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

Chapter 16

Christine stood at the door, surprised when Erik didn't answer it right away. She knocked again then quietly opened it. Erik stood with his back towards her, looking down into the street below his window. Though she couldn't see what his expression was, she knew by the tilt of his shoulders he was in deep thought. Thinking twice about disturbing him, she closed the door and began to walk away but a moment later, a voice called to her,

"Christine!" She stopped and turned to look at Erik was standing in the hallway in front of his room. She smiled at him and walked towards him. "Christine, where are you going?" He asked as he took her hand in his and brought it up to the mask's lips. Christine shivered slightly as the cold porcelain touched her skin.

"I was going to speak with you but you seemed preoccupied and I didn't wish to annoy you." Erik shook his head and drew her into his room.

"You are never an annoyance to Erik." He said kindly as he closed the door and removed his mask, setting down on the bedside table. Christine smiled up at him and gave his hideous cheek a light kiss.

"You're a wonderful suitor." She whispered without even thinking about what she had said. In her mind, they appeared as a couple.

Erik stiffened immediately as the word 'suitor' crossed her lips. His eyes focused on her face and he said softly,

"Suitor?" Christine's eyes were the picture of innocent embarrassment. She hadn't meant to be so bold in her speech.

"I'm sorry, Erik. I shouldn't have been so brazen." Erik shook his head quickly and pulled her into his arms, kissing her gently on the lips.

"No need to apologize." He said softly. It hadn't crossed his mind that most people would consider them a couple. They had kissed and confessed love for one another. He hadn't thought anything further on the subject. Of course, it made sense to him that a girl like Christine would want the comfort of knowing that her lover was courting her. But, it didn't make sense that she wanted her suitor to be him. Then again, Christine had, on occasion, been in possession of some very odd and even reckless ideas. It was just possible that she found him a suitable gentleman and wished for that security in their relationship. As if Erik could leave her and find someone else? Erik thought to himself before speaking to Christine who was at that time, looking a bit unsure but unwilling to leave his arms,

"Erik would be honored if you would consider him your suitor." Christine's face glowed with joy and promptly covered his face in kisses, as she was wont to do. Erik didn't make a single move to stop her. Every touch of her lips was a pleasure to him. It reinforced her love in his mind. That was something he needed quite often. Love was a foreign thought to him and he knew it would take another few years before he got more accustomed to the thought. Though, he would never it for granted. To take Christine for granted was almost as wrong as biting her.

Christine noticed the barest hints a smile on his face and smiled back at him before turning to look about the room. It was set up very much like hers but the colors were completely different. While hers were blue and yellow, his were black and red. It's a very fitting room for a vampire. She thought with a grin before plopping herself down on his bed and grinning happily.

"Erik, tell me what is going on at the Opera House." Erik watched her for a moment before sitting beside her and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Raoul has started a complete search of the Opera House grounds to find you. He is demanding that you be located and Erik be slain." Christine's blue eyes widened with terror.

"They can't, can they?" She demanded as she held his face in her hands and frantically tangled her fingers in his thinning black mane. Erik was quick to shake his head and cradle her head against his shoulder, lightly combing her blond locks with his thin fingers.