Little Lotte

It took over an hour until Christine was able to come to her room. Erik had figured as much. He had spent the time with Antoinette, who eventually left him to scold the poor performance of tonight's dancers.

Erik had to admit that he felt pity for them. The Madame had grown to be a very strict teacher. Fair, but strict.

He went to the prima donna's suite, one that was given to Christine for the night. Erik hoped that it will soon be hers permanently.

When he got to the secret entrance through the mirror he was surprised to find another with Christine in the room. The surprise turned into shock when he recognized the Viscount. His otter, Tyce, was a few feet away from them, talking to a resting Nada.

"You sang like an angel tonight." He heard the Viscount tell Christine as he stood behind the chair she was sitting in.

Christine, who was already in her white night gown, turned with a smile and took his hands in hers. "Father said 'When I am in heaven, Child, I will send the angel of music to you.' Well, father is dead, Raoul. And I have been visited by the angel of music."
Erik had to admit that Christine's statement took him by surprise with the angel reference and the fact that the two of them seem to know each other. How could Christine know someone of France's noble birth, Erik did not know. Then again, maybe he should not have been surprised by the acquaintance and the angel part. She had told him years ago that her father was a talented violinist who travelled around and she had gone with him. Maybe the two had met that way. Plus, she continued to call Erik 'Angel' after all this time. Besides, she could not exactly tell the boy that she had been taught by Erik, the man who lived under the opera house.

"Oh, no doubt about it! And now we go to supper." The Viscount declared and he broke away from Christine's grip with a silly grin.

Wait, what? Erik froze. No, Christine cannot go with him!

"No, Raoul. The angel of music is very strict." Christine protested, calming Erik down at her denial.

"Well, I shan't keep you too late." The Viscount countered playfully and with a laugh.

"Raoul, no." Christine replied firmly, standing up from her chair to face him completely.

"You must change." The Viscount stated, completely ignoring her. "I'll order my carriage. Two minutes, Little Lotte. Come Tyce!"
The otter broke away from his conversation with Nada and followed after his human as he left the room. Christine chased after him to the door.
"No, Raoul wait!" She called out, but Erik could tell it was useless.

He watched from behind the mirror as Christine closed the door behind her, locking it. He had to admit that he was impressed by Christine's multiple attempts at denying the Viscount, whom she obviously knew, but was angry at the Viscount.

He had warned him, and he will be having that discussion with him another day. However, for now, he had to make sure that Christine did not have any thoughts towards giving the Viscount the time of day.

She promised him, and he intended to have her keep it. He refused to allow another he loved fall from the spotlight because of romantic love!

"Insolent boy, this slave of fashion! Basking in your glory! Ignorant fool, this brave young suiter! Sharing in my triumph!" Erik raised and projected his voice to surround Christine in the room as it boomed off the walls.

Christine jumped when he began to speak but immediately recognized his voice. She looked around, trying to find where he could be at. When she failed, she spoke to the room in general.

"Angel, I hear you. Speak, I listen. Stay by my side, guide me." She pleaded with her voice taking on a melody that he knew that she knew he liked. Her words also confirmed that she knew what Erik was upset about. "Angel, my soul was weak, forgive me. Enter at last, Master."

Erik watched her from behind the mirror as she waited. He was still angry but she did protest the Viscount's advances...

Erik flinched as Farren pecked at his ear, he sent her a glare when she pulled back.

"What? You would stand there all night if you were allowed to. Go to her already." Farren huffed.

He let out a sigh but went out of the mirror.

Christine whipped around as the mirror opened up but relaxed at the sight of him.

He stepped out and the mirror closed behind him. He took off his hat as Farren hopped off his shoulder to go to Nada. He could tell that Christine was waiting for more of his anger, but he did not say anything.

Instead, he placed his hat on top of the dresser and presented Christine with a single red rose that had a black ribbon tied to its stem.

"Oh!" Christine gasped, a charming pink blush colored her cheeks and a small grin pulled at her lips. "Is this for me?"

"I do not know of anyone in the entire Opera Populaire that would be more worthy." Erik replied simply. "You did splendid tonight. I am pleased."

"Thank you." Christine took the rose from him and brought it to her nose to smell. Her grin turned into a smile as she brought it away. "It's definitely my favorite gift."

"Are you sure?" Erik teased making a show of looking around the room that was filled with grand gifts such as bouquets of roses and jewelry.

Christine rolled her eyes. "Really, I don't know what to do with all of these things, and this is from one show."

"If things go as plan, you will receive plenty more!" Farren exclaimed from her spot next to Nada.

Christine groaned. "Please, don't tell me that! I will be buried by trinkets at this rate!"

"That's not the worse way to go." Nada remarked and Farren nodded.

Christine let out a dejected sigh and slumped back into her seat, Erik's rose limp in her hand that rested on her lap. Erik had to keep from smirking at his protégé, but he was unable to keep his lips from twitching. He went over to her and kneeled next to her chair.

