Sweet Intoxication
Chapter 4: Reminiscences and Resolutions
Author's Note: Hello Phantom fans and readers. Once again, thanks a bunch for your encouraging reviews You are so great!I have a goal I really hope you'll help me meet. By the time Sweet Intoxication is finished, I would LOVE to have 100 reviews, so please, please,please, R&R! Also, sorry if there is too much E/C fluff in this chapter, but I couldn't resist, they are so great togther and I LOVE fluffy stuff! Also, I have used a quote near the end of the story from one of my fave Phantom fanfics and authors, Christine, by arwen1604. And yes, Christine gets very aggresive in this chapter, so I hope you like and PLEASE (for my sanity) REVIEW!
Erik sat at his desk, arguing in his mind whether or not to go look in on Christine again. Other than about ten minutes of sobbing, shouting about every vile name in the book at him through the door, and the sound of rustling fabric as she changed her clothes, it had been mysteriously quiet. He had used the time wisely, writing a few rather, persuasive letters to his new managers, but other than that, all he could think about was Christine. He wanted to just open the door, apologize, hug her and take her back upstairs where she wanted to be. He so desperately didn't want her to think of him as some sort of evil monster for keeping her down here like this.
But, he needed to show her who was in charge here. If he got all soft on her and let her do whatever she wanted, she'd just run all over him. There had to be room for some compromise if they were ever going to make this work out. He had secretly controlled almost the entire staff of the Opera Populaire for years (with Madame Giry's help of course). Why did just one young woman make him feel so guilty about controlling her?
Thinking he was going to regret this later, Erik opened the door and peered inside. Christine was sitting under the covers in a beautiful thin greennightgown and matching robe that brought out her eyes and hair beautifully and reading a book from Erik's library. Clearing his throat to announce his presence, he stepped into the room. When Christine didn't look up, he said her name. "Christine?" Christine still didn't respond. Thinking she hadn't heard him, he said it again. "Christine?" When she glanced at him for about half a millisecond through her eyelashes and continued to read, he knew she had chosen to ignore him. "Christine, would you stop pretending you haven't heard me and at least look at me?" he said
"Yes, monsieur? May I help you?" Christine asked extremely coldly. Erik cringed at her rarely used tone of voice. "I think" he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed "that we need to talk."
"Will this take long, Monsieur? Since I've nothing else to do today, reading is the only form of entertainment I can find and I'd like to continue, considering you've forced me to stop at a cliffhanger." Christine said in a cold, even tone, meeting his gaze. Erik hated her talking to him like this, but what did he expect her to do, run to him with open arms?
"Christine, I'm sorry for forcing you to do this, but can't you understand how deep my love for you is? I can't live without you Christine. I need you.
Christine scoffed "That's funny, most men that love women court them, give them flowers or chocolates, or even poems, not hold them against their will in some underground lair!"
Erik sighed "Christine, I've said it once and I'll repeat myself: I'm sorry. I love you so much sometimes it's unbearable, and I can't stand seeing you unhappy. It's tearing me apart. Isn't there anything I can do to make you understand that?"
Christine met his gaze and halfway smirked "There is one thing, Angel "
Erik gave her a rare, halfway smile "Yes, what is it?"
"Take me take upstairs"
Erik stood up "Absolutely not"
"What! How can you do this? You are so selfish!"
Erik's temple was throbbing dangerously and he was desperatly trying to control his temper "Christine, don't do this, please. Listen to me."
Christine couldn't take it anymore.She threw off the covers and jumped out of bed rather quickly, which caused the right sideof her dress to flip up, revealing a great deal of her leg and petticoats. She angrily pulled it back down as Erik tried not to stare."Listen to you! You actually expect me to listen to you after all you've done! Well, guess what Erik! I'm sick of it! I am sick of you trying to control me and watch me and own me! I'm not some goddamn piece of property Erik! I'm a person and I can't believe you keep holding me down here! For nine years, you've just been controling me, telling me what to do and how to do it and then becoming angry if I even think about disobeying! And I'm SICK OF IT!" she screamed, slapping him across the face before she angrily stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her, and turning her back on a momentarily shocked and (for once) speechless Erik.
