The Demon's Child and the Phantom

Chapter 25

Erik's POV:

I had prepared to lure her here, to Christine's old room, but she walked in just as I had slid the mirror shut. I wanted so badly to go to her. To touch her and hold her in my arms if she would let me, to ask forgiveness for not staying the night at Daroga's that night and for not seeking her out sooner. However, after everything I have worked on for this moment to be perfect I refrain from reaching out to her physically just yet.

I watched with apprehension as she looked over the entire room, hoping that she likes it well enough to want to move into it. She is the only one I would ever allow to occupy it, because it would mean she would be close to me where I could protect her at all times.

As tears form in her eyes I feel my heart break, realizing she must not like it. I watch as she walked over to the vanity and sits down at it. She looks up at the mirror and pushes her hair away from her face and I see that like every other day she is keeping her face as blank as possible, but her eyes give away her every emotion this time. Anger and sorrow are abundant in those entrancing eyes of hers. I watch as the tears in her eyes grow but don't fall. Surely, she doesn't think I wouldn't love her because of her beautiful eyes?

She places her head down on her arms but I don't hear her start to cry. Instead I hear a voice sent from heaven above start singing. It may not be as perfect as a performer requires but from my Rose it's perfect. She's singing quietly to herself, but loud enough to where I can still hear her. She's singing Masquerade. I listen as she sings the first bar of the song in a clear, wonderful voice before stopping and wishing it were true to be able to hide her face so no one would ever find her.

I nod my head as I realize that now is the perfect time. I see her sit up and fix her hair, blanking her face as she does, before I disappear quickly into the tunnel, springing the door timer as I go back. I make it back to the lair and start playing the song I composed on the piano for her. It's not very complex, but I think it shows just how strong she is to have overcome all the sadness and pain she's seen.

I hear her footsteps shortly after starting the song again and I smile some to myself as I focus on playing the piece perfectly for her. I see her walk in but I don't look up at her, I need to focus not only for this song but the next one as well. I see her walk over to the bed, taking a seat and watching me against the headboard as I play. I finish and immediately start playing the second song, watching as she drops the sheet music when I start singing.

I had forgotten she hadn't heard me truly sing until this moment and for once I'm glad of that, for I will need all the help that I can get. I had chosen to sing the same song that Christine and that fop Raoul once sang to each other on the roof top, while I listened. It was a piece written years and years ago by a little known composer, and I respected in for it's simplicity and gentle notes, but I did make it my own somewhat by changing some of what the fop sang. I can only hope she chooses to sing her part of the duet.

(Erik)
No more talk of pasts
Forget your many fears
I'm here, nothing will harm you
My words will warm and calm you

Let me be your freedom
Let me take your mask
I'm here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to hide you

(Rose)
Say you'll love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of winter time
Say you need me with you now forever
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you

[Erik]
Let me be your shelter
Let me be your night
You're safe, no one will find you
Your fears are far behind you

[Rose]
All I want is freedom
A world with no more light
And you, always beside me
To hold me and to hide me

[Erik]
Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Let me lead us from our solitude
Say you need me with you here, beside you
Anywhere you go, let me go too
Rose, that's all I ask of you

Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime
Say the word and I will follow you
Share each day with me, each night, each morning

[Rose]
Say you love me

[Erik]
I know I do
Anywhere you go Rose, let me go too
Love me, that's all I ask of you

I had watched her eyes grow large when she sang 'say you love me' and I responded. As I finished the song she doesn't say anything else. She just looks at me with a question on her face and in her eyes as they shine with unblocked emotion. She places the sheet music on the bed before she stands from the bed and walks quickly out of the room. I follow her into the living area, where she stands looking out at the black water of the lake. I walk over to her as she turns back to face me, her eyes still shining and even brighter in the dark than in the light.

I slowly reach out towards her, watching her expression and her body language should I need to stop. However, she gives me no signal to stop reaching for her in either her eyes or her body language. My gloved hand reaches her cheek and I begin to gently caress her cheek with my hand, before she takes my hand away from her cheek. For a brief moment I had only rejection rush through me and I stiffened under her touch. Until she removed the glove from my hand and replaced it upon her cheek.

I watch frozen in shock and wonder as she holds my now bare hand against her soft cheek and the warmth from her cheek spreads throughout my entire body in a matter of seconds. I gently brush away her hair from her face and I see the happiness of this moment shine through in the light of her eyes. But along with the happiness I see the remaining caution and uncertainty she possesses as she looks at me.

I slowly lean forward and kiss her other cheek before looking into her eyes. Both shining with happiness as she looks at me. I see her hesitate to say something to me and then I watch as she begins to blank her face again. I put my other hand on her other cheek, shocked as she removes that glove as well, as I look at her and smile as gently as I can while attempting to keep the emotions in her eyes and her own mask removed as I stared at her.

"My Rose, Erik meant every word of the song."

"Y-you did?"

"I did."

"Even after everything that happened the other night, and my.......my appearance?"

"My dear Rose, your insanity is nothing worse than my own was when I was ayounger man and even now at times. And I think you are beautiful, your eyes especially.Rose, I love you and I trust you with each beating of my heart."

"I love you so much Erik, but I.....I don't know if I believe you."

"How can I prove it to you then?"

"I've taken the mask I wear off for you in this moment. So, I would but ask youto take off yours as well."

I felt a rush of fear pass through me for a moment as I looked into her eyesseeing only kindness and love. How could she want to see the monster that liesbehind this mask? Surely she has heard the horror that is my face from othersalready. I start to say no almost immediately even as she gently holds both of myhands on her face as she looks at me with as much love and passion as I thoughtpossible for a demon such as I.

I don't respond, instead I lean in to kiss her again this time on her soft lipsand with as much passion as I can bear to release in the kiss. I feel her wrapher hands in my shirt as she pulls herself closer to me and I'm reassured thatright now she loves me but I don't know that this will last after I take themask off. I cannot take the mask off, I will not lose her like I have others.