One Step Forward

Christine gave Suzanne a last fleeting glance before opening the large door to the dining room. She could feel her heart thundering in her chest as she stepped into the large low lit room. As she raised her eyes, she was overwhelmed by the beauty of the room. A beautiful crystal chandelier hung from the high ceiling, and Christine found herself staring at the stain glass windows that depicted beautiful red roses. She spun slowly and tried to admire every detail, succeeding only in making herself dizzy.

Erik watched from the shadows, not willing to stop his protégé quite yet. He smiled softly as he watched her walk around the room with an admiration he had seen only once before. This thought darkened his mood, and he grew angry at himself. No! Now is not the time for sorrow! Shaking his head of unwanted thoughts, he brought his attention back to Christine. She looked stunning and he cursed every god he could think of for making her so damn beautiful. Her wild mane of chestnut curls was pinned up, allowing only a few tendrils to rest contently on her cheek and neck. The pink dress she wore hugged her curves and accented her pale flesh, and he had no doubt Suzanne had chosen this particular outfit. He was relieved to see the green shawl wrapped around her shoulders. He was having trouble controlling his desire as it was without more of her creamy skin showing. How was he to survive the month, let alone the night? Erik was thankfully dragged from his fantasies when she tripped over an area rug, and he was immediately at her side.

Christine yelped in surprise when he materialized beside her. "Don't do that!" She gasped, trying to compose herself after the initial fright. Erik couldn't help but smile as he led her to her seat. She blushed slightly when he played the role of a complete gentleman, even pushing in her chair when she sat down. As he sat down as well, Christine was once more faced with how handsome he was. The mask did mar his beauty though, and one of her hands itched to remove it and be done with the matter. She refused to let herself do that though. The scars on her back served as a reminder to let him have his privacy.

"Christine." She looked up into his golden eyes and once again found herself unable to look away. "I have known you for a few days now, yet I know nothing about you."

"And I you." Erik realized she was more in the dark than he was, but he did not want her to know anything about him. He could not trust her with his past, his enemies, or god forbid, his face. No she would be happier if she was kept ignorant on such matters.

"I am very curious about your story. Mainly, where did you learn to sing so beautifully?" Christine thought long and hard, but decided that she could answer him this. For it was a happy memory. She was momentarily distracted when a few servants came out to serve them dinner. Erik looked very annoyed at their timing, but waited almost patiently until they had left and she had eaten a fair amount.

"My father taught me to sing when I was a little girl. He loved music very much, and it was always welcome at the chateau. He would grant weary travelers a night to rest for song and merriment, or any kind of music. It was a wonderful time. One that could never last." She sighed, reveling in her merories.

"Ah. I take it this is when Isabel entered the picture?" Christine nodded, and he could see the pain in her brown eyes. Obviously there was some bad blood between the two of them, and he knew why. She was a very manipulative woman that had almost every man drooling at her feet. Still he smirked at the fact Christine's beauty far outweighed her own. No doubt she had seen the young brunette as competition, and to be Isabel's enemy was dangerous indeed. "How old were you when your father remarried?"

"I was nine, if you must know. She was a horrible woman, and from the day she stepped foot in my home, all the music and joy left." Her eyes went distant for a moment before she shuddered. Erik still wanted to know more, but he knew he should tread cautiously, this being only the second civil conversation they had had so far. "What about you? You must have an interesting tale."

"No. I will not discuss my past." He said bitterly. This infuriated Christine. He asked her of her childhood, yet refused to tell her anything about his own. He sighed when his eyes met her cold glare. This had been a mistake and he should have never thought this would work. "I know you're angry Christine, but trust me. My past is not pretty, and you do not wish to hear about it." She gave a very unladylike snort at this.

"Oh, and you think my childhood was all fun and games?" Erik groaned. He would get nowhere with this woman. "Don't assume someone's life is perfect just because they don't share the horrors they've endured." He leaned forward and looked deeply into her eyes.

"What do you want from me Christine?" She stood up and threw her napkin down on the table. He could see her frustration plain in her eyes.

"Nothing, Erik. I do not want or expect anything from you or anyone." Erik watched as she walked from the room. With every movement she made, he felt his chest tighten. Something was troubling her, and had been for a long time. So he began to follow Christine, noticing she did not head towards her room. He hated how sad she looked, but maybe he could fix that.

