Erik immmediately broke away from my arms, and we both turned to face my addresser. Meg Giry, an old friend of mine, stood before us. At the sight of Erik, she went pale white, finally realizing what she'd just witnessed had been the two of us locked in an embrace."Meg?" I arose and and awkwardly replied.
Erik sat back, his eyes watching Meg and me. She nodded in his direction, scared to say anything to my dearest friend. He, too, nodded back to her, and then, returned his gaze to me.
"Christine, I thought i saw you last night, but I was'nt sure. I've been searching the whole building since early this morning. I'm glad I found you. I thought if I found you, that we could talk, but if this is a bad time. . .."
"Meg, I shall meet you in my old dressing room this afternoon at three, alright?" "That would be nice.....until then, Christine?" "Goodbye, Meg." She looked at erik and then at me. Soon she was gone, and Erik breathed easily. He rose, tall and dignified, his mind alert even to the changing directions of the wind.
"Little Giry knows I'm still here, Christine." He rested his hands upon my shoulders . We were standing near the edge of the roof now-maybe that's why he'd taken my shoulders, so I would never fall. I did not need to turn my head to look at him, I knew we were both thinking the same thing.
"She will tell." "She won't-" I protested before he cut me off. "She will." He sighed, and i took his palm in both of my hands while coming around to face him.
"Erik, will you leave?" "As long as others know that I am here,
it is'nt safe for me. I shall have to flee soon." "You can't
leave here, you can't go!" I clung to him fiercely."Why, Christine?
It's not safe for you or me, as long as I stay." "What if I beg Meg
not to tell when I see her this afternoon?"
"I don't know, my dear.....What does it matter to you? You'll
soon leave anyway, to marry that Vicomte of yours. What would be
left to keep here, or anywhere that matter?"
"Erik, I never said I was going to go back and marry Raoul!" "Well, I just assumed this was your farewell visit," he sniped at me, bitterness and hurt showing themselves. "Have you heard anything I have said to you since I arrived last night?." He made no reply, but stared past me.
"Erik, if you're going, I'm coming with you! Don't you understand?"
I grabbed him by the shoulders and shook desperately, tears streaming down
my cheeks. "Or is it impossible for you to believe that someone loves
you?!" He still said nothing, and continued to look out onto the
city. "Erik, I'm in
love with you!" I wept. Finally, his eyes found me--I'd just
admitted it to us both.
"Christine, don't do this." "Do what?" "Don't toy with my emotions. There 's been quite enough of that." I put my hands to his lips and caressed them fondly. "You don't believe me, do you?" I sighed, thinking of all the pain this man had endured, causing love to feel so distant from his reach. "How can I prove it to you?" He hung his head. I paused in thought before speaking again.
"Erik, ........marry me!" I became surprised at my own words,
but I felt as if a great weight had been lifted from my chest. "Marry you?"
he whispered, hardly believing what I said. I observed
him, anxiously awaiting an answer from his lips. His breathing
seemed to stop, and he stared deep into my wet eyes. I knelt down
before him on both knees, wrapping my arms around his legs.
"Marry me!" I pushed my head onto his tall, strong column legs and pleaded. I had not received any reply, probably because he did not know how to react to my love. soon, I felt the careful pressure of his graceful hand upon my head, fingers running through my hair.
"Yes," he sighed quietly, and then his tones grew a bit louder,"my dearest, I'll marry you. You know I've always been yours to do with as you pleased, Christine." my name was spoken like some melodic refrain.
He lowered himself down beside me, a loving glance that said more to me than I'd ever experienced, brought us into a kiss. I unmasked him, and ran my mouth over every inch of his tortured face. "My poor, unhappy Erik, my darling....."
Part 8
He placed a gold ring upon my finger, and, we frantically embraced again. The moist sweetness of his lips found my throat, and he lingered there.
"Erik, I must go meet Meg. I'll meet you in your room in an hour." I turned and left, but before I stepped down, Erik's voice called back to me. "Christine, you really do love me, don't you?" I faced him and halted. "Yes, Erik, I do love you....with all my heart."
I rapped my knuckle upon Meg Giry's oak dressing room door, and waited to be let in. I heard the clank of the lock being undone, and soon my paranoid friend let me in, allowing my to take a seat beside her.
"Christine," she said awkwardly. "Yes?" "Did you kiss
him?" Meg asked with anticipation.
"Yes, I did, you saw it, did'nt you?" Her eyes grew wide, and
I knew she wanted to hear more.
"Why did you kiss him?" "I love him, Meg, I really do.
He's so.....it's just, it's....." I scrambled for the best words.
"He's so kind, noone else knows that side of him, noone knows him like
I do. Being with Erik is different than being with Raoul. With
Erik, it just seems so right, like I should always wake up every morning
to the warmth of his breath against my neck." I must have started to
daydream, for Meg began to tug on my arm. "Meg, you should know
that I am going to marry him."
The youthful dancer put her hand to her mouth, her eyes grew much larger."How can you marry him, his face?!" "Meg, I am appalled at you! Do you ever look past the handsomeness of a man to see what he is really like?" I sighed. "Erik is the kindest, gentlest, most intelligent man I have ever met. His face means nothing to me."
"I suppose you are right, Christine. Whatever choices you make, I'll support you" she laid her hand gently over mine, and I left, feeling as if I could breathe easily once more.
Part 9
"Erik?" I knocked on the already cracked door of my bedroom.
He was looking over some documents of fine-quality parchment paper.
The handcarved wooden furniture he'd made now provided him a desk and chair
to sit at. My new fiance' peered up at me as I came in the room.
He wore his oriental robe of shining silk, with beautiful designs woven
into it by delicate golden
threads. He also wore his fine slacks and boots of black.
Erik's tall figure arose and took my hand in his as we came to sit together
on the plush bed. He pulled my body towards him, and I felt his warm
breathe against my face. I became excited upon realizing how very
close he held me. His touch was both comforting and disturbing, because
of what it was doing to me internally. Erik was the flaming darkness of
my life, the forbidden danger that was all too inviting.
His touch aroused a deep, sweet fire in my skin, and all I could take
in was the feeling of his body so close to mine. I stirred as his
hand came up to cradle my cheek. My lips softened, anticipating the
descent of his mouth onto mine. I shivered with delight at the gentle
pressure of his lips, his
tongue touching me ever so lightly.
Erik's hands tightened on my waist, only when my back hit the sheets, did I realize that he'd laid me down on the bed. His mouth trailed my neck, my breath leaving me in a drawn out pace. His sinewy arms held me in his complete control. His mouth continued until it encountered my gown.
My dark angel smoothly unlaced the item of clothing and slowly slide it off my body. "Christine, are you sure you're ready?" " I am yours tonight."