I hope that this isn't too quick for you to take the last chapter in and all that jazz... Um, well, i don't have much to say just that I don't have anything to do until I leave for camping again. *sigh*... well, enjoy this next chapter and please do review like you always have. Love you all!

~The Phantom's Flutist~

Chapter 15:

Bitter Revival

I'm definitely not sure how I felt when Erik came into the room, looking exasperated and emptied. I would furrow my brow and ask what's wrong, but I honestly didn't care at that point. So, perhaps a more interesting question would be,

"Who was that man?" I asked in a small voice.

"A... friend, for lack of a better term, of mine that seems to follow me everywhere." He explained quickly, pushing it aside. I put down the fork, and looked to him standing regally now at the other end of the table.

"You try to kill friends?" I pressed.

"I said the word with lack of a better term, he's more like my own personal stalker who just happened not to see me in a while." He said those words dryly, but with some sense of humor.

"If you say so." I shrugged, and stabbed my fork into another piece of bacon and ate it thoughtfully. "You were going to kill him..." my voice cracked on those words, my hand beginning to shake, as I thought about scooting my chair away and out the door.

"Christine," He started, and I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

"Don't do that and think everything is okay when it's not...You were going to kill him, weren't you?"

He didn't answer to that, instead attempted to calm me, by using that voice and comment on something that really doesn't matter in this conversation, and somewhere in that long speech I think I heard, "I never mean to hurt you, you know that..."

"Do I?" I asked glaring once more. "All you've done is hurt me. You are blind to it because you don't think you are." I hissed, rising from my chair, not wanting to converse with him any longer.

"Erik doesn't mean it," He hastened quickly.

"Of course you don't... If I always wanted to be married at seventeen, I'll let you know sometime! But currently I do not... and there was no damn choice in the matter!"

"Why does it even matter!? You shrivel away like a child at Erik's touch anyway, so it's not much different!" He spat coldly. I automatically stomped out of the room angrily and headed to the library without finishing breakfast, but it took me a while to notice he was actually following me again. I didn't bother to turn around, glaring to myself.

"What?" I asked coldly.

"I meant to ask you something," He muttered, and I walked forth and turned around so I would be facing his chest again.

"How would you like to go out tonight?" He asked quietly, though very solemn.

"Where?" I asked, the thought becoming very excitable.

"Do you know the date today?" He muttered.

That calmed my excitement... What could possibly be the deal with the date? I shook my head in the negative.

"September 27th." He noted blankly, seeing my reaction and I nodded to myself.

"Oh," I whispered blankly. It is the day of my father's death three years ago, and I blinked at him, "You'll take me to the graveyard?" I asked, trying to be strong for three seconds while I blinked away tears to Erik.

"If you wish." He managed. And I turned away to go to my room and get dressed, along with get a decent pair of shoes.

I met him back in the foyer and he opened the door for me and led me out front to where the usual black car was waiting. He opened the door to the passenger seat in the front and I went in, as he quickly came around and went into the driver's seat for the third time yet. I didn't manage to ask any questions on why he doesn't drive for himself, but oh well.

It was a long, thoughtful drive to the graveyard where I used to spend so much of my time if something went wrong. It was like my sanctuary, I suppose, to feel where my father would be watching over me along with God, and I would kneel in front of his grave, praying for a better day. It was the most peaceful I would ever be no matter what home I go to on a whim. I missed my father more than anything, I missed his smile, his music, and the feeling I still had a family.

We stopped at the grave spot near a family's mausoleum, and he helped me out of the car to the outside, where my father's tombstone was.

The familiar lettering of Charles Daae across the top, and then "beloved father and musician" below it in elegant writing. I knelt in the grass, just figuring out that it was rather cold out, unless I was simply getting the chills. I didn't care that Erik was standing right behind me, as I began to have watery eyes.

"I miss you, dad..." I whispered to the air, wondering if he could just be right there. "I found a place where I'm staying, you know... I haven't left, so I think you'll be happy. I'm learning to sing, too... Dad, he's a wonderful teacher, but... help me, okay?" I whispered so quietly I wondered if Erik would be listening. I used the peripheral vision to spot if he was behind me, but he was near the car, fortunately enough. "I'm married, though... I didn't want to be married, and I'm still trying to find a way out, but it would have been nice to have you at my side, though I don't doubt you were. I don't know what I'm doing anymore. I wish you would tell me what to do like you used to, so I don't have to chop my way through life... He's a genius, though, father, and he's brilliant, but I'm not sure if I was ready to be called his wife... I don't know if you'd like him or not. I love you a lot... I love you more than music itself." I murmured that entire speech brokenly to the grave, and let it go for a second.

Flowers came out of the corner of my eye and I turned around to see Erik offering a small bouquet of daisies to me to place on the grave. I gave a small smile to him, and grabbed them placing them in the small goblet for the flowers that was already filled with water from the previous rain storm.

I rested my face into my hands, overwhelmed by the ocean swallowing me whole, as it got harder and harder to tread, thinking of my past months. I broke there, in front of Erik, not intended for I was really trying to be strong. How long have I actually been in this storm, though? Have I not tried for these three years, or am I proving my father wrong that I would be the strong girl that he always thought I was?

