A/N: Thank you all for reading & reviewing. Since my schedule has become busy, i will be posting one chapter every other week until it slows down.

This chapter was inspired by Beauty & the Beast. Before you start reading, please keep in mind that Christine in this story is mature in her own way but also innocent due to her isolation.

Last but not least, thank you Erik'sTrueAngel for editing.

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The two walked leisurely down the bank in peaceful silence. The sound of the grass rustling beneath their feet and melodious bird chirping were the only music that was heard. Periodically, Erik glanced over his shoulder to ensure his newfound angel was no longer frustrated at him. Remembering the flame that glowed in her eyes when she confronted him earlier, as well as her compassion with regards to his grotesque affliction, he couldn't help but feel a hot rush of desire for her burning wildly inside of him.

Erik drew a steadying breath to calm the erratic beats of his heart. His gray eyes discreetly studied her, discerning her thought. Her expression was somewhat inscrutable, causing his natural curiosity to ponder what was on her mind, especially her opinion about him. And if he would ever have a chance to become more than just a friend to her.

Sometimes when their shoulders accidentally collided, he would cringe inwardly, causing his heart to skip a beat. Her nearness viciously tortured his pathetic soul; yet, it fueled his growing ardor with fiery longing to embrace her, feel her, in his arms. He silently cursed himself. Resisting temptation was his only hope. Nevertheless, his heart mocked him as he ached to learn her body and how she would react to his intimate acts.

Erik pondered his latest predicament; his logic doing its best to prevail over his innermost longings. Christine was pure; he was tainted. She was an angel on this isle of wild horses... and he was a feckless and corrupted pirate of the seas. The contrast between them was so staggering that Erik could not help but feel disgusted over his wretched desire. Years after years of receiving nothing but abhorrence and rejection from others, he had fallen into deep despair and lost all hope. Who could ever learn to love a beast like him?

Therefore, during the walk, Erik intentionally distanced himself from her, and deeply chastised himself for even thinking-let alone wishing- that Christine would return his feelings. She had saved him from the scythe of Death, and hence he owed her his life. Most significantly, she had asked to be his friend, and to him, her companionship was far precious than anything else in his life. Except for his daughter, Nicolette. Erik only feared that if she ever learned about his dark past, all the crimes he committed as a privateer, she would regret befriending him. Thus, he could never tell her about that miserable episode of his life.

Christine's delightful giggling surprisingly drew him out of his thoughts, as he saw her springing forward like a little child exultantly running toward a mountain of candies. Curiously following behind, he eagerly looked for the source of her amusement.

She suddenly stopped in the lagoon with the water touching her ankles. Grass lined the banks, and moss made the rocks slick. But something else made Erik freeze, as his breath caught in his throat. He could only stare and gape at the attractive heavenly sight in front of him.

White butterflies swirled, dipped, swooped, filled the air…they fluttered with delicate magnificence. In the center stood Christine, her mahogany hair covering with white wings. Her eyes were closed and she seemed to be absorbing the butterflies…feeling them.

Christine breathed in, sensing the tiny flickers of wingtips all around her. She could smell the powder that covered their soft wings; she could feel the vibrations of their bodies filling the air. With a gracious smile, she slowly lifted her hands, spreading her fingers wide. Instantly, hundreds of the white insects landed on her shoulders and palms, drawn by the sea salt on her skin. She was glamorously draped in a living cloak of white, as if a cloud billowed around her.

Erik quietly moved forward, captivated by her magic. As if sensing his nearness, Christine then turned to face him, lifting her palms and sending a dusting of butterflies into the air. They swirled around, milling in their world of mists and breezes, until they found him. They settled upon him, kissing him, stroking him, then lifting off and dancing again. Erik struggled to shoo them away, but the lovely white insects were not perturbed by his annoyance.

"Stay still," he heard Christine whispered. "It's alright. They don't recognize your scent."

Erik concentrated on remaining still, his eyes focused on Christine as he absorbed in every detail of her face. She had full pink lips…beautiful lips. Her cheeks were soft and flushed with the same pink hue, and her thick lashes rimmed around her luminous eyes. She looked up at him in an alluring manner that made his heart pound harder than it already did. She quietly asked him, her voice was a little more than a murmur.

"Can you feel them?"

"I can see them. They are everywhere," he responded softly.

"No, close your eyes and feel them."

Hesitating, he glanced around. It was one of his habits to always be mindful of his surroundings for his enemies.

"You are safe," she said softly as if reading his mind. "There is no one else here. You have no enemies to watch out for. Close your eyes and feel them…"

Erik reluctantly took her words and closed his eyes.

"Now," she carefully whispered. "Feel their tiny feet, their sweet breath, and their sighs as they float around you."

