Chase This Light With Me

(Sequel to ¨A Bit of Illumination¨)

Note -- Jimmy Eat World owns the lyrics to this song, I don´t, I just really thought the song spoke to what I wanted for Erik, the Phantom, in a future.
Also take note that in ¨Fulfillment¨ there is some implied sexual activity.

Part 1 -- Preparations

The beauty is in what isn't said.

April 1881, Paris France.

Erik

The day dawned like any other. Yet that which lie ahead was completely unknown to the man in the mask. In spite of his apprehension at facing this unknown, he had slept peacefully. Unconsciously, his normally serious countenance melted away into a smile. ¨She will be mine today,¨ he murmured. Though what this day held was unknown, it promised to be sweet. His sweet angel, Anna, had promised to become his wife today.

The first event of the day was customary now for Erik. A quick walk to his mirror to glance at his countenance and to search his thoughts. Erik saw his smile, which spread as he saw his coal-black hair clumsily sticking up on one side. Quickly, he removed the cloth mask which he slept in. Out of habit he wore his mask to bed, though he knew Anna on this night would insist he go without wearing it. He seldom wore it when around her alone, and even his ward Marie had become accustomed to the true appearance of the right side of his face, reddened and deformed from the day of his birth. The white mask was generally for appearances when they ventured outside, where the world was not so welcoming as the two he loved so dearly.

It was strange to think that even a year ago, a glance in the mirror would flood his mind with self-hatred. ¨The beauty of grace is it makes life not fair,¨ Erik thought. Anna had taught him that. Whatever dark, sinister deeds he had committed, they were in the past. Her love seemed to have purified his very soul. He felt reborn, and today he would make the transformation from the Phantom of the Opera to a real man complete. He would take a wife, one willingly offering herself in equality and love, not fear and pity. His heart threatened to leave his very chest, it was swelled with such joy. And he had not even seen his wife-to-be yet!

Anna

¨Anna, dearest, it´s time for you to get up.¨ Mrs. Richardson had been accustomed to waking her daughter in the past years of her life, so this act welcomed back warm memories of her daughter´s childhood and teenage years. In those years, Anna usually turned over, reluctant to join the waking world. Today, however, before the woman could even say the word up, Anna´s lovely blue eyes had opened and she made eye contact with her mother. There was a smile on her face.

¨Mother, is this real?

¨Dearest, you are quite a silly girl. Of course. You aren´t seeing fairies or goblins dancing around your bed, are you?¨

¨Of course not, Mother!¨ Anna teased, throwing back the covers of the bed, and just as quickly beginning to make the bed. Hurrying through the task, Anna saw her mother begin to leave the room. ¨No, Mother, come here....¨

The woman was shocked to be grabbed quite tightly in a hug, which was quite intense in emotion. Her daughter had been an affectionate child, but had not hugged her mother since she had arrived for this occasion. ¨Anna...¨

¨Mother, you don´t know how happy I am.¨

¨No, I am quite sure that I do. I was a young woman once, if you don´t remember....¨

The two women looked at each other and saw that tears sparkled in both their eyes. ¨You mustn´t start crying now, dear, we haven´t even gotten to the church yet,¨ Anna´s mother murmured, wiping her own tears.

¨All right, Mother. Might I ask you to brush my hair once I´m in my dress, and put it up like you used to do?¨

¨Of course, my dearest love! Now you must start by taking a nice, warm bath.¨

Erik

After all the time they had spent together in the time that Anna was employed as Marie´s governess, this separation felt odd. In moments when Anna was not near him, it felt like half of his soul were gone.

It was nearly unbearable to be alone when both Marie and Anna went to London to visit her parents.

She would continue her duties after their marriage,

Meg

The Giry family had formally and informally taken Erik in as a part of their family ever since Madame had encountered and freed him at the carnival when a young ballerina. Marie and Anna, by connection with Christine and Erik, had become just as welcome, and now occupied a dear space in the heart of the Girys.

Meg had brought a small meal to Anna for breakfast, but had left the mother and daughter to themselves while she, her husband, and her daughter had taken to entertaining Anna´s father with stories of the girl´s exploits around Paris with them.

She felt it appropriate that this time, when Anna and her mother had spent some time together preparing for the big day, for her to peek in. She was eager to see how Anna would look, as every bride she had seen in the past (including herself) had emitted some sort of unearthly glow of bliss on this particular day.

Meg´s quiet knock on the door was answered by Anna, who entreated her friend to enter.

Anna´s mother was making some final brush strokes through the girl´s blonde hair, which today seemed lighter than usual. She then took a pair of silver hair combs and placed them into the young woman´s hair, as delicately as if they really were the doves they portrayed.

Once given permission to turn her head, as her hair was done, Anna´s eyes met Meg´s. ¨Hello my friend.g. ayin﷽﷽rstand what youuld loungeeasures as we . der encouragingly. nd had taken to entertaining Annaof unearthly ¨

¨Are you nervous, Anna?¨

A girlish giggle came from the girl´s mouth, which her mother echoed. ¨I think I´m supposed to be, but it really hasn´t hit me yet. Once I get the dress on and we´re in Notre Dame, I think I may be.¨

¨You have nothing to worry about.¨ Meg moved so that she was behind Anna, and touched her shoulder encouragingly. ¨I know that in Erik´s care, you will be treated as the lovely treasure you are.¨

¨You´ve been talking to him, I figure...¨ Anna smiled. ¨But really, men are just as much treasures as we women.¨

¨Tell Henri that and he would lounge around, saying, ´I´m a treasure, Margerite! I simply cannot go to the market today!´¨ She laughed at her husband´s hypothetical response. But I understand what you´re saying. If ever there was a treasure, it would be Erik.¨ The woman took a quick glance at the clock on the wall. ¨Now, my dear, I´m keeping you....let´s get that dress on and get you to the church and to the arms of your treasure.¨

With the assistance of her mother and Meg, the dress she had purchased herself with her earnings was finally on and arranged. Anna tried to judge how she looked by her mother and Meg´s responses, but at last turned to see herself in the full-length mirror.

She started from her hair, which she admired both straight on and in profile. It was a rather modern style, not completely up but not completely down, blonde tresses touching her neck.

Now the dress, she said to herself, and she felt very happy with her choice at that moment. It was corseted, with simple cap sleeves and a fuller skirt that made her feel much like Cinderella. For effect, she lifted her skirt up to look at her not-so glass slippers and her opinon was made. ¨Perfect.¨ Simple silver earrings added to the elegance of the outfit.

Meg had to hide her smile behind her hand. ¨Erik will love it, mon ami.¨

¨Your father and I will cry,¨ Anna´s mother seemed to hold back a few sniffles at that moment.

¨Make sure you both have handkerchiefs!¨Anna entreated her mother, hugging in sequence her mother and then her dear friend.

¨Shall we call the carriage?