Chapter 11

Christine awoke the next morning to the sound of a piano playing. Sitting up slowly, she opened her eyes and glanced around the room, frowning slightly when she saw no one in the room. That was strange, because it almost sounded as if the piano that was being played was right by her bed…

Shaking her head slightly, she decided to not even try to figure it out. Knowing him, he probably had done some architecture magic or something to make it sound that way.

Speaking of him, she realized that now she actually had a name to put to his face. Erik. She smiled ever so slightly, noticing how the name seemed to fit him so perfectly. She had once heard a story about a Prince named Erik. He had been brave, saving the Princess from the villain, as most Princes do.

Now that she thought about it, she noticed that everything Erik was reminded her of a Prince. The way he carried himself: as if he was too royal for this world to hold him. His movements reminded Christine of a graceful male dancer, only ten times better. It was almost as if he didn't even walk on the floors, but rather floated across them…

Suddenly Christine realized that she was currently daydreaming about her kidnapper. Blushing ever so slightly, she looked around the room, for some reason feeling guilty. After all, he was her kidnapper, and his personality was that of a hundred different people.

Sighing, she decided she might as well get up and see what the day had planned for her. As she pushed her covers back, her shoulder suddenly erupted in pain. Wincing, she immediately stopped using that hand, now properly reprimanded from her body. She held her arm close to her side as she slowly got out of bed, careful to not use that hand to pull the covers back over the bed.

Just as she started to walk towards her closet, the door to her room opened, revealing Erik. He slowly walked towards her, waving his hand at the door. Christine's eyes widened ever so slightly as the door slowly shut closed, following the movements of his hand.

He slowly gazed at her up and down, and it took Christine a second to remember that she was only wearing her night gown. A lovely rose colored tint rose to her cheeks in a blush as she quickly covered herself with a robe.

The corners of his lips curled upwards in a small smirk, his golden eyes glistening in some secret emotion.

"You haven't been trying to use your left hand today yet, have you my Christine?" He purred, watching her closely for her reaction.

Christine resisted the urge to bite her lip nervously, knowing it was a bad habit that she needed to get rid of. "No, um… of course not…" she murmured softly, casting her eyes down to the floor to avoid his intense gaze.

He took one graceful step towards her and gently tilted her face up towards him, two fingers placed under her chin. "Now now, my dearest Christine. You wouldn't happen to be lying to me, would you now?"

She gazed into his eyes, embarrassed now. "Um… well.. yes actually I did try to use it… but I was quickly reminded that I shouldn't be…"

Shaking his head slightly, he tilted his head to the side and gazed at her, his golden eyes boring into her own emerald eyes.

"I thought so… You mustn't do that Christine. It could damage the muscles further and then I shall be forced to take care of your every need myself, as well as keep you under my watchful eyes for a week."

Christine nodded quickly, her eyes widening. "I won't do it again." She promised.

"Good girl.." he purred, his tone sending shivers down her spine, though she had no clue as to why.

"Now, we must get you dressed."

"I am quite capable of dressing myself!" She said quickly, backing away from him slightly.

"Please do calm down, my dear. I wasn't planning on dressing you myself… unless of course either you are unable to or you wish me to…" His eyes gave off a devilish glint as his visible eyebrow arched upwards.

Shaking her head quickly, she gazed at him, her posture straightening slightly.

"I can do it myself. I am not an invalid." She spat the last five words, getting extremely tired of him being able to control her with his voice alone.

He nodded slowly, his eyes flickering. "Very well.. but I will choose your outfit. We are going to the music room for your next lesson, and I will have you wear whatever I select, for you are in my house after all."

She resisted the urge to remind him that he was the reason that she was here in the first place, and simply watched him with narrowed emerald eyes as he walked to her closet. He disappeared inside, and returned simply moments afterwards carrying a dress in his arms.

He held it up for her to be able to see it, the hints of a true smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He suppressed it, of course, but the fact that he had almost smiled for the first time in all of his 33 years really shocked him.

Her eyes looked over the dress, her emerald eyes widening in awe. The top few layers of the skirt part of the dress were emerald green, the bottom layer a mint green color that she absolutely loved. The top of the dress was the same exact same color of mint green, and Christine could tell that the emerald color of the dress would make her eyes look absolutely brilliant.

