"Erik, come on. Tell me where we are at."
"Where we are at is not important. It is the company I am in."
"Erik, we're the only ones here."
"Preciously."
"You mean you planed it this way?"
"Are you disappointed?"
"No, it is rather nice. There isn't a bunch of noise. You don't care for crowds too much."
"No, darling, I don't."
"Hmm."
"You're wanting something. Go ahead what it is. All you have to do is ask, and I will give you the world."
"Well, I wanted you to go with me to the orchestra playing next week. I thought just the two of us could go. You know give David and Raphael the night off. But I can understand if you don't want to. With your dislike for crowds."
"Do you need a new dress?"
"What?" Christine lifted her eyes off of her plate to stare at Erik.
"For the orchestra. Do you want a new dress?"
"No. You have provided me with more than enough dresses."
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Erik was waiting for Christine in the foyer. He had something to give her. She had given him so much this past few weeks. First, she had invited him to go see the orchestra with her. Then, she had done better than he had expected with her musical. Christine was meant for a greater stage than the college's, but performing had made her happy. And her happiness was all that mattered to Erik.
"Susan said you wanted to see me, Erik." Christine took two steps into the foyer.
"Yes, come here." Erik turned Christine to where her back was to him. He reached over her head. Christine raised her hand and stopped the material from going in front of her eyes. "Christine, please."
"No, Erik. What do you think you are doing?" She said turning to face him.
"Turn around, Christine. I have a surprise for you, but you're not going to get it unless you follow the rules. I promise it will only be on for a few minutes." Christine folded her arms over her chest and turned back around.
"Fine." Christine sulked as she let Erik blindfold her. He took her hand in his and led her out of the house and around the corner. He opened a car door and placed Christine in the seat.
"Now, you may take it off." Christine slowly slid the material off. Erik climbed into the passenger seat. "I thought we might go for a test drive. If it dissatisfies you, we can exchange it."
"You mean it's for me?"
"Yes. As long as we can come to some agreements over it first, you may start driving yourself around." Christine threw her arms around Erik and squeezed tightly.
"Thank you, Erik." Erik returned the embrace, never wanting to let go.
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Christine was worried. Elizabeth had not shown up for class. She was not answering her cell phone. Luckily, Christine's last class had a test, and she was able to leave early. She drove over to Elizabeth's apartment and knocked on the door. There was no answer, and the spare key was missing from underneath the fire extinguisher. None of it was adding up. Something must have happened to Elizabeth. Christine went back to pounding on the door.
One of the residents opened their door. "She moved."
"When?"
"Not sure, but a crew came this morning. Boxed everything up and moved it out of here."
"Do you remember the name of the company?"
"No. Their uniforms didn't have no names on them, but the one guy kept mentioning that if they didn't hurry that Master Erik would be awfully upset. Maybe there is something that I can help you with."
"No. Thank you." Christine rushed out to her car. Where had Elizabeth gone? What had Erik done to her? She was tempted not to go back to the house. Show him that he couldn't control her life like this.
It was not the solution, and she knew it. If she was not back at the house in time to eat lunch with him, he would come looking for her. When, not if, but when he found her, he would most likely take the car away and make her go back to being driven around by David. No, she would have to wait.
She turned the radio up as high as it would go and went back to Erik.
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Erik could hear the noise and see his windows shaking in his office. Whoever was responsible for this would pay. He went to the window to see Christine pulling up in the drive-way. The music died with her car. He would have a talk with her. He would not allow her to ruin herself.
He stepped out side of his door and waited for her to enter the house. She came in, slamming the door behind her. "Christine, we must talk."
"Not now." She rushed up to her room and slammed the door.
Erik let out a frustrated sigh. He decided it would be best to let her calm down before he reprimanded her.
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"No. No. No." Erik banged at the keys on the piano. "That is not it. Christine, you know how to sing this song. I demand you sing it right this time. Once more." He began playing. Christine sang the first half right and continued to mess up the next several lines.
"No, Christine. You are not listening. What have I done to make you so mad at me?"
Christine stared at the floor. Now was not an appropriate time to bring up Elizabeth. She simply kept quit, waiting for him either to dismiss her or make her sing again.
"Christine, please answer me. I am sorry for whatever it is I did."
"May I go now?"
"No. We are done singing today, but we have much to discuss." He gestured for her to go sit on the couch. She walked over and sat in a huff.
"I don't not wish to discuss anything with you. I simply wish to return to my room."
"In a moment, my dear. Let us discuss like civilized adults."
Christine flashed Erik a fake smile while gritting her teeth. "Alright, Erik. What would you like to discuss?"
"This afternoon, the level you had your stereo turned up was inexcusable. You will ruin your hearing if you keep it. You will not listen to it that loudly again."
"You can't tell what volume to listen to it at."
"Maybe you would prefer for David to start driving you around again?"
"No." Christine crossed her arms. Sulking.
"Then, we are agreed. The stereo will stay at an acceptable level. Now, what has you upset that your behavior has changed this afternoon?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing? I find this rather hard to believe. Is this nothing also what caused you to arrive home late today?"
"I wasn't late."
"For getting out of class early today, you were."
Christine stood up enraged. "Well, Erik, if you're spying on me, why don't you just come out and say that you know I went to Elizabeth's apartment? That's what you're getting at."
