Opera Dove: ohhh! I love the name. It's so pretty. Read and you will see who the girl is. This girl is based off of me. I really have a smart mouth. Gets me in to trouble all the time. Ayesha liked Christine ok. She just ignored her when Erik was in the room. After Erik lets Ayesha go with Christine she get attached to her. It was Raoul she hated. In the book Ayesha bits him.
Twinkle22: I'm glad you like.

She woke up forgetting her name. She also woke up cold. Cold and sore. She let out a small moan when she felt her chest constrict. She sat up fast,
Suddenly the world spun and her heart slammed in her chest. Oh hell. This is Not good, not good at all. Pills, where the hell were her heart pills? Room. Still. Spinning. Must be ... Her chest felt tight. Heart. Bad. Very Bad. She got her hand as far as her chest. No! They weren't there! Spots appeared in front of her eyes and the room went black.

XxX

"Do not move, mademoiselle," a cultured, deep, French accented voice.
"Just put me out of my misery and be done with it," she replied without opening her eyes.
"Why would you expect to be harmed, ma petite? You have nothing to fear except the reprimand you are bound to receive for not staying still. He was gave great voice. Too bad he just irritated her.
"There's no one with the balls or the nerve to reprimand me for anything, so kill me now, just don't torture me, I really hate pain."
A chuckle, "There will be no torture, no killing. You are safe. Now, open your eyes, Cherie', let me see that the pupils match."
Opening her eyes, the girl looked up into the face of the man she'd only seen for a second when she first passed out.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the man in front of her. Beautiful yellow eyes filled with pain and sadness. He was better in real life. Yes, she knew who he was. She was not stupid. When she crawled out of the freezing waters saw every thing different she somehow knew that she was not in 2005. But when she heard and saw him, she really knew. She had always seen him in her dreams and had wanted to meet him. Sad thing was: he was not supposed to be real. She was shocked when he seemed to flinch under her gaze.

"I am sorry, I don't mean to stare but your eyes are the most, if not the most beautiful eyes I have ever seen in my life," she admitted honestly.
Her eyes were clear now, a bright green that was framed by gold. (Cat's eyes) He thought. He noted as she met his gaze squarely. Her face, well all of her was delicately boned. She was lovely; the ink black hair suited her skin tone and eyes.
From picking her up, he knew she was much smaller than his six foot nine inch frame and a good deal lighter too. Of course she was staring; he didn't blame her for that. Most people stared when they saw a man with a mask.
An hand encased in a black glove took her chin gently as he rotated her face to the blazing candle he held, then back. 'Pupils reactive to light, speaking clearly, no concussion,' he thought. What had she said? That his eyes were beautiful? most people were unnerved by his yellow eyes. Yes, but also that no one had the 'nerve' or ' balls' to reprimand her. Saucy little thing he had on his hands.
"Thank you for the compliment mademoiselle, but I feel that you are bound to be complementary to any rescuer."
His eyebrow arched even though she could not see it and he looked sternly at her, "You may find my appearance most disagreeable after I am through scolding you for your foolishness."
Was he kidding? Scold her?
"Yeah, well yell away because I don't spook that easily," she said as she struggled to sit up but that elegant gloved hand pressed her shoulder back against the...shit, shit, shit, couch.
"It would be better if you did not move just yet, ma petite. But I would like to know how you got in the river. It is December. Snowing child! Do you have any sense?" he said, ignoring her remark.
"Okay, One. I am NOT a child! I am 20. Two I slipped and fell. Three," here she smirked at him," I have never been one for having much sense. Three, I was heading for the Opera house."
"Alone?" He asked her sharply.
"Did you fucking see anyone else with me?" She snapped back. Oops. It wouldn't do to get wise assed with her rescuer.
That brought a dark flicker of something to his eyes that were a little daunting. He apparently wasn't a man who liked wise assed women. Too bad. He should go back and rescue Barbie then if he wanted sweetness and light.
"What is your name?" Damn, he had good voice.
"You first," was her counterpoint; actually she was wondering that herself. What was her name anyway?
She didn't remember that she knew his name? "You have quite a wicked mouth on you, Cherie. But since you are my guest for the moment, I will continue to be polite."
He took her chin in his hand again and leveled those devastating eyes at her, "I warn you however, do not try my patience too far with your saucy tongue."
She jerked away from his touch, shivering involuntarily as those magical eyes of his burned through her. Lying to him seemed like a really bad idea. He would know; she knew he would know; those eyes could look straight into her soul it seemed. Shit, he made her nervous. "Look, I am grateful that you obviously scraped me off the ground. And put me on your couch to make sure I'm comfortable, but don't get all domineering on me or we are not going to get along for the short time I am here." This time she did sit up halfway, propping herself up on her elbows to glare back at him.
Obviously people didn't speak to him quite so frankly on a day to day basis because his eyes widened then narrowed a little, "My name is Erik, now lie back down."
"Erik, what?"
"Just Erik."
"I like that.
"Thank you, now LIE DOWN," he spoke in a tone which brooked no disobedience.
"My name is..." She couldn't quite remember. "Where's my case?"
Ignoring his attempt to restrain her, she scrambled to her hands and knees and hopped off the couch. And promptly fell down when she misjudged the distance and slipped. The sharp intake of his breath and the brush of his boot on the stone floor alerted her that he'd moved.
Tipping her head back, she looked up at him from her upside down vantage point. She grinned widely. Strong arms scooped her off the floor and she found herself looking up into those lovely gold eyes. Uh oh. He looked really annoyed.
Erik turned and deposited her back onto the couch, gently but there was still a little push to it. He was swearing in French, she surmised from the blistering tone in his voice and the fact that she couldn't understand a word he said.
"Sorry, I don't speak French." She smiled at him.
"You do not need to speak French to realize that your childish insubordination is wearing thin. Now stay down and I mean it, ma fille." his voice was scalding with heat.
He whipped a cape off in a fabulously dramatic gesture, and then removed his jacket. Laying both of them over a chair, he came to sit next to her on the couch. Wow, every movement was sexy. And his legs looked about a mile long in those slinky black pants and shoes. She took a moment to admire the view.
"I want my case so I can tell you my name, for crissakes! " She looked at him incredulously.
'Mon dieu, what an uncivilized brat!' He thought as she lay there on his couch and challenged him. Christine would have been terrified, cringing and asking for forgiveness by now at the mere thought of his displeasure. Now this one, had the audacity to be stubborn and cocky with him.

