"Don't go!!"
Erik's scream jerked my head around, just in time to see him reaching toward me once more; the anguish and rage distorting his voice cut me to the bone. I burst into tears as Raoul slammed the gate shut and lifted me into the carriage. Behind us, the graveyard exploded into flame, startling the horses into a gallop. The motion threw me against the wall and I huddled there, shaking with deep, heart-wrenching sobs. It wasn't fair! Why was every choice I made dogged by such terrible repercussions? What had we done...what had he done...to deserve all this? Closing my eyes, I could see Erik in my mind all too clearly; no doubt he had expected to return to his lair tonight with me on his arm, the innocent, adoring ingenue again. No he would be returning alone, in the dark. Perhaps his anger would dissolve into tears as he would fling himself onto his black couch...I moaned softly at the pain that image caused...there to weep, as I was doing...
Gradually I became aware of Raoul chafing my cold hands, offering me his handkerchief. I prayed he would not question my tears; I was hardly able to give him a reason for them. Not one he would understand, at any rate.
"Christine," he said at length, imploringly, "Christine, darling, please stop. You're safe now, there's no need..." He gathered me into his arms, trying to comfort me, and God help me, I let him!
"There, there," he murmured when my sobs died to intermittent sniffles, "it's all right, you needn't go on so. I'll protect you." He rested his smooth, boyish cheek on my hair. "My poor little Lotte."
Something inside of me twisted, and I pushed away from him. "Don't," I whispered. "Please Raoul, don't call me that."
He sat back abruptly, his expression bewildered. "Why not? Christine, what's the matter?" He reached out again, but I pulled further back, crushing myself against the cushions. Raoul's eyes narrowed in anger. "He hurt you, didn't he? By God, I'll kill him!"
"No!" I flew up in my seat, grabbing his arm. "No, he didn't...he never would..." I stammered to a halt as Raoul stared at me, his sudden suspicion filling the silence between us. I looked at my hands, biting my lip guiltily. How could I explain the...feelings...I had for Erik, when I could not understand them myself?
Lost in my thoughts, I jumped slightly when Raoul leaned forward, taking my hands firmly. "Christine, listen to me. I don't know what kind of lies that...that monster has been feeding you, but don't you see what is happening? Don't you see how he's stalking you?" He lifted my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. "It will be over," he said softly. "Please, please, for both our sakes, try to forget!"
Tomorrow. Singing in Erik's opera, singing for him...I turned away from the hurt in the eyes of my childhood lover, turning toward the darkness of the window. "Just take me home, please," I replied quietly.
There was a moment of silence. Then he sighed and spoke to the driver, directing him to my little flat. We did not speak for the rest of the journey; it was not until I was standing on my doorstep that I realized I had not asked him how he had known I would be at my father's grave today...
No matter. All I wanted to do now was curl into my bed and weep for my fallen Angel one more time...weep for a love that might have been, if only I had the courage to grasp it...
But it was too late. I had asked too much, and given too little...and now I would reap the bitter consequences.
Poor young maiden, for the thrill on your tongue of stolen sweets...