"If you want, I can help get rid of them." He offered.

Christine gave him a suspicious side glance.

"I can take them off your hands. Many times I have sold pieces to merchants, or have given them away to someone who looked like they needed something to sell." Erik explained.

"Technically, Antoinette does that." Farren chirped.

Erik rolled his eyes. "Yes, but it was my idea, so hush."

Christine was frowning at him though. "You steal?"

"In a way." Erik admitted. "I do not do it often. It had originally been a trick pulled on Carlotta but because she received many gifts all the time, she never noticed when an item or two would disappear. It was actually quite frustrating but I did not see a reason to keep them, but did not want to return them. As a result, I had the Madame sell them."

Christine's frowned had turned into a smile as he spoke and by the end let out a giggle.

"I'm not surprised. She probably has enough to feed all of Paris for weeks if she chose." She then pointed at the mirror he had entered from. "Is that what that entrance is for?"

"Well, it is certainly not to peek at the lady." Erik replied dryly, making Christine smile. "I often use that door to pull pranks on Carlotta but not too often. It depends on where Antonio is at the time."

He stood up and looked around the room. "Truly, this is a fine room. Too fine for one such as Carlotta."

"And maybe, too fine for me as well." Christine stated. "I am not use to such finery."

"I would hope that you never will." Erik replied, when Christine cocked her head at him in confusion, he explained. "Getting use to such things means that your expectations are higher, which is not a bad thing in itself, but it can make you less humble, more arrogant. And that, Christine, is not a pleasant feature to have, even in prima donnas."

"Then I shall strive for confidence instead." Christine declared simply. "And if it becomes bordered with arrogance, I know I can rely on you and the Giry's to pull me out."

Erik smiled, pleased with her reply. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off.

"Do not forget about us!" Farren protested, her wings flapping a couple times.

"Oh no, of course not!" Christine agreed. "I can never forget about you Farren, and the others."

Farren nodded, satisfied and went back to Nada who was shaking her head in amusement.

Christine turned to Erik. "Going back to the trinkets, I'll gladly accept your offer. It wouldn't do for me to be wearing any of them anyway. It might give people the wrong impression."

"Which we both know cannot happen." Erik stated firmly, now standing by the mirror, playing with his hat that he had picked up from her dresser.

He knew that Christine understood his implication by her nod. She brought the rose he had given her back to her nose. After a few seconds she put it back to her lap.

"Angel, may I ask you for a favor?" she asked.

One of Erik's eyebrows went up under his mask but replied with, "If it is within my power."

Christine grinned. "Can I please spend the night in your home? As a favor to me for doing a good job tonight."

Now both of Erik's eyebrows were up. "You did a marvelous performance tonight. But, do you not want to take advantage of your luxurious quarters tonight?"

Christine shook her head and stood, the rose hanging from her hand. "Maybe next time."

That was all she gave him, and Erik shrugged.

"If that is what you wish. So be it." He agreed and as Farren and Nada stood up to go with them he held out his gloved hand to her.

Christine smiled brightly at him and took his hand.

Erik opened the mirror entrance again and let the two companions go first before leading Christine through.

The mirror shut behind them.

What neither of them heard was the Viscount had come back as they had talked and made to open the door.

Upon hearing a male voice talk within the room, he froze.

"Whose is that voice? Who is it in there?" he asked himself. He reached out and turned the knob, only to find it locked.

Frowning, the Viscount looked up at the door and listened harder to see if he could identify the male voice.

"Can I please spend the night in your home? As a favor to me for doing a good job tonight." he heard Christine ask, to which he was dumbfounded that the girl he had a crush on since he was a child could grow to be so bold.

"You did a marvelous performance tonight. But, do you not want to take advantage of your luxurious quarters tonight?" the male voice replied in amusement.

The Viscount drew back in shock.

That was Phantom's voice!

Then a few more pieces clicked into place. Christine was Phantom's protégé and one of the girls under his protection! Oh, what were the odds?!

The girl he had fallen in love with as a child and the voice he currently had an infatuation over knew each other!

He must speak to Christine as soon as possible.

"Christine!" he called out, knocking on the door.

There was no answer and he tried the doorknob again. To his surprise it turned in his hand and he quickly opened the door.

The room was empty.

And there you go, I hope my readers enjoyed it. I won't apologize for the late update, work has been keeping me exhausted with the long hours and the lack of reviews has made me less excited to update. It very curious that this has over 300 hits yet barely any reviews. It makes me wonder if people are even enjoying it, which makes me more tired. It's discouraging to say the least. Either way, I hope you enjoyed the new chapter.

Next chapter will be in Christine's POV. Warning, they will be singing Phantom of the Opera in the next chapter but I changed some of the words to fit the story better, you can skip those lyrics over if you want. See ya next time.