Erik

I was sitting in my parlor, secretly reading the last of Jane Eyre, when a knock at my door caused me to jump. I waited for the knocker to knock again, for perhaps the knocker would go away. No such luck. Whoever was there knocked again, more frantic than before. I sighed and answered the door. Mme. Giry stood on my doorstep, looking enraged. She walked right in and marched to my parlor. Since I was curious as to why she was in my home and looking so furious, I followed her. "What is the matter, Madame?" I asked softly. "You are the matter, Erik!" She snapped.

I was completely dumbfounded. Why was I the matter?

"How so? What have I done to offend, Madame?" I asked in utter shock.

"You have Christine Daaé in your home. Do not deny it, for I have seen her coming to your lair! How can you use her so?" She demanded angrily. So this was what her anger was about.

At that very moment, my darling Christine chose to come in the door and see Madame and I. "I did not expect to see you here, Mme. Giry! Whatever can the happy cause for this be?" she giggled and walked to my side. Madame eyed me. "Her innocence you have compromised, Erik! How could you do so?!" She yelled. Christine's face fell at Mme. Giry's accusation, and I wanted to slap Madame for it. "I have done nothing of the sort." I snapped. She raised an incredulous eyebrow. I decided that perhaps Christine would not enjoy hearing this discussion. I bent forward and murmured in Christine's ear, "Christine, my angel, I am not sure of the direction this conversation will take. I do not wish to cause you harm or have you see anything you may wish you hadn't. Will you quit the room for me?"

"Of course, Erik. May I go into the rose garden?" She said aloud. I nodded and she departed. Mme. Giry looked even angrier. "How dare you order her about as if she is yours! I cannot believe you!" she yelled. "Madame, I have done nothing wrong! I asked Christine if she would kindly quit the room! That is all I did!" I exclaimed. "You used tyne power of your voice on her!" She pronounced. "Madame, I cannot convince you in what you refuse to believe! Though, I admit, it is horrible to know that you, one of the only people whom I trust, does not even trust me."

She went red, a little. "I cannot pretend that that did not hurt, Erik. But you must know what you have done in capturing Miss Daaé! Do you deny her living here full time? Or that you have your way with her?" She accused.

So that was why she was so enraged....

"Who told you that I did such things?" I snapped, stepping towards her. "La Carlotta implied it. And she presented evidence, that of her living with you and of the kiss you gave Christine on the night of the Ball. Do you deny these accusations?" She asked harshly. "No. But I assure you that I have never once touched Christine Daaé in the way you accuse me of!" My temper was beginning to show with her impertinence. How dare she even imply that I had done what she thought I had?!?

"You risk death in accusing me so, Madame! And as much as I love you, that will not stop me from dispatching you should the need arrive!" I announced and she paled. "That only convinces me of your relationship with Miss Daaé." She retorted. "Why don't you ask her yourself if you do not believe me?!" I exclaimed, exasperated. "I think that is very wise indeed, Erik. You will not accompany me, for I don't want you using your charm on her—Is that clear?" She asked menacingly. I nodded, refraining from adding that I was far more dangerous than she would ever be.

She nodded curtly and walked from the room with the utmost confidence.

She was lucky I didn't dispatch her.

Christine

"Christine Daaé! Where are you?" Madame's demanding voice called to me. I turned to see her emerge from the doorway. "I'm over here, Mme. Giry. Come sit with me in the best spot!" I called cheerfully, ignoring the warning in my head. I did not want to cause a fight with Erik or Mme. Giry.

She came over to me and promptly sat down next to me. Her first question startled me, "How are you, dear?"

She had always been a curt, no-nonsense woman and I had never heard her use terms of endearment, save with her own daughter. "It's safe to answer. Whatever he led you to believe, you are not trapped here. I will rescue you from his clutches if need be and we will spirit you away from here." Her tone was gentle and tender. I blinked twice before what she said reached my mind—she thought Erik was keeping me here by force! Of all the absurd things! "No, Mme. Giry! It is not like that at all! Erik is not keeping me here by force! How could you think such a thing?" I giggled. She looked astonished, "He is not keeping you here? Are you quite alright?"

