Chapter 12
Exhaustion from crying finally pushed Christine into sleep. When she woke again, it was still dark, and she was still enveloped by the warmth of Erik's arms.
"Erik?" she whispered.
"My Christine," he whispered, gliding his fingers across her cheek, wiping away the remaining tears. She shifted so she was lying on her side, facing Erik across the pillow. He kept a hand on her side which he occasionally moved to her cheek.
"It happened so fast," Christine said. "I just don't understand."
"The doctor said that her lungs must have filled with fluid. He said if he had gotten there sooner he could have drained them, but he was too late," Erik explained softly.
"I don't know what to do, Erik. I knew this would happen eventually, but I'm not ready for her to be gone."
"I know," he whispered, kissing her forehead. "I thought…" he trailed off.
"You thought what?"
"I thought I had found a mother. Someone to love me like my mother should have."
"Aunt Alice loved you. I never doubted that," Christine whispered. Fresh tears started to leak from her eyes. Erik pulled her tightly against his chest, shaking with tears as well.
The knock on the door the next afternoon broke Christine out of her fog. She and Erik had spent much of the day sitting in silence. Life was hazy, like a painting smudged at the edges. Nothing felt real to Christine.
The sharp knock jolted Christine back to reality. She and Erik made eye contact, and Erik wordlessly rose from the sofa and shut himself in Christine's room. Christine sighed inwardly; she hated that Erik had to hide from the world like this. She trudged to the door and opened it. Standing on the other side was Raoul.
He looked different to Christine. His brown hair was longer, hanging further over his blue eyes. He looked older, his eyes more tired and his expression grim. Seeing him made her feel homesick.
"Raoul," she said. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard about your aunt," he said. "I wanted to see how you were and if you needed anything." His eyes were full of compassion, a warmth that made Christine's eyes fill with tears.
"Come here," he said as she burst into tears. He enveloped her in his arms and held her against his chest. He smelled like Raoul- warm and sweet like home by the fire.
"May I come in?" he asked.
"Of course," Christine said. She led the way into the sitting room then prepared a tray of tea for her and Raoul in the kitchen. Her mind went to Erik, who was locked in her bedroom, likely listening to every word she and Raoul were saying.
Raoul looked up as Christine entered the sitting room with the tray, his blue eyes shining. He smiled at her. She sat beside him on the sofa and poured him a cup of tea with milk and sugar. She took hers with just sugar.
"So," he said. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay," she said. "It just happened so fast, I'm still in shock I think."
"I understand. But Christine, you're not alone." Raoul's voice was heavy with the meaning.
"I know I'm not," Christine said. "And I know I will be okay."
"Are you sure?" he asked, more pointedly this time.
Christine furrowed her eyebrows. "Yes, I am. What makes you think I won't be?" She was frustrated. How could he think she wasn't strong enough to deal with this when she managed her father's death so many years ago?
Raoul took a deep breath. "Look, Christine, I know Dr. DuBois. He came to me this morning to tell me what happened. He said he was summoned by a man with a deformed face. I think we both know who that is."
Christine sucked in a breath. "What?"
"Is he back?" Raoul asked quietly, glancing around nervously.
Christine shook her head, her heart racing. Her mind started racing as well–Raoul couldn't know about Erik. He might turn Erik in to the police and then she would lose everyone.
"Christine, Christine, it's okay. I can help you," he said, misreading her troubled expression.
"No," she whispered. "No, I don't want help." She couldn't formulate a proper sentence. She didn't know what to say. The silence stretched on.
The door to Christine's bedroom opened. Erik emerged, wearing his mask and wig. Raoul jumped to his feet, ready to pounce.
"You!" Raoul cried.
Erik froze and put his hands up in front of him. "I mean no harm," he said calmly. "I am here by Christine's invitation."
Erik glanced at Christine, and she met his gaze. She was sure her eyes were full of fear. Erik, on the other hand, seemed to be comforting her with his expression.
"It's true, Raoul," she confirmed. Raoul's expression was one of horror.
"He's infecting your mind, Christine!" Raoul cried.
"No, he's not! Will you listen to me? I will explain," Christine said desperately.
Raoul shook his head. "You don't know what you're saying." He turned to look at Erik. "How dare you take her back like this? I bet you even murdered her aunt to use this death to take advantage of her grief to pull her in closer, you sick monster."
