Disclaimer: The characters and plotline of the Phantom of the Opera on which this story is based are – to the best of my knowledge – the property of Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Nor do I own any of the songs or music used or referred to within this story. No infringement of copyright is intended nor is this story written for profit as I have the greatest respect for their work.

Chapter 56

She had rejected him, turned away from him once more. Yes, she had been frightened, but that only meant she was acting on instinct. And her instincts were to shrink away from him, to cower at the very sight of him. He had thought that when she'd fought against his hold, it had been because of the shock. But she had to have known him as he led her down the tunnels, she'd responded to his voice.

His voice had calmed her. But his person had repulsed her.

He knelt by the lake, staring at his reflection as he thought on the angel lying in his bed. Once she had exhausted herself with her tears, he had eased her back into a more comfortable position before leaving her. Where just about anyone else would look awful after having cried so much, even with her eyes swollen and reddened, she was still a wondrous vision.

The face of an angel. The heart of a serpent.

All the defences he had built over time, forged through years of pain that could easily encompass several lifetimes' worth of suffering; all those defences and she had managed to get past them. And just like her mother, she had crushed him, turned her back on him.

Just like Katie, Christine would surely leave.

And he had been a fool to ever think otherwise.

She woke with a pounding headache. The cool silk she was resting on eased the tension somewhat, but she still felt . . .

Silk.

There wasn't anything silk she had that she'd be lying on. Slowly and groggily, she opened her eyes to be met with a familiar sight. She was lying on red silk sheets in a golden swan bed. The walls and ceiling were a rocky cavern and there were candles all around. Her eyes darted away from them, seeking out something other than the flames. They landed on the small monkey, though his cymbals were silent and no music came forth this time.

She blinked back a fresh onslaught of tears as she remembered and realised what had gone before. It had been her angel who had pulled her into the shadows, her angel who had brought her to safety in spite of how she had fought him.

She had fought him.

After how she had betrayed him with the mask, let him down in her behaviour towards Raoul and now she had fought him. And still he had calmed her, soothed her, brought her back once more from the clutches of the most terrible darkness. Once again he had given her that music and saved her from her despair.

Rising on shaky legs, she fought her exhaustion and went in search of her Angel. He was crouched on the bank of the lake, running a hand through the silent waters. Surrounded by the opulence of his kingdom, she felt so out of place in her jogging bottoms, vest top and jacket. The sight of him crouched by the lake brought back the images of the last time she had seen him that way: when she had broken him.

Suddenly, she was not so sure she dared go near.

But staying away had never been an option. Not daring to break the silence he had imposed on his kingdom of music, she approached him as quietly as she could, sitting a few feet away from his left side. He had probably been aware of her since she'd entered the main cavern, and yet he still made no move to acknowledge her presence.

"You have rested, then." He said quietly, his eyes still fixed on the waters, his hand still blurring his already marred reflection.

"Yes, thank you." Raising his head, he looked out over the black waters that remained undisturbed in spite of his small waves. Christine looked down and spied her watch. Smiling nervously, she ventured.

"Well, I did say I'd see you tomorrow." He turned to face her then and she flinched at the cold steel his eyes directed her way.

"And now you have fulfilled your promise I am to return you." Looking at him in confusion, she whispered.

"If you want to."

His face devoid of any emotion, he rose and fetched his cape. About to pass her to reach the gondola, he was stopped as she grabbed his arm. A muscle clenched in his jaw before he looked down at her.

"Angel, what have I done?"

"Nothing that was not expected." He shrugged off her hold on him. She got to her feet and took hold of him once more before he could reach the pole that would drive the boat. Turning him to face her, she asked again.

"What do you mean? Angel, what did I do last night to make you so cold towards me?" Silence. That worried her more with him stood barely inches away from her than if he was hiding. She could touch him and yet she could not reach him. "Please, Angel. Why protect me from them just to hurt me more than they would have?"

Shock washed over his features. The steel of his anger melted until it burned as fury once more. Taking hold of her arms, he ignored her wince as he held her away from him.

"Why protect you? So I can endure more of your lies, so I can face your abhorrence of me again." Pushing her away, he moved back over to the boat. "Do not speak to me of hurt."

He stood waiting for her to climb in, clearly putting an end to the conversation. Christine searched the recesses of her mind, trying to think what had happened that she'd missed. What could she have done?

"You came in with a candle." She whispered. His frown deepened and he looked at her with a reluctant question in his eyes.

"What of it?"

"You came in with a candle, and I ran away from you." He looked away, not needing the reminder. Slowly, she moved back to him. Gently touching his arm, it was her turn to ignore the flinch.

"Angel, you know I fear the dark," he looked down into her pleading eyes and felt his resolve melting a little, "but I am terrified of fire. Even if it's just the single flame of a candle." She could have knocked him down with a feather, or even a breath.

"The only light here is from fire. You expect me to believe it didn't bother you last time?"

"Yes." Scoffing, he turned from her again, but she didn't let him this time. Standing firmly in front of him, she explained, "Because an angel once told me he would be watching over me, that he would keep me safe. And I believed him."

Still he remained unmoved. It was too much to hope for. She raised her hand to his face, wanting to restore what had passed between them only a few short hours ago. He grabbed hold of her wrist before she could touch him though.

"Why would I want to hurt my guardian angel?" She begged. His grip on her hand loosened, though his hold remained. Again she tried, and this time succeeded in laying her palm against his cheek.

"Rest, Christine. I shall return you in the morning." He acquiesced wearily.

Following his silent instruction, she returned the way she had come. Before leaving the cavern, she whispered 'goodnight' to him. She was tremendously relieved when after a few moments, he returned it.

After a couple of hours of lying there restlessly, she realised she wasn't going to get any sleep. Silently, she padded her way back to the main cavern where she spied her angel at the great organ, once more scribbling away. She sat on the ground where she could watch him, finding comfort in his presence.

"I thought you would be asleep." He eventually broke the silence, his back still to her. That was when she truly realised: this latest wound she had inflicted had not been healed, neither had he recovered from when she had unmasked him. Her angel was drifting from her, lost on the other side of a void she had created.

And there was only one chance she could think of to bring him back.

"I need to tell you something."

Author's Note: OK, we established in Chapter 54 that I'm evil, so you can put those missiles down now. I was going to put these two chapters together and give you the next bit, but it's late, I'm tired and I owed you a double update and they split nicely anyway. I WILL update tomorrow, because I've been looking forward to the next chapter for quite a while now. Apologies for yet another cliffhanger, but you ought to know by now that I do love keeping your interest piqued even if my methods are a bit evil at times. Thanks for reading. Nedjmet.