"Christine!" He called. She heard him but did not slow her pace. What did he want now? Erik began to walk faster, closing in the distance between them. "Christine, wait!" She really did not have a choice as she slammed into the wall of his chest. A blush crept to her cheeks at the sudden contact, and she was thankful for the low light in this corridor. He put his hands on either side of her face, gently guiding her eyes to his. "Please, I am sorry I offended you. Let me make it up to you." Never had she heard Erik sound so sincere, and she nodded. She refused his arm, but followed closely.

They had not walked too far before Erik came to a halt. Christine looked curiously at the door, and he motioned for her to turn the handle. She gave a last questioning glance to him before pushing the door open. She was speechless.

Christine entered the library, not truly believing what she was seeing. She looked around at the many books, noticing that most were quite old, but in incredible condition. Someone in this manor cared for the written word, she wondered if it was Erik. She turned around to see Erik had entered the room as well, his eyes bright as they watched her. "Do you like it?" He asked, his gaze never wavering.

"Yes." She said breathlessly. "I have never seen so many books in one place! Do you think that I…" She gestured to the shelves and Erik nodded.

"Of course." She smiled once more and began to scan the shelves. "If you wish to find this room in the future, the servants will assist you." He turned to leave, but felt Christine's hand on his shoulder. He stiffened at the contact, but allowed her to turn him.

"You don't have to leave. I mean… You could always stay." She said softly, feeling as though he would not have left if she had not been there. Besides, this had been one of the nicest things someone had done for her. Maybe she and Erik could become friends before the month was over. Erik smiled at her, and though it was small, it lit up his face.

"Very well, I will stay." Truthfully, he was dumbfounded. She wished to spend time in his company? No one really wanted to spend time with him, they only endured it. Yet, Christine had invited him to stay with her. Maybe she was different. Yes, his Christine was different.

Erik sat in one of the armchairs with a book. For once though, he was not interested in it. How could he with Christine lying on the window seat within view. No, he would not read in the presence of an angel, the book could wait.

Christine yawned and continued to read. She was becoming sleepy and the warm fire in the room wasn't helping. She lay her head on the cushion and decided that she could rest for a few minutes. Erik glanced over to see Christine fast asleep, peaceful and relaxed. He longed to watch her sleep, but realized she would be most comfortable in a bed. An image of her in his bed came to mind, and would not go away as he approached the sleeping girl. Gently, he shook her shoulder. "Christine, wake up." She moaned, refusing to get up. "Christine!" He said a little louder, and brought her into a sitting position.

Christine's eyes opened sleepily, but would not stay open. She did not want to wake up, not when she was warm and comfortable here. Shaking her head, she tried to lie down once more. Erik rolled his eyes at this, but not in agitation. He decided to carry her after the third failed attempt to awaken her. Slowly, he lifted Christine, relishing the feel of her in his arms. To his surprise, she nestled into his chest. He began to walk towards her chambers at the slowest pace possible, not wanting to ever let her go.

Erik felt his heartbeat increase as her little hands gripped his shirt. He looked down at the angel in his arms to see her chestnut eyes staring back at him. He thought she would have been furious with him for laying a hand on her, but the look on her face erased that thought. Her eyes were soft and she smiled at him as he ascended the stairs. "Thank you, Erik." Christine whispered as she became unconscious once more.

As he placed her in her bed, she sighed softly. Slowly, he reached out, allowing his fingers to trace the line of her jaw. When they reached her lips, he could not resist tracing them as well, and his hand slightly shaking at the contact. Oh, how he longed to claim them for his own. Erik frowned at himself for this thought. He was slowly falling for her, even though he knew it could never be. In a month she will be gone, do not forget that! Still, something in him couldn't help but hope.

Erik tossed and turned in his bed, unable to sleep. Images of Christine filled his thoughts, and sleep was the last thing on his mind. After hours of staring at the ceiling, he finally grew restless and left his bed. His intended destination was the window, but his feet would simply not move in that direction. Before he could really process what was happening, he was at Christine's door. Erik stood there for several minutes, wondering if he dared invade her privacy. However, he refused to keep standing there like a simpleton, and at last he opened the door.

Erik took only three steps before he gave a small curse. He should have remembered what a light sleeper she was. After all, that was how they first met. He considered leaving now and being thankful he had not been caught, but something stopped him. He could hear a voice; Christine's voice. He approached her bed cautiously, finding a disturbing sight.

