"L' Ange de la Musique"
Chapter 2
"Back in your arms…"
"C-Christine…?" Erik stuttered, as he stared down at her with his glassy blue-green eyes, surveying her quietly.
Christine just stood there, kneeled on the floor, not believing what her eyes saw.
Yet, she stood up gradually, her tears flowing slowly down her cheeks, as her eyes widened.
He was alive? He had escaped!
A little spark of hope burst in her heart as she saw him standing there, before her.
He stepped out of the mirror; He gaped at her, as if to say something, but yet nothing escaped his lips and he closed his mouth shut.
Christine managed to give a weak, sad smile.
Erik could see the sadness in her eyes, despite the attempts she made in trying to look cheerful; something was clearly wrong, very wrong.
But before he could do or say anything, Christine had lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his torso in a hug and crying into his shoulder.
Erik staggered backwards from the surprise, but managed to keep his balance.
Christine sobbed uncontrollably into his shoulder, shaking all over, her tears falling on his coat, moistening it.
"C-Christine!" he said nervously, as he shakily placed his left hand on her back, while placing the right one on the top of her head, "What's wrong?"
"Forgive me!" She choked, shivering. "Please forgive me!"
"F-Forgive you? For what?" He asked rather incredulously.
She didn't answer; She just held herself to Erik, crying inconsolably. She trembled furiously as a draft of wind entered through the open door.
Erik cupped her chin on his hand and forced her to look up at him. Her eyes, brown pools full of sadness, red from the crying, stared back at him. Her skin was as pale as a ghost, and she was freezing cold.
"My God, Christine…" he said, " You're as cold as ice!"
He hastily took his cloak off and wrapped it around Christine's shoulders. He then embraced her and rubbed his hand fervently on her shoulder to warm her up. Christine gave in to his embrace and closed her eyes.
Christine shivered against his body as she wrapped the cloak tighter around herself. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. She then gave him a sad, shaky smile.
"T-thank…you…" she managed to say, before moving her gaze back to the floor.
Erik sensed that something was terribly wrong. Why had Christine come back to him? Why was she drenched in water, shivering in the cold… And most importantly… why was she crying?
"Christine..." He started, "Is something wrong?"
Christine only responded with a flinch. She closed her eyes tightly.
"Why did you came here..?" he asked quietly, "Where's the vicom-"
But before he could finish, Christine had brusquely broken free from his embrace, taking some quivering steps backwards.
Erik was taken off guard by the sudden action and uttered a silent gasp.
"Don't you… "Christine said shakily, her voice breaking as she turned her stare to the floor, "Don't you talk to me…about him…"
She drew her hands to her face and sobbed into them. It was then that Erik noticed something in her wrists. He noticed thin red lines running around them. Bruises; The bruises he had caused her when he sunk his nails on her flesh.
Erik felt a surge of anger course his body.
He walked towards her and stepped in front of her. He gently took her hands away from her face. She looked near to a nervous breakdown as she gazed into his green-blue eyes.
Erik took her right hand in his left and turned her hand around, palm up.
With his right hand, he traced along the bruises in her wrists, examining them, with fire raging inside him. She winced in pain and Erik stopped.
"Did he did this to you?" he asked seriously, his voice cracking by the rage he was feeling.
Christine moved her eyes away and stared at the wall. She nodded silently, a silent tear trickling down her eye.
Then, Erik noticed something in her neck too. She had a reddish-purple mark around it. He reached out and caressed her neck gently.
"And this?" he asked.
Christine nodded again, closing her yes.
Erik stared, furious, at the wounds in her neck and wrists.
Christine broke into crying again.
"Oh, Christine…" He said miserably, as he pulled her to him, once more embracing her. Christine wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head in his chest, her tears falling freely.
"What has he done to you?" He asked looking down at her.
"He wasn't happy,…" she mumbled silently, almost inaudible.
"Pardon me?" he asked.
"He wasn't happy when I found him…" she said breathlessly. "..With someone else…" her voice cracked as her knees gave in.
She fell to the floor, sobbing, Erik too fell to his knees, holding her tight.
