A/N: CHAPTER 7 HAS BEEN RE-WRITTEN! If you want to understand this chap completely you should go back and read it. Um…yeah…
A/N 2: This chapter is dedicated to my wonderful beta, BlazeoftheInferno! –hugs- Thank you so much!
For the two days following our voyage, I began to know an entirely new point of exhaustion. For hours upon hours each day I was encased in music—his and mine. Where he had once been my Othello, he was now my Faust, and we were enthralled by one another's stories and proclamations of love.
It had to have been nearly midnight by the time we stopped, and I was practically panting by the time we finished our final duet. I kept one hand gripped tightly on the back of the organ for support, while I wiped my brow with the other.
"I have worked you too hard," Erik said solemnly, "Forgive me." I did not feel up to replying. He stood and faced me.
"You have done exceptionally well," he said, and I flickered my gaze in his direction. "This part was made to be yours alone." I inwardly growled as my cheeks grew hot. Why did I have to be so affected by his praise, even when I knew he was not an angel?
"Christine—" he began, and I looked up, gaining back what little of my strength I had left. He faltered, and I caught his eyes with mine, for no matter how graceful this man was, his awkward moments were so few that they commanded my attention.
"I…want to show you something." I gave him a questioningly look. Now? I thought. Didn't he know what time it was? "Of course, if you are too tired…" he added, but I shook my head. I was rarely able to fall asleep nowadays, anyway.
"Come," he held out the ghastly death flesh of his hand, and my eyes widened. Oh, why had he not offered me his arm instead! Upon seeing my expression, his arm lowered, and he turned his back to me. I felt a twinge of guilt, but offered no apology. "Follow me," was his faint reply to my silence.
The boat ride was uncomfortable, to say the least. While the last journey had been almost friendly, the quiet that hung over us now was unnerving, and the air felt unusually cold. I scanned my mind for something, anything to say to him. After all, the gap between us had widened because of me.
"Where are we going?" I asked with a small and nervous voice.
"You shall see," was the only answer he gave. But when he turned around I completely forgot our conversation. Was he smiling? The shock of this made my heart sink slightly. Poor Erik, he smiled so rarely!
Unable to get onto the dock by myself, I clutched lightly to the sleeve of Erik's coat. For a moment I thought he would put his arm around my waist, but he refrained, and I was glad for it. I started to walk when he stepped in front of me, whistling loudly. It wasn't until I heard the trotting that I remembered Cesar, who parade proudly up to me. I brushed aside his white mane, calmly stroked his head, and smiled gently. I could feel Erik's golden eyes upon us, his brow furrowed with—was it jealousy?
I stopped, and walked around Cesar, intent on getting up on my own. I put my hand on his back, did a sort of half-jump, and came no where near being able to ride him. I blushed deeply, knowing Erik stood smirking in amusement. The next thing I saw were his hands clasped and the level of my knee as he bent over slightly. Puzzled at his gesture, I could only stare.
"Put your foot onto my hands. I'll push you up," he said. I looked wearily from his hands to his eyes before realizing I had no choice other than to trust in him. I did as told, and suppressed a gasp of surprise as I rose onto Cesar. I pushed my curls back and arrayed my dress as best I could. Erik stayed at my side, and followed the trotting horse on foot.
It didn't take long to get past the underground levels. When it was time to get down, I did not ask for Erik's help, and so he did not offer it. We winded up the last staircase and stopped just before what seemed like a portrait of my dressing room. But when I held out my hand it was met with cool glass. Glass of a….a mirror! I looked up at Erik, my mouth open, and could only visibly see him frown before he put up his dark hood. His hand grasped the side of the glass, and he stepped into my dressing room. Slowly, I followed, but not only into my dressing room. Erik succeeded in taking me up the levels of the Opera House as any worker would, although I was quite sure no one would be working at this hour. We walked quietly passed the rungs, and it was only until we had come to the end that I realized what Erik had wanted to show me.