"You will not always be injured, ma fille, and I have a very long memory. Now lay back and rest. I will then escort you to where you may hail a cab when you feel better."
"Look, I'm obviously more trouble than I'm worth, just point me in the direction of 'out' and I'll get out of your hair." to tell the truth she was scared to death. Here she was in the 19th century no idea how to get back, and didn't speck French. This conversation was going nowhere fast.
"Mademoiselle, I am not in the habit of repeating myself. Put one foot off this couch again before I have ascertained that you are well enough to do so and I will take action." One black gloved finger was forcefully pointed at her as he leaned forward for a rather attractive, alpha male effect.
Now he was just being bossy and he didn't even know her. Or how absolutely stubborn she could be when given orders she didn't agree with. It was a personality quirk that made her invaluable as a karate teacher. That's what she was!
Her friend Me-Ling was a student and friend she was the teacher! That meant that she knew how to fight and kick and...shit, where was her necklace? Distracted from being mad, she looked around but couldn't see it anywhere.
He watched her carefully as her eyes narrowed when he spoke. A little spitfire, to be sure; probably used to wrapping men around her endearing little finger. Lovely too. black hair, green eyes, and tiny.
She hardly weighed anything and looked rather delicate.

"Christ, I'm trapped underground with Domination Dracula." She gave a resigned sigh and flopped back against the fluffy cushions. Her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to think of a dignified way out of the mess she was in.
He chuckled; she was a handful but obviously feeling better. The way her eyes flashed when her temper stirred was quite attractive. Mentally shaking himself he hardened his resolve. She was not going to behave herself, he just knew it.
"If you are hungry or thirsty, I will bring you something," the cultured voice moved over her like warm chocolate. He was still vastly annoyed with her but his voice was the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard.
"No, thank you. I would really just like to get up."
"You will move soon enough, ma fille, right now; you need to continue to lie still for awhile."
"Hey, you didn't happen to find a necklace. It had a silver vile of pills on the chain. Did you?" She cracked one eye and peered at him.
Rising, he strode across the room to bring her necklace to her, "I believe it is this?"
" Yes, Thank you," she took it and unscrewed the lid. "Um...do you think I could have some water to take this with?" She uncapped the vile and took out a tiny white pill.
"Certainly." He crossed the room again to the kitchen area, his shoes almost soundless on the floor and returned with a glass of water. "Why do you need medication?"
She popped the tablet into her mouth then accepted the glass from him and swallowed them down, "I have a heart problem." She handed him back the glass.
"You have a heart problem and yet you were out there alone?"
His voice was incredulous and tinged with that now familiar anger. Damn, he was temperamental. Anything set him off or maybe it was just her adorable personality. Nah. Couldn't be.
"Oh shit, don't you start too," she said in an exasperated tone, "I get enough of people telling me what I can and can't do all the time."
"Perhaps it is because they care about you, cherie, you seem to require looking after."
She rolled to glare at him, "I do not need anyone to take care of me," she glanced down at her vile, it had her name itched on the side. "Oh and my name is 'Catherine', but you can call me 'Cat'."
She watched him watching her. "So, would you like to tell me why you're living down here? I don't mean to pry but it never occurred to me that I'd find the Phantom of the Opera in person."
Erik's eyes flashed.
Opps. Her and her big mouth.
"Yes I am the "Phantom of the Opera" he said sarcasly. "What I want to know is how do you know about me?" He strode over to were he had laid the leather case. Erik pulled out the pictures of him. Crossing back to her he tossed the papers down." How do you know about me? From these drawings you have seen me before. Masked and unmasked as one of them shows. Also you knew my name. Few have ever seen me. Even fewer have seen me maskless and lived. I can remember every person that I have ever met, but I have never met you, little Cat."
Cat swallowed. (what will he do if I told him? Probably think I am crazier then him. "I am not from this time. I am from the year 2005. I was in France studying paintings. It was late and I was heading back to my hotel, when crossing the bridge I slipped and fell on some ice. I then tripped and fell into the river. That's when I met you. As to knowing about you. Every body who's anybody knows about you. After you die a writer named Gaston Leorux will write a book about you. That book was then turned into a movie, then that will be turned into a musical, then a most resented, anther movie," Cat let out a long breath. She was tried again. Her heart was hurting so much.
