Sweet Intoxication

Chapter Five

Once behind the mirror, Christine held in my arms, I paused for a moment so that my bliss would last just a little bit longer. I can't believe it, I thought with glee. "Erik?" Christine said, staring at me with wide eyes.

"Yes, dear?" I said, snapping out of my stupor. She squirmed slightly, clearly indicating she wanted to be put down. "Oh, I apologize," I said, quickly setting her upright. "You know how Erik gets carried away sometimes." I held out my hand to escort her down the long path and she hesitantly took it. Looks like I have to get her used to me all over again, I thought with a quiet sigh to myself.

We had walked for a while when uddenly, Christine stopped. "Erik, I-" she stuttered, "I don't think I can do this." She looked extremely pale, as if she were about to be sick. "I just feel awful lying to Raoul. He's been so good to me, I simply cannot betray him like this!" She said, turning to go. However I grabbed hold of her tightly, refusing to let this be ruined.

"Christine, I have already promised to you that no one will ever come to know. It is only singing lessons, not a betrayal." She still slightly struggled, saying something about her dishonesty but I pulled her close and grabbed her by the shoulders. "Stop this nonsense this instant." My voice's masterful tone returned, and it clearly frightened her. "You are acting like a child," I growled, not even realizing how rough and awful I was being.

Christine's eyes filled with tears as she tried to pull away, "Erik, you're hurting me!" she cried. "Erik, please!" My grip tightened and I was about to growl another insult, until I caught sight of the fear in her eyes. I immediately let go, realizing my odious behavior and fell to my knees. Dear lord, what was wrong with me? How could I hurt my Christine?

"Oh, Christine, please forgive me!" I moaned, feeling I should suffer greatly for such an awful sin. "If you want, you may leave. You shouldn't have to suffer for the sake of a demon." I leaned against the wall, choking on tears.

Christine stood in shock for a moment, but quickly knelt down next to me. I couldn't bring myself to look at her after hurting her. "You should take that off," she said, touching the mask gently. "You're going to suffocate," she said softly.

"I deserve to suffocate. I hurt you," I whined pathetically, truly hoping I did suffocate.

"I'm fine, Erik. You just frightened me." She sighed, clearly remembering my constant melodramatic state. After another one of my comments about wanting to die, she simply untied the string that held on my mask. Immediately, I brought my hands up to cover my face and turned away.

"You should go, Christine. Not only am I too hideous without the mask, but you are not happy here," I sighed, accepting my fate of an eternity alone.

She stayed silent for a moment before handing back my mask. "I'm sorry, I was being foolish," she said and I donned my mask once I was able to breathe again. "We should hurry to your home so that we might get a few songs in before I go home."

Still on the ground, I hesitantly looked up at her. "You're not going to leave me?" I whispered, sounding like a child.

"Of course not, Erik." She smiled very slightly. I could still see the traces on her face of crying and I immediately turned away in shame. "Can we go practice now?" She sounded innocent, which only added to my distraught over hurting her, but I managed to force myself to my feet.

"Very well," I sighed, still unable to look at her. I offered her the tips of my fingers and continued to escort her down the long winding steps. "I'm sorry I couldn't have César here for you to ride, but I returned him to the stables right after you left," I said, realizing that she wouldn't be as used to the long journey as I was. She brushed off my apology with a smile, but I could tell she was getting tired. "If you like, when we arrive you could take a rest while I prepare something to eat?"