Raoul, what are you doing here?" Christine asked quickly as she watched Raoul open the door to his carriage, and step down to the sidewalk.
I came out to supper, I only wish you had told me you were planning on doing the same so I would have had the honor of escorting you.
Who's this?" Raoul asked, as he looked over at Erik.
"This is a close friend of mine, who was kind enough to invite me to dinner" Christine said, as she hoped that Raoul would be satisfied and leave.
"A close friend is he how strange that I've never heard you mention him." Raoul said, as he glared at Erik.
Christine bristled at Raoul's obvious jealousy, and longed to return to the safety of the opera house.
"Who I mention or don't mention to you is none of your concern, and I would appreciate it if you didn't insult my friend. "Christine said, as she went to stand in front of Erik giving Raoul an icy glare.
Erik stood behind in complete shock of the situation that was unfolding in front of him, all he wanted was to pull Christine close and whisper endless words of gratitude in her ear to hear her finish what she was about to tell him, before they were rudely interrupted by this jealous boy.
"My apologies Christine,and this time I concede to the man who is more fortunate than I, because he has had the honor of spending the evening with you.
I can only hope that next time the honor will be mine," Raoul said, as he flashed Christine a smile.
"Erik I'm cold, would you please signal a carriage so I may return to the opera house?"Christine asked as she made a point not to look at Raoul.
"Christine, there's no need for that you can take my carriage, and have it return for me when you reach the opera house. " Raoul said, quickly as he tried to gain Christine's attention.
Christine stood very still as she tried not to squirm under Raoul's unwanted attention, or shiver against the cold.
Then Christine smiled as Erik held the door to a carriage open for her.
"Good night Raoul," Christine said, coolly as she allowed Erik to help her into the carriage.
"Christine, wait!" Raoul said quickly,
Raoul as watched angerly Erik climbed into the carriage then closed the door behind him.
Raoul's anger grew as he watched the carriage begin to move away and eventually fade from his sight.
Raoul wanted nothing more than to release a cry of frustration, but knew that his station would not allow it.
Minutes later Raoul's driver hesitantly asked him what he wished to do.
No longer having an appetite, Raoul angrily demanded to be taken home.
The ride home was not an easy one for Raoul as unpleasant thoughts entered his mind against his will.
The first one being that tonight is the fourth time that he had been rebuffed by the woman he loved.
Raoul clutched his heart in agony as the inconceivable thought, of the woman he loved being out with another man clawed at his young and fragile heart
Raoul was young, rich, and handsome.
Any woman would be happy to be with him, but the woman he loved rebuffed him at every time.
Who was this rival and what did he have to offer her that would make her choose to go about town with someone so obviously her senior.
Raoul clutched his heart in agony once more as the thought of losing the woman he loves threatened to rip his young and fragile heart from his chest.
This Rival That I See
This rival that I see
Has stolen my lover from me
The one thing that is missing
Is parading with a stranger at night
I have put a face to the voice
Which leaves me with only
one choice
This rival that I see
Has stolen my lover from me
My supper companion he did steal
With no regard to how I feel
My lover sees that I am there
But trampled on my heart
without care
This man has taken my lover away
Yet I shall escort her into the light
Of day
This rival that I see
Has stolen my lover from me
Erik watched Christine stare silently out the window as the carriage made its way back to the opera house, then Erik decided to speak up as he heard Christine sigh for the second time since the ride had begun.
Raoul, what are you doing here?" Christine asked quickly as she watched Raoul open the door to his carriage, and step down to the sidewalk.
I came out to supper, I only wish you had told me you were planning on doing the same so I would have had the honor of escorting you.
Who's this?" Raoul asked, as he looked over at Erik.
"This is a close friend of mine, who was kind enough to invite me to dinner" Christine said, as she hoped that Raoul would be satisfied and leave.
"A close friend is he how strange that I've never heard you mention him." Raoul said, as he glared at Erik.
Christine bristled at Raoul's obvious jealousy, and longed to return to the safety of the opera house.
"Who I mention or don't mention to you is none of your concern, and I would appreciate it if you didn't insult my friend. "Christine said, as she went to stand in front of Erik giving Raoul an icy glare.
Erik stood behind in complete shock of the situation that was unfolding in front of him, all he wanted was to pull Christine close and whisper endless words of gratitude in her ear to hear her finish what she was about to tell him, before they were rudely interrupted by this jealous boy.
"My apologies Christine,and this time I concede to the man who is more fortunate than I, because he has had the honor of spending the evening with you.
I can only hope that next time the honor will be mine," Raoul said, as he flashed Christine a smile.
"Erik I'm cold, would you please signal a carriage so I may return to the opera house?"Christine asked as she made a point not to look at Raoul.
