"How old are you?"

"Eighteen Sir."

The tall, curious man seemed to stare at her for a very long time, narrowing his eyes, scanning her scruffy clothes and every inch of her face. Christine felt like see was standing in a crowded room with no clothes on. This man scared her, and she thought more than once about just running away. It seemed like a life time before he even spoke again.

"You're a 3rd class passenger?"

"Yes sir."

"You don't have to keep addressing me as 'sir'." He cocked an eyebrow at her, looking half amused. She frowned.

"Then what should I address you as?"

"Monsieur Garnier will be fine."

"Thee Monsieur Garnier?"

Erik burned holes into the girl standing in front of him. Part of her face was hidden under her cap, yet he could see the large doe like eyes now looking awed at him.

When he had come out on deck, there had been a few stray couples walking around on deck. He did not want to be around anyone, so he wandered until he came to the lower decks which were reserved for the 3rd class passengers. They were deserted, so he lent against a bough, lighting his cigar and blowing the smoke into the wind.

Behind him, he heard two young girls walk by, yet had not taken any notice, as they had not seen him. He carried on falling into his thoughts, until he heard something….

Something that echoed beautifully in the night air, sparkling, crisp and clear. It was the music in his soul, the voice in his dreams, but it was real! And it was coming from a young girl, who had just happened to bumped into him that very instant he step around to see…

He needed her, he needed that voice. It wasn't completely developed, but with training it could be the voice of an angel.

He just needed to not frighten the girl away. She was looking ready to bolt before he had mentioned his name. Now she was looking at him with new found interest.

"Well I hope there is not more than one of me."

The pretty girl smiled. Through her dirty face, scruffy clothes and worried expression, the smile broke through it all. Erik blinked and drew in the tiniest breath.

"Wow, Erik Garnier, the famous composer? S'cuse me for asking, but why are you on the 3rd class deck?"

It was Erik's turn to smile, but only slightly. The fact that she knew who he was, well, it was very impressive. He felt flattered that she knew, but also worried. He had seen many a voice destroyed by egos, and he was worried in case this Christine would be blinded by the money involved that she would forget to nurture that wonderful voice of hers.

Erik half expected the young girl to beg at him, like so many poor people did. She was only expected to, she was just a commoner.

He cursed himself a moment later for being exactly like his associates back on the 1st floor deck. He tried to rid himself of such thoughts, yet it had been hard, especially seeing what some poor people can be like. After all…he'd been one himself…

"I got tired of the music up there. Too quaint for my taste." He muttered in his low, rumbling voice.

And a funny thing happened, which Erik did not expect.

Christine shrugged and turned to leave.

"Well that's a shame. It was nice speaking to you Sir…Monsieur Garnier. Bye!"

Erik felt dumbstruck. Never in his life had anyone turned their back like that to him after learning who he was. Even the richest of his admirers would try and whittle a 'friendship' with him, desperate to gain access to Erik Garnier's world were prosperity reined free.

But here was this young, scrawny poor girl, who smiled…but walked away.

"Christine, wait, I should like to speak to you further."

Now Christine was not used to this. No one had ever really wanted to talk to her this much, especially not someone as famous and rich as this. She had never even spoken to a rich person in her life. Now this famous and mysterious composer was inviting her to chat with him! But Christine had heard horror stories about young girls, mixing with rich and powerful men, only to be used and thrown back out into the cold streets with a broken heart.

But no matter how hard she tried, she could not imagine this man to be like this. When she had heard of Erik Garnier, it had been from her father and his artistic friends, who would have fantasies about playing in a Garnier Opera, and what a powerful man he was.

If Christine was being honest, she thought him to be a little pompous when she had listened about him. She had distaste for most wealthy people, not for all, but for the ones full of attitude and hatred for people like her. She expected this man to be the top of her hatred list if she would ever come across him.

But now, all she could do was try and pull herself away from those burning amber eyes that burnt into hers. It was uncomfortable being looked at so much, but she could not break from gazing at him.

His face, moulded to perfection, reserved for the most beautiful women to love and cherish. His mysterious aura was even more intriguing, drawing her in to wonder what he was concealing behind that mask.

Maybe Monsieur Garnier wasn't as 'equal-minded' as he seemed to be, and was probably in fact, quite pretentious.

But on hearing her name in his voice, curiously, she could do nothing but stop and turn back.

"Christine, you have a fantastic voice. And believe me; I have heard a lot of voices in my time."

"Um…thanks." She looked down to the floor again; hot embarrassment flooding her cheeks once more. "I'm not that good; I just like to do it."

He frowned at her, crossing his arms. "Are you questioning my judgement?"

