Part: 6/?

Summary, Disclaimer, Etc. can be found in the first chapter.

Thank You: Forever and a day to Kelsey and Sarah, the most wonderful betas a gal can have!

Author Note: I should have chapter seven up Wednesday night/Thursday morning. Sorry! That's the soonest I can get it up… stupid work and school. Grrr. :) Oh! And Yea! to PotO for it's three Academy nods!

Erik had been so hypnotized by the feel of Christine's caress that he never once thought to be on guard.

He didn't even realize she'd taken his mask off until he'd heard her gasp and jerk away from him. When the cool air of his underground lair hit his face, he sprang from the bench, knocking it down. He whirled away from her and slapped a hand over the right side of his face.

"Damn you!" he roared, glaring at her. She was curled on the floor. Her eyes were wide and filled with tears. Clutched to her chest was his mask.

"You little prying Pandora! You little demon!" He crouched down in front of her, grasping her hands in one of his, pulling her up against him. "This is what you wanted to see!"

She shook her head, tears falling to the Persian rug underneath them. His own tears were falling; tears of hate and sadness and torment and anger.

Why did she have to see? Why couldn't she have left well enough alone?

"Curse you! You little lying Delilah! You little viper!" Still holding her wrists, he gripped her chin with the other, forcing her to look at him. "Now you cannot ever be free." Her eyes, which had been shut, opened fleetingly.

"Damn you." He let go of her and stalked away. "Curse you." He covered his face with his hand once again.

He sat down on the floor a few feet from her. His fingers felt the accursed deformation over the right side of his face. He felt the bones, the thin, leathery skin pulled taught over them, splotched yellowy green. He felt his face; the thing of nightmares to those who'd had the misfortune of seeing it. He felt the face which forced him to live in shadows.

He felt the face which his mother had loathed.

Now it would be the face that would forever keep Christine from loving him.

He tried to compose himself. He would have to get his mask back from her or get another from his collection. He took a couple of deep, shuddering breaths, willing his tears to stop.

It had been so long since he had actually cried. The last time had been in front of his mother.

He practically jumped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned a little to see Christine holding out his mask.

Tears coursed down her cheeks still and she was staring at him with mixture of pity and fear. Of course she would fear him. His hideous, deformed face, with its death like skin and hallowed out eye was something to be feared.

He took his mask and turned fully away from her, sliding it back on. It was a few minutes before he stood. She hadn't moved an inch.

"It's late. You need your rest," he said shortly, not looking at her as he walked around her.

His anger, though diminished, had not ebbed. In his show of anger at her betrayal, he snuffed the few candles in the room before leaving his angel in the darkness.

Erik lay in his coffin for sometime, listening to Christine's sobbing. It wasn't long before her sobs eventually tapered off and she fell asleep.

It had taken her sometime to get to her room after he'd left her. He had been tempted to go out and help her. Guilt at leaving her there ate at him. But his anger was stronger. Besides, if she couldn't bring herself to call for his assistance, why should he?

He'd taken some morphine, hoping it would help sleep come. The sweet drug could do nothing for the pain he felt in his heart.

"Christine," he sighed.

He wished he'd never shown himself to her. He could have used his abilities to make her forget, at least for a while, that she'd figured out he was a man and not the Angel of Music.

He could still feel her perfect hands roaming over his face and chest. A most bittersweet hand the fates had dealt him, to have that memory before she decided never to see him again, which no doubt would happen.

He'd told her she'd never be free, and it was true. He would love her forever. Those chains would bind her, even if she were a thousand miles away. Even after he died.

And die he would. Once his masterpiece was done, by nature or his own hand, he would die.

Her reaction made him remember. He'd forgotten during those past few dreamlike days. Her sweet attention and caring would be over now that she'd seen.

He would have no reason left to live if he had her fear and disgust.

Review Responses: Forgive my weirdness… I'm inna punchy mood. I have learned one important thing whilst writing this: Reviews are very, very bad for my ego (as in it's my head's getting bigger) and sanity (as in I'm getting crazier)… (well, that and you should never write smut at work… that leads to badness!) Lol.

