Healing a Broken Soul

Chapter 4

"Meg Giry! Where in tarnation have you been?" Madame Giry exclaimed when Meg finally returned home on Christmas Eve.

"I went to Christmas Eve Mass with Erik."

"You did?"

Meg nodded, "Mother, he called me Meggie. This man on the street called me a tramp and he grabbed his collar and yelled at him... For me! He told me he loves me."

"Is he coming for dinner tomorrow?"

"I think so." Meg said quietly and then went to her bedroom. She laid in bed thinking about Erik and then realized she hadn't gotten him a gift so she rummaged through her clothes and found a scrap piece of red silk. She found a needle and thread and began to make him a red tie to wear for Christmas. She finished in the wee hours of the morning and found some old newspaper to wrap it in. Finally, she then went to sleep. The next morning she woke and saw the snow falling. Meg quickly dressed in a beautiful red gown. Then she went to see Erik. Carrying his gift in her hand, she headed toward his lair.

She knocked on the door and he opened it, "Merry Christmas!" he smiled and hugged her.

"Merry Christmas!" Meg kissed his unmasked cheek.

Erik led Meg to his room and handed her a folder with a ribbon tied around it, "This is yours. Merry Christmas, Meggie."

"Thank you!" she exclaimed as she opened it to find a piece of music called "Bathing Beauty". "This is adorable! Will I be able to sing it at the theatre?"

"Yes, yes... I can't wait to hear it."

"Me too! Here, this is for you," she handed him the gift which he opened.

"Thank you."

"Why don't you put it on?"

"Alright," he began to take off his other bow tie and put on Meg's handmade red tie.

"Do you like it?"

"Very much so. It's quite festive. Thank you very much."

The two then went to the Girys to spend Christmas Day. "Madame Giry," Erik kissed her hand and handed her an envelope, "Merry Christmas."

"And a Merry Christmas to you too," she said kissing his cheek. He shuddered. Still, he had not gotten used to sensation.

The trio sat down in the sitting room and began to look trough old Giry Family photo albums. "Here's a photo of Papa and I," Meg said showing Erik, "Wasn't he a handsome man?"

"He sure was," Erik said and wrapped his arm around Meg to comfort her as he sensed the sentimental tone of her voice.

"It's such a shame..." Madame Giry sighed, "He was too young."

"What happened... if I may ask..."

Madame Giry looked at Erik with tears brimming in her eyes, "Typhoid... It happened all so fast. Jules was a wonderful man and he died in such and awful..." She covered her mouth as tears ran freely out of her eyes and she was unable to continue. She sat down next to Erik where he was already holding Meg. Burying her face in his shoulder, she sobbed.

"I'm so sorry... I've completely spoiled the day..."

"No, you didn't," Madame Giry patted his leg, "We love having you."

He hadn't ever held people in this way. Yes, he and Christine had been intimate, but this wasn't the same... It was so very different. He was comforting them. As he held them, his mind raced to the Opera Populaire as Carlotta cried over Piangi's dead body. The images flashed and soon Erik had tears streaming down his face. Why was he such a monster?

"Erik, dear, why are you crying?" Madame Giry asked wiping away a tear from his unmasked cheek like a mother would do.

"I just had a horrific memory of the Opera Populaire... I was such a monster-"

"Erik, please," Meg pleaded, "You were in love and you were heartbroken and enraged..."

"That's no excuse, Meggie. I killed two men. Buquet and Piangi... Two noble men that didn't do anything to me."

"Buquet was far from a noble man... And you wouldn't have killed Piangi if they hadn't tried to entrap you," Madame Giry said caressing his hair with her hand. She had always been like a mother to him.

"Carlotta... All I can picture when I see anyone cry is her... She loved him so..."

"Where is Carlotta now, Mama?" Meg asked. Madame Giry tried to signal make to quit asking, but Meg didn't get the hint, "What? I'm just asking."

"Madame... Where is Carlotta?" Erik asked.

"They found her body in the rubble of the Opera Populaire. She refused to leave Piangi."

A sound came from Erik that made both Madame Giry's and Meg's heart shatter. He leaned over and sobbed. Madame Giry rubbed his back and Meg held his hand. The women looked at one another and frowned.

Meg ran her fingers through his hair, "Erik, darling, you're absolutely shattering my heart. I love you."

Erik whispered, "I think I need to go home."

"I'll walk with you."

"No. Thank you."

He left and went to his home. He sat down at his desk and began to write:

"Mrs. Christine de Chagny,

I have been informed that you have recently given birth to a son. I offer my sincerest congratulations. I have heard your voice and would like to invite you to America to sing after you recover from the birth of your child. I own a park here and you would be a perfect act for a special event. 

Please consider this offer. Your transportation would be paid for and we could negotiate wages. 

Regards,

Mr. Erik Y."

He sealed the letter and ran it up to the post box outside. Then he returned to his lair. Meg soon came down and sat beside him. He didn't speak for a long time. Suddenly, Meg turned to him and pulled his mask off of his face. 

"What are you doing!" he covered his face.

Meg kissed his hand and removed it from his face. Then she kissed his scarred cheek working her way down to his neck. Then she unbuttoned his shirt and kissed his chest.

"Meggie, we shouldn't."

She shushed him and continued. The two then ended up in Erik's bedroom. 

After an exhausting love making session, Meg woke in Erik's arms. His mask was off, his wig was off, and his clothes were all off revealing all of the scars on his body.

"Erik?" Meg whispered.

"Yes?" he asked groggily.

"Will you love me forever?'

"Of course, my dear," he whispered and kissed her forehead.

About a month after Christmas, the mail came while Erik was sitting in his office. He opened the mail like he would any normal day and then came upon a different letter. It was surely from out of the country. Then he remembered sending Christine a letter. Was this her response? He shook as he opened it and read:

"Dear Mr. Y., 

I received your letter and will surely accept. If you can send the money for transportation, then we will come and once we are there I can perform. Surely, you can understand I'd like to bring my son and husband along. I look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely,

Madame Christine Daae de Chagny Destler"

Erik put the money in an envelope and immediately sent it. Soon he would have his Angel of Music again.