Here is a nice LONG one for you!

And for those who were wondering, here is where we start to touch on the 'music' aspect of the story, more to come on that. Also, you asked for a little smut between Erik and Christine? Ok….egad….here it is!

Chapter 11

In the morning Erik could tell that Christine was not pleased about being left under guard as he prepared to leave for the palace site. He wished he could stay with her himself but there were just too many things that needed his specific attention that he couldn't remain. However, knowing he had her to come back to would make the day much brighter. It would also make it seem unbearably long as well, the minutes dragging by like hours.

He bid her goodbye and walked out of the doors to find the man, Kas was his name, waiting dutifully. He straightened when he saw Erik exit and waited for his orders.

"You are to remain here until I return. Under no circumstances are you to allow anyone access to my chambers save myself or the Daroga of Mazanderan. If for any reason the Shah or the Shahbanu request entry you are to tell them I have strictly forbid it." Erik saw from Kas' wide-eyes expression that the idea of defying the Shah in such a way terrified him. "If you are unable to stop them, come and find me immediately, do you understand?"

Kas nodded his head in obedience.

"You are not to enter my chambers yourself unless you hear danger within and then only to protect and serve. You are not to speak or interact with the girl in any fashion. Your death will be very slow and by my own hand should you fail me. Have I made my wishes perfectly clear?

"I…I understand and obey, oh mighty one." Kas stammered.

With one last glare for good measures, Erik turned and headed down the corridor, his cape billowing ominously around him as he went.

Christine was utterly bored! Why had she not asked Erik to pick up something at the market to busy her hands? She didn't feel right snooping around through his things looking for something to do and much to her dismay she did not see a single book lying around to read. Not that she could read Persian anyway and she guessed that those would be the only kinds of books available. So after some deliberation she decided to clean.

This ended up taking most of the day, dusting and sweeping followed by mopping took longer than she had guessed it would. The dry sandy air that blew in off the open terrace having covered most surfaces with a thin layer of gritty dust.

When lunchtime rolled around she made herself something to eat and her thoughts turned to the guard outside, wondering if he was allowed to take a lunch break. Knowing Erik, she seriously doubted that he was permitted to leave his post so she decided to offer him something to eat. Making a sandwich and putting it on a plate, she opened the door and stepped out into the hall.

When he saw her the man's expression grew frantic and he stiffened, his back going ridged as he turned away from her to stare across the wall, refusing to make eye contact.

"I thought you might be hungry." Christine said, holding the plate out to him. When he still refused to acknowledge her she decided that he simply did not understand English so she set the plate down on the floor beside him and went back inside. Oh well, so much for the prospect of having a conversation with him. Not that she felt Erik would have approved of that anyway, but it was his fault for leaving her all alone!

The second half of her day involved more cleaning but as the hours past she found herself now searching for items that still needed attention. That was when she spied a very interesting looking item on the top shelf over by the dining table. It appeared to be a figure of a monkey that was covered with velvety looking hair and dressed in colorful Persian robes. He was sitting on a box-like structure and in his hands were small brass symbols held as if he were preparing to chime them together. What a strange and curious object, Christine thought to herself as she longed to touch its soft fur. He probably needs to be dusted too, she concluded, giving herself the needed excuse to inspect the monkey closer.

Christine had just pulled one of the dining room chairs over to the particularly high shelf and climbed up to reach for it when she heard Erik's voice boom behind her.

"What do you think you are doing up there?!" He shouted.

Christine was so startled by his commanding tone that she lost her balance and began to fall backwards off the chair, a cry of fright accompanying her awkward descent. She never hit the ground however as Erik was instantly at her side, catching her in his strong arms and saving her from possible injury. He held her without saying a word, both of them staring at one another in shock and disbelief. Shock for Christine that he had been able to catch her so quickly, disbelief for Erik that she was actually in his arms, the soft curves of her warm body pressed so tightly against him. He wanted it to last forever, but fear and self-loathing made him set her down almost immediately.

