XXVI

"You seems excited Christine," Meg commented after the rehearsal.

"Oh?" Christine asked as she finished her stretches and stood up quickly, "I'm sorry Meg but I have to go. I'll see you in the dormitory?"

"I guess so…where are you going Christine?"

"No where Meg, just the chapel."

"Alright…see you later then."

Christine jogged into the chapel and made sure to close the door behind her. She had never heard her Angel play before, he had always used his voice to teach her, still there was no doubt in her mind that he would be amazing. Before calling to him she lit a candle for her father and said a quick prayer.

"Angel, are you there?"

"Of course I am Christine."

"Are you going to play for me today like you promised?"

"Of course I am Christine, would I break my promise to you?"

"No…I'm sorry I didn't mean to doubt you."

"Think nothing of it Christine."

Christine let out a little sigh of relief at his gentle tone and kneeled on the floor. The sound of a bow being drawn across strings filled the room and she couldn't help but smile, even that simple action created such a gorgeous sound. When he began to play she closed her eyes and listened to the notes rise and fall, it was just as she remembered it and, if possible, more beautiful. When the last notes finished echoing through the small room she opened her eyes again and smiled.

"That was beautiful Angel," she whispered.

"I'm glad you are happy my dear…would you like to sing today?"

"I think not, if that's alright."

"It is fine Christine."

"I should actually go, Meg will wonder where I am."

"Good bye Christine."

"Good bye Angel."


Erik placed the violin back in its case carefully and folded the music before tucking it into his cloak. He wasn't sure he had ever seen somebody look so happy before and yet at the same time there had been a hint of sadness that lurked in her eyes. What truly astonished him though was that he had been the source of the happiness, something that very rarely happened.

With a small sigh he left the chapel and made his way back through the cellars. The gondola was waiting exactly where he left it and he poled it back to the shore of the lake. He placed the violin on the nearest table and removed his cloak, Christine had said hat it had been snowing the last time they had had lessons. He hadn't been able to go and see whether the child had been telling the truth, though he didn't think for a moment that she would lie to him.

With a smooth motion he dawned the cloak again and climbed back into the gondola to make his ascent to the theatre again. He had nothing better to do for the rest of the night and wanted to see whether it had indeed snowed, or had continued since it would probably have melted by now.

"Seventeen floors," he muttered distastefully once he reached the door leading onto the roof, "why in God's name would anyone want to build something with that many stairs?"

The air that greeted him was cold and he drew the cloak closer around him. The roof was indeed dusted with a thin layer of white snow and small white flakes drifted lazily through the air to greet them. The little specks of white reminded him of the stars that the grey clouds blocked from view. Little cold, white stars falling to the ground to join their companions.

"Beautiful is it not?"

Erik started violently at the sound of another's voice and whirled around to see Antoinette watching him. She gave a small chuckle at his obvious surprise.

"Did you not hear me coming Erik?"

"No I did not," he replied curtly, "good evening Madame."

"I did not mean to startle you Erik, I apologise…enjoying the night?"

"I wanted to see if it had snowed yet, I suppose my question has been answered."

"The snow…you always used to ask me if it had snowed when you were younger. Do you remember? Every winter it would be the same thing."

"I remember, I rarely got to see snow…the gypsies, they went to Spain for the winter you see. But I remembered liking it…"

Antoinette nodded her head slightly and wrapped her arms around herself; she had very rarely heard Erik talk about his life before the theatre. Even when he had it would be much like what he had just done, small snippets that meant very little out of context.

"So tell me Madame, how did you know I was up here?"

"I saw you, oh do not look so shocked. Anyone else would have thought it a shadow, I just happen to know you better then some."

"You are the only one in the theatre who truly knows me Madame."

"Oui, I guess that is true, and yet I still know so little. Enjoy your night Erik, I am going in where it is warm."

"Suit yourself Madame."

Antoinette clucked her tongue and brushed the snow off her clothes as she went inside, Erik simply turned his gaze back to the city. He had forgotten how beautiful Paris looked from the rooftop, hundreds of little sparkling lights in the night. But the cold was starting to set in and he turned away from the scene to go inside.

