Chapter 10: Songs and Promises

Erik pulled away from the kiss, settling back onto Christine's stomach.

How wonderful life is, now you're in the world.

Erik kissed her belly button, making Christine giggle. She remembered a song she had sung to herself when Raoul had hurt her, and sang it now to saturate Erik's need for her voice.

Someday I'll fly away, leave all this to yesterday,

Why live life from dream to dream,

And dread the day when dreams end.

Erik smiled. He had written a song long ago, something small yet meaningful so that she could easily remember the words.

My gift is my song!

And this ones for you,

You can tell everybody that this is your song,

It maybe quite simple but,

Now that it's done,

Christine just stared wide eyed at how his voice came out strong and wrapped her within it. She held his face lovingly as he continued.

I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind,

That I put down in words:

How wonderful life is now you're in the world!

Sat on a roof, and kicked off the miles,

Some of these verses, well, they've got me quite cross

But the suns been kind, well I wrote this song,

It's the people like you that keep it turned on!

Erik pulled himself upon her and cradled her head in his hand, wrapping his other arm around her waist. She rubbed her nose against his, gesturing him to continue, she wanted him so much to sing to her. She felt him pulse between her legs and he continued.

So excuse me, for forgetting

But these things I do,

See I've forgotten if they're green or if they're blue.

Christine blushed and he pressed on.

Well the thing is,

Your stars are the sweetest I've ever seen!

Christine kissed him, and he let the love flow from his voice.

You can tell every body, that this is your song,

But I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind,

That I put down in words!

Erik nuzzled his face onto Christine's and whispered on her lips:

How wonderful life is now you're in the world!

Christine smiled. And whispered in his mouth. "I don't mind."

Erik kissed her, lovingly and seductively. He needed her, he would die without her, all the thoughts of her rushed through his mind. She was so good, so, so good. He lowered himself into her, feeling her shudder with pleasure. He guided her hips, she ran her hands through his hair. God she loved him. She kissed his neck and he returned the favor, biting her gently on the neck. He let her get on top of him and she moved her lips from his neck down to his well defined abdomen, kissing everything she came across on the way. His strong arms brought her lips back to his. He ran his hands over her shoulders, over her breasts pausing for only a moment before moving on back to her hips. At the moment of ecstasy, he bit down quite hard on her shoulder, causing her to moan. She could feel him inside her, the raw emotion erupting again and again. Then she fell down onto his chest, breathing heavily. He held her close, not wanting to ever let go. He saw the red mark that he had left on her shoulder. He kissed it.

"Sorry my dear, does it hurt?" He asked, caressing it with his lips.

"Yes, but I enjoy having a mark of our love." She teased. Christine adjusted herself into a more comfortable position, her head still resting her head upon his chest. They lay in bed like that for what seemed like days, until Toulouse came looking for them.

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Toulouse didn't care if they were making love, Christine needed to return to the Moulin Rouge if she valued her life. Toulouse had found her contract, and she was indeed the star Courtesan of the Moulin Rouge. But before he could destroy it, a very rich and famous man had come to entertained by her. This man was rich and famous for he held the deeds to the Moulin Rouge. How he got his greedy hands on them, Toulouse did not know, but the idiot rich man will defiantly not let Christine get away with it. It would be very bad for Erik when Christine must go. He remembered what the Duke had said to him if he did not bring back Christine.

"Bring Christine to me dwarf, or you shall take her place! Believe me, that shant be an experience that you will wish to repeat!"

After saying that, he had left for the Gothic Tower, giving Toulouse an hour. If he did not bring her back, she would die as soon as she emerged. Things had happened in the walls of the Moulin Rouge that had stayed secret between the supposed Duke and Harold Zidler. This had caused anger inside Toulouse, he did not want to separate a love that he had worked so hard to create, but it was either him or the Duke.

He entered Erik's home to the sound of giggling. He followed the sound to Erik's room, where Erik was sitting behind Christine's half naked body, kissing her neck while he wrapped a small chain around her neck.

"Ahem."

Christine and Erik both turned to the doorway to find Toulouse standing there.

"Toulouse?!" They both said at once, jumping from the bed in an attempt to cover themselves.

"Sorry for the intrusion, but Christine is needed above ground." Toulouse averted his eyes as he spoke.

"What do you mean she is needed above ground?" Erik pulled on a pair of trousers. Then a look of realization hit him and he looked at Christine, then to Toulouse. "You couldn't destroy the contract."

Toulouse nodded. "A Duke holds the deeds to the Moulin Rouge, and Christine. He threatens to kill her when she does return."

"If she returns." Erik snarled, wanting to break something.

"What? If I return? What are you implying Erik?" Christine held a black sheet against her body.

Erik looked at her with an angry answer, but was thrown off when he saw her eyes. Raoul had been like this, forcing her. He wasn't like that, and he wanted to show that to Christine. But if he did that, she would be forced to give her body to the Duke.

Erik collapsed onto the bed with a sob.

Christine was shocked, he was only trying to protect her. She went over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He stood and pushed her away.

You're free to leave me,

Just don't deceive me,

And please,

Believe me when I say,

I love you

Christine didn't want to leave him, and she tried to reach out to him. But he moved away, not wanting to show his tears, but she grabbed him tightly and pulled him to her. She put her cheek to his and whispered to comfort him. He was shaking, trying to hold back the tears.

"Promise me you won't leave, promise me you'll stay here and wait. Promise me." She begged with him as tears began threatening to spill from her eyes.

Erik was shaking so badly, but he managed to nod. He kissed her for what he hoped was not the last time.

"Come Christine." Toulouse hated this, hated it beyond hell itself.

Christine slowly left the room, pulling a dress over her head as she did so. She held Erik's gaze for as long as she could, then turned and let the tears flow freely.

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Christine sat at her vanity, fixing her hair into an elegant bun atop her head. Her deep purple gown kept her from breathing in as much she would have liked to. It was much too revealing for her taste. A very low neckline left her collar bone exposed and vulnerable. But it was long, and gracefully followed behind her.

"Christine."

Christine stood and followed Toulouse to the Gothic tower.

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Christine took a deep breath, and pulled back the curtain. The Duke had his back to her.

'Hello Christine."

That voice…

The figure turned.