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I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Warning for tense, sexual situations.

Nothing But A Lie

Chapter 11

Feeling oddly light and airy, Christine slowly walked down the stairs and out of the school building, still high from her singing and Dr. Gabriel's obvious approval at her voice. Something unfathomable had passed between the two during her song, she knew, but she wasn't quite sure what it was, or what it would become. The way he had looked at her, after she had finished…she couldn't quite explain the emotions she had found there, a complete transformation from his usual cold, formal, abrupt nature. All she knew was that there was hope for her, and that hope was him. Dr. Erik Gabriel.

The masked man.

She had been unable to keep from noticing the edges of his cover when he had been turned to play the piano, and there was no doubt in her mind now that the strangeness of his face was because of the flesh toned mask he wore. It was a little unsettling; knowing that the only person she would ever be completely alone with besides Sky was hiding something, the only person who could possibly save her. What was behind the mask? It had to be something medical. A burn? Scars? Deformity? She couldn't even begin to guess, and she wondered if she would ever even find out.

Christine didn't even pay any mind to the man following her, choosing to ignore him and remember how it had felt to sing again. Really sing. It had felt so freeing, so wonderful! She already couldn't wait for the next lesson, which was an entire two days away. She prayed she could make it that long…

The hot afternoon sun beat down on her as she walked along the sidewalk to where Sky waited in the parking lot, feeling her face dew with sweat. She'd never minded the intense, Arizona sun for as long as she'd lived there, but at the same time, she sighed happily as she remembered the coldness of Sweden from her early childhood, daydreaming of cuddling with her parents to keep warm at night as her Papa sang her a lullaby. Ah, she missed it so, but she was glad she was finally able to think on the memories with fondness, the pain kept at a lower level as the time went by.

The sun glinted off of Sky's silver car, blinding her for a moment, and then she saw him leaning against the passenger side, waiting for her. He wore grey slacks and a white button down, and when she saw his expression, the serene smile fell from her lips. He did not look happy. No, his dark eyes held no warmth for her, and his lips were set in a hard line. Despite the hundred-degree heat, her blood chilled.

What had she done?

"Hi Sky," she greeted him as cheerily as she could when she was close, though still wary, her stomach twisting with nerves. "Is e-everything okay?"

He opened the door for her, still unsmiling. "Everything's just fine, baby," he muttered dryly. "Get in. We need to have a little talk."

Swallowing, she got in the car, flinching when he shut the door a little more forcefully than usual. She felt her heart pounding in her ears as he pulled out of the parking lot, the sharp blowing of the air conditioner immediately causing her to shudder.

"So," Sky finally broached when he turned onto the highway. "Tell me all about this man you're going to be spending so much time alone with."

Oh, no… Christine chewed on her lip nervously for a moment, and then tried to keep her tone nonchalant. "Dr. Gabriel? He is just a music professor, Sky."

"Describe what he looks like."

"What? Why?"

"Now, Christine!" Sky growled, hitting the steering wheel with his hand, and she whimpered at his harshness, his anger.

"Um… H-he's really tall, and extremely thin," she choked out, watching Sky's face. "Pale. Almost…sick looking, I-I guess? Black hair. If I had to guess I would say he was in his early thirties, maybe? I don't know!"

Sky paused, considering. The guy sounded creepy looking. He could tell she wasn't lying to him; she'd never been good at lying, and that was no different even when she was under pressure. He calmed considerably, bringing back his usual gentleness. "So, he isn't very handsome, then?"

She shook her head. "No. Not at all, really." Dr. Gabriel was not at all a particularly handsome man. It was the truth. No need to mention how he had glowing, amber colored eyes like she'd never seen before, or a voice that made her feel like she would do anything it asked without hesitation…if only he would help her in return…

No. Sky definitely didn't need to know that.

"So like…am I better looking than him?" Sky smirked down at her briefly before focusing back on the road, his usual, playful mood back, it seemed.

