Chapter 5: Shadow's Embrace
Charlotte opened her eyes and breathed deep, she looked around. She wiped her tears with her sleeve of her nightgown. Charlotte laid down and turned on her side, to face the window.
" Angel of music, guide and guardian. Grant to me your glory," she sang softly
" I am here, child," a voice whispered
She closed her eyes and felt a hand rest over her eyes, then placed a kiss on her head.
" Sleep, not fear, I am here," the voice chanted, " Don't wake in fear any longer."
Charlotte opened her eyes and saw no one standing there.
" Angel of music, please speak to me of what I should do," she whispered
" Flattering child, you have asked one question I can not answer," the voice said, " But follow what your heart speaks."
Charlotte closed her eyes listening to her angel sing to her. His voice so smooth and yet so different then Erik's.
She fell asleep and rested easily as she dreamt of meeting her true angel of music.
" Stay by my side," she whispered
" I will always be by your side," the angel whispered, " Charlotte de Chagny."
The next morning Charlotte found the red rose, tied with the black ribbon, by her bedside.
" I thank you," she whispered
She got up and slipped her robe on then walked down. She entered the dinning room and saw Erik was not there. She slightly frowned and leaned against the frame of the dinning room.
" Decency, young de Chagny," Erik's voice whispered
She turned around and looked at him and closed her robe.
" My child, please return to your room and change, your parents will not be pleased with me, if they knew you appeared to breakfast in barely anything," Erik whispered
Charlotte looked at him and nodded.
" The Angel of Music came to me last night. He sang to me," she said
" I heard a voice in your room last night, perhaps it was he," Erik said
" Yes," she whispered
Erik's eyes looked at her from top to bottom and touched her face.
" Go my dear, I wish for you to wear one of the dresses that was provide for you," Erik said, " Do not be shy to wear such a gorgeous dress."
" As you wish Monsieur," she replied
She walked off and Erik looked at her and walked off to his study. He slammed the door and looked out the window, he looked out at Gabriel.
" You have betrayed me, my apprentice, It was I who scrapped you off the dirty streets. It was I who nurtured your talents and now you have come to stab me in the back," Erik thought
Charlotte looked at the red dress, and sighed. She slipped it on and tied it, then let the shoulder straps fall off her shoulder.
" I get to see my parents," she whispered
She did her hair in a slightly different style then walked downstairs. She did not see Erik, nor Gabriel, but continued to the dinning room.
" Erik," she whispered, " Gabriel."
Erik looked himself in the mirror and breathed deep. He slipped the black vest, with gold trim and gold buttons, on. He then grabbed a different dress coat on and slipped it on. His dress coat matched the vest, traced with gold on the sleeves and collar, as well as the tail of the coat. He button the middle buttons and then slipped his black gloves on. Erik looked out the window and poured a glass of fresh wine, then downed it. He walked downstairs dressed for his guest and walked to the dinning room. He looked at Charlotte as she sat there waiting patiently for her master. He walked over to her and touched her shoulders. His hands ran over her shoulders and just over her bust, then her back. Charlotte looked up in the mirror as Erik rested his hands on both her shoulders, he kissed the bend of her neck.
" We will not speak of this affair to no one, my dear," Erik said, " I do not wish to be spoken ill about in front of your parents."
He kissed her neck again and leaned his head on her shoulder. She looked at him and he kissed her cheek.
" You are worried, relax," he said
She lowered her head and Erik lifted it up.
" Your beauty does not need to be hidden, raise it up," he whispered
Later, that morning a carriage pulled up and Christine and Raoul got out. They too were well dressed, as if going to a performance, Gabriel stood out there and bowed.
" Welcome Vicomte de Chagny, and Madame de Chagny," Gabriel said, " I welcome you on behalf of The Comte de Bellamont. Follow me, I will take you to the sitting room."
Gabriel lead Raoul and Christine to the sitting room, which seemed to be the darkest of all the rooms. Gabriel stood in the shadows and waited to see his master walking towards the sitting room. He saw him from the corner of his eyes, walking with Charlotte. Gabriel announced their arrival and Christine and Raoul rose to greet the host of the estate, though not willingly.
