My Angel of Music

The Monster

I woke to the sound of the piano banging in a dreadful, horrid way.  I cringed and pulled my blanket over my head, trying to block out the sound.  For about twenty minutes, I tried to fall back asleep, as it was still dark outside, but the dark music, but it kept coaxing me to gte up and go to him.  He probably wrote it for that purpose....

I sighed and stumbled out of bed, letting my curls keep their unruly, tangly appearance.  I was too angry to try and look good for him.  I walked the short distance from my room to the music room, which was previously a large storage closet, but had been converted to Erik's liking.  

I clenched my fists at my side, willing myself to not be drawn into his musical spell, though I knew that if he wished to put me under it, there was nothing I could do to stop it.

The room was dark, but I could see Erik's form, furiously pressing the keys, pouring all of his anger and hurt into the notes.  I swallowed and gripped the doorway.  

"Could you please stop that?  I am trying to sleep."  I hissed, trying to sound as big as possible.  He didn't start at my presence, it was if he was exxpecting me.  He turned around, a smug smile on his lips.  "My dear, you know that I cannot simply stop playing."  He growled, his smile, though, still in place.  I rolled my eyes.  

"Well do it anyway, Erik."

He shook his head.  "I do not understand why you are angry."  He changed the subject abrubtly.  I let my mouth fall open at his ignorance.  How could he not know why I was angry?

"What do you mean?  You lied to me."  I spat, my blood heating as I stared at his inferior face.  "As you know, I have not had much contact with the outside world."  He said calmly.  I crinkled my brows in confusion.  Where was he going with this?

"However, I do know, from either experience or from the books I have read, that a husband is allowed to lie to his wife.  Hell, men lay with other women all the time, and the wife has no right to get angry because he is the husband.  So, why is it that you get angry with me whenever I lie?"  

I stared at him, dumbfounded.  Did he really expect me to roll over and take it when he lied and decieved me?  Yes, he was right, most of the time, women didn't care that their husbands lied or cheated, but I did.  

"Erik,"  My voice softened slightly, but not much.  "All of those marriages are not real.  They don't really love eachother, as you and I do."  I explained.  His face remained stone cold, so I hardened mine.  "However, you say you love me, yet you must have no respect for me at all.  I must be nothing more than another one of those trophy wives from your books.  For you have no problem lying to me."  i spat, my eyes regaining their angry gleam.

Erik set his jaw and clenched his fist in his lap.  

A soft cry was heard from the children's room.  Erik and I both shot up and ran to the room, to make sure they were okay.  I cracked the door open, and saw Annabel huddled in her bed, her hands covering her face and cries escaping her mouth.  I hurried inside, Erik following.  Erik beat me to her bed and scooped her into his arms.

"Papa, oh Papa, it was terrible!"  She wailed into his shoulder.  He rubbed her back and planted a kiss on top of her matted curls.  "Darling, tell me what was so terrible."  He said gently into her ear.  She pulled away and clutched his shoulder with all of her strength.

"Papa, there was a man in a cage.  And oh, his face!  It was so ugly!  He was a monster, papa!"  She collapsed into a heap of sobs into his chest, her tiny fists holding his shoulders for dear life.  

I looked at Erik, my eyes wide in horror.  His face melted into that of disappointment and despair.  I could see unshed tears shining behind his dark eyes.  Pity flooded over me, and I swallowed my anger for a moment.  I grabbed Annabel and set her back into bed.  "Annabel, stop this silliness.  You do not even know of what you speak of."  I said, my voice hard and ungentle.  Shw whimpered but did not protest as I gently grabbed Erik shoulder and dragged him from the room.

I set Erik down on the couch and sat down, pressing my body right next to him.  "Erik, she did not mean that.  She's only a child, she doesn't know any better."  I whispered, softly brushing a tear from his cheek.  "She doesn't understand, just as I at one time did not understad.  bbut she will, as I have."  I continued.

He simply nodded and laid his head on my lap where I hesitantly kissed his cheek, my anger still very much present.  'Annabel loves you.  and I love you."  I whispered, as he fell asleep.