Chapter Sixteen - So Little Time

He looked at her coldly, his own features as hard and impassive as those of his mask.

"Madame, there are gendarmes searching my theatre," he said in a voice empty of all feeling, "they are looking for you."

He looked away from her as he continued, stared down at the red velvet blanket that lay neatly folded on the shabby bed.

"Perhaps you might save us all a great deal of trouble. Let them find you."

"Erik...it is too late for me to go back."

He sighed. He had anticipated her answer.

"I was afraid you would say that. Very well," he said, removing his cravat.

Smoothing the silk, he stepped behind her and laid it across her eyes.

"Erik, why are you blindfolding me?"

"Because, my dear lady, I am taking you to my...dungeon...by a different passage. And I would prefer it if you did not learn the way."

He finished tying the cravat over her eyes. There was so little time, but before he moved away, he let his gloved finger slowly trace the back of her neck. With his other hand, he drew her back against him.

Oh, Christine, how can I stand to have you near me?

Then he took her hand and led her from the room.

Her eyes covered by Erik's cravat, Christine clung to his hand and let him draw her through unknown corridors.

How easy it was to trust him...even if he would not trust her in return.

As he guided her down a sloping passage, Christine lost her balance and stumbled. Only Erik's swift reflexes kept her from falling.

"I'm sorry, Erik," she said in a weary voice, "it's just so hard for me to walk with my eyes covered."

She felt his hands on her waist and shoulders, then she felt herself lifted off her feet.

He bit his lip as she put her arms around him, her head resting near his heart.

Do you know how easily I could betray you, Christine?