I don't own The Phantom of the Opera

Ch. 7

Christine's POV

I stayed with Eric for two days; tensions were very high I could never carry a full conversation with him. After he confessed his name he wouldn't say much he stared at me until I told him I was hungry. He disappeared into the kitchen and when I walked into the dining room there was a huge meal but he was gone. I cleaned it up, and gave myself a tour of his home. I walked everywhere, most of the doors were locked and I could never hear anything I looked over his music for an hour even tried to play some, there were all beautiful. He never showed up that's when I retired to the library. I fell asleep there but woke the next morning in the room I had before.

I examined the room as I hadn't the day before and noticed the large closet in the corner. I opened it and was shocked to find beautiful dresses; they must have been imports for I had never seen them in any of the store windows. I put on one of the less flashy ones and stepped out the door.

Erik is in the kitchen, I almost laughed at the thought of Eric putting on an apron and chef hat, but he was in his regular formal attire. I leaned on the wall and examined him for a few minutes. He moved through the kitchen gracefully almost as if he, EEEEECH! I didn't notice that I was moving forward and my foot hit the chair who is not a musical instrument when it slid on the floor. Erik looked quickly behind him, and I could see fear in his eye. "I'm sorry, I was going to tell you I was here-" "it's ok, you're just up earlier than I expected" he turned back to his stove, I didn't know what to do, but I didn't want to stand in an awkward silence what could I say? "Where were you yesterday"…nope that was wrong.

"You kind of left after breakfast" he back straightened but he still didn't say anything. "Look, part of making things not awkward is filling in the silence, preferably with an answer to my question." Now he's starting to make me mad, "you brought me here the least you can do is talk to me" he finally turned to face me "I had to think yesterday, I'm sorry you were left alone for so long" "apparently I wasn't, seeing as lunch and dinner just magically appeared on the table!" I'm pushing it, but I kind of want him to get angry at least it will loosen his tongue. "I'm sorry-" "what does that apology include" the argument from yesterday is resurfacing and this time no temper tantrum or mask will keep it from being resolved.

"I don't understand." his posture told me that he knew exactly what I was talking about. "Erik, I cannot live with lies and I cannot be around people who will hide from me. If you want to continue a friendship you are going to have to participate!" He moved the food from the stove and walked toward me, "If I had come to you as a man would you have listened?" "Yes" He shook his head and began pacing, "even after you heard the rumors of a man in a mask who was so unspeakably ugly" "yes, when I was a girl I would have clung to anyone" he shook his head again. "No you wouldn't have, you would have screamed and left me" is this what he's scared of, that I'm going to leave. "Erik-" "don't deny it; you've heard what I am, you've seen, I'm a monster and as soon as you see the surface you will find your Raoul and he will take you away from me." "Raoul? He is only a friend, an overprotective brother at most." I still don't understand why would I run away, "Are you saying that I'm going to run away from you because of your face?" He abruptly stopped pacing and nodded his head, "How vain do you think I am?! That I would run away because you aren't some handsome prince, I would have thought after all these years that you would have known that I don't think looks define a person, it is there soul that counts." He takes a step back almost as if he's frightened, I can't help but smile, I just scared my Angel. "I guess I misjudged you." his voice is soothing, but his face is impassive. "Yes you have" I took a step toward him, as he turned back to the stove and moved the food to the table; it was a delicious looking omelet. He turns to leave, "wait!" I walk up to him "you are not going to leave, are you I need someone to talk to." He only nods "I will be in the music room."

I love the music room; the beauty that the room conceals is also reflected in every piece of furniture or the color of the wall. I can stand in the room for hours just to look at all the paintings; it feels like home in a way. Erik is by his piano, carefully writing notes onto a paper booklet, the paper is banded together by string, it's an inch think at least with bits and pieces of uneven paper that seems to be bent or torn. Eric closes the book and turns around; on the cover I can see the title, "Don Juan Triumphant" "You compose?" Eric nods "can I see it?" "No!" His demeanor darkens and I know when to back off, that doesn't mean I will. "What is it?" He stands up, and puts the book into a drawer "an opera" "An opera?! What's it about?" I wait in anticipation, but he doesn't answer. "Is it a comedy, umm a romance um-" "A tragedy" I smile "and a romance in ways" the manikin, of course he wants love in his life; he just doesn't know how to show it. "I'm sure it's grand" He has a look on his face, it's hard to tell because I can only see half of it but I think that I see regret. "Christine, I think it's time I bring you back." "What?" He shakes his head, "I've kept you here too long" I've almost forgotten about the rest of the world, how could I have forgotten that I was all but kidnapped. "Oh" what has happened to my mind; I haven't exactly missed my home. "Come with me" he offers me his gloved hand, but I can't take it "no there is still so much I don't understand" is that a hint of a smile on his face? "You can't understand, it was a mistake to bring you here." "No! No it wasn't, please don't say that." Now I know he's smiling, but it's a sad smile. "Please, you said it before it's not like nine years of being a friend to me counts for nothing. I want to know more, about you and your past, your-" "I will see you again?" he has turned away from me his hand slowly reaches for the drawer that I saw him put the booklet into, but brings it back as if it was bitten. He turns back to face me "I'm afraid that my past is too dark too private for me to tell you" "I have known you for nine years, you can trust me" he extends his hand to me again "another time"

Once again in my room left alone to ponder the last two nights alone. He told me that his past was dark, and I don't doubt it I don't know what would cause someone to go sneak around the opera house as a phantom and sing to little girls as an angel, My Angel. Hmm It is strange that I can still think of him as my Angel, but I don't want to think I don't want to let it get complicated I want to keep everything simple without thought of all that could go bad, of all the horror stories I have already heard. I sighed loudly and made a silent vow to myself. I will from now on help him, I will be his friend unless he becomes a threat to me or my friends, and I will always be there for him.

That took me forever, I really hope I was able to capture Eric's character in this chapter. I'm starting to think that I will stay away from using different POV's I think after I took out Eric's POV which I had in my original chapter it made the story so much better. I want to thank all the people who have come back continually this past weekend, and I know that when school starts back up my chapters will become even less likely to come everyday. I might just have a schedule and put them up every weekend instead of trying to finish a chapter everyday. Thank you so much Crow's-Plague for your review you really lifted my spirits. As always I'm open to different opinions hope I'll be able to post again soon.