"Christine, there's no need for that you can take my carriage, and have it return for me when you reach the opera house. " Raoul said, quickly as he tried to gain Christine's attention.
Christine stood very still as she tried not to squirm under Raoul's unwanted attention, or shiver against the cold.
Then Christine smiled as Erik held the door to a carriage open for her.
"Good night Raoul," Christine said, coolly as she allowed Erik to help her into the carriage.
"Christine, wait!" Raoul said quickly,
Raoul as watched angerly Erik climbed into the carriage then closed the door behind him.
Raoul's anger grew as he watched the carriage begin to move away and eventually fade from his sight.
Raoul wanted nothing more than to release a cry of frustration, but knew that his station would not allow it.
Minutes later Raoul's driver hesitantly asked him what he wished to do.
No longer having an appetite, Raoul angrily demanded to be taken home.
The ride home was not an easy one for Raoul as unpleasant thoughts entered his mind against his will.
The first one being that tonight is the fourth time that he had been rebuffed by the woman he loved.
Raoul clutched his heart in agony as the inconceivable thought, of the woman he loved being out with another man clawed at his young and fragile heart
Raoul was young, rich, and handsome.
Any woman would be happy to be with him, but the woman he loved rebuffed him at every time.
Who was this rival and what did he have to offer her that would make her choose to go about town with someone so obviously her senior.
Raoul clutched his heart in agony once more as the thought of losing the woman he loves threatened to rip his young and fragile heart from his chest.
This Rival That I SeeThis rival that I see Has stolen my lover from meThe one thing that is missing Is parading with a stranger at nightI have put a face to the voice Which leaves me with only one choice This rival that I see Has stolen my lover from me My supper companion he did steal With no regard to how I feel My lover sees that I am thereBut trampled on my heart without careThis man has taken my lover awayYet I shall escort her into the light of day This rival that I seeHas stolen my lover from me
Erik watched Christine stare silently out the window as the carriage made its way back to the opera house, then Erik decided to speak up as he heard Christine sigh for the second time since the ride had begun.
"Christine, are you alright?"
"Yes thank you, I just wanted to apologize," Christine said as she turned to face Erik.
"Christine, what could you possibly have to apologize for?" Erik asked, feeling completely shocked.
"I'm sorry for the way Raoul acted. I knew that he was really jealous when we were children, but I thought he would have outgrown it by now. I'm sorry that he ruined our nice evening." Christine grumbled as she rolled her eyes.
"Christine, he didn't ruin our evening.
I had a wonderful time with you tonight, and I can't thank you enough for standing up for me." Erik said, quickly as he looked down at his feet.
"Of course I would have Erik you've stood up for me so many times, and what we have means a lot to me.
I just wish that we could go somewhere where Raoul couldn't stick his big jealous nose."
Erik stared at Christine, unable to believe what he had just heard.
She loathes the boy, and hates that he interrupted our evening; she even wants to go to a place with me where we won't be interrupted, has fate finally decided to take pity on my poor soul? Erik thought, as he looked at Christine.
"Erik is everything alright?" Christine asked as she gave Erik a worried look.
"I apologize Christine I was only thinking,"
"About what?"Christine asked with an intrigued look.
"Well since you said you wanted to go somewhere that we could be alone, I was thinking that perhaps we could have a picnic in the park." Erik said as his face turned red.
"I think that's a wonderful idea, we could even bring Dominic along.
I'm sure he would enjoy the open space, so perhaps we could go next Sunday." Christine said excitedly,
"Yes I would like that very much, and I would be happy to do the cooking."Erik said, with a shy smile.
"Oh Erik that sounds wonderful, and I can't wait for the two of us to go on an outing again."Christine said, with a bright smile.
"Christine I am so happy to see that you enjoy my company as much as I enjoy yours." Erik said as he placed a kiss on Christine's hand.
"Of course I do Erik. I was so happy when you came to me all those years ago, even if it was under false pretenses." Christine said as she squeezed Erik's hand
"Christine I'm so sorry I know I should have told you the truth, but I didn't know how and you were so young at the time.
I knew that there was no way I could make you understand, but that doesn't make up for how I lied." Erik said as he squeezed Christine's hand.
"Erik it's okay, and you were right I wouldn't have understood, but I understand why you did it. You liked my voice and you didn't want to be alone anymore.
"I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing, and as long as we are being truthful I should tell you that I was happy when we met." Christine said with a shy smile.
Erik's eyes widened as he listened to what Christine had just said,
Christine squeezed Erik's hand as she opened up about a sad time in her childhood,
"I was very lonely after my father died Madame Giry tried to comfort me you see, but she was often tired after work and couldn't spend much time with me.
Meg the good playmate that she was sadly couldn't understand my situation, she had lost her father too you see; but he died two months before she was born due to a fever, and she knew almost nothing about him.