"What?" he said incredulously.
"He-he…he was with another w-woman…" she sobbed.
Erik gaped. How dare he betray her?
"Christine..." he said soothingly. "Let's stand up, shall we? Let's get you to a comfortable place. Then you can tell me everything."
He helped her up and walked her to the bed. She sat down and Erik sat beside her.
"What happened, Christine?" he asked.
"W-when I came back home…I-I found him with another woman." She began shakily,
"I screamed at him, and ran out into the night."
No wonder she was all wet and cold, Erik thought.
"He chased after me, even though I told him to stay away from me..." She twirled a piece of her dress in her fingers nervously.
Erik watched her intently, watching every movement she made, every gesture she gave.
"H-he caught me… He told me to come back with him. I cursed him and he…" her voice trailed off a bit, "He slapped me…"
She drove her left hand to her cheek unconsciously
"H-he what…?" Erik inquired.
"H-he slapped me… he then took me by the wrists, telling me that I was to go back. I refused and he tried to strangle me..."
Erik shook slightly, anger flooding every fiber of his being.
"He told me I was his… He tried to kiss me, and I took the opportunity and slapped him hard across the face…" she said this with a little smile.
Erik couldn't help but smile slightly. It was clear Christine had enjoyed that blow she gave him.
Her expression changed in a split second, into a somber one.
"I ran away, he ran after me…" she said, "I hid in an alley. He searched for me, but he hadn't managed to find me.
"He then gave up, but screamed into the night that he would find me, no matter where I went, no matter where I hid, he w-would…" She shook, her voice trailing off, "…f-find me."
Christine wrapped her hands around her. The cloak fell off her, revealing once again the wounds on her wrists.
Now that he saw her, Erik noticed that she looked frail and weak. She shivered at the memories of the events.
Erik wrapped the cloak around her again and pulled her to him, letting her rest her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her as she heaved a sigh.
"And then…" she said, resting her head on his chest, "I came here… And found you…"
She sighed, as she wrapped her arms around him.
"My Angel…" she whispered.
She smiled and closed her eyes. Her chest heaved slowly as she inhaled and exhaled softly.
Erik tightened her grip on her, rubbing her arm gently.
Erik held her in there. He leaned his head on hers, closing his eyes and inhaling the sweet fragrance that emanated from her hair.
She sighed.
"Christine..?" he whispered.
No answer.
He looked down at her. She was sound asleep in his arms, her smile still lingering in her face.
She had a tough night, tonight, he thought.
He picked her up as carefully as he could and laid her silently on her bed. He rested her head on the delicate pillow as a soft sigh escaped her lips.
He smiled at her and drew the warm blankets over her thin frame.
He tucked her tenderly and kneeled beside the bed, at her side.
He gazed at her. His beauty, his angel. Her peaceful face calmed his soul of the rage he had felt earlier.
He reached out and brushed some curls from her face. He then caressed her cheek gently with a gloved hand.
His hand traveled down her cheek to her neck.
He watched the purple wound with hate. That bastard. How dare he hurt his beloved Christine. Hadn't he, Raoul, promised Christine to 'protect' her? To 'care' for her?
Christine winced in her sleep. Erik quickly withdrew his hand and surveyed her with his eyes.
She turned slowly on her side, facing him, and without waking up.
He sighed and looked all around him. It sure felt eerie. The wind blew strongly still, the rain kept pounding on the window.
All of a sudden, he felt something take hold of his hand. He looked down and found Christine's hand on his.
Apparently, she had done this unconsciously, for she continued to sleep soundly.
His gaze ran to her wrist, to the bruises it held. He looked sadly at them.
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. He then lowered it back and muttered,
"I won't let him come near you again. I won't let anything harm you…"
Suddenly, he felt someone watching him and turned around brusquely.
In the door's threshold stood Mme. Giry in her nightgown.
Erik gave a sigh of relief.
"I was afraid you were someone else…" Erik told her.
Mme. Giry smiled down at him, and entered the room. She approached him and sat in the bed at Christine's feet.
