What If Raoul Hadn't Shown?

A series of short stories.

One-

Angel of Music/Wandering Child

--

Christine's eyes shot up as he stepped out from behind the cross and began to sing to her, she felt every nerve in her body tingle at the nearly forgotten sound of his voice and so she turned fully to him, listened to what he sang.

Wandering child so lost,

so helpless

yearning for my

guidance.

She tilted her head, feeling almost unsure of him, did he dare to approach her in such a way? Was this a cruel hoax?

Angel ...or father...

Friend...or phantom

Who is it there staring?

Barely giving her a chance to finish he sang.

Have you forgotten your Angel?

Thrilled beyond belief that he had forgiven her, he had dared to come to her again she smiled softly, then gradually the smile grew and she was glowing to a degree.

Angel...oh speak!

What endless

longings

echo in this

whisper!

He shook his head sadly and held a hand out to her, inviting her closer but she did not accept yet, watched him, listened to what he was singing, prayed that nothing would ruin this more than welcome reunion with her dear teacher and friend.

Too long you've wandered

In winter

Far from my far reaching gaze.

Suddenly she began to wonder if she should go to him, if this should happen, she was part of the plot to kill him! Ashamed and afraid to go to him now but still ecstatic and needing of him she sang in a light, but soulful whisper.

Wildly my mind beats against you ...

They were slowly loosening up to each other, both ready to approach the other but Erik kept it apart for the moment.

You resist yet ...

The/your soul obeys

While he sang to her, similar words were pouring from her mouth, words that had been welling for six months, words she needed to get out.

Angel of Music

You denied me

Turning from true beauty

Angel of Music

Do not shun me

Come to your strange Angel

Angel of Music

I denied you

Turning from true beauty

Angel of Music

my protector

Come to me strange Angel

And God, now he was uttering those words she had longed to hear for six months, he was beckoning her, telling her to come to him in a way only they would know, only they could understand. This was their little secret, well kept and for her sorely missed.

I am your Angel of Music

Come to me Angel of Music

Obediently she began to approach, her steps were slow and precise, she did not bother watching the ground for things that might trip her, she trusted him, as he was beginning to trust her again, it would take some time, but he was slowly accepting her again. How lonely he must have been! And what he must have done to himself in the time he was alone! She could just imagine him pouring over that opera, fighting the tears and cursing her. At this, tears welled in her own eyes, and she turned her head, the trance broken by her separate thoughts. But Erik beckoned her still.

I am your Angel of Music

Come to me Angel of Music

She made her way closer and stopped just before him, avoiding his inquiring gaze as her tears spilled down her cheeks, she felt two of his fingers slip beneath her chin and they lifted her head to look at him, she closed her eyes and her body jerked with a repressed sob, Erik read her for a moment, trying to pick up the thoughts she must have had to have made her start crying, then he brushed his hand over her cheek, wiping away the tears and he whispered. "Do not let it trouble you Christine, I had a great time to think."

"But," she gasped. "But Erik! What I did to you, what you must have gone through!"

He shook his head. "Do not let it worry you, just let yourself go, be free, I am here and I forgive you, I understand that you love the boy but . . ."

"No," she whispered, shook her head and sniffled.

He gazed at her in shock. "What do you mean?"

"I don't," she shook her head sadly and sat down with her back against the cross, she patted for him to sit next to her behind it so they were hidden from view. "I thought once that I loved Raoul but these past few months I've been doing a lot of thinking myself and I know now that I don't love him. I was afraid of you, and I needed a friend, and Raoul was there, and I mistook my great gratefulness and maybe a little crush on him for love, but he is not the man I love."

Erik slowly, but painfully inhaled, his fear but longing for her next words overwhelming. "You love another?"

She nodded softly with a light smile at the slight wheeze in his voice. She turned and looked at him, taking one of his hands. "Yes, I do."

With a low whimper he swept her into his arms, buried his masked face in her neck and sobbing a bit, she held him as tightly, her own tears being released. "My love, I'm sorry!" She gasped.

"No, no, no more of it! I don't care, not as long as I have you!" He sobbed into her hair some more then pulled back. "Christine is it true? Do you love me?"

She gazed at his worry warmly, then leaned in and gently sealed their lips together, shoving the mask out of her way and cupping his face closer to hers. He sighed and wrapped her in his arms, never wanting the sudden kiss to end but eventually breaking from her when he could hold his breath no longer.

"Christine what of my opera? Surely they have set a trap for me there?"

With a deep sigh she shook her head. "Not if they don't know you're there or . . ." She grinned mischievously. "We could not go at all! The world is open to us Erik! Let us go now and see it!"

The warmth of his love in his eyes, the chill of the night wind and light of the moon settling against him he stood with her arms in his hands, pulling her up and against his chest, then wrapping his cloak around her and whispering. "We shall discuss it more soon, for now, come, I don't want you catching ill."

A crazy idea put down, tell me what you think. For these little stories, they will be from scattered moments of the musical, maybe once I've finished I shall put them in a particular order but for now they'll be a bit mixed up. Please forgive me if my updating grows less, I'm moving back to Paris after 18 years (before you flip out, I'm 24 the 26th of this month) of living in the U.S., so not only do I have to ready myself to be able to use the Euro, I have some significant packing to do.

Adieu for now. 'Shattered' shall arrive here by the end of next week.