"No, I'm not strong, father, I broke our promise..."

He held onto my hand, laying on the hospital bed, as if using it as a life jacket, so hard... I couldn't bare it any longer, but I must keep holding on. His hand became colder and colder, slowly losing its strength, his breathing becoming more shallow."No..." I whispered, coming back to real life, already feeling my cheeks a flaming red from the sobbing at the memory, and I found a gloved hand on my shoulder in a comforting way, to drag me out to real life, and trying to reach to me before I drowned. I needed someone to touch me right now... to tell me everything is fine... I needed someone's arms around me this time at the graveyard, instead of thinking that my father would be right there giving a goofy smile.

"Don't cry for me, Christine," He whispered, taking my hand to his chest. "Be strong. Do you... promise, Christine..? Be strong for me... be good.... Don't let me down..."

"I promise," I hurried,quietly.

"I'll always be there..." He whispered with a dry and raspy voice that I could hardly understand anymore,, and choked in a breath... and that was the last breath he took, his hand falling out of my grasp.

"No..." I whispered delicately. "No!" I cried, resting my head on his chest, as if knowing his hand would come back up and go through my hair carefully, and I would hear his heart beating in my ear. "No, no.... don't leave me!" I cried, already breaking his promise.

I turned swiftly to face Erik, not bothering to look at him before I found myself in his arms before he was in mine and my arms went down to my sides weakly, nestling my head into his chest, and straining his shirt with my tears. He patted my head as I cried into his chest, trying to warm me as much as he could, I'm sure. I felt grateful that he would do this for me, when none of my other guardians would take me and I would have to make Meg drive me here once. And none of them would care, either...

"Thanks for taking me here," I whispered through my tears.

"Anytime, Christine..." He replied in my hair, and for at least a few minutes I stood like that, my tears drying on my cheeks soon enough.

"I broke his promise," I whispered guiltily. "I said I'd be strong when I'm so weak... He said not to cry for him... but I miss my father..."

"You are strong, Christine..." He replied assuringly, still nestling his own head in my hair.

"No I'm not," I groaned... "I can't let go..."

"You can't let family go," Erik pressed, "You'll never be able to, but you're still strong enough to stand all of this..."

"But..."

"Christine, you haven't broken that promise yet, and as much as I know you, you never will..."

"You think so?" I asked, looking at his assuring golden eyes, and then feeling myself blush, remembering the position I was in at the moment, which was pretty awkward.

"I know," He affirmed, seeming to smile.

"Thank you," I muttered, once more burying my head into his chest, feeling more comforted than I've ever been these last few months. After a few more minutes, I tore myself away and he grabbed my elbows, studying me one more time, and I looked away, and finally, he let go. I went back into the car and he did as such, and we drove away in utter silence, hardly speaking to each other until we were back at the house.

I didn't know what came over me that I would touch him like that for he must have thoroughly enjoyed it for he seemed strangely lighter about the house, floating more than usual, and I almost had the heart to drag him back down to earth.

The only thing that I hoped wouldn't happen is that he'd get the wrong idea and then think he could sleep in my room tonight, for he's not... I get the nerve come into my stomach just thinking about it.

Well... just for the record, my birthday was next month and I'd be turning eighteen, legal or not that this marriage was, Erik would definitely be my actual husband after I'm eighteen. The only question is... would he keep me locked up here like his little songbird for the rest of my life as his "wife"? His slave, or maybe in the wrong sense, him being my slave? Does God honestly have this much of a humor? At least me being eighteen would make things a little less twisted.

Who am I kidding? This is god-awful strange...

I wish I knew more of the law to determine this horrible thing either simply something to scare me so that he knows I won't try to run, or if this is an actual marriage. I don't believe the judge determined the situation of when the orphan gets married. If I could find the truth... maybe I'll be out of this for good. I knew he was hiding something, I could just sense it.

Perhaps... if I ignore him for a while, he may break eventually... Perhaps, if it's long enough, he might expose things that I'm wanting to know. Maybe... he won't want me anymore if I don't do anything. That was definitely worth my while.

I walked cautiously into the library, ignoring the fact that his head was bent on the other side of the room over a book. He tensed at my presence, but I ignored him, searching for a book on the multitude of shelves that he has.

I picked a book that might hold my interest for at least a few hours, and nestled myself into the usual chair, pressing my knees against my chest and tried to get myself involved in the book, but I couldn't help but notice Erik was staring right at me, his burning gaze in my peripheral eye. I felt my cheeks fill with color, but flushed of that color when I noticed he was trying to get my attention, and asked me something I wasn't paying attention to. I kept looking down to my book, ignoring the fact that his gaze was burning a hole into my side. I pressed my lips together to keep from saying something which would ruin my entire theory.

"Christine, won't you say something?" He asked demandingly, and I almost easily blocked it out, shifting my position in the chair, ignoring him entirely. "Christine, I asked you a question..." He pressed, losing the little patience he had. Soon, he was right in front of me, his hands ringed around my wrists, causing me to drop the book and lose the place I had. I had no choice but to look up and glare at him.

