A/N: K this chapter took a wayyyyyyyyy different turn that I thought it would,and after reading this you're probably gonna come chasing after me with pitchforks and torches. But I PROMISE you no matter what happens it WILL be E/C, so be patient and review! lol

Thanks to all the people who have reviewed to me so far(ok,so its only seven, but im really proud! I didn't think I'd get any reviews! So I am totally moved :teartear:)!

Inspector: Review this chapter and you get ANOTHER cookie. Lol.

Thanks to all the other reviewers who have inspired me to keep going with this story, although right now i have NO idea how I'm gonna end it...I'm open to suggestions! But it wont be over for a long, long time. I don't think so at least. Lol. Read and review!

Chapter 4: Comfort and the Release

As Christine slowly came out of her memories, smiling as she remembered all the time she had shared with her angel, she noticed Erik was still playing. She recognized the tune instantaneously, and hurriedly sat up so as to hear it easier. Erik was singing softly to a tune he had composed just for her, a beautiful yet sensual song he had titled "Music of the Night".

She felt a tingle rush through her as she remembered the first time Erik had sung it to her, on the night he had seduced her into coming into his lair. She shook her head violently as a blush came to her cheeks. He had forced her into being seduced, she didn't choose to be! "But you enjoyed it" a voice whispered in her head.

Of course she enjoyed it, she wasn't going to deny that. She had been totally captivated, completely in his power, unable to take her eyes off such a perfect angel. But her eyes had continued to drift to the mask, begging her to remove it, to reveal what was underneath. She frowned as she realized that that was where the magic had ended. Underneath that mask, there was nothing but a man. A horrible man with a twisted and tortured soul, but a heart full of love and consumed by desire.

And Christine had nothing to show him but her pity, which he did not want. He wanted her love, but she loved Raoul. She was in love with him, they were engaged, they were going to have a family! Christine felt the smile leave her lips as she realized that if she had married him, her life would be nothing but tea parties and boring conferences between royals, polo matches and foolish chitchat which had no meaning.

No. Raoul loved her, and he would give her his full love and devotion, and having that was worth it. But as she thought of spending a lifetime of love with Raoul, she felt no tingle rush through her, and she buried her head in her hands in complete shame as she realized she had shown more ecstasy when thinking of Erik than she did with Raoul. She forced herself to lay back down in the swan bed, refusing to go to him.

She would not betray Raoul, she was certain he would come rescue her. Someone was bound to find them, weren't they? She didn't entirely believe it, but she didn't care if no one EVER found them, she would not give into Erik's temptations. He was nothing but a pitiful man masquerading as a fallen angel. She didn't love him. She didn't.

But as the music continued to flow and he continued to sing with such beauty, she found herself unable to resist and closed her eyes, the music consuming every bit of her, soothing every muscle, every nerve, until she felt as weightless as the notes themselves. His music let out any emotion he was trying to convey, and she felt herself overcome with love and ecstasy as the words continued to tug at her heart, teasing it, trying to get her to admit feelings she wasn't sure if she had or didn't have for this angel. This man.

Oh for God's sake why couldn't he leave her feelings alone? Why couldn't he let her love Raoul and accept the fact that she did not love him? If she was not allowed to love Raoul, she would not allow herself to love anyone. That was final. But as the seductive words continued, she found herself more and more drawn to them, hanging on every word, hardly breathing because of the complete intoxication of the words:

"Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor. Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender. Turn your face away, from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light..."

Christine found herself standing in front of the black veil, preparing to push it back and go to Erik. Gasping in surprise, she ran back to the swan bed, burying her head under a pillow. She was being ridiculous! She couldn't go to him, and she wouldn't, it was as simple as that! Groaning in defeat, she realized she wanted nothing more than to hear her angel sing for her once more, as he used to every moment she was willing to let him.

She missed the way the music and the person singing it could both seduce and hypnotize her in a way that made her never want the music to stop. Finally, desire consumed rationality and she decided there was absolutely nothing wrong with simply going to listen to a few songs.

