House Arrest [phantom of the opera fic]

CHAPTER SIX

(Raoul's POV)

I stood outside the door to Eriks room, listening to his story. I only had known the little snippet Madame giry told me. I never asked for his perspective...I almost felt bad for him.

Almost.

I pulled the roll of bandaged from my pocket and stepped into the room. Erik and Christine both looked at me as I entered. The demon had a mask on, which Christine had probably given to him... I set the bandages down, " Change your own bandages. I'm not going to do it for you."
Erik tried to sit up, and instantly Christine was at his side, bandages in hand.

I watched as she helped him sit up and put his legs over the edge of the bed. She cared so much for him... it must just be out of pity. She gently pushed the shirt off his shoulders and unraveled the bandages.

The bullet wound was healing slowly, which was to be expected. The bullet hit his side just enough to the right not to hit anything vital, but just enough to the left to take out a big chunk of flesh. Since I was only observing this time, I noticed the scars that criss-crossed his back. All of them looked old, but still looked painful. Some were deeper than others but I had no doubt as to what they were. Whip marks.

Christine was gentle when she applied the bandages; Treating him like he was made of glass. She slipped his shirt back over his shoulders and started to button it for him.
Erik sighed, "I am more than capable of buttoning my own shirt."
She looked him in the eyes, "you're in pain. I can tell. You didn't flinch away or move your arm once while I was bandaging you."
Erik looked off to the side; based on the look on his face, she was right and he knew it. Christine smirked. Ah, the Victory Smirk. The same face she made when she would beat me at some game when we were kids. I had been silent the whole time, so they looked suprised when I finally blurted out, "Where did you get those scars?"
Erik looked at Ayesha and pet her "which ones?"

Which ones?

So. He had more...

"I've only ever seen scars like that on insubordinate men in the navy."

Erik said nothing, just stared at his hand which was petting the cat. After a long pause he spoke up, "you were in the navy?"

"Yes, I sailed for about four years and came back when I became a patron for the opera."

This time he stayed quiet. I dismissed Christine; she seemed reluctant to leave, but did.

I took up residence in the chair she had left empty. The demon looked so human... just like any other man. But I had to remember that he was no ordinary man. This man had dropped a chandelier on a full house, and kidnapped Christine from her dressing room AND black mailed the previous managers for years. Plus, he was grotesque and on top of it all, a murderer. First Buquet and then Piangi.

"So. Where did you get those scars?"

"How did you put it?" He looked me in the eyes, "insubordination"

"So you were in the military?"
"I thought Madame Giry told you my whole life story."

She hadn't. She was in hysterics when I confronted her... all I could get was a "man locked in a cage"

"She said you were in prison."
"Prison would have been heaven compared to where I was. But why are you asking? I know you were outside the door, Listening. Didn't your mother ever teach you not to eavesdrop?" He turned his gaze to the window, "you're being more... pleasant... than when I first woke up. Feeling pity for a demon? I know that's how you think of me."

My eyes fell onto the mask he now wore, "I would never feel pity for a demon. Especially not you!"

He looked at me and it seemedbaa if his eyes were burning into my soul, "who's really at fault for my crimes? Me? Or the society that shunned me because of my face."

I stood up suddenly, "I'm calling a doctor from the asylum to look at you."

I left the room and slammed the door. I couldn't let his words get to me. He was insane and manipulative.