" Welcome, Vicomte de Chagny," Erik said, " Welcome Madame de Chagny."
" Bonjour, Monsieur," Christine answered, but not Raoul
" Mother, Father" Charlotte said
Erik let her go and she glided towards her parents. She hugged her mother tightly and kissed her cheek, then hugged her father.
" Oh, how I have missed you both," she said
Erik looked at Charlotte return to her childish and spoiled self. Erik had made her aware of what love was and she returned to her weak state of mind.
" A drink?" he asked
" No," Raoul said
Erik looked at the Vicomte de Chagny. He didn't much less care about the father figure in Charlotte's life, but it was who Christine chose. Raoul looked at Erik in a distrusting way.
" Our daughter will return," Raoul said, " She will no longer be under your teachings."
" Father!" Charlotte exclaimed
Raoul stood and looked at Charlotte as she remained near Erik. Erik did not like this agreement and shook his head.
" I have my demands and you would do well to follow," Erik said, " Charlotte has not been taught all that needs to be taught."
" Please, Father I wish to stay," Charlotte pleaded, " Erik has taught me a lot, but I see I still need to learn."
Raoul looked at his daughter and sighed, she had pleading eyes, but there was something else in her eyes.
" Charlotte, what is it, have you not learned, that you can't do at home?" Raoul asked
" Play the hundreds of musical pieces, that Monsieur Comte de Bellamont, has," Charlotte answered
Christine stood up and placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder.
" You are not ready to play his music my child," Christine said pushing up the shoulder straps onto her shoulders.
" Mother," Charlotte said as she pushed them off her shoulder
Erik looked at Christine and poured a glass.
" Your daughter has spoken, you will see to her happiness," Erik said
" No, she is not yours to control," Raoul said angrily
Charlotte looked at her father and turned away from her parents.
" Charlotte, you will listen to what I tell you," Raoul said, " This man will no longer be your teacher. He is full of lies to fill the void within him."
Erik narrowed his eyes at Raoul, he was becoming angry with him.
" Spare me your anger Vicomte de Chagny," Erik said, " Charlotte has made her mind and you will not change it."
" Yes, but I have the power to take her from her teacher," Raoul said, " Collect your things Charlotte. Do it quickly, we will leave now."
" I'm sorry father, but I can't," Charlotte whispered
Erik looked at Charlotte and Christine looked at Charlotte, as she disobeyed her father.
" Charlotte," Raoul said sternly, " He will deceive you, he probably already has."
" Then if he did, I am blind and could not see it. If I can not see what's in front of me, then I am a naïve child and this past week was a waist of time to grow up," Charlotte said
Raoul looked at his daughter and Erik looked at her father. Raoul looked at Christine, as she looked at her daughter. She saw it there, the same look she had, and Christine felt tears fall from her face.
" Is your life to seek revenge Erik, on me?" Christine questioned then stated, " When I promised you that you could teach my daughter, I thought you would only teach her. But instead you have taken her into your darkness. How could you? You deceived me, just as before."
" I'm not going, that is my decision, I'm staying here to finish my lessons," she said, " And with Erik and Gabriel."
Gabriel looked up at Charlotte, she backed up to Erik.
" You can't ," Christine said
" I will," she whispered, " because….because."
To prove her point, she reached up and kissed Erik directly on his lips. Christine and Raoul stared in disbelief as Erik kissed her back.
" Charlotte," Christine whispered, " No."
She began to cry and Raoul embraced his wife. Charlotte pulled away and looked at Erik as he stared at her. She turned and to face her mother and father, Raoul shook his head.
" To do such a thing, Charlotte, has brought you to shame," Raoul said, " Do as you wish Charlotte, take her under your wing Erik, but I swear I will kill you if you harm her like you harmed my wife, so long ago."
" She will not be harmed," Erik said, " I would not let harm come to her."
Raoul looked at Christine as she looked at her daughter.
" Charlotte, oh my dear little Charlotte, the shadow's embrace has loved me once, but now comes to prey on my daughter," Christine said
Raoul lead Christine to the door and Erik looked at them. Charlotte watched sadly as her parents left her. She could only wish that they could understand, that she was learning from a born genius.