By the time I made it back to the opera house, the sun had gone down, and the streetlamps became illuminated. I entered the silent tomb, expecting to be surrounded by nothing more than darkness, but instead, I was met with the aroma of delicious food. I raised a curious brow and followed the scent down the hall and towards the manager's office. The door was cracked and there was a bright light illuminating the once dark room. The managers were both away for the holiday, which made this very odd, for why would they be back so early, and on the night before the holiday.
"Monsieur?"
I lightly knocked on the ajar door, only to open it and find a desk set for two, with a burning candle placed in its center, along with a vase containing a dozen red roses. I smiled at the set up and believed that I was intruding on someone's romantic Christmas dinner, only to turn around and find Erik standing behind me. I gasped, for he was dressed in his finest black robe, and familiar white mask. He stood there holding a red rose in one hand, while his other was nestled in his black sling.
"Did you do this?"
I questioned.Erik nodded.
"Yes, Christine."
"Why?" I questioned. "You should be resting."
Erik hurried to one of the chairs and motioned me to sit.
"I heard you mention to the Giry girl about how your father used to make your holiday a happy one."
"So, you made me dinner?" I questioned.Erik nodded and approached one of the desks that belonged to the managers. It was there, that he had placed our meal and began to prepare our plates.
"Where did you go this afternoon?" he questioned, placing my serving of chicken and vegetables down in front of me. "I called for you, but soon realized that you were no longer in my lair."
"I went to visit my father."
Erik nodded and took a seat across from me.
"Should we be in here?" I questioned, looking around the office. "What if someone walks in on us?"
A small devilish smile spread across Erik's lips.
"When I decided I wanted to do this for you, I knew this would be the only place worth having it in. Not to talk ill of my home or anything, but this is a much nicer setting than a damp cellar. My cellar is not very jolly, is it?"
I shyly laughed. "I guess not."
Erik's hands nervously shook as he reached up and fumbled with the strap of his mask, pausing to look at me before he removed it as if attempting to get my approval.
"I apologize in advance, Christine, but I cannot eat while wearing it."
"It's all right." I assured.
Erik's mismatched eyes never left my own as he lowered the garment and sat it beside him in case he needed to quickly put it back on. He waited a few more moments, as if he were waiting for any fear to emerge. Wanting to change the subject, I began to eat and looked up at him a few moments later.
"Is this what you used to do with your family?"
The question caught Erik off guard, for he reached for his glass of wine, taking a large sip with his malformed lips before answering.
"No, Christine." he replied. "My mother would always host Christmas Eve dinner with the people from church. I was never allowed to attend."
My heart sank.
"Why?"
Erik gestured to his face. "Must you truly ask?"
"I'm sorry." I quickly said.
"Don't be, Christine."
"So, this is your first Christmas dinner?"
All emotion left Erik's face. "I guess it is, isn't it?"
An awkward silence filled the room before Erik changed the subject.
"You know, it is foolish of me, but there are times when I could see myself standing in this very office, believing it to be my own. I guess wishes are for fools, and dreams are for the pitiful."
"And why not?" I questioned. "What makes your dreams pitiful?"
Once more, Erik gestured to his face. "Ah, yes, Christine, please tell me who would want to work for a beast such as myself? How can I expect others to look upon my face without fear if I can't even stand the sight of it?"
I didn't say a word, and Erik continued.
"When I was a boy, and my mother would be having her Christmas get together, I would pretend I was a part of it. I would sit against my door so I could hear their conversation and eat my meal, pretending as if I were sitting at the table with everyone. All I ever wanted was to be a part of everything, Christine. I wanted it so badly, that I never took the time to realize that it was so selfish of me."
"No, Erik." I said. "It's not selfish."
Erik faked a smile. "It doesn't matter now. Being here with you tonight makes up for every terrible thing that has ever happened to me."
Erik held up his glass and motioned to me.
"Merry Christmas, Christine."
I smiled and raised my glass as well.
"Merry Christmas, Erik."
For a while, we ate in silence, indulging in the meal Erik had prepared for us. He was a wonderful host, and my heart pitied the man who had been forced to live his life in solitude.
"How is your arm?" I questioned.
Erik's eyes gazed down at his sling and sighed.
