A/N: Okay, I'm apologizing in advance for the short length of this chapter. (Don't worry, though...I update almost every day.-smiles-) But I'm SO honored that more of you reviewed the last couple of chapters! It really encourages me to keep going. I appreciate all the "lurkers" as well, but please drop me a line to let me know how you feel about my little story here! Thank you all so much!

Chapter Eighteen

Erik walked nonchalantly to the stables in his cloak, humming to himself along the way. He did not feel like riding, but he knew that the dark mare was a comfort to him, and his life had just become more complicated. Baptême du Feu was standing with her head at her gate, and Erik thought that perhaps she knew he was coming. Had she heard me humming? He seemed to have some sort of connection with this misunderstood animal. He stroked her neck and spoke gently to her, opening the gate and going in to stand beside her. After he had spent several minutes with the mare, Erik stepped to the far wall and seated himself against it on the dirt and hay. He rested his head on one bent knee and began to speak his thoughts aloud. It was not a formal prayer, but it didn't need to be. He knew that somehow, wherever God was, he felt peace, and he knew God was there in the stable with him.

Erik began to pour his heart out—pain, rage, confusion, and gratitude all flowed from his heart and spilled from his lips in an unorganized fashion. He argued for a short while with his Maker about Christine…he knew that she was in no position to make a rational choice, but his heart was practically screaming at him to do whatever he could to make her choose him at last. But I have already tried that, haven't I? I gave her all that I had to give at that moment, and she rejected me. No…I will not go through that again. She has much still to learn regarding matters of her own heart. I need her to be a woman, not a child. He finally acquiesced to this wiser voice within him. He decided that he would have to maintain a "gentlemanly" demeanor with Christine (though he wondered audibly how he was to do such a thing) and not attempt to influence her in any way. Forgiveness was the first step, and Erik had yet to take it. If it was in God's plan for them to be together, then they would be…when they were both ready, he decided.

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Father Michel smiled at the woman with long, auburn waves as she entered the church. He recognized her at once. "Mademoiselle Daae, so lovely to see you! Is there something I can do for you?"

"I hope so, Father. I…I am very much in need of a listening ear," Christine's eyes were glued to her feet.

"Child, do you need to confess something?"

"Oh, no, Father…well, I…I don't think so, at least. I…I am just…confused right now."

Father Michel patted the seat of a nearby pew and motioned for her to sit. "Come, tell me what is troubling you."

Christine did not know where to begin. "Father, I…I think that I may be in love with two men." Well, that was certainly a blunt way to come out with it. "I need to know who it is that I am supposed to be with."

The old priest sighed. "Oh, child, matters of the heart are so very complex. And you are so very young. Why don't you tell me a bit about your situation?"

"Well…one of the men is very kind and gentle, and he was my childhood sweetheart. He makes me feel…safe, and I enjoy being with him."

"And the other?"

"Oh, Father, I don't even know where to begin with him…" she shook her head and bit her lip. "He…he was my teacher…my mentor, and he helped me to find who I truly could be through music."

"And?" Father Michel motioned with his hand. "There must be more, child, for you to be so torn between these two men, yes?"

"Yes. My teacher…he is not as young as I am, and he knows many, many things. He is a genius! But he can also be…very frightening at times," she frowned.

Father Michel's eyes widened. "Has he hurt you, Mademoiselle?" he asked, alarmed.

"Not…physically, Father. But he deceived me about many things. He had his reasons, I know, but…"

The old priest interrupted her. "Mademoiselle, surely you do not want to spend the rest of your life living with a liar!"

"No, of…of course not. But, he has asked for my forgiveness and I have given it. And he is also willing to try to forgive me, because I deceived him as well. I…I nearly got him killed…and I just couldn't live with myself until I had asked for his forgiveness."

"Do you somehow believe that this man has changed?"

"Yes, I do…something is different about him, Father. He has had a horrible life, but he is also capable of the deepest love…"

"You still have not told me how he makes you feel, Mademoiselle."

"Hmmm? Haven't I? I…I thought that I had…"

"No, you told me that the first gentleman made you feel safe and that you enjoyed being with him. But you did not tell me how being with this other man makes you feel."

"Oh. Well…I…I do not even really know what I feel when I am with him. One moment he is frightening and intimidating and the next…the next, he is tender and gentle. I…I feel…very nervous when I am around him or when he looks at me…like I cannot stop shaking. And…and when he touches me…" Christine blushed.