Christine spent the rest of the day swimming laps in the lake in only her corset, slip and stockings as she tried to cool down and work off all her extra energy. She smirked to herself as she thought about how good it felt blowing up at Erik at once instead of just bottling up all her anger. But, the more she thought about it, the more she started to feel a little upset.
Erik shut himself up in his music room all day, composing compositions and occasionally stopped to listen to the rythmic splash of the water as Christine swam and sort out his feelings. How dare Christine speak to him like that! But, then again, she must have been holding all the that anger for quite a while. Erik felt the side of his face Christine had slapped. He had never seen that side of her before. He realized she must have been feeling like that for quite some time. He never realized how angry she could become.
Finally, she stopped swimming, got dried off and halfway presentable in a yellow low cutdress patterned with daisies and butterflies. She tied her wet hair out of her face with a yellow silk ribbon, gathered up her courage, and finally went and timidly knocked on Erik's door. It seemed like an eternity before he called "Come in Christine".
Christine stepped in side, wringing her hands and fighting the urge to cryand called softly "Erik?" When he looked up, she shyly looked at her feet and continued.
"I'm sorry for screaming at you like that and for hitting you. I really didn't mean all those horrible things I said about you, honest. I just got so upset and let my temper take control. I hope you're not too upset with me" Christine said, letting all the tears she had been holding back fall freely. Erik stood up and walked over to her and hugged her.
"Christine, no. I should be the one apologizing. I forced you to do something you didn't want to, and I shouldn't have. I'm sorry. Please, don't cry on my account." he said
Christine looked up at him through tear streaked eyes " I'm so sorry Angel. Please forgive me. I wouldn't be able to live if you weren't a part of my life."
Erik hugged her again and kissedher forehead lightly.He whispered softly in her ear "How 'bout we make a deal? I promise, I'll take you back upstairs, but let's just spend a little more timetogther. And, you have to promise to at least come visit me every now and then once you leave. All right?"
Christine stroked his hand fondly "Allright, I promise Angel"
Erik swooped her up in his arms, which made Christine giggle with delight. She kicked and resisted a tiny bit, but he tickled her stomache lightly and she laughed and stopped. He brought her over to the organ and sat her on the bench, and then sat down beside her. He gently began to play and sing "Music of the Night", and Christine softly sang along with him.
Nightime sharpens
Heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs
And wakes imagination
Silently the senses
Abandon their defenses
Slowly, gently
Night unfurls
It's splendor
Grasp it, sense it
Tremulous and tender
Turn your face away
From the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away
From cold, unfeeling light
And listen to
The music of the night
She looked over at Erik as he closed his eyes and continued:
Close your eyes and surrender
To your darkest dream
Purge your thoughts of the life
You knew before
Close your eyes
Let your spirit
Start to soar
And you'll live
Like you've never
Lived before
Christine realized she had closed her eyes and opened them suddenly, sighing. He had such a rich, melodious voice. It realy did sound like an angel's.
Softly, deftly
Music shall caress you
Hear it, feel it
Secretly posess you
Open up your mind
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness
That you know
You cannot fight
The darkness of
The music of the night
Let your mind
Start a journey
Throught a strange new world
Leave of thoughts
of the world
You knew before
Let your soul take you
Where you long to be
Only then
Can you belong to me
Erik glanced almost seductively over at Christine and she began singing. Her normal sweet, high tones voice suddenly held a trace of warmth and power neither of them had heard before.
Floating, falling
Sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me
Savor each sensation
Let the dream begin
Let your darker side give in
To the power of the
Music that I write
The power of
The music of the night
You alone can make
My soul take flight
Help me make
The music of the night
Christine gently pulled his hands off the keys, and to his surprise and delight, began to softly kiss him. He pulled her into a sweet embrace and began to passionitly kiss her. A flow of passion and heat sizzled through her body like an electric current, and at that moment she knew her childhood sweethart Rauol could never compare to the love and compassion she knew her Angel could give her.
When they were finally finished, Erik stood up and helped Christine up with him. She put her arms around his neck and whispered sweetly in his ear "I love you, Angel"she said. " And I will always love you, Christine. But tonight, I will just be Erik" he said and kissed her, basking in the love and warmth. And they both stood there, each holding the other in a sweet embrace and never wanting to let go.