He held the door open, and I gasped lightly as I filed out into the cold with him beside me. Out in the darkness a bronze Apollo held out his Lyre to the heavens, and I followed the statue's gaze. Tiny lights flickered in the sky, and a new and full moon illuminated the rooftop. I walked passed the small pool of water on my right, and stood watching Paris from the edge. Below, very few windows were lit by candlelight, adding to the calm and bright glow of the sky. I had been to this spot many times before, but never at night… I felt as though I had never even really seen Paris till then.
"This is beautiful," I managed. Taking it as an invitation, he walked forward to fill the foot or so between us. "Do you come here often?"
"Sometimes," he answered. Obviously more than he would admit, because his eyes never even took in the scene; their yellow glow remained on me.
"It reminds me of Sweden," I said suddenly, feeling a powerful sense of longing for the time spent with my father. "When I was young and we were very poor, we used to lay under the stars on piles of hay." I smiled fondly.
"You loved him very much," Erik said sympathetically.
"Yes," I said. "He was a wonderful man, and an amazing musician. Like you, I suppose." I turned to see Erik slightly arch one eyebrow. I blushed, realizing the depth of my words, and quickly covered with, "You both play very well." Erik nodded in acknowledgement.
I sighed and walked around to the clear but dark water of the pool, and sat down. Erik stood at my side, strangely unsure, but I lightly padded the surface next to me. He moved as graceful as ever, his cloak swishing around him. For a moment, both of us simply stared at the water.
"Christine…do you wish to leave me?" I glanced up at him, my eyes wide. What in the world would have made him ask that? Did…did he want me to answer honestly? Not wanting to hurt him, I murmured:
"I…I don't mind being here with you, Erik. You must understand, though, that I cannot stay here forever." He remained silent for a moment, and suddenly I was afraid. Would he be angry with me? Would he—would he cry?
"I will let you leave…but not yet. Not yet," his words echoed in my head. At least now I knew he intended to let me go at some point. I tried to manage a comforting smile.
"It is cold," he said solemnly. "We should be going." I caught his sleeve before he could sit up.
"I like it here," I said. "Let's stay for a little while longer."
A/N: I know, it took me forever to get this up, and I'm really sorry. I keep having to go back and re-read the book to make sure I'm getting everything right. I hope this chapter wasn't too bad, but I had to find something for them to do during the two weeks, lol. Anways, please review, I really appreciate you help!
Now for my replies to your reviews:
Clever-Lass—Lol, not many of us like Leroux Christine or Christine in general for giving up Erik. Stupid, immature thing…I'm glad you like my Erik, though. Thank you!
Quiet2885—Hey, I didn't know you were reading this! ;) You get a cookie for dropping a line, lol. Thank you so much!
Reading Redhead—Yay, maybe we'll see eachother! I got tickets for the 2:00 on June 18th. I wanted to go at the late show, but noooo, my mom doesn't want to drive 5 hours to home at midnight. Oh well. Thanks!
BlazeoftheInferno—Hey! I hope I fixed all my mistakes…maybe…well, I tried, anyway. Lol. And yeah, poor Phillipe, he apparently died for nothing w/ the way I'm setting things up. ;) Again, thank you for all your help!
Miranda7911—Ack, seriously, I hope I just didn't spawn an idea for some poor, disturbed soul. Hehe. –claps for inaccuracies- YAY! Oh, and don't worry, I don't think I'll stop this fic till it's done. I'm addicted. Thank you!
Allegratree—Um, thanks for reviewing!
Caro—Hmmm…well, since I'm such an avid E/Cer, Erik may have a happy ending after all…-grins- Thanks!
Wendela—I hope this one was longer. I started to put Erik's thoughts into this one as well, but it turned out to be a disaster so I cut it. Sorry, and thanks!
Arazadia—Thanks so much! And yeah, I'm glad I'm extending it too. Writing takes the boredom out of my days.
Cmdr. Gabe E—Wow, thanks for all the reviews! You get a hug, too!
Ludivine—Yay, you got the book! Awww, you guys are going as Christine and Erik? That's so cute! Lucky! Send me pics! ;)