All I Ask Of You

Chapter 10

That night Christine was once again gone and this time I didn't have to wonder where she was.

I wrote beneath the light of the moon, all the other girls in the dorm sleeping silently in their beds, but I couldn't my mind was too distracted for that.

Even if I tried to sleep I would dream of the events that had happened. Being lead through the dark tunnel by a man in a mask, his soft voice echoing in my mind, his hand against my abdomen.

I shook my head, feeling silly.

"Don't think like that," I whispered softly to myself.

I closed my journal, deciding it was best that I tried to sleep before my imagination started running wild.

Just when I was on the verge of sleep suddenly I was shaken awake.

I opened my eyes rubbing them and looked to see Christine standing over me an expression on her face that I could see she was desperately trying to keep it together.

"Christine, what's wrong?" I whispered, immediately sitting up as I did.

She only tugged on my arm, not speaking a word.

I quickly got out of bed, allowing her to guide me out of the room and as soon as the door was closed behind us she burst into tears.

I hugged her, letting her soak my shoulder with her tears.

"What's the matter, did something happen?"

She pulled off me, shaking as she did, looking into my eyes and I could see her pupils dilated with fear.

"Celeste, I saw him."

At first I was confused, my brain still shaking off sleep, but then all at once I realized who she had seen.

"The Angel Of Music?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, but he's no angel..."

She trailed off hugging herself her gaze looking at the ground and then spoke again.

"He took me to this place where the daylight of the world seemed to dissolve into darkness, and he sang to me the most beautiful song his voice filled my spirit, with such a strange sweet sound and I could feel my soul soar and I had heard as I've never heard before..."

Christine took a deep breath closing her eyes before continuing.

"I had still hoped that perhaps he was my Angel Of Music, but when I-I took off his mask his face was so distorted and horrid, it was hardly a face. I had never seen him so angry he pushed me to the ground and screamed at me calling me a demon, I-I was terrified. That's when I knew he was not my angel, not at all."

I could feel the fear rise in my chest at seeing how frightened Christine was, hearing what had happened to her. I could feel the memory of meeting Erik he was gentle, kind, and even funny. I couldn't imagine him ever getting so filled with anger to react in such a manner, but of course, I didn't know him.

He could be a devil for all I know, a devil that I had unknowingly made a deal with.

My stomach twisted and I felt sick.

Christine took my hands, holding it tightly in hers.

"Celeste, please believe me, he's not the Angel Of Music, promise me you won't go to him."

I wasn't really sure if I could keep that promise, considering the predicament I was in, but I found myself nodding my head.

"I promise, Christine."

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Christine was in bed all morning, even into the afternoon. She had missed rehearsal for tonight's Il Muto performance, but Madame Giry excused her from it saying that she needed rest.

All throughout the night I could hear her tossing and turning in bed. She probably didn't get a wink of sleep at all, so this didn't surprise me in the slightest.

It did make me concerned.

What she told me last night was all I could think about, along with the memories of what I had experienced as if my mind was trying to figure out who Erik truly was.

An angel or demon?

My head was spinning with thoughts as I walked down the halls alone, heading towards the dormitories to check on Christine.

Suddenly a familiar voice cut through my thoughts.

"Celeste."

I looked around but of course, no one was there, the voice seemed to echo all around me and I took a shakey breath.

"Erik?" I called in a low whisper, but loud enough that he would be able to hear.

There was silence for a moment but I knew he was still there watching me from the hallway's darkness.

"I know you're there, why don't you speak?"

"Why doesn't who speak, Madame?"

I jumped and turned sharply, startled to see Phillipe looking at me with a curious expression.

"You startled me, Monsieur!"

"Pardon me, Madame, that was not my intention, I hope I'm not intruding," Phillipe told me apologetically, but I could see a smile tugging at his lips.

I took a deep breath to calm my heart, which was pounding in my chest.

"No, you weren't intruding on anything."

His eyes looked around as if searching for something then shrugged.

"Very well, now I was wondering if you perhaps know where I could find Christine Daaé?"

I nodded.

"Oui, she's resting in the dormitories, do you need her?"

"Oh no, I'm looking for my brother, you see he's obsessed with Christine, constantly talking about her beauty and such, so much so that he tends to find any opportunity to sneak away and be with her, it gets quite annoying trying to find him, especially in a large opera house." He told me with a shake of his head.

"Your brother is the Viscount, correct?" I asked.

"Oui, and I am Phillipe, Madame," Introducing himself as he took my hand into his kissing it softly.

I couldn't help but smile at the gesture, even though it was customary to do so  I couldn't help feeling flattered.

"I'm Celeste, Monsieur."

"It has been a pleasure meeting you, Celeste, I look forward to seeing the performance of Il Muto tonight, if you would excuse me I have to find my lovesick brother," 

I watched him walk down the hall until he turned a corner and disappeared behind a wall, the smile not leaving my face, for a moment as I stared.