Her Beloved

Chapter 13

I havent seen Erik in almost 3 weeks. The masquerade is in 4 days, and people say the Phantom is lurking around looking for me. I havent been feeling well lately, so I don't take like 25 minutes of my time to go see him. Ayesha hangs out with me more, and when she sees Erik she comes back with a rose. He probably wants me to see him...

"Elise." A voice calls to me. I turn to the door and of course it's Pierre. I smile a little. "Good Evening Pierre." He smiles like a child and approaches me. "Are you excited for the masquerade? You are allowed to invite a guest of course." I nod. "Yes I am excited. I have already invited someone." He nods and takes my hand to kiss it. "I shall see you tomorrow then." 'Don't do it.' Pierre kisses my hand and walks out. I wait for him to exit, as I wipe my hand on my dress. I sigh and rest my head on the table. "This is horrendous." I say to myself. "The masquerade is coming up and chances are he's going to think Pierre and I are together and take something from me, just like Christine and Raoul." I glare. "I hate Christine. She was a bitch to my beloved." 'You can fix that. You're the new Christine!' "I am the new Christine. Huh. I was a maid so that totally messed everything..." I get up and open my closet to reveal my masquerade dress and Scarlett's as well. "Elise. Woman up and make a plan if Erik tries anything." I sigh and shut the closet door. Meow. I perk my head up and look around. "C'mere kitty!"

Ayesha comes out from under the table and stretches, yawning. She meows and I pick her up. "Hows Erik lovey?" She purrs and rubs against me. "He needs to concentrate on his opera..." I do an over exaggerated sigh and Scarlett comes in. Scarlett leans against the walk and looks at me. "Whats wrong with you." I shrug. "Don't you think its odd that he fell in love with a maid?" She was about to say something, but then started thinking. "Huh. Well Erik is weird. He is a phantom after all Elise. Have you forgotten?" I scoff and she laughs. "Im nervous for the masquerade. Erik is coming with me, and he's going to want to KILL Pierre on the spot. I like Pierre, not love him. Hs might propose an-" Scarlett puts a finger to her lip. "Shush. You're getting too worried about this." I face palm. "This is nothing like the movie. Or the Broadway show. Whats happening Scarlett? I'm realizing all this now which is weird but like even the mirror scene didn't happen! What the frick!" I whisper yell the last part. Scarlett goes into thought for a moment. "Huh. You're right. Well, Erik loves you so thats all that matters, right?" I sigh. "No not really." 'This is so friggen weird.' "Good! Now I must go back to work. Au Revoir!" I scoff as she walks out. 'Its probably the afternoon by now....' Feelings overcame me at that moment. I had to see my beloved. My Erik. 'Go to the mirror Elise. Happiness awaits on the other side.' My mind was telling me. I stood up and opened the mirror. "Whoops." I chuckle and step in, closing it behind me. Ayesha scratches the mirror from the other side and I let her in. "Silly kitty." I scoop her up in my arms and hurry to the lair. 'I haven't seen him in a long time. I need to see him.' The gondola was at the lake when I got there, so I decided to take that instead of jumping over the gaps on the walkway. I stepped on it and it wobbled. "Ooo snap don't tip please." I get the paddle and start rowing, kinda fast. I slow down once I get to the edge. Erik isn't there. I step out with Ayesha in one of my arms, and I look around for him. "Erik?" I say in a half whisper. Soft, haunting yet beautiful violin music is heard in a separate room. "Oh yea he plays the violin." I say to myself.

I listen as I walk towards the sound, I hear the pain. The pain, longing, and sorrow hidden within the music. Erik puts his heart and soul into his music. The song broke my heart. 'Does he really feel like this? Filled with pain? Longing? Sorrow?' When I took another step, the music stopped. I hear him get up. 'RUN!' With no where else to go, I book it to his table with all of his drawings and such. 'Woah he's a really good artist.' My hands grace over them as he stands with his beautiful violin in his hands. "Good evening songbird." I turn around slightly alarmed, and smile. I finally get to see him again. "Bonjour Erik. I haven't seen you in sometime..." Ayesha walks up to him and he puts his violin down, picking her up. She meows and he pets her. "I have missed you, Elise." My face turns and awkward shade of red, and I smile. 'It's good to know that.' "As did I." He did his signature smirk and set Ayesha down. "I am amazed that you seem to find your way around here so quickly. A little one like you can get easily lost." He chuckles and I glare at him for a moment. 'Im 19, Im not a kid anymore.' "Well, its just its so precise I can find my way around." 'When really I spend a lot of my time looking at pictures and watching the movie so I practically know my way around sooo....' "Ayesha is with you most of the time isn't she." I look down at Ayesha at my feet. "Yes she is. She has taking a strong liking to me. And I have to her as well." I laugh a little and pick her up, giving her a small kiss on the head. 'Hey Elise. Yea brain? What time is it?' I pause. "Excuse me Erik? What time of day is it?" He pauses for a moment.

"Late evening, night." I smile and hold Ayesha in my arms. "If you will excuse me, I have to go. I like to go to the roof at this time." He nods and sits down. "I'll you tomorrow." Erik mumbled something but I disregarded it. I decide to take the side path and jump over the gaps. I said hello to Caesar, past the mirror, into the hall, up the stairs and onto the roof. I inhale the calming cold scent. "I love the night. Erik does too." 'He loves it because no one can see him. I love it because he's in it.' I smile and sigh. "My Erik..."