Chapter 3

Christine had seated herself at the dining table and had opened a book – her nose currently inside of it. She didn't even notice the noises coming from the bedroom. It was only until she heard the footsteps on the wooden floor she knew danger approached. She flung the book across the table and looked around the room, panicking, the room was bare and didn't provide any hiding spaces.

Taking initiative she blew all the candles out, immersing herself into darkness. She stood in the corner of the room and shut her eyes, subconsciously thinking that would help.

The footsteps grew louder as the figure approached the dining room. The door opened and a crack of light came in through the other side, almost touching Christine.

It isn't Raoul. He's taller than my love.

The figure remained there for a number of moments. Then slowly the figure turned. Christine relaxed her body more and sighed. She remained where she stood, not tempting fate into revealing her position to the intruder.

She closed her eyes again, but they flew open when she felt a tickling sensation on her shoulder. She pursed her lips and reached for her shoulder. She couldn't grasp the moving thing on her shoulder, but it was not her imagination. The thing began to creep up her neck, and she knew it was a big insect. The thing climbed up to her face and she could not contain the fear anymore;

"ARRRGGGGHHH!" She cried, instantly giving her position away.

The figure pulled the door open, this time holding a lamp, dimly lighting the room. She shut her eyes and slapped at her neck and face. She then felt another pair of hands on her neck, gently searching for the thing bothering her. The strong hands found it, and gently prised it away from the back of Christine's ear.

She rubbed at the place the creature had been, to make sure nothing was there and opened her eyes. Another pair was centimetres away from hers. Familiar eyes. Beautiful eyes – sapphire, they seemed to light the room for her. His eyes.

"Erik?" She whispered softly.

"Hello my love." He cooed in her ear.

"Is this a dream?" She asked.

"If it is, do not wake me." He replied, stroking her face softly. She shivered at his touch, his hands were ice cold, and yet the feeling behind it was fiery.

The familiar warmth crept into her stomach again, and it was suddenly hard to stand on her two feet.

"W-What are you…? How are you here? I- I…" She didn't have the capability to string a sentence together anymore.

"Shh, my love, do not worry, your angel has returned." He said his voice so warm.

Her concentration returning, she realised he was not as he once was. His hair was messy, his mask a mucky yellow, and he smelt of the streets. Where had his past taken him now?

"Raoul will be here any moment, Erik" she said. What on Earth was she warning him for? He had tried to kill Raoul, to trap her with him forever. She could not possibly let him get away with it all, and yet, she was incapable of letting him come to any danger.

"I shall leave now Christine, but I will be back, be sure of that. Enjoy the performance tonight Christine, your coach has arrived." He smiled in the shade of the room, swiftly kissing her on the forehead, and vacating the room, and villa.

She collapsed in the corner and let out a cry. And sure enough, she heard the horse's hooves of the coach, and Raoul's footsteps could soon be heard.

"Christine!" he called.

She got up and dusted her dress.

"In here" She called back.

He entered the room and kissed her on the lips. He gave her a strange look and said,

"My dear Wife, you look like you have seen a ghost!"

"Indeed" she smiled, and kissed him again.

"Now – on to the performance. I am sorry I'm late, but let us not delay time further, dear" he said, and they left for the Opera, hand in hand, while the shadow watched from the trees.