"Christine?" Erik's voice finally snatched me into reality from the strange, lurid romance novel I had found hidden away. Had that been where he had learned what he was supposed to do? I smiled, wondering if a man and woman reallly did what the two in the book had been doing. "What are you reading?" He looked curiously toward me, but I quickly shut it and replaced it where I had found it. I was embarassed that he had found me reading something like that. My cheeks were inflamed and there was a faint pulsing feeling in my most unspeakable places. I wondered if Erik knew what I was thinking? He was staring strangely at me, his eyes burning into my body as if he could see my heart's furious beating. What was this feeling?

" Just something I found lying around," I stuttered, managing somehow to get out my meaning. His eyes flicked toward my reading material and than to me. "How did everything go?" He smiled at the way I was trying to change the subject, but he humored me.

"I have someone who is looking into things," he assured me coming closer. I stepped backward nearly falling over myself. If he touched me I would fall pray to his powers of seduction again. Something about him, no matter how physically unattractive he was, made me want him again and again. Even after we had made love and I lay with him, I felt as if the desire would never be satisfied. No matter how intense or how often we were together it would still leave me wanting more and more.

Without warning he stopped, causing me to stare suspiciously at him. He almost seemed to have casually lost interest in the idea he had. My mouth sat pursed ever so slightly. What was he doing? Wasn't I interesting enough for him? He watched me for a long time, a predator judging the worthiness of his prey. Finally with an ackward half-smile that reminded me of a cat, he turned and shrugged. It appeared that he was pushing me off. I wanted to follow him, part of me had hoped he would pursue the action that we both wanted so much. I took a few steps after him, making sure that he wasn't staring at me. On the contrary, he was calm and with no obvious desires to have me beside him again. I continued to trail after him, as he lead into his room. He slowly lowered himself to the organ, and I realized what he was doing. My eyes automatically closed, and I forced them open several times. Than he began to play.

He played with such rapid perfection that I was reminded of his genius at once. For though he claimed he was not ghost, angel, nor even genius, he was in a way each one to me. The air took on a hypnotic shimmer, that I had only seen in my dreams. I felt dizzy and sensational. Every note echoed in my ears and I shook at his obvious joy in touching the instrument. For him it must have been almost like love making, for it was his passion. Music was what drove him to do everything he did. Including what he did with me, right? I couldn't and didn't want to awnser the question.

My legs quaked beneath me, and everything seemed unbearably warm, my whole body ached to be touched. I wanted more than anything to be the organ beneath those skilled fingers. I knew with practice he could draw a melody, an aria from me in my moments of extasy, he could turn our cries into something musical. Cold chills ran the length of my arms and back, as I took several steps forward. The music was a piece I didn't recognize. It was irresitably sad and yet, so completely heart wrenchingly beautiful. My hands reached out and I fought myself. I could not end the music he was making, but I was a flame with my desire.

He moved effortlessly and without pause from one song to the next. My breath was become ragged, each pounded key created for me an image of our union. My small hand fell to his shoulders, caressing the back of his neck as he leaned into the organ, senselessy beating out notes that somehow fit perfectly together. He paused suddenly, turning ever so slightly. "Please don't stop," his eyes sparked at the words, I could just make out the way the gold shimmered in the dim room. He opened his mouth but I silenced him at once. Softly I pressed his fingers just lightly enough to make a sound on the keys. "Sing for me, my Angel of Music," I asked as sweetly as I could, but somehow the low hint of lust was there.

"Christine, you know I am no," but I shook my head and smiled. I knew he was an angel, but I could never find the words to tell him that he was. He was an angel on earth, sent to give man a bit of heaven. "If you would like me to play I will," he returned to his art, giving me a strange look every few moments, as if expecting me to run away. Finally he opened his mouth and began to sing the Wedding Night Song from Romeo and Juliet again. I was captured in his purity when he sang.

