Aware of the horses hooves Erik snapped his head up quickly, no, she couldn't be... that couldn't be... panic seized his heart, she would reach his liar before him and then she would find him not there and what would she do then? Would she stay? Would she wait for him? Or would she leave again? Somewhere where he couldn't reach her? Taking a deep breath and trying to push all his uncertainty to the back of his mind he ran towards the front of the house, not caring now who saw him - all he was thinking about was reaching his lair before her.
Suddenly he had a brain wave, de Chagny had an extensive stable full of white horses, some of which had been bred from true champions - light on their feet, fast on the ground. Skulking around to where he knew the stable lay due to his explorations before he opened the door which gave with a soft squeal. Wincing slightly he held his breath his black cloak giving him some cover from any persons still present in the stable. Finding no resistance he made his way inside, using his supirior night tiime vision to find his way around, walking slowly as not to startle the lone horse which was in the far corner of the stable.
He was in luck, obviously the horse had just been ridden and groomed and stood tethered to a nearby hook. In one fluid motion he had taken the reigns off the hook and jumped on - forgoing the need for a saddle. Digging into the sides gently but firmly he was able to get some speed, and before long the ominous brown figure of the coach was a speck in the distance. A small smile of satisfaction crossed over his lips and he continued on his way, increasingly hopeful that he would reach and pass the coach before long without being seen. The wind caused his cloak to billow behind him, casting shadows onto the floor and onto the trees beside him, making him seem alot bigger than he actually was, he acknowledge this with a slight chuckle. With each passing minute he grew closer and closer, and soon he was close enough to see the shape of his beloved.
Christine lay dozing in the back of the carridge, it had taken alot out of her, the argument, the anger, the relief at finally getting out of there, but still she pined for the man she left behind - not through the loss of love, but through the loss of friendship, a friendship which she held dear to her heart. Steeling herself, she continued to doze, revelling in the warmth of her cloak and thinking about what Erik would say when she turned up on his doorstep. Would be happy? Would he be angry? Would he welcome her with open arms or would he cast her out into the darkness? She shivered at the thought and pushed it to the back of her mind.
Suddenly she was aware of a shadow moving past, she looked up to be greeted with a flash of white, and amber looking in her direction as the shadow moved and then disappeared into thin air. She shook her head, no, it couldn't be... it was his eyes, she would know them anywhere... but why... how...! Fear startled her and she stared out into the darkness, trying to keep her feelings under control, whilst still trying to make sense of what had happened, of what was still to happen.
Erik cursed himself, she had not gotten a proper look at him but enough of one to make the conversation when they met in the liar at least mildly interesting. Taking a deep breath he let a growl out which echoed in the night, breaking the otherwise silent refrain. Still he continued on, spuring the horse onwards until finally he had reached his destination. Quickly divesting himself of the horse he managed to open the gate of the Rue Scribe and lead the horse in, locking the door almost silently behind. Lighting a near-by candle he always kept for such purposes he tied the horse up and left it with some food and water. Sighing after the exertion of the nights ride he made his way down to his lair where he knew by now Christine would surely be waiting for him.
Christine shivered, partly from the cold, partly from the tension that ran through her body. She strained herself for every little last sound and jumped when she recognised the dull footsteps of someone coming towards her, the light baring witness before finally a shadow emerged. "Madame de Chagny, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" he drawled quietly, allowing himself to slip seamlessly into the comfort that sarcasm and aloofness around her brought - as much a defense mechanism for himself rather than to spare her the surge of emotions that being in her presence aroused in him.
"You followed me..." Christine blurted out suddenly "You knew I was coming... I saw you..." she continued, almost mumbling now as she cursed herself for saying it so abruptly.
"And so what if I did, do I not have the right to walk around above ground as you seem to take such pleasure in with your precious Vicomte?" Christine stared at him, a look of anger in her eye, the stubborn streak which he had seen before now coming to the fore - it was going to be an interesting night, for both of them.
