Erik tapped his fingers irritably against the side of his piano. His eyes dazed into the music he had written, the song playing continuously in his mind, only to stop at crescendo of the music he couldn't finish. With growing anger Erik began to rhythmically play the crescendo but stopped. He narrowed his eyes. His own creation was getting the best of him.
Ayesha slept on the satin sheets of Erik's bed. Her collar had been removed and placed on one of the pillows. The young Siamese stirred, rolling onto her other side. Her purring drifted through the air like a soft fog.
The door to Erik's room opened without a sound. Christine walked in, her foot steps muted by the soft Persian rug. Erik cocked his head to one side, but didn't look at Christine face to face. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, giving no sense of emotion.
"Erik." Christine said. The young woman's hair was pulled back, but the ringlets still fell around her shoulders. Her eyes were wide in childlike wonder as they scanned the room. They quickly returned to Erik when she saw him move.
Erik ran a hand through his brown hair. "What is it?" he asked, scribbling a few notes onto his sheet of music. His gloved hands soon began to move up and down the keys, sending his sweet music into the air. Erik's full attention turned back to his original interest; his music.
Christine took a few steps closer to Erik, fidgeting with her hands nervously. "I was wondering when I could return to my home and the opera house." Her eyes began to wander around the dimly lit room again. The room was nearly empty, with a chair here and there, but nothing compared to the main room. "I know I have been gone for a day, at the least, but people will begin to worry. Meg Giry would be in tears if I was no where to be found. If I don't return soon, the managers of the opera house wont pay me. I must work."
By now Erik was enveloped by his music. His eyes were glazed over and his fingers moved across the keys with ease and grace. His eyes slowly closed. "I have much work for you, Christine." Erik said, almost singing the words to his music. He turned his head and opened his eyes, starring deep into Christine's. "You are not over your cold yet, teaching you in this condition could ruin your voice. I want to keep you here to manage your fever. Without my knowledge, your cold could double it's intensity."
Christine began to protest but stopped. Erik had stopped playing his music and now looked at Christine with anger in his eyes. He rose from his chair and approached her. Christine backed away from her approaching teacher. His shadow enveloped her own and soon swept over her face like an ominous cloud.
"Do you want me to teach you, Christine?" Erik asked. Anger lingered in his voice, but he was trying hard to surpress it.
"Yes." Christine stuttered. Her eyes were wide with fear. She never noticed how tall Erik was. He loomed over her by a few inches that felt like feet. "I must return to the opera house, though. Erik, its the only way I can survive in the world."
Erik turned, sharply, away from Christine. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists in anger. He could feel her eyes on him, those eyes that always seemed to question him and pry off his mask. Erik let out a wavering sigh.
"Then go." Erik whispered.
Christine blinked, not knowing how to react. "What?"
Erik spun around, his eyes now full of unrequited anger. "Go! Leave this haven of music. If the damned opera house means more then the music I promised you, than go. I will not stand to teach an insolent woman who knows nothing when it comes to singing."
Tears had begun to trickle down Christine's cheeks. Her eyes were wide in amazement. "Erik, you know I want to sing. You promised you would. I promised to obey your commands." She wiped her tears away. "Please, Erik."
Christine took Erik's hand but he pulled away. He turned away from her and walked to his piano. He took a seat and didn't give Christine another look. Once again his eyes seemed to change appearance as Erik began to play a song unknown to Christine.
The music leapt from Erik's fingers and into the chords of the piano. Slowly, as if lead by a chain around her neck, Christine began to approach the piano. Her tears were gone and now a look of love filled her brown eyes. She took in a breath and paused, tearing herself from the trance. Still Erik continued with the soft tune.
Slowly Christine noticed Erik's lips were moving as if he was singing with the song. Christine began to approach Erik once more. She tried in vain to listen to Erik's voice, but all she heard was the piano. Before she knew it, Christine was standing next to Erik, still straining to listen to her teacher sing.
Christine suddenly noticed Erik's eyes had turned to her once more. She felt her cheeks grow warm. A soft smile crossed her face. Erik didn't smile, but raised his voice to an audible level. He stared at Christine, unblinking and slowly stood to his feet and ceasing his wonderful music.
"Since first I saw your face I renowned to honor and renown ye. . . . If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye."
The sound that escaped Erik was indescribable. It was nothing like Christine had imagined. His voice was sweet and strong. It suited him, giving the aura of mystery an even stronger sense. Christine could only imagine that angels wept at the sound of his voice.
Erik took Christine's face into his hands and continued to sing the song. Their eyes locked and Christine felt her heart skip a beat as Erik leaned his face closer to hers. He was now singing to her and to her only. His eyes stared into hers, letting his music feed into the heart of his student. Erik's voice grew softer until the song was only a memory.
The two stood, starring into each other's eyes without a notion of looking away. Erik pulled his hands away, slowly. Christine closed her eyes as she felt his arms wrap around her. She let her head rest on his shoulder and felt a tear run down her cheek.
"Will you ever leave or resist me?" Erik whispered. His gloved hand began to entwine itself around Christine's hair.
"No." Christine replied. Another tear crept down her cheeks. "I want you to sing for me, Erik, and I want to sing for you."
Erik took a step back, lifting Christine's face. He wiped away the tears that lingered on her rosy cheeks. She smiled softly, but Erik didn't return the gesture. Her heart felt heavy as Erik turned back to his piano. The magic between them had disappeared with his majestic song. Erik showed no remnants of that moment when their hearts were one.
The silence between them lengthened as Erik sat at the piano, resting his gloved fingers on the keys. A sigh escaped him. "Tomorrow I will escort you back to the opera house, Christine." Erik said without looking at her. "You should feel better, and I trust that you will return to me."
A smile crossed Christine's face. "Thank you."
Erik's only reply was the song he had begun to sing only minuets earlier. Christine walked over to Ayesha, who was still sleeping. She sat on Erik's bed, stroking the cat's fur and humming the melody of the song.
"Since first I saw your face I resolved to honor and renown ye. If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye. What I that loved, and you that liked shall we begin to wrangle."
Christine laid down on the satin blankets, her eyes slowly closing. She listened as Erik's voice seemed to drift into silence and the only sound was her breathing. Christine let her hand come to rest on Ayesha. She could feel the cat purring with joy.
Before Erik knew it, Christine was asleep. He stood a few feet away from his bed, watching his student and cat sleep. He smiled, half to himself. He had won Christine's heart through music. Erik was now one step closer to the only thing he wanted. One precious, beautiful step closer to his goal. Love.