Chapter IX

Christine's nerves only increased the farther they drew from the Opera House. Raoul who clutched her hand almost painfully tugged her gently down the streets of Paris with a smile plastered on his face. He knew that she would enjoy herself, she had to! And he couldn't wait to show her his home; she would be so captivated by the sheer size of it. But first he would take her to the river, she would love it.

Raoul and Christine talked of random things they saw, he spoke to her of clothes and dogs, of how he disliked raccoons but thought them to be pretty creatures. Christine admitted that she had an affinity for cats, particularly stray ones, explaining that they were more grateful than those simply born into a home. He raised an eyebrow at the queer explanation but adored her all the more for it.

"Where are we going Raoul?" She asked him when she noticed that they were approaching a park. He grinned at her and simply pointed ahead.

Through a set of willow tree's Christine caught sight of something glistening. She stopped walking and squinted. "It's a brook," Raoul told her and pulled her as he broke into a run. She ran in his hand, ignoring the distasteful stares of the ladies and gentlemen around them as they broke past the willow trees and stopped on the bank of the beautiful water.

"This is amazing!" She told him gently, plopping down in her dress and not caring for the dirt. Raoul's eyes brightened at this and he sat down too. "How beautiful. Do you come here often? I have never seen something like this before."

"I come here whenever my father admits me." He looked to Christine with a wondrous gaze, he noticed that her eyes were dazed. "Christine, tell me about you. I feel as though I know you and I do not know you."

Christine looked to him with a confused stare, "there is nothing to know about me Raoul."

"Of course there is, there must be something you can tell me. Let's start with this, what is your age?" He asked and took her hand gently, it was so small and warm in his.

"I am six… that's what Nadir says."

"Who is Nadir?" He asked with a curious gaze.

"He…" Christine did not know how to answer that and so she simply shrugged, "he's an uncle of mine." Raoul went on to ask her about her aspirations, "I want to be a singer," she announced meekly, "I have been training to beat out everyone else."

"I'm certain you will." He smiled, "Will you sing for me later?"

Christine nodded shyly; blushing under the praising stare Raoul was casting her way. He couldn't help it however. She was so pretty before the running water, and the water itself deflected colors at her skin that made her look fairy-like. Raoul went on to ask her about her favorite colors, her favorite foods, her favorite games and everything of this sort.

As they chatted Christine hardly noticed her scarff coming undone and it wasn't until the wind whipped it out to the brook that they both took became aware of it.

"No, no!" Christine shrieked as the water tried to swallow her scarf. Raoul instantly stood and jumped into the water quickly, and fetched the fabric easily before darting out of the freezing water.

"Oh Raoul, you're soaken and it is cold, this is not good." She worried as he came out with a grin on his face as if nothing was wrong.

"Do not fret Christine, its only water."

Over the next hour he found out that Christine's favorite color was amber, her favorite food was simply bread, and she enjoyed no games as she had never partook in any. He also asked her about her father, to which he regretted noticing the distant look she got on her face but was relieved when she smiled and told him that her father, Gustav Daae, was a wonderful man who had played the violin to ensure their survival. Her mother had passed, same as her father, but she was saved by her guardian.

"And who is this guardian?" Raoul asked.

Christine suddenly looked up at the darkening sky with a shiver. Raoul looked up too and noticed that the winds had picked up and Christine's cheeks were flushed and her nose was reddened. "Come," he told her gently and picked her up, her hand was still warm in his, "we must go to my home before returning to yours."

Raoul led Christine down the streets quietly, smiling at her whenever she looked around her and then back to him. She seemed wary of something though he didn't know what; he paid no mind and wrapped his arm around her slight frame hesitantly. Christine shivered and he held his position, hoping she did not mind it too much.

When they got to his home Christine was shocked at the sheer size of the mansion before her. She stepped back from the gate to simply examine the large home in the distance. Raoul blushed at her as she looked to him in disbelief and he led her past the black iron gates silently and then to his house.

When Raoul opened the door she was yet again stupefied by everything. Shiny marble floors, a large staircase that led to another floor. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling, not the same size as the one of the Opera House, but much too extravagant for any home except perhaps this one.

"Come, let us go to my room, I do not wish for my parents to know that I've snuck someone inside. The maids might tell on me." He whispered lowly and rushed her up the stairs.

Christine quickly went up the flight of stairs with Raoul, trying hard to keep her eyes on what was ahead of her but finding her gaze lingering to everything else. Finally he pulled her inside a door and shut it before turning and grinning madly like if he had just robbed a bank.

