Chapter 4: Memories of Shadows

Slowly she stood up and looked into the face she only dreamed of these last three years. He didn't change, still wearing black and still in perfect health. His body still seemed to be stunning… She closed her eyes to expel the thought and took a breath.

"What would you like me to do Monsieur? Stop writing?" She opened her eyes and looked into those intense blue eyes. She hoped he wouldn't recognize her in these shadows. He tilted his head up.

"On the contrary. I would like you to write for us." She scoffed and smiled.

"There must be something wrong with your hearing Monsieur. I don't write opera. Now if you will excuse me, we must be leaving now. Rumen." He gypsy bowed and walked behind his Mistress. She walked past her love without showing any emotion. She turned to the manager.

"Monsieur Devereux, thank you once again for performing one of my plays." He smiled and waved it away like an idiot.

"It was my pleasure Mademoiselle. May I call you a cab?" Once again, she put on her dashing smile.

"That won't be necessary. Good night Monsieur Devereux." She turned to Erik one last time and smiled. "Good night Monsieur Lavonné, please come again to see another of my plays." With that she turned and left. Upon exiting, Erik noticed the burette in her hair, it was a butterfly. He remembered giving it to her one day during lessons.

Christine pushed her hair out of the way angrily. He turned over from his organ and looked at her. She looked at him and apologized.

"My hair keeps getting in the way. I'm terribly sorry Erik." He sighed and came up behind her. She tensed as he gently caressed her throat and pulled back her hair. He dug his fingers into it and held it there while he bent down to her ear.

"Sing," he whispered. And she sang. It was very beautiful, like the first time she was brought to his lair. The feel of his body next to hers with this breath on her neck and his fingers in her hair… It was almost unbearable. When she stopped, Erik slowly removed his hands and moved away. Christine let out a shuddering sigh, almost wishing it wouldn't end. A few seconds later, he did the same thing only this time, he clipped it up with a burette. Curiously, she fingered it and felt it was made out of beads in the form of a butterfly. She turned her head up to see Erik.

"It suits you perfectly." He picked up her hand and kissed it. "When the time is right, the butterfly will soar…

He followed her immediately. The truth for his finding her was to torture her about her leaving the Viscount, to show her that she couldn't have him even if she begged. But something was different from her completely. She wasn't the same child that he gave lessons to. She was fully reborn into a beautiful woman. He got to the stairs leading down to the grand foyer and saw Christine and her valet, Rumen.

"Christine!" She stopped and turned and looked up at him. A memory came back to her just after she left Raoul.

She sat by the fire just staring into it. The woman she ran to, Marilynn, put down her book and looked at her young charge.

"Tell me child, is it him who invades your thoughts tonight." Christine turned to her friend with a look of almost shock.

"Marilynn…" She smiled lovingly.

"What will you do, child. Will you go running back to the man you left for your husband?" That made Christine think about him. Was she really only using him this entire time. No! He deserved better than that.

"No, I won't use him for myself… I will never run back into his arms… No matter how much I want to…" Marilynn looked at her with sad eyes.

Christine shook her tears and headed straight for the door. She couldn't bear to look at his eyes.