Chapter 7: It Never Ended, The Music Of The Night

Christine got up more slowly, ignoring the pain gathered at her temples. She walked out of the room to find that she was once again, underground. But some how it was …comforting. Christine looked around for the shadow that she loved so much, she knew he was there; she knew that he was watching her. She could hear distant music and followed the tune to one of the many rooms. Just before she entered, the music stopped, and when she went inside, no one was there. Christine smiled as icy hands slid over her shoulders, causing her to shiver. The hands withdrew instantly, and Christine turned once again to an empty door way.

"Erik, please." She begged, leaving the room and proceeding down the stairs.

Then, she heard it, her music box. The one she never did accept from Erik. She had left it in her dressing room because it had been too big to hide from Raoul, but she still had the key, so how was it playing? She followed her senses back up the stairs and into a new room, one that held a gold bed with completely black satin sheets. No one was in the room. Just her music box on the bed. Slowly, the tune came to an end and the music box closed itself. Christine walked cautiously into the room, slightly frightened. She almost collapsed as the cool hands returned from behind, this time around her waist.

"Erik…" She whispered, sliding her hands over his so he wouldn't leave her.

He nuzzled his face into her neck and whispered "Why do you torture me Christine?" He kissed her neck, taking in her scent and sliding his hands upwards towards her shoulders, then down wards to her hips. His lips were at her shoulder, then back to her neck. "Why?"

Christine reached up behind her with her right arm and wrapped it around Erik's neck, pulling him down close enough so she could kiss him, his tongue slipped into her mouth, making her want more. She nibbled at his ear.

"I love you Erik, I would never torture you." Her whispers made him wonder: What of Raoul?

Erik pushed Christine away, and she stumbled to the floor.

"Whore, you betrayed me and your husband." Erik turned, and was about to leave when…

"Erik!" Christine reached out to him with her hand. "Please Erik, I can explain."

He couldn't just leave her there, alone and hurt. It would hurt him more than her to do that.

Erik sighed and went to her. He kneeled in front of her and looked her right in the eye. "You can explain?" He asked watching her eyes. She nodded not looking away. Erik sighed and took her in his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and put her face into his shoulder, and for once she felt loved.

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Erik set Christine down on her bed and then sat down beside her. For the first time, he realized that she was barley wearing anything, just an overly decorated silver and black corset. She saw what he was looking at, but didn't bother to cover herself.

"Explain Christine, why are you working at the Moulin Rouge as a whore?" Erik said harshly but quietly.

"Raoul is dead Erik.Ihad nowhere else to go, if I knew where you were I would have come to you, but I didn't, and Giselle had told me about the Moulin Rouge, and then I met Toulouse, and he found out who I was and I got a job as singing, and I performed and I saw you and now I'm…here." Christine gasped for air as Erik processed what she had just said. Raoul was…dead. And now she was with him.

"And you didn't sleep with anyone while you worked there?" Erik needed to know the answer to this. Had she given up hope that easily?

Christine shook her head. She thought she saw a look of relief flicker across his face. He looked away and Christine slid her hand over his. But Erik withdrew it and stood.

"Erik, wait," Christine called after him as he walked away. "Erik did I do something wrong?"

Erik stopped and turned to look at Christine.

"No my dear, it is most defiantly not you, I just need time to think."

Christine stood and walked briskly over to him, "Well I've had a year of thinking about nothing but you, and now you're pushing me away."

Erik's eyes flashed. "All I ever wanted was you!"

Christine was slightly intimidated, but pressed on, "Prove it!"

Without thinking, Erik grabbed her around the waist, and brought his lips down upon hers. She kissed him right back, wrapping her arms around his neck as his hands slid up to her shoulders. She leaned back as his kisses spread like fire down her neck and chest, then back up to her lips. They pulled away for air, but still held on to each other as if the other was just going to disappear.

Christine lay her head on Erik's shoulder, breathing heavily. Erik's grip tightened on her, and she wondered if he had been thinking of her over the past year. Obviously he was, because she saw her perfume on his table by the door.

