Chapter Twenty-Five: Oh, Isn't This Amazing?
It had now been a full week since Erik had saved Christine from the wolves and she was finally well enough to get out of bed.
Gazing out her window, some of her favorite lines from one of her favorite works, A Midsummer Night's Dream, drifted across the forefront of her mind.
"Love can transpose to form and dignity," the redhead recited softly.
"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind."
To her surprise, Erik's smooth tones joined hers and they finished the verse in unison.
"And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind."
Christine looked over, eyes wide.
She hadn't even heard him come in!
"You know Shakespeare?" she asked.
She knew her voice was filled with disbelief and she blushed.
After what Madame Giry had told her, she now knew that Erik had once been a prince.
Still, she couldn't quite wrap her head around the fact that the masked man in front of her seemed to have more class than a great majority of those who lived in her village.
Erik shrugged.
"I had an expensive education," he replied.
There was an awkward pause.
"Actually, Romeo and Juliet is my favorite play," Christine finally admitted.
"Why is that not a surprise?" Erik rolled his eyes behind the mask.
"I beg your pardon?" Christine's jaw dropped in mock outrage.
"All that heartache and pining and..." Erik shuddered dramatically.
"There are so many better things to read!"
"Like what?" the redhead demanded, arching an eyebrow.
She crossed her arms, the challenge thrown down.
Erik smirked.
"Allow me, mademoiselle!" he purred, bowing and placing a delicate kiss on the back of her hand.
Then he grabbed hold of her hand and led her out of the room.
By the time they made it down the East Wing's long hallway, turned several corners, and climbed one smaller staircase, Christine was nearly bubbling over with curiosity.
Erik had not said a word or given a hint as to where they were going.
He just walked slowly, pausing every now and then as to allow Christine to catch her breath.
Finally, they came to a stop in front of a pair of grand doors, which soared at least two stories high and were intricately carved with reliefs depicting various scenes.
Standing next to Erik, Christine tried to make out some of the larger ones, but before she could, Erik pushed open the doors.
"There are a couple of things in here you can start with," he said, smirking slightly.
The redhead gasped.
In front of her was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
It was a library.
But this was not just any library.
This had to be the biggest, grandest library in all of France!
The ceiling soared above her, shelves full of books going all the way to the very top.
A massive fireplace dominated one wall and even on the mantel, books were displayed.
On another wall, a large window let in plenty of light to read by, but even still, candles were lit throughout the chamber.
Despite its immense size, the room was cozy and comfortable.
Christine looked around at the multitude of deep-cushioned chairs and imagined how peaceful it would be to curl up in one with a book in hand.
"Are you alright?" Erik asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.
Christine imagined she looked like a fish gaping in water for how shocked and awestruck she felt.
She turned and smiled up at him.
It's wonderful!" she said, knowing that wasn't grand enough a response for a room as such as this.
"Why yes, I suppose it is," Erik said thoughtfully, as though noticing this for the first time.
"Well then, it's yours!"
He bowed and turned to leave.
Christine's voice stopped him.
Her neck was craned back as she looked to the shelves at the very top of the room.
"Have you read every one of these books?"
"Not all of them," Erik replied.
"Some of them are in Greek!"
Christine's mouth dropped open.
"Was that a joke?" she demanded, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Are you making jokes now?"
Erik tried in vain to hide his smirk as he replied, "Maybe..."
Without another word, he turned and left.
Christine remained where she was, shaking her head as he made his exit.
What had just happened?
A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter Twenty-Six...