Erik's POV

A few weeks passed since the accident with the authorities. Winter had come to an end, leaving the air cool and the sun warm. The snow had melted and now it was time for the annual holiday that I allowed my employees to take. It wasn't that I believed in holidays, but after numerous complaints that I never allowed my employees any time off, I came up with the idea to give them a week off each spring. We would arrive in Germany and depart, meeting up at the same location we departed from a week later. Everyone would take their caravan and leave, returning seven days later without a complaint. I never took a holiday, of course… No, I stayed in the same location to await everyone's return, usually spending that time alone catching up on my work.

"Are you sure you're going to be all right?" Nadir asked before taking leave with the remainder of my employees. I was seated at my desk and attempting to ignore him.

"When haven't I been all right during your little trip?"

"It's not that I don't think you'll be all right, Erik, it's just that I worry about you being all alone. Things can happen when there is only one caravan around."

"And has something ever happened, Persian? No… You take your wife and that little brat and have what you humans call "fun."

"Christine is staying, you know?"

I froze the moment I heard Nadir tell me that Christine was staying. Oh, why? Why!

"You're joking…"

"No, I'm not… It seems as though she didn't want to impose. I'm keeping my caravan here for the week so she has a place to stay. Reha is fond of tent camping when we're on holiday. I will see you in a week, Erik."

"I hope the girl has entertainment while you're gone," I growled. "I'm not going to be a babysitter, you know…"

I wasn't sure what Nadir mumbled beneath his breath, for he was gone as soon as I mentioned Christine. For a few hours more, I worked on my paper work and counted the profits I had made from last evening's show. When I was finished, the sun had started going down… I stepped outside my caravan and stretched, finding Nadir's home a short distance away. Ignoring the fact that Christine was there, I made myself a small campfire and proceeded to make myself dinner. I didn't like holidays, but it sure felt good once in a while to be able to sit outside without having to worry about my employees watching me. I was just reading the newspaper and sitting in my chair, when I heard footsteps approaching me. Oh, this is exactly what I didn't want to happen! Why couldn't Christine just go with Nadir?

"I…I see you're making dinner."

I ignored the girl at first, continuing to read my paper as if she weren't even there.

"I…I looked in the cupboard for something to eat, but Nadir took all the food for his trip."

I was losing my patience with the girl and angrily lowered my paper to see her standing there in one of her dresses.

"Has it occurred to you that everyone is on holiday?"

She nodded. "Of course…"

"Well, hasn't it occurred to you that maybe I'm attempting to enjoy my holiday as well?"

"I'm sorry, it's just that I was a little hungry and I was hoping that you would be kind enough to share your dinner with me."

"Share? Why would I share my dinner with you? I'm on holiday, so why don't you scurry back over to Nadir's caravan and enjoy yours…"

"There isn't a town near here," she whined. "I don't have any food and you're the only one who has any."

"Actually, girl, I don't have any food. I'm running out and will have to go fishing in the morning. This here is the left over rabbit meat we had from our latest hunt."

"Will you share?"

"Absolutely not! Now go away before I give you something to cry about…"

The girl did as she was told and went back to Nadir's caravan. Though she didn't go inside… No, she sat on the steps and watched me like a hawk. Oh, it was so nerve wracking! I couldn't even take a bite of my dinner without seeing her staring at me! Knowing that I wasn't going to be able to eat unless I got the girl off my back, I filled a bowl with the stew I had cooked and walked it over to her.

"I will share my meal with you tonight," I said, "But tomorrow you need to gather your own food for the week and cook it yourself. Now go inside and leave me in peace!"

I was just walking away, when I heard Christine thank me… I didn't turn around to acknowledge her. Deciding to continue the rest of the night in the comfort of my own caravan, I put out the fire and went inside. At least I could finally remove my mask and walk around in peace. If there was one thing I missed these past few years, it was being able to play the piano. I often dreamt about the instrument and found myself waving my hands over my desk, pretending that my fingers were gliding across the ivory keys. I could close my eyes and hear the beautiful music within my head, but when I opened them, I was just in a black room surrounded by silence. Oh, what I wouldn't do to be able to play again. Unfortunately, caravans weren't large enough to fit a piano, nor were the horses strong enough to lug the weight. My nights were extremely boring without an instrument to play… Paper work was all I ever did! Paper work and running a camp… It wasn't a bad life, but I wanted more… I wanted music more than anything, and yet, I was as useless as a composer without a piano.