"YOU DID WHAT?" Erik bellowed his rage. Christine took a step back in fear. Obliviously, Erik hadn't know she had gone there. He took a step towards her, grabbing her wrists. "What did you do, Christine?"
"Ow. Erik, let go. You're hurting me."
"No. Erik will never let Christine go. She belongs to Erik." Erik drug Christine with him as he went to her room.
"Erik. Stop please. I am sorry." Erik payed no heed as he threw Christine on the bed and searched for her purse. "Erik, please tell me what you are looking for. I will help you find it."
Erik ducked into the closet. He found her purse and retrieved the keys from it. "Please, Erik. Tell me why you are so upset."
Erik stocked back over to Christine, dangling her keys. "Erik must protect Christine, even if Christine doesn't see why. Erik loves Christine as she loves him. He will do anything to keep her safe." With that he stalked out of the room.
Christine began to cry the moment she heard the lock click. She dare not move off of the bed for fear of Erik coming back.
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Erik sat softly on the bed. He did not wish to disturb his angel once he found her asleep. He moved a strand of hair out of her face.
"Erik?" Christine moaned softly as she tried to wake-up.
"Shh. Go back to sleep, darling. We shall talk at breakfast." Christine closed her eyelids and went back to sleep. Erik sighed. He shouldn't have been so harsh this afternoon. He would have to make it up to her. He would make it up to her.
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Christine woke up to the incoming light. She rolled over to see a note next to the alarm clock.
'Please meet me in the library for breakfast-Love Erik'
Christine groaned as she rolled back over and threw the covers around her head. She would just go back to sleep and pretend this nightmare wasn't happening.
It wasn't working. Sleep wouldn't come. Christine drug herself out of bed and prepared to deal with Erik.
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Erik waited patiently in the library for Christine. Neutral territory. It belonged to both of them even though Christine probably spent more time in there than him. He had reacted terribly yesterday. He was going to make it up to her. He would work on his temper even if it killed him to help make Christine not be afraid of him.
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Christine opened the library door. "Erik?"
"Over here, my dear." Christine walked over and took a seat in the chair across from Erik.
"Erik, I didn't mean to upset you. I am sorry. Are you still angry?"
Erik handed Christine her juice and vitamins. "I was never angry, Christine." He said in his smooth, silky voice.
"Then what happened yesterday?" Christine fingered the glass in her hand.
"My worry for your safety took control of me. I do not see why you feel the constant need to put yourself in danger."
"Erik, may I explain what happened yesterday? Please?"
"Please. It will let us know what to do about this situation we find ourselves in."
"Erik, Elizabeth didn't show up for class yesterday. She didn't answer either one of her phones. That's just not like her. I had to go make sure she was okay. I wasn't doing it just for the sake of going down there. Please understand."
Erik massaged the bridge of his nose with his fingers. "Elizabeth is fine, Christine."
"So you did have something to do with her disappearance. What did you do with her Erik?"
"Calm down, Christine. We will discuss Elizabeth in a moment. First, I would like to discuss your safety."
"Erik, apparently I am perfectly fine. The only time I am worried about my safety is when you lose your temper."
"Christine, I am sorry. I do not wish for you to ever be afraid of me. I was not spying on you yesterday. I had called your professor yesterday, asking him to have you call me. He informed me that you had left over an hour ago. I lost track of time until you had arrived home. You seemed upset yesterday, and it had me worried. I overreacted yesterday. I should have waited for you to explain."
"Erik, I don't see what the problem is. My apartment was in a neighborhood just like Elizabeth's."
"I know. I should have never have let you stay there."Erik looked up to see Christine had stood up and was backing her way towards the door. "Christine, come sit back down."
Christine shook her head and continued. "Christine, sit back down." She shook her head once more but had quit moving. "You are trying my patience. Come sit down. I will not repeat myself again."
Erik's smile was kept hidden by his mask. Christine had taken residence in the chair once again. "What has you troubled now?"
"You're never going to let me go, are you?" Christine whispered, trembling.
"I have told you countless times that I wouldn't."
"You can't do this!"
"I beg to differ darling." Erik was going to keep calm. He didn't want to scare her anymore than she already was.
"Erik, please." Christine begged. Erik could hear the sob beginning in her voice.
"Please don't cry, Christine. There is no reason why we can't talk this out. I don't want to have to keep you in the house all of the time. Please."
"Can I still drive?" Christine tried to wipe the beginning of a tear out of her eye.
"Come here." Christine walked over to Erik. He pulled her down to sit on his lap. He began wiping a way her tears with his fingers. "Please don't cry. Erik just wishes to make you happy."
"Then why won't you let me go?"
"We were made for each other, Christine. Now there is no reason for you not to be able to come and go as you please."
"You mean it?"
"Yes, dear. I do not mean to seem so upset with you. I simply worry for your safety."
"Erik, I can take care of myself. You don't have to worry."
"And it is that kind of mentality that needs to stop. Right now." Erik tapped her on the nose as he said this.
"Alright, Erik, what is it you want in order for me to be allowed to leave your sight?"
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A/N: Sorry for making this chapter so long. I am giving my computer to a friend so that I will get some studying done this week for all the test I have this week. Please have patience with me. Lots of reviews would motivate me to write a new chapter the moment I have my computer back.