The Reason

by LiltingBanshee

Author´s note: Right, some of you must be reading this, unless someone has read it over 50 times... Anyway here´s the second chapter, please let me know what you think of it:)

'No one can hear you, and even if they can they don´t care!' his words rung in her ears, no one would come for her.

She squeezed her eyes shut and prepared herself for what would happen when she suddenly felt his weight being lifted of off her. Still too scared to even open her eyes she pulled her knees up to her chest and curled up in a little ball of tears.

Buquet lost his breath as he was violently pushed against the wall.

"Do not even think of touching her!" a voice rasped close to his ear.

Even in his drunken state he registered the white mask only inches from his own face. He knew of the opera ghost, had seen the frightened faces of the little ballet rats when unexplainable things happened around the opera house and he himself had oftened felt another pressence when he worked alone behind the scenes.

But never had he been this close to the object of the many stories he enjoyed to frighten the silly young girls with.
Fear gripped his heart and he felt the warmth spread in his trousers as he wet himself when the tall dark figure pressed a strong arm to his throat.

Not even the white mask could hide the satisfied smirk on his face when Buquet struggled to catch his breath and his eyes became wide. He allowed his arm to press just a little harder against the man´s throat before he loosened the preassure a bit.

"I will not kill you before the eyes of an already terrified and crying child, but have no doubt that I will not hesitate to end your pathetic existance if you ever lay a hand on her again!"he hissed.

He loosened his grip completely and Buquet coughed pathetically.

"Leave now you useless piece of filth, and don´t forget you fate lies in my hands" the figure said and gave him a rough push.

Once alone in the corridor he turned to the weeping child. She was hugging her knees close to her and crying heartbreakingly. Carefully he kneeled down next to her and touched her arm.

"Hush now child, you´re safe" he whispered.

"Angel...?" she asked through her tears.

"Yes my child, your Angel is here" he lifted her into his arms and craddled her to his chest. "No one will ever harm you as long as your Angel is here".

She leaned into his chest and cried even harder than before, but he knew her tears were not those of fear anymore. He thought of what to do with her. If he took her back to the dormitories her cries would surely wake the other girls and he couldn´t really bring her to his home. Or could he? No, she had already been through a lot tonight, the descent to his humble lair would do her no good. Instead he began walking down the corridor.

He placed her gently on the bed and went back to lock the door again. Antoinette had always told him to use the room if he felt the need, but not until tonight had he really appreciated her gesture.

He went back to the bed, looked down at her and smoothed the curls away from her face. She whimpered in her sleep and a light sweat had broken out on her forehead. Without a second thought he hastily walked to the little washing area of Antoinette´s room and brought a a bowl back to the bed. And how right he had been. Soon Christine began to cough and a few minutes later spilled the remains of the harsh brandy into the bowl. She began to cry again, but Erik managed to get her to rinse her mouth and afterwards got her to drink some fresh water from a cup.

"I´m sorry Angel..." she sniffed.

He planted a chaste kiss on her forehead. "Do not apologize my sweet. This was not your fault, all you have to concentrate about is getting well" he soothed.

"Please, don´t leave..." she whispered.

"I will never leave you Christine. Now go back to sleep" he said softly.

Sometime in the early morning hours he brought her back to her own bed. During the hours in Antoinette´s room he had taken the liberty to rearrange her clothes.The delicate task of replacing her underwear had nearly killed him, but the thought of how ashamed she would be to wake up without it, though still in her nightgown, had helped his determination to make things right.

He pulled the covers over her and felt her stir. He eyes fluttered open and she smiled weakly at him. Then she winced and brought a hand to her head.
He placed his hand over hers gently. "Your head will ache today my dear so try and get as much rest as possible" he said and affectionally ran a hand down her cheek. He planted a sweet kiss on her nose and stood up to leave.
Just before he reached the door her heard he soft voice. "Thank you Angel..." she whispered before drifting off to sleep again.

'Anytime Christine. I will always watch you back' he thought and then left.

Ok, still more to come...