Chapter eight: Music of the night


Such a mad, wild look came into Erik's eyes that I screamed in fear. He grabbed me and spun me around so my back was against his chest. I panted in terror as his hands undid the gown.

He's going to take me! my mind screamed at me.

"Christine!" it was Raoul.

"Raoul!" I screamed.

"Erik!" Mr. Chagney said. "You better not do anything I'll have to disinherit you for!"

Erik snorted and pulled my dress off me. I covered myself as I best as I could with my arms. Erik picked me up. I screamed again as I kicked at him in terror. We went through the wall and it closed behind us.

"Will you shut up!" Erik said, setting me on the ground and pushing me forward. I gasped and moved along the passageway. "They won't get in for I locked all my entrances and yours was the last one."

I gasped and moved along down the corridor until I was in Erik's house. I stopped and blood grew cold when I realized I was in the bedroom. Erik gave me a nudge and I tripped and fell to the floor. Erik ignored me and tossed a robe from his bed.

"Put it on." He ordered.

"Why?" I demanded. "So you can rip it off me and ravish me as you said so to Raoul?"

He smirked and knelt by m; his hand firmly gripped my jaw. "An interesting idea Christine. Is that an invitation?"

I slapped Erik again and he immediately pinned me to the ground. I groaned as his body weight landed on me. "Try that again," he said darkly. "And I swear to heaven, that I will ravish the fire out of you!" I couldn't hold back the whimper from my lips. He rolled his eyes at me. "Don't play coy Christine. It doesn't become you." He pulled me up from the floor. His hands went down to my hips and he yanked me close to him and I felt his desire pressing against my entrance. I groaned and he laughed. "See? You're not that innocent, you desire the ways of the flesh even if it's with a hideous monster like me! It's a game you play, a dangerous game." He pulled away from me. "Now put that robe on!"

I obeyed; my hands shaking so badly I could scarcely tie the robe shut. I followed Erik out. He sat at his piano and began composing. The melody matched his dark mood and I sat there listening to his music.

After an hour of stolen glances on both our parts, I walked over to him and asked. "Why'd you bring me down here?"

"I need you." He said simply. I stiffened. "Get your mind out of the gutter Christine." He set down his quill and looked up at me. "When I desire you or any other woman, they'll know."

"Then," I cleared my throat. "What'd you mean by you need me?"

"A painter needs a model for an inspiration. It's the same with a composer." He turned back to his paper. "I only helped you out of your dress so you wouldn't get it dirty and I could frighten raoul. I spent a good deal of time on the dress and I didn't want you to ruin it."

I stared at him, "you made it?"

"I said I did, didn't I?" he said gruffly. "now sit down!"

I sat down beside him and gently touched the sheet music.

Music of the night.

"Interesting title." I said.

Erik ignored my comment and played the song

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation .I jumped at the sound of Erik's voice. It was deep, velvety, seductive, and dangerous all the time. Darkness stirs and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses. Helpless to resist the notes I write, for I compose the music of the night!

Timidly, I joined in. Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor. Grasp it; sense it tremulous and tender.

Erik joined me, and our voices blended beautifully. Hearing is believing, music is deceiving, hard as lightning, soft as candlelight.

There you trust the music of the night.

My spirit soared and echoed around the empty room. Close your eyes for your eyes will only tell the truth,

Erik joined me and the room fairly shook. And the truth isn't what you want to see. In the dark it is easy to pretend that the truth is what it ought to be.

The passionate music turned gentle and seductive again. My voice sounded so seductive to my ears I was sure I was hearing another's voice.

Softly.

Deafening.

Music shall caress you.

Hear it,

Feel it,

We sang in harmony again. Secretly posses you. Open up your mind; let your fantasies unwind. In this darkness which you know you cannot fight, The darkness of the music of the night.