"Were you trying to get yourself killed? A fall from that height could have caused serious damage. From now on, if you want something from off a shelf, you are to ask me to get it for you, understand?" He was shouting again and even though he hated himself for doing it, he couldn't stop. She had frightened him, the sight of her toppling from the chair had sent shivers down his spine and he only now believed his heart had started beating again.

"Well, you were not here!" Christine argued back, this time not willing to cower in the face of his anger. "Maybe if I was not left alone all day with no one to talk to I wouldn't feel the need to climb on chairs to look for things to dust."

"Dust?" Erik questioned, looking up at the shelf.

"Yes, dust." Christine repeated, placing her hands on her hips and taking on a scolding tone. "I had to find something to occupy my time so I decided to clean. I was just reaching for that little monkey when you came in and yelled at me, causing me to lose my balance. If you had not shouted at me, I would have simply removed him from the shelf and everything would have been fine."

An uncomfortable silence once more descended upon them and all of Erik's bluster seemed to fade to nothing in the face of Christine's unflinching stare. Finally he cleared his throat and tried to speak.

"Did you want to see the monkey?" Erik asked, feeling foolish over the question but suddenly he was not sure what to say. Had his tone really been the cause of her near accident?

"I…yes I would very much like to see it." She assured him, recognizing the question as some sort of peace offering. She was slowly beginning to understand Erik's peculiarities. How he fussed and fumed over seemingly insignificant things one moment and then was in abject regret the next. By not giving in to his rants, bursting into tears or showing fear, she had completely disarmed him. She felt a sense of power when she realized this, as if she had somehow found a key that might open the lock to reveal more of Erik's secrets.

Almost as if in a daze Erik reached up and took the monkey from the shelf and placed it on the coffee table before her, turning from her as he slid the offending chair back in its place under the table. He watched as she sat down on the lounge and delicately inspected the monkey. She had not run from him or cried when he had shouted at her this time, instead she had become indignant and yelled back. No one had dared to stand up to him in a very, very long time…well except for Nadir, but Erik decided the Daroga just enjoyed flirting with death. Could his friend have been right? Was Christine the one…the one who could possibly see past everything he was and love him? He desperately hoped she was.

"Where is the key?" He heard Christine ask, shaking him from his thoughts.

"What key?"

"The key to wind him up? He is a music box, isn't he?" She asked, lifting it up and turning it over in attempts to find how it worked.

"No, he is just a statue. He does not move or play." Erik told her. "I saw him at a local bazaar and bought it on a whim."

"Oh." Christine said, sounding very disappointed as she put the monkey back down. "I would have truly loved to see him play, but that is all right, he is still very interesting to look at." She looked up at Erik and smiled. "Thank you for showing it to me."

"You are welcome, Christine. Please let me know if you desire to see anything else." He offered, taking the monkey and setting him back on the shelf.

"Well…" She began, seeing as how he asked. "I was wondering if you might have any books I could read? It was very lonely here all by myself with nothing to do but tidy up. Even the guard refused to talk to me when I…"

"You tried to talk to the guard?!" Erik was once more yelling.

Christine gave a sigh, she might be starting to understand Erik's patterns, but that did not mean she enjoyed them.

"Why, is such a thing 'forbidden'?" She put a heavy emphasis on the last word.

"Yes as a matter of fact it is!" He continued. "The man was given specific instructions not to have any interaction with you other than to see that you remained safe." Erik walked over to the door and picked up a plate he had apparently brought in with him. "Is that why this was outside the door when I came back and why the man practically ran in fright once I released him from his duties?"

"I thought he might like a sandwich. He had been standing out there all day and I worried that he had nothing to eat."

"You worried about him? It was his job to worry about you! I hired him to stand guard, not to partake in picnics or engage in conversation. I did this because I want you safe and it is ultimately my job to protect you!"

