A Heart Misguided (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 16 - Family

Erik's POV:

I stared at the girl standing before me. For the first time in my life I didn't feel like hiding my face. She had Mother's brown eyes and black hair. Her nose was slightly deformed. I took a step toward her and dropped to one knee. She looked at me and I could tell she was nervous. But it wasn't the fear of my face. It was the fact that Mother had just announced me as her brother. She looked at my mother and said,

“Who is this man, Mother?” I looked at Mother and I saw her sit down. She looked so old as she said,

“This is your brother. I am sorry I never told you. He is technically your half brother.” I looked at my mother and said,

“So you married the doctor.” I had left just so my mother would be able to marry the doctor. She shook her head. I was shocked. I saw a tear slip down her cheek.

“Erik, I rejected him and made up my mind to show you more affection. I knew I hadn't been a good mother.” I looked at her. I might have had a mother. My life might have been different. But, the more I looked at the woman, I realized it never could have been. Something would have changed it. It might have gone on for a few days but no longer. At that time Mother had been slipping from reality. But I wanted to know who's daughter this girl was.

“Who is her father?” Mother smiled and said,

“A blacksmith. He left when he saw her. It seems I won't ever have a normal child. I had a doctor look into it. It seems to be hereditary.” I looked at Christine with horror in my eyes. That meant that our child would likely look like me. She didn't even flinch. If anything she held onto her belly tighter. She accepted my child even though he would have my deformity. I looked back at the girl and held out my arms.

“Sister.” I said softly. She looked at me for a moment before rushing into my open arms. She snuggled close and I couldn't help but smile. She was my sister. I wasn't alone anymore. I had a family. That did something to me heart. True, I had always had Christine but it was nice to have blood relations. I looked up at them and held my little sister closer to me. She didn't run. She accepted me even though I was much more deformed than her. We slowly parted and I took my place by Christine. Alyxandria took her place beside me and held onto my arm. I looked down at her and said,

“Do they always call you Alyxandria? Surely you have a nickname.” The girl nodded than looked at Mother. She hadn't said much. Had Mother hurt her? I never talk because I wasn't allowed to talk. Mother wanted to forget me. If I didn't speak than she could forget I was there.

“Her nickname is Andria. I would call her Alyx but that is a boys name.” Mother looked at her and I could tell she was trying to encourage the girl to speak.

“How do you treat her?” She flinched at my protective tone. Christine laid a hand on my arm and I could tell she was trying to keep me from flying off the handle. If Mother had been hurting than I wouldn't stand for it. This was my sister. Mother quickly recovered and said,

“I treat her as well as I can. Andria, you may speak. Don't be afraid of him. He isn't that dangerous, I think.” She looked at me suspiciously. I smirked.

“If only you knew how dangerous I really was. In my lines of work you have to be dangerous.” I had narrowed my eyes and lowered my voice. I was trying to be civil but it wasn't working. I looked at Andria and she was holding onto me like I was a lifeline. She wasn't afraid of me.

“Mother treats me well.” She said softly. “I don't speak much because I have nothing to say. Mother does take care of me, Erik. You have nothing to fear in the regard.” I smiled. She wasn't lying. I could tell when someone was lying. Like I had known when Christine had lied to me the first time that I had brought her down in the lair. She told me that she cared when in reality she had been afraid of me. I still had nightmares where she would leave, laughing in my face and telling me it was just another ruse. When I woke she would always hold me tight and tell me that I meant more to her than anyone. I always believed her but that fear was always there. It would always be there. I looked at everyone and saw that Mother was trying to figure out a way to say something. At last she said,

“Erik, tell me what happened to you after you ran away from here.” I shot her a glare and she turned away. My glares were still formidable no matter how often Christine told me that they had no effect on her. I guess they did on my mother. I looked at Christine and she was pleading with me. I hadn't ever told her the truth. She only knew bits and pieces and the general pain. I sighed and put my head in my hands. This was it. I knew I had to do it.

“Well, it all started to weeks after I ran away...”