The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 38

Erik's POV:

I was composing before I heard whimpers of pain seeming to echo around me and I sprang to my feet before realizing that Rose and Florica must still be absent. For that was not a sound from Rosella but a child, Sage. Within moments I walked through the mirror and over to his bed to find him shaking and whimpering in his sleep. I wasn't as accustomed to children as others were but I knew I had to help in some manner or form, so I reached over and gently took his left shoulder in my hand to avoid hurting him on the burnt arm.

Like Rosella and myself his eyes sprung open and he flinched back from my hand and to the corner of the bed against the wall. His blue eyes filled with fear tugged at a memory that was still hidden in my mind, but I would think on it later. I watched as tears started to grow in his eyes as he stared at me as if he didn't know who I was.

"Please.....please Master Malik not the mask again please." (Sage)

I froze in the words of comfort I was about to offer the poor boy, wondering what could have happened to him that made him fearful of a mask. Though my mind hadn't long to wonder as it began to rage again at the fact that he too was terrified of Malik. Malik the monster that was the source of so much of my Rose's own pain was present here in Sage's fear as well and I could not hope but that he might rot in hell one day.

"What do you mean not the mask again?" (E)

"Don't make me wear it please, I'll do better next show I promise." (Sage)

I noticed he shielded his face with his hands as if he thought I would hit him or force a mask on his face, even as he kept his eyes closed as tight as he could. I was unsure how to proceed before I decided I would risk his scream of terror, as I took off my mask. I could think of no other way to calm the poor boy without Florica or Rosella returning.

"Sage, look at me. It's Erik." (E)

I saw as the poor boy glanced at me through his fingers as if doubting what I said before he looked above his hand and seemed to relax. He slowly crawled closer to me on the bed, staring at my face for but a moment, before he threw himself into my chest, his small arms wrapping around me as much as they could. I wrapped my own arms around him a bit slowly before patting him on the head and gently pulling away from him. I saw the tears lingering in his eyes even as he traced my face with his eyes, a look of fear passing only when he looked down at the mask next to us on the bed.

"Why do you fear the mask so Sage?" (E)

"Master Malik.......he would, he would make me wear one when I was getting beaten, so that my face wouldn't be harmed. But I.....I couldn't breath in it, it was so hot and it......it always meant a beating.....I....please don't....don't make me wear one." (Sage)

"No Sage, we would never force you to do anything. It is my choice only that I wear a mask as it will be your choice whether you wear one or not." (E)

I felt in some way that I was lying to the boy, as it wasn't really my choice in wearing a mask. It was what had been decided for me by the world upon my birth, and though he hadn't yet discovered that I feared it is what the world would have him do one day as well. I watched as he yawned a bit before he looked back at me with a pleading look in his eyes.

"You should go back to sleep." (E)

"Could you sing me to sleep? Florica always does, it helps keep nightmares away." (Sage)

"I....I suppose I could. But first you must lay down." (E)

I watched as he did as I asked and racked my brain for anything that would do as a lullaby for a child before I finally thought of something that would work. I cleared my throat before I started to sing and watched after a few minutes into the song as his breathing became steady and his eyes started to close.

"A gentle breeze from Hushabye Mountain
Softly blows over Lullaby Bay,
It fills the sails of boats that are waiting,
Waiting to sail your worries away.

It isn't far to Hushabye Mountain,
And your boat waits down by the quay.
The winds of night so softly are sighing,
Soon they will fly your troubles to sea.

So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain,
Wave goodbye to cares of the day,
And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain
Sail far away from Lullaby Bay.

So close your eyes on Hushabye Mountain,
Wave goodbye to cares of the day,
And watch your boat from Hushabye Mountain
Sail far away from Lullaby Bay."


I had just finished the song when the door to the room opened up and I hastily put my mask back on before I saw that it was Rosella. I stood and was prepared to explain what happened but it was as if she didn't even see me. I watched as she walked to the mirror before she disappeared through it just as Florica came back into the room. She glanced once at Sage and then at me before she nodded as if already knowing what happened before she watched the mirror slide closed behind Rosella.

