Ok, I'm writing this on Valentine's Day, eating pity chocolate from my friends. Well chocolate's chocolate I guess :). So I rented "When Harry Met Sally" and am watching it as I write this.

Chapter Nine

After a few moments in her dressing room, her Angel's shape started to appear through the mirror. Without a word spoken between them, he guided her back to his sanctuary. She wondered if he knew about the conversation her and Raoul just had. Or about the feelings that surfaced in her heart the moment she was held in his arms. Before she could worry about it too long, he finally spoke.

"I saw you conversing with that boy today.", he said matter-a-factly. "You are never to talk to him again Christine."

She didn't respond. She just gazed straight ahead, as he towered behind her, rowing the boat.

"Christine? Christine, did you hear me? You belong to me, and I refuse to have to gallivanting around with him at all hours of the day. If you want to continue singing at the Opera, I will support that to the full potential. But if that happens again, Christine, you'll never leave this darkness. Ever. Are you listening?"

Christine absent mindedly nodded her head, her mind still in a daze. All she could think of was the feeling in she got in her chest when she laid her eyes on her star crossed lover.

"Good. Come," he said, helping her out of the boat. "Let's have dinner, and then maybe I'll read to you."

Christine walked into the kitchen and sat down at her normal chair. Erik already had dinner made, and it was warming up in the gas oven.

They sat together and ate their supper, with little being said between them. Erik could sense the tension that was built; it could be cut with a knife. Everything had been fine between them, but ever since that afternoon, when she saw Raoul, things had been different. He was steadily growing more uncomfortable; trying to spark up conversations, but nothing seemed to take. They sat in silence, as Erik thought of a last idea.

"Christine, would you like me to sing for you?"

The moment he spoke those words, Christine didn't know the meaning of name "Raoul". The look in her eyes answered the question for him, and he immediately began to sing acapella, singing the song he sang to her in her dreams as a child, what he sang to her the first night her brought her into his underground.

"Silently the senses, abandon their defenses…"

Christine was at complete peace with herself when she heard the sweet tantalizing sound come from his mouth. She could stay with him, listening to his voice until the end of time.

"Help me make the music of the night….."

As he sang the last notes of the song, they leaned into each other, inevitably closer. As his lips released the last word; he released it into her mouth. He completely overpowered her with his passion. Her mouth tingled with excitement. The sensation swept through her body, into her lungs, through her stomach, ending between her thighs. She felt his large hands travel, up from her hips, over her ribs, with one hand stopping at her breast, and the other reaching into her curly tendrils. She released a soft moan from the back of her throat, and with it, his kiss only went deeper. His hand slipped under the collar of her dress, and he pressed it deep into her breast, frustrated with the stiff corset she wore that blocked his craving. He put much pressure on her body, trying to break through the barrier; he forced her to lie on her back on the couch. He realized it was an uphill battle with no end in sight He changed his focus to the lower half of her body. With one arm supporting his weight, he frantically dove through her many skirts with the other. Finally he sensed he was touching her warm flesh. He let his arm slide up, higher and higher, until once again her undergarments prevented his advancement.

He could hear her sigh with pleasure at his touch. Her eyes were closed, and she was in a state of ecstasy. His eyes traveled to her collarbone and neck. It was such a fragile delicate area. He could easily snap her neck or collarbone with a twist of his wrist. He plummeted his head into the nape of her neck, kissing every square inch he could find. He could smell the vanilla scent in her hair and body. Her skin almost had a vanilla flavoring and he sucked out every drop of the taste, as if his life depended on it.

His mouth traveled down her neck, and he kissed the outlines of her collarbones. Their definition would change with each move of her shoulders. His lips traveled farther down her body to her upper chest. Her hands were holding his head, guiding him lower and lower, until he reached the bloody corset again. His first intention was to rip if off, but it seemed to be a sign. This contraption had prevented him from the glories of Christine's body three times; perhaps it was time to stop. If he was going to break Christine's virginity, he didn't want it to be on a whim. He always dreamed of it being on their wedding night, and he didn't want to enjoy his spoils before they had been earned.

Christine could sense his lips slowing, kissing her at less frantic pace. "Erik, please don't stop. Oh, God, Erik…..not now…..please, I need….. I need you……please don't…", she was completely out of breath and could barely let a word escape her mouth.

