Erik drummed his fingers irritably against the side of his piano. His eyes
gazed into the music he had written, the song playing continuously in his
mind, only to stop at the crescendo of the song he couldn't finish. With
growing anger Erik began to play the crescendo, with much emotion, but
would come to a stop, unable to finish once more. He narrowed his eyes;
his own creation was getting the best of him.
Ayesha slept on the satin sheets of Erik's bed, her velvet and diamond studded collar removed and placed on one of the pillows beside her. The young Siamese stirred, rolling onto her other side. Her purring drifted through the air like a soft fog, causing Erik to glance at her. A soft yawn escaped her as she stretched sleepily.
The door to Erik's room opened without a sound. Christine walked in, her footsteps muted by the soft Persian rug; one that seemed to out shine the one in the front room. Erik cocked his head to one side, but didn't look at Christine face to face. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye giving no sense of emotion, his unfinished song still pulling on his mind.
"Erik." Christine said. The young woman's hair was pulled back, but a few ringlets still fell around her shoulders. Her eyes were wide in awe as they scanned the room. It was the first time she had ventured into the room; Erik had finally given her permission to enter his room only if he were there. Christine's eyes quickly returned to Erik when she saw him move, a little unnerved about being in such a place.
Erik ran a hand through his brown hair. "Yes, Christine, what is it?" he asked, scribbling a few notes onto his sheet of music. His gloved hands soon began to move up and down the keys, sending his sweet music into the air. A slight smile appeared on his face. Erik's full attention turned back to his original interest; his music.
Christine took a few steps deeper into the, fidgeting with her hands nervously. "I was wondering when I could return home and the opera house." Her eyes began to wander around the dimly lit room again. The room was nearly empty, with a chair here and there, but nothing compared to the other rooms she had seen. A large grandfather clock stood in the corner, ticking away with every second. "I know I have been gone for a day, at the least, but people will begin to worry. Meg Giry would be in tears if I was nowhere to be found. If I don't return soon, the managers of the opera house won't pay me; I must work."
By now Erik was enveloped by his music. His eyes were glazed over and his fingers moved across the keys with ease and grace. His eyes slowly closed and his head tilted back slightly. "I have much work for you, Christine." Erik said, almost singing the words to his music. He turned his head and opened his eyes, starring deep into Christine's. "You are not over your cold yet, teaching you in this condition could ruin your voice. I want to keep you here to manage your fever. Without my knowledge, your cold could double its intensity."
Christine began to protest but stopped. Erik had stopped playing his music and now looked at Christine with a sense of anger in his eyes. He rose from his chair and approached her. Christine backed away from her approaching teacher. His shadow enveloped her own and soon swept over her face like an ominous cloud.
"Do you want me to teach you, Christine?" Erik asked. The anger lingered in his voice, but he was trying hard to suppress it.
"Y-yes." Christine stuttered. Her eyes were wide with fear. She never noticed how tall Erik was until that moment. He loomed over her, forcing her to take a step back out of habit. "I must return to the opera house. Erik, it's the only way I can survive in the world; I have no other idea of where to work."
Erik turned sharply away from Christine. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists in anger. He could feel her eyes on him, those eyes that always seemed to question him and pry off his mask. Erik let out a wavering sigh as memories of his past once more began to surface; moments of torment and those painful nights looking at his unmasked face, listening to the screams of years past echo in his mind.
"Then go." Erik whispered, those screams from years ago ringing in his ears.
Christine blinked, not knowing how to react. "What?"
Erik spun around, his eyes now full of unrequited anger. "Go! Leave me; leave everything behind that I could have given you. If the damned opera house means more than the music I promised you, than go. Forget what I've done for you; forget every dream you've ever had in these hallowed walls. I will not stand to teach an insolent woman who fears to send a poignant chorus girl into tears."
Tears had begun to trickle down Christine's cheeks. She stared at Erik for a moment but lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like that I didn't care for what you've done for me. Will you still teach me?" Christine watched Erik; he looked at her with a sense of disgust, as if what she had asked was like nothing he had ever heard. She wiped her tears away. "Please, Erik, please forgive my rudeness. Will you not teach me?"
Christine took Erik's hand but he pulled away swiftly. He turned away from her and walked to his piano, his fingers running across the wood frame as he did so. He took a seat and didn't give Christine another look. Once again his eyes seemed to change appearance as Erik began to play a song unknown to Christine.
