The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 37

Rosella's POV:

I felt my face blush as he smiled at me again, before he disappeared through the door rather than the mirror as I expected him to. Though I expect he was not yet ready to tell Florica all of his many secrets. I was honestly surprised he had allowed me to become privy to so many as he had already. I turned to see Florica smiling at me with the same spark in her brown eyes that I had long missed. She looked towards Sage and saw him sleeping deeply before she motioned towards the door. 

I smiled as I nodded and thought of the one place I knew Erik would not follow us as quickly as he might others, though I doubted he was going to try to eavesdrop on our conversation. He respected Florica too much for that already, and he did not even know just how wonderful she truly was just yet. I led us out of my room and to the rooftop of the opera house, smiling as I watched Florica laugh at the view around us before turning towards me with tears growing in her eyes.

I was soon wrapped in a hug that I never thought I would get to experience again since the day we were parted so many years ago. A few moments later and she releases me from her tight grasp but takes my hand in hers and leads us over to one of the benches that are scattered around the roof. I smile a bit remembering the night that Erik and I sat on this bench, before my attention was drawn back to Florica as she started to speak in a hushed voice. I wasn't sure if she somehow knew that Erik had a tendency to listen into other's conversations or was simply staying quiet due to the silence that surrounded us in the city below.

"I still cannot believe that I have found you again little flower." (F)

"Nor I you, I have this for you. I managed to keep it safe from every owner I had, though I believe that in itself was a blessing." (R)

I saw her look at me in confusion then surprise as I took the golden cross necklace out from under my dress and offered it to her. She had given it to me so long ago, but I felt it right to return it to her now. She took in her hand for a moment smiling down at it before she placed it back around my neck and re-did the clasp. She brushed a few tears away from my eyes, tears I hadn't even realized I had shed, as I looked back at her. I watched as a smile grew on her face as we stared at one another.

"No little Flower, it is yours. I had always had the intention of giving it to my daughter as my mother had once given it to me." (F)

"But-" (R)

"No buts dear, for you are as close to a daughter as I ever thought of having. When they took you away from me that day, oh how my heart broke. I prayed for you each night my little flower, and now 9 years later I get to see all my prayers answered." (F)

"I prayed for you too, I.......I missed you but had never dreamed I'd see you again while living anyway." (R)

I felt a few more tears slip from my eyes before Florica wrapped intothe same tight embrace that I had so long hoped and dreamed of having againover the years. The scent of lavender surrounded me and I felt like I wasfinally home in the opera house with her and Erik by my side. She said it hasbeen 9 years since I left her side, yet somehow it seemed longer. A few momentslater and we both pulled away from each other, only to stare at each other oncemore as if we were both afraid the other was a dream. Her smile faltered somethough the longer she looked into my eyes and I felt myself grow nervous withthe look she was giving me unsure as to why I was on the receiving end of it.

"I can see even now that my prayers did not offer you enough protection.Other's may not see it or know but I see the damage that was done to you. Iknow you little bloom and I know what your pain looks like even when hidden. Ican see it in your eyes." (F)

"I tried not to let my masters break me Florica, I tried but.....every masterseemed to grow worse than the last and with each passing year I had little elseto lose I suppose." (R)

"It is alright my flower, for I also see how you are healing now in thanks tothe famous Opera Ghost." (F)

"How did you know who he was?" (R)

"Dear, I'm old but I still have ears and listen to the stories people tell andan opera ghost was a popular tale a few years ago. Are you happy here withhim?" (F)

"Yes, I am along with Daroga and the Giry's. I feel at home here with them, andI....I love Erik with more than I could ever imagine possible." (R)

"I know dear one, I can see it in your eyes as well as his eyes when he staresat you. Which is why I want to ask if you, both of you, if you two would be willing to carefor Sage." (F)

"What? Will you not still care for him as you did me?" (R)

"Dear one I am an old woman now, I may not look it but I feel it in my bones. Iam too old to raise another child. I am 89 years old. He needs loving parentsor in the least guardians who can understand his nightmares, can keep up withhis energy while also nourishing his mind. He is a bright soul, whose light wasbarely dimmed in the four years that he lived in the caravan with us." (F)

"But Erik and I.....we have not yet even discussed what we are. Whether he evenwants to marry me one day." (R)

"Oh dear flower, trust me he wants to marry you more than you could ever guess.And you would both be good for Sage." (F)

"What of.....what of his real parents?" (R)

"I met them both on the night he arrived in camp. A man with brown eyes anddark golden hair with a younger woman with brown curls and blue eyes. He has her eyesand hair but his features I suppose are like those of his father for he was ahandsome man. The devils always are it seems." (F)

I heard the harshness enter her voice and I knew without asking that hisparents weren't dead for she would not show such harshness towards the dead. Iwaited a moment as she took a deep breath before she grabbed my hand in hers. Igave her hand a gentle squeeze as I watched her stay silent for a few momentslonger knowing she was thinking through what she wanted to tell me.

"Sage was a twin, the other brother looked like an angel according to theparents, while Sage looked as he did now. I was there in the meeting they had with Salin and Malik. They were asked if we would care forthe child, they said yes. They handed the poor child over without even askingfor payment, and for a moment it was as if I was relieving the moment I got you dear one." (F)

I felt my own anger grow within me at the two monsters that would do such aninnocent thing to a child, even as I knew just as she said that it was not the first time they had done such a thing. I felt my hands start to shake even as Floricatightened her grip and looked at me. I closed my eyes as I forced my mind tothink of Erik's golden eyes hoping to keep the insanity at bay until I couldsee him in person once more.

"Why are you telling me this Florica?" (R)

"My dear, I am no fool as I have heard the tale of the Phantom of the Opera andhis lost love in the singer from years ago. While I believe that he loves you,I fear that he will not want the child when he discovers whose child it is. Foras the couple were leaving the caravan the woman came back and placed a kiss onhis forehead as I held him in my arms. Whispering 'May the Angel of Music watch over you now,' beforeher husband shouted for her to come along." (F)

"I still do not see what this has to do with Erik." (R)

"When her husband shouted for her, he used her name and she responded with his.Christine and Raoul." (F)

I felt the last bit of my sanity start to slip away at that two names. Howcould she do that to her own child, an innocent soul after having known thelife that Erik had undergone. I felt Florica's hand disappear from my own as Istood and left the roof. My feet knew already where I was headed as I made myway down through the opera house and to my room, through the mirror door anddown to his lair or home within moments.

I had reached the 'living room' area of the lair to find it empty, and I feltmyself take a deep breath as I tried to reign in the insanity that was growingsteadily more active. However as I thought once more of what Sage's parents haddone, what she had done to yet another poor creature she had encountered on this cruel earth, I felt any effort at holding back the rage disappear.I finally felt a scream of rage left my mouth and for once I stopped fightingthe insanity from taking over, and this time welcomed it.