"Your home is… unbelievable!" Christine cried out as Raoul jumped forward and carefully placed his hand over her mouth, as they both giggled madly.

"You must not speak too loudly," Raoul cautioned her, smiling, "I am not supposed to have company over you see?"

Christine nodded as Raoul released her mouth and then stepped back. She looked around the room and noted that the walls were colored a sky blue and his bed lay to her right, it was big, far too big for him, and the cushions were large and fancy. He had a box in the corner of the room and he also had a large window directly in front of the door. There was a closet to the right but she dared not look inside without permission.

The entire room was larger than any she had ever been in with the exception of the Opera House auditorium and the entrance to this home.

"Tell me, what do you think?" He asked quietly. He walked to the box in the corner of the room beside the large window that took up almost the entire wall and opened it, he was searching inside for something but Christine stayed where she was, almost afraid to move.

"I think your home is very beautiful."

"Perhaps one day I can come over your home?" He asked her pensively as he looked within the box.

Oh Raoul, Erik would not allow that. Erik would be very angry… and you would be severely disappointed to learn that Erik and my home is nothing compared to this. We have darkness and rock, and you have… paradise. "Perhaps," she smiled simply.

Raoul excused himself momentarily to change out of his wet clothing, when he returned he found Christine exactly where he had left her.

The minutes passed with Christine and Raoul playing quietly but adventurously. Raoul would chase Christine around the room pretending to be a monster and she the princess, but Christine protested to this claiming that she did not want to be that, instead she claimed to be a warrior princess, Raoul did not object and they continued their game this way for quite some time.

It was as they were both collapsed on the floor, exhausted from their exertions that Christine took noticed of the darkness outside.

"I must go Raoul, I must be there when he comes to get me."

"I understand." He murmured almost demurely and stood, taking her hand in his once again and pulling her quietly out of the door way.

Christine and Raoul flew down the flights of steps silently; they heard housemaids walking around the house and would stop to ensure that none of them were coming their way. But as they reached the last few steps they stopped - they heard footsteps from what Christine believed to be the living room.

"Christine we must get you out of here. That is my father with the doctor; my father will come up the stairs and see you surely." Raoul whispered as he tugged her down the stairs.

Her heart raced. "Raoul but how will I get home!"

"I will take you!"

"Your father will be angry! Stay behind I will find my way home!" She whispered softly as they reached the final landing and the footsteps drew more adjacent to them. Raoul shook his head and tugged her forward.

It was as they were approaching the exit to the home that they heard a gasp.

Christine and Raoul whirled around.

"Father, I can explain!" He instantly started.

…

"Christine?" Nadir stared at the young girl before him in shock.

"You know this girl?" Raoul's father turned to stare at Nadir with confusion, the young girl simply flushed in colored and gripped his sons hand tightly. Raoul moved forward, dragging her unwilling frame with him in turn. "Raoul what is the meaning of this! You know your mother is sick and company-

"Father she is so kind you must meet her! This is Christine!" Raoul pulled her forward; she looked to Nadir and locked stares. There was a silence before the madness erupted.

"Christine what in the world are you doing here!" Nadir's voice rose so sharply she jumped and instantly Raoul jumped to her defense.

"I was inviting her so that we might play-

"Raoul your mother is going to be furious!" Raoul's father hollered and grabbed the boy by the arm, his swollen hand had a fierce grip on the boy and Raoul glared up at the man so furiously that Christine thought he might set his balding head on fire, her hand was still in Raoul grip, I cannot feel my fingers anymore.

"Christine, come here now!" Nadir scolded her hotly. She bit her lip as Raoul hand tightened on hers.

"Release her!" Monseiour de Chagny exclaimed and shook Raoul, "Release her damn it!"

"Raoul," she pleaded gently as he glared at the man horribly. Christine thought she might vomit.

Suddenly there came a sharper voice, cracking the air and silencing every breath within it. "What is this mayhem in my household!"

Christine and everyone with the exception of Raoul turned to look up the stairs where there stood a tall woman with blonde curls and an intense green stare. Christine shivered as the woman stared at her in particular and started coming down the stairs.

Raoul's grip loosened as Christine twisted her hand in his and jerked backwards towards the door as the woman made her landing and started in her direction. The lady was not beautiful, simply extravagant with her long flowing dress and her diamond on her finger. "Who is this?" She stabbed a finger in Christine's direction.

