Chapter XLIII
She was up to something. And it had never been as clear as now.
Earlier she had 'mistakenly' tumbled into his lap and all too coincidentally landed with a perfect grace, her arms thrown around his neck and their faces almost touching. And now she refused to go to bed without him.
Erik watched her through suspicious eyes as she refused to crumble under the waves of sleep threatening to crush her. Christine sat in front of him with a dazed look on her face. Her hands were curled around the arm rest and for a long moment her eyes began to droop.
She seemed to be waiting for him to get tired, that much he knew, because whenever he asked her to go rest she simply stated that she was not tired. And yet whenever he stood he could feel her eyes following him almost anxiously.
"Christine what is it that you are doing to yourself?" Erik asked and casually flipped a page in the book he was reading, he noticed Christine's gaze snap up with a flush. He knew it was embarrassment, "you ought to be in bed."
"I am not tired Erik, I am simply resting my eyes. Have you never done this?"
"Absolutely not, I do not close my eyes unless it is necessary. If things were my way I would never have to close my eyes again."
"Is this your horrible sense of paranoia speaking Erik?" Christine smirked, "do you wish to keep your eyes open only for the danger of the world?"
"And of course," he remarked smoothly, "your existence. Dreams of you pale in comparison."
Christine blushed slightly and then bit her lip, "you are too kind."
"And you are too sly," the wind outside howled, "you have been up since yesterday and you have yet to sleep. I can see that your eyes are closing and yet you refuse to take yourself to bed. Do you think that I do not know that you are up to some devious thing Christine?"
"Devious?" She exclaimed to hide the shock in her eyes, "I would never be such a thing, now, are you tired Erik? You seem fascinated on the topic."
He shook his head slowly, "absolutely not. I have not slept and truly do not feel any urge to do such a thing. Besides, we must discuss something of grave importance. That is of course unless you have come to your senses and decided that it is time for you to rest-
"No. I have not," she smiled almost proudly.
"Alright, then let us begin. If you have not forgotten I assigned the role for my Don Juan especially for you. The managers have not assigned this to anyone else for fear of displeasing me. They understand that if they should disobey a disaster shall occur. But they have to continue putting on shows nonetheless. Il Muto is playing at this moment in time and I would like to know what you think about playing the main role."
"The main role?" Christine's eyes bulged "Erik I have not been on stage for quite some time."
"Yes but you are the best at what you do. Your talent never fades."
She frowned at him.
"Are you displeased?" He felt a strange tightening in his chest. There was a look of extreme concentration on her face. But he could read her, he knew that there was something wrong.
"It is not displeased as much as confused. Do you propose that I simply take the role? Erik there are certainly people there that already have the role. I do not feel comfortable simply taking it. That makes me feel as if though I were a thief and you my assistant."
"They do not deserve the role."
"You do not know that."
"Christine –
"No Erik," she frowned, "I understand your love for music, and I respect your opinion however bias it is. But I simply cannot allow you to demand roles for me yet again. Do you know what they will say when I've returned? They will say that I am favored," she stood and shook her head tiredly, "I will not have that."
He watched her for a long moment. Pondering whether or not he would put up a fight against her reasoning. But it was not flawed, it was in fact very sound. And yet he was not pleased at all by her choice.
"Fine," Erik tightened his hold on the book, she sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose, "I will read until I grow tired. Until then I think you should go to rest. It will do you no good to simply exhaust yourself."
Christine read the annoyance in his voice. But she was much too tired to ask him if he was angry with her. Whatever the answer was wouldn't matter. She was not changing her mind on this.
"Goodnight Erik."
"Goodnight Christine," he responded as smoothly as always. She left him in silence and trudged up the stairs. When she reached her bed she bit her lip and thought.
Would this be the opportune moment to seduce Erik?
No, certainly not. For he was not in the mood to even speak to her anymore, but that did not mean that she would not try. After all, it was when Erik was at his worst that she found him touching her the most.
Christine reached for her nightgown and threw it on, very aware of the coolness in the room.
This would have to do.
She pinched her cheeks slightly to give them a rosy tone and then tip toed to his bedroom. Once there she opened the windows and stared out into the night, he would be in for quite a shock… she hoped.
Oh, what? Did I stop THERE? Well, no, because guess what darlings, the next chapter is right there, go check, but before you do that, drop me a review? :)
