Suddenly, everything was different.

The curtains were pulled back and sunlight was allowed to pour into every corner of the magnificent house. The atmosphere was different, it seemed a lot more relaxed and open. The servants of the household seemed more at ease with the new spirit of the Estate, and would chat loudly and happily with one another. One of the strangest things they noticed, was the more than cheery man they didn't recognise as their master.

Erik had been on a cloud. He wandered around his house proudly, yet less stiffly. He swung his arms when he walked; he smiled to the servants who passed him in the corridors. He worked in his workshop, a low and happy whistle gliding softly out of the shed and greeting the ears who were outside. Something had changed, which none failed to notice.

Erik and Christine spent long hours locked away with each other, and every other time, would not let each other out of their sight for too long. Christine could even be heard singing, with Erik instructing her.

Erik had spent his time worrying about how he could marry Christine. He had sent Nasih away, and he had not returned since the night he had interrupted his 'moment' with Christine, so he could not send him to fetch a local with the power to unite people in marriage. It was also going to be hard with them both being in hiding, inviting unknown people and letting them leave again would certainly arouse suspicious, and their keep could be given away. There was also the problem of recording the marriage, to secure the bank loans over to Erik's name legally. This was going to be no easy feat.

Yet, his worries now had all but shrunk with the deepening love that came with spending every day with his love. There was nothing he could think of doing now but spend his precious time with her, and he knew he had been right to mourn her. Life had been nothing compared to this. They would stay in their passionate embraces all night, and watch the sunrise in the morning. He would no longer have those dreaded moments when he would think that it had all been a dream. He would wake with his face buried in her sweet scented curls, with his arm wrapped around her waist protectively. She moulded into him perfectly. Christine and Erik were one.

- --

Christine let the warm water soak into her hair completely. She curled her toes on the cool tiles beneath her feet, grateful to the wonderful feeling of the luke-warm shower. The master bathroom, leading from Erik's bedroom was a splendid sight. It was tiled all over, with a balcony leading onto the view of the private gardens at the back of the house. The shower was centralised, with a small ankle height wall boarding the waters boundaries. The colours were all of red and gold, giving a deep sensuous feeling to the room. There were mirrors of a Persian design all around, yet had all steamed up due to the running water. The opaque red curtains billowed slightly with the warm afternoon breeze, complimenting the fantastic sunset that was setting in the window. The smell of jasmine trees from the gardens graced the room, with the added delights of the avocado and coconut oils from the shower. Christine smiled into the soft splashes of water on her face, wringing her hair once in a while, and then re-soaking it.

Christine could think of nothing but Erik. He had taken all of her attention before, but now it was so wonderful, she thought she could burst with delight. No matter what pain and what evil had happened, it seemed fate was about to be looking kindly on them both. Her guilt pangs for Raoul had lessened slightly, as much as she missed him, her soul and heart belonged to another. Raoul would forever be a pleasant memory for her, not a persona to dwell on her cruel past. All that mattered now was her love.

She heard something shift behind her. She turned to squint through the mist, and smiled slowly at what she saw. Erik stood, arms folded, and eyes fixated on her. She had playfully told him before hand she was going for a shower, and he had not let her wait too long on her suggestive offer. He drank in the sight of her, silhouette against the stunning backdrop of the Persian sunset. The smells intoxicated his mind with beauty and passion, and he made a few more steps closer to her.

Christine smiled at him, still screened slightly in the mist. She leaned over to pull his arm, so he came almost stumbling into the shower with her. He was still dressed, his white shirt becoming sodden with the running water which cascaded over them both. He had forgotten about his mask recently, only using it when he wandered his house with servants watching on. Christine had forgotten herself of his disfigurement. She was in love with him. Was that all that mattered?

He pressed his lips to her shoulders and ran his hands over her slick body. She closed her eyes at his touch, wrapping a hand in his hair, pulling him closer to her. She pulled his face to hers, locking her lips with his. The water did little to bar any of their kisses, more however it heightened the sensation of pure passion, boarding on erotic.

Christine had begun nimbly removing his trousers, he still enslaved to arousing her with his touch. With their passionate embrace, balance was all but lost, and they soon where kneeling on the cool tiles, then wrapped together in the oblivious stance, Erik sitting with Christine's legs wrapped around his waist. He sat up right, caressing the natural curve in her back and with the other hand, trailing it along her thigh.