Erik stood up and faced her.
"Did you h-" he started, but he was cut off.
"Yes, I heard everything, Erik." She said curtly as she turned to watch Christine.
"I'm afraid her sobs were strong enough to wake me from my slumber. But when I heard you, I decided not to interrupt." She said.
Erik nodded gratefully.
"Poor child," she whispered as her eyes traveled through her body to Christine's wrists.
Erik nodded sadly.
"We don't know what the Vicomte is capable of, he seems not to be in his right state of mind," Mme. Giry said. " She'll have to stay here for her own safety."
"I'll make sure that fop doesn't get anywhere near her." Erik said defiantly.
Just then, Christine began moaning in her sleep. She tightened her eyes, as cold sweat began dripping from her forehead.
She clutched her pillow, as if she were in pain. She twisted and twirled in the bed, as if trying to get free from something…or someone.
"Christine!" Erik shouted, but she didn't seem to wake.
"Christine, dear, what's wrong!" Mme. Giry shouted as well.
But she didn't listen or woke up. Tears began seeping from her eyes as she trashed about, her chest heaved up and down rapidly as silent gasps escaped her mouth.
"What's wrong with her!" Erik asked, alarmed.
"She must be having a nightmare, a painful memory!" Mme. Giry said.
Erik approached her and placed his hand gently on her cheek.
"I-It's ok now… Don't worry Christine…Everything is fine..." He muttered nervously, half to himself. He caressed her cheek softly in a comforting way.
Incredibly, Christine stopped trashing; her face relaxed, and her breathing became normal after a few seconds.
She gave a great, deep sigh as she slept.
Erik sighed too. Sweat was dripping down his brow, under his mask.
"Don't worry, Erik. It was just a nightmare." Mme. Giry said reassuringly.
Erik nodded. He just didn't like to see Christine in pain. It killed him inside to see her in such state.
"WHERE IS SHE?" a voice bellowed from the hall, making Erik and Mme. Giry startle.
"Please Monsieur, not so loud! You'll wake everybody!" Meg Giry's voice said.
"I DON'T CARE! I WANT TO KNOW WHERE SHE IS!" the voice bellowed again.
"Monsieur Le Vicomte! Wait!" Meg cried.
"Oh dear…" was all that Mme. Giry managed to say. "The vicomte."
Erik's eyes widened as he jerked his head towards Christine.
"Erik," Mme. Giry said seriously, " Take her down to your lair, and keep her safe! Make sure he doesn't see you! I'll try to distract him!"
Before Erik could retort, Mme. Giry left the room in a hurry and closed the door behind her.
With his pulse racing, and his heart beating hard against his chest, Erik picked Christine in his arms carefully. She didn't wake up.
He strolled towards the mirror. He stepped through it and the mirror slid slowly close.
He began descending the stairs, when he heard a door bang beyond the mirror.
"I KNOW SHE'S HERE! WHERE ELSE WOULD SHE BE?" Raoul shouted as he broke into the room.
Erik froze in the spot. He kneeled slowly so that the light from the room didn't reach him and Christine.
"Monsieur! Please be reasonable! If she were to be here, we would've told you!" Mme. Giry's voice came.
Raoul stayed silent. He paced about in the room. "Christine…where are you hiding?" He muttered.
Just then, Christine gave a loud moan in her sleep. Erik clapped a hand to her mouth.
"What was that?" Raoul asked menacingly.
"It-it must've been the wind, Monsieur…" Mme. Giry said.
"It sounded more like a human moan!" Raoul retorted.
Fresh sweat dripped from Erik's forehead. Christine squirmed in his arms.
Clearly, Raoul's voice disturbed her, even in her dreams.
"Monsieur! Please! You're making a fuss!" Mme. Giry said alarmed, "If we see her, we'll call you immediately! For today, just go home and sleep!"
Raoul watched her with hatred.
"Fine…" he said finally, "Fine… Any sign of her… Alert me immediately." And he strolled out of the room.
Mme. Giry gave a sigh.