Slowly she lifted her eyes to his, smiling in excitement, momentarily forgetting her irritation at him. "I love it."

"Then I'd best leave, so that you may change into it, mon Ange."

He turned to leave, but paused at the doorway and gazed at her, his eyes filled with an unknown emotion.

"So che un giorno sarete veramente fare una splendida sposa. Ma fino ad allora, mia bella, perché io sono disposto ad aspettare mille anni per te."

Christine's eyes widened at his words, and she stared at him as he slowly turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. She didn't know any other languages other than French, but she knew enough to know that he had been speaking to her in Italian. However, she couldn't help but wonder what he had said…

Sighing, she turned away from the door and walked over to the bed, where the dress was lying. To her surprise, it had a built in corset, which she had only seen on some of Carlotta's dresses. Smiling ever so slightly, she slipped out of her nightgown and into the dress, loving the feeling of the silk fabric.

Once she had the dress on, she went into the bathroom and brushed out her hair, but decided to leave it cascading down her back and shoulders in a waterfall of glossy, silken chocolate brown curls.

The only thing she had left to do to be completely ready was to choose a pair of shoes. Walking into the closet, she looked over the hundreds of pairs of shoes, torn as to which color to wear, much less which shoe in that color!

Finally, she ended up choosing a silver pair, which had a strap that wrapped around her slender ankles. Sliding her feet into them, she straightened her posture and walked towards the door.

Just as she brushed the silver handle with her fingertips, the door opened. Looking up, she found herself gazing into the ever familiar flickering golden orbs.

Wordlessly, he offered his hand to her, and she placed her small hand in his. He kept his gaze locked on hers for quite some time before at last looking away and leading her down the many grand staircases to the music room, the piano still playing its hauntingly beautiful music throughout the mansion.

This room was, of course, a million times more extravagant than any other room in the entire mansion. The first thing that caught her eye was the huge and extremely majestic chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. What was strange about it though, was that it seemed to be an exact replica of the chandelier in the Opera House…

"Come, Christine. You can look around later, but right now you need to start your warm ups."

She obediently went through her warm ups, but continued to let her eyes roam around the room, taking in everything she could. This room almost seemed to give off an enchanting feeling, and she had a feeling it had something to do with the light from the gorgeous chandelier.

Finally she finished her warm ups, thankfully without any mistakes and no corrections from Erik, to her great relief.

Once she was finished, he looked up at her from his position at the grand piano.

"Very good, my dear. Now that your voice is warmed up, you are going to learn a new song. It is not Opera, but I have no doubt whatsoever that you will be fabulous. This song has a very special meaning for both of us, and I know that your voice alone will bring out the magic in it."

He handed her several music sheets, his eyes boring into her own. She stared back, and they stayed like that for awhile, their eyes locked in wordless conversation. Finally, Christine lowered her gaze from his and began to read the music sheets.

I can't sleep tonight

Wide awake and so confused.

Everything's in line,

But I am bruised.

I need a voice to echo

I need a light to take me home.

I kinda need a hero..Is it you?

I never see the forest for the trees.

I could really use your melody.

Baby I'm a little blind,

I think its time for you to find me.

Can you be my nightingale?

Sing to me, I know you're there.

You could be my sanity..

But bring me peace, sing me to sleep.

Say you'll be my nightingale.

{First of all… I AM SO SORRY that it took me this long to update! I did not mean for this chapter to be so late… Anyways, I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you that have reviewed, favorited, or followed this story. YOU ARE AMAZING!

The song in this chapter is Nightingale by Demi Lovato, you guys should go listen to it its amazing!

This chapter is actually dedicated to a very close and very special friend of mine. Ella, I love you and you are the most amazing person I have ever met. Thank you so much for being here for me, for helping me, and most of all for putting up with me. And for introducing me to many amazing songs. I love you Ebbers.

Oh and what Erik said in Italian was…"I know that one day you will truly make a stunning bride. But until then, my beautiful, for I am willing to wait a thousand years for you."}