The Phantom of the Opera: A Beauty and a Beast (Guile and Melody)

[Guile]

The shimmering of that ring brought a new fury back into Erik. It was agonizing to look at and it was something that he refused to let her wear. Grabbing her wrist, much more gentle than, but as firmly as, before, Erik stopped her from walking away from him just yet. "No." Was what he growled before he reached up and ripped the necklace from her neck - the chain snapping with ease. He tossed it onto the ground, making his distaste in the object obvious, and hissed in her ear. "If you ever wish to see your Angel of Music again, you will not let him catch you wearing such a thing ever again." Standing upright, and backing a few paces away, Erik spoke again to her - much less menacing, more painful. "I believe you're right, Christine. You never should have asked me to come. You have caused us all nothing but heartache, thanks to your little invite. At least you are able to be comforted in the arms of someone who loves you. You know very well what I have to comfort me..." Nothing. Erik had nothing and no one. His life was meaningless without Christine. However, he didn't wait around any longer - he couldn't be in Christine's presence for another minute. It was far too painful. Within seconds he had turned and walked out, disappearing into the mass of people. He found his way back to his familiar shadows easily, knowing no one would find him and that he would be safe until he could get back home.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's heart stopped the second her ring was ripped from around her beautiful neck. She let out a minuscule sound that no one really heard. She wouldn't scream, for she was not harmed in any way, except in the heart. She saw the father of her child show such disrespect toward her precious engagement ring. This sight cut into her like a knife. The ring landed at the feet of a middle aged man, potbellied and grey haired on brown. Christine waited until Erik disappeared from sight to even think about fetching it. When she did, Christine brought it to her lips and cried. "Y-Yes, m-my angel." She sank to her knees and cried at the feet of the man.

 

[Guile]

Erik made his way back home below, his fury worse than it had ever been. It didn't help that his anger had startled Cesar, causing him to rear with Erik on his back. Even the pain from the fall off the back of the large animal onto the hard, rock floor below, was nothing in comparison to the ache in his heart. Limping the rest of the way back - for Cesar had run off down the corridors, leaving him abandoned to walk home - Erik's mind never left his thoughts of Christine. Oh, the way she had looked when he tore the ring from her neck! It had broke his heart even more to see her looking at him in such a way like that, but he could never go back on what he had said. The sight of that ring just reminded Erik how much she did not love him, and that she was engaged to another man. He would not stand to have such a reminder in his presence.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Raoul took the broken chain and the now broken ring from Christine. The diamond was split almost perfectly down the middle. "Christine, we can have it mended. There is no harm done, my love." He touched her shoulder gently, she flinched, as though Raoul had struck her. Getting to her feet, Christine covered her face in her hands, slapped away the hands of her mistress and Meg, and took off, toward the garden outside to break down and cry in the flower bed. "Wh-What have I d-done?" She held her hair back, hands on her head. "My angel of music hates me!" She laid there, crying. "Father, I need you now more than ever."

 

[Guile]

When Erik found his way back home, he immediately changed his clothes and took off the mask. Staring down at it in his hands, he couldn't help feeling sick, knowing that he was doomed to wear these things for the rest of his life. By now, Erik had gotten used to it, but being free of masks was something that he dreamed of often - having a normal face that you did not have to hide. Because he did not have a normal face, because he did have to hide under these masks, Erik had been forced to hurt Christine quite horribly tonight. He had upset her so badly and it killed him to know this. "Why can't I just have a normal face? Oh, if I had not been cursed to hide behind these wretched things she might have loved me!" Throwing the mask back into the chest he had found it, Erik sunk to his knees and wept, once again, for a love that he could not have.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

That's when the spooked Cesar cantered toward Christine, rearing, then falling back to his feet before her. "Cesar!" Christine sat up. She had never seen the animal so frightened in all her life. Standing, she raised her hands in front of his face, trying to calm him. "Cesar, where's Erik?!" She was truly scared. She believed that something horrible happened to her angel. "Why should I even care? He hates me! He won't come to me ever again! He hurt me, Cesar!" She threw her arms around his neck. The beast took this opportunity to lead her toward the opening through which he came. "Cesar, I can't. He won't allow me down there again." Her hand clutched the broken ring that she held. Oh, what a cruel reminder it was! "Cesar, take me to him." She got on with ease and allowed her senses to numb as she went below.