When I could no longer stand the perfect notes I leaned down and kissed him. My kiss was soft at first but I deepened it until it seemed I was forcing all of my passion into him. Erik did not protest instead almost eerily placid, he removed his hands from the keys and placed them on my waist. He led me around to face him, and steadily lowered me to his lap. He placed a few kisses to my cheeks and lowered his face to my neck. He rested there for several moments, just inhaling my perfumed skin. I sighed as he looked up at me. His eyes wide and adoring. I felt undeserving of that kind of devotion. I lowered my lips to his again and we locked in a passionate kiss. I could feel his hands struggling to unlace my dress, as he could not simply rip it this time. He seemed to have a bit of trouble at first but soon I felt it go slack and pool around my shoulders. I broke our kiss first and helped it fall to my waist. He smiled leaning back up to resume our kiss.

" Erik, I love you," I whispered now finally able to let the words pass without my noticing. Erik however looked up astonished. My hands which were on his cheeks could feel tears falling. This was the first time I had willing told him I loved him, not just cared for him, but actually loved him. I thought of Raoul suddenly. It had been sometime since I had thought of him. I remembered the young and fleeting feelings that I still held for him. I loved both Erik and Raoul so dearly but I knew Raoul would find someone else. I hated to admit it but the world would never be as accepting of my angel. I knew I was the only one for him so I had to rightfully give myself to him completely and show him how I loved him. My hands traced his skeletal frame as he pressed quick kisses to the hollow of my neck.

He began to try and unhook my corset hurriedly. He muttered a few curses of frustration, I laughed quietly. Before I could do anything else he was back nipping at my neck, sucking the skin leaving it throbbing and red. He left me to shed the corset, when I had finished opening it, his hands tore it away from my body, disgarding it onto the floor. He didn't pause nor hesitate before trailing kisses along my warm flesh. My own breath must have been similar to his: heavy with desire, and emitting soft gasps of pleasure as he placed his mouth to my exposed nipple. I tried in vain to raise his head to me but he forced my hands away continuing to tease the flesh by softly biting it.

It felt an eternity that he caressed and kissed the upper parts of my body, finally though he lowered me to the floor, pausing only long enough to help me pull the dress from my legs. His hands stroked my pale hair, slowly lowering his weight against me as he kissed my stomach and slowly allowed himself to continue his explorations further than the previous night. He paused as he touched the area that was causing so much heat inside my body, the dull pounding making me want him more and more. His finger traced every inch before stopping as he looked at me curiously. He wanted to know what feeling this evoked in me. Whatever he saw on my face must have pleased him for he plunged inside of me, wanting to know every small crevice of my body. I cried out several times, arching my body at the steady rhythm in which he continued to press his fingers in and out of me. I let out a very shaky breath as he drew me to my peak for the first time that night. I wondered if every night would be as much of an adventure. Both Erik and I were learning so much about ourselves, what places were to be touched and just how to touch them.

He understood as I moaned and writhed against him. I wanted him to reach the same point that I had. I wanted him to know the same pleasure that night, so that we might both be completely satisfied. Shaking I helped him remove his clothing in a hurried mess. Slowly I brought my hand down his abdomen stopping finally as I touched his flesh. He hissed lightly in pleasure, he liked it. I had never had an opportunity to study a man so, I allowed my fingers to wonder over him. I might have been content to that for a short time, but his hands fell to the small of my back. Rushing he rolled me over, seperating my knees with one of his own. He pressed himself into me and there were no sounds in the darkness but his moans coupled with my own slighter ones. I felt him tighten around the same time I, myself became unbearably so, than suddenly both our bodies loosened and we fell against each other giving a last moan as he pulled himself from me.

" Christine, forgive me if I hurt you," I shook my head softly caressing his features as we lay on the floor together. His body felt so warm next to mine, when usually he was icy. I held him tight as a dying woman might grasp for life. My hands found themselves wondering over his body again. " You might want to stop that, or else we may find ourselves filling this house with our cries again," I smiled at him, touching his cheek. The skin there was so rough, and his face so deathly, still...he was beautiful in his own way. Beauty was in the eye of the beholder, and I think anyone who saw Erik in my arms would have agreed that he was angelic. Something about him seemed to glow as we lay, my body pressing against his. I could feel his heard racing and I was sure he could feel mine. His chest heaved and I was mimicking his panting with my own, rapid breathing.

