A/N: Yeah! Another Chappie! This is the only story I work on anymore, it's addictive, and you know what? I want to know what happens as much as you do! Hahaha!

Chapter 5: Bitter Sweet Bruises

Charlotte sat staring at her hands as Erik lectured her on yet another mistake in her aria. Her mind began to wonder to the events of the past week. Thanks to Erik's careful ministrations her bruises had faded, but she had new ones every day that she successfully hid from him along with the new cuts. That night, when he had undressed he down to her chemise, she had decided he probably hadn't said anything because he thought they were from the beating her father had given her.

Her father's drinking had increased and she couldn't recall a time, as of late, that she had seen Erik with out a brandy glass in his hand. The difference between the two was that Charlotte's father was a violent drunk and Erik always managed to maintain his elegance and dignity. It wasn't the alcohol that made him violent, but something else.

"Charlotte!" Erik's angry voice brought her out of her reflections.

"Yes Monsieur? "

"Mademoiselle, how can I teach you if you refuse to listen?"

"Perhaps if your words were kinder, I would listen to them."

Erik closed his eyes, silently trying to control his growing rage .When he finally did open his eyes, the glowed with his an anger that made Charlotte flinch in fear. When he spoke it was with a deadly calm.

"Lady Ó hEachthairn," he stressed the title, "I am doing you a favor. If you would rather you may leave now and make a complete fool of yourself in a weeks time….. or you may stay here and learn something under my guidance….. or perhaps you think you might find a more competent teacher else where?"

Erik watched the girl shiver in fear, or maybe it was something else, at the icy clam anger of his voice. He watched her close her eyes as she silently reflected on his words. When she opened her mouth to speak he assumed it would be with the same timid, indecisive, submission as Christine, he couldn't have been more wrong.

"How do I know that you are competent messier, if I have never heard you sing or one of you students?" Charlotte smiled, she was toying with him, Erik hated being toyed with. He closed his eyes and fought the flood of rage that threatened to overwhelm him, but there was something else there that he almost didn't recognize, but he knew it for what it was and it frightened him just a little.

"Child, you will find it wise to never question me or toy with me again. You are the student and I am the teacher. No get up and sing."

Charlotte did rise, but when she opened her mouth, it wasn't to sing.

"No, Erik, I will no longer be your slave to sing for you." Charlotte was three steps away when the lasso jerked her feet out from under her, slamming her into the ground face first, she was barely able to catch herself with her hands, though it hurt like hell. Erik pulled the rope dragging her helplessly across the floor, until her feet reached his. He waited until she had struggled onto her back before he straddled her waist and pinned her arms above her head.

"You will learn to obey me Charlotte one way or the other," he hissed in her ear.

"Erik…. Erik please," Charlotte whimpered as Erik's lips traced their way down her throat. "Please don't make me do this Erik."

"Now, will you obey me, or must we do things the hard way?" Erik asked, his eyes blazing with a fire Charlotte didn't recognize.

Charlotte's throat was constricted with fear and unshed tears burned in her eyes. Be strong….be strong…. she thought frantically. Say the hard way….. some dark part of her begged

"Yes….. Erik, I….. I will do as you say….." The words were harsh whispers, forced through clinched teeth as she turned her head from him, so that he couldn't see the tears that spilled down her cheeks.

"There child," Erik said rising from the floor and offering Charlotte his hand, "that wasn't so hard was it?"

Charlotte glared up at him ignoring his offer of help. Damn foolish weakness, she mentally cursed herself. Why am I such a helpless fool? She asked herself.

Erik stared at Charlotte as she picked herself up off the floor. Strands of her hair had fallen loose from the neat bun she'd had it in earlier and the lose tendrils framed her delicate face beautifully. He felt an odd longing sweep through him as he watched the tears fall from her eyes and trace salty trails to her partially open mouth as she glared at him with contempt. Little did she know how much that look pained him.

"What is it you wish me to do for you, master?" The contempt in Charlotte's voice wasn't masked.

"Sing for me Lady Ó hEachthairn, simply sing for me." Erik replied sinking onto a sofa.

A/N Woohoo Chapter 5! Now I have to write Chapter six! Please review!