 

[Guile]

As Erik wept, he thought of all the things he could have said and done - anything that could have changed Christine's heart from being set on Raoul, to being set on him. It was too late now, though. She hated him, he was sure. He had broken her engagement ring - something very sentimental, something that had been dear to her. How would she ever forgive him for that? Still, Erik couldn't help wondering if that was better than seeing her wearing it everyday. He wasn't sure right now - there were too many emotions, too much pain, going through him right now that he could not focus on just one. Even the horrid pain in his leg and arm was nothing. In fact, he was appreciative of the physical pain - it gave him something else to focus on, something else to cling to with his mind, other than Christine. Unfortunately, the distraction was not working as well as he had hoped.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine stepped down from her precious horse, pat his neck and held her arms close to her body. "Erik, I am here. Let the curtains rise and let the opera begin." She tried her best to smile. "Master, I will always come back to you, my friend. Your son wanted to see you." She stepped painfully into the light. "He deserves so much better than to see us fighting, my dear." She was very timid, staying seven feet away from Erik.

 

[Guile]

Erik had been so lost in his tears that he did not hear Cesar approaching, but nothing could have distracted him from hearing that angelic voice behind him. He turned slowly - half in disbelief, half out of fright. Yes, fright. Erik was afraid to look at her. He was ashamed of himself, yes. He knew how badly he had upset her. However, he was more afraid to look at her because he didn't think that he would be able to ever let her go again if he saw her standing before him. That's when he saw Christine standing there, looking quite timid and afraid as well. Afraid of me, no doubt. I acted like a brute... It was then that he realized he could never keep her here, not by force. It would pain him to see her so afraid, day in and day out. Erik stood, wiping the tears from his face and trying to hold onto what little dignity he had left. "Christine...you have come back. And...after I acted in such a horrible way to you. I ruined your night with...with..." He couldn't even say it - he could not say Raoul's name, not now. Erik looked up and, at last, noticed that she was not wearing the ring around her neck, just as he had asked. The sight made him break down again. Oh, how kind she was being to him! All he was doing was being so cruel! "Christine, forgive me! Forgive me for falling in love with you! It has caused you nothing but pain and suffering."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"No one can help who they fall in love with." She took a step forward, though her leg was shaking when it left the ground to do so. "I don't blame you for...for br-breaking m-my engagement r-ring." Christine took another.step, ready to run at any point that she felt threatened by Erik. "I was just trying to come here and make certain that you were alright. I saw Cesar and panicked. She left for only a moment, to bring in the mannequin that she had.found at last. "You left this." She put it back inside the wardrobe and cringed as she had to touch the wedding dress to slip it back onto her copy. "There, now it looks better." She shut the door. "I won't marry either man that I love. The one that I don't marry will be hurt."

 

[Guile]

Through his tears, Erik saw her shaking slightly, and heard clearly the pain in her voice when she spoke of her broken ring. "You should." He paused after this, the tears had stopped flowing and he had calmed slightly. "You should blame me for everything that is wrong in your life. I have hurt you and I do not deserve to be forgiven for such things." Then, he added in a softer tone, "everyone else hates me, Christine. I don't see why you should feel any different." Unable to look her in the eyes, he stared at the ground. He only looked up when he heard her coming back with the mannequin. Erik looked away as she put the wedding dress back on it, seeing all too clearly how it bothered her to even touch the fabric. "Christine, you are in an awful position. I curse myself for being one of the two to put you into it." He looked into her eyes very sincerely. There was even a bit of pain evident in his own, for her predicament. "I wish I could stop loving you." Erik whispered, feeling rather weak from all the emotions that spilled out of him through tears just minutes ago. "I wish I could set you free from all of this."

 

[Saiyan Princess]

"Everything that is wrong in my life? You've done positive things for me as well." She now stood over him, her hand dangling over his head. "You've given me a voice, a guardian, a friend, a teacher, a child." She got down on her knees next to him, attempting a smile. "Do you still want me gone? Will you ever come back to me? Will my angel of music ever sing for me again?"

 

[Guile]

Erik kept his head bowed, unable to look Christine in the eyes. He had treated her horribly tonight and ruined the masquerade, at least for her. He couldn't believe that she would ever come back down here again, let alone kneel beside him and try to comfort him. Erik couldn't see her, he wouldn't let himself look away from the ground, but he could feel her there, close to him. "I have never wanted you gone, Christine. Especially not now." Her questions had shocked Erik so much that he finally did look up and into her eyes. "And I will always sing for you, you know that. What ever makes you think I would not? Do you believe that I am upset with you? I assure you I am not, Christine. I never could be." Erik was horrified. He could never be angry with Christine - especially not when he was the one at fault.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine moved her hand away from him again. "Erik, I just thought...with the way you treated me at the party, the way you tossed my ring to the ground." She put her hand in her pocket, holding onto the precious gem. "I was just scared, my friend. I just wanted to make sure that you were alright when I leave." She backed toward the way she came. "And, I don't know about your Don Juan Triumphant, Erik. It's causing...quite the uproar upstairs." She looked sad, gloomy. "I don't know if I can play the lead."