"Do you want me to fix you a sandwich then?" She asked, raising her eyebrow and doing her best not to let on that his shouting was beginning to unnerve her.

"What?" He asked, stunned by her attitude and strange question.

"Well, the only thing I can deduce from your completely irrational tirade is that you are jealous that I made him a sandwich. So would making you one as well pacify the situation and make this all go away?" She asked.

"No…I do not want a sandwich, Christine." Erik said, bewildered by the whole conversation. He sat down and leaned his head back against the lounge. "I should have told you that I had forbidden the guard to speak with you; something I did only for your own good. He might have seemed like the most honorable man I interviewed, but he is still a man and I do not trust anyone when it comes to you."

"You trusted Nadir." She pointed out, sitting down beside him on the lounge.

"That is different. First of all, he is old enough to be your father." Erik conveniently left out the fact that he too was almost old enough to be her parent. "And secondly I know Nadir to be a good and honest man, incapable of taking advantage of you in that way."

Christine smiled at him then, liking the way he spoke of his friend in such a loyal fashion.

"Nadir said a lot of nice things about you as well. He is a good friend."

Erik was shocked at this. They had talked about him and the Daroga had actually spoken in his favor? The knowledge made him feel both uncomfortable and pleased at the same time. So wishing to change the subject and wanting their conversation to remain on a friendly basis, he returned to her earlier request.

"You asked if I had any books? Do you enjoy reading?" Erik had always been an avid reader, devouring even the largest tomes with ease at a young age. The thirst for knowledge was his vice, he needed to know and learn everything on any and all subjects that interested him. Since he was a child books had served as his window to the world, his own windows having been boarded up the day he was born. He would pour over every page with great eagerness, caressing the revealing pages with the hands of a lover, consuming all they had to offer. Did Christine share his love for the written word?

"I enjoy reading very much!" She assured him. "We had to pack light when I traveled with my father, but I always left room for one or two books in my case. And when I had read those several times over I would trade them in for something new and do the same with those. I just hoped if you had a few books that I could read, it would give me something to do to pass the time."

"Then please come with me, Christine." Erik told her. He was so excited that he didn't even realize he had reached out and taken hold of her hand of his own accord, leading her into the bedroom.

Once inside he produced a key and opened up one of the many large trunks that were stacked against the back wall, revealing dozens of books inside. He next opened three more which held just as many, if not more, inside of them.

"You are welcome to read any book you desire, Christine." He offered, waving his hand over them invitingly.

"However will I choose?" Christine gasped, kneeling down as if she were praying before an altar, running her hand gently over the leather cover of one on top.

"May I recommend you begin with this one?" Erik suggested, picking out a particularly large volume and handing it to her. "It is full of stories collected from around the world, some very sweet, others dark and dangerous, but all very entertaining."

"Thank you, that sounds perfect, but please don't lock the trunks back up. I am a very fast reader and I might need a new one quite soon." She looked excitedly at them as he closed the lids, almost as if she had just discovered a bunch of new friends.

"If you had wanted books to read you should have told me sooner. Please know, Christine, that if you desire something…anything at all, you only need ask me and I will do everything in my power to see you get it."

"Including furry monkeys from top shelves?" She teased, enjoying how his eyes lit up at her jest.

"Especially furry monkeys on top shelves!" He laughed.

Christine made dinner while Erik worked at his desk and when it was ready she set his plate on the table and took hers into the bedroom. Explaining that she would eat in there and then take a bath, giving him the privacy he needed to have his supper. He hated to see her go, preferring the quiet sounds of her presence around him, but he also appreciated her kind gesture.

When he was finished eating and Christine had yet to emerge from her bath his hands grew restless and as expected he found himself gravitating towards the piano. It had been several days now since he had taken time to play and he could almost feel the instrument scolding him for his neglect. As he ran his hands over the ivory keys he felt a wave of peace wash through him. Music had been his one true and constant love throughout his life, wrapping him in its comforting embrace when no one else would. Music was his mistress, his lover…and he was her willing slave.