"How do you know what they feel like?" he muttered, entranced by the multitude of sensations.

"I spend time feeling. Do you?"

After a moment, he shook his head. "I guess not…"

"Listen to them. Can you hear the sound of their wings?"

"Yes?"

Christine smiled with appreciation. "They are singing. They are talking to each other, signaling with the different patterns of their wing beats."

"I cannot hear that," he admitted. "You can hear more than me."

"Perhaps, if you take the time to learn, you will hear it, too." Christine tenderly stated, as she closed her eyes to feel the white insects around them. How she loved to spend time studying and listening to the lively rhythm of each creature on the isle. They were part of her life. Her spirit depended on them, and they made her happy.

Erik abruptly opened his eyes and peeked at her. His angel's face glowed with a radiance that stemmed from her soul, and he was at a loss to explain it. His gaze wandered from the perfect slope of her cheeks to the curve of her lips. The way they curved up was so entrancing, hypnotically seducing him to give into his blazing urge and kiss her amidst the fluttering white butterflies.

For a second he leaned forward without her noticing, tempted to capture her loveliness and drink it in. But his conscience screamed at him, commanding him to stop. Erik stepped back, reluctant to yield to his inclination. His angel had forgiven his folly a little while ago, should he commit another one and enrage her? Though his yearning for her was killing him softly inside, Erik would not want to jeopardize their friendship. Carefully considering the consequence, he averted his gaze to the gentle waves behind her.

"Sometimes I do listen to the ocean." He stated quietly, as he watched an eddy swirled around the base of the stream where it merged with the ocean. A line of algae stopped abruptly where the salt water began, and turned into a meadow of sea urchins and mussels. "She is my only solace."

His remark was perplexing and Christine flew her eyes open to look at him, tilting her head to listen to the tone underneath his words. "Don't you have other forms of solace?"

He laughed bitterly. "No and yes. I suppose you could say that fighting is my other source of release."

"Whom do you fight?" She took a step toward him, causing the butterflies to lift into the air and fly crazily about her.

"Who do I not, Christine? My brother, my father…and many others. It is my way of living." After answering her, he stepped forward, shortening the scant distance between them. His gaze lingered upon her face, fascinated by her ethereal blue eyes that always seemed to see through him.

She blinked at him, taken aback by the distress in his tone. It was such a strong feeling that he felt he must conceal from the world, hiding behind his fierce façade of a pretense. "I do not understand what you are talking about," she said, pausing next to consider her words, and then carefully continued with genuine sympathy, "but I can hear the pain in your voice. I am sorry you have suffered so."

He flinched, not from pain but from astonishment. This woman would never cease to amaze him. "I think you are the only person who would say such a thing to me, Christine. Perhaps your isolation has made you innocent..." And that is what I adore about you...

Even though Erik's sincerity was true, their quarrel from earlier when he inadvertently called her wild had an adverse effect on her. Christine assumed that he still considered herself behind compared to his people, his world. However, she did not feel offended. Erik was right in his assertion. Since he came from the mainland, he had more knowledge about certain things that she could find useful in learning before he would leave the island for good. Christine mused with an affable smile:

"Indeed. I do not know how men and women in the mainland should act. I only know my mother and father, and they've been living on this desolate island for a long time." Her tongue moistened her lips with a small, delicate gesture, as she spoke.

Her adorable, beguiling act fortuitously enticed him to draw his attention to her lips once again, and the urge to kiss her became even stronger. He watched her unblinkingly, and whispered in a mesmeric voice of pure seduction. "There are many things men and women do together that you do not know about."

"Like what?" Christine arched her eyebrows in curiosity, and she ached to learn what he was going to inform her. "Can you show me? At least one of them?"

"Christine!" Erik swallowed hard, intrigued by her inquiry. How could she possibly read his mind and know what he was thinking? Or could she? There were many things he could say to her as an answer, but for now there was only one thing on his mind and that was…He inhaled another tense breath. His heartbeat quickened beneath his rib case.

"Please, Erik." Christine implored softly. "I want you to show me. It wouldn't hurt." Her eager request reverberated the plea of his heart. His eyes once again were glued to her lips, lured by her beauty.

Overwhelmed but motivated by her words, without hesitation, he leaned down to cup her face in his hands, and gently pressed his lips against hers. His unexpected act astonished her, like a flash of lightning bolt, rendering her body motionless. For a moment, neither one of them moved.

A spark of longing ignited between them, powerfully surging to life, and liberating any inhibition. Christine whimpered and surrendered, as she instinctively closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around his neck. The firm contact of his soft lips on hers sent sparks of tingling excitement through her blood.