 

[Guile]

Erik shook his head at her words and closed his eyes, as if he were in pain. "No, Christine. I am upset, but I cannot be upset with you. I am...I am furious with myself and the hand I have been dealt in life." He did not explain further, but he was sure that she would understand, for the most part. "I am sorry I frightened you and...oh, dear!" Erik shot his eyes up to look at her, but had trouble seeing if she had bruises from his hands because of the dark. "How badly did I hurt you. Tell me, does it pain you?" Erik stood and went to take a few steps toward her but stopped suddenly when she mentioned Don Juan. "I expected the uproar, however, I never expected you to back out of this, Christine." He looked hurt, as if she had offended him by not wanting to play the lead, though he tried to reason with himself. Surely there is a reason why - the baby, perhaps. Yes, that would make sense. "Why is it that you do not want to play the lead, Christine? You can do it, I know you can. I know your voice better than anyone else does. I know what you are capable of. I wrote the lead part specifically with you in mind, my dear. If it's those managers giving you a hard time, I will see to it that they never bother you about it again." Erik was immediately placing the blame on the managers. Surely they were the reason that Christine no longer wished to be a part of his work, right? Erik prayed that he was right - that she was not backing out of this because she feared him.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

She refused to tell Erik the truth. The bruises weren't there...yet. The red marks on her face and arms were what she was trying to hide right now. She backed into the darkness, hoping that he wouldn't follow, as if she were the one that was severely disfigured, not Erik. "I'm fine, Erik. Really. I just have to stay hidden. I can't let you see me." She started running away from him, praying that he hadn't seen anything. "I'll play the part, I promise, but I can't let you see me. I have to look over my part, darling." She tried to sound pleasant. "It's a big part, many lines. Goodbye!"

 

[Guile]

"Christine, wait!" Erik called out, concern in his voice as he took her gently by the wrist to stop her from leaving. "Christine, you are not fine. You would not act like this if nothing was wrong." He looked down at her, his eyes pleading with her - begging her - to tell him the truth. "Tell me, please. You know you can tell me anything. Do not be afraid of me. I won't ever hurt you again, Christine, I promise. But I must know the extent of the damage I have done." Erik gingerly reached his hand out and placed it over where he had remembered grabbing her earlier, thinking that was what she was trying to hide.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

When Erik grabbed her wrist, Christine could feel a sharp pain just below Erik's fingers. "Er-Erik, my d-dear, you're m-making another scene. I-I'm fine." She got on her knee, the pain killing her now. "I know that you will never harm me again. I do!" Christine practically cowered, unable to remove her hand despite the pain that she felt in her arm. "Erik, please let go."

 

[Guile]

Erik immediately let go once he realized she was in so much pain. "Oh, Christine, what have I done?" He knelt beside her and wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. "Have I hurt you again, darling? Please, Christine...please tell me what is wrong." Erik was begging her - he had to know if it was he that kept hurting her. He did not remember ever grabbing her wrist tightly enough to hurt her, and he hadn't thought he was doing so just now. But, if Erik hadn't hurt her, then who had? Still, he couldn't even see the evidence of it - they were both in the shadows. Erik longed to get a look, to see what was causing his angel pain, but he didn't dare touch her again. Even his embrace had been very light, as he did not want to hear that horrible pain in her beautiful voice.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine felt him hug her. All the pain seemed to leave her body at once. Nothing was there, unless you looked at the spots where he had grabbed her earlier that very evening. "Erik, it was an accident, I know. I blame you not." She hugged him back, ignoring that excruciating pain as her wrists bent inward to do so. "It is just a small bruise. I get them all the time while dancing. It's bound to happen to a chorus girl." She smiled at him, making certain that he was comfortable before kissing him, taking off his mask, and walking into the light. "All is well, my companion."

