Till I Hear You Sing(Final Book)

Chapter 10- Trouble In The Air.

Christine Daae

    "Erik, you really should get some rest. It's nearly three," I said softly, rubbing his shoulders. He smiled sadly and took my hands into his. 

     "I can't sleep...not until I finish this song. I can't bear this. I can hear all the melodies in my head, but..nothing is coming together," he grumbled, gritting his teeth together. 

      "Sounds like a bad case of writer's block. I'm sure it will come to you in due time. For now, just come to bed a-" 

        "No, Christine. Go back upstairs. I need to finish this." I flinched. He'd been so angry lately. 

        "Erik, come with me. Now," I said, slightly irritated. Erik's burning eyes met mine in an instant. His eyes looked different this time of night. I shivered.

       "No. I am grown. I can decide when I go to bed," he growled.

        "What has gotten into you? Erik, you're not yourself when you're tired. You need to rest. Your music can wait. Your wife will not," I spat, placing my hands on my hips. And then Erik stood. 

     "Christine, go to bed, and, for the last time, leave me the hell alone. "  His eyes seemed more frightening now. It reminded me of...

     "Very well then. Have fun torturing yourself down here. Don't bother coming up, love.I'll bring you breakfast in the morning. We wouldn't want to waste any of your precious time," I smiled, cocking my head slightly and turned away. I waited for a moment. I waited for the pressure on my arm. I waited for the apology. 

    But there was only silence. So, I went upstairs, and I crawled into the bed meant for two, and fell asleep. 

    I turned over in bed the next morning, throwing my arm across the empty bed. My eyes shot open. He had never come to bed. I sighed, knowing that the day would be hellish, for Erik undoubtedly hadn't slept, and the kids would be begging for him, but he would, of course, be locked up in the music room. I checked the clock. It was six. I'd barely gotten three hours of sleep. 

   I quickly tied my robe and walked out to the kitchen, starting breakfast before anyone, besides Erik, had woken. I silently thanked God that Erik made the the music room rather far down. I could hardly hear the notes being played on the piano. 

   "Mother?" Gustave called out quietly from the hallway. 

    "In the kitchen, Darling," I replied. He walked in quickly, yawning and rubbing his eyes. He wrapped his arms around my waist and hugged me tightly. I smiled and hugged him back. "What do you want on your croissant?" 

    "Jam, please," he mumbled, stepping on a stool to get the plates. "Where's Father?"

     "He's working. I'm sure you'll see him later today," I assured him. Gustave nodded, sitting down to eat. I took Erik's plate and quickly walked to the music room, opening the door. Shutting the door behind me, I began to walk down the long stairway. 

      "No!" Erik's shouts of frustration became louder, clearer. I could hear the banging on the piano. It was worse than I had thought. 

      "Erik, I brought you breakfast," I announced quietly. Erik turned and met my gaze. His eyes looked more blood shot now, and he had taken his wig and mask off. I set down his plate, and I placed my hands on his face. I studied his features. The bags under his eyes were rapidly becoming more prominent. I noticed a few more strands of his hair had fallen out. 

   I sighed, whispering to Erik, "Darling, you need to take better care of yourself." 

     "I feel fine, Christi-"

      "I  don't. Why do you do this to yourself? You can't rush this music, Erik. It takes time. You can't lock yourself away for days on end. Listen to me, all right? This isn't healthy. You're worrying me."

      "Everything worries you. I am perfectly fine. I suggest you go spend time with the children. We wouldn't want them left alone all day, would we?" Erik grinned. This grin was familiar. And I hated it. This grin was always plastered on his face when he thought he was winning. 

     He wasn't.

     "Of course. It seems that I'm the only one that seems to care about them anymore," I said sharply, turning away. His hand was on my arm in an instant, turning me back towards him.

     "Did you..Are you implying I don't care for our children?" Erik shouted. 

     "No, I know you care about them! That's why you lock yourself up in a dark room, writing pieces of music to send to an opera house full of people who are terrified of you!" I shouted back. If he wanted a fight, I was prepared to give hell. 

     "Is that all you ever go on about? The only reason I write is for you! Dammit, Christine, I love you!"

      "You have a hell of a way of showing it!" I screamed. I was crying now. My throat burned. My hands were balled into fists. My cheeks felt hot. Erik's eyes were softer now. Not as soft as I wished they would be, but soft enough to know that he still cared. That didn't change anything at the moment. I was still angry with him, and he was going to have to do a lot more than change the way he looked at me. "You know what, Erik? I don't even care anymore."

     "Christine.."

    "No, Erik. Do what ever the hell you want." 

    And, with that, I walked back upstairs, and I went to check on the girls. Harmony sat upright, violently shaking a rope with bells attached to it. Presley, though, remained asleep. I pulled Harmony into my arms and sat in the rocking chair. I listened to her quiet giggles, and I got my breathing under control. Harmony smiled, and I smiled back, for she was still too little to understand what pain felt like.

  I smiled, watching as she shook her little rope, and I watched the sunrise come into view.

yay updates. I am super tired. Both emotionally(cause duh) and physically. So i'm gonna go take a nap.