This pushed Erik over the edge. His calm expression was replaced by one of fury. When he spoke, his voice was powerful and sharp as ice. "How dare you come here and accuse me of all of this. Yes, Vicomte, I have murdered in the past. And I would not hesitate to murder in order to protect the woman I love–"
"Love," Raoul spat, cutting Erik off. "I can't believe you could possibly think Christine would love you back." Raoul strode toward Erik as he spoke.
"Stop it!" Christine cried, jumping between the two men. "Stop it both of you." Christine turned to Raoul. "Stop picking a fight and listen to me. Erik is here because I brought him here. And…" she turned to look up into Erik's face, "we really do care for one another."
The color drained from Raoul's cheeks and he staggered back. "What has he done to you, Christine?"
"Nothing!" Christine cried. "Nothing but show me compassion and love! Nothing but make me happy!"
Raoul shook his head. "I can call the police. I'm sure they'd hang you in an instant," he said to Erik.
"Raoul stop it! How could you do that to me?"
"You're being kept against your will, Christine!" he cried.
"No, I'm not! I love him!"
Her words were met with silence. Raoul stared at her with wide eyes, his mouth half open. Erik, on the other hand, looked as though he couldn't quite believe the what he had just heard.
Keeping her eyes trained on Erik, she quietly repeated, "I love him." Christine walked over to Erik and slid her arm around his waist. Erik folded her into his side and leaned down to nuzzle his face into her curls then kiss her head.
Raoul looked as if he might throw up. Christine continued to plead with him. "Please, Raoul. I've already lost my father and now my aunt. You can't take away another person I love."
Raoul squeezed his eyes shut then nodded reluctantly. "I need to know that you're okay," he said quietly.
"Raoul, will you sit and just talk with us? We will explain and prove to you that I am happy."
Raoul nodded slowly and lowered himself into the armchair. Christine and Erik settled themselves on the sofa.
"I found out where Erik was about a month after Don Juan. I had to find him, it was the right thing to do," Christine explained. "I brought him here because he was emaciated. I gave him food and a place to sleep." She looked at Erik then, and he gave her the hint of a smile.
"And that's all it was," Erik continued. "Just Christine caring for me. This lasted for a while, until I became angry and ran out."
Christine met Raoul's gaze then. "It was after he ran out that I broke off our engagement," she explained. She paused, waiting for Raoul to react, but he remained silent. "I found Erik shortly after that and brought him back here. It was then that I started to fall for him."
She looked into Erik's brown eyes, which were swimming with emotion. She squeezed his fingers, trying to convey over and over again the same sentiment, I love you, I love you, I love you.
Raoul stared at them, wide-eyed. He then shook his head, as if to shake the image from his mind. He looked at Erik. "Can I speak with Christine alone?" he asked.
Erik nodded solemnly. "I will be in the kitchen," he said. He rose gracefully, giving Christine one last look before leaving the room.
Raoul moved to sit beside Christine. "I have to ask you," he said. "Did you leave me for the Phantom?"
Christine shook her head. "No, Raoul," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "I left you because I couldn't bear to live the life of a vicomtesse."
Raoul cringed. "You wanted freedom, but you returned to the man who imprisoned you. How could you possibly be happy?"
Christine smiled. "Because he isn't my captor anymore. We are equals, partners."
"How do you know that won't change?"
"I don't. But I trust him to treat me with respect. He's not the same man you met at the Opera."
"Did– Did Alice know about him?" he asked, tripping over his words as if he were afraid to ask the question.
Christine nodded. "They actually became quite close. He kept her company during the day while I was at rehearsal. Raoul, I'm okay. I'm happy. Aunt Alice even loved him. You must believe me, Raoul."
Raoul nodded. "This isn't easy for me, Christine," he admitted. "I still love you, but clearly you've moved on."
"Oh, Raoul, you will always hold a special place in my heart. But I have moved on. It's time you do, too," she said kindly.
He shook his head, his eyes filling with tears. He sniffed and wiped his eyes then stood.
"Phantom!" he said harshly.
Erik emerged from the kitchen. Raoul stepped close to him and stared him down. "This will not be the last time you see me. Christine has no family, so I will take that role. And if you ever hurt her, you will have me to answer to."
Erik nodded solemnly.
Raoul turned to Christine. "I'm always here for you. If you need something, anything, I promise I will help you. For your father, for Alice." He kissed Christine's cheek then strode towards the door.
Christine and Erik looked at each other in silence until they heard the door close. Then they were in each other's arms.
"You love me, Christine?" Erik asked, his voice full of emotion.
"I do, Erik. I do love you. I've known it for a long time, but I never realized it." Erik kissed her passionately, pulling her tightly against him.
"I love you, too, Christine."