My Angel of Music

Black Despair

My breath caught in my throat.  The lair was exactly as we left it.  The organ untouched, my veil tossed on the ground.  I quickly finished rowing the boat to the shore, and hopped off.  My feet met the cold stone and I immediatley felt at home.  I rushed to find a match in order to light the moldy candles.  I ruffled through a desk and finally found a box of matches.  Once I was finished lighting the room, I took a step back to marvel at my beloved home.  

The room was dim and cold, like always.  Music sheets littered the floor, but that was normal.  I slowly walked around, marveling at the magic place.  I stopped when my feet met a soft materiel.  My wedding veil was tossed carelessly on the floor, just as I left it.  I remembered the moment well.

Farewell my fallen idol and false friend.  We had such hopes and now those hopes are shattered!

I bent down and gingerly scooped up the old, yellowing fabric.  The texture stayed the same, and tears formed in my eyes as I got the sense of de ja vu.  I sighed, standing up, veil still in hand.  I walked to my bedroom which held my beloved swan bed.  The red covers still held the seductive tone that they had years ago.  I wiped my hand across the sheets and a film of dust flew into the air.  I coughed and decided to clean up.  First, I hung my veil up on a nearby rack and shook out the dust from it.  I pulled the covers off of my bed and began to beat the grime out of it.  

I hummed a lullaby as I worked, trying to distract myself from the matter at hand.  

***

Hours later, I had cleaned, dusted, wiped, and shined every last thing in the lair.  The one thing I refused to touch was Erik's organ, and his writing desk.  I decided to go through his desk later, but I swore that his organ would be touched only by him.  

I looked at the pocket watch that I kept in my petticoat.  Eleven O'Clock!  Time had flowin by as I worked.  I sighed and headed towards the bedroom.  As I laid in the comforting red bed, the thought of seeing my angel lulled me to sleep.

 I woke to a voice softly calling me.  "Christine.....Christine."  I smiled and rolled over.  Erik must be waking me up, probably with breakfast.  "Erik, let me sleep."  I mumbled, rolling over.  "Christine..."  The voice was distant.  I giggled.  "Erik..."  I said jokingly.  I spread my hands over the bed, but opened my eyes when the sheets felt different.  I shot up when I realized I wasn't at home, sleeping in my white bed.  I was in the lair in Paris, sleeping in my black and red swan bed.  And Erik was in jail, sleeping on the cold floor, alone and afraid.  

I swept a hand through my wild curls and sighed.  Well, at least today I would be able to visit my angel.  I swung my legs over the side of the bed and scurried to the wardrobe to find a gown to wear.  I swung open the wardrobe doors, sending a cloud of dust in the air.  I coughed, and waved my hand around in order to clear the air, to no avail.  I sighed when I saw the selection of dresses.  Erik must have spent a fortune ordering the fine dresses!  Beautiful fabrics and bright colors lined the dresser and I gasped at their beauty.  Sure, they were a little out of the fashion now, but seven years ago, I would have killed for these gowns!  

I picked out a salmon colored one, and shook it clean of grime and dust.  It was pretty and still very well in style, I decided.  I managed to lace up my corset and dawn my dress.  There was only one mirror left in the whole lair, after Erik shattered most of them.  I sighed and quicly rushed to it to fix my hair.  Erik had provided me with every little thing I would ever need.  I saw that he had planned on me staying here with him...Forever.  I brushed out my ratty curls and pinned them back into a low loose braid.  I tried to look strong for Erik.  I composed my face in a hard expression and ordered myself not to cry in front of him.  I had to show him that I was okay, and that he would be okay too.