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“What are you trying to do?”
“Please, Erik, trust me for a minute?”
Erik fought the urge to tug at the blindfold Christine had tied around his eyes. He knew she meant well, but the entire experience was nerve-wracking to him. If he couldn’t see, he couldn’t defend himself from any attacks until after the attack had started. He could be dragged off to another cage…
But this was Christine. She wouldn’t hurt him. She tugged on his hand again and led him up the stairs. He had wandered the halls of the Palais Garnier long enough to know that she was taking him to the roof.
She giggled, and Erik was sure he had never heard such sweet music. Maybe the first time he heard her voice.
Finally, he heard her open a door, and a cool breeze rushed into the stairwell. Then, they were out on the rooftop, he assumed. It seemed so long ago that he had overheard her declare her love for that boy, but never too far from his thoughts. He had been filled with rage at the time—rage that had sent the chandelier crashing into the audience.
Once, he had wished to take her for walks in the parks on Sundays, like a normal man. He wondered if he would ever actually learn to love her like a normal man.
Christine reached up and gently pulled the blindfold off. Erik opened his eyes.
On the rooftop of the Palais Garnier, she had set up a small table with two chairs. On the table was a bottle of red wine, a cheese board, and a candle. She tucked her hand into the crook of Erik’s arm. “You’re always doing things for me. I wanted to do something for you for a change.”
Erik wanted to wrap his arms around her and breathe in her scent and plant kisses on her forehead and lips. Instead, he took her hand and massaged small circles into the back of her hand with his thumb. “You didn’t have to do this, I’m not…”
“I wanted to.” She tugged at his hand. “Come, let’s drink a toast.”