Christine tossed and turned, caught up in what looked like an intense nightmare. Occasionally she moaned and tried to free herself from something invisible. As she struggled he could see the layer of sweat that covered her skin, and Erik wanted nothing more than to save her from this hellish dream. Unfortunately that would lead to multiple uncomfortable questions that he did not wish to answer. What possible explanation did he have for being in her room in the middle of the night? Erik would not leave her to suffer, though. He crouched near her on the floor and began to softly sing.

Erik did not concentrate on what he sang. But as his voice echoed quietly, Christine began to relax. He sighed in relief when her imaginary battle ceased and she was once more sleeping soundly. Still he sang, loving the smile that glowed on her unconscious face. Hours seemed to pass by before Erik finally left her bedside. He was in deep thought by the time he returned to his bed, realizing there was more to Christine than met the eye. Something haunted her, and he was determined to find out what.

Christine woke up as the morning light grew hot on her face. She sighed and stretched, not quite ready to leave the soft warm bed. It had been a long time since she had slept so well, and she could only smile at why. Her horrible nightmare had not returned the previous night, and instead she dreamed of angels. Never had she heard such a beautiful voice, and she wondered if she would hear it again, should she continue to sleep. Unfortunately, Suzanne knocked on the door, wondering if her mistress had risen. "Come in!" Christine called as she finally sat up. The large woman entered, looking well rested and awake. When she saw Christine, she gasped.

"Christine, you are still in your dress!" Suzanne scolded. She hurried over to the young woman who had just realized this as well. "How did you sleep! You must have been so uncomfortable." Christine did not think much of this matter, having slept with much worse than a corset.

"Suzanne, I have had much worse. You needn't be concerned with my comfort." Suzanne turned red as she remembered the scars. Christine sighed heavily, before allowing Suzanne to help dress her. An awkward silence fell over the both of them, and Christine fiddled with her hands, not knowing what to say.

"I trust you slept well?" Christine nodded, glad that a new conversation had been started.

"Yes! I slept wonderfully. I dreamed of an angel!" She said excitedly, quietly beaming. She knew it was very childish to be dreaming of angels, but she really did not care.

"An angel?" She asked skeptically.

"Yes, he had the most enchanting voice." Christine said dreamily, losing herself in her thoughts for a moment. "I've never had such a dream before. I just cannot get over how he sang. It sounds silly to say this, but it just seemed so real." Suzanne nodded and smiled, not thinking much of this matter.

"That's nice, dear. Would you like to break your fast?" At the sound of Christine's stomach growling, she began to chuckle. "I'll take that as a yes."

Erik woke very late, much to his dismay. When he finally emerged from his chambers, he was anxious to start his lesson with Christine. He assumed she had risen by now, and went to the kitchen to see if she was there. When she wasn't, he grew irritated and began to search the manor.

She wasn't in her chambers, the music room, or the library. Erik was on his way to check the stables, wondering if maybe she enjoyed animals, when Michael rode up. "Good morning, monsieur Desslar." He called as he dismounted. Erik turned to the boy, curious at his sudden arrival.

"What has taken you so long to return?" Michael did not wish to speak of his visits with Meg, but he had to tell him of what he had learned.

"Forgive me, I did not make haste." Erik did not seem satisfied with this answer, but did not pester him. "There is something going on in that chateau, monsieur! There are secrets, I just know it!" He raised an eyebrow as Michael continued. "I am very relieved you decided not to return Mademoiselle Daae to that horrible woman. She would have suffered greatly had she returned." Erik sighed and rubbed his temples, knowing everything was about to get very complicated.

"I know that. I knew it all along that punishment awaited Christine if she returned." Michael frowned at this, not liking the fact that his master would willingly put a young girl in danger. "I didn't know how severe, I still don't. But as I see her now, I fear she has suffered greatly already." From the nightmares she had, he had no doubt she was afraid of something, he just wasn't sure what. Trying to clear his head of such depressing thoughts, he turned back to Michael. "Speaking of Christine, I cannot find her. Have you seen her?" Michael nodded.

"As I was riding in I saw her and Suzanne strolling through the gardens. They should still be there." Erik nodded and walked away quickly. Michael gave a sly grin as they left, not missing the way his eyes lit up when speaking of Christine. He was sure Erik would fall in love with her in no time. The only question was, could she love him in return?

Please read and review! The more I get, the faster I write new chapters!