The music leapt from Erik's fingers and into the chords of the piano. Slowly, as if lead by a chain around her neck, Christine began to approach the piano. Her tears were gone and now a look of wonder filled her brown eyes. She took in a breath and paused, tearing herself from the trance, feeling a wave of fear and confusion wash over her; she couldn't explain what just happened. Still Erik continued with the soft tune.
Slowly Christine noticed Erik's lips were moving as if he was singing with the song. Christine began to approach Erik once more; she tried in vain to listen to Erik's voice, but all she heard was the piano. Before she knew it, Christine was standing next to Erik, still straining to listen to her teacher sing.
Christine slowly noticed Erik's eyes had turned to her once more. She felt her cheeks grow warm; a soft smile crossed her face. Erik didn't smile, but raised his voice to an audible level. He stared at Christine, unblinking and slowly stood to his feet and ceasing his wonderful music but letting his voice take its place.
"Since first I saw your face I resolved to honor and renown ye. . . . If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye."
The sound that escaped Erik was indescribable; it was nothing like Christine had imagined. His voice was sweet and strong, it held the intensity that could crush the world's best singers. It suited him, giving the aura of mystery an even stronger sense and lending him a glamorous persona. Christine could only imagine that angels wept at the sound of his voice.
Erik took Christine's face into his hands and continued to sing the nameless song. Their eyes locked and Christine felt her heart skip a beat as Erik leaned his face closer to hers; he was now singing to her and to her only. His eyes stared into hers, letting his music feed into the heart of his only student.
The song seemed to be without an end and Erik continued to stare into Christine's eyes. His fingers caressed her, his hands cupping her chin and raising her chin ever so slightly. Christine's eyes closed slowly as Erik's haunting song continued. His fingers trailed down her neck, causing her to shudder but she didn't draw away, almost afraid to lose such contact.
Erik's feather touches continued. He drew closer to Christine, his voice softer than before as he sang softly into her ear. His hands came to her shoulders, pausing there for an instant before trailing down her arms. Erik had never touched a woman with such emotions feeding into his mind; it was frightening in a way. His hands shook slightly and as they grazed over Christine's fingers, her hands opened and slowly took Erik's hands into her own. Erik's voice grew softer until the song was only a memory, his face close to Christine's. His hands never left hers; he didn't want this moment to end.
The two stood in silence. Erik let out a soft sigh, a little amazed to feel Christine shudder. Her hands pulled away from Erik's but soon she put her arms around him, embracing him and Erik could only return it. He held her close, taking in a breath and smelling the floral perfume that had been placed in her room.
"Do you still wish to leave, Christine? Will you leave me to my world and to my music?" Erik whispered, his lips grazing Christine's cheek as he slowly pulled away from her. In his mind he knew this wasn't right; he shouldn't be having these feelings for a woman he barely knew, he shouldn't be touching her and wishing for more.
"No." Christine replied. A final tear crept down her cheek as she looked into his eyes. "I want you to teach me. Please, Erik, sing for me again."
Erik took a step back, lifting Christine's face. He wiped away the tears that lingered on her rosy cheeks. She smiled softly, but Erik didn't return the gesture. Her heart felt heavy as Erik turned back to his piano. The magic between them had disappeared with his majestic song. It was as if that moment had never happened.
The silence between them lengthened as Erik sat at the piano, resting his gloved fingers on the keys. A sigh escaped him and he slowly pulled his hands away. "Tomorrow I will escort you back to the opera house, Christine." Erik said without looking at her. He closed his eyes slowly. "You should feel better, and I trust that you will return to me."
A smile crossed Christine's face. "Thank you."
Erik's only reply was the slow movement of his fingers returning to his piano. Soon the song he had played began to sound once more. Christine walked over to Ayesha, who was still sleeping; she sat on Erik's bed, stroking the cat's fur and humming the melody of the song as he teacher sang.
"Since first I saw your face I resolved to honor and renown ye. If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye. What I that loved, and you that liked shall we begin to wrangle."
Christine lay down on the satin blankets, her eyes slowly closing and her fingers still stroking the Siamese. She listened as Erik's voice seemed to drift into silence and the only sound was her breathing. Christine let her hand come to rest on Ayesha. She could feel the cat purring with joy.
Before Erik knew it, Christine was asleep. He stood a few feet away from his bed, watching his student and cat slumber. He smiled to himself; he had won Christine's heart through music. Erik was now one step closer to the only thing he wanted. One precious, beautiful step closer to his goal; love.