I laughed again, "Yes, yes. I am quite alright! I could not be happier—though what Carlotta said disturbed me to no ends! I couldn't believe that she would be so horrid! Erik has never dared to do anything like that!" I declared. "No?" She asked curiously. "No. He is terribly courteous to me, even giving me my own room to stay in!" I stated firmly. "I assure you that if he has threatened you, he will pay and you will be able to escape." She said. "How can you imagine I would want to escape? When he has been so kind to me. I am indebted to him forever." I whispered quietly. "I do not understand, girl." Mme. Giry said slowly. "No, no one does." I muttered. "Then, explain! For if you do not I shall assume he is keeping you here against your will." She exclaimed firmly.

So I did. I told her of all that Erik had done for me, how he had tutored me in music, and had been so very patient and understanding. How he had let me roam the surface freely, so long as I returned to him each night. How he had taken me out on outings and been positively perfect, how gentlemanly he was. Then I told her of how Erik had comforted me when I told him of what Joseph Buquet did. Mme. Giry became very quiet at that. "I suspect," I whispered, " That Erik is the reason Joseph is no longer here. I don't think he killed him—I asked him not to. I think he threatened him." I realized my cheeks were flushed and sought to cover them with my hands. Madame took notice of this.

"I suppose I was wrong...I am sorry, Christine." She sighed. "You had better tell Erik that." I laughed.

Erik

Mme. Giry came in with a rather meek expression. "Do you think I acted badly towards Christine?" I asked snippily. "I am sorry, Erik. I did not realize..." She trailed. "That I love her?" I asked softly. "I knew you cared for her and wanted her with you, but not that you truly loved her." She murmured.

If I did not truly love her, then why did I embark on my quest at death? I did not say this, but waited.

"Your interrogation of her is finished, I presume? And are you satisfied with the results?"

"Yes." She replied.

"I would go to the ends of the Earth for her, do you know that? She is my everything. I will let no one take her from me, unless she wishes it. I am completely at her mercy." I confessed softly.

"I realize that."

I sighed again, hoping that she would leave soon. "I would say this has been a nice visit, but it hasn't." I commented. "I am truly sorry." She said humbly. I nodded softly, "One cannot afford any less caution when dealing with one like me. I cannot say I am surprised." I sighed. Mme. Giry's face fell and she drew me to her, holding me close. Truly, she was the only mother figure I had ever known or loved. "I love you." I whispered like a little boy. At this she began to cry a little, and held me tighter. "I love you, Erik. I do." She cooed.

"If that girl ever hurts you..." She trailed. I nearly laughed, "Oh, Madame, you needn't worry about me. I am an adult and can take care of myself."

She raised an affectionate eyebrow. I hugged her once more and she said, " You may be an adult, Erik, but you are still so young and naïve in some ways...."

I rolled my eyes and she shut the door.

I walked to the garden and found Christine sitting there, lost in thought. I sat down beside her and drew her to me. "Hi." She whispered in a faraway voice. "Hello, Christine." I replied softly. "Madame's visit was interesting, no?" I commented. She turned to me with an odd look, "She said that if I ever hurt you she would lock me in a tower in the east of France and feed me but once a week."

"Did she now?" I cooed at her. She nodded. "I never thought her so partial to you..." She sighed, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Well, she is the only Mother I have ever known. My other one sold me to a gypsy circus—though I have forgiven her since." I explained.

"I think you need to explain your past to me, Erik." She whispered, tracing circles on my chest. I nodded softly.

"Well, when I was little, I knew no kindness. My mother hated me and my father also. I lived in pain and fear for years, until they sold me to a gypsy fair. The gypsies treated me horribly. They hated freaks in general, but none so much as me. I was their favourite source of entertainment. Any torture you can think of, they inflicted.

"I am sorry." She cooed.

"You needn't be, love. It is all in the past. Then, by some unseen luck, Nadir Khan came around and took me to Persia, where I worked for the Shah as his assassin. I built him a perfect torture chamber and killed thousands in it. The Shah tired of me and wanted to put out my eyes and kill me. Nadir Kahn-saved me and brought me back to Paris. He left me in the care of the gypsies. They tortured me again, for with them I was the same innocent boy I had been before. I stayed there until I was rescued by Mme. Giry. She took me to the Paris Opera house and let me live in the Underground lair......"

By the time I finished, I was sobbing. Christine held me in her arms, slowly rocking me back and forth. It had not occurred to me how much I needed her to know this. Not only to know this, but not hate me for it.

She whispered how I was safe now and how she would never let anyone do that which was done to me ever again.

I believed her, and loved her so much more for it.