Erik's mind immersed in a haze of disbelief and exhilaration that his angel did not push him away. In fact, she had contentedly welcomed his kiss. Nothing else mattered to him but this blissful moment, how he relished the sweet savor of her mouth, the silkiness of her hair and cool skin beneath his hands.

A deep groan echoed in his chest. Her mouth was the sweetest thing he had ever tasted in his life…and it was not enough. He wanted more. Erik ran his hands across her back, sensually smoothing down her spine, and pausing on the delectable mound of her bottoms, which in turn sent numerous waves of shivering warmth in her abdomen.

The intense need to learn her lips also became bolder, as his mouth grew demanding and passionate. His tongue slowly explored every contour of her mouth, drawing her tongue into his own and sucking on it with an insatiable hunger.

Christine's body quivered in the erupted heat of passion, an invigorating sensation she had never experienced before. And it felt so wonderful, and electrifying that her limbs suddenly felt weakened, as his mouth sensually commanded her into sweet submission. A wildfire burned madly inside her. She mewled in delight, as her trembling body yielded into his ardent embrace. He kissed her with an expertise that made her dizzy, her mind screaming and demanding for more.

Unexpectedly, he tore his mouth from hers, both of them gasping for air.

"Is this... one... of the things... they always do?" Christine panted, as she curiously inquired him. Her innocent eyes, darkened with sinful longing (though she might not have realized it yet) indicated to him that she unabashedly desired for more.

Erik very well knew the signs of a woman excited and Christine's expression was so transparent. Her body flushed, her pupils dilated and her breaths were heavy. After all he was once a married man, and had slept with other women, whom he shamelessly paid to satisfy his needs from time to time after the death of his wife. Those women would bear no emotional attachment to him, nor did he want them to and vice versa.

With his seasoned knowledge of the flesh, he could make Christine fall into his black magic spell, and helplessly beg him to take her right there. Nonetheless, he treasured her friendship and frantically reminded himself the reason they should not continue. Her question confounded him, and it obviously spoke the true depth of her innocence. Erik felt shaken inside, as his guilt heavily crushed down on him for misleading his angel with his overwhelming dark desire.

She did not love him, and he already knew that. But he wanted her to fall for him and willingly give herself to him. Could it ever happen? He continuously questioned his logic over and over again, but each time when the most possible answer came up inside his mind, he felt its painful sting on his pride like cobra venom. Of course that would not happen. She was an angel, and he was a demon. Realistically, angels and demons could never coexist as lovers.

Before the passionate kiss took place, he had already considered over the possible result of their friendship which he believed would never blossom into real romance. And he had admonished himself countless times over his wild, nonviable dream. Yet, he still allowed his foolish yearning to consume him, and enabled the beast inside to take advantage of Christine's innocence. She was a good girl who deserved much better than this.

Closing his eyes, he shamefully turned away to avoid her look. What the hell was he doing? He should not stay here and speak to her like nothing happened. His guilt was killing him and he detested every fiber of his being. He must get away from her to clear his thoughts.

"Erik, are you alright?" He heard her concern regarding his well-being.

"I'm sorry. It will not happen again," he said hoarsely. "I should not have dallied here. I have work to do. I must set up a signal for my men, so they will be able to locate me. I'm sorry. Good day, Christine."

She nodded in agitation, his sudden coldness discomfiting her. As he briskly walked away, Christine was left bewildered, unable to register what his actions meant. She blankly stared at his retreating back and wondered, have I done anything that irritated him? Too many times she had this thought repeated, since Erik's moods changed as quickly as the ocean's tides. She wanted to call him back and apologize for whatever offenses she caused, but it was too late. Erik's shape already disappeared from her view.

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Most of the time remaining on that day, Christine played with her white stallion, riding him, walking with him or resting against him. The incident at the lagoon played in her mind, and she could barely concentrate on anything else.

She did not understand what had happened that made Erik so upset. She had asked him to teach her how men and women should behave in his society, and in response he had kissed her with a passionate kiss unlike any of the kisses her parents would give her. It felt so delightful and aroused, that her heart would stop beating whenever she thought of him.

Christine tenderly touched her lips, a slightest of smile lit up her face, as she recollected every vivid detail of those blissful moments. His mouth was dominating, sweeping her into a world of pure feeling. She could feel her surrounding spinning madly like a propeller in a tempestuous tornado. The ground shifted and rolled beneath her feet. And in those short lived moments, Christine was succumbed to an unrestrained surge of passion. Her body became feeble and she could only cling to him for support, as if a safe anchor in a storm of turbulent emotions. Her head was on fire, and her body was pliant to his touch.

But when it ended, Erik had wholeheartedly apologized to her and left. His action befuddled her, and Christine did not know how to handle the situation. Sparks of anger warred with unfamiliar yearning for him, she felt as if an internal squall was brewing. In defense, she decided to stay as far from him, as the isle shores would allow.