"Not very good, I'm afraid. I have not been able to play a single note on the piano. I can only brush over a few keys before my arm seizes up and causes me pain."
I thought for a few moments and stood to my feet.
"I will be right back."
Back when my father was alive, he had once told me that when he had been a boy, he injured his arm. My grandfather had purchased him a violin, assuring that it would strengthen his bones. My grandfather had been right, for the instrument had not only helped my father heal, but it had also been the very item that had caused him to fall in love with music. My father treasured his violin and had passed it on to me before he died. For years, it had sat beneath my bed in the case it had been given to me in. I didn't play the violin and had hoped to one day pass it along to my child, but at this moment, Erik needed it more than I did.
"What's this?" Erik questioned upon my return.
I held the violin case behind my back and approached Erik with a smile spreading across my face.
"Well, Christmas is not complete without gifts." I replied.
"Christine, this meal has been the best gift you could have ever given me."
"Well, this gift is useful." I replied. "I believe it's just what the doctor ordered."
Erik raised a curious brow, and I presented the violin case to him.
"This was my father's."
Erik immediately raised his hand.
"No, Christine. I cannot accept this... I am not worthy of such a gift."
I opened the case, and the beautiful instrument flashed before Erik's eyes.
"Christine, please reconsider." he begged. "This should stay in your family."
"And it will." I assured. "My father used this very violin to help strengthen his arm when he fractured it as a boy. I believe it can help you too."
I closed the lid and held it out to Erik.
"When your arm is feeling better, you can give it back to me."
Erik half smiled. "I will protect it with my life, Christine."
"I know you will, Erik."
The room fell silent, and a look of fright spread across Erik's masked face.
"I believe it is your turn, Christine." he stammered.
My turn? The dinner was far more than enough. Not only had Erik made me dinner, but he had also given me the dozen roses that were still in a vase on the table.
"This was more than enough." I said. "You made me remember the Christmases I spent with my father."
"Christine..." the nervousness in Erik's voice as he said my name was enough to tell me that something was about to happen, something that I was not ready for.
"Christine, I have enjoyed these past few years with you." he continued. "We've formed this bond that I have never had with anyone else in my entire life."
Erik's hand nervously shook as he reached into his robe and pulled out something small. My heart was racing as he took my hand into his own, his fingers trembling with every fiber within him.
"Christine, I know that I am not a handsome man, nor am I someone you would willingly invite into your bed."
My heart sank deeper. What was he doing? Where was this going? My heart was racing within my chest as I continued to stand there before him utterly speechless.
"I do not have much to offer, but what I do have, I wish to share it with you."
It was then, that I felt him place something small and cold into the palm of my hand and close my fingers around it. When he moved away, I looked down at my palm to find a simple gold band with a small diamond placed in its center. A ring... Erik had given me a ring.
"Before you say anything, Christine, please know that what we have now would not change. I would never expect or ask for anything more than your company."
A ring. Erik was giving me a ring. It wasn't the ring that frightened me, but the meaning behind it. This was his way of proposing to me, and I was at a complete loss for words. Why? Why had he taken such a kind gesture and manipulated it into something more than just Christmas dinner?
"That ring belonged to my mother," Erik continued. "I never thought I would have fallen in love with any woman, let alone you, Christine. You are the only woman I have ever wanted to give it to. What better night than tonight? Tonight, is a night for happiness, and you have always brought me just that. Please say something, Christine."
I closed my eyes, ashamed of what I was about to do. I placed the ring into the palm of Erik's hand and closed his fingers around it.
"Christine?" Erik's voice was shattered as he gazed down at the returned gift.
"Erik, I enjoy spending time with you, but what you're asking; the meaning behind that ring... I can't accept it."
"Do you not believe that I would be content with what we have?" Erik cried. "That I would want more? Embraces, kisses, consummation?"
"I didn't say that!" I cried.
"Then what is it?" he angrily sobbed.
"Erik, what we have, it isn't real."
Those were the very words that broke his heart. He stood there in silence, his bottom lip quivering.
"It's not real, Erik."
"I'm real, Christine." Erik sobbed. "I have a beating heart, and a soul that adores you beyond words. If that isn't real, I do not know what is."
I didn't answer him, which caused Erik to break down.