"What happened?" (E)

"She will tell you, but you must stay sane for her tonight. Go to her my son." (F)

I nodded in slight confusion as the words, wondering if she was always this confusing to talk to before I hurried at Rosella. I could only hope she didn't spring a trap by accident on the way down, though as I reached the lair I saw that she had made it perfectly unscathed. I walked closer to her only to see her shaking in what I knew to be anger. I was right behind her when she let out a scream of rage, and I knew instantly that she had released the insanity that she so often had to fight to keep within her.

"HOW COULD SHE?!? THAT LITTLE WITCH, THAT EVIL SIREN!!!! HOW COULD SHE!?!?!!?! HOW COULD SHE BE CRUEL?!?!?!? AND HOW DARE SHE HOPE FOR AN ANGEL'S CARE WHEN SHE SHOULD BEG FOR MERCY INSTEAD?!?!?!" (R)

I watched pained as she screamed again before falling to her knees as angry tears fell down her cheeks as her eyes seemed to roam the room without seeing anything. I kneeled next to her and touched her shoulder only for her head to snap towards me before flinching away from my touch, but I knew instantly she wasn't seeing me but whoever her mind was angry at.

"HOW COULD YOU??!?!? HAVE YOU NO COMPASSION?!?!?! YOU'RE THE MONSTER, THE DEMON, THE DEVIL'S CHILD, YOU BASTARD!!!!!!!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU!!???!" (R)

I stood as she did, receiving a slap in the face as she caught me off guard before I started to block her other slaps and punches aimed at me. I knew I had to keep her from hurting herself and me while she was in this state, but I also wanted to find out who she was angry at as I knew it couldn't be Florica.

"I know not what I did." (E)

"HA, YOU KNOW NOT WHAT YOU DID. FIRST YOU STOLE HIS HAPPINESS, THEN YOU LEFT HIM ALONE IN THE DARK WITH NOTHING AND NO ONE. THEN YOU GET THAT LITTLE HARPY TO AGREE TO GIVE UP YOUR VERY OWN SON TO PRESERVE YOUR PERFECT PEDIGREE!!!!!! HOW COULD YOU?????!?!?!" (R)

"Who am I?" (E)

"DON'T PLAY GAMES WITH ME VISCOMTTE!!!!!! I WOULD KILL YOU IF I COULD!!!!!!!" (R)

Her words distracted me as she managed to land another punch to my face, my mask flying off in the process even as my mind finally understood who she was mad at. Raoul and Christine, and after knowing that I thought back over what she had been screaming. Sage.....the boy was their child and they gave him up because of his face.

The way his eyes seemed to tug at memories in my mind all made sense now as I realized they were her eyes that I was looking at just in a different face. I felt my own rage start to grow but I remembered Florica's words to me as I watched as Rosella fell to the floor again shaking in anger as she let out a growl towards me.

I softened my eyes as much as possible before I kneeled in front of her and began humming, hoping that this would work as it was not always a guarantee. A few moments passed as I hummed and I finally watched the anger and insanity that had filled her beautiful eyes fade away as remorse and sadness took their place. I held my arms open as she flung herself into them, before I scooped her up and carried her to the bed and laid down with her still in my arms now crying into my shirt.

"Shhhh my little Rose, it's alright." (E)

"No, it's not. How could they do such a thing to an innocent child knowing what they know. I don't understand." (R)

"Shhhhh Rose, he is safe now and nothing's going to harm him. Not with us around." (E)

"You'll help care for him then even though his parents are....." (R)

I felt her flinch in my arms as more tears fell from her eyes, and I realized she was worried I wouldn't care for the child simply because his parents were who they were. I began to whisper soothing words of assurance that I would care for Sage for as long as I was able. I watched as she finally looked up from my chest and met my eyes before she winced as she looked at my left cheek.

I wondered why the left one made her wince while the horribly deformed right one didn't, but as her hands traced my left cheek I knew why. Her slap and punch had left their marks, and I was surprised yet again by how fierce my Rose's thorns could be. She placed a gently kiss on each bruise and my other cheek before laying her head back down on my shoulder. A few minutes later she told me everything Florica had told her on the roof and though I was angry the insanity didn't come. Though I could only attribute that to her laying on top of me, and the thoughts of being a father to Sage running through my mind.