Her Beloved

Chapter 16

Dress. Check.
Shoes. Check.
Stockings. Check.
Decent looking hair. Check.
Uncontrollable anxiety. Double check.

I sigh and look in the mirror. My hair was in a half bun, my curls cascading along my chest. The dress fitted perfectly. Pierre suddenly came in and said, "You look nice Elise." I had no idea the door was open. I keep looking in the mirror. "Thank you. I have my... Partner... From South of France accompanying me this evening. I hope you don't mind." He shakes his head. "I do not dont fret." 'Dont fuck up Elise like always. Be lady like.' I curtesy and he steps out. Scarlett comes rushing in as he comes out, pushing him aside. "ELISE HELP ME MY HAIR LOOKS HORRIBLE DO SOMETHING!!" I put my hands out to stop her. "Christ! Calm down,  I'll fix it." I sit her down and play with her hair for a good 45 minutes. The finished products is a long french braid, with blue jewels in it. She looks in the mirror. "Its amazing! Thank you so much! You saved my ass." I laugh and she stands up. "My pleasure. Now go with Pierre to the Masquerade. I don't want him to feel lonely." She scoffs and walks out. "Thanks again. Also a lot of people are going to be coming in here to see you." I groan and she struts out laughing. And boy she was right. Andre and Firmin came in not too short afterwards. "Let us see our star!" I cringe. 'I always disliked them.' I laugh awkwardly and smile. "Bonjour. Pleasure to see you." Andre kisses my hand. I secretly wipe my hand on the back of my dress afterwards. They keep talking for a very long time and I finally shoo them out. "Please no more people." Alice comes in with a smirk. "Am I not allowed?" I look at her and gasp. "Oh my I didn't see you! You're the only person I'm glad to see!" She chuckles. "Who is this companion from Southern France?" 'Oh yea she doesn't know.' "Oh thats Erik. I'm telling Pierre that so he won't propose. Who knows what Erik might do if he does!" She smiles a little and sighs. "Well, Pierre wanted me to give you this..." She reaches in her apron, and pulls out a small purple box. 'Oh lord.' Alice then hands it to me and I open it. A silver necklace, with an oval shaped diamond encrusted in gold. I gasp and cover my mouth. "Beautiful isn't it." I nod and stare at it. "Its too beautiful! He must have spent thousands on this!" She smiles and takes the necklace out of the box. "He does love you Elise. But Erik," She puts it on me. "His love is greater." I blush and smile. "Erik is so broken. People have made him go completely insane. If I tell him I love him, he'll take it the wrong way and not believe me. He'll think I pity him like everyone else..." Alice fixes my hair. "He will understand one day." I stand and look in the mirror. "Alice if he tries to steal this necklace, I'm running." She raises an eyebrow very confused. "Why would he do that?" I giggle. "You'll see. He is the Phantom." She smiles and gives me a hug."Have fun tonight. I'll be around if you need help with anything." I hug her back. "Thank you." She waves goodbye and walks out. 'I better go meet Erik. No one should be on the stage.' I brush off my dress, fix my hair a little, and head out onto the stage. I dodge all conversation and thankfully, no one was on the stage. My heels click along the wood as I call for my beloved. "Erik?~" He steps out of the shadows, dresses in a costume slightly similar to Red Death, but not quite. He wore a black mask like the one in "Point of no Return", but made out of porcelain. My face turns red. 'Oh my GOD HES HOT.' His eyes widen at the sight of me. Erik clear his throat and comes next to me holding out his elbow. "You look gorgeous as always." I smile and take his arm. "As do you." I kiss his cheek. "Ok now Erik," I whisper. "I told Pierre that I would be bringing my partner from Southern France so he doesn't try anything. So thats you as of right now. Control your temper please. You'll have fun." He scoffs and sighs. "Well alright. If he lays a hand on you-" I grasp his hand. "Erik please. He loves me thats all. But don't worry." We arrive at the ball. "I love someone else." Scarlett, Pierre and Alice come over to me and Erik. He squeezes my hand. 'Poor Erik.' "Elise! I see you have brought..." Scarlett pretends to not know him. "This is Erik. My boyfriend." Erik glances down at me in confusion. 'Hah he doesn't understand.' Scarlett winks at me and comes up close. "So this is the man you keep talking about." I kick her leg and Erik chuckles softly. "Hello Erik." He bows his head to Scarlett. Pierre then kisses my hand and Erik is obviously pissed and jealous. "Glad to see you here Elise. Beautiful as ever." Erik clears his throat to provoke intimidation. Pierre looks at him and bows. "Bonjour. I am Pierre. A close friend of Elise. And you are?" Erik stands up straighter. "Erik. Her fiancé." Pierre's eyes widen at this and looks disappointed. "Well you are very lucky. I'll see you around Elise." He winks and I cringe. Alice comes up and I smile. "Elise. Erik." He flashes a faint smile. "Im surprised you controlled your temper Erik. You aren't very good at that." He growls and snaps. "Quiet you insolent woman." I nudge Eriks arm. "What did I say?!" I scolded him like a child. "Sorry." He mumbles. Alice laughs and winks at me. 'What is it with the winking in this century?!' I pull Erik to the dance floor. "Elise please. I agreed to even show, and now you're making me dance?" I nodded. "Yes. Yes I am." As more people crowded around us on the dance floor, we started to dance. Erik being a much better dancer than me, helped me dance. "Erik." He slightly looked down at me. "Yes Angel?" I glanced over at the other people staring at us. "People are looking at us." I put my head in his chest. I feel him tense up, but then calm. He puts his arm around me and turns to the crowd. "Excuse us. My fiancée and I have important business to attend to. Please enjoy yourselves." The clap and start socializing. Erik and I walk over to the sidelines, and I look up. "Are we safe?" He chuckles. "And I thought I dislike people. Yes we are 'safe'." He kisses my head. "You loved saying your speech didn't you." He nods. "Yes. Yes I did." I smile and keep holding his hand. Caroletta was there, with Piangi. I despise them both. I also see Christine with the... Vicomte? Holy shit. I poke Erik. "Erik do you know Christine Daáe?" I point to her and Erik nods. "Another ballet rat yes. Why do you ask?" I shrug. 'Youre supposed to love her! Not me! Im not complaining or anything, but its Christine!' "Nothing." 'He seems comfortable around me. Seems he has forgotten about when I told him I loved him. Silly Erik.' I rest my head on his arm. People line up on the stairs and I drag Erik to see whats happening. They are about to sing Masquerade, when Erik whispers to me; "Elise. I must go but I shall see you in a few minutes. Goodbye." He kisses my forehead and leaves the party. Scarlett comes over to me obviously excited.