before going to Madame's. It was so good of Mme. Fournier to accommodate him this way. Then again, he did pay the couple handsomely for the services they provided him.
As they journeyed upwards towards the door that led to the Rue Scribe, Erik wondered again if he were doing the right thing for Christine by promising to visit her every day. Might he be doing more harm than good? Was he simply being selfish by keeping her from forming other friendships?
'Nonsense!' he told himself. She could still socialise, whenever she so chose. There was nothing to stop her from talking to other girls or going out to - Come to think of it, she'd rarely gone out with friends before. Her social circle had always been rather small. Perhaps he was worrying over nothing.
A brief stop at the Fourniers' café provided him with enough breakfast for himself, Christine, Madame, and her maid. Even more, she informed him, in case anyone else should stop by at that unlikely hour. "Who should possibly stop by the Valerius flat so early in the morning?" he chuckled. "But I am sure it will not go to waste. Merci beaucoup, Madame Fournier."
"De rien, Monsieur Utkin, et bon matin," she remarked as he made his way back to the door where Christine had waited. The two women smiled at each other fondly but silently before the younger woman followed Erik out.
It was such a lovely start to their morning that Erik almost felt as though he were walking on air the rest of the way!