Demanding Answers

You're in for a surprise. –A

Erik frowned as he read the text Antoinette sent him.

What do you mean? –E

Oh, just wait for the teens to get back. –A

That made him even more confused but knew that he wouldn't get any more information out of her. She could be supremely stubborn at times. He went back to his medical journal that he been reading on and off for the past few days.

He heard the front door open then close, two pairs of feet walking through the living room and in the hallway. He heard another door open and close, probably being one of the teen's bedrooms.

He waited for whatever Antoinette had told him to wait for but nothing happened. Eventually he gave up and got ready for bed. He went to bed confused about what his friend could've meant from her text.

The morning was a normal one. Christine and Raoul were sleeping in because they didn't have to work until the afternoon and Erik left the house. Sadly, he didn't get the opportunity to talk to the Madame because she had come in right as they had opened and their first patients were already waiting to be seen. Erik went about his schedule like usual, yesterday's text having been thrown to the back of his mind as work distracted him.

Lunch came and Erik walked out to the front to meet of with Nadir and saw Antoinette waiting with the cop in the waiting room.

"So?" she asked as he walked up.

"So what?" Erik questioned back with a confused frown.

Antoinette's eyebrows furrowed down. "Didn't Mr. Chagny and Miss Daae talk to you yesterday?"

"No? They came back and went to bed from what I gathered." He told her.

He watched her mumble something under her breath that sounded a lot like, 'cowards' but he couldn't be certain. "Is this about the text you sent me yesterday?"

"Yes. They have something they need to tell you and it's big." Antoinette answered, still frowning.

"Okay, then why don't you tell me?" Erik suggested but she was already shaking her head.

"No, too private." Then she paused with a thoughtful look. "Actually, next time you see the two of them, tell them that if they don't tell you about the thing we've discussed, I'll tell you. I'm positive they don't want that."

"You talked to the two criminals in the making?" Nadir joined in from his chair behind Antoinette.

The Madame huffed with a roll of her eyes, but then smirked. "Yes I did and soon you won't be able to call them criminals anymore. I think they'll be shortly having a more permanent position in our lives."

She pecked Erik on the cheek where the mask didn't cover it.

"Try to have an open mind. They mean well." Antoinette told him with a smile. And with that she walked into the back rooms of the clinic.

"What was that all about?" Nadir grumbled as he stood up from his chair.

"I do not know, but I suppose I shall find out eventually." Erik replied.

Nadir shrugged. "Anyway there was something I wanted to tell you."

"What is it?" Erik turned his attention to the cop.

"That foster father that the two had? Well it took a while, but I was able to get an investigation started on him. And what do you know, the man was a drug dealer and was abusive to the kids in his care. Only reason he became a foster parent was because he wanted the benefits and money." Nadir sneered.

"I hope proper measures are being taken against him then."

Nadir nodded. "You bet they are. I'm making sure of it."

"I'm glad. I will let Mr. de Chagny and Miss Daae know. I'm sure they'll be relieved to hear the news." Erik told him.

He went out to lunch with Nadir and when he got back Antoinette refused to tell him anything else about what his houseguests could possibly have to tell him that would require an open mind.

He went back to his house that evening confused. He also knew that he will not be seeing the two teens that night because of their work schedule. But the next day they both had the day off so Erik figured he will find out then what all this fuss was about.

He got ready for bed that night with that conclusion.

Of course the next day, Antoinette had not been pleased to find out that he still didn't know what was going on but he had explained that he hasn't seen the younger two yet because they worked late yesterday. She accepted that and Erik later mentally hit himself because he could have lied and had the Madame tell him then and there.

Oh well, what done is done.

At the end of the day, Erik left the clinic, assuring the Madame that he will be seeing the teens once he got back home and would tell them her message. However, he was curious to see how long it would take the two teens to tell him whatever the thing was and didn't want to push them to do it with Antoinette's message. He supposed he would end having to say the message anyway since who knows how long it would take them to speak up on their own.

As he walked into his house he heard the sound of the TV on in the living room.

"Erik that you?" he heard Raoul's voice call out to him.

He went to the living room and stood in the entrance and saw Christine and Raoul sitting on the couch.

"I didn't realize there was another person who had keys to my place for you to ask that question." He stated.

Raoul rolled his eyes but didn't say anything.

"I have news for the two of you." Erik announced. "Your foster father is currently going through a hard time. Nadir has caught him as an inappropriate influence and undeserving of his position as a foster parent."

"Good." Raoul stated. "Jerk deserves everything that's coming to him."

"Where does that leave us?" Christine asked nervously.

"You two are allowed to remain here." Erik reassured. "Nadir is going to make sure that no one comes after the two of you and force you into another home."

"Thank god for that!" Raoul declared, pumping his fist in the air once then let it fall to his side.

"They wouldn't separate us any way. They couldn't." Christine stated softly enough that Erik almost didn't hear it, but he did.

