The carriage trundled down the streets of Paris; its sleek, black figure gliding through the night, catching the glimmer of streetlamps as it passed. Rain was softly falling through the inky night, making the stones of the street glisten and the carriage shine like tar. The hot breath of the horses puffed out in white clouds of steam around their velvet muzzles, only to quickly disperse into the cool night air.
'Thank you for saving me from that dreadful place,' the girl said, quietly for fear of disturbing her companion in his silent reverie.
'You saved yourself.' His silky voice pointed out from beneath his concealing shroud of shadows.
'Yes, but if not for you, I would have nowhere to go. And I doubt my strength would have lasted much longer.' She said, trying on a smile to coax him out of his darkness. Instead, he only drew back further into himself.
She let him have his silence a while longer, but found herself drawing her now bloodstained dress tighter about her. She found it growing harder for her to fend off the cold and the icy thoughts of what she had done. Shaking her head, she tried to let her mind change the subject from the more grizzly details of her escape.
'My name's Angeline Roux,' she offered tentatively. 'And I would like to thank you properly, may I know your name?' She looked at him hopefully.
'Erik.' He said simply.
She waited for a last name, but quickly found there was none. She fumbled a bit in the silence that had grown between them.
'Well, Monsieur Erik, I thank you for your generosity. I shall try to repay it in whatever way I can.' She said, leaning forward and gently placing a slender hand upon his. He did not jerk away, but he visibly tensed at this. She only smiled softer at him before turning to look out the window.
Erik watched her as the passing lamps lit her pale face with their saffron glow before the cool shadows once more enveloped her features. He again felt that stirring within him. She had touched his hand with such gentility that he feared the mere air would shatter them both. He saw the turmoil inside of her each time her mind strayed to what she had done to earn her freedom. He had known such pain, but he had kept it within him too long. He worried the same would happen to her.
He caught himself within this thought. Why should he care what happened to her? She was of no consequence to anyone. Her only reason or cause of interest was her strength of will. And her voice. Even she had not sounded so pure. Perhaps it was that Angeline's heart had yet to be broken; she had merely locked it away. Just as he had. Only his was because it was broken.
These thoughts swirled around him like the darkness of his cloak. Then she looked at him. Just a glance. But she had looked at him; into him, and she had smiled.
Angeline looked back out the window. Such a strange man, she thought. It should make sense to be afraid of someone who hid themselves in the shadows and helped murdering wretches like her to escape, but something about Erik put her at ease. His voice was like a lullaby, though he kept his words short. She wondered absently if he had ever opened up to anyone before. Perhaps that was why he hid. He had opened his heart, and it had been crushed. She had sensed something of this when she had touched him. She had not meant to frighten him, only thank him and make it known how much his actions meant to her.
The rain outside was picking up, making what little light there was more greyed. She toyed with her blonde hair, now just barely brushing her shoulders. She longed to dance in that rain, to wash off everything those monsters had made her into. To wash away that life and finally spread her wings. She felt Erik's eyes upon her as she played with the tips of her hair. There was sadness in his gaze. She knew that it was the smallest price she had paid this night.
The carriage stopped before she could address him, and he graciously helped her out. He held his arm above her, using his cloak to shield her from the rain as they approached the door to a small house. It was a little ways away from the other apartments, and showed a unique style and personality. They were in a quieter, darker end of town.
Erik opened the door and went in, but Angeline stepped back. He turned to look at her, a fear growing within him at her retreat. She merely held up a finger to have him wait.
Stepping into the street, she spread her arms out and let the rain soak through her. Her head thrust back she smiled at the rain, rubbing her now short hair flat back. The blood on her dress melted into pink as it bled out into the water. Wringing her hair out, Erik noticed it seemed darker. When she came back to him, it was notably changed. The yellow was gone and replaced by a smooth chestnut brown.
'I'm sorry,' she said, coming back up the few steps to him, soaked to the skin. 'But I just wanted to be myself for once.'
Erik hid his astonishment in her sudden change. He remained silent for a moment, but as soon as he saw her smile begin to fade and her eye start to cast downwards he rushed to keep her mind from thinking he disliked her new appearance.
'You're dripping wet.' He said sternly, as a cover.
She looked down at herself and held out her arms like drooping wings.
'Oh,' she sounded like a child. 'I'm sorry, I didn't think about that.'
Once more she looked disappointed, and once more Erik found himself quickly trying to remedy this.
He sighed and ushered her in. She was only going to get wetter out here, and heaven forbid she should grow sick on this cold night. He caught himself again for thinking this way about such a simple girl. He thought this time, however, not what she was to him, but what she could be. This made him bring up another wall to hide behind. He knew better than to get attached to someone like her.