The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 17

Rosella's POV:

I could see the anger and insanity swirling and building in his golden eyes as he looked at the bruises forming on my neck yet again. I don't know why but it was a new instinct to take his shaking hand into mine and hold it until he calmed down, rather than simply blank my emotions and look away from him. It seemed that we were the only ones able to stop the other's insanity from rising. I kept holding his hand as his golden eyes met with mine and my heart fluttered in my chest again.

"Thank you Erik."

"You shouldn't thank Erik. Erik is a murderer."

"You saved me. He would only keep attacking me if he lived."

"Rose your face is still bleeding. Erik need's to look at it."

"It's fine."

"Rosella..... please."

I look up at his face and see how strained his expression is right now. I let go of his hand and redo the laces on my dress before slowly looking back up at him. I raise my hand slowly and touch his left cheek, and it's warm under my touch. He just as slowly reaches up and holds my hand against his cheek as he begs me with his eyes to let him take care of me. No one has ever begged to take care of me. They've begged not to take care of me.

"Alright."

I watch as he stands up and walks out of the room before coming back a few seconds later with a small collection of bandages and liquids. He pins my hair back, out of my face as I look at him. My hands are shaking with him this close and I feel my breathing hitch each time he touches me. I know what I want to do before he bandages my face, even if it might break my heart. Even if I don't deserve it, and would never deserve it I know what I must do.

I see him reach for the cut but I stop him. He looks at me with an exasperated look but before he can say anything I lean forward and kiss him. He doesn't move as my lips meet his, he just sits there as stiff as a board. But for me it's enough. I realize as I kiss him that I've been wanting to kiss him for weeks. His scent surrounds me as I linger on the kiss for a few seconds longer, the damp calming scent of night. I feel my heart scream at me to never leave him while at the same time begging me to stop this heartache. I slowly pull away from him and see him sitting there in shock before he makes a move to leave.

I knew he wouldn't feel the same way about me that I did him when his last love was beautiful and I'm.....well the exact opposite. But I had to kiss him anyway. His eyes are swirling with an unknown look in them, a look I haven't seen in his eyes before. I feel guilty and feel my heart break into pieces as I realize that he didn't want the kiss. But I also realize that I don't regret it, knowing that if nothing else I'll have the memory of his lips against mine.

He stands to leave the room but before he can walk away from the bed I grab his hand. I look up at him and see him looking away from me, and I realize he didn't want the kiss at all. I feel tears build in my eyes though I keep them from falling. I look away from him and towards the opposite wall in the room as I start talking to him, hoping to explain why I did what I did. Hoping that he will at least forgive me for doing what I did, even though I know he can never return the feelings that I have for him.

"Erik I'm sorry. I had to kiss you.....I've been wanting to kiss you for a while I just didn't think you could ever feel the same way about me. I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have even touched you I'm so sorry."


Erik:

She wanted to kiss me. She did kiss me and not on the forehead as Christine had done once to save her lover, but on the lips because she wanted to. She kissed me and said she wanted to. She willingly kissed me on the lips, not because I forced her but because she wanted to. I stood after hearing those words come from her. I walked out after she let go of my hand and let the tears flow from my eyes.

She wanted to kiss me because she thinks I won't want too. She thinks she shouldn't touch me, when it's me that shouldn't touch her. Doesn't she know that she's beautiful? I wanted to kiss her too, but do I feel for her as I did once for Christine? I still don't know if I can love again, without fear of being rejected, but that was the first kiss I've ever had that wasn't forced upon someone. I dry my tears before walking back inside to her to take care of the cut on her face.

Rosella:

He doesn't say anything as he stands facing the door. He doesn't move or say anything. I finally let go of his hand and he walks out of the room. I feel my hand drop back on the bed but I can't make my feet follow him. A few minutes later he walks back in with a wet cloth and sits down without saying a word. I close my eyes as he begins to doctor my face. I whimper only once when he put what felt and smelt like rubbing alcohol on the spot of my face that had been busted open. He puts a small bandage on the wound before I finally open my eyes.

He holds a small mirror up to me and I flinch away from it without looking in it. He takes my hand as I close my eyes and look away from that cursed mirror. I don't need reminding how monstrous my eyes are. I already know. I hear him sigh and I feel him get up from the bed before I open my eyes again.

Damn this man for making me have feelings for him even though I know they won't be reciprocated. Not while he still loves Christine. She was perfect and I'm.... well I'm just not. I feel the damned tears forming in my eyes but I refuse to let them fall over a love that cannot be. I hear the organ being played softly and gently and I open my eyes and find myself following it outside of the room to the lair.

I watch as the muscles in his shoulders ripple as he plays the piano and I feel my heart flutter again. The song comes to a close, and I feel him watching me as I look towards him. I stare at him for a moment before forcing myself to look away and focus on the boat instead. I climb in and after a few seconds he follows suit and begins to row us back to the stone staircase. I feel the tears start to form in my eyes again as my head tells my heart that he will never be able to love me as he does Christine. I hold my tears back as I glance up at him, missing what could never be.