Christine had just emerged from the washroom, her hair still a little damp from the bath when she heard the first notes teasing at her ears and beckoning her towards the sound. It was so beautiful, so haunting and innocent all at once and she longed to feel the notes wash over her body just like the soothing water had just done. Following the music she found herself out in the living area again, approaching on silent feet to stand beside the piano as she drank in the sound.

Erik was so lost in the music that he did not even notice Christine standing there until he finished the song and looked up. She was standing with her hands on the piano, her eyes closed and the most serene look on her face. She seemed almost asleep but when she opened her eyes, he saw tears hovering there, waiting to fall.

"That was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard." She told him in a reverent whisper. "I used to think that my father's music was magnificent, but what you just played was perfection itself. Why didn't you tell me you could play?"

Erik just shrugged, again very uncomfortable by her words of praise.

"Why didn't you tell me you liked to read?" He countered.

"Touché." Christine laughed, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Will you play some more…please, Erik." She begged.

"As my lady commands." He said with a nod and began once again.

One song led into another and then another, but Erik was oblivious to the passage of time. When at last his fingers began to protest he lifted his head to find Christine asleep on the lounge, curled up in his satin night clothes and looking like the angel of his dreams. He had shared his one true love with the one woman he wanted to love truly… and she had told him it was perfection. Regrettably that was the only part of Erik that could ever earn that title, for the rest of him was horribly disfigured and flawed.

Erik continued to watch her sleep, never tiring of the sight of her. Suddenly his brows furrowed as he saw her face darken slightly. A look of worry and concern had come over her delicate features and she let out a plaintive moan as her head began to turn from side to side. She was dreaming and whatever she was seeing within her mind was causing her great distress.

Christine had fallen asleep to the sound of Erik's music and she had been at peace. Her mind wandered, carried along by the melodious tones as he wove the notes into a beautiful soft blanket of contentment. In her dream she saw Erik standing before her, his white mask a stark contrast against his dark suit and billowing black cape. The sight of his manly presences always made her shiver, but this time it was not out of fear or apprehension, it was more like anticipation and longing. Music continued to play in the background as Christine felt herself approach him, his eyes never leaving hers, until she stood directly in front of him. She felt not dread, no hint of alarm as his arms reached out to encircle her and pull her even closer to him. As his head bent down to hers she knew she wanted…no, needed this to happen.

Suddenly his mask was not an issue and his lips had full reign over hers, his warm kisses intensifying as he sought out each curve of her mouth. Christine felt weak, too helpless to fight against what was happening and she felt her arms reach up to encircle his neck as she pulled him closer, wanting more. He was so tender, so giving and she was only too willing to take what he offered. Her body betrayed her as it succumbed to his will, pressing closer and closer to him until she felt crushed beneath the weight of her desires. Just when she thought she would go mad from wanting, the music suddenly stopped… and with it the kiss! Erik jerked back as Christine's hands reached out frantically trying to pull him back to her, begging him with her eyes not to break the embrace. He did not comply; instead he began to back away from her slowly, his magnificent form becoming obscured by a dense fog that had somehow appeared all around him. She called his name, pleaded with him to return, but he was gone. Christine was left feeling cold, alone and unfulfilled. She crumpled to the ground as she began to sob, needing to feel his strength around her once more in order to be whole. Then she heard it, his voice calling her name and the warm touch of his hand on hers. She lifted her head and followed the voice until she felt her eyes open as her fantasy world faded away.

"Christine, wake up. You were having a bad dream." Erik's soothing voice told her as she was at last able to focus on his face in front of her.

