His New Muse (Phantom of the Opera/Love Never Dies)

XIX

 Erik sighed. "We should not have this conversation now, Gustave."

 "Why not?" Gustave asked. "You told Monsieur Descoteaux and Monsieur Duval. Why wouldn't you tell me?"

 "I didn't think you were old enough for that story."

 "Father, I'm fourteen now. For the last four years, I have lived with you and trusted you. Why won't you tell me the truth?"

 "Because the truth is too painful," Erik snapped. "It would be better for you not to know it."

 "Father, I already heard you tell Monsieur Descoteaux and Monsieur Duval. Was any of that true?"

 Erik turned away from his son, afraid to look him in the eye. But Gustave deserved the truth. He deserved to be looked straight in the eye and told the exact truth. So, he looked at his son, and said, "Yes, Gustave. It is the truth."

 Gustave exhaled sharply. "But why? Why would you do those things?"

 "Because I was a bad man, Gustave. I still am now. What I did your mother was wrong, and yet she still loved me." Erik sat down at the piano and began to play softly. "She is the only woman I ever loved, and the first woman to show me true kindness, the way no one else had. We loved each other."

 "Is that why you let her go?" Gustave asked. "Why you left her? She loved you, but you thought you were bad for her."

 "I was bad for her," Erik said. "However much she loved me, I was bad for her. But I was selfish, Gustave, so selfish. For ten years, I regretted leaving her. That was why I tricked her into going to New York, to win her back. And when I met you, I knew I had to find a way to make her stay. That was why I made the deal with your stepfather. I knew he would lose. If I had never tricked them the way I did...perhaps Christine would still be alive."

 That statement was followed by total silence. Erik continued to play, and he knew Gustave was standing behind him, contemplating his thoughts.

 "Is this brotherhood really after us?" Gustave asked.

 "The Daroga would not have lied to me," Erik replied. "If he said so, they must be coming."

 It was then that they both heard a splashing from outside.

 "Get your things," Erik whispered. "We're leaving."

 "Is it them?" Gustave whispered in a frightened voice.

 "I don't know. Come, did you pack like I told you to? Good. Come with me, quickly. I know another way out."

~~~~~~

 Carwyn was comfortably settled into the guest room in Jacques' house. It made him happy to think they were now living under the same roof, but he wished it were under better circumstances. There were questions from Jacques' children, of course, but he explained to them that Carwyn was just there for a visit, and that it shouldn't be very long.

 Carwyn was beginning to fall asleep, but he eyes popped open again when he heard a noise that sounded like someone trying to open the window. The curtain was partly open, though, and he calmed himself when he saw the white mask.

 "You can't frighten me like that," Carwyn said, opening the window. "I thought-"

 "Yes, I know what you must have thought," Erik said, "But I didn't know how else to enter the house." He stepped into the room. "I see Monsieur Duval is taking care of you. Which is just as well, if I am leaving."

 "You're leaving? When?"

 "Tonight."

 "Tonight?" Carwyn repeated. "But where are you going?"

 "I can't tell you. It could put you in danger. All I can tell you is that it is somewhere far away. If Gustave and I leave, we can allude our predators a little longer, and you will be safe."

 "Will you ever come back?" Carwyn asked.

 Erik paused. "I don't know. It would be dangerous for me to come back, for all of us. I am sorry, Carwyn, for any trouble I caused you at the opera house. And thank you. Thank you for never handing me over to the police, for always being patient with me, and for being my friend. I did not deserve any kindness form you, nor did I ever earn it. You are one the greatest people I have ever come across, and you deserve all the happiness and joy this world can possibly give you." He stepped closer. "If you'll let me, just once..."

 Carwyn knew what he was asking, and let Erik give him a quick, gentle kiss on the lips.

 "Am I ever going to see you again?" Carwyn asked. 

 Erik shook his head. "I cannot promise you will. Goodbye, my dear Carwyn."

 He went back to the window and climbed back down to the street below.

 "Goodbye, Erik," Carwyn whispered as he watched him disappear into the shadows for the last time.