Ars Gratia Artis – Chapter 3 – Revelations

AN – I am so terribly sorry for the ridiculously long wait. Anyway, enjoy the chapter.

Skaramoosh x

Disclaimer: I do not own POTO

Revelations

C POV
I avoided his gaze and looked solemnly at the ceiling. I couldn't tell him, he would be so disappointed in me.

'Christine?'

Despite the years I still found it hard to deny him.

'The man who owns this venue... demands more a little more than money.'

'What do you mean?'

I buried my face in my hands, tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. Erik put his hand on my shoulder in an attempt to comfort me.

'I slept with him, Erik. I slept with a man who I had only known for a day so that I could share my art.'

He rose to his feet and my eyes followed his gaze, tears breaking free from my previous determination.

'Well, I see. That changes things.'

He turned on his heel and began to walk away.

'No, Erik, please! Listen to me! There was nothing else I could do, I was desperate, please.'

He moved further away from me and it felt like he was taking my soul with him.

'Please, I've only just seen you again. Don't leave me angel.'

E POV
I turned around when she called me that, it had been so long until anyone had compared me to any sort of heavenly creature. She was just standing there, and to my surprise she did not look like a sinful seductress. She looked like a frightened child. I couldn't leave her here, in the midst of all this madness. But I could not deny the world her art.

'Oh Christine.'

She fell to the floor before me, sobbing hysterically. I rushed to her side and embraced her.

'I'm sorry angel, I just had to show the world my art, and I had to prove I wasn't a failure.'

'I understand Christine, but... surely you could have gotten a different venue.'

She shook her head.

'This is the best venue in France, everybody knows it.'

She sighed and wiped her eyes.

'I guess you're going to leave now, aren't you?'

I touched her face. It was like touching the most perfect statue carved by an extremely skilled sculptor.

'Yes, I am leaving, but you, my little songbird, are coming with me.'

She head snapped up to meet mine.

'What! Erik you cannot just turn up and demand I elope with you!'

'Well you didn't want me to leave!'

She sighed.

'Couldn't you stay here? I have an apartment; it's only a short walk away.'

I stared at her in shock. Christine, my Christine welcoming me into her home. This was beyond anything I had ever dreamed of.

'Yes I suppose I could stay, if it wouldn't be too much trouble.'

'That's great Erik, now I need to mingle. Considering what I had to do to get this art show I need to get as much out of it as I can. Important people are here Erik, and if I get their attention it could mean good things for me.'

I could tell she was determined to make this work. I nodded and continued making my way through the gallery on my own. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Christine talking and laughing with several men, all of which looked very business-like. They had better not harm her or they'd have me to deal with.

C POV
When at long last the event was over I made my way over to Erik. I had found that having to be sociable with all these pompous businessmen to be very tiresome and I was looking forward to having my angel of music with me, even if it was only for a little while. I gathered all my things and we set off down the street to my apartment.

'Let me take those.'

He took my bags from me and we continued down the path. Suddenly a very tall man stepped out in front of us.

'I know what you did Madame Daaé.'

I kept calm; some ignorant man wasn't going to upset me today.

'That's no concern of yours, now would you please move out of our way.'

'No.'

He went to touch me but Erik stepped in front of me.

'If you touch her I will kill you.'

'Erik!'

The tall man ran away and Erik turned to face me.

'Erik, you can't go around threatening every man who goes near me!'

'I'm sorry Christine, it's just... I feel very protective of you.'

'I know.'

We carried on walking in silence until we reached my apartment door.

'Well, this is it.'

I unlocked the door and we stepped inside.

AN – I realise this is short but I wanted to get this chapter out as I haven't updated in so long. I will try and get the next chapter written as soon as I can.

Skaramoosh x