"It's him, isn't it?" he cried. "Even after all that he has done to me, you still love him."
Suddenly, from down the hall, I heard my name being called. I gasped and looked towards the door, then back at Erik who was on his knees.
"I need to go." I said. "I'm sorry."
"If I had not been born a monster, would you have accepted my ring?"
"I...I don't know, Erik."
"Christine!"
Once more, I heard my name being called, and that was when I turned and left Erik broken on the floor. I felt terrible for doing so, but had I not left, there was no telling who would have found us. After hurrying down the hall, I came face to face with Raoul.
"Raoul, what are you doing here?" I questioned.
"I came to rescue you, of course."
"Rescue me?" I questioned. "I told you that I didn't wish to see you."
"Ah, but there is still time to make dessert if you come with me."
"Raoul, I'm still angry with you for what you did. You lied to me!"
"And for good reason, Christine."
Raoul pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Please come to my estate for dessert, Christine. I love you, and still want to spend Christmas together."
I looked back down the hall and sighed, knowing that I couldn't stay at the opera house. Agreeing, I left with Raoul and journeyed to his estate to have dessert with his family. Dinner with Erik had been filled with happiness and warmth, but I found that dessert with Raoul was the complete opposite. Even though his estate was bustling with way more guests, I found it rather boring, and filled with nothing but talks about politics. After midnight, Raoul escorted me back to the opera house and stopped me from going inside.
"Christine, the opera house is hosting their annual New Year's Eve masquerade ball next week. I was hoping that you would be my guest that evening?"
I smiled. "Of course, Raoul."
Raoul smiled back. "Wonderful. I have a surprise instore for you, Lotte."
I wasn't sure what Raoul was talking about but kissed him goodnight and headed back inside. I guess I expected Erik to still be where I had left him, but when I entered the manager's office, I found it as though we never had dinner there at all. Everything was back in order, and the once brightly lit room was now a dark fortress.I immediately ran towards the cellar door, but stopped myself, for I couldn't bring myself to go to him. Deciding to leave him be, I returned to my room, knowing that when Erik was ready, he would appear once more.
Christmas came and went, the ballerinas and opera company returned just as quickly as they left. Only this time, everyone was relieved that the opera ghost was no more, or so they thought. The week was busy with rehearsals for the new opera and preparing for the masquerade ball. As the week went on, I began to wonder if Erik was truly upset with me, for we had never been apart for so long before. I had begun to worry about Erik, but only felt a small sense of relief after I returned from rehearsals one evening to find my father's violin case sitting on my bed with a small note attached to it.
"I have kept this long enough.
Erik."
I had hoped for a longer letter but I knew deep down that I had hurt him badly. What I wasn't expecting was Raoul's surprise. The evening of the ball, I dressed in a sparkling blue skirt and pink top. I headed out to meet Raoul, who was dressed in his suit with a matching black mask. He kissed me on the lips and immediately pulled a necklace from his pocket and placed it around my neck.
"Raoul, what is this?"
I took the trinket that was hanging around the chain and held it up to find a diamond ring!
"Raoul?"
"Lotte, I believe it is time for us to put our childhood behind and join hands as husband and wife."
"Are you asking me to marry you?"
"I placed this ring on a necklace for you to wear as a promise, Lotte." he said. "When you are ready to take the next step, you can move it to your finger."
I gazed long and hard at the beautiful ring, the very sight of it brought back memories of Christmas Eve and the ring Erik had given me. Raoul's surprise had stunned me, so much that I could barely think of anything else as we danced with the rest of the guests. Eventually, Raoul left my side to talk to one of the managers, when I was grabbed from behind and pulled out into the dark hallway. I gasped and looked up to find a man dressed in a red suit and a mask that looked like a skull. He backed me into a corner, his body pressing against my own. Frightened, I pulled off my mask to reveal my identity to the man, causing him to pull off his own. It was Erik! He was standing before me with his white mask still intact, his mismatched eyes going straight to the chain that was hanging around my neck.
"Oh, Christine," he cried. "How could you?"
"It's not what it seems."
"I saw the both of you!" he sobbed. "I saw him place this around your neck. I heard what he said, Christine! I heard those horrid words! Wear this until you wish to take the next step, then move it to your finger."