Christine groaned internally, but let out a long sigh as she thought the interrogation was over. "Yes, Sky," she said, hoping her reluctance was well hidden. "You are more handsome than he is." Like looks had anything to do with this.

Sky chuckled warmly. "Okay, okay. I believe you, sweetheart." She started to relax further, but that was effectively wiped away with the next words out of his mouth. "I'm still not comfortable with this whole thing, though. Besides, your voice is good enough already, if you ask me. I don't really see the point in taking more lessons."

Christine paled, her heart stopping. No, no, no, no, no… She could not lose her one hope. She couldn't. She would not be able to live without it.

Sky pulled into their apartment complex then, and she cleared her dry throat, hoping her voice would not shake. "It's a part of my degree plan, Sky," she told him as calmly as she could. "I have to take them for my major."

After parking in his usual spot, Sky shut off the car and got out, sighing in frustration as he strode around the open Christine's door. "Is that so?" he muttered skeptically as she stepped out.

"I swear, Sky." Her voice was pleading as she took his hand, and they walked toward the apartment. "You can look at my degree plan! I'll print it out tomorrow at school and bring it home and show you, if you want. If I don't take voice lessons, then my degree plan will never be completed and I won't be able to graduate!"

He rolled his eyes as he unlocked the door, keeping his voice low unless anyone was around to hear them. Though they probably just seemed like a normal couple arguing. The thought made his lips twitch upward for a moment, despite his annoyance. "I don't think you're seeing my point here, Christine."

"What is your point, then?"

Oh, she wanted to get sassy, did she? Sky shoved her inside and slammed the door behind them, and then roughly took her chin into his hand. "I don't like your tone," he snapped. "And I think you're forgetting who is in charge here. Me. What I say goes."

"Sky," she sobbed, struggling in his grip and trying to pry his hand from her. It did not budge. "That hurts. Please. I'm sorry!"

He let go, groaning in frustration and striding angrily to the chair where he slammed himself down, resting his elbows onto his thighs. "God, Christine," he groaned into his hands. "You make it so hard sometimes."

He meant that in a couple different ways.

Desperate, Christine threw off her backpack and fell to her knees before him, crying into his lap. He jumped when she made contact, and she felt his eyes staring at the top of her head. "Please, I swear I won't try anything. You'd hear if I did, anyway! I need to sing, Sky. I need to learn! Please don't take it away from me…" Wrapping her arms around his leg, she prayed her tears were pitiful enough for him, prayed he could see how she would go insane if she didn't have her one shred of hope. She continued to cry, continued to plead, until she felt his fingers softly stroking her hair.

How could Sky resist such sweet, sweet begging? She had to know that he loved when she begged him. Yes, he loved it very much. Too much, actually, for he had felt himself harden as soon as she has pressed her face into his legs so helplessly. Yes, it was strange, but oh so sweet. It was so Christine.

Sky pulled her up into his lap, and she didn't resist, but pressed herself to him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She immediately felt that terrifying hardness against her bottom, but instead of shying away from it, a plan formed in her mind, one that left her deeply, deeply ashamed.

But she was so desperate; what else could she do?

Christine pulled back enough to look at him with shimmering eyes, deliberating, before sniffling and leaning forward, her eyes clenching shut. Sky was pleasantly surprised when her lips touched his, unsure and hesitant and, of course, so goddamn sweet. Fuck, what was she trying to do, make him lose every ounce of control he had?

In turn, he grabbed her face and kissed her back hard, his tongue slicing through her lips and tasting her perfection. Groaning, he adjusted her so that she straddled him, guiding her hips to grind down against him. He did not expect her to moan, did not think she would so convincingly kiss him back—she really was becoming a pro at kissing—and obediently move atop him. Goddamn it, this girl would be the very death of him. He just knew it.

She tried. Tried so very hard not to think and to just do it, just try to make Sky believe for a moment that she wanted to please him, even though she hated him with such a fiery passion that frightened her. Oh God, forgive me… She reached down and brushed her fingertips on the hardness through his pants, and he immediately broke their kiss to stare at her with those dark, dark eyes that screamed his shock and…lust. That endless lust. Her stomach rolled.

