Slowly, Erik and Christine fell into a routine of life. Late in the night, Christine would slip into Erik bed after not being able to fall asleep in her own. Erik didn't understand why she even tried her own bed anymore, but he was always glad when she came into his.
In the morning, Erik would slip out of bed to go entertain her "royal pain in his rear." He had started leaving books for Christine to read or study while he was gone so she wouldn't get bored. When he was done and ready to kill the Sultana each day, he would come back and eat dinner with Christine. Afterwards, they would work on Christine's music lessons. More and more often Erik found himself choosing duets to work on so he could sing with her.
Erik knew they crowded around the door at night to listen to the lesson. He cared not. Heaven was wherever Christine was. They would sing for hours before saying good night and heading to their separate bedrooms. Erik would wait in anticipation for Christine to come to him, claiming she was scared.
Erik believed that he had found happiness with Christine, but happiness does not always last.
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Christine was starting to grow restless. She missed Sarah and Meg. Erik had always been controlling, but this crazy lady was even worse. Christine was basically forced to stay in Erik's apartment. Technically, she could go anywhere on palace grounds, but she was always given strange looks from the men around the palace. She felt uncomfortable and dared not venture out without Erik's protection.
It seemed as if Erik was always gone. He refused to talk about whatever it was that he did without her. Nadir would come to visit her occasionally, but Nadir was not Erik. He would never be able to fill a room the way Erik did.
It was on one such visit that Nadir left behind his briefcase. Christine knew it was wrong to snoop, but she couldn't help herself. As she shuffled through the papers, her heart was broken, and she found herself devastated.
Dear Sultana,
I write to you with reports of Erik. Finically, he is doing quite well for himself. Erik has also found himself a new obsession. Her name is Christine Daae. It has consumed him.
In an attempt to be closer to her, he had hired one of her friends to steal a car and make sure she gets caught with Christine in the car. With enough persuasion, Erik was able to get Christine living in his house while all of it was swept under a rug.
Any obstacle that could possibly come in the way between the two of them, Erik has removed. A young lady named Elizabeth, who was encouraging Christine to see others and go into dangerous parts of town was paid to move and never have contact with Christine ever again. While a young man vying for Christine's affection, Erik threatened to kill the boy and nearly did in a jealous rage.
Erik had come up with the delusional idea that Christine loves him before she ever met him. It may be in everyone's best interest if Erik returned back to his position in your service.
Your faithful servant,
Nadir
For the first time in weeks, Christine curled into a ball and cried. She needed Sarah. She wanted to go back home. However, she wasn't so sure if she wanted Erik to come with her anymore.
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Erik came into the apartment with Nadir. Erik needed one of this architect books while Nadir wanted to retrieve his briefcase. Hate Me filled the silence he was normally greeted with. Erik found Christine reading a book down on the floor. It took a moment before she noticed he was in the room.
She quickly gathered her book and got up to return to her room. Erik grabbed her arm. This was not the welcome that he had become accustomed to. "Christine, what's the matter?"
Christine refused to even look at him. How could she? "Christine, answer me."
"You're manipulative, selfish, egotistical, disrespectful, and down right rude. You're not my favorite person right, and if you don't mind, I would like to be left in peace so that I can continue reading." Erik let go of her arm. He was in shock. He didn't know what had caused the sudden changed. He left with Nadir hoping she would be in a better mood at dinner.
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Dinner wasn't any better. Christine refused to talk to him and went straight to bed. There was no music. There were no discussions or laughter.
Both laid in their beds. Sleep refusing to come to either of them. Their thoughts were plagued with each other, and no resolution in sight. It would be a week before anything changed the routine that started that day.
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Erik pulled his hand back, and the sound of bones snapping echoed. The man in front of him fell down dead. Erik let the lasso have enough slack that it was easy to pull back to him.
The Sultana smiled up in her little viewing box. She wasn't sure what had happened between Christine and Erik, but she knew her old Erik was returning to her. His mood had blackened once more.
To the Sultana's displeasure, there was no more nightly singing. At night, Erik pounded away at the organ in his quarters, producing a dark sound that reached into one's chest and ripped out the heart. During the day, Christine played loud, angry rock.
This would not do at all. The Sultana had made plans. She had already invited her guests to show off her pets. While keeping her eyes trained on Erik, she mentioned for Hafiz to come to her. "Tell Erik I want to see him in my chambers."
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Erik made up his mind before he ever arrived at the Sultana's chambers. One day he would kill Hafiz. He would kill him for just breathing. For every rude comment he had ever made. And for the way he looked at Christine.
Erik knocked on the door and waited for it to be opened by one of the Sultana's many guards. The door finally opened, and Erik found the Sultana lying on a couch. A man with nothing but a lion clothe was feeding her grapes while servant girls rushed around the room doing various tasks.
The Sultana smiled as she saw her prized pet walk into the room. She didn't bother to move, but in her commanding voice, she ordered everyone to leave them alone. "I haven't seen Christine lately. Where are you hiding her, Erik?"
Erik simply stared back at the Sultana. He wasn't going to dignify her question with a response. She knew exactly where Christine was at. The Sultana allowed Christine into the garden and that was that. The walls of the palace were Christine's bars. For now. Erik promised her he would take her home. It was a promise he intended to keep.
The Sultana stood up and walked towards a shelf in the room. She started fingering with the different objects on the shelf. "Erik, it's not that I am not enjoying the return of your bad moods. However, I noticed you and Christine aren't singing together anymore. In fact, I haven't heard either one of you sing in days."
"Are you no longer entertained? Have I started to bore you? Should Christine and I pack our things and head back to the States?"
"Erik, you know I could never tire of you. However, I have guests coming, and I already promised them they would hear an angel sing."
"Christine's not some plaything that you can use to entertain your friends with."
"Erik, I am not asking. I want you to sing with her, preferably the song that the two of you were singing a few nights ago."
"I don't sing. And Christine's not being your entertainment."
"Maybe I'll just take her away from you for a few nights, Erik. Would that change your mind? Let's face it. Christine is the thing that you love the most, but she'll never love you Erik. How could she? Has she seen your face? Does she know the things you've done? I would be careful if I were you, Erik. If Christine ever sees what a real man is like, she might not come back to you."
Erik turned around and left. He would listen to no more of these insults. Christine loved him. She had seen his face, and she didn't run or scream. She had stayed. Whether Christine knew it or not, deep in her heart she loved him.