House Arrest [phantom of the opera fic]

CHAPTER ELEVEN

[Eriks POV]

"What do you want to know?"

"How long were you there? How did people just stand by and let you be beaten? Why did your mother hate you? Did they let you walk around? Who were the people who kept you? Where did you learn piano? Where did you get a cat? How did you build your home?" The barrage of questions hit me like a speeding carriage.
"Slow down! One at a time!"
Raoul nodded understanding, "How long were you there?"
"I don't know. Long enough for my voice to change if that gives you some idea."
"How could people just stand by and watch that happen to you?"
I shrugged, "they thought it was funny..."
"That's horrible!"
I ate a small bit of duck, "next question?"
"Why did your mother hate you?"
"Simple. I ruined her life. She lost all her freinds due to small-town superstitions."
"Did they ever let you out."
"Never. The cage door stayed shut unless I was going to be beaten or have a bucket of cold water dumped over me."
I could tell Raoul was getting uncomfortable, "what was his name?"
"Javert... He looked like a pig and smelled like one too..."
Raoul smiled at my little joke, and I found myself smiling back at him. He asked his next question, "who taught you piano?"
"The Priest in my hometown. I couldn't go to school, so he had to teach me. His name was also Erik."
"What about your cat? Where did you get her and why does she hate me?"
"Its not you. Ayesha hates everyone but me; even Christine. I found her as a kitten in an alleyway."
"I didn't know you ever left the opera house..."
"It was one if the occasions i needed something I couldn't take from the opera"
"Clothes?"
"No. I belive I was buying candles thst night. The ones from the opera run out much too quickly."
"You need to tone it down with the candles. I think you've got an addiction to them!" Raoul laughed, and I laughed with him.
"You know," I decided to change the subject, "if Christine has to marry someone other than me... I'm glad it's you. Atleast I know she'll be in good hands"
"Uh...about the marriage...we called it off..."
I nearly choked on my food, "you what?!?!?"
"She told me she only loved me like a freind or a brother." I saw tears in his eyes.
"Im sorry... I guess all that fighting was for nothing then."
Raoul shrugged, "I suppose so"
I tried to make light of the situation, "have you got your eyes on anyone new?"
"Actually...yes."
"What's she like?"
"She's tall...taller than me. Her favourite color is black, but she likes red too. She's also very beautiful...but she doesn't think that."
"She sounds lovely. What's her name?"
"Elissa."
"How come you've never mentioned her?"
"We only became acquainted rather recently. She's not the most social."
"An anti-social noblewoman?"
"She's not of the nobility." He moved his food around his plate, "I'm going to throw a ball and invite her. I'll make it a masquerade so you can come too. You might want to go as something other than the red death, though."
I laughed a little, "just a suit then?"
"Or a costume if you want."
"I'll be normal death then."
"Sounds perfect.!" He smiled at me and got up "I'll slip the invitation under your door!"
Raoul left the room full of joy. He seemed really happy about this new girl.

I stood up from the table and took a walk around the mansion. I managed to find several interesting rooms: a huge library with thousands of books, the kitchen, a parlor (about twice the size of my own) and the doors to the courtyard. Finally, I came across the ballroom. There were a few servants washing the floor; I didn't see why they needed to. I could see my face in it already! The walls were lined with floor to ceiling windows, with the exception of the wall behind me. The doors I had come through were at the top of a grand staircase. The wall behind me was yellow, with gilded patterns all over it. The ceiling was the same, except the patterns were much more grand. In the middle, hung an ornate chandiler.
"Don't even think about it." I jumped at bit and turned around to see the Vicomte with a playful smirk on his face, "it took forever to get it up there!"
I smiled, "Don't you worry yourself. I wouldn't know how to go about bringing it down, unless I knew where the counterweights were."
"Good luck finding them." Raoul produced an envelope from his pocket and held it out to me. I took it, "What's this?"
Raoul smiled, "You have been formally invited to the masquerade!"
I opened up the envelope, "I'll be sure to make it. Hopefully I can meet this Elissa girl..."
"I've just sent out her invitation."
"Do you think I could meet a girl at this party?"
"Maybe!"

A maid approached us, with a tray full of letters. Raoul picked them up and sorted through them quickly. One particular letter made him stop. "It's addressed to both of us..."

I took the envelope, and I instantly recognized chrstines handwriting.  I opened it quickly. Raoul tried to read over my shoulder, "what does it say? Read it out loud!"
"Alright, calm down!" I clearedmy throat, "to my dearest Raoul and my angel of music, I am sorry not to say this in person, but I just couldn't handle it. Raoul, you know how I feel about you, it is love, but not love for a husband. It is love for a brother and close friend. We had this idea or what the other would be like: just like when we we're children and you fetched my scarf from the sea.

Angel, Erik...I love you too...But not romantic love. Love for a father and a teacher. I owe everything to you, my angel. You gave me my voice and my courage to soar. You gave me a career and a new hope in a word where I thought there was none.

To both of you, I've left the country. I've gone back to sing in Sweden. I'm sorry. I never wanted things to end up like this. I don't know when or if I'll be back.
Au Revior,
Christine..."

Raoul and I were left speechless...he was the one to break the silence, "I can't believe she left..."

I folded the letter and stuck it in the envelope, "at least you have Elissa..."
"I doubt she'd ever court me."
"How could she not? You're a decent man and you've got money."
"She likes people who are musically inclined."
"Vocal or instrumental?" I was beginning to get very curious about this Elissa.
"Both. I've only ever seen her play piano but I'm sure she can play more than just that. She sings like a goddess as well."
"What does she look like?"
"She tall, as I mentioned, but also very pale. Her hair is black-ish brown and it's semi-short I think. She keeps it up all the time. She's got strong shoulders for a woman, and her eyes...they're unique, unlike anything I've ever seen... She's also as stiff as a board! Doesn't show effection very well. She doesn't take it well either."
"How did you two meet?"
"A mutual acquaintance."
"I see. When is the ball?"
"One week from today."
Raoul turned and left the room, leaving me to ponder Elissa