She hesitantly got out of the red satin sheets, and walked towards the black curtains which veiled Erik from view. She stopped when she realized she was wearing nothing but a satin nightgown, and felt heat rush to her cheeks as she ran to the closet to find a robe. Tying it tightly around her waist, she strode nervously past the black curtains, biting her lip when they made a loud ruffling noise that she was sure Erik had heard.

She spotted him sitting at the organ in the far corner of the room, which was a magnificent cherry wood structure that Christine was sure Erik had made himself. It was adorned with golden candelabra's, drawings of Christine, stray sheets of music and several little trinkets that seemed to be made by a true craftsman.

She walked trance-like towards the organ until the left side of his face was visible. She gazed wide-eyed at him as if seeing him for the first time. Christine let her eyes trail over every bit of him, wondering how he could have changed so much since the last time she had seen him, which was only a day before, then realized that maybe she simply had not noticed how perfect he truly was all along. His facial expression was gentler, easier than it had been over the past few weeks, and his lifetime of sadness seemed more apparent in the side of his face not obscured by the mask.

It was then that Christine noticed how handsome he really was. He had dazzling green eyes, one lighter on the right than on the left, and perfect black lashes that contrasted amazingly with his golden skin and perfectly arched eyebrows. He had a strong jaw line which contributed immensely to his masculinity, and the smoothest complexion she had ever laid eyes on. His body motions had a flowing, sexy gracefulness to them as his hands flew over the keys, which drew Christine even closer to him. He was perfect, despite the deformity of the right side of his face.

She knew what was hidden beneath the mask, and she felt a wave of compassion for this man and the unfair life he was forced to live, and bitter resentment towards all those who taunted him. It wasn't until she was standing inches away from him, gazing at the man who seemed now like a stranger to her, when he finally stopped playing.

He turned his head slowly towards Christine, finally locking eyes with her. Christine let out a gasp as she looked into his green eyes, which were now filled with love and compassion, and all the loneliness and sadness which was his life. She wanted to embrace the poor man, hold him until all his sorrows and trials had evaporated along with all his tears. But this is the man that kidnapped you, then forced you to live with him forever, remember? Why would you show him compassion?

She knew why, and it made her heart ache as she realized that she was the cause of most of that pain and betrayal in his eyes, in his heart. It was her fault he was the way he was! And all this time she had blamed him for her position, when it was her who had betrayed him in Don Juan, causing him to kidnap her in a fit of disbelief and hurt. She looked at him with sorrow in her eyes, pleading with him to forgive her for the torment she had put upon him.

There was silence between them as Christine opened and closed her mouth several times, not sure what to say, afraid that whatever she said would only cause him more pain. Finally, as tears started to fall down her cheeks she opened her mouth to speak, and whispered, "Mon Dieu, Erik, I'm so sorry.."

He looked at her with confusion in his eyes, searching her face for an explanation of her tears and her pleading expression. Not able to find an answer in her face, he softly said in a soothing voice, "For what?"

She closed her eyes and turned her gaze away from him, and whispered, "Everything I've ever done to you, you didn't deserve it". A wave of understanding hit Erik like a heavy blow, and he turned back to the keys before giving her his response. "Christine, sit down" he whispered, with pleading in his voice.

The tingling once again took over her body as she once again gazed at Erik, before finally sitting down on the bench next to him, careful that their bodies did not touch. There was an unknown feeling coursing through her blood, begging her to give into it. She didn't know what it was, and it scared her. The silence between them only seemed to heighten the feeling, as she silently pleaded that Erik start speaking before she completely gave in.

She felt his arms envelop her, and she whimpered as she completely succumbed to the warmth of Erik's body. She collapsed in his chest, the hot tears flowing down her cheeks unbidden, soaking the front of Erik's cotton shirt. She clutched the material in her hands, begging the tears to stop flowing, for she felt completely childish for crying in front of Erik.

She felt the blood rush to her cheeks again as she pondered why it even mattered, when she knew perfectly well she despised this..monster! Which perfectly explains why you're in his arms.

The voice in her head had an air of sarcasm, and she resisted growling at her stupidity as she realized it was right. If she truly didn't care, she would be sitting in her bedchamber, crying for her dear Raoul, praying that he come and save her from this... "Angel..." she breathed, not realizing she had said it allowed.

