Author's Note: I'm really spoiling you guys. I haven't posted this many chapters in a long time! I hope that you guys are enjoying what I am writing and that you'll submit reviews saying so. Now, on with the story!
Chapter 8: Where the Heart Lies
Christine had finally calmed down. Erik had held her and listened to her tears for what seemed like hours. He wasn't sure of how he felt about Christine's confession, but he knew that he felt rage. He had thought that she was happy with the Vicomte. Apparently he had been wrong.
He felt her body stir in his arms. Looking down he saw those beautiful brown eyes looking up at him. "I'm so sorry Erik. I wanted to tell you earlier but I knew that if you knew who it was then you would be so angry with him and I didn't know what you would do."
"It's alright Christine. Yes, I am angry. But, if you don't want me to do anything then I won't."
"Thank you so much."
She stood up and walked over to the one mirror that had remained unbroken when he had made his escape. She took the hairbrush that Erik had brought down along with the rest of her belongings from her dressing room and ran it through her long curls. Then she took some spare pins and pinned some of her curls up around her face.
"You look…simply beautiful," he said, coming up behind her.
"Thank you."
Suddenly, a voice could be heard, echoing from the above caverns. "Erik! Erik!"
Christine's eyes grew wide with fear. "Erik, no one can know that I'm here! I don't want Raoul to find me!"
"Don't worry Christine, I'll make sure that you are not discovered." He ushered her into a nearby room with a hidden door. Then he went over to the lake to see who it was calling his name.
A few moments later, the gondola appeared and he finally saw who it carried. "Madame Giry?"
Christine sat quietly in a chair that Erik had placed in the room. She was so frightened that she would be discovered. I don't want Raoul to find me. I simply can't go back there! she thought.
Madame Giry stepped out of the gondola and approached Erik slowly. "Erik, you have to know where Miss Daae…I mean the Vicomtesse is. She gone missing!"
"Missing?"
"Yes, there is a man in the opera house looking for her now! He says that he's been hired by the Vicomte."
Erik looked around the labyrinth. "I haven't seen her since the night of Don Juan Triumphant. You know that," he said.
She nodded. "I know Erik. But I also know that if she had disappeared that she would have come to you. I know how much she cares for you."
"Cares for me? Madame, if she truly cared for me the she wouldn't have left me all those months ago. But I'm sure that she had her reasons for leaving in the first place."
He walked up to the organ. "Now, if you don't mind Madame, I wish to return to my music. If I see the Vicomtesse then I will let you know."
She turned to go, then turned back to face him. "If I were you, I would stay away from the Vicomtesse or keep her whereabouts a secret. It would be a shame if the Vicomte found out where she was hiding. He seems determined to find her."
Erik nodded. "I agree. Don't worry Madame. My number once concern is Christine's safety."
With that, she left.
Erik made sure that Madame Giry had left before he went over to the hidden room to retrieve Christine.
"It's over now Angel. She has left."
"She?" Christine asked.
"It was Madame Giry that came down to see me. Apparently your husband has hired a man to search for you."
Her eyes went wide. "Search for me?"
"Yes. He is now in the Opera House."
Christine turned from Erik, looking off across the lake. "Erik, if this man finds me, he'll make me return to the estate, to Raoul. I don't want that. Please tell me that you'll hide me."
"Christine, you know that I will. You know that I will let nothing come between us. Now come, it's time that you went to sleep."
He took her hand and led her back to the wardrobe where he turned so she could change into a nightgown. Seeing how distressed she was, he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the massive swan bed.
"Please don't let him find me! I can't go back there!" she cried out.
"Shh… I'll never let him take you."
He laid her gently down onto the bed and covered her with the blanket. Soothingly, he caressed her face, trying to calm her down. It was no use though. He sat there for a moment, thinking. Then, he came up with an idea.
"Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation,
Darkness stirs, and wakes imagination"
He continued to sing watching her facial expressions as the song continued. She seemed peaceful, then, finally, she fell fast asleep.
"Goodnight, my angel."
Author's Note: Okay, I think that's the last chapter I have in me tonight. I will be writing more tomorrow, that's for sure. I sure hope that you guys are enjoying my story and the way it's progressing. If you love it, please review. If you hate it, please let me know what I can improve on it to make it better. Thanks for all of your feedback so far! I really love reading all these reviews. Please keep them coming!