 

[Guile]

Erik was not convinced by her words. Something seemed strange, for why would Christine hide simple bruises from him if they were simply from dancing? "A small bruise? Christine, a small bruise would not cause you so much pain." He was quite unconvinced, and yet, something in her kiss reassured him. Or, rather, it felt as if she were begging him to be reassured that nothing was wrong. As they walked out into the light, Erik examined her with his eyes. He saw nothing wrong with her, that is, until he gazed upon the spot where he had grabbed her earlier that night. "Oh, Christine..." he reached his hand out to her, as if attempting to touch the wounded area, but then brought his hand back to his chest, deciding not to. "Forgive me, once again. I have hurt an Angel from Heaven. Oh, surely I deserve to be punished." Erik's words were soft, but filled with the pain he was feeling at the sight of the injuries he had caused her. Even if she truly did get the other bruises from dancing, how would Erik ever be able to sleep at night, knowing that Christine was in pain? Not only that, but she was with child. What if the next time she was hurt, it did more than just give her a bruise?

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's hand traveled up to her.stomach, as if she had read Erik's mind. "It won't happen again. It was a complete accident. Accidents happen and I still can't blame you for doing this." She smiled still, hiding her pain from him. "You were hurt, my dear. If I were in your position, I don't know if I could watch you being engaged to another." As they kept their spot in front of Erik's lair Christine found herself glad that she had actually come down and sorted things out with her guardian. "Now, I don't want to hear anymore of this party, alright? It wasn't a decent experience for either of us. You don't need the stress."

 

[Guile]

"An accident..." Erik whispered, almost to himself, as if he still couldn't believe what he had done. Then, his normal tone of voice came back to him, bringing him out of his daze. "That is still no excuse to harm someone. I...it did pain me, more than anything in this world ever has - more than my mother's hatred and abuse, more than the lashings I received from those at the circus..." Erik stopped suddenly, realizing that he had admitted another thing about his past to her that he had wished to keep secret. Shaking his head, he tried to change the subject. " I won't bring up the party again, my dear. Though, I will hold my tongue not for me, but for you - for both of us, really. Neither of us need stress." Christine, because of the condition she was in. Erik because, well, because of the psychological torment it caused him. It was then that he placed his hands on Christine's shoulders, lightly because of her bruises, and looked deep into her eyes. "Promise me, Christine, that you will be more careful. Accidents happen, as you said, and I do not want one of these accidents to be...fatal." It was hard for him to even get out the word 'fatal,' but when he was able to, Erik finished his statement by placing a soft kiss on the soft, pale skin of Christine's cheek.

 

[Saiyan Princess]

Christine's distraction, caused by their surroundings, disappeared when Erik spoke again. "What are y-oh..." she remembered a story that her mistress had told her long ago, days after she and Erik had first met. "I do hope that you don't hold onto this anger for her. After all, she was your mother. She did right by you, once, by bringing you into this world. I know you hate her, but I would hope that, some day, you could allow her to rest in peace, knowing that her son won't let anger control his life." When Erik changed the subject, she thanked him with a simple smile. Feeling the light caress against her skin, Christine couldn't help but smile at her friend. "I promise to the father of my child that I will be more careful during my pregnancy." She rubbed her belly again."Now, what will you do when you leave me here? I have people that need me, but you are somewhat alone."

 

[Guile]

"What peace does she deserve?" Erik's voice was not filled with anger or hatred, just self-pity and despair as memories of hid childhood came back to him. "After all the horrible things she did to me. She told me herself that she never loved me. Why should she need my forgiveness to rest peacefully?" He was genuinely asking, for he did not understand - nor had he ever understood - his mother's ways. However, he didn't look for a response from Christine. The beautiful smile of the angel before him made Erik forget all his woes and focus on what she was saying to him. "Thank you, Christine. I know you will be careful, that you will see no harm comes to yourself or the baby. I will be watching over you as well, this I promise." Christine's last question caught him a bit off-guard. "Oh, yes. There are people above who will surely be missing you...how could they not?" At this, he smiled sweetly at her before answering her question. "However, I must admit that I've nothing to do when you leave me. I have finished my Don Juan. That piece was what occupied my time for the last several years whenever we were not practicing together. Now that it is completed, all I have to do anymore is watch over those blasted managers and make sure they continue to do as I ask." He let out a laugh before finishing. "Otherwise, I sit here and play music to pass the time. Mostly, I think about you." Erik's face went red. Had he really said such a thing? What, are you trying to get her to love you, you fool? What's more likely is that she will think of you as a creep that has nothing to do but torment the managers and watch her all day!