Once Madame Giry ,and Meg fell asleep I would often sneak down to the chapel to light a candle for my father, the darkened opera house would often scare me but the need to be near my father helped me ignore it.
It was three months after I came to the opera house, and on this night I was overwhelmed with grief.
I started to cry, and I cried for what seemed like a very long time, then I heard your voice.
I was frightened at first but only at first, then I realized you were as sad as me.
You said you liked listening to me sing when I came to spend time with my father, so I thought singing would make us both happy."
" You are right to think this Christine teaching you, has been the happiest time in my life.
I spent years trying to find the right person to teach, I even tried to teach my own mother; unfortunately, she did not have the passion and focus that would be required of my student.
Then that night, I found myself wandering around the opera house, all was quite just like every other night then I heard you singing; your voice was pure and angelic even though I knew you had no formal training, I praised the man who first taught you to sing."
"My father would often sing old folk songs to help me sleep, and one night I started to sing with him.
Afterwards he would practice with me every day, he was astounded by how quickly I learned things he would often say that one day I would surpass him.
I would always tell him that I didn't want to surpass him, but he would always say that he was blessed to have such a gifted child and how he longed to see me perform on an actual stage.
That also made my father's death particularly hard for me,
It hurt that he would never see me perform, and I wish that you and my father had met.
I'm sure you both would have been great friends," Christine said, the carriage stopped in front of the opera house.
Christine let Erik help her out of the carriage, feeling grateful to be back to the place she called home.
Christine went to Madame Giry's room to get Dominic, and to thank her for taking care of him. Christine and Madame Giry had a short conversation upon Christine's arrival, and Madame Giry was happy that two of the people she cared about most were getting along so well together.
Then Christine and Dominic made their way to her dressing room,
Christine walked into her dressing room, and closed the door,
She saw that some of the lamps were dimly lit,and her mirror stood open.
Erik stood across the fresh hold, and smiled as he watched Christine eagerly join him in the tunnels and lamps went out as the mirror closed.
Erik, and Christine walked through the tunnels in silence as they both thought about what had happened that evening.
Oh curse you Raoul I was so close to telling Erik how I felt about him, but you had to come along and ruin it; but perhaps Erik could already see how I felt,
I have never been very good at hiding my true feelings and even though Erik hasn't had much experience with people and their emotions he is still very smart, but I know that only a coward would not speak their mind when it comes to a matter as important as this.
Erik walked in silence as he led Christine back to his home. think about everything that happened
Curse that insolent boy for getting in the way of our nice evening, he didn't even notice her until he heard her sing.
I know because I watched him walk right by her while she and Meg talked about him, but when he saw her on stage that night and saw how beautiful she had become he decided to continue with the infatuation he had; had as a child if I were a less composed man, as soon as the opportunity presented itself I would dispose of him for good but I know Christine would never approve.
I will just have to let things follow their own course, and let Christine choose for herself.
Erik thought as the fear of Christine leaving him, tied his stomach in knots.
"Erik are you alright?"Christine asked as she watched Erik walk down the tunnel.
"Yes I was just thinking of a part of my opera that has been giving me trouble,"
He hated lying to Christine, but he knew now that jealous men didn't appeal to her; and didn't want her to see any, similarities between himself and Raoul.
When Erik and Christine arrived at Erik's home they had a polite conversation then Christine went to bed.
The next morning Christine once again woke to the sound of the monkey music box, but she became very worried when she didn't hear Erik's organ Christine tiptoed to the top of the stairs so as not to startle Erik.
Christine reached the top of the stairs, and saw that Erik was caught in another nightmare. Christine's heart went out to him, and she wished that there was something she could do.
"Erik wake up!"Christine shouted as she stood at the top of the stairs.
Erik screamed and thrashed violently,then his eyes opened as he fell off the couch and onto the stone floor.
"Erik are you alright?" Christine quickly asked desperately, wanting to go to him, but she knew that it wasn't a good idea.
Then Dominic ran down the stairs and licked Erik's face. At first Christine was really worried about what Erik would do, but allowed herself to relax as she watched Erik pet Dominic's head as Dominic laid his head in Erik's lap.
You're a very good boy, you know that?" Erik said as he petted Dominic's head.
Dominic let out a whimper as if to say you're a very good human but you're starting to worry me, you know that?
He's worried about you, we both are,"Christine said as she slowly walked down the stairs.
"I seemed to have had another nightmare." Erik said as he came back to reality.
"Yes you did and it was the third one this week we have to do something about this Erik." Christine said as she sat down beside Erik.
" My nightmares are very erratic I never know when I'm going to have one, and there is nothing I can do about it." Erik muttered, as he buried his face in his hands.
"Perhaps it would help if you slept with someone." Christine said, as she placed a hand on Erik's shoulder.