Time at the opera passed slowly when there were no rehearsals and exactly the opposite when there were. Performers moved constantly back and forth, costume designers and prop makers fussed over how little time they had to work on the people or the props and the stagehands bustled about attempting to set up the stage.

The performances came and went in spectacular galas and diamond clad guests. Macbeth went off without a hitch and before anyone knew it they were well into the month of December and with that Christmas.

"Good evening Angel," Christine said somewhat glumly.

"What is wrong Christine?" Erik asked, "Is something troubling you?"

"Oh…no, and I can't stay long. Madame is taking Meg and me to a service tonight."

"A service?"

"Yes, for Christmas Eve. She said that we couldn't attend the Christmas service because there is a gala being held here. I'm sorry."

"Do not apologise Christine."

"I'm sorry…Meg is really excited about Christmas, she's going to get a gift from Madame and some of the other girls get to go home to see their families."

"Is that so Christine?" Erik asked, suddenly he understood why she seemed depressed.

"Yes…well I should go."

"That is fine Christine, will you come tomorrow?"

"Yes Angel, if you want."

"I do Christine."

"Good night then…until tomorrow."

Erik watched as she left the chapel and frowned, it hardly seemed fair for everyone else to have family to visit or receive gifts from while Christine had no one. He returned to his lair and grabbed a cloak before making his way back up to the theatre and to the hidden exit. Erik pulled the hood up to cover his face and black the cold.

It had been years since Erik had traversed the streets of Paris and he quickly became irritated as he searched for the shop he wanted. They were all closed of course, it was late and if the owners were not home or in bed then they were attending church services. That did not bother him though, he had never intended to go shopping and when he found the store he wanted he removed the lock pick from his cloak.

It didn't take long for the lock to open and for Erik to slip inside; he made no noise as he moved through the store. Even in the darkness his vision was perfect and he quickly noted a staircase behind the counter that led to an apartment upstairs. Quickly he retrieved the item he wanted and slipped them into the hidden repositories in the cloak. Even though he could hear no noise from upstairs that did not mean they were asleep and he made his exit quickly, closing the door behind him and turning back in the direction of the theatre.

"We saw that," a man's voice said smugly.

"That is called break and enter, and I suspect stealing as well?" another man added.

"That is quite unfortunate for you then," Erik replied silkily, curling his fingers around the rope in his cloak.

"Us?" the first man asked, "monsieur I think you may be a bit confused. There are two of us and one of you. I'm sure the gendarmes will be more then thrilled when we bring you in. You are the unfortunate one."

"I do not doubt they would be, but as I said, it is quite unfortunate that you have seen me…"

There was a quiet whistling and the first man grabbed at his neck, clawing at the rope that had closed around it and cut off his air supply. Erik waited as he choked and gasped before giving a sharp tug, the sickening snap of a breaking neck and the man's body fell to the ground. The second man lunged just as his friend's body hit the ground, Erik dodged to the side, dropping the rope and pulling out the small stiletto that he kept tucked away.

"Like I said," Erik hissed, wrapping his arm tightly around the man's chest and placing the blade of the dagger at his throat, "it is unfortunate that you caught me."

"Please," the man whimpered, "Oh God p-please don't kill me…I-I won't tell anyone!"

Erik smiled and pulled the small dagger away from the man's throat. He could feel him relax slightly at the small action, "Of course you won't tell…you won't be able to!"

With a growl Erik slammed the man's head against the stonewall of the store and allowed the body to fall limply to the ground. He didn't bother checking for a pulse, if he wasn't dead he surely wouldn't be able to recall anything that had happened due to brain injury.

With a flick of the wrist Erik removed the noose from the first man's neck and returned the lasso to its hiding place in the cloak. It was late and he had no doubts that the owner's of the shop had heard him. Pulling the hood of the cloak back up he slipped into the shadows and made his way back to the theatre.


We got to see Erik's dark side in this chapter eh? Lotte Rose 37, yes Erik got all better, and the get well kisses probably did help, and yes Erik is going to give Christine a gift, though as you can see his methods of procuring one are...well you read the chapter. Mouse, so you are a turkey-mouse...awesome! I'm glad you thought the chapter was sweet, that was what I was going for. Anyways, hope you all enjoyed reading this chapter even though it was atad dark. Umm as always if you're reading review. I'll update soon.