Forget Me Not: Chapter 6

Hehe! Another chapter! Now this one and Twas Five Weeks are tied for my longest story-six chapters. I'm so proud of myself! -remembers there are stories with fifty or more chapters- Well, I WAS proud of myself…anyhoo, it's not quantity that matters, but quality. I hope I live up to both! Once again, thank you to all my reviewers, especially arwen1604 (love your stories!). I don't own Phantom of the Opera, Gerard Butler, or Michael Crawford. But I do have one thing that they can never take: my voice! -singing- Angel of Music, Guide and -gag-……ok, maybe not…

"Sing this chord, Christine." Erik said, placing a finger on one of the keys. It led out a thunderous bang. Christine opened her mouth, and Erik cringed.

"I am aware you have not sang in some time, but surely you have practiced a small amount, have you not?" he asked, watching her. No, no, that would not do. Her posture was all wrong, her mouth not nearly open enough to hit the note, and the note itself was not steady at all. He had hope, though, her voice was quite pretty. She grinned sheepishly.

"Forgive me...Raoul prefers when I don't sing, it brings back memories he would like to forget…" she sighed out, looking directly into his eyes. She opened her mouth and sang the note again, not improving by much. The corner of Erik's mouth curved up. At least she was trying…

"Let's try a bit lower for now…" Erik said, his fingers traveling down the keys. He stuck a note, and she hit it.

"Good…" he told her, hitting a higher note. She was able to sang five notes higher, then her voice cracked. Christine moaned in frustration, her eyes filling with tears.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered, staring at the floor. It wasn't a high note. She sounded awful. "I wanted to sing more…" she sighed. "But I was told it was improper to disagree with your husband." She whispered the last word, regretting every decision she'd made when it came to Raoul. If she had realized who she really loved back then, they wouldn't be in this mess…

"If you enjoy singing, you shouldn't stop for anything." Erik said finally, turning towards him.

"But a woman of such high status must not argue with her husband's word-"

"Is this you speaking, or is it society?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"A woman like me is often in the public eye-"

"The people know nothing, Vicomtesse. The people see only what is on the surface, and the people refuse to accept true beauty," his words had a hint of sarcasm as he placed a hand on his face. Christine gave him a sympathetic look. "Society may be the common vote, but it is rarely the correct one. The people know nothing." He sighed and turned back to the organ. He was about to turn the page of his music when he was taken by a coughing fit. The music lay scattered on the floor.

"Allow me, " Christine told the masked man in front of her. She quickly bent down to retrieve his work. She had almost gotten the last sheet when something small fell out of her dress and bounced across the floor towards Erik's feet. He picked it up and stared at it, recognition in his eyes.

"Where did you get this?" he asked her softly. She gave him an embarrassed look. He growled and stood up. He lunged at her and she fell to the ground.

"Did you steal this from me?" he cried out. She cowered, frightened. Looking up at him, she noticed how shiny his eyes were. Was he crying? No, there were no tears. Only anger.

"Why did you take it? Where did you find it?" he cried out. He stared down at the tiny ring in the palm of his hand. He closed his hand and flung it at the wall. Christine tried to speak, but only succeeded in making a small sound in the back of her throat. Erik stood tall now, glaring furiously at where the ring had fallen. It shone in the light of the candles. She needed to say something, anything…

"I'm sorry…" she tried. He looked at her, almost an amused gleam in his eyes.

"You think now is the time for apologies? My dear, not once has someone apologized to me, and if someone were to say it now, the hurt would not go away. I have been shunned and locked away. Deceived and betrayed! No one can take away the hurt now!"

"I'm sorry for taking your ring." She said again, tears forming in her eyes. Erik smirked. He was…laughing?

"I don't care about the bloody ring!" he screamed out. "The ring…it was given to me by…"

Does he remember?

"My only love…"

He chuckled again, his pupils dancing with the tears that threatened to fall at any time.

"The woman who denied me…led me to believe that perhaps…perhaps…"

He smirked, and the tears fell.

"That perhaps I too could be loved! That perhaps my miserable life would not be lived alone! That perhaps, through that amazing woman, my sins could be forgiven and I too could be welcomed to heaven! But her heart…was for another…"

He couldn't continue. His words were engulfed by sobs. He stepped away from her, covering his face with his hands. Moments later, his sobs were transformed into coughs. He finally turned towards her, his eyes red and his mouth a straight, hard line.

"That was much more than I ever meant to tell, Vicomtesse. I suggest you leave now, as I can take care of myself without your assistance. My thanks."

Eyes wide, she backed away from him. He remembered! He remembered! A small smile grew on her face, and her tears dried. Erik gave her a look, making it clear she was no longer welcome.

"You remember…" she whispered. He frowned.

"I do not know what your talking about. Please leave." He told her, taking a step towards her.

"I will leave Erik," she whispered, taking a step backwards. "But you must tell me the name of your love."

"That is information I cannot-"

"Her name, Erik."

He hesitated, staring at his feet.

"I do not remember. Now, I believe, Vicomtesse, we had a bargain. Kindly leave."

Oooh! A bit of a cliff hanger, is it not? More shall come soon (hopefully)