"Christine! "Erik said with a look of shock.
"No that's not what I meant, it's just that when I was a child I had a teddy bear, I always slept with it kept me from having bad dreams; and I just thought that if we slept in the same bed, if you knew that some that cares is close by then you would be able to sleep without nightmares. " Christine said quickly as took Erik's hand.
" Christine I am very happy, and grateful that you care so much about me but I just don't think that your idea will work." Erik said quickly as his face turned red.
"Oh please Erik let me try I'm so worried,"
"I will try your idea, but I will also hold you to your word if I feel uncomfortable; or this doesn't work then we will go back to the way things were and we will never discuss it again." Erik said firmly.
"Of course Erik I would never want to do anything to make you feel uncomfortable," Christine said quickly.
Christine, and Erik had a pleasant breakfast, filled with pleasant small talk then Erik took Christine to the surface.
Christine, and Meg practiced their routine then as they took their lunch break Christine told Meg everything that had happened the night before.
"Oh my goodness how scandalous you are so lucky,"Meg said, as she fanned herself"
While I agree that this is scandalous, how can you possibly think that I'm lucky; and could you please be a little quieter."Christine whisperer shouted, as she quickly looked around.
"I'm sorry Christine but any woman would kill to be in your position," Meg whispered excitedly.
"Oh, and what position is that?" Christine said feel exasperated because her friend wasn't understanding her feelings.
"To have two handsome men fighting over you, it's just like something out of a romance novel!" Meg gushed as she hugged her friend.
"Meg I don't want two men fighting over me I love Erik, and Raoul will only cause problems for us.
I don't understand Raoul could have any woman he wanted, and I have made it clear that I don't like him why won't he just move on?"
"Well Christine some people are odd like that, and they want the things they know they can never have." Meg said with a shrug.
"What a ridiculous notion!"Christine said as she scrunched up her face in annoyance.
Meg nodded her agreement as they went back to practice,
When practice finally ended Christine slowly made her way back to her dressing room feeling completely exhausted, thinking about Erik and worrying about the trouble Raoul had caused had taken its toll on her.
As she made her way to her dressing room Christine kicked herself for not telling Erik how she felt, and wondered if she would ever get another chance.
Christine walked into her dressing room, and let out a sigh as she closed the door.
Then her face brightened as she saw the candles in her room go out,
"Christine are you alright you look exhausted," Erik asked, quickly as he took in Christine's tired expression and sagging shoulders.
"I'm fine Erik really it's just that practice, was a bit harder than usual I'm sorry if I worried you." Christine said as she stepped through the mirror.
"It's alright Christine I'm just relieved to see that you are not becoming ill."
Christine and Erik went back to his home, to have her lesson then dinner.
After dinner Erik and Christine talked about their day until Erik saw Christine yawn.
"It seems that you are tired Christine," Erik said, as he started to feel nervous about what he knew was coming next.
"Yes it seems that perhaps it's time to execute our plan,"Christine said with a hopeful smile.
"Very well Christine after you," Erik said quickly as he motioned for Christine to go upstairs.
Christine went upstairs without protest, as she called for Dominic to follow her.
Erik waited a few minutes after she went upstairs, and tried to swallow the lump of dread in his throat.
Then Erik slowly walked upstairs,
When Erik walked into Christine's room he saw that she wasn't there.
Perhaps she changed her mind, I wouldn't blame her if she did, I mean what woman would ever want to share a bed with me. Erik thought as he looked around the room .
Erik slowly walked over and petted Dominic to help distract himself from his loneliness then Erik quickly turned around as he heard Christine clear her throat.
Erik's mouth dropped open as he watched Christine enter the room, wearing a white silk chemise he had bought for her; ashamed as he was to admit it he had thought of her in these outfits many times, but never dreamed of actually seeing her wear one.
Christine's cheeks turned crimson as she watched Erik's reaction, even though she would never want anyone to find out about this she couldn't help but enjoy Erik's gaze.
No man had ever looked at her the way he was, it made her feel desirable and Christine suddenly found herself having to squash a feeling that she was unfamiliar with.
"Which side of the bed do you want?" Christine asked quickly as she recommitted herself to the task at hand.
"I am not used to sleeping in beds, so I suppose I will take the side you don't want." Erik said as he focused on petting Dominic.
"Well I prefer the left side, so I suppose that leaves you the right," Christine said, as she pulled back the blankets and climbed into the left side of the bed. Christine quickly said goodnight to Erik, and wished him good luck on finding sleep.
Then she turned on her side away from Erik hoping that this would make him more comfortable.
Erik waited until he was sure that Christine was asleep then he whispered good night to her, and allowed himself to sleep.
Then she turned on her side was sure that Christine was asleep then he whispered good night to her, and allowed himself to sleep.