Erik's arms tightened around her waist, and she squeezed herself as tight against him as her body would allow. She could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest, and she knew Erik could tell, because she could feel his heart beating just as rapidly as hers. She tried to deny it, but she couldn't ignore how right it felt, laying in his arms as he embraced her with passion and warmth.

He kissed her lightly on the top of her head, whispering soothing words in her ear to calm her sobbing. Finally, her sobbing ceased, and she took several deep breaths before opening her mouth to speak again. "Will you ever forgive me for betraying you, angel?" she whispered hoarsely.

She felt him sigh against her, she had not called him angel since the night of Don Juan. Holding back tears of his own, he simply said with as much nonchalance as he could muster, "I never thought ill of you. I knew it was not your choice. No woman would ever love me, I should have expected it."

Christine pulled back from his embrace, looking into his eyes with disbelief in her own. "That's not true, you are the most perfect man I've ever met, you have a pure heart and an enormous soul, and amazing ears and hands for music and architect.Your torment is only given by those who are too foolish to acknowledge the man underneath the mask." And with that she grasped one of his hands in her own, and reached up with the other and removed his mask as he stared at her in utter shock.

In any other instance, he would have yanked his hand away and leapt to his feet, yelling for an explanation for revealing his deformity. But he was in too much of a state of shock, and merely gasped as she stroked the marred flesh with a tender hand. "And you are the most handsome man I think I've ever laid eyes on." She whispered with a small smile. At this his eyes darkened, and he pushed her hand away and turned back towards his organ. "Do not toy with me Christine. I know you are not blind, you can see the ugliness of my face just as well as all those who have tortured me for it."

He heard her sigh softly, and he turned to her once again as she held his face in her hands. " No, Erik. All I see is a man." He searched her eyes, but he could find no dishonesty behind them, and finally gave into her gaze, letting the tears flow down his cheeks. But his gaze hardened once more and he once again pushed her hands away roughly, standing up and walking towards the kitchen. Christine sat motionless, in complete confusion, watching him prepare their dinner, before deciding to speak. "Erik, what-?" He cut her off before she could even finish speaking.

"Do not try to ignore the fact that you still love the Vicomte. I knew you were trying to tease me by making me seem like your one love, paying me back for keeping you here, before pulling away and laughing at me for being such a fool, leaving me once again ashamed and heartbroken. So I simply took the liberty of breaking away first." With this he gracefully turned on his heel, suddenly becoming very interested in mixing the flour and water for the fish.

She stared at him, in open-mouthed shock. She struggled to find her voice, finally regaining it and whispering "Erik, I-" He cut her off once again, his voice wavering slightly before masking it again with his cold veil. "I can no longer live with your torturous games Christine. this taunting that seems to bring you such delight causes me more heartbreak than if you had left me with that boy. I have come to accept the fact that you do not love me Christine, and I-" He voice broke, and he had to swallow before continuing again. "You're free to go..to go live with your fiance. Now leave me." And with a slight flick of a switch along the wall the gate rose, and he dropped the bowl in his hands and it clattered to the floor, splattering its contents across the kitchen.

Christine, hearing the authoritative tone in his voice, knew it was not simply a plea, it was a command, so with trembling legs, she stood from the bench and began walking towards her bedroom to pack her things. This was what she wanted, but she had never felt more miserable in her life.

She heard Erik's sobbing in his bedroom as she packed nervously, packing all her clothes in first in the bag she had found stuffed under her bed, then hesitantly putting the twelve roses tied with a black ribbon that Erik had laid out on her dresser when he had awoken. She once again began to sob as she slowly walked out of the bedroom, then breaking into a run as she ran past Erik's bedroom, past the organ, past the gates. No matter how far she went, she couldn't escape Erik's sobbing from her mind, or the obnoxious voice whispering in her head that she loved him.

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AHHHHH DONT KILL ME! ITS NOT THE END :cowers again under desk:

If you review enough...I'll post another chapter before Tuesday...