My Angel of Music

Annabel Lee

"Christine!  Christine!"  I heard my name being called from my place by the window in my bedroom.  I stood and rushed out of the room swiftly.  The voice belonged to Erik, and it sounded urgent.  I hurried down the stairs and began poking my head in each room I passed, the sitting room, the kitchen, the dining room.  But of course the voice came from the library.  I found Erik laying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.  I ran to him,and sank on the floor beside him.  "My love, what is wrong?"  I cried, my hands roaming his chest, looking for the problem.  He stared up at me, and a smile appeared.  "Oh, nothing.  I just wanted to show you something."  He answered casually.

I swatted his arm and scowled.  "You almost made me have a heart attack, you fool."  I scolded.  He chuckled before propping himself up on one arm.  "What is it that you wanted to show me?"  I asked, laying down beside him.  He sighed and took my hand in his, as an automatic gesture.  "Well, I wanted to ask you what you thought of me publishing my music."  He said, with quite the effort.  I knew that his music was very private to him, sometimes there were pieces that he would not even show me.  So this proposition surprised me.  "Why would you want to do that?"  I asked, startled.  "I don't want to, but we will have two extra mouths to feed soon.  And we need the money anyways."  He explained, defeated.  I shook my head.  "No.  Your music is yours.  You told me that you would never sell your music!"  I cried.

He sighed once more and released my hand.  "But we need the money."  He said again.  I placed a hand on his.  "We will find another way.  I don't want you to do this just because of me."  I whispered.  "Sometimes we have to make sacrifices."  He argued half-heartedly.  I shook my head again.  "No."  I said simply, ending the conversation.  

Erik laid his head back down and placed a hand on my waist and another stroked my hair.  "Would you like to take a walk?"  He asked.  I nodded my consent.  He stood up and lifted me up by my hips.  I laughed and blushed.  

The weather had begun to get cooler, and the trees began to fade. This was the kind of weather that I liked.  Not too cold, and not too hot.  Erik and I strolled outside, the wind blowing enough to allow me a break from my wretched fan that Erik insist that I use.  Instead I carried a parasoul, shielding my pale skin from the harsh sun.  "Where exactly are we going?"  I inquired, suddenly aware that we were walking in the dark woods that loomed over our heads.  Erik squeezed my hand in amusement and chuckled.  "To the spot where we were married."  He answered.  

I clasped my hands together and squealed.  "Yay!"  Was the only response i could think of.  

We walked in silence for the next few minutes, pausiing to admire a beautiful flower or a wandering rabbit.  Almost an hour into our walk, I stopped and pointed at the most perfect red rose bud I had ever seen.  It was tiny, but it's features were precise and the petals were blood red and glistened with dew.  Erik stooped to gently pull it from it's branch.  He did so and stood to give it to me.  With a smile on my face, I held out my hand to recieve it, but suddenly, I was thrown to the ground.  My body hit the ground, sending signals of pain up my arm.  I looked up to see Erik, his hands holding something on his abdomen, and looking at it, horrified.  

I didn't move, only whimpered in pain and confusion.  His knees buckled and he fell, onto his back on the dirt a few feet away from me. I quickly crawled to his side to see what was the matter.  He laid there, still staring down at his stomach.  "Erik!  What was that?"  I cried.  He didn't answer, only stared at his abdomen.  Finally, I glanced down at it to find crimson blood oozing from his stomach.  I screamed and flinched back away from the horrid substance.  My hand flew to my chest, and I began to feel dizzy from the terrible sight.  Sticking out of my husband, was a long arrow, lodged deep into his abdomen.  "Erik!"  I whispered in fear.  He remembered me and turned his pained face to me.