The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 39

Erik's POV:

I woke a few hours later, while it was still dark out and saw her standing at the doorway facing the black lake. I stood up from the bed and approached her but froze when she turned towards me and I saw the insanity raging in her eyes yet again. I tried to approach her with soothing words and while she seemed to recognize me for a moment, the insanity won out and she rushed out the door and away from the lair.

I grabbed my mask and slid it back in place before I started after her, but she had slid out of one of the side panels before I could catch her. I was only a few feet away from her when I heard the doors of the opera house slam close and I realized she had run outside, though for what I was not sure. I pulled my cloak and hood back over my face as I left the safety of the opera house in pursuit of my Rose.

Yet as I found myself outside in the late night air I was alone, with no trace or sign of Rosella anywhere. I felt a sense of fear settle deep in my bones before I decided that I would look at Daroga's house first as that was the only place other than here that she knew. I saddled Ceasar as quickly as I could before I noticed that a second horse was missing from the stable, and I wondered how she had reached the stables so quickly. I rushed out of the stables with Ceasar and pushed him as fast as he could go to Daroga's. A few minutes later I was pounding on the door as he stood panting behind me, tied to the metal railing lining Daroga's walk.

"Erik? What in the world is the matter?" (D)

"Rosella ran off tonight, I could not catch her. Is she here?" (E)

"No, I thought she was with Florica. What happened?" (D)

"I haven't the time to explain, I must find her. She's somewhere in the city and she's.....she's not herself right now." (E)

"I understand, I'll ready my horse and assist you." (D)

Rosella's POV:

My sanity had finally returned to me though my anger raged on in full blast asI stood outside the de'Changy's mansion. I saw the lights on the main floor ofthe house and knew that for some reason they were awake at such a late hour. I knewI shouldn't do this, but I had little desire to convince myself out of it nowthat I was here. I walked up the drive and knocked on the door as my anger keptmy hands shaking and I bit my tongue to hold back the insanity that was beggingto re-emerge sooner that I would have thought possible.

"Yes Miss, may I help you?" (Maid)

"I need to speak to the lady of the house, it's of the gravest importance." (R)

"I will let her know then Miss, please wait here." (Maid)

I had kept my eyes downcast as I spoke to the maid, knowing my eyes would bebrightly shining in the darkness with the insanity building in them once more.I had to wait only a few minutes more before the door swung open with a woman Ihad long since despised for what she had done to Erik but whom I know loathedwith every fiber in my being for what she had done to her own son.

"Hello, I was told you needed to speak with me?" (C)

"I am from the gypsy caravan Viscoumtess, I have but two questions for you thenyou will never see me again." (R)

"Al-alright." (C)

I could hear the fear in her voice, but the raging insanity within me onlyrevealed in her fear. I kept my eyes downcast though I longed to see herreaction with my own eyes. If she had thought her own son a monster, a devil'schild, than what she would think of me I wonder a true demon's child. To seethat reaction, that was something that I would wait to see a moment or two longer.

"Did you know what he would suffer in the camp because of his differences, ordid you simply not care?" (R)

I did not speak his name nor mention the fact that he was her son, but I knewby her sharp intake of breath she knew of who I spoke instantly. I finallybroke my resolve to stare at the ground and met her own blue eyes, identical toSage's, with mine. I saw a look of fear cross her face as she stared into myeyes of different colors before her face seemed to pale further as she answeredmy question.

"We.....we were told he would be well-cared for." (C)

"You were lied to. Did you really wish for an angel of music to watch overhim?" (R)

"Y-yes, I did. He was still my son even though......" (C)

She didn't continue her thought, though it's probably best she didn't for Iwould never forgive her explanation or excuse that she had no doubt beentelling herself these past four years. I felt a smirk or perhaps it was a grinform on my face as I stared at her, watching her tears start to fall down herface.

"Well at least you got that wish then, for he is no longer at the gypsy camp."(R)

"He's......he's dead?" (C)

"Don't pretend to be sad now for surely an angel of music will watch over himalways now, while only the memory of him will haunt your mind. Or perhaps youhave your own angel that sings songs in your head." (R)

I watched as my words seemed to strike a cord or multiple within her as painand sorrow and horror crossed her face within seconds of each other. I curtsiedbefore making my way back down the stairs before I heard her footsteps behindme. I turned ready to strike should she come any closer than the five feetbetween us when she stopped moving towards me.

"Who are you?" (C)

I couldn't help the grim grin that formed on my face as I moved my cloak, allowing her to see my arms bare in the light of the moon as I had pushed the sleeves of my dress back during the ride here. What was left of the color of her face paled instantly, and she took a step back from me as I let out a light laugh.

"Just another freak, like your lost son, unlike him though I am not a fakeDevil's child but a true Demon's child. Now you know what he went through whilehe was part of the caravan, may that haunt you the rest of your life." (R)

I turned and made my way down the rest of the stairs and the path as quickly asI could but I was not yet far enough away that I didn't miss the sound of herstarting to sob as I walked away. Her tears did not reach me though for I wasglad that she seemed to finally grasp the severity of what she had done to himand maybe in some small way what she had done to Erik as she no doubtremembered that he too was once called the Devil's child.