And there it was again, the defiance and spirit he saw dancing in her eyes.

"If it's about me, then yes I am."

He almost laughed out loud, but he contained himself. "Well I should like to hear you sing more."

It was Christine's turn to frown. She tugged on her cap and pulled her coat more tightly around her.

"I'm not doing it now!"

"Why ever not?"

"Because!"

"'Because', mademoiselle, is not an answer."

"Oh for god sake, I can't just bloody sing if you ask me to…"

All at once, Christine looked horrified, and clapped a hand over her mouth. Erik looked at her wide eyed, his expression full of shock and amusement.

"Oh sorry…" She gasped. "I...I meant, I didn't mean…"

"It's perfectly alright. But a singer would never get away with such language."

"Well I'm not a singer am I?"

"You could be."

Christine laughed genuinely. "Yeah right, and I'm just going to get the money for training from a money tree am I? Oh…" She sighed and smiled apologetically. "There I go again."

Erik smiled slowly at her, his hands tucked in his coat pocket, leaning against the railing of the ship. Christine felt something leap inside her, as that smile caught on something inside, something she couldn't name or place or recognise. It felt nice. She smiled back.

"You don't have to pay. Just sing for me once again, and I will decide whether you are good enough to train."

Christine smiled dropped. She scanned his eyes for a hint of deception, a lie, a trick. A clever way of sussing someone out, yet it didn't seem to be working this time. Either he was telling the truth, or he was a very, very good liar.

"Sorry…But I have only just met you. I can't…I can't just…accept things off you like that."

"I'm not offering any charity. You are a brilliant singer. You deserve to be recognised."

"I didn't mean that…I meant I can't be expected to trust you yet, can I?"

For the 3rd time that night, Erik smiled genuinely. He hadn't smiled once since that morning, let alone in the past weeks, slaving over his new opera score, and socialising with the boredom of society. But this girl was making him feel like smiling all the time. It felt nice.

"No, I expect you can't." He sighed dramatically and looked away from her. She watched him for a long time before sitting up next to him on the rail, swinging her legs up and sitting on the edge. They sat in silence for a long time. It didn't feel like an awkward silence for any of them, but a comfortable on, just enjoying each others company on the lonely deck.

"You're different to other rich people."

"How many rich people do you know?"

"Erm…well…none. But I mean like…their attitudes. I wouldn't have expected a 1st class person would even want to come on the 3rd deck, let alone speak to one of the persons that infest it!"

"Well, I told you, I came because I can't hear the music from here."

"Just the music?"

He turned his head to side look her. The hidden side to his face was on the opposite side to her, so all she could do was stare at his perfect features.

"You're full of questions, Mademoiselle. I thought you had wanted to leave."

"I changed my mind."

She looked…so…what was it? Sitting childishly, swinging her legs through the railings, her tatty cap, concealing her hair, the brown coat that seemed to smother her…he couldn't see it. All he could see was that smooth jaw line…her full lips and her eyes that caught the lights when she turned to him.

He coughed, a little too dramatically. "Changed your mind about anything else?"

Christine twisted her mouth in thought. She was being very silly if she followed this man anywhere, let alone sing privately for him. He was probably just looking for someone to…no…no, he wasn't. But how did she know? How did she know he wasn't going to use her and do what he liked then toss her over the side of the boat? No one would care about a missing 3rd class passenger.

Christine scolded herself for letting her imagination run away with her. He seemed like, well…she wouldn't say nice…but genuine enough. And he was offering her the opportunity of a life time.

Wasn't she being selfish if she didn't take him up on it? With the money she could save being a singer, she could get her dad a job anywhere in America! Even Monsieur Garnier would listen to her father, and get him a well paid job!

It was a wild fantasy, but a fantasy that held a pin prick of hope. Was there really any harm in singing for him once more? Even if it didn't lead anywhere, at least she tried!

Erik was watching her all the time she thought, watching her eyes flicker and her hand rub her nose. Really, what did he care if she let him down? He would be made a laughing stock, taking on a girl like this! She could ruin him.

But yet…all the time his brain calculated, his heart begged for her to accept. He found himself clutching the railing tightly, and biting the inside of his lip. His heart fluttered as she turned to him with a smile.

"Alright then."

Erik couldn't help but smile once more. "Here's my room number. Come and see me tomorrow at 10 am. If anyone gives you trouble with getting up there, tell them I sent you, and to accompany you till you reach me, and I will deal with them. Goodnight Christine"

And with that, he kissed her hand, and wandered back to his own quarters, with the sitting Christine watching him depart, feeling his kiss long after he had left.