The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 41

Erik's POV:

It was on the third day of caring for Rosella that I heard a ghost of my past calling for me in the music room of my lair. I stopped composing the song I was working on as I listened again before I heard the softly sung 'Angel of Music' and knew that I was not dreaming. I looked at Rosella and saw her still sleeply soundly before me, before I rose to investigate the source of the phantom voice.

It was when I approached the piano that my heart seemed to stop for I saw the ghost that longed since plagued my mind and my heart. It was Christine sitting on the divan, looking just the same as I remembered her with the exception that the look in her eyes showed more experience and perhaps more sadness than I remembered them having.

"Angel of music, I knew you'd be here still." (C)

"Why are you here Christine?" (E)

I saw her go to answer before tears seemed to fill her eyes and she looked away from me and back out across the black lake. I took another step towards her before she looked back at me as a few tears slipped from her eyes.

"I have long since missed the Angel of Music singing songs in my head, and my heart ached at the thought of you dead." (C)

I froze at her words, her heavenly voice singing for me as it had once ago those many years. She stood up from the divan and took a few steps closer to me before she stopped in front of me, her eyes tracing over my mask though I knew she would not remove it for my face was something she never accepted.

"Angel my soul was weak forgive me, my heart was led idly astray. Angel my voice longs for you now, to stay by your side and you guide me." (C)

Months ago I would have fallen to her feet weeping out of joy or perhaps the feeling of what I had once thought was love for her. But now, even as her voice soared around me her words did not seem to touch me. I thought only of my love laying asleep in the other room, but I had no time to reply to her song as she suddenly threw herself into my arms. I wrapped my arms around her out of instinct so that she wouldn't hit the floor, but remained there in shock as she kissed me much like she had the last time I had seen her.

Rosella's POV:

I had been drifting in and out for what seemed like forever, but each time I opened my eyes I saw Erik beside me. Each time that was until now, for now I saw that I was alone in the room without him. I heard voices coming from the music area or perhaps it was the kitchen I was unsure, but I forced myself to sit up and stand before I was forced to remain still as the room around me spun for a moment.

I felt a blush cover my face as I saw the short sleeved and short length nightgown I was wearing. I knew it had been Madame Giry to help me change into this one only yesterday to help 'break' the fever she said. However, it showed off more scars than I would have liked and I was still unsure of having the scars on display in such a way around Erik. I finally walked on shaky legs out of the bedroom, embracing the chill that came from the black lake before I walked towards the voice. I was at the door when I found myself frozen, watching the scene unfurl in front of me.

"Angel my soul was weak forgive me, my heart was led idly astray. Angel my voice longs for you now, to stay by your side and you guide me." (C)

Erik was standing in front of Christine, and she was once again singing to capture his mind, his heart, and his soul. For it was true that no matter how evil a thing she had done to him or even her own son, her voice was heaven blessed. I felt tears form in my eyes as she sung before I watched as they embraced and kissed. My heart felt like it was being broken into multiple pieces and I turned away from the view and walked as quickly as I could back into the bedroom.

I made it halfway to the bed before I fell to my knees, a sob leaving my mouth as I knew who he would choose. It would be an easy choice, no matter what she had done in her past and every scar that my eyes saw bare before me now reminded me just how easy a choice it was. He had an angel in voice and body throwing herself at him in this exact moment, it would be an easy choice just as my head screamed out that it would be too easy a choice. 


Erik's POV:

I forced Christine away from me as I stepped back, watching the look of confusion cross her face as I stared at her in what I imagine could only be disgust. I shook my head as she tried to come closer before I walked over to the path that I knew she had taken to come here, knowing that I would need traps placed once again to prevent something like this ever happening again.

"No, my heart and my love belong to another now. One that returned both without a second thought, one that can stand to see my face and the beauty underneath. You must go now Christine. Go now and leave us!" (E)

I watched as another look of surprise crossed her face before more tears fell down her face and she nodded, walking back towards the path she had used to get here before she stopped just short of it and turned around. She looked back at me and towards the lighted bedroom where I knew Rosella laid sleeping still.

"Forgive me for not being able to see what she sees Angel of Music." (C)

I nodded as she walked away, following silently behind to make sure she left the tunnel as she said she was. I locked the passageway she had used after she passed through it to the chapel of the opera house, before I set a few traps in place on the way back down. Non-lethal traps but it would prevent anyone else being able to simply walk back down here as she did. I had just gotten back when I heard Rosella's sobs seeming to echo around me in the still air.

I rushed to her room and saw her sobbing on the floor but as I drew near to her and kneeled in front of her she drew away from me. She looked at me and I saw the pain and sorrow flooding her eyes as she stared at me. I tried once more to get her into my arms so that I could comfort her but she only pushed me away before wrapping her arms around her attempting to shield as much of her body from me as she continued to sob. I tried once more to move closer to her but she stopped my movements with her words.

"No, get away from me, do not touch me. I cannot bare it." (R)

"What do you mean? Where are you hurt? Let me help you dear Rose." (E)

"No, you cannot help me where it hurts for it is my heart that is broken. Justtell me plainly when you will leave with her." (R)

"What? Leave with who Rosella?" (E)

"Christine, Christine. Always Christine." (R)

I felt as if I had fallen into the lake as an icy chill set over me as Irealized she must have seen Christine here and the kiss between us if nothingelse. I saw another sob leave her mouth before I watched her tears turn coldand hate and anger burned in her eyes as insanity started to take hold, thoughhow she had the strength for that I was not sure.

"Your angel of music has returned to you now, no matter the devilish things shehas done. Go after your angel of music, your soul, and your songbird!" (R)

"No, my Rosella you should have waited to see the whole event. For as soon asshe was off me I explained my heart belonged only to you." (E)

I watched her as a look of disbelief flooded her eyes as she stared at me. Isoftened my eyes as much as I could as I watched the insanity in hers start todim, giving way only to pain and doubt. A doubt I wanted to drive from her eyesforever.

"Why, when she is all you ever wanted? She has beauty in voice and body that I never canpossess." (R)

"Even if that were somehow true, her soul is so dark it casts a shadow evenover my own. You are a beautiful perfection that someone like me could only everdream of finding. I love you Rosella, not that harpy that just left our home."(E)

I watched as more tears fell from her eyes but a small smile took shape on herface. She reached towards me and I was instantly by her side and pulling herinto an embrace. I hummed a few tunes as I held her in my arms before I stoodwith her in my arms and moved her back to the bed. I sat her down on the sideof the bed before I kneeled in front of her. She looked at me before gentlyremoving my mask, her smile growing wider as she did so. I reached into apocket and pulled the ring with the black diamond on it out of my pocket as Istared at this image of perfection before me.

"Rosella, this is not how I dreamed of doing this. But, I would rather dash any lingering fear that I am not yours completely right now than wait for a more perfect or ideal time. So Rosella, my beautiful, perfect flower, would you do me the greatest honor of staying with me forever as mywife?" (E)

"You.....you want to marry me?" (R)

"Very much so my Rose." (E)

I saw her go to answer but no words came even as she smiled at me and shook herhead yes. A few more tears left her eyes as she smiled at me and I slid thering onto her finger. She stared at it for a moment before she cupped my facein her hands and once again I didn't feel like a loathsome gargoyle but a manwith the woman he loved.

"I never dreamed I would one day be this happy. I love you Erik." (R)

"Not nearly as much as I love you Rose." (E)