Erik gazed down at the ring and held it up to my face.
"Your boy has expensive taste. How dinky my ring must have seemed to you."
"You shouldn't be here." I said. "What if someone sees you?"
"That should be the least of your worries, Christine."
"Erik, you're frightening me."
Erik stood up and turned away. "I returned your violin to you, and now it is back where it belongs."
There was a long pause, and then Erik continued in his cold tone of voice.
"You have your boy now as well, so I guess I have become useless to you."
"Erik, please." I begged. "It's not like that."
Erik sighed. "Right, Christine. I am but a mere monster, and you are a beautiful queen, unworthy of such love. Happy New Year."
I felt absolutely terrible about how I had made Erik feel and knew that I could not leave things this way.
"Dance with me, Erik." I said.
Erik's eyes widened, seeming shocked that I had even suggested such a thing.
"I couldn't possibly." his nervous voice stammered.I took his arm and led him back into the crowded room.
"Of course, you can." I replied. "Everyone is in costume and won't even notice you."
For a few blissful moments, Erik and I danced to the music that was being played by the band. I twirled around and even laughed as the two of us seemed to enjoy this time we had together. The music wasn't even finished playing, when I heard Raoul's voice, causing me to spin around and find him approaching me.
"Raoul."
He took hold of my arm, seeming confused about who I had been dancing with.
"Really, Christine," he said. "I leave you for five minutes and you start dancing with someone else?"
I turned to face Erik, but found that he had disappeared, as if he had never been there at all.
"He was just a patron that asked for a dance." I lied. "It was nothing, Raoul. I was just trying to be polite."
This lie seemed to satisfy him, for he didn't question me about it again. For the remainder of the evening, I danced with Raoul and couldn't help but continue to glance over my shoulder, always expecting to find Erik standing a few feet away. Though, all I found was nothing but darkness and not a single sight of him. Erik had been a better dance partner than Raoul, and I was beginning to miss his presence. When the clock struck midnight and the year turned, everyone leaned in and kissed their date. I had kissed Raoul many times in the past, but for some odd reason, tonight, I no longer desired it. Like a fool, I took Raoul up on his offer to spend the night at his estate, and it was then that he and I finally consummated our relationship. This was something I had heard the ballerinas rave about night after night as they always told the tales of their midnight escapades with their lovers. It was supposed to be breathtaking, and blissful, but instead, I was left wondering if there was something more to be desired.
I faked a smile afterwards and Raoul quickly removed himself from the bed, dressing and promising me that he would return in the morning to escort me to breakfast. I was now alone and could do nothing but cry myself to sleep. I wasn't sure when I awoke but did so to a terrible smell. I rose and rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, approaching the window to see where the musky smell was coming from. I gasped when I looked towards the city, only to find something engulfed in flames and smoke. It took me a few moments, but my heart instantly ceased when I realized that it was the opera house that was on fire. I gasped and reached for my dress, tossing it on and hurrying down the stairs. Erik! Erik needed to be warned! How had this happened! I ran as quickly as I could down the cobblestone streets, the smell of smoke only getting heavier as I approached the building.
There were crowds of people standing around watching my beloved home burn to the ground while firemen were already attempting to put out the flames. I pushed my way through the crowds and could hear Raoul's voice calling for me in the distance, but I didn't stop. I needed to get inside and find Erik! I approached the small window that was on the other side of the building; the same window I had used in the past to sneak out at night. I pushed it open and slipped inside the smoke filled room, keeping my head down as I headed towards the chapel.
The flames were just reaching the door as I hurried inside and attempted to head towards the trap door that would lead me down into Erik's lair. Though, just as I was attempting to turn the knob, the door to the chapel became filled with flames, making it hard to breathe. I fell to my knees, only to look up and find that the ceiling was now engulfed in flames. Perhaps this wasn't a great idea after all, for I was now trapped, and the door to the underground lair was not opening. Pieces of the ceiling began to fall, and landed on my exposed legs, causing me to cry out in pain. I placed my arms over my head and prayed as the room around me began to burn. I had never been so frightened in all my life, for I knew that I was most likely going to die.
Thanks for all the wonderful reviews and favorites! This will probably be the last chapter until after the holidays! Have a wonderful holiday and see everyone in 2025!
