Christine woke some time later to the faint sound of a violin. She kept her eyes closed and remained still as she listened, as though afraid that if she moved the music would cease.

After nearly dozing off once more, Christine reluctantly pushed herself out of the bed and wrapped herself in a silky, white dressing gown that was hanging near the ornate vanity in the corner of the room. As she tied the gown, the violin stopped abruptly.

It was soon replaced by quiet, echoing footsteps down the hall. She walked over to the door and pulled it open. She was amazed how heavy it was.

"Ah, I was just coming to check on you," Erik said as he drew closer, "I trust you slept well?" Christine nodded as she took a step back from the door to let him in.

"I didn't realize I was so tired," Christine admitted as she turned and crossed the room to the vanity, where she sat and busied herself with fixing her hair. She wanted to keep as much distance as possible between herself and her new husband for as long as she could.

Erik closed the door and hesitated for a long moment before walking over and standing behind her. Christine could see his hands shaking as he slowly raised one and put it on her shoulder. She gasped, tensing up. His hand seemed cold, unusually so even for him.

That small, involuntary reaction was all it took for Erik's pleading, hopeful eyes to fill with contempt.

His hand was no longer shaking as he gripped her shoulder tightly, his nails digging into her skin through the thin fabric of her dressing gown. Christine whimpered.

"You're hurting me."

"Oh, am I?" His voice was icy. His grip tightened further, then slacked as he caught sight of her pained expression in the mirror and it snapped him out of his anger. Christine tried hard to avoid meeting his gaze in the mirror as she forced herself to go back to what she'd been doing.

"I disgust you." The statement broke the deafening silence that had fallen, and Christine glanced up at the man who still held his hand on her shoulder.

"Why would you think that?"

"I don't just think it, Christine. Don't play games with me. I've seen the way you cower from me. I've felt how you tense up at my touch."

"It's not because I find you disgusting," Christine protested, "It's because you frighten me! How am I supposed to feel about a man who keeps me locked away with no real privacy or freedom?"

Erik's hand jerked away from her, and he took a good step back. "I- I frighten you? But I- I've never meant to frighten you. All I want is for you to love me."

"Well I certainly don't love you," Christine spat. She was immediately stricken with horrible remorse for having said precisely what she had been thinking since the forced wedding. "Wait, that didn't-"

"No, I believe you've said quite enough, Christine," Erik said, raising his hand to shush her, "I will leave you alone."

As he backed away, she looked at his face in the mirror. His expression was heart-wrenching.

And before she could open her mouth to say another word, she was alone.