"Say it again?" He begged hoping that I might repeat my vow of love, as he covered my cheeks and face with small kisses. I whispered it over and over until I thought I must be screaming it or else breathing the words, for they filled every cavity of my body. Finally he pressed his mouth to mine silencing me for a moment, but even against his mouth my lips moved to form the words. "Christine, my darling, my bride," he finally managed to cut off my desperate repetition of what he wanted to hear. He stood to carry me to my own room, where he lay me down and turned to go. I hated feeling his warmth leave me and I wanted him near me so desperately.

" Stay with me, Erik, don't leave me alone in the dark," he smirked as if my words were a joke, and finally he turned entirely serious, and asked if I really wanted him to stay. "Of course I do,"

"I can't promise that you will not wake up with me inside of you again," I giggled, but he continued, "Being near you does strange things to my body, I can not control the urges I have, I want to be as close to you as possible," He lay beside me as I comforted him telling him it would be alright for us to lay together every night. He softly began to hum and after that I must have fallen asleep listening to his beautiful voice.

I dreamed of that moment when I had first consented to become Erik's bride, in order to save Raoul for the large part. "Raoul? Raoul?" I called again and again, my voice was becoming hoarse from screaming, crying, and pleading with the man that held me captive. I had begged him just to take me to the torture chamber, but he refused. Ah! What an odd game and a dangerous one to note, we were playing. I continued calling for him, starting to sob now. Surely he was dead! He had to be dead!

"Christine?" it was faint but he was there, and he was still breathing. I opened my mouth, preparing to shout words of love and encouragement, but they did not leave my tongue. How would we ever get out of the predicament we were in? What could we possibly do? I slowly began to relate the tale of what had happened between Erik and I in the last while

"Hours and hours?" his voice was mad and I shuddered at his words. I could not look at him. That masked face, full of terrifying love for me, horrible obsession. "What time is it now?" I didnt awnser, so he asked again, joyfully. "What time is it now, Christine?"

As the awnser passed my lips I felt ill, my stomach tossed and I realized what must now happen. I had to make the most important decision of my life in a matter of moments. "It is eleven o' clock! Eleven o' clock, all but five minutes!" He grinned at this and shook his head disapprovingly.

"But which eleven o' clock?" The control he had over me was maddening. Before I knew it I was awnsering hoping my awnser would please the monster.

"The eleven o' clock that is to decide life or death!" He reached up tearing his mask from his face and frightening me at the flaming look in his eyes. He stepped ever closer to me, causing me to give a small cry of shock. He began to laugh again, this time it was more horrid than I had ever imagined. Surely he did not think of this as fun?

"I give you five minutes to spare your blushes! Here," his hands held out a small bronze key from the bag which I had tried to take. I did not take it at first, but soon he forced it into my palms. My fingers tightened around it and for a moment he caressed my palm with his own cold hands. I shivered and this infuriated him further," here is the little bronze key that opens the two ebony caskets onn the mantelpiece in the Louis-Phillipe room...in one of the caskets, you will find a scorpion, in the other, a grasshopper, both very cleverly imitated in Japanese bronze: they will say yes or no for you." Tears began to fall lightly onto my cheeks and I closed my eyes against him.I could no longer listen but I must, I told myself, hanging onto his words carefully," if you turn the scorpion round, that will mean to me, when I return, that you have said yes. The grasshopper will mean no," he started to cackle like mad.

"Erik! Erik!" I screamed throwing myself upon my knees. "Erik! I need not turn either, I will be your wife, I will!" He smiled with a look that made me feel that my efforts were in vain. How could I be the wife of a madman who found it funny I was begging him at his feet. He made to pull me up, but I stayed as I was, "First just give me the key to the torture-chamber!" He smirked and appeared to ponder at it for several seconds leaving me in suspense.

"No," I threw myself against him now, sobbing in a state of complete despair. My love was dying and I could do nothing to save his life. I would gladly have agreed to a marriage if only to rescue him.

"Please Erik! I am begging you! Just the key is all I ask! Its a small favor for one that is to be your wife!"