This girl was crazy! But because she was sick and weak, he decide to humor her." Now, why do you like my 'story' so much?" the answer she gave was not on he expected.
"I love it so because I know how it feels to be outcasted from people," Erik started to yell at her, to tell her that no, she doesn't know how it feels, when she put her tiny hand up, her green-gold eyes flashing," No. don't start. Let me finish. I my look fine on the outside, but on the inside I am broken. My heart is in a bad way. If I am not careful, I could very easily have a heart attack. You are strong. People had and have no reason in hell to treat you they way they do." Then with out warning she broke out in tears.
"What is wrong?" His gloved hand reaching out to touch her shoulder tentatively, his heart suddenly melting for her.
She shook her head, "Nothing," she whispered, "Your story was always a favorite of mine except I thought it was fiction. But I still wished that the end could have been different, you know."
Turning her head, she glanced at Erik out of the corner of her eye and could see the concern on his face. At least he wasn't laughing at her or making fun of her. In fact, he looked very serious; his incredible eyes were intense on her face.
"Sorry, must have taken more out of me than I thought; I'm not normally this emotional. I always thought you were just a legend, but now I know." She struggled to sit up and he allowed it.
"I mean, it's such a wonderful story, how kind you were to her, how much confidence you gave her. I always hated that Leroux painted you out to be a nut and that Christine left because you are disfigured. That's not a reason to leave someone, you know?" She finished emphatically and searched his face.
Erik didn't know what to think then realized he was staring at her. She was passionate and sensitive, despite her aggravating attitude and she was lovely.
He wondered when she lost her sanity. "Some women may think differently than you do, cherie. Not all are so understanding as you might think."
Kris watched his face, 'not all so understand', she knew from reading he knew from his personal experience. Well, it wouldn't do to pry. She was his guest as it were, and had no right to ask about his personal life even though she knew it. "It really is lovely, the story, I mean."
She dipped her head again, shyly, "I am sorry about being snotty before. I am a karate Teacher and it's really difficult for me to have to let anyone help me, even a little."
'A karate Teacher?' Erik wondered if he was losing his mind or his hearing. This tiny girl was a Fighting Teacher? "I am sorry, cherie, did you say you were a karate Teacher?"
"Yeah, you wanna some lessons?" Her sense of humor snapped back into place. It was her basic self defense mechanism against the world in general.
He frowned slightly. "How long were you in Paris for, mademoiselle?" Erik asked.
"Awhile, actually. My best friend was an student of mine and came here to do some compositions and to do some writing. Also to get me to finish the painting I've been working on. She 'encourages' me, you know," her eyes rolled heavenward, "so read press-gang and blackmail into that statement."
"What kind of paintings do you do?" Erik was intrigued. He seen some of her drawings. She certainly appeared to be intelligent, her personality was sparkling, if abrasive, and she certainly didn't fit the description of any 'muscle' that he'd ever seen.
"All most anything...," she paused.,

"That sounds...fascinating. I would enjoy looking over your work at some point in time," he said.

"How about tonight? In light of your rescue of my charming little self, I would love show my appreciation of your kindness and I'll show you my paintings for you to look over." Cat was sitting up fully now, seemingly recovered from her mishap and grinning to beat hell.
Erik smiled despite himself. Adorable was only one of the words he would use for her, "That is not necessary, cherie. It has been my pleasure to be of assistance."
"Well, I would like to, if you'll let me," Cat went on. Impulsively she stuck out her hand, "Look we started off badly, me playing "damsel in distress" and needing to be rescued, I really am sorry to have inconvenienced you. I'm Catherine Shadow-Keine, x-karate master extraordinaire and aspiring painter."
He looked at her proffered hand then slowly returned the gesture, his larger black gloved hand engulfing hers gently. She had a firm handshake.

"If you are feeling better, I will take you up tomorrow, and get you a cab to your home."
Cat's eyes went wide. He did not believe her! ( Well would you believe you? No. What can I do?) She thought. Cat began to hippervenalate, (damn my heart!)
Instlly Erik's Eyes was on her. He pulled Cat until she sat up fully.
"Breathe, breathe," he coxed.
Slowly, Cat's heart slowed down. (It's getting worse,) she thought, Horrified.