Remembering the Angel

Tale as Old as Time

Erik's POV

Erik had been in Christine's room before, but never took time to study it after she had settled in.

It was clean. However, some person things of Christine's were scattered around the room. A blanket across the bed. Her father's photograph on her bedside table. On her vanity, there was a silver hair brush, hair pins, and a bottle of perfume. Erik couldn't help himself. He brought the bottle up to his nose, and breathed in her chosen scent.

As he inhaled, all the moments he was close enough to smell it on her skin rushed into his mind.

Chills ran down his spine.

He walked over to her closet, where the scent continued as he ran a shaking hand across her dresses. It was intoxicating. In that moment, he heard the water that had been running in the bathroom stop.

Quickly, he tried to make himself look casual. Which was an impossible task. Sitting on the bed implied something. Sitting in the vanity chair would would confirm the fact that he was looking at her personal items. Standing in the middle of the room would be even more awkward.

He heard Christine's footsteps near the bathroom door.

In a moment's decision, he rushed outside onto her balcony, and looked at the night sky.

"Leaving so soon?" She cooed, laughing.

He turned, to see Christine in a nightgown of white silk. A matching white robe, with arms of lace, tied at her waist, with small detailed embellishments at the bottom, covered the gown. Her chocolate hair flowing in all directions around her, in perfect ringlets.

She looked like Aphrodite in the night.

"Not tonight, my dear, simply just watching the stars."

She walked over to his side and smiled, "It is a very beautiful night. I can't believe it was only a week ago, when you came here the first time."

He recalled that night, he had been watching Christine with Gustave from her balcony. He hadn't expected her to see him, but now he was so grateful she had.

He looked over and watched her yawn, it was adorable. He let out a small chuckle and shook his head, "Christine, let's get you to bed."

She looked down and rubbed her wrists, then look up at him with a look he couldn't read on her face.

"Only me?" She said shyly.

He smiled, "No, if that's alright with you."

"Are you planning on sleeping in that suit?" she said jokingly.

Erik was taken back, he hadn't given much thought to things like clothes to sleep in. Typically when they slept side by side he left early enough that his clothes didn't become a discomfort. But this was different. He promised Christine a sunrise. And he planned to give it to her.

"What would you rather me sleep in?" he asked.

"Well not this for certain." She said reaching for his mask, "Why do you insist on continuing to wear this around me? I love you, can't that be enough?"

Erik turned and took his mask off and set it on her vanity table, "Christine...your love is my world. I just...I look at myself with out it," his eyes looked to the mirror, "and I see a beast."

Christine walked over to his side and met his eyes in the mirror, "You see a beast? I see a man. A beautiful man with a beautiful soul. I see a beauty."

"Now that's only because you're in the mirror too." Erik joked, wrapping his arms around her waist.  

She laughed and shook her head, "Come we must get your clothes. Is your quarters far from ours?"