The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 12

Rosella's POV:

So he has never known the gentle touch of someone that loves him, not even his parents? How could Christine have left him here alone? Why didn't she love him as.....I mean I care for him but why didn't she? He was her Angel of Music and she didn't stay. He gave her his music to sing and taught her how and she didn't stay. I would suffer the torture of a hundred more traveling fairs to be worthy of that gift, the gift of his undying love. And yet she ran.

I look back into the golden eyes and find myself in his past. I know he left out quite a bit, the pain and torture he suffered at the hands of others. The horrible deeds he has committed in the past, all of it was skirted over but I know not to pry. Despite the few details I was actually given I did learn a few things about him. He's not only a composer but a musician, a magician, a singer, and an architect. Is there nothing he can't do? He is perfect in his own way, too perfect to ever want to be with someone like me. I look away from his entrancing eyes for a moment as I glance around the lair again.

How could Christine just leave him here? I have heard that since Christine fled he was more dangerous and more broken than ever before and yet he doesn't show it, to me at least. I can only hope that one day maybe he'll tell me the whole story of his past, the last few years included. I feel his eyes on me and when I look up I'm met with his golden eyes swirling with energy as he speaks to me in that velvety and entrancing voice.

"Well Rosella, it looks like it's your turn."

"I don't have much to tell Erik. I was born in England but grew up mostly in Germany. I too lived with gypsies and was part of a traveling show. I was known as the Demon's Child. I stayed there until I was 18."

"Did you leave or run away from them?"

"I was to run away with the help of a kind older woman named Florica. She had taken care of me since they had gotten me, but was instead sold to my first owner who thought I would be an interesting possession."

"How old were you when they got you?"

"A few days old is what I was told by Florica and she wouldn't have lied to me."

I watch as the shock flashes through his golden eyes, but I make sure to keep my face blank. It's hard enough to think about the past without relieving the emotions that dwell there but I am determined not to, at least in front of Erik. Not to mention the problem of ensuring that the insanity doesn't take a hold of me while I relive my past in the memories. He has more than enough pain from his past and shouldn't have to hear about any of mine.

"They put you on display for your eyes?"

"Yes, in simple terms they did. They had other things they did as well though."

"Did they harm you?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I'd rather not say Erik."

He doesn't need to know about the crosses on my skin or how they gave them to me over the years that I was with them. It will only confirm what others have said about me, I'm too horrid and damaged to touch. I watch as his eyes seem to darken and swirl with energy as he thinks about what I said before stopping me.

I watch as what I know to be anger swirls in his eyes just as it did when he talked of the traveling fair that he was with as a child. I wait for it to pass and he gives a short nod for me to continue with my story. As I do, I look away from him for a moment concentrating on keeping my face blank and my voice as steady as I can.

"My first owner was not too harsh with me. He liked to show me off at parties for his wealthy friends but they soon grew bored and after a few beatings without me crying or screaming for mercy he decided I wasn't fun to keep and sold me."

I look back at Erik only to be met with a hate filled glare. I don't flinch or move away from him, nor do I look down. I know that glare is not meant for me, but rather what was done to me. So, I simply hold his stare in my own as I watch the swirling anger and insanity in his eyes begin to lessen. It is perhaps best I didn't go into detail on the beatings, though they were the tamest of all my previous masters.

I watch as the gold in his eyes seem to burn with such an intensity that it surely makes my eyes look dull in comparison. His eyes seem to settle after a while and I continue, hoping I can finish my past quickly without him getting any angrier.

"My next owner Lord Byron bought me as sort of nanny for their young son Matthew. Matthew was a delight to care for and loved for me to sing him to sleep every night. His father, however, was the one who reinforced the gypsies lessons in me to never look up unless asked, never speak unless necessary, never move unless told. He was a great teacher in that he succeeded in teaching me habits that I still find hard to break today."

"How long were you with him?"

"I think it was a little longer than four years. I was sold to a few other families after that one. No one kept me longer than a year or two and each one seemed more violent than the last. I ended up here in France after a few years of this. The Baron and Baroness Durand received me as a form of payment less than a year ago. Daroga saved me in the end."

I know my face and eyes blanked again to avoid showing weakness in front of him but somehow I think that only serves to make him angrier at the villains of my past. I look at him and think of just how much I care for him and he seems to freeze as he meets my gaze, which is exactly what I was going for. He lets out a slow breath before looking back at me.

"How old are you Rosella, or how old do you think you are?"

"I'm either 26 or 27, I could be 28 though. I'm not sure anymore. My birthday is in April, Florica told me that, though she didn't know the exact date. We would always celebrate it around the 16th."

"I'm sorry Rosella, you deserved better."

"We both did."

I gain a sense of confidence as he reaches over and grips my hand tightly in his, initiating the contact between us for the first time. I smile at him and slowly slide over on the divan next to him, so our legs are just touching. I wanted to give him the opportunity to move away from me if he wanted, as he should so he doesn't have to touch me. He doesn't though he just sits shocked as he looks at our hands intertwined and our legs touching. I gently lay my head down on his shoulder before closing my eyes. I don't think I've ever been happier than I am with him right now.