A/N: To my dearest readers…here it is. This is the sequel to "From the Light". We hope that you enjoy it as much as you have done the other one. Please remember that the updates will more than likely be once a week. We would love to hear all comments, reviews, suggestions and the like. We enjoy hearing it all.

Enjoy!

With much love,

Erik

To Shun the Light & Embrace the Darkness

Chapter 1 – The Past is a Beacon

Venice – 1889

The moon illuminated the blackness of the river below. She stood there, her dress blowing the breeze and her dark curls weighing heavily on her shoulders. Her midnight blue gown seemed to match the night sky with only the sparking diamonds that were shinning high above missing. The trembling of her fingers was only an indication of the cold air and not the nervousness that boiled inside of her.

"Angelina?"

Erik stood at the end of the bridge and watched Angelina turn toward him. Her smile shone brighter than any star that he could see in his lifetime. The skin that was exposed seemed to glow with a radiance he had never seen before. Her protruding belly was hidden well under the fabric of her dress. He longed to feel the baby that was growing inside of her kick against his rough hands.

"Are you alright?" Erik rushed to her side and saw her trembling fingers. His hands embraced hers and he drew her near to him. "Why are you trembling?"

"It is cold by the river, Erik."

He quickly removed his overcoat and wrapped it about her shoulders. His hands brushed against her sensitive skin and she trembled even more.

"Maybe we should do this some other night."

"I…" Angelina did not want to admit that she was nervous to marry Erik. He had proposed to her atop of the highest rooftop in Rome beneath the stars. It had been the most romantic event of her life. She did not want to spoil the moment because of her nervousness. "No, Erik. We will do this tonight."

Erik placed his hands on either side of her stomach. The baby was not stirring tonight. He smiled and rubbed his thumbs gently against the fabric that lay taut against her stomach. "The baby is asleep."

"The baby is ready to be born any day, Erik. I am almost nine months. He will not wait any longer."

"You are sure it is a boy?"

Angelina smiled and shook her head. "I am not sure of anything. But do you not wish for an heir to your legacy?"

"My legacy will live on without an heir." He nuzzled against her neck and drew her closer to him. "Men one day will write about me, but a boy to carry on my name would be…nice."

She giggled but then stopped when she felt the cold of the mask. Drawing back from him, Angelina put her hand to the mask. "Must you wear this?"

"I wear it so that the priest will not be frightened when he marries us."

Angelina turned as she heard a voice behind her. A priest, dressed in a formal outfit, stood at the edge of the bridge. He spoke in Italian and she could not understand him. Is this how the whole ceremony will be? Will it only be in Italian so that I cannot understand the vows I make to Erik?

Erik began walking toward him and speaking in the priest's native tongue. They shook hands and he led the priest toward Angelina.

"She is as beautiful as you said she was, Monsieur," he said in almost perfect English. The priest smiled at Angelina and bowed. "Your fiancé has spoken nothing but kind words about you."

His accent was heavy and deep but Angelina was grateful that he could speak English.

"He is too kind, your grace." Angelina shook his hand and smiled. "I am grateful that you are marrying us. Most men of the cloth would not marry outside of the church."

"The good Monsieur has contributed a great deal to our church. We could not refuse him."

"If we could, your grace." Erik moved along side of Angelina and grasped her hand. "The night is growing into day."

"That it is, Monsieur." Producing a Bible from the long flowing robes, he opened to a page and looked at the loving couple. "We are gathered here today to join this man and woman in holy matrimony. Marriage is not a vow to be taken lightly. It is a union in which a man and woman pledge their undying love for one another."

Angelina took a deep breath and looked at Erik. He had been looking at her, hoping for no signs of regret or doubt. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand – reassuring him that she would not falter.

"Before God and the sky above, a couple is willing to pledge their undying love to the heavens above. Monsieur Alcott…"

Angelina looked at Erik with wide eyes. She leaned in close. "Who is he speaking of?"

"Angelina, I do not know of my last name. I was too young to remember it when I was sold to the carnival. If we are to survive in this world, I had to produce a name."

"But it is not even French!"

"This name will be harder for your father to track down. You know of the men he sends after us."

Angelina solemnly nodded her head. Her father, the Vicomte de Changy, had sent many men after them to find them and bring her back home to Paris and possibly to kill Erik. They had been avoiding them for almost two years.

"You are right."

"Monsieur Alcott?"

"Continue, your grace."

"Monsieur Alcott, do you take Mademoiselle Angelina to be your wife? To have and to hold? Through sickness and in health? As long as you both shall live?"

Erik smiled and nodded. "I do."

The priest looked at Angelina, grasping Erik's hand. "Do you, Mademoiselle Angelina, take Monsieur Alcott to be your husband? To have and to hold? Through sickness and in health? As long as you both shall live?"

There was a slight hesitation until her heart finally gave into what she had wanted for so long. She had loved Erik for years. Their union would only bring her more happiness. Their baby would unite them more than she had ever hoped for.

Smiling, she replied, "I do."

"By God's will and grace, I do present thee has husband and wife. Monsieur Alcott, you may kiss your beautiful bride."

The priest walked away as Erik turned Angelina to him. The moon shone high above, illuminating the newly married couple upon the bridge. Her hand snaked it way to his mask and quickly removed it. She threw it into the murky depths below.

"Angelina…"

"We are husband and wife now, Erik. You are not to hide behind this mask that you have worn for so long. It is bad enough that you live in the darkness without me. I will not have you hiding from me."

"As you wish." He leaned in close and kissed her passionately on the lips.

She had never grown tired of his kisses or his touches. Her soul sung as he deepened the kiss. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and wished for the night to never end.

Italy – the country of passion, art, and love. It would be a country that Angelina would never forget. Their travels had taken them all over the world – Milan, Paris, London, and even the far reaches of Tokyo. But everything would pale in comparison to their night in Venice. It was the night where Erik and Angelina had finally made their future and their love for one another known to the entire world.