"You owe me one, Erik…" she whispered to the air. She then left the room too, closing the door behind her.
Erik grinned. She picked Christine up again and made his way down to his lair.
He passed the hallway with the candelabra, and down the staircase he went.
He climbed up Caesar, the horse, with Christine in his arms sleeping peacefully.
Cesar trotted softly, the sound of his hooves echoing in the walls. They finally reached the lake.
Erik got off and walked to the shore where his gondola was. He laid Christine delicately in the gondola.
He climbed up himself and started to row.
The mist closed in on them as he approached the Portcullis. The Gondola reached the shore with a soft 'thump'.
Erik got off and picked Christine once again in his arms. She unconsciously rested her hand on his chest and she gave a sigh.
Smiling, he carried her slowly to his bedroom.
The candles flickered at his presence, as he approached the swan bed.
He laid Christine carefully on the bed, her head resting softly on the crimson cushions.
He drew the scarlet blankets over her and tucked her safely.
He gazed at her. He allowed himself a smile. He kneeled down and whispered to Christine, "Sleep, my Angel." And before he could stop himself, he gave her a tender kiss on the forehead. He stood up, strolled to the door and disappeared through it.
Next day, Erik sat at his organ, writing his music. His inspiration had come back now that Christine was with him. He smiled as he played a soft melody, 'Angel of Music', was the name.
Just then, he heard a soft moan that came from his room.
He whirled his head around.
Christine stood in the door, but she didn't look very well. Her face was very pale; her eyes were unfocused, and she trembled slightly.
"Christine?" Erik said, as he stood up and walked towards her, "Are you all right?
Christine staggered sideways, as she tried to walk towards him.
"Christine?"
Suddenly, Christine's eyes rolled up her head and she collapsed.
Erik caught her before she hit the ground.
"Christine! Christine!" he screamed, startled.
She closed her eyes and gave a soft moan. Erik reached for her face, and caressed her cheek. He withdrew his hand quickly. She was burning hot!
He placed his hand on her temple and felt her temperature. Heat emanated from her whole body. She trembled slightly. A known symptom of a cold.
"You have fever…" Erik said. "I'll tuck you back into bed…"
"But I don't want to go to bed…" Christine replied sleepily.
"You can't go walking out here with this fever, Christine…" he said as she picked her up and carried her back to the room, "We don't want you to get worse."
"Mmmmhh…." Was her reply. Clearly, the fever had begun to make her feel dizzy.
She laid her down on the bed.
"Please stay here, I'll be back shortly…" Erik said as he strolled out of the room.
Christine nodded. She felt her cheeks flush from the high fever. She closed her eyes. She sighed.
"It's ok now, don't worry Christine… you'll be fine..."
Christine heard his voice say in her mind. He had said that while she slept. She remembered how he caressed her cheek sweetly, in a caring way, while saying these words.
Christine lifted her hand and placed it upon her cheek. She smiled.
Just then, she heard footsteps. She opened her eyes and found Erik standing above her, holding something in his hand…
He pulled a chair and sat on it. He then took the thing he was carrying and placed it above Christine's forehead.
It was a wet cloth. This sent a wave of freshness through her body.
"This should ease the fever." he said, while brushing away some curls of hair with his hand.
Christine nodded weakly and closed her eyes.
"Thank you…Angel…" she whispered.
"Please," he said miserably, "Don't call me that. You know that I'm not an Angel." He finished sadly.
Christine opened her eyes.
"You are an angel…for me." she said, opening her eyes and smiling at him.
Erik looked away, touched.
"But if it makes you feel so unhappy," she continued, " What should I call you, then?"
"Erik…." He said, turning to look at her, "Call me Erik…"
"Erik…" she repeated as she closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Yay! Second chapter finished! Hope you like it!
Erik- It was good…
Feri- could you be a little more supportive? ¬¬
Erik- (sighs) I'll try
Feri- thanks…! (hugs)
So, thank you for the wonderful reviews people!
My Goal is to reach 100 reviews…Will you help me achieve my goal? X3
Leave a review!
Thanks!
Feri-san