"Please don't do this to me, Christine... You can't deny me."

Oh, so now he's so sure of himself. Well, what the hell...? I glared at him, and tried to get my wrists out of his grasp, but to no prevail. I only stared at him, grimacing at his cold hands.

"Why are you ignoring me? What have I done?" He shook me by my shoulders now and I grimaced, getting out of my chair seeing that I will find no peace here, reaching down for the book, but finding it gone from the floor, and instead, in his hands, playing keep away with me.

"Tell Erik what is the matter and he'll give you back your book."

Ha ha... not worth it. I walked away, managing to keep my mouth shut this entire time without snapping back at him! Success, right? So I might manage to pull this off without being forced to speak... or until necessary and I'll do what I must.

To keep from even being tempted to speak, I read one of my old Anne Rice books in my room, starting from the beginning. Though I never was fond of vampires, I did enjoy her quality of vampire, the romantic type and utterly beautiful. A place where even monsters are beautiful... that's the kind of world I'd like to be in right now, and that's almost the perfect selection of book currently.

Just when I thought that Erik wouldn't bother me for the rest of the night, he was knocking on my door. I tried to come up with ways to make him go away without speaking, but the odds were slim. He hardly knocked on the door, anyway, he slid through slyly. And I wondered if he would actually do that if I were to be dressing. I shuddered at the horrible thought.

"Your dinner's waiting downstairs, my sweet." He hedged, and I only stared at him.

"Won't you do something...?" He asked, stepping closer to me, and I moved back on the bed, blinking at him.

"Talk to me... please... tell me what's wrong." He sat on the opposite end of the bed, and I stared at him even more so, moving away like he has magnetic force pulling me away. "Oh, Christine, don't do this... this won't help anything." He pleaded, grabbing my shoulder and I moved away, looking at his hand feverishly. I only glared, feeling proud of myself for holding out this long

"If you're going to act like a child, I'll treat you like a child." He decided suddenly, rising from his seat, consciously trying to intimidate me by standing up. He then stalked out of the room, and slammed the door shut, and I heard the lock click one more time... that wasn't what I wanted.

I raced to the door and slammed my fists against it, shouting at him, losing my plan entirely. He almost immediately opened the door, smiling victoriously.

"You can't win over me, Christine. You'll lose." He commented dryly, finding my eyes the level of his chest once more, and I bothered to cram my neck to look up to his mask, standing over me. I only glared, crossing my arms across my chest, huffing to myself, defeated.

"Talk to me, Christine...Tell Erik what is the matter..." He placed his hand on my cheek gently, and rubbed his thumb over it and I ducked down to get out of his grasp, leaning my arm so that he wouldn't try it again.

I went to my bed and hugged the pillow against my chest, still staring at him, and waited for him to walk away when he didn't, of course.

"Will you come down and eat with me, at least?" He pleaded.

I shrugged and watched him leave. When I heard him start to descend down the stairs is when I heard my stomach moan in disagreement, and slowly, I placed my feet back on the floor, steadying myself, and ran the back of my hand over the cheek where he touched me and grimaced. I hate him... I had to remind myself, shuddering. I'll eat quickly and then go back into my room when I'm finished, right?

I went into the dining room with my back tensed and looked at Erik, then to the food. He didn't say anything, watching me, watching him... it was like he was studying my every move, though. I took a bite of the meat, chewed slowly and uncomfortably, knowing his eyes were planted on me. I looked up to glare, and then took another bite, breaking the promise to myself that I would eat quickly, so I resumed, cutting more pieces of it, and took a bite ungracefully.

He seemed to try to put words together, stuttering, "Do you want to go back out sometime?" He asked.

I shrugged.

"Tomorrow, perhaps, in celebration of our marriage?"

I shrugged again.

"Do you not care at all?"

I shrugged and that was when he lost it. It really didn't take him long to lose it, I suppose. I guess I forgot already I was dealing with the most impatient man I've ever met. He slammed his fist on the table, causing it to shake, startling me back further into the chair.

"Dammit, Christine..." He sounded like my father for those two seconds, which reminded my heart to drop to this pit of my stomach, and look up at him. I could smile right now for he was losing slowly under my silence. I blinked a few times before he spoke again. "Why must you do this to me? What have I done to deserve your cruelty!?" He was huffing like an animal suddenly, taking me aback. Of course, now he wasn't like my dad... How could I ever forget Erik's wrath? I held onto the armrests of the chair tensely, with my eyes wide watching him intently. For a second, he only stared, and when that patience was over, he groaned again, and sat down.

With a shaky hand, I took a sip of the tea, which tasted awfully strange and bitter so I set it down on the table immediately, biting into another piece of meat to hide the taste. I suppose the taste was so awful, that my head began to spin.

Without another notion toward the rest of the meal set out for me, I rose from my chair, and began to walk out of the room, holding my stomach. It was then that the entire room began to go in circles in my head, my knees going out from under me, when my vision was swept away with a grayish fog, I collapsed into something... I was supposing that it was arms, and I lost consciousness without any sort of feeling left in me.