"Hush, hush. Not now, my dear, not yet." He said, rubbing his unmasked cheek against hers. "Soon, I promise Christine. Soon."

xXxXxXxXx

Christine rehearsed through the days, glad to be back on the stage. But it pained her to see Raoul looking at her, and her being helpless to comfort him. Every time she looked at him, two images flashed through her mind. One of her and Raoul, loving each other in his bed. They had made love on the evening after the premier Il Muto performance. The love they made was soft, tender and silent. No sounds were emitted through their bodies. All that could be heard was the gentle rustling of the sheets. It was so calm and demure. She could hardly compare it to the emotions she felt with Erik. Even though they both remained fully clothed the whole time, the simple experience of her skin coming in contact with his far surpassed what she felt with Raoul. It sent shock waves through her body, penetrating to her most womanly parts. She began to see her "Angel" in a new light. He was starting to evolve into a man in her eyes, who sparked a fire in her like no one else could. The two images fought with each other in her mind, each one trying to over take the other.

The premier of Don Juan was edging closer and closer, and she rehearsed to her full potential. Two days before the premier, she noticed she had not seen Raoul all day. It was very unlike him to be missing. He was understandably very concerned about the manner in which his money was spent, and kept a close eye on the operations of the Opera House. She was somewhat concerned at his sudden absence, praying everything was alright. When she was through rehearsing, she returned to her dressing room. After she closed the door, she looked up to see Raoul sitting at her vanity.

"Christine, can we talk? I haven't talked to you in weeks; you don't know how worried I've been. Don't be afraid Christine; you know you can tell me anything."

"Raoul, how long have you been here? I haven't seen you all day."

"Well I was detained this morning, and when I arrived here I had to speak with you. But I saw you were so busy with costuming and rehearsing, so I thought this would be the most convenient place to speak with you."

….Erik' arm grazed her thigh….

"I must to speak with you. I don't understand what's going on. We are engaged, Christine! Engaged! You were gone completely for weeks, as if you fell off the planet."

…..The sheets rustled as Raoul's face tenderly looked down on her……….

Then you return, but you suddenly disappear immediately after rehearsals. I feel like I'm pulling teeth just to catch your eye."

…….Erik's teeth sucked into her neck……

"Christine?" Raoul shook her shoulders, as she seemed to be lost in a trance. "Christine!"

Christine snapped herself out of her plaguing daydreams. She debated about whether or not she should say something. She wanted to hold him and kiss him, tell him that she loved him. But at the same time, she couldn't wipe the feeling Erik gave her from her mind. On top of everything, she was forbidden to even be speaking with him. His safety came first, and she knew he would not be safe if stayed with him. She knew what she had to do.

"Raoul, I can't marry you. I need you to leave", she begged, "Please do this, please. I've asked you once, and still you return to me. Don't make this harder for me than it is. Please just go."

"Christine, you don't know what you're saying right now. You've been brainwashed and you're spouting out things you don't mean. Don't do this to us because of him. We will get through this."

Raoul grabbed her and forced her into a kiss. It was very much unlike Erik's. It was slow and calm. She tried to resist, but he had his arms wrapped around her, and even if they weren't, she doubted she could pull away from his touch. His lips soothed her body, calming every fear she could imagine. He backed away slowly.

"Christine, I don't know how many ways to tell you how much I love and care for you. Please come home with me. I'll take care of you, and protect you from this monster."

Monster. The word echoed in Christine's mind. Monster. He was not a monster! He was a man who cared deeply for her and held great compassion. But how could Raoul understand that? He had only seen Erik in his worst moments, when his anger overtook any hint of love he could have. How could he not think of Erik as a monster? She didn't know how to explain her feelings for Erik to Raoul, and she certainly didn't have the time to contemplate it now; Erik would be return at any moment.

"Raoul, I'm not going to go to your home tonight. But thank you for the offer. I know you love me and would do anything for my sake. I just need time."

"Alright", he whispered softly. He kissed her on the check and exited the room.

Erik's body seethed with rage as he watched the entire scene unfold from behind the mirror.

I wrote this chapter all at once, how awesome am I? I had a free night tonight (unfortunately), so I had plenty of time to work on it. Enjoy it, because I probably won't update for about a week. I know, it's a long time, but I tried to squeak in as many E/C moments as I could. Enjoy:)

Reviews make me forget about homework………..;)