Title: As Speech Disappears Into Darkness

Author: LittleLottexoxEriksTrueAngel

Chapter 4: Dinner

♪▪♫▪♪

Christine awoke around five thirty and quickly spotted the beautiful red dress draped over the vanity.

"Your day clothes and your dinner clothes will be laid out for you everyday…" Christine recalled Meg saying.

She sighed, rising from the bed and beginning to undress. She pulled the new red gown over her head and placed the matching necklace around her neck feeling like one of the porcelain doll's her father would bring home for her when she was a little girl.

Next, she tackled her hair, pinning it up in a loose bun, using a diamond hair clip to hold it in place. She applied little makeup on her pale face, only enough to cover the bags under her eyes and add a little color to her features. Carefully, she pulled on a pair of red shoes she had found under her bed.

Then, she waited.

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Erik sat in his study, alone, staring at the clock willing the time to go by faster. It was only a matter of minutes until his Christine would come and join him. They would enjoy a meal together and maybe play a little music. But most importantly he would be able to look at her in her new dress.

The dress had been specially made for his young protégée. It would hug all the curves of her body and show off just enough cleavage to make his mouth water. Her jewels had been imported all the way from Italy and could only add to her beauty.

He glanced at the clock again. Only eight more minutes…

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Waiting had become annoying…even to the unwilling party.

Christine was perched atop her new bed, facing the clock. She did not want to go to dinner. She did not want to face the man who had made his home her prison. Time seemed to slow…taunting her…

Finally, at five minutes to six, Meg reentered Christine's chambers.

"Bonjour, Christine," the exuberant blonde said carefully.

"Bonjour," Christine said in a sad voice from her spot on the bed.

Christine was anxious…sad…scared…and Meg seemed to pick up on that.

"Maybe," she started, and then shook her head. "It might…" She seemed to be looking for the right words. "It won't be so bad once you get to know him." She said finally with a forced smile, boldly sitting on the bed next to Christine.

"But, I don't want to get to know him!" Christine argued. "I want nothing to do with him! He is cruel and…and he ruined my life!" Tears had begun to form in her eyes by the time she finished.

Meg smiled at her sadly and handed her a handkerchief. "Think of it this way," she said. "You only have to spend a few hours a day with the Master and then you can do whatever you want."

"I guess but…"

The clock struck six.

Meg cursed under her breath. "You are going to be late." She said worriedly.

Christine rose slowly and exited the room behind Meg.

♪▪♫▪♪

Erik sat down at the dining room table. After a few moments of waiting the clock struck six.

But…Christine wasn't there.

♪▪♫▪♪

Christine had to run to keep up with Meg. She knew that there was going to be trouble. It was only a few minutes after six but she could sense the tension and fright.

"Everything will be fine, Miss." The now frightened blonde told Christine.

Christine nodded quickly as they came to a stop. Christine took several deep breaths before saying, "Thank You, Meg."

Meg only nodded opening the door. Christine entered first, quickly noticing Erik and noting his anger. Immediately she began to apologize.

"I'm sorry….Master, it is my entire fault that she is late…I—" She stuttered before he cut her of.

"Leave us." He ordered coldly, his anger evident.

Meg curtsied, "Yes, Master."

Then she was gone.

The door clicked shut.

♪▪♫▪♪

Christine stood nervously by the door. He tilted his head, watching her for a moment.

He gestured to the chair nearest to his. "Have a seat, Christine." His tone was gentler then that which he used with Meg, but both the cold and anger were still there.

Slowly and cautiously Christine walked towards the table. Putting one foot in front of the other she made it to the proffered chair and sat down with all the grace she could muster.

He looked amused at her behavior. "You needn't be frightened, ma petite."

Christine said nothing and proceeded to place her napkin in her lap as a proper lady should.

Soon, a fat, black-haired maid entered the room and placed a plate of salad in front of Christine and her Master.

Erik watched as Christine eyed the food with disgust. He sighed and picked up his fork beginning to eat, hoping she would follow his example. He wouldn't want his poor, little angel to go hungry, now would he?

