Mon Espion || Phantom of the Opera

Chapter 28 - Two Sides

WEE WOO WEE WOO WEE WOO. YOU'RE WARNED.

For hours he remained where he sat, contemplating over the two loves of his life. The one that his true essence yearned for and the one the deep twisted demon had obsessed over for years if not lifetimes. Their resemblance was quite uncanny, for Constance's eyes sparkled a bright and playful green while Christine's stared into his soul like crystal blue lakes gently floating along the riverbed in the summertime. Their hair was the same shade of brunette and almost similar to the texture, apart from Christine's natural curl to Constance's natural wave. Both of their complexions were porcelain white that blushed at the slightest of compliments and though Erik only knew of Constance's body, he only could imagine Christine's being the same. Their body type, posture and their overall physical appearance where quite similar and yet the two women could not have been more spiritually opposite.

Christine was that of a child, full of youth and wonder. She had listened to his commands completely, given her to him wholeheartedly until a certain Vicomte decided to pursue courting her. He could not completely blame him, or her even for wanting to engage in the youthful romance, for what could Erik do but lurk in the shadows? He could not take her out on Sundays as any normal man could with his wife, Raoul's handsome features were sure to be the exact mate that Christine had wished for the entirety of her youth. He felt torn by her decision to abandon her childhood angel, to abandon him for the certainty of an engagement. You fool, are you forgetting that you courted Constance in London for two months in public?

His mind switched from images of Christine to images of Constance, her hat flying off of her head despite her best efforts, him running onto the cobble streets to fetch the hat for her and almost got ran over in reward of his efforts; the way she clung onto him as they explored the historic aspects of the city, the way she sighed underneath him as he striped away the last of her innocence. Out of the three Constance was the true angel, not Christine and certainly not him. His hands began to shake again, his behind numb from sitting in the same position for so long. How long had he contemplated his decision on meeting Christine tonight? Sighing he ran his fingers through his hair once more, wanting desperately to get up from his deep thoughts instead of pondering over his feelings any longer. However his thoughts stirred back to the two women who had captured his interest and there he remained for another indefinite amount of time.

Occasionally the old grandfather clock located at the prima donna's dressing room would chime to the point that Erik could hear it down in his home. After some time of him sitting in solitude, he counted the chimes in his head, imagining the chimes dancing around him as the hours flickered past. Before he knew it, the time rang at fifteen before midnight, the time where Christine would be up on the roof of the opera house as she expected him to be. His mind still was not made up on if he should entertain her request or not, out of fear he would do something he regretted whichever choice he chose. If he did chose to go venture towards Christine, he would be letting Constance down. If he chose to not visit her, then Christine would be the one to be let down. How did his life become so complicated? Another sigh escaped his lips as he sat up for the first time in hours, picking up his heavier winter cloak and placed it around his shoulders. He decided to watch over Christine for the time being, simply being in the moment without making himself known. No harm should come to that. Besides, if Constance were to visit him she would have done so by now, considering it was midnight and she had a stressful day. He imagined her to be dreadfully exhausted and decided it to be best to let her get some rest.

Swiftly making his way through the extensive pattern of the tunnels without setting off any of his beloved trap doors, he made it to the rooftop in a matter of seconds. The cold air and moonlight from the night sky above began seeping into the exit of the tunnel, signifying he was about to make his choice. Just as he stepped out of the tunnel, he could hear the town's clock tower striking midnight, the moon only lighting up the other side of the rooftop in his preference. Slowly he closed the entrance behind him, making his way to one of the larger gargoyle statues as he looked around to see if Christine had been here or not. He clung onto the marble stone tightly as he feigned to remain hidden in the shadows, still not spying his angel of music as she promised to be here. Erik was not a very patient man and was prompt when telling Christine when to arrive for their singing lessons. After the first time she was late to a lesson, he would have thought she had learned by now to not keep him waiting. Alas, here he stood, waiting behind a statue once more. His mind drifted to when he had last seen her here, kissing the Vicomte as he proclaimed his affections for his Christine. She had sung with him willingly, been eager to have her spun around in his arms as their fabrics melted into one another with huge smiles on their faces. The way their lips clung to one another, the other trying to showcase who had the deepest desires as they sung about running off into their happily ever after. Another glorious memory, they were starting to make him sick.