Father Michel smiled sheepishly. "Ah, I see. You feel 'something special' when he touches you?"

Christine sighed. Like fire. "Yes. Oh, Father! I feel so horribly guilty, because…because he is not the man to whom I am engaged! I am to marry my childhood sweetheart! But I do not know if I can go through with it." She hung her head, exasperated.

Father Michel laid his hand over Christine's. "Oh, Mademoiselle…it would be unfair to you and to everyone involved if you were to go through with this marriage before you know what your true feelings are."

Christine furrowed her brows. She nervously chewed her lip and tears began to fill her eyes. "But…but how can I do this to my fiancé? He will be so hurt, Father! I cannot break our engagement after I have promised myself to him…can I?"

"Child, you would hurt him more if you chose to marry him knowing that this other man makes you feel the way he does. You have already told me that you may be in love with them both. How can you marry one when you have unresolved feelings for the other? Marriage is a solemn vow before God to forsake all others, and if you cannot say with certainty that your fiancé is the only man you want, then you must not make that vow," the priest spoke firmly.

Christine's eyes locked on Father Michel's. She nodded. "I understand," she rasped, as her tears began to affect her voice.

"I know it will be difficult, Mademoiselle," he spoke softly, patting her hand, "but perhaps you should sever your engagement before you cause any further harm. May I say a short prayer with you? You will need all the strength that the Lord can give you, I'm sure." He smiled.

Christine nodded and joined the old priest in prayer before they said their goodbyes and she walked out to the carriage. Now, I mustn't come back empty-handed, she thought. Madame Suzette will be suspicious. A new cloak, perhaps. The weather has become chilly lately, and my old one is growing thin. She was thankful that she had four more days before Raoul came home. She had no idea what she was going to say to him when he did.

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Father Michel walked into his study and sat down to a cup of tea. Resting his head on the back of his armchair, he recalled his conversation with Christine. Poor girl, he thought, she is like a little lost sheep—being called by two shepherds.

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Erik stood and brushed the hay and dirt off of his trousers. Shouldn't have done that, he thought. Brand new trousers, and I've gone and sullied them. He made his way outside after saying goodbye to the mare and walked around the perimeter of the stables. He had an idea. Didn't I see some stacks of wood back here? Yes, there they are…not enough there to do the job, though. Erik headed to the large clump of trees at the end of the field on foot to get everything he needed for his next project.

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Erik arrived back at the guest house with an armload of wood in different lengths and sizes. He dropped everything outside the front door and noticed an envelope leaning against the screen. He opened it and saw that it was response from Monsieur Renault.

Dear Monsieur Erik:

I am pleased to hear of your new employment. All of your affairs are currently in order.

I have asked Monsieur Devin, an attorney here in the city, to handle the situation with your surname. He will be contacting you shortly with all of the necessary papers. As soon as the documents are completed, I shall converse with your employer and everything will be arranged.

If there is any way that I may further assist you, please do not hesitate to ask.

Sincerely Yours,

Phillippe Renault

Good, Erik thought. Now…choosing a surname. He grimaced. This is going to be more difficult than I had imagined.

A/N:To Phanatic4Phantom: Hey, you! Thanks for reviewing again! And thank you for always being an encouragement to me...from the very beginning. Without your prodding, this story would not have been written. -hugs-

To Mlle. Fox: I'm glad you like my "little bits" of fluff! LOL And yeah, no doubt Erik's long-buried conscience has sprung to life! Woo hoo! Ya just gotta love him, don't ya?

To MusicDeLovely: Yes, I try to put my chapters up as quickly as possible. Typing furiously trying to stay ahead of the game! After all, I am one who likes people to update regularly as well...more often than once a week...or God forbid, once a MONTH! UGH! It's infuriating, isn't it? LOL

To poetzproblem: Well, I wouldn't dish out the flattery if it wasn't well-deserved! Would you care for a second helping? LOL Okay...I LOVE your writing. Seriously. Finding a well-written story is like...like...well, okay, it's just really hard! LOL Yeah, I'm bummed about some of the mistakes I've found in my story after posting. Mortified, in fact! I hope I don't butcher anything too badly. And I'm so glad you're reading and enjoying my story. Thanks for the encouragement.

To Haley Macrae: Or is it "hayley" instead of "haley"? It's been spelled two different ways, so I'm not sure which to write! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the first encounter. More to come! -grins-