Blood & Glitter in Paris (Phantom of the Opera/Labyrinth)

Chapter 8

Christine drew back and stared at the keyhole she had been gazing through as if it was to blame for the words that Erik had said. Erik loves me. She thought as she turned and hurried to her room. In fact, she was quite unsure what to do now. It had been one thing when she had thought that Erik might be trying to hurt her or something. She at least knew what to expect and how to handle it. But, love? She wasn't sure how to handle that.

With a quiet, strangled cry, she retreated to her room and snuggled back into the corner she had grown quite familiar with when she had run from Erik earlier in the morning.

"Erik loves me." She said, hoping that saying it out loud would help her come to understand it a little better. "And, he wants me to love him back." Christine hadn't ever thought of actually loving her angel as if he was a normal man. After all, he was an angel and surely that was a sin to love an angel. But, was it any better to love a vampire? True, it would be easy enough to join him as a bloodsucking creature but was it right?

Christine shook her head slightly to clear it of such unpleasant thoughts. Erik must not have thought it a sin to love a mortal so she decided she shouldn't think it a sin to love a vampire.

With that in mind, Christine proceeded to analyze her feelings for Erik very thoroughly. She had known him since she had been a child and he had always been there for her. Always being the one kind person she knew she could trust. Having no friends or family to call her own, he had served as father, friend, mentor, teacher and confidant. Whenever she needed someone, he had been no more than a word away. All she had to do was call on him and his comforting voice was there. Though he hadn't ever offered his shoulder to cry on, it was like he had. There had never been a doubt in her mind that he cared for her.

To her childish mind of several years ago, he had been a sort of living gift from her father. She treasured him for that very reason. Only as she had reached fourteen had she begun to think of him as an entity in and of himself. It had also been about that time she had truly wondered about the existence of an Angel of Music. As time wore on, she had come to understand it was just a story her father used to tell. He hadn't lied to her or tried to convince her of some great untruth. He had just told a nice story.

But, never once did she mention her change of heart to her teacher. It had been the great fear of hers that he would leave if he judged that she no longer believed in the Angel of Music that he would leave forever. She couldn't bear to know he would be gone. So, she hadn't told him that she doubted him.

Another thing she hadn't told him was that often she felt very flustered around him. naturally, as the little actress she was, she hid it very well but often her stomach was get butterflies and more often than not, she had more nervous excitement over talking with her angel then anytime she had been on stage.

Shivering slightly as she remembered the odd feelings her Angel's voice had given her. Still gave her, she had to admit. It didn't matter that he was tangible and quite hideous. Yes, Christine couldn't deny that his death's head was horrible. But, it didn't change who he was. He was still a kind man or vampire, she added, that had taken in an orphaned girl who most would have overlooked. Her dancing wasn't the best and if it hadn't been for him she probably wouldn't have had the courage or the ability to stay.

In truth, he had saved her from a life on the streets which was no life for a young foolish girl. Christine shuddered to think of what might have happened her. She might have easily become one of those ladies of the evening who she had seen on the rare occasion on darkened street corners, scantily clad and draping themselves over everyone. Their haunted eyes had always haunted her once she had seen them. The lifelessness spoke of years of pain brought about by their actions and the actions of others against them.

He had saved me from a life like that. How could I not love him for it? Christine's eyes widened as she realized she did love Erik.

Not the passing, friendship kind of love she had to admit she had for Raoul. Not even the kind of love for a father, teacher, or savior. No, this love was of the kind that burned. The kind that women held for their lovers. A lover's sort of love.

And, I don't have to worry about it being unreturned either. She thought happily. I heard him say he loved me! Loved me! The news that had shocked her, now, made her absolutely giddy. She would confess she loved him back and they would be happy together.

But, her spirits were dampened when she thought of a small hitch in all her merry plans. She wasn't a vampire. She would grow old and die while he lived on. A mortal loving an immortal was bound to turn out badly. She didn't want to live to the end of her life and then maybe, if she was lucky, be turned into a vampire and be able to be with him.

It was a quandary and not one she wanted to think about too much. They would discuss it later no doubt. Perhaps Erik had a solution. With that decided, and a happy smile plastered on her lips, she stood up and walked towards the door, preparing to go into the living room and speak with Erik about it the moment that Jareth was gone.

Just as her hands moved to open the door, there was a knock and, again, the sensation of cold she was quickly attributing to Erik's presence.

"Christine?" He called softly. If she had fallen asleep, he didn't wish to wake her. If she had run, it was his own fault and he wouldn't stop her from leaving. This was the story of his life, getting close to happiness and then having it torn away. The silence seemed to confirm his fears but then Christine spoke,

"I'm here." She said. Erik took a deep sigh of relief and sagged slightly against the doorframe. She didn't leave her Erik. He straightened immediately when the door opened, overjoyed to see her calm face but an instant later, dread filled him. One look in her face and he knew.

She had heard everything.