I am most certainly going to vomit now – Christine thought as she searched with her hand for the doorknob, but she refused to remove her eyes from the woman – afraid that she might perhaps attack.

"This is my friend." Raoul huffed, yanking his arm from his father's grip and looking at the woman with a glare, "Her name is Christine-

"I do not care what her name is. I know just from the sight of her that she is nothing more than a baseborn orphan." The woman's voice had settled to something akin to disgust and pity, "I do not know why you waste your time with such filth Raoul-

"Mother!" Raoul hissed angrily.

Nadir stepped forward hastily now, his eyes burning black fire like Christine had never seen before, "I will not permit you to talk of Christine in that manner, madam. We will be taking our leave of your home now."

"She is not welcome here, ever again, Persian." The woman looked to the young girl with distaste as Christine tried to make herself invisible, she was willing the tears to not fall, but the woman could see them brimming.

"Christine," Raoul's voice was a meek whisper; she looked to him with a shiver and shook her head at him, begging him to be silent. "You and I are friends," he reminded her gently before his mother's hand came crashing down on his cheek. Christine jumped at the contact but Raoul simply glared at the woman.

"You are not allowed to associate with her kind anymore Raoul, look at her," she hissed and grabbed his face and turned it to look at the girl by the door who had turned her back and was struggling to pull the door open, "see how below you she is? Look, she's dressed in rags with a wet scarf-

"Stop it!" Nadir growled and stepped forward. "You do not know her. You know nothing of Christine and yet you stand there and berate a child! A child? What does that say about you madam? You may have your riches, and your jewelry and perhaps Christine and I are not nobility…" He drifted, almost afraid of what would come out of his mouth.

Christine finally pulled the door open and turned as Nadir went to her, taking her hand in his, she finished for him, "I may have a rock, as a home, Madam de Chagny, and you may have this paradise, but your home is filled with hate and mine with love, and that makes me far more wealthy than you can ever hope to be." Raoul gave a strangled cry and leaped forward as if to wrench Christine back to him but his father grabbed him backwards and Nadir shut the door.

…

"Oh Christine, Erik will not be happy." Nadir whispered as he pulled the young girl down the streets perhaps a little too hastily. She was running to keep up with him and was tripping half the time. Nadir's eyes were focused ahead, to the Opera House the loomed in the distance, and Christine's eyes were far way. Locked in her own thoughts the girl could not help but to think of madam de Chagny, how that woman hated her without even knowing her!

Nadir's thoughts were circling around how to tell Erik what had happened, how does he explain Christine's rebellion to the man? Surely Erik would not care anyway. He sighed, trying to find comfort in this thought alone, but doubting it in his heart.

When they got into the Opera House Christine had still not said a word and as Nadir pulled Christine through hallways and shadows, silently, she still could not mutter a word. Well, I dislike you too madam de Chagny, you know nothing!

Nadir led Christine through a secret passage way Erik had taught him about and then they descended through the mad tunnels of Erik's underground lair.

When they finally reached the lair Nadir stilled as he looked around the dimly lit lair. He squinted, trying to make out things and then he froze as he saw Erik's figure hunched over the piano instead of the organ that would have put him in direct view of the masked man.

Christine, whose hand was weakly held in his, did nothing and made no move to walk forward, was she even breathing?

Was Nadir breathing?

Was Erik?

He took a tentative step forward and it would have seemed that he had shouted as Erik sprung up suddenly and whirled around. His amber eyes locked in on Christine's distant face and Nadir's grave expression before he marched forward like a great black demon.

"Where have you been!" He exclaimed more furiously than Christine had ever heard anyone speak to her, perhaps not angrier than Madam de Chagny, but with all the shouting done at her today it might as well have been. Erik came charging in her direction and she whimpered away behind Nadir. Erik froze and stared at Nadir who made no movements to get out of his way. "You would dare stand in front of her – knowing very well that she deserves this?"

"It has been a hard day," Nadir sounded weary, "please lower your voice."

Erik's face became a scowl and his amber eyes darkened as he turned his face downwards, away from the dim candles, "where were you Christine?" he addressed the young girl while glaring at Nadir, knowing she would answer him.

The response came timid, "I was at Raoul de Chagny's home."

…

Christine heard nothing when she said it, no response from Erik at all. She thought for a moment that perhaps he was not there at all but as she peeked around she saw that he was very much there, and very much staring at her.

His beautiful amber eyes were now a sight of horror as they burned at her. Christine let out a shaky breath and backed away from Nadir as Erik reached around Nadir easily and pulled her arm to him.