"No of course not. They would never separate soulmates who've found each other." Erik stated firmly.

For some reason, that got him shocked looks from both of them.

"When did you find out?" Raoul demanded in disbelief.

Erik frowned. "I've known since the beginning." That got him stunned stares. "All right, I had my suspicions that first meeting but it was confirmed when I saw you again. What? The two of you give off the atmosphere of being soulmates and you two are certainly not siblings. I thought you realized that I knew."

"Oh!" Christine straightened up like she had been poke in her side. "Yes, of course! Raoul and I are soulmates and yes we knew that you knew!"

She said this with a weak but relieved smile, making Erik puzzled.

"Why the reaction then?" He asked.

"No reason!" Raoul jumped in with an overly large smile. "We thought you were talking about something else that's all!"

What other meaning from Erik's earlier statement could they have possibly thought of, Erik didn't know, but decided not to push the obviously unnerved couple in front of him.

"Right…" Erik trailed off.

Christine quickly stood up from her spot on the couch and began walking over to him.

"Let's do a lesson. It's early enough to do one. Let's do one."

Obviously, Christine was still frazzled by whatever had just happened so Erik went with it, if to only calm her nerves.

"Alright." He agreed and let the younger take his hand and pull him towards the basement for their lesson.

Christine has greatly improved over the weeks Erik has instructed her. She was wonderful before but now she was a marvel. Of course, Erik made sure to remind her that if she wished to excel she had much still to learn, but he also praised her progress.

The lesson went as it always did, by the end of it Christine was tired and Erik was pleased.

However, the ending was different.

"Erik?"

He hummed to let her know that he heard.

"Will you sing with me?" Christine asked.

Erik looked up to see Christine biting her lip nervously and sighed.

"I cannot. You are not ready for that." He told her.

"What do you mean?" she probed.

"I mean, you have yet to hear my voice by itself let alone have enough time to get used to it enough to be able to sing with me." Erik answered.

"Whose fault is that?" Christine scolded and Erik tilted his head in acknowledgement.

"Yes, it's my fault but that still does not change the answer." Erik countered.

"Then how about you sing to me? One song? You've sang to Raoul." Christine pouted.

Erik knew that was going to come back to him eventually. He sighed again, this time in defeat.

"Alright. I'll sing you the same thing I sung to Raoul. That should make it fair."

"Or, you can sing this." Christine stated, holding out a music sheet that Erik didn't see her retrieve.

He took it and glanced at the title. He blinked then moved his eyes to look up at Christine.

"You found my old music sheets."

"I promise I didn't do it on purpose. I was looking around and—" Christine began.

"And you accidently found them? It is only because I do not see how you could've known their existence that I will believe that." Erik cut in. And stood from the piano bench.

He read over the familiar music, remembering every pitch and note he put into the song to make it sound perfect.

"Please?" Christine implored, holding her hands together in front of her for good measure.

"Fine, but you have to do something for me in return." Erik stated.

"What?" she asked curious. She brought her clasped hands down to rest against her stomach.

"Apparently there is something you and Mr. de Chagny are hiding from me. I would like to know what it is." Erik commanded.

He watched as Christine take a visible swallow and her eyes widen. "What are you—?"

"Please do not finish that. The Madame has informed me that the two of you paid her a visit and that it was over something important that had to do with me. She also told me to tell you that if you do not tell me, she would. And trust me when I say that she is a woman of her word." Erik told her.

Christine bite her lip. "Can it wait to be done with Raoul? It involves him too."

Erik nodded.

"Of course. I shall do my part now though. Please sit down." Erik instructed. That got him an eyebrow raise so he continued. "It's a precaution."

She gave him a confused frown but did as she was told. She went, sat down on the piano bench and waited, staring at him expectantly.

Erik placed the music sheet on the piano and began to sing softly.

Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs and wakes imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses

Christine had gained a glassy look in her eyes and her mouth slightly agape but Erik continued. Though he made sure to stand near her in case she swayed too far.

Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Turn your face away from the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night

Christine was blinking slower and slower but her breathing increased and struggled, though not too much to be a concern yet. Erik was glad he had told her to sit down.

Close you eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
Purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before

And Christine started to fall to the side. Erik quickly caught hold of her and kneeled in front of her, holding her up. He had to admit that he was impressed by how long Christine lasted. Nadir had collapsed after the second verse when he had heard it the first time. Antoinette was the only one to ever last through the whole of any of Erik's songs but that could be referred back to all the years she had knew and listen to him. Christine's eyes were closed so Erik snapped his fingers in front of her face once.

She slowly opened her eyes and blinked them a couple times in a daze.

"Wha—" she started.

"You will be just fine Miss Daae. Come. Let us get you out of here." Erik stated firmly and helped her stand up.

This was why he didn't sing.

So there you go! That was a little bit awkward but at least Christine finally hear Erik sing! Next chapter will be in Christine's POV and this is when it gets real. ;) Review! See ya next time!