When rose enchants nightingale

Summary: In Susan Kay's book, Christine feels jealousy towards Ayesha, because Erik seems to care about his cat more than her. So, what if Erik taught Ayesha how to speak, so ladies can tackle the issue in direct confrontation?
Silly, fluffy E/C.
Story is told from Christine's POV
Disclaimer: I own nothing.

I want to be that cat

Once again was I left alone in the house by the lake, when Erik vanished on some mysterious errand. I didn't have the slightest notion as to what he was actually up to. He never offered and I never asked. Maybe I should have, because now was my traitorous mind spinning a horrific tale based on the surely exaggerated rumours and his reputation within the corps de ballet. I really ought to find something to occupy myself with. Perhaps a book?
Ere long I scurried into the living room carrying a book, just fresh from print, called Quo Vadis. But, to my dismay, I found my favourite chair already occupied. Ayesha was sitting there, not moving and appearing to be at peace, with nearly closed eyes, and yet I felt her gaze at me. When I attempted to move closer, she fully opened her eyes and the sheer loathing in them was enough to make me reconsider my plan.
I turned away and sat on a couch, staring at the unopened book in my lap, because I dared not to look again in those omniscient, spiteful, moldavite eyes. Yet I was almost jealous of her. She always knew what she wanted and always made sure she got it.
Sighting, I whispered my wish to the air.
"I want to...
I want to be that cat!"

"Oh really Christine? "
Asked beautiful, but a very cold voice from somewhere behind me. Ayesha.
"It's not as good as you would imagine." Continued that voice. "For example, I must lick my coat, instead of bathing. Imagine that. Although, it spares time and preserves water. It is much more efficient than soaking for hours in a bathtub. So yes, it maybe really is better to be a cat."
Gobsmacked, I turned just enough to have the chair, and the cat, in my field of vision. She was staring at me, her head turned to the side. Nothing unusual here. And yet I would have sworn I've just heard her talk. There was no one else besides me and her and most certainly I wasn't the one who spoke.
Gathering my courage, I took the easiest path to finding if it really happened.
"Ayesha, are you… are you speaking to me?"
I asked, still vary and not quite believing my own ears. I thought I must have been dreaming. Or have I finally gone insane, after days of being underground with only an elusive man as company?
But when the cat opened her tiny, delicate mouth all my doubts were gone as the sound that came out was the furthest thing from mere meowing.
"Erik taught me that. Well, it may have taken some messing with my vocal chords as well but that's not the point. You think he, a genius, lived all those years in silence?!"
This little sarcastic creature with soul and bearings of a queen really was the perfect companion for Erik.
"Why have you never spoken a word till now?"
If someone would have told me last week that I will be having a conversation with a cat, with Ayesha, I would only laugh at him. In the world I have known my whole life cats don't speak. But this was a world past the lake. This was the world, where angels aren't only in stories, this was the world, where, as I could hear, cats can actually speak.

"Erik forbids me to speak with you. He thinks it would frighten you."
She spoke without interest, but begun slowly moving towards me. But honestly I was more frightened of her back when she was silent.
"And you just obey him?"
I couldn't imagine this self-confident cat obeying anybody, even Erik who could scare the wits out of lesser men. I know she's a cat, but you get the image.
"When you're frightened, he's unhappy. I like him and I don't want him being unhappy. Simple as that."
Her voice sounded almost kind when she spoke of Erik. The love they held for each other was plainly obvious.
There was still one unanswered question in the air. She didn't need to be jealous of me. Erik cared for her much more than for me, so why did she hate me?
I pick up my courage and asked.
"Why are you always so unkind to me? Do you hate me? Why? I did nothing wrong to you!"
She hissed at me and for a moment I thought she would go through and an attack would soon follow.
"Nothing wrong you say?! I've already told you I like Erik and I don't want him being unhappy. But after falling in love with you he's permanently sad! Foolish girl, don't pretend you don't know what you're doing to him! And you're still question whether I hate you?!"
She contemptuously turned her head away, inattentive to my tears which were gathering in the corners of my eyes. Did she really think me such a heartless beast, only playing with Erik like she plays with mice?
Suddenly she jumped on the coach next to me. Surprised, I looked at her. She didn't seem like she wanted kill me.
"Oh no. Don't cry please. Erik will be here soon and if he finds you crying because of what I have said to you..."
Her sentence faded into silence. I only sadly smiled at her.
"Ayesha, when I have known him only as the Angel of Music, I often wished he would come to me like a man. A man who will love me and whom will I love. "
"In case you haven't noticed, your wish has been granted. So, where is the problem?"
She spoke calmly again, but her eyes were still cold and steel sharp.
"I don't know. Maybe he loves me, in my heart I know he does, but he's so cold and aloof when he's with me and – "
I wanted to continue but we both heard the splashing the sound the boat makes when rowed across the lake.
Erik was returning home.