Ayesha slept on the satin sheets of Erik's bed, her velvet and diamond studded collar removed and placed on one of the pillows beside her. The young Siamese stirred, rolling onto her other side. Her purring drifted through the air like a soft fog, causing Erik to glance at her. A soft yawn escaped her as she stretched sleepily.
The door to Erik's room opened without a sound. Christine walked in, her footsteps muted by the soft Persian rug; one that seemed to out shine the one in the front room. Erik cocked his head to one side, but didn't look at Christine face to face. He looked at her out of the corner of his eye giving no sense of emotion, his unfinished song still pulling on his mind.
"Erik." Christine said. The young woman's hair was pulled back, but a few ringlets still fell around her shoulders. Her eyes were wide in awe as they scanned the room. It was the first time she had ventured into the room; Erik had finally given her permission to enter his room only if he were there. Christine's eyes quickly returned to Erik when she saw him move, a little unnerved about being in such a place.
Erik ran a hand through his brown hair. "Yes, Christine, what is it?" he asked, scribbling a few notes onto his sheet of music. His gloved hands soon began to move up and down the keys, sending his sweet music into the air. A slight smile appeared on his face. Erik's full attention turned back to his original interest; his music.
Christine took a few steps deeper into the, fidgeting with her hands nervously. "I was wondering when I could return home and the opera house." Her eyes began to wander around the dimly lit room again. The room was nearly empty, with a chair here and there, but nothing compared to the other rooms she had seen. A large grandfather clock stood in the corner, ticking away with every second. "I know I have been gone for a day, at the least, but people will begin to worry. Meg Giry would be in tears if I was nowhere to be found. If I don't return soon, the managers of the opera house won't pay me; I must work."
By now Erik was enveloped by his music. His eyes were glazed over and his fingers moved across the keys with ease and grace. His eyes slowly closed and his head tilted back slightly. "I have much work for you, Christine." Erik said, almost singing the words to his music. He turned his head and opened his eyes, starring deep into Christine's. "You are not over your cold yet, teaching you in this condition could ruin your voice. I want to keep you here to manage your fever. Without my knowledge, your cold could double its intensity."
Christine began to protest but stopped. Erik had stopped playing his music and now looked at Christine with a sense of anger in his eyes. He rose from his chair and approached her. Christine backed away from her approaching teacher. His shadow enveloped her own and soon swept over her face like an ominous cloud.
"Do you want me to teach you, Christine?" Erik asked. The anger lingered in his voice, but he was trying hard to suppress it.
"Y-yes." Christine stuttered. Her eyes were wide with fear. She never noticed how tall Erik was until that moment. He loomed over her, forcing her to take a step back out of habit. "I must return to the opera house. Erik, it's the only way I can survive in the world; I have no other idea of where to work."
Erik turned sharply away from Christine. He closed his eyes and clenched his fists in anger. He could feel her eyes on him, those eyes that always seemed to question him and pry off his mask. Erik let out a wavering sigh as memories of his past once more began to surface; moments of torment and those painful nights looking at his unmasked face, listening to the screams of years past echo in his mind.
"Then go." Erik whispered, those screams from years ago ringing in his ears.
Christine blinked, not knowing how to react. "What?"
Erik spun around, his eyes now full of unrequited anger. "Go! Leave me; leave everything behind that I could have given you. If the damned opera house means more than the music I promised you, than go. Forget what I've done for you; forget every dream you've ever had in these hallowed walls. I will not stand to teach an insolent woman who fears to send a poignant chorus girl into tears."
Tears had begun to trickle down Christine's cheeks. She stared at Erik for a moment but lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it sound like that I didn't care for what you've done for me. Will you still teach me?" Christine watched Erik; he looked at her with a sense of disgust, as if what she had asked was like nothing he had ever heard. She wiped her tears away. "Please, Erik, please forgive my rudeness. Will you not teach me?"
Christine took Erik's hand but he pulled away swiftly. He turned away from her and walked to his piano, his fingers running across the wood frame as he did so. He took a seat and didn't give Christine another look. Once again his eyes seemed to change appearance as Erik began to play a song unknown to Christine.