He was kneeling beside the lounge, holding her hand in is and patting it gently in an attempt to wake her. His eyes were just as tender as they had been in her dream, but it was his lips that she found was the focus of her attention. With his mask in place she could only clearly see the bottom half of his mouth, the rest cruelly hidden behind the soft leather. She had never looked at him so closely before and even with the mask obstructing a good portion of her view she could still see the hint of his deformity that seemed to graze his upper lip. And even though she knew the texture and shape would seem different; her only desire at that moment was to feel their searing touch on hers once more!

"Christine?" Erik prompted, seeing the look of shock and confusion on her face as she tried to sort through the images that apparently remained. Her eyes seemed to be focused on only one thing…his mask. Had she been dreaming of him? Had she been imagining what lay beneath his mask and was now so frightened that she could not speak? "Tell me what you were dreaming of." He asked, praying it was not as bad as he now feared.

Erik wanted to know what she had been dreaming of?! Christine gasped at the very idea! She could not tell this man that she had just had a sensual visions of kissing him and holding him so brazenly. The feelings were still so fresh in her mind that she had to get away from him before she let her desires play out in real life!

"No…it was nothing. Just a silly dream." She stammered, pulling her hand free from his and almost leaping off the lounge. She stood up, but he was still too close for her immediate comfort. She needed more distance between them in order to gather her wits and calm the desires that yearned for fulfillment. "Please excuse me, I need some air." She whispered as she practically ran towards the balcony, grateful as the cool breeze hit her skin, like ice water thrown upon a raging fire.

Erik continued to kneel there on the floor, his hand that had just held hers now balled into a tight fist, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. Damn this mask…damn his face! Erik knew that he could do everything right, act the perfect gentleman, shower her with gifts and sweet words but in the end he could never change the one thing which had always kept love from him…his face. He had always hated how he looked, never once finding a good or redeeming quality about it, but he never thought it possible to detest it as much as he did right then. Why was he cursed to see and to feel, yet never allowed to touch or possess? All because of his repulsive face!

Now Christine was upset and it was all his fault. Her dream had been a nightmare and she had awoke to see that it had followed her into reality. Now she couldn't even stand to be in the same room as him, choosing instead to run away and hide on the terrace. They always ran, they always hid…they were all the same, even Christine. Erik felt like dying but he pushed his emotions back down into the depths of his heart where he had successfully locked them away until she had come into his life. He knew he needed to tend to Christine now, to somehow ease her mind and discomfort, no matter how it pained him. He would survive, he always did, but he feared for her and didn't wish for his sweet girl to remain troubled. He would give her a few minutes to calm down and then see to damage control.

Christine tried desperately to sort out the emotions that were spinning in her head. She had not realized her feelings for Erik had grown so intensely. Her mind was confused, had it not been just a few days ago that she still feared him? When had that fear suddenly turned to affection…to desire? She shivered at the word, did she desire him? Her body cried out yes and she felt the heat of embarrassment come over her at her shameless attitude. Erik had never done anything to warrant such strong emotions, he had scarcely ever touched her and yet she knew if he did she would melt in his arms. Was it the aura of mystery that surrounded him that drew her to him or the thrill of danger, like caressing a wild animal and not knowing if you were safe? Whatever it was, she could not deny the pull and she knew she needed to guard her mind and heart carefully from here on out, for if she crossed that line she knew there would be no going back.

Christine's gaze swept over the gardens below the balcony and in the moonlight she could make out the shape of the Shah's Siamese cat as it hunted for prey in the darkness. She felt, more than heard, Erik's approach, and she felt a residual shiver run down her body at his nearness.

Erik saw her tremble slightly and hoped it was from the cool breeze and not fear. Taking off his coat he slowly draped it over her shoulders, giving her plenty of time to see his intentions should she wish to protest. To his relief she did not shy away or refuse his offer, in fact she seemed to pull it around her tighter as she wrapped up in it.

