Libérée Délivrée -(Phantom of the Opera fanfiction)

Chapter Twelve

Erik was sick and tired of the games that he and Christine had been playing for the past day and a half. He had refused to eat or talk to her since the incident with that stranger. It was rather childish and rash how he reacted. It was time to stop this. It was time to-

"A letter, milord!"

Exasperated, he quickly gestured for the letter and opened it. As he read it

Christine walked into the dining room, "Who wrote you?" She asked prettily, annoying Erik since he knew she was trying to be difficult.

"Raoul's married," Erik informed her, after a long and pregnant pause. "But he doesn't say who only that he "wishes to have us meet her when he visits Winterford.'" He added, "Those were his exact words. Though I find it really hard to believe that he wants to visit Winterford when he despises the weather here." 

"Erik, please! It will be wonderful for him and his wife to come North." Christine quickly interjected.

Erik didn't comment, but instead heaved a deep breath and sighed. Might as well get to the point... "Would you please tell me what you were doing with him?"

"Well, it doesn't matter, does it? You will still believe that I was flirting or the worse." She answered stubbornly. Why should she be the one to explain and beg forgiveness when she had done no wrong?

"Is that what you really think?" He asked hurtfully. Why would she think that he would be so biased as to not hear the other side? Women. He never could or would be able to understand their species. 

"Fine. You want to hear what really happened? A crazy man named "the Foreigner" came up to me and told me all of these personal truths about my family, that only my family would know. Is that what you wanted to hear?" How did this stranger know about her father's childhood? Was what he said about her mother true or not? 

"If that's the truth, then yes." Erik wasn't exactly sure whether or not it was true, but... Wait, was the man threatening her?! Erik rubbed his stubble with his hand. "What exactly did he know? And "the Foreigner. "What kind of alias is that?" 

"My father's lineage, my estranged relationship with my mother and sister, and-" she hesitated. Should she share his knowledge about the unspoken part of her past? "-how I used to be a servant."

Servant? She was a servant before? He scrutinized her carefully. Posture, dress, shoes, attitude -except around him, almost chuckling at the observance - everything about her spoke well-bred since birth. Why had she not told him before? Where did she learn to be a respectable young woman? 

"Why did you not tell me earlier?" He asked, not bothering to word it carefully.

"Well, Alic- Someone told me to tell you a couple days after we arrived here but..." He was gazing right at her, and it just made her more nervous. "You're quite intimidating." She added. "And I barely knew you." 

He groaned and closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. Now was not the time to discuss their relationship or lack of one since his brother would be in their home soon. "Raoul is probably half way on the road right now."

"Yes." She agreed. 

Erik was at a loss for words. Well, a servant wasn't that bad, really. But she didn't trust him enough to tell him in a first place. "Your past isn't any worse than mine." He said quietly. "I'm just sorry you decided to tell me just now." He then stood up and left the room.