"My dear, there will be no future need for the key," He thrust me away from him, and I fell back onto the floor. His eyes were dancing with delight. What a marvelous game he was leading. "Therefore, I am going to throw it away, I am going to toss it in the lake," He started toward the door now, but again I was clutching at his feet, crying and offering words of love. "Do you not think that the lake is the appropriate place for a key to a torture chamber? Well no matter, I think so," He pushed me away, warning me not to try and stop him again. He laughed harder at the pain he caused in my eyes, all he cared about was seperating my fiancee and I.

"The grasshopper! Be careful of the grasshopper! A grasshopper does not only turn: it hops! And it hops jolly high!" He left me there screaming for him to return and not to do this to me. Pleading for his mercy and compassion. Raoul seemed to have regained his senses for he told me that I must at once turn the scorpion or the entire opera house would blow. He continued to explain about the barrels of gun powder under the torture chamber, and that if I did not do as he said we would all die.

I had no reason to doubt his intentions but the thought that I would become the wife of Erik was not a pleasent one, still I did as i was told and walked toward the box that held the scorpion, "Christine, where are you?" it was the Persian.

"By the scorpion,"

"Don't touch it!" the words confused me, should I listen to him? I stopped and waited for an explaination, "Don't touch the scorpion!" He repeated with violent fear. I wanted to ask why, but I could hear footsteps coming toward me.

"Here he comes! I hear him! Here he is!" I warned and instantly they were quiet, listening as I tried to bargain for our lives. He came right up to me but did not say anything.

"Erik! It is I! Do you know me?" It was the Persian's voice again that I heard. His voice sparked a strange smile on his face.

"So you are not dead in there? Well, than see that you keep quiet!" How calm he was and that suprised me. "Not a word, daroga, or I shall blow everything up," he winked at me now, I forced myself to hold back my anger," The honor rests with mademoiselle, mademoiselle has not touched the scorpion...mademoiselle has not touched the grasshoppe, but it is not too late to the right thing." He smirked and took my hand leading me closer to the caskets as he opened them. " There, I open the caskets without a key, for I am the trap door lover and I open and shut what I please and as I please. I open the little ebony caskets, mademoiselle, look at the little dears inside. Aren't they pretty? If you turn the grasshopper, mademoiselle, we shall all be blown up. There is enough gun-powder under our feet to blow up a quarter of Paris. If you turn the scorpion, mademoiselle, all that powder will be soaked and drowned. Mademoiselle, to celebrate our wedding, you shall make a very handsome present to a few hundred Parisians who are at this moment applauding a por masterpiece of Meyerbeer's...you shall make them a present of their lives...for with your own fair hands," he took my hands in his own and drew them to his misshapen lips now, "you shall turn the scorpion...and merrily, merrily we will be married!"

He kissed my hands again and again and than smiled back at me, giving me those eyes that said he would rather die than let me go. Surely I could not kill a few hundred men, but could I promise to marry him, that wasn't so hard was it? " If in two minutes, mademoiselle, you have not turned the scorpion, I shall turn the grasshopper," he gestured to it and leaned down to kiss my hands, suddenly letting them fall, "and the grasshopper, I tell you, hops jolly high!" That mad demonic laughter erupted from him again. I wanted him to leave, I wanted some time to ask Raoul what to do.

I looked down at the scorpion that would seal my fate. He hadn't lied to me and if I turned the scorpion, would that too blow us up? I could hear Raoul muttering something that might have been prayers, but no god was going to save us now. He had no mercy for me it seemed. I began to cry and looked helplessly up into his gold eyes. i could not do it. I could not end my own real life by choosing to be Erik's wife. "The two minutes are past...goodbye, mademoiselle...hop, grasshopper!" I shuddered watching his hand fall to it. Surely it had not been two minutes already.

"Erik!" he looked at me and paused, "do you swear to me, monster, do you swear to me that the scorpion is the one to turn?" For a moment it seemed my words would anger him, but nothing could ruin his jolly mood.

"Yes to hop at our wedding,"

"Ah, you see! You said, to hop!" my voice was shrill and I did not recognize it.

"At our weddung, ingenuous child! The scorpion opens the ball...but that will do! You won't have the scorpion? Than I turn the grasshopper!"