Erik's coat was warm, his residual body heat and manly scent caused her to snuggle down deeper into the soft fabric. Oh he smelled so wonderful. Like soap and spices that she did not recognize and she made a mental imprint, forever linking that fragrance to him. Erik still appeared tense and she wondered exactly how much he had gleaned from her sudden and hasty departure back there. Had he been able to read her shameful thoughts and now was unsure what to say to her? What if he did not feel that way in return, oh this was beyond awkward. Maybe if she chose not to address the situation he would let it go, she hoped.

"Why can't I get him to like me?" She asked suddenly, making Erik turn his head to her with questioning eyes.

"Who?"

"The cat." Christine clarified, pointing down at the feline in the garden. "Why doesn't he trust me? I don't want to hurt him but I can't seem to convince him of that."

"Often it takes a long time to get past that initial instinct of fear." Erik answered, his words coming from years of experience. "Sometimes it can never be overcome. But if you want something badly enough you need to have the strength to go after it, no matter the cost or personal sacrifice. If it is worth having, it is worth waiting for." He had become so wrapped up in his words and their double meaning for him that he had forgot what they had originally been talking about, so her next words surprised him a little.

"Maybe fish would help." She mused.

"Fish?" Then he remembered that had been discussing the cat. "Oh, yes…I suppose it couldn't hurt."

"If I give him something he wants he will have to realize that I am not a threat, right?" She continued.

"I suppose, in theory." He had to smile at her pure determination to win over the Shah's precious pet. Yet, the more he thought about her words the more they seemed to hold a grain of truth. Maybe if he gave Christine what she wanted she would not see him as such a threat either. But what did she want? More clothes? More books? No…he remembered what she would like, she had asked him for it once and he had denied her. Well, not any longer!

"Christine, look out over the city. Can you see that tall spiraling tower to the left there?" He asked, stepping closer to her and pointing in the direction he meant.

"Yes."

"That is the highest turret of the palace that I am building for the Shah. You asked once if you could go there and see it for yourself… would you care to accompany me there tomorrow? I will show you what I am building and you can do some shopping in the market place on the way back." He offered.

Erik knew he had chosen the right 'fish' when a look of pure joy and excitement came over Christine's face.

"I could go into the city?" She asked, almost too afraid she might have misunderstood him. "You would actually take me to see your beautiful palace?"

"If it is what you desire, then yes." He told her with a slight bow. It suddenly struck him as odd that he did that…after all, didn't he tell Nadir that he bowed to no one? And yet he was like clay in her hands, willing to be molded into whatever she desired him to be. Oh if only she truly did desire him!

"Thank you Erik. I would love to go!" Christine said, and without a moment's thought she threw her arms around him in a hug of gratitude, his jacket slipping off of her shoulders and falling to the floor.

Erik froze and his eyes darted around frantically trying to focus on something to keep from passing out. Christine was embracing him…touching him of her own free will and in such an intimate manner. He could feel every curve of her body as she pressed herself to him and wondered if the contact would leave fresh scars on him. Oh he hoped so! He would willing carry the marks forever if only to have physical evidence that she had blessed him with such a gift. An embrace was foreign to him but he had seen them given and received by others and now at long last he knew the appeal. But just as suddenly as she had initiated the contact, she pulled back just as quickly, taking a step away and placing her hands behind her back in a look of embarrassment.

"I am sorry, that was far too forward of me. I was just so excited about the trip tomorrow." She reached down and picked up his jacket, handing it back to him without meeting his eyes. "I should get to bed then, I don't want to be tired in the morning and risk missing out on a minute. Good night, Erik." And with that she scurried from the balcony and into the bedroom.

Erik didn't move and never took his eyes off of her as she departed. Still stunned by what had just happened he reached out to place a steadying hand on the terrace rail.

"Good night, Christine." He whispered as he closed his eyes to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

Oh…so this is what heaven feels like!

Ok, so it was just a little dream smut, but they are just NOT quite there yet. I think it would seriously kill Erik at this point and Christine is not ready for all the responsibilities and baggage that would come with loving him…not yet. But stick with me and I promise that things will progress.

Soooo, how did you like THIS chapter?