Christine's POV

I had stayed behind in order to give Nadir and Reha the privacy they deserved. With me living with them all the time, they hardly had any time to themselves, and if I had agreed to join them on their holiday, I wouldn't have felt right. Therefore, I stayed behind, believing that I could enjoy my own holiday alone… Only I couldn't, for I became lonely within an hour of being left alone. After eating my dinner, I tried to sleep, but it was no use because I was frightened of being all alone. I kept the gas lantern on and attempted to close my eyes, but it began to rain. I gasped and pulled the blankets up around my body but soon, it was thundering and lightning as well…

I looked out the window and noticed that there was a light on in Erik's caravan, making it obvious that he was still up. Maybe he would let me stay with him in his caravan, at least until the rain stopped. Therefore, I quickly gathered my cloak and hurried out the door into the pouring rain. I hurried across the field we were currently in and banged on his door.

"Erik? Erik, please let me in!"

It took a few moments, but the man finally answered. He was dressed in his black robe and he wasn't wearing his wig… No, he was standing there with his head exposed and his white mask intact.

"What?" he snapped. "What is it now? Did you want dessert too?"

"No, the storm…I'm afraid. Could I please stay with you until the rain stops?"

The man rolled his eyes at me. Of all people he should have known that lightning was my biggest fear, for when I lived at the opera house I used to come running to him whenever there was a storm. He would always smile at me and tell me that the storm couldn't hurt us… Then, he would sing to me and I would soon forget that there even was a storm going on outside.

"You're a grown woman for crying out loud!" he cried. "Go back to your caravan and stop bothering me!"

"Angel, please…"

The man was about to close the door on me, when he paused. It seemed as though those exact words had gotten to him.

"Christine, no… I have things that need to be done."

"Let me stay for just a while…"

"No… Go home."

"I…I don't have a home."

The man gave me one last look at my soaked body before waving me to come inside.

"Just until the rain stops… Afterwards you're out of here."

Erik closed the door and sat down on his bed. The man had a bunch of paper work scattered around him, not only that, but a few books as well. I stood there in the center of his room, not being too sure of what to do.

"There is a towel hanging up in my wardrobe," he said, motioning to the heavy piece of furniture that was next to his desk.

Without a word, I opened the large chest and reached for the towel, noticing that his wardrobe was stocked with fine suits and shirts. I wiped my face and dried my curls, thanking the man afterwards.

"Just hang it over my desk chair," he began. "I'll hang it outside on the line once the rain is over."

I took a seat in Erik's chair and watched as he sat there reading from a book.

"Wh…What are you reading?"

"Nothing that would interest you… But, now that we're on the subject, I've been meaning to ask you something."

"You have?"

Erik nodded. "Yes, I have a proposition for you… How would you feel about singing for me?"

This was something I knew that was bound to come up sooner or later. I was glad, for I knew if he wanted me to sing, I would only do so if he agreed to remove the shackle from around my ankle.

"If I were to sing, what would I get in return?"

The man raised a brow. "A paycheck and an audience…"

"What about my freedom?"

"Freedom?"

I raised my foot up into the air to show Erik the shackle that was still there.

"That is not an option. Trust must be earned, Christine."

"I've been here two months… Is that not enough to prove that you can trust me?"

The man shook his head. "I still don't trust you. The moment I take that shackle off your leg you would run."

"I wouldn't, I promise…"

"Then sing for me… Sing for me, Christine."

"For you or for an audience? If you wish for me to sing in your show then I might agree, but if you think I'm going to sing for you and only you, you are sadly mistaken."

"For an audience of course…" he promised. "But first you would need some tutoring like old times… One hour every night… Right here in my caravan, how does that sound?"

"For how long?"

"Until you are ready to perform. Once I see to it that you're ready for the stage, you will perform in front of an audience."

I had to think long and hard about this, for the man wasn't going to grant me freedom from the shackle… No, he was promising me an audience. But I knew that by agreeing to sing for him was a great way to gain his trust. Therefore, I decided to agree.

"All right," I said. "But only until I'm ready for the stage. I don't appreciate singing for you… I don't think you deserve it, not after the way you've been treating me."

The man smiled. "Good… We shall start tomorrow night then."

The rain had stopped and that's when I made my point to leave. I hadn't sung for

anyone in a few years and as much as I hated the thought of singing for this man, I would be glad to do it again, for I missed it more than anything in the world.

Merry Christmas everyone! please REVIEW...