The music leapt from Erik's fingers and into the chords of the piano. Slowly, as if lead by a chain around her neck, Christine began to approach the piano. Her tears were gone and now a look of wonder filled her brown eyes. She took in a breath and paused, tearing herself from the trance, feeling a wave of fear and confusion wash over her; she couldn't explain what just happened. Still Erik continued with the soft tune.
Slowly Christine noticed Erik's lips were moving as if he was singing with the song. Christine began to approach Erik once more; she tried in vain to listen to Erik's voice, but all she heard was the piano. Before she knew it, Christine was standing next to Erik, still straining to listen to her teacher sing.
Christine slowly noticed Erik's eyes had turned to her once more. She felt her cheeks grow warm; a soft smile crossed her face. Erik didn't smile, but raised his voice to an audible level. He stared at Christine, unblinking and slowly stood to his feet and ceasing his wonderful music but letting his voice take its place.
"Since first I saw your face I resolved to honor and renown ye. . . . If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye."
The sound that escaped Erik was indescribable; it was nothing like Christine had imagined. His voice was sweet and strong, it held the intensity that could crush the world's best singers. It suited him, giving the aura of mystery an even stronger sense and lending him a glamorous persona. Christine could only imagine that angels wept at the sound of his voice.
Erik took Christine's face into his hands and continued to sing the nameless song. Their eyes locked and Christine felt her heart skip a beat as Erik leaned his face closer to hers; he was now singing to her and to her only. His eyes stared into hers, letting his music feed into the heart of his only student.
The song seemed to be without an end and Erik continued to stare into Christine's eyes. His fingers caressed her, his hands cupping her chin and raising her chin ever so slightly. Christine's eyes closed slowly as Erik's haunting song continued. His fingers trailed down her neck, causing her to shudder but she didn't draw away, almost afraid to lose such contact.
Erik's feather touches continued. He drew closer to Christine, his voice softer than before as he sang softly into her ear. His hands came to her shoulders, pausing there for an instant before trailing down her arms. Erik had never touched a woman with such emotions feeding into his mind; it was frightening in a way. His hands shook slightly and as they grazed over Christine's fingers, her hands opened and slowly took Erik's hands into her own. Erik's voice grew softer until the song was only a memory, his face close to Christine's. His hands never left hers; he didn't want this moment to end.
The two stood in silence. Erik let out a soft sigh, a little amazed to feel Christine shudder. Her hands pulled away from Erik's but soon she put her arms around him, embracing him and Erik could only return it. He held her close, taking in a breath and smelling the floral perfume that had been placed in her room.
"Do you still wish to leave, Christine? Will you leave me to my world and to my music?" Erik whispered, his lips grazing Christine's cheek as he slowly pulled away from her. In his mind he knew this wasn't right; he shouldn't be having these feelings for a woman he barely knew, he shouldn't be touching her and wishing for more.
"No." Christine replied. A final tear crept down her cheek as she looked into his eyes. "I want you to teach me. Please, Erik, sing for me again."
Erik took a step back, lifting Christine's face. He wiped away the tears that lingered on her rosy cheeks. She smiled softly, but Erik didn't return the gesture. Her heart felt heavy as Erik turned back to his piano. The magic between them had disappeared with his majestic song. It was as if that moment had never happened.
The silence between them lengthened as Erik sat at the piano, resting his gloved fingers on the keys. A sigh escaped him and he slowly pulled his hands away. "Tomorrow I will escort you back to the opera house, Christine." Erik said without looking at her. He closed his eyes slowly. "You should feel better, and I trust that you will return to me."
A smile crossed Christine's face. "Thank you."
Erik's only reply was the slow movement of his fingers returning to his piano. Soon the song he had played began to sound once more. Christine walked over to Ayesha, who was still sleeping; she sat on Erik's bed, stroking the cat's fur and humming the melody of the song as he teacher sang.
"Since first I saw your face I resolved to honor and renown ye. If now I be disdained I wish my heart had never known ye. What I that loved, and you that liked shall we begin to wrangle."
Christine lay down on the satin blankets, her eyes slowly closing and her fingers still stroking the Siamese. She listened as Erik's voice seemed to drift into silence and the only sound was her breathing. Christine let her hand come to rest on Ayesha. She could feel the cat purring with joy.
Before Erik knew it, Christine was asleep. He stood a few feet away from his bed, watching his student and cat slumber. He smiled to himself; he had won Christine's heart through music. Erik was now one step closer to the only thing he wanted. One precious, beautiful step closer to his goal; love.