That night, Erik did not return to the cottage, nor did she want to go look for him. Regardless of that, her already heightened senses were attuned to him, and she was well aware of him, no matter where he was on the island. Erik had spent time alone at the beach, building signal towers just as he mentioned.

From her spot inside the cottage, Christine mindlessly looked out of the window to the meadow far beyond, cloaked in the gloomy shadow of dusk, the tall grass waving from side to side in the careless whisper of the ocean breeze. Her head was heavy, unable to access any rational thoughts, and it felt unbearable.

"Christine!"

Her mother's calling brought her to an abrupt halt, as she was pouring water from a bucket into a kettle on a burning coal stove. She looked at her mother in confusion, then back to the kettle, and it was then she realized she had over poured, causing the water to overflow from the kettle down the floor.

Gently setting down the bucket, she quickly grabbed a dry cloth on the table nearby and neatly cleaned away the water puddle.

Jameela gave a disquieting sigh, and shook her head. The moment her daughter arrived home, she had noticed something amiss about her.

"Has anything wrong happened today that you didn't want to tell me?" Christine heard her mother asking.

"No, not quite." Christine lifted her shoulders in a brief, puzzled shrug as she pulled out a chair across her mother, who was sitting on her bed, and then sat down.

"Your time with Erik was fun?"

"Well, yes." The young maiden dashed her glance aside to avoid her mother's scrutinized gaze."He was…a little strange."

"Tell me about it. What did he do to you?" Jameela softly inquired, a profound concern was present in her tone.

"Nothing, Mother." Christine's response was brief and reluctant unlike usual. A betraying stain of red crept across her cheeks, hurrying her to say, "Please don't worry about it. I am fine."

As if sensing her obvious lie, Jameela's countenance became worried. "Are you sure? I'm not a simpleton, Christine. You seem to be absent minded ever since you returned home. Why wasn't Erik with you? Where is he? Did he do anything inappropriate to you?"

"Of course not, Mother. Erik has to build a signal for his men to come so he told me to just go home without him. I guess since we walked a lot today, I'm just a little tired. That's all." Christine had never been a good liar, but she could not tell her mother about the kiss, which drove her mad inside. What would her mother think of Erik then?

The look Jameela gave her daughter was not pleased, but she very well knew that pushing Christine would not give her a truthful answer, especially if she did not feel comfortable to confide. With that conviction in mind, Jameela changed her tactic. "Alright, I trust your words. But if anything ever happens, you must let me know. I love you and I would do anything within my power to protect you."

"Yes, Mother. I can also protect myself." The young maiden felt penitent for having to lie. But despite of that, a soft smile warmed her face, as she heard her mother's words of love and caring. Christine went to sit by her side, and gave her a big hug. "I love you, Mother."

"And I love you more, darling." Jameela gently wrapped her arms around her daughter, lovingly running her fingers through her silky hair. "Do you think Erik's people will come for him?"

"Maybe. Why do you ask?"

"Do you want him to go, dear?"

Jameela's question unexpectedly rendered her daughter speechless. Taken aback, Christine only stared, as if her heart was being gauged by her mother. What should she possibly say, when she really didn't know her true feeling for Erik?

"I don't know, but I think it's best for him to leave. He doesn't belong here and his presence disturbs my sleep."

"I see." Christine's mother coughed, and rubbed her forehead in a gesture to relieve her headache. "I have not slept well either since the night of the storm, although I believe for different reasons from yours."

Taking her mother's words as if they were meant literally, Christine enquired her with profound solicitude:

"Are you still ill? I thought you were getting better."

"I was, until the chill of the north wind caught up with me."

"I am sorry, Mother. I should have attended you more. Have you been drinking tea?"

"Yes, I drink a bit. I'm just getting old, Christine. I need some rest."

"Let me help you, Mother." Then Christine affectionately eased her down the lush bed, and kissed her on the cheek. "Please let me know if you ever need anything."

"You too, dear." Jameela smiled and closed her eyes. Christine's answer had indirectly confirmed her presumption. Indeed, her daughter did have some feelings for the young sailor, but she had yet admitted it. Jameela only wondered if Erik had felt the same, and in order to know she needed find out from him. "Good night, darling."

"Good night, Mother." Christine went to bed and lay down. Her mind could not get rid of Erik, and his kiss. She thought about him, and pondered what he was doing at this moment. Time seemed to slow down and feel dreary without his presence. She only hoped everything would be back to normal the next day.

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A/N: did you like the chemistry between our two beloved characters? Just wait and see for more romance to come. :-)

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Erik's Love: I saw your comment but i'm sorry you'll have to find out. It'll be worth the wait. :-)