I could sing no more. I couldn't keep up with the passion in Erik's voice. Close your eyes start a journey through a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before! Close your eyes and let music set you free! I inhaled sharply and closed my eyes as tears ran down them. No man had ever moved me to tears in such a manner. Erik. His voice went soft and charmingly gentle. Only then can you belong to me.

Floating.

Falling.

Sweet intoxication!

Touch me. He ordered, and my weak fingers obeyed as I touched his neck. I heard him inhale sharply, but sigh with delight.

Trust me. Savor each sensation!

I joined him as his eyes penetrated the windows of my soul. Let the dream begin. Let your darker side give in. To the power of the music that you write. The power of the music of the night!

I hadn't realized I'd hit heaven until I'd hit earth exhausted. I stared at Erik as he turned to face me. My heart was pounding in my chest and I was struggling for breath.

Softly, Erik took my face in his hands. I shivered as he sang softly, You alone can make my song take flight. He pulled me into his arms and pleaded with me. Help me make the music of the night.

I nodded and my arms went around his waist and I squeezed him with what remaining strength I've had left. I'll help you make the music of the night.

Erik picked me up and I snuggled against his chest. He took me back up to my room. He opened the wall and gently laid me back on my bed. My heart flipped in my chest as he pulled the covers over me.

His hand hovered for a moment over my head. "It's ok Erik." I said gently. "You can touch me."

His hand trembled and slowly, he touched my brown curls so tenderly it almost broke my heart. I took his hand, brought it to my lips and kissed it. Erik exhaled as he relished my lips on his skin. Any woman could consider herself lucky to find a man so tender and passionate. I'd never met anyone like him and I'm sure I never would again.

The morning I awoke in a somewhat dreamy state. I got dressed slowly and left my hair hanging. I kept replaying those hours down there where Erik had composed that beautiful song for me.

I went down the stairs humming it. No sooner had I set foot in the hall than Meg screamed aloud. "Oh miss Christine!"

I jumped and checked myself, "what?"

"Oh thank the lord you're all right!"

I laughed and gave her a friendly hug, "why shouldn't I be?"

Raoul and his parent's came running in the room at her shrieks. Raoul immediately swept me into his arms; his arms squeezing me so tightly I could scarcely breath. "Thank God."

"Christine," Mr. Chagney said. "I'm sorry. We'll have him arrested if that's what you wish."

"No!" I said pushing away from.

"But Christine," Raoul said. "He raped you!"

I stared at them in shock. Then, shock turned to anger, I crossed my arms. "Raoul de Chagney, how can you not know your brother any better than that!"

"Christine," Mr. Chagney said. "He threatened you. We saw and heard him carry you off screaming and crying."

"I was scared," I explained. " I didn't know what was going on. But I assure you, Erik was upset. He didn't lay a hand on me. We stayed down there all night, playing."

"Playing what?" Mrs. Chagney demanded.

"The piano!" I said. "Have you been down there? It's so grand, almost grander than your house."

"No." Mr. Chagney said. "We don't go down there and he doesn't come up here unless it's necessary."

"He chooses not to come because he can't stand the sight of you!"

"Are you in love with him?" Mrs. Chagney asked.

"No!" I said my face heating up.

"Since you've darkened our doorway," Mr. Chagney said. "You've done nothing but defend him and I thought you were here for a relationship with Raoul!"

"I am!" I said. "But I won't marry into a broken family!"

"Broken?"

"Yes!" I said. "What do you know about Erik?" they stared at me. "Do you have any idea's about his dreams, his fears? Anything?"

"Erik is scared of nothing."

I shook my head at Raoul. "You see the mask Raoul. Look behind it." I pleaded. "He hides his emotions as well as his face behind it and all of you…..just look at the mask. I know that he doesn't trust you and he hates you as well." Their faces hardened. "but the love he feels for you is fighting inside him as well. I'm trying to see the man behind it. I think for all our sakes, you all should try as well."

With that I spun out of the room towards the parlor. I crashed into Erik. I gasped and looked up at him as he yelled. He clapped his hand over his face, but he wasn't fast enough.

I saw his face.