"I-I will…do it again. What…what I did the last time," she gasped, wondering how in the world she was able to choke the words out. The hand that touched him shook violently, along with her voice that could hardly speak louder than a whisper. "I won't freak out, this t-time. I promise. I promise I'll t-try not to."

Sky was almost positive he had to be dreaming. But no…dreams didn't feel this good. Dreams didn't smell this good, taste this good, sound this good…she was just so good. He saw that she meant what she promised, and at this point, he didn't even care if she freaked out after or not. At least he would get some fucking relief.

He nodded, moving in to kiss her again, but she flinched back.

"You won't make me give up voice lessons, right, Sky?" she asked him so hopefully, so innocently, her lips pouting in a way that had him positively swelling.

"No, baby," he grumbled, kissing her neck. "Not if you do this for me."

She nodded, and he reclaimed her mouth while scrambling to undo his pants. Once he was freed, she didn't pause in taking him in her hand, trying to remember how to touch him. It was difficult, since she'd tried so very hard to repress that awful, horrible evening from her mind completely. But Sky helped her once again, guiding her with his hand and letting her do it alone when she got the hang of it, groaning into her mouth in approval when she did something particularly right. Her mind raced all throughout, half protesting and half encouraging herself onward, but she somehow remained calm, not even crying or feeling the profound urge to throw up.

She had to do this so Sky would trust her, so that he would let her keep going to voice lessons.

But, oh, she could just tell she would pay for this later. She would feel disgusting, terrible, Sky might expect more from her even sooner…and she would have no idea how to deal with it.

No, Christine scolded herself for thinking that way. She needed to focus on the now, the task at hand. She tightened her grip on him, swallowing his groan with her busy lips, willing him to be done soon.

He came embarrassingly fast. Of course, Christine was so innocent that she probably had no idea just how fast, but still. Sky just couldn't handle her willing touch, kiss, her scent surrounding him and her little body sitting on him. It was all too much, and it only took a few minutes for him to come undone before her, spending himself into her little hand and shuddering as he broke their kiss to stutter out her name. He felt complete bliss as he sank deeper, relaxed, into the chair, his breath coming out in long gusts.

True to Christine's word, she tried extremely hard not to freak out, even as she raced to the bathroom to wash her hands as soon as Sky had…finished. Ugh. She did feel the urge to gag a little at that thought, but other than her eyes briefly stinging with tears, she kept her emotions, for the most part, under control. She was rather proud of herself for that.

Was she actually learning how to handle this situation?

The thought was both relieving and frightening.

One hour.

It had been a mere one hour since the girl's song, and Erik already feared he would lose his mind if he could not hear that voice again, and fast. After she had left their meeting with a glowing smile saying she looked forward to their Thursday lesson, he'd been unable to move from the piano bench for a very long time, savoring the energy of her voice that lingered in the small, fluorescently lit room that he would otherwise find suffocating. Her voice had awakened the very soul that he had thought long dead, but had only been sleeping and waiting for the moment where it would rouse and become utterly possessed by some tiny, blonde person.

Imbecile, he thought to himself, sighing.

When he had finally gotten up and left the practice room, he hastily stopped by his office, gathered his things, and raced home. Though Erik had inherited his parents' enormous house after his mother's death, he had not hesitated in his decision to sell it. As a reckless eighteen-year-old who had acquired a fortune, Erik had traveled for a while after getting his GED, visiting fancy cities and staying in lavish hotel rooms. It did not keep him entertained for as long as he would have liked, however, which led him to darker activities.

Now, he pulled up to the home he had chosen after deciding to get his life together: a two story but modest home of three bedrooms and two baths, a large backyard with a lawn and small pool (that he'd never used even once), a den for his music equipment, and an office space. He clicked the remote attached to his rear-view mirror, and the garage door opened.

As usual, as soon as he stepped out of his car he was greeted by the loud and rather obnoxious barks of one very excited fellow.

