Thankyou to Emma-J-Riddle, IndiaPyro, Katy4choccie, Son Angeand Countess Alana for your reviews.For the purpose of this I have made Christine able to play the organ. There is nothing that says she can in either the film or book.
Chapter 3: Interruption
Christine awoke. She lay for a moment completely still. Daring to believe that she had actually found him. Slipping from under the blankets she gingerly put weight on her injured leg. It felt all right now. She went from the room and into the main lair, expecting to find Erik. She was surprised to find it empty. Frowning in confusion she walked to the organ. He would be here somewhere, no point her looking for him. Last time she done that she'd only gotten herself lost. She traced the ivory keys of the organ lightly. They called to her. But did she dare? This was Erik's instrument. She couldn't resist. Sitting on the stool she began to play quietly, a sweet haunting melody. She felt the music lift her, possess her. Touching the last key softly she finished playing.
She caught a figure out the corner of her eye. Erik was standing in one of the doorways, arms crossed over his chest, his eyes closed. She gazed at him. Why's he wearing the mask again? She wondered. When he heard the music stop and felt her eyes on him, he opened his own. They just stared into each other's eyes for a full moment, blue meeting gold, before he broke the contact, looking away.
"Come on I'll take you back now,"
It took Christine a second to register what he was saying, "W-w-what?"
"I'll take you back now," Erik repeated evenly, determined not to show how it was tearing him up inside.
"But…"
"Christine get in the boat!" He shouted his control breaking. Why was she torturing him like this? If she'd just get into the boat he'd take her back to Raoul.
Christine couldn't believe it. She'd come down here looking for him and he no longer loved her. He wanted her to go back to Raoul. A sobbed escaped her lips and before she could stop them the tears began to coarse down her cheeks.
Erik turned at the sob. He saw her crying. What was she trying to do to him? He felt his heart being slowly torn and the dull ache in his chest grew.
"Christine!" He lost control, spinning to face her. He yelled, "I'm trying to take you back to Raoul, can't you understand that. This is killing me. I love you Christine but this is what will make you happy, so get in the boat before I do something I'm going to regret." He turned away so that he couldn't see her, praying she'd just get into the boat.
Christine just stared at him. He was trying to do what she wanted. He didn't understand. The thought gave her the strength to stand up and wipe the tears from her face. She walked towards him, he couldn't see her. She stopped at his shoulder. Reaching she touched it lightly and whispered into his ear, "Erik."
He turned and she caught him by surprise, throwing her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.
They drew apart, "Christine?" he murmured. She just pressed her body closer to his. He shivered at the closeness. Never had anyone ever wanted to be this close to him. She reached up and kissed him again. Hot needles swept through his body. This was what he'd dreamed of for so longer. He kissed her back. Her mouth opened under his and she sighed. Desire curled in Erik's body and he held her tighter. Then a sound reached his ears. He pulled away from Christine and frowned at the lake.
Christine felt Erik pull away before she heard. When she did she froze. No, it wasn't possible, how had he…? The mirror,
"Oh no!" She breathed.
"What?" asked Erik confused.
"Its Raoul! Don't let him find me, oh don't let him find me," she begged.
"Why? What's he done?" Erik growled.
"Later, let's just hide please! Quickly!"
Erik pulled back the nearest covering, revealing a passageway. " Inside."
Christine slipped inside and Erik followed drawing the curtain back. Christine started to continue down the passage but Erik stopped her,
"It's a dead end."
"What? Then why are we in here?"
"Because there was no time for us to go to another. He would've seen us. We'll move in a minute, hush now."
Christine was silent. Looking up at where she assumed Erik's face was, as it was too dark to see clearly. She could tell from Erik's posture that he was listening intently and she too listened. The splashing had stopped but started up again as Raoul resurfaced from under the portcullis. Now there were footsteps echoing. She shivered in fear. What if he still had his gun on him? She'd led him right to Erik. Just the thought of losing Erik made her want to cry.
Erik stood completely still, judging from the footsteps where Raoul was in the lair. He could feel Christine trembling next to him. Suddenly she grabbed his arm tightly as if he would disappear if she didn't hold onto him. Erik was momentarily distracted. When he focused again on the footsteps they'd stopped, but the owner clearly hadn't left the room because his heavy breathing could be heard. The footsteps started up again, Raoul had to leave the room at some point to search the other rooms. They faded. Raoul was gone.
"Come," he whispered, "but quickly."
Christine followed Erik out and they moved stealthily towards one of the other curtained passages. She gripped Erik's hand hard. He of course made no sound, but her cloth like shoes kept scuffing the floor. He never turned and told her to be quiet though. Leading her to one he drew it back, and then froze, she could hear it too. The soft, barely audible noise. He grabbed her roughly and yanked her into the passage, letting the cloth drop behind them.
Raoul was soaking and therefore very irritated. After a search of the lair he moved into the next room. He tread as silent as he could (which wasn't very silent at all) around the bedroom. There were signs that someone had been here recently. He turned back into the main lair in time to see one of the hanging cloths flap back into place. He raced to it and drew it back, exposing a passage. Perfect, he'd found them. He gave a shiver in the cold. Marking the cloth he decided to come back when he was dry. He pulled the lever opening the portcullis and took the spare boat to the shore. He'd be back and this time Erik wouldn't escape him.
