Why Have You Brought Me Here?

Chapter 7: The Music of the Night

Here it is! The next installment of the story narrated in Erik's (the phantom, for anybody who is confused) POV. The next chapter will be a continuation of his POV, but almost all chapters after will be told from Juniper's POV...unless someone comments and thinks it would be better to have more of the Phantom's thoughts within the story. Either way, the story still has MANY MORE twists and turns. As always, comment, vote, fan, and read merrily as i take you down once more into the taverns of unending night.

Enjoy :)

Sincerely,

Sarah

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Chapter 7: The Music of the Night

The Phantom's POV:

It was always the same dream; it was always the same nightmare. I often wondered if she had seen these scenes in her mind as well when her pale cheek laid itself down on the pure-white pillow. My naked face, her translucent lips wiping away each tear from my swollen eyes. "Christine," I breathed, and she was gone. She was always gone when I awoke.  

The night she left me, was the night that I took her voice. Not metaphorically, but literally. Within those few weeks of teaching her, I had finally realized that Christine was simply a carrier of this angelic voice, a case, if you will.

I could do without her, of course, but a voice means nothing unless it connects itself to one's soul. A body was needed, but not Christine's. Though I loved her with vehement and perilous fire, she had made her decision, and I had made mine as well. That night still rings clear in my mind, every...last...breath.

"You damned fool! Silly child speaking to me as if I had never fallen in love before! Yes, it is ALL consuming, my dear! Do you feel gravity pulling you toward that person? Unable to stop! A bearing which was past the point of no return? If you let him take you away from me, then I shall take him away from you! NO...no...if I were to be so cruel may God send me to the deepest layer of hell. And yet," I spoke as my eyes followed her every spiking pant, "it seems I have already arrived! Shall you wish to join me, my love?"

"Please Erik, let me go! I'll give you anything just so long as you let me go!"

"Christine, when I said that your voice BELONGED to me, I meant it! Tis nothing in the world that could replenish my yearning for those melodies! Tis not a girl in the world that could sing them with such dangerous passions. I must have that voice! "

Her eyes widened, but I could see that she was willing to compromise.

"A deal then," I said equably, turning my back to the fire. "Since you have returned, not even a day after you had chosen Raoul; since you have come here alone, without your precious lover," I spit these last two words at her and filled each syllable with venom, "I can see that you're not completely indifferent toward me...speaking of which...Why did you come in the first place, I'm rather curious?"

"I wanted forgiveness. My father had spoken of an angel, but he was never said that this angel was the angel of death. I have no more pity for you; I simply want to leave assured that your hauntings will cease. Can you promise that to me, Erik? Can you promise me that I will live a happy life without you?

I stared at her mouth in amazement. The same gentle lips that had spoken love for me the night before, had now twisted into poisoned vines of wants and needs and promises. She was to give me what I wanted, what I needed, not the other way around. I surveyed her heartbeat. Calm. With two strides toward her, my unclothed face was mere inches apart from her, now terrified, visage. I caressed her hand gently, and then spoke with clarity, enunciating each word with a breathy sigh.