"Hush, Sasha," Erik commanded as he walked through the door, and there the golden dog was, tail wagging in glee and tongue panting expectantly. He could not hold back the fond smile as he greeted his companion, stroking the soft fur.

He had always wanted a dog as a boy, having been jealous of all the normal neighbor kids and their four legged companions who always loved them so much. Of course, his mother wouldn't allow it, saying she'd be left to care for the "disgusting creature" when Erik went to school each day, which certainly had not been the case. They'd had a full time housekeeper who wouldn't have minded helping with the dog. Erik knew that it had been his own fault for asking her in the first place; for he should have known she would never grant him anything he wanted.

He'd often wondered if his father would have given him what he asked if he hadn't died just before Erik was born. The old fool had certainly spoiled his mother rotten when he was alive.

But in a way, he was grateful that he never knew his father, and that his father never knew him. He did not need a second parent despising and abusing him all his life, which is what inevitably would have happened the second he laid eyes one Erik's horrific excuse of a face.

Sasha seemed to be the only creature in the world that did not mind so much.

Erik had gotten Sasha after the darkest period of his life. It was an impulse decision, as many of his decisions often were, but he had never looked back in regret. Sasha was actually what he liked to deem as his "wake up call". Taking care of the animal required time, affection, discipline, and so much responsibility. It was the perfect distraction from what his previous activities had been, and a transition from a dark, dark life to a life that actually seemed normal. After a few months with Sasha and…his official "retirement" from his criminal activities, he'd finally decided to get his degrees.

It was not that Erik was happy. No, Erik had never experienced true happiness ever, as far as he could remember. However, he did find that he preferred the normalcy to darkness and hate and violence. And his decision to give that up had been somewhat enough for him.

After a thorough petting and ensuring Sasha had food and water, Erik went to his office and immediately opened up a search engine on Google Chrome. Christine Daae, he typed, his fingers just twitching to click on whatever results came up. There was not much of her; one social media page with only a few pictures posted, but he nearly jumped out of his chair when he saw that there was a single video that looked to be her on a stage at the university. Perhaps her showcase performance that Khan had spoken of?

He read the video caption with eager eyes, finding the words: Hi everyone! I thought I would post this little video of my end of semester performance song, filmed by my good friend Reymundo. Thank you for filming, Rey. :) Enjoy!

He nearly broke his mouse urgently clicking the play button and enlarging the video to full screen, his stomach painfully lurching as he studied her. She looked positively radiant, lovely, and so very innocent in a shimmery white dress, a shy smile on her full lips that had been painted red for the occasion, her flaxen hair styled in soft waves with one side pinned away from her flushed face.

Dear god, how could one girl be so painfully beautiful?

And then, she opened her mouth to sing, and his yellow eyes stung with the intensity of his reverence for such a voice. He had never heard anything quite so pure, clear, sweet…it was almost as if he could believe she was in the room with him, singing for him again.

Suddenly, his mind was invaded in that all too familiar way, of swirling notes and spinning melodies that just begged to be written down and released from his head. Inspiration struck like a bolt of brilliant lightning, and he paused the video to race to the den; what he had began referring to as his music room.

It was there that he spent the remainder of the afternoon and evening, breaking only once to take Sasha on his twilight walk, and then replaying the girl's video again before returning to his piano. Though he knew he just had to compose or he would very well go mad, Erik still vaguely wondered what the point was for continuing to write to his music if no one save for himself would ever hear.

And then, a vision formed behind his eyes of her, sitting by his side on the piano bench, violet eyes wide with wonderment and glistening with moisture as she received the gift of his music. The vision made his heart positively ache within his skeletal chest, and it only intensified when he pictured her singing a moving accompaniment to his music for him, and him alone.

She is engaged to another, moron.

No. He could not allow himself to believe that. That voice had to be meant for him, along with the perfect girl attached. Hadn't he suffered enough in his pitiful life? Could he not be granted the one thing his heart longed for the most for so very long?

Love?

He would do anything for that voice, anything for that girl. And he just had to have her.