Erik pulled away and looked down at his angel, she couldn't stay with him very much longer. People would get suspicious.

"Christine, I think it best that you return to the Moulin Rouge, just for now." He added when he saw her face fall.

"But I want to stay with you. Please Erik, don't make me go back." She clinged to him, not wanting to ever let go.

Then, Erik had an idea. "Christine, only one hour, go for an hour, tell everyone that you're fine. Keep people out of your dressing room while I retrieve your things, then you can come and stay with me."

Christine looked into his eyes and smiled. Erik took her hand and realized their was a wedding ring there, he was about to throw her away from him, when he realized it was his ring. Christine had felt his muscles tighten and then relax while he examined her ring.

"How long has it been there?" Erik asked, shifting his gaze to Christine.

Christine's eyes didn't waver from his, "Since I found out of his death." She answered quietly.

Erik kissed Christine softly saying thank you.

"Wait here." And Erik disappeared off into another room for a few minutes, soon returning with a red day dress that had a very low neck line. It had been made for Christine a long time ago.

"Wear this." He handed it to her and watched as she pulled it over the corset, she of course, looked marvelous.

She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

And then they were on their way back up to the Moulin Rouge.

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Christine climbed up the stairs, Erik right behind her.

"Wait," Erik took her hand, "you're about to walk into the door."

Christine blushed, knowing that Erik could see everything in the dark. Erik smiled. She was so beautiful when she blushed.

"I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy." She lowered her eyes, trying hard not to blush anymore.

"No my dear, you will never have to be sorry as long as you're with me." He smiled even more, knowing that she would blush again. She did and he couldn't help but kiss her. But he stopped before the passion burned too fiercely.

"If we keep going on like this, I'm afraid my dear, that you'll put me in a hospital." Erik wrapped his arms around her waist.

Christine pulled him closer with her arms around his neck. "I'm counting on it."

Erik controlled himself and opened the door. He peeked in to make sure no one was there, then proceeded. He helped Christine through, who knew immediately where they were, her dressing room.

"How did you know?" Christine turned to Erik, who was no longer there. "Erik?!"

"I' am right here Christine, I would never abandon you, remember that, I' am always there in the shadows, always watching." Erik emerged from the shadows behind Christine and slid his hands over her shoulder. She shivered from the thrill of having him touch her. His lips brushed her ear as he whispered. "Always there." He kissed her shoulder then withdrew into the shadows. "Go now and distract them, Toulouse will probably want to see you. And as for your room, I guessed."

Christine nodded, disappointed that the moment had to end so soon. She exited the room however, hoping Erik wouldn't get into trouble, as he did have a tendency for it. As soon as she turned around, she almost ran right over Toulouse.

"There you are Christine! I've been looking all over for you! I was so worried. After I saw you fall, I almost had a heart attack. Good thing Erik was there." Christine smiled weakly. "Oh, and, these are for you." He handed her the tulips, using all of his strength to heave them into her arms.

"Thank you Toulouse, I'll just put them in my room." She turned, opened the door and slipped in. A cold dagger was pressed against her neck, causing her to breathe in sharply.

"Christine! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…I'm sorry." Erik removed the dagger and gathered the frightened Christine in his arms. He lifted her chin to see if he had caused any damage. None. Then he was slightly angry, why had he used the dagger? She would surely be angry with him now. Why did he always have to untie the beautiful bow that had taken him forever to perfect?

"I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me." He pulled away and made his way towards the mirror. "I'm sorry Christine." It was killing him to say those words.

Christine, who was still to shocked to process what had just happened, watched as her one and only love disappeared into the darkness.

An object on the floor caught Christine's eye, and realized Erik must have dropped it. A key, exactly like the one Erik had given to her for the music box. But his was different, instead of the heart shaped head that her key had, Erik's key was engraved with the initials: E.C. Knowing exactly what the initials stood for, Christine brushed away her fear of the dark,and followed Erik into the underground lair.