Christine pulled her hips closer to him, coming dangerously close to his arousal. She positioned herself slowly, still slightly nervous about their intimacy. When she lowered herself on him, he let out a deep, animalistic groan of pleasure. He buried his face into her neck as she moved on top of him slowly and deeply. Her breathing became shallow and would let out soft cries of passion from her lips. In their last moments, Erik forcefully grabbed her hair, and pulled her lips to his, letting his tongue brush hers, allowing water to run freely between them. Christine trembled in her climax, gasping and digging nails into Erik's back, sending him into his state of euphoria.

They held each other tightly for long time, before Christine pulled back slightly to look up at him, still towering over her though she was seated in his lap. His eyes were so easy to get lost in; she could stare into them for hours.

"I want to stay like this forever." She said to him, water still pouring over her head. He grinned and shielded his eyes from the water with one hand.

"Then we shall. Whatever you desire."

She giggled and placed her head onto his chest. "Well, it won't be fun when we shrivel up, which we will if we sit here any longer!"

He sighed, and lifted her form from him. She liked the fact he could do this. Although his almost inhuman strength scared her sometimes, it felt amazing to be a little overpowered. She felt like a china doll and as light as a feather in his arms. Erik moved from the shower and grabbed a huge fluffy towel from a golden rail. He wrapped it around her, face and all. Her laughs were muffled as she tried to scramble from the layers of the massive towel. Her head finally emerged, hair damp and scruffy, almost twice as long now I was lying uncurled due to the water. She grinned at him and tiptoed to peck a kiss on his cheek, and then walked to the bedroom to get changed. He followed her with his eyes, the loving look still imprinted in his features. He followed her into his bedroom, the beautiful exotic room with its red drapes and gold entwined furniture. Its candle and sunset lit atmosphere was enough to make Erik want Christine all over again. She looked stunning, the ivory towel draped around her golden shoulders and her tightening curls falling graciously down her back. He caught up with her, spinning her round again and kissing her moist lips. Christine smiled into the kiss, and stoked his face on both sides.

"In an hour…" He muttered, "…come to the courtyard. There is something waiting there…you may like…"

He kissed her for the final time, and ran his hands over her shoulders softly. He shivered slightly under his touch, and nodded.

- --

Erik had chosen a red Persian robe, entwined with gold and blue patterns. He had put on a mask, not to hide, just out of habit. No matter how much he resented hiding behind a mask, he had come to like his persona of mystery. He had chosen his black mask for tonight, the one that covered both his eyes. It was detailed with entwining vines of gold, matching his outfit. He looked dashing and powerful, like he always did, but this time, more humane. He walked down the corridors normally, with a swinging of arms, and centre of the walk, not lurking in the shadows which had come to be his norm. Now he had nothing to fear, nothing to hide from, and nothing barring his love for the woman he now made his way towards.

On arriving in the courtyard, he saw the flickers of candlelight first. His gratitude went out to the maids who had set the whole thing up for them. There was a beautiful setting, with a table and chairs in the centre next to the figurine statue in the centre. There was a gazebo with cloths of muslin and roses hanging from the structured roof he had made with his own hands. Candles where everywhere, lighting up the square beautifully in the darkness.

And in the candlelight, he saw Christine. She was facing him directly, her back to the other side of the dark courtyard. She wore a beautiful satin blue dress which hugged her slim figure perfectly, and her curls where pulled back loosely, cooling in the warm night. Erik smiled at the sight of her, and walked further towards her.

"Christine…I'm…"

She looked up at him. His heart stopped.

Pure fear was scarring her face, tears glistening in her eyes, and her lips parted slightly, allowing her sharp panicked breaths to escape. Sometimes she even whimpered, and Erik could now see she was trembling. For a brief moment, he knew that was it. She had realized it was all a mistake and she didn't want to be here with him. She had made the wrong decision and was going to leave him. But this time, he would surely die of a broken heart. He could not survive knowing he had her, only to loose her once more. Not after she had given him her heart, soul and body only to rip it cruelly from his chest. He would die, and he knew it.

That was, until he heard a voice. Not Christine's, but the cold, harsh voice of a man.

"Strange, that after my search, I would find the girl I hunted in the hands of a murderer!"