Christine was in no mood to eat. Even though she hated the man who sat inches away from her, she didn't want to be rude. She was poor, but she had been raised right. She picked up her fork and moved the salad around in the plate, raising her fork, and then slowly nibbling on a lone piece of lettuce.

"You know," he started, "it's not poisoned." He was referring to the food and finished his comment with a dark laugh. A laugh that made Christine's blood run cold.

Her head shot up and she glared at him. "I'm not hungry," she said quietly.

"Yes you are." He stated with no emotion.

She looked at him aghast, but quickly turned back towards her salad.

♪▪♫▪♪

They rest of the dinner was quiet. The main course had been Christine's favorite dish and had caved and began to eat. She didn't eat a lot, but to Erik it was a start.

Only moments ago a maid had brought the strange pair their tea, and his Christine just sat there staring at her lap. She had taken one sip of the warm drink, but had quickly replaced the cup on the table.

It was not yet seven and the night was already coming to an end. It hadn't really gone as he planned.

Swiftly Erik rose from his seat and headed towards the other side of the room. He felt Christine follow him with her eyes and knew that she had not noticed the piano when she entered the room.

Erik sat on the piano bench and played a few simple tunes as a warm up as Christine watched from her seat at the table.

After playing a simple tune, he turned around in his seat and beckoned Christine, hand outstretched.

"Come," was all he said, but the tone of his voice left no room for arguments.

Obediently, Christine rose from her seat and made her way over to Erik and the piano. Erik watched her sadly. He hated that he was so cruel to her. He hated that she feared him.

Reluctantly, she took his proffered hand in her own small hand. He pulled her down on the bench next to him. Christine was uncomfortable with their close proximity, but decided it was best if she did not say anything.

Still, he moved in closer, his lips inches from her ear. Christine tensed, visibly stiffening as he purred in her ear, "There is no need to fear me, Christine. I will not hurt you."

Ah, but you already did! She thought, but did not voice the words.

"I know that our lessons are not going to start until tomorrow, but I'd like it very much if you would sing for me." He said, in a no nonsense voice, as he rose from the bench, pulling Christine up with him. She did not even have a chance to respond before he had his hands on her back straightening her back into the correct position. Wordlessly, he handed her sheet music, which she immediately recognized.

"Do you know the song?" he asked.

Christine nodded. "I do." Her voice trembled.

He began to play the song, fingers barely touching the keys. Christine watched him. He played the instrument with grace. When the music started, Christine came in exactly when she was supposed to which earned an approving glance from Erik.

"Think of me, think of me fondly,
when we've said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while -
please promise me you'll try.
When you find that, once again, you long
to take your heart back and be free -
if you ever find a moment,
spare a thought for me

As Erik listened to Christine sing, his eyes slipped shut. Christine did indeed have a voice that even God's angels would envy.

We never said our love was evergreen,
or as unchanging as the sea -
but if you can still remember
stop and think of me . . .

Think of all the things
we've shared and seen -
don't think about the things
which might have been . . .

Christine watched him perplexed. He seemed so calm and peaceful as he played the song. It was so strange to her that he could be so cold and cruel one minute and then be like this the next. Christine's eyes eventually wandered to Erik's mask. Her insane curiosity clouded her senses and she had an urge to remove the mask…to know his secret…to see beneath it…

Think of me, think of me waking,
silent and resigned.
Imagine me, trying too hard
to put you from my mind.
Recall those days
look back on all those times,
think of the things we'll never do -
there will never be a day,
when I won't think of you . . ."

There was a break in the song and Christine moved closer still. Before she knew what she was doing, her hands were on his face. She traced his features with her fingers and eventually her fingers made their way to the mask.

♪▪♫▪♪

After that, everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. Christine's hands on his face. Then, on his mask. Before either of them knew it she was trying to remove the mask.

Her fingers reached out and began to peel the porcelain away from his face. Erik's eyes shot open and his hand shot out, grabbing her wrist in his iron grip.

Angrily Erik hissed, "You shall never see beneath Erik's mask, Christine."

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A/N: So, what do you all think????? Let me know in a review!