Chapter Four

tactics

I'm glad I made your day! blushes

ThyLaSlain

blinks then backs away, frightened Don't hunt me down! It's wabbit season not writer's season. Lol.

Countess Alana

I hear charming Erik. Too bad it doesn't last. Heh.

Morrigan le Fay

I don't wanna rush their relationship, but I'm also trying to keep in mind she'd been there since she was what, seven? They've got about ten years already behind them. I'm glad you're liking Erik. I don't wanna water him too much from the real deal and he will have his moments. No one's perfect, after all. And you know, I hadn't even thought of his salary… hummmmm… ;)

(Note to your side note: I'm still working on ten in my notebook, but the other chapters have been beta'd. I just need time to go over their work and post. It'll be at least be one a day up till ten. It might be a while for that one!)

Erik'sTrueAngel

Maybe I shoulda called this "Erik's Very Bas, No Good, Horrible Day"? Lol. Second time he's been caught, poor boy!

Nicole Gruebel

I know I'd give anything to be put to bed like that! I'll have to settle for listening to the soundtrack. sighs sadly I really wanted to mirror the movie in this part as much as possible… sans freaky Christine-Dummy, of course! Haha!

Bec

Delicious? Delicious? Awesome! does a happy dance Thanks!

Mel

Nate's off in dreamland, thinking of Gerry shirtless… sorry! That was a nummy visual. I visit religiously. He is… beautiful. swoons

LadyAmbrosine

He is so mine! And I gotta warn you, I know ju-jitsu and I'm not afraid to use my fine, one semester learned skills! Lol. You know, I have read your fic.'s… love InuYasha! (I wrote some horrible Sess/Rin smut that'll never see the light of day!), but these things take time. They're not just gonna jump each others bones in a lusty haze… hummm… but that does sound like a nice prospect… hummmmm…

leonsalanna

No, no… that would make her sick. Though it would be funny. :)

neo-lover72

Okay, seriously, what is wrong with you people? He is mine. M-I-N-E. Mine. (I can spell, go me!) Lol. Glad I made your night!

af881

salutes Yes ma-am! I aim to please! I am so writing a fic. Just for you. Love you lots and lots!

jennifer

Thanks!

Lillith

Thanks!

Aleana

I will, I will. :)

Jjah-Jjah

Yay! Write some Phan Fic.'s. It's hard not to be inspired by that movie, isn't it? Especially Gerry and his dead sexy voice! Glad you like my little story that could!

funkypixiechick

I can totally understand that. When I say "fluffy" I basically mean minimal angst. I do get sugary at points, but I don't think I get cavity giving bad. Lol. Anyway, I'm glad you decided to give my fic. a look and hope you enjoy all I've got in store!

Rokimbo

Thanks! I hope I don't disappoint. I'm trying to keep things as honest as possible to the characters. Of course it's gonna be a shock, and well… you'll see… (wink, wink)

CharmedLeoLvr

Thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Chapter Five

Jjah-Jjah

I know, cliffies are evil. Was this soon enough to redeem myself?

Nicole Gruebel

I'm a baaaad, baaaad girl.

neo-lover72

Thanks!

Erik'sTrueAngel

I hope it'll be good! Lol.

CharmedLeoLvr

I try to not do cliffies… but they are a necessary evil in the world of writing.

confused

It will be R later on. Better safe than reported, I always say. Well, not really, but you get the idea.

draegon-fire

I'm glad you're reading and hope you're enjoying it half as much as I enjoy writing it. I worry lots about characterization. But I think without Raoul and learning the truth, Christine would have been able to handle it better than being the clingy, indecisive thing she was in the movie. And you know, I thought I had read every EC fic on , but I must have missed that one. Wonder how many more I missed. But hot damn that is a great fic! Had I known, I probably would have titled mine something else. But… oh well.

Rokimbo

Okay, okay. Quick enough? :)