"You were where?" He hissed angrily, what had happened to his voice? His beautiful voice now shook her to her very core. He tightened his hold as Christine stared up at him.

"I'm sorry Erik." Her lip trembled as her Ange hovered over her, black and terrifying.

"Erik, let go of the poor girl," Nadir said softly but became silent when Erik's eyes moved in his direction, then they returned to Christine who looked away and focused on the blackness of his clothing.

"What were you doing there? Did you fancy his pretty face, perhaps?" Erik's voice became deeper; she felt that she might get swallowed by it, "Do you enjoy his company because you no longer find Erik to be pleasant?" He grabbed a hold on her chin gently and tilted her face up, she saw only sadness and rage in his eyes and the side of his face that was exposed made her sorrowful, for she could see the different emotions playing out on his face clearly, "Why have you disobeyed me!"

Christine shook her head and lowered her face, closing her eyes. Nadir spoke, "I was caring for monsieur de Chagny's hand, swollen as it was it he needed care. I went over and heard him talking of how he had not seen Raoul, his youngest boy. I told him perhaps he should look for the boy, but he said he would return in due time, the boy seemed to have had a fight with his mother about what type of friends he should have and his father believed the boy was having a tantrum because of this." Nadir paused as Erik straightened up, still holding onto Christine's arm.

Nadir continued, "when I had finished checking on his hand I was getting ready to leave, that's' when I saw Christine with Raoul de Chagny coming from upstairs." He saw Erik's eyes narrow, Nadir nervously glanced away, "the young Vincomte's father was visibly upset and grabbed the young boy, the young boy grabbed Christine, refusing to let her go. The father grew more angry at this and there was a lot of shouting, then Madam de Chagny came down." Nadir noticed Christine gave a slight whimper; Erik looked down at her small frame with confusion, understanding that something related to this woman pained Christine. Nadir noticed Erik's pale fingers loosen around her small arm, "Madam de Chagny-

"Please stop!" Christine cried out and tried to yank herself free of Erik but he only tightened his arm, "Nadir no more! Tell no more!"

"Tell me, now." Erik's voice became gruff, "Stop it Christine!" He commanded powerfully, instantly the young girl ceased her struggling and was reduce to mere whimpers.

"The… madam called Christine base-born. She demanded that Raoul not keep company with Christine, at that point I protested but she simply continued to reduce Christine's image before the boy to nothing more than an orphan." Christine trembled at the words and Erik's eyes became very still. There was complete silence and Nadir stepped backwards, afraid that it would erupt like in the de Chagny home.

"Please, release me Erik." Christine's young voice pleaded softly, "I will go away so that you may not have to be bothered." Her eyes turned up at him, watered and begging, "please let me go."

"Why would you say that?" Erik's voice became as it always was once again, his eyes too, his expressionless countenance. Only Christine could see the softness in his face and the gentler tone he was using, it all sounded the same to Nadir, cold.

Christine did not reply and only sagged slightly.

"I must take my leave," Nadir murmured gently, he glanced at Erik with a warning stare, Erik nodded, understanding. "Christine," the young girl looked up at him, "you and I will talk tomorrow."

…

Silence reigned over the lair for a few moments as they listened to Nadir's retreating footsteps. She felt Erik's hold tighten about her arm and she bit her lip painfully hard as he turned and steered her to her bedroom.

"How dare you disregard my rules?" He said with a stern tone, "I set rules for you because I know what's best. Or do you no longer trust my judgment either?" He did not expect her to answer but when she made an attempt he shot her a glare that silenced her instantly. When they entered her bedroom he picked her up smoothly and set her on the bed. She watched him walk around lighting candles and then he stood in the corner of the room like the watchful guardian that he was.

"Erik-

"You will not speak." His voice cut the room sharply. His eyes were unblinking and Christine's eyes watered miserably. "I waited for you by the mirror. The minutes passed and I thought perhaps you had gone out with Meg Giry. When I found this was not the case – as Meg had entered the dressing room briefly to see if you were there, I became very…" he paused, "aggravated to discover that you were not with her." Christine bit her lip, "Imagine my position for a moment, if you will. I wanted to go out and find you, but it was impossible seeing as that if you had decided to come back-

"I would have!" She defended herself.

