Chapter 3

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by archfeykoi

by archfeykoi

I was still in complete shock. I felt just terrible for how I had treated him before. But still... he had kidnapped me... I peered out the door after him, only cracking it slightly. He was nowhere in sight. I sighed and closed the door quietly and sat on the couch, contemplating. 'Should I go find him? Or should I stay in my room....?'

I stayed in my room, not prepared to deal with him if he would get more angry at me. I murmered a song lyric I remembered; "Wildly my mind beats against you, yet the soul obeys..." I continued to hum the song quietly, walking around my room.

My mind was still spinning, thinking in circles, continuing to return to a sole, disbelieving thought: 'He loves me???' I couldn't understand why he would love me, and... why me?

Before I could answer my own question, Erik opened the door slowly and stared at me a long moment. I couldn't even think to what was going on inside his mind. "I made you some tea if you are thirsty," he whispered distractedly, not meeting my gaze. I shot him a somewhat upset look, while he wasn't watching.

"Yes, thank you..." I replied awkwardly and slowly. I looked down. "I... I'm sorry..."

My eyes darted from him, to anywhere else around the room. I just couldn't look into his eyes feeling like this. I felt awful for before. Even if he did kidnap me. I was actually feeling sorry for him... We both looked up, meeting each other's eyes.

"Why might you be sorry, may I ask?" He asked skeptically as he walked over to me, handing me the tea and stepping back quickly, raising a brow.

I took it, sighing. "For being rude earlier..."

"Don't worry about it," he assured, beginning to walk to the door.

"Are you sure?" I asked doubtfully. No one could take that kind of rudeness and not mind it. I knew he was hiding something.

"Yes... I am sorry, Christine..." And that was it. He walked back out.

I sipped the tea, set it back on the dresser, and ventured out into the dark hallways. I stopped in the doorway of his music room, my eyes sweeping over the huge organ, the armchair, and the rest of the room, breathing silently.

I saw him lean back against the chair and heard him begin to hum. I was sure he was unaware of my presence. He didn't turn around. I gave him one last, sympathetic glance before turning to leave. My eyes widened as my skirt brushed against the door frame. I hurried the rest of the way back to my room.

A few minutes later, I peered out once again, and saw that he was leaving. I decided to follow him to the lake, to sit beside him. "Are you alright?" I asked softly as I sat down.

"Of cour-- ... I am fine, Christine," He sighed in somber confirmation.

"You don't seem fine." I persisted. His gloomy mood was most likely my fault, and I didn't like it.

Erik didn't answer, so I didn't push it. I just sat next to him in silence. After a moment, I felt something. My hand was brushed ever so softly by his, the cold leathery feel making me shiver. He was trying to change, though I could tell it would take some work.

A soft ebbing glow was emitted from his dwelling, most likely from all the candles he had. It concerned me a bit, seeing how he had papers scattered about his floor all the time. And I'd seen him push the tall candles down. Shouldn't the place have caught on fire?

Before I knew it, the man sitting beside me was holding my hand. It was a nice gesture, but sort of felt like he was trying too hard to be "normal." Of course, he feared that no-one would love a "monster" like him.

"You don't have to-" I started, assuring him that it was fine if he didn't really want to do this, but he cut me off mid-sentence.

"Please, Christine." Erik's voice was low and stern. I could tell that I had slightly upset him. So I just nodded silently. My heart rate picked up a bit, but never in my life did I think that I would make such a bold move.

I leaned over and laid my head on his shoulder. This was a nice feeling. It felt easy, but in the back of my mind I knew it wouldn't be. Raoul and Meg would miss me. Monsieur Andre and Monsieur Firmin would wonder where I'd gone. Madame Giry would know of my disappearance, but it wouldn't surprise me if she knew what had happened.

Honestly, I'd never thought about the Phantom like this. He was always my tutor. The voice I heard singing to me in my dreams. The face in the mirror in that dim twilight hour after my first show. Always just my teacher. But for him to love me? It was absurd!

I hadn't realized how tired I was until I found myself drifting off to sleep. Trying to keep my eyes open, I noticed he was humming softly to me with an angelic tone that only he was capable of producing. "My angel of music.." I whispered, then let the clutches of sleep pull me down.