"-you would not know how to get into the lair, now would you?" His eyes widened with anger, "And so I was forced to stay, thinking that if you returned I must be here else you might try to swim across the lake and drown once more!" His voice had risen now and Christine jumped on the last two words. A silence fell for a moment, "I was forced to be helpless Christine. And that is not a position I very much enjoy, I do not miss it."

She was confused by his sentence but said nothing of it. Instead she waited for a moment to speak.

"And then Nadir comes with you in hand, and for a moment I wish to blame him, but then I realize that Nadir would not take you without asking me first. So I realize that innocent little Christine has deceived Erik, she had disobeyed Erik." Shame filled her deeply, "and then to make matters more grievous she cowers behind Nadir from her supposed Ange."

Christine broke into a sob and buried her face into her small hands, "oh you are my Ange, you are!" Her sobs filled the room, "I'm so sorry Erik! Do not leave me! Please do not leave me!" Her chest ached painfully, she was finding it hard to breathe but forced the words out anyway, "Oh please! Please! I will be good I swear it!"

"Oh, Christine…" There it was. That melodic voice that filled her spirit with light! Christine's eyes opened and found that Erik had not moved from his location. "How can I protect you when you put yourself in so much danger?"

"I will not do anything against your wishes Ange, I swear it. You were right, I should not be around Raoul," her eyes watered again, Erik stepped forward from the darkness, "his family does not like me, why did they not like me?" She asked Erik as he stood before her, his broad shoulders blocked out all the light from Christine's face until she was swallowed by his shadow. Then kneeled before her, dropping almost heavily to the ground and staring into her blue orbs stonily, "What did I do wrong?"

"You did nothing wrong to them," his voice became cold, "you are a creature born of music and goodness and they are creatures born of greed and money."

She blinked the tears away, "Raoul tried to hide me Erik. He knew that I was not wanted and he brought me inside, that has to be good, right?"

Her naivety is beautiful, but so distressing, "he looked at you and saw you as being below him Christine," he said seriously, "he knew that you would not be accepted and because of that he hid you. He judged you from the instant he saw you and knew that you were not of his type of people. We are outsiders to them Christine. They know nothing of you, or our music."

Her eyes became sad. Erik felt a painful flare in his chest, damning them for this, "but Raoul wanted me to be his friend."

Erik nodded, "he hid you Christine; do you deserve to be hidden?" You hide her, Erik thought to himself, you hide her here so that no one might taint her. He shook the thought away with another, But I will not hide you forever Christine, one day you shall flourish under the lights of the Opera house for all the world to see.

"I will focus on my music from now on, I swear it Erik, I promise. I will make you proud."

He could have died for that one instant; he had never experienced so much happiness as in that one sentence. She wanted to make him proud. Erik nodded simply and stood to his towering height, "You must not see that boy. He will destroy everything." His eyes burned into hers.

"I swear it." She whispered back, staring up at the masked man as he nodded and strode from the room; silently plotting what he would strike upon the Madam de Chagny and when.

Woo! So there you go! We've seen the first hints of Erik's anger although we know that that was barely scratching the surface :)

So I am pretty sure the next chapter will be skipping years ahead but I'm not entirely sure yet. I find that the next few chapters are going to be a bit tricky, I know that since Erik has been raising her a few people probably see a very father-daughter relationship thing but that was never really how it was supposed to be because I would not feel comfortable writing a romance between that type of dynamic, and I hope that no one see's them as having a father-daughter type of relationship as much as them have a relationship where Erik protects ans shields her almost to a detrimental point. :)

I tried to make this chapter longer than the others and I must thank you for the reviews once again, you're all fantastic - please review haha it doesn't take even one minute haha and for those of you who answer the questions I am always so intrigued by your responses so thank you so much!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! So questions:

1) Do you agree with Christine? Or Erik? Was it nice of Raoul to invite her where she wasn't invited, or was it all irrelevant as he knew Christine would not be accepted and therefore this means that he saw her as being below him (otherwise how would he know she was not going to be accepted? That is Erik's stance).

2) Whose side are you more on, Erik's? Where he wants to shelter her from everything, or Raoul who want's her to disobey her guardian? In other words, do you think Erik's stance is more reasonable, or Raoul's?

So REVIEW PLEASE - It doesn't take that long, and THANK YOU WITH ALL MY HEART to those who have been reviewing, you have yourselves to thank for my speedy updates - you and you alone :)

I will do my best to update sometime tuesday, TOMORROW I'M GOING TO SEE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA ON BROADWAY WITH SIERRA BOGESS. Awesome RIGHT?! So review my darlings! Review!