sorry it took so long! Thank you Nobody of Importance and Asillym for your reviews. They really help to keep me encouraged to write more to this. ok then... here's the next chapter! hope you guys like it!
The older man silently put his hands into his worn jacket pockets as finally disappeared into the thick velvet of the night. Erik's emerald eyes began to scan the street for any signs of life that would reveal his presence and within the blink of an eye his cloak had enveloped around his thin frame and he disappeared down the alley just as the clouds poured out onto the streets, as if also shedding tears for the Giry's dark fate.
Heavy steps slowly approached the stairs leading up to the chestnut door. A tanned but bony hand reached out through the rain to grasp the cold brass handle. A soft click resonated into the empty halls of his home as the door opened revealing the drenched brown coat that was draped over Robert's tall masculine frame. The water cascaded down his body before pooling at his feet. His blue eyes skimmed over the barren walls as he began to walk down the dark hallway toward the room he and his wife shared. He paused in the door frame even after all that had come to pass a smile crept to the corners of his mouth seeing his wife's arms protectively wrapped around his daughter's petite frame which cradled the soft teddy bear against her face. The still made his heart swell with pride knowing that he had done something right in his wretched life in order to have his beautiful baby girl and wonderful wife. He crept up to the side of the bed, his light cobalt eyes never leaving his wife's serene face. Robert leant over and let his lips lightly grace her warm cheek trying not to wake her but deep inside knowing he wanted her to. As if in answer to his hidden prayer, her eyes fluttered open at the light kiss, she turned her head to look into her beloved eyes.
she began to sit up but instead felt herself be hoisted into her husband's arms as he carried her to the sofa that was seated at the foot of the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gently pressed her lips against his which was eagerly returned as he sat with her cradled in his arms. As soon as they broke apart a sudden sadness tainted the words that he whispered into her ear, "You know I love you more than life itself, Alissa"
"And I love you just as much, Robert."
He pulled her body closer to his with warm embrace and placed a kiss on the top of her head. She could hear his heartbeat as she gazed lovingly upon his face, her heart began to break as she saw what should have been the face of a younger man etched with worry, fear and despair gazing back down on her. She buried her face back into his chest as she tried to fight back the tears that started to well up in her eyes, but try as she might a sob escaped her lips as she could still smell the cigar smoke that had entombed itself in the fabric. He knew why she was crying and knew that he was helpless to ease her pain. He lifted her golden head and caressed her face with his thumb to remove the tears that streamed down her face, his eyes searched hers before he moved his lips to meet on her cheek.
He stroked her brass colored hair,"Don't worry, my love, everything will be alright." He whispered into her ear trying to console her.
"How Robert? How is everything going to be all right? You have already taken everything we own to try and pay off that detestable man and yet you still owe more than can be imagined." Her hand fisted in his wet shirt "And now you have us upheaving ourselves and trying to run away instead of…."
"It just will." He interrupted her. "It just will. You will have to trust me. I will never let anything happen to my greatest treasures."
Soon sleep wrapped the couple in it's comforting embrace, her head resting on his broad shoulder with his fingers still entwined in her honey colored hair.
(a/n i was planning on a whole scene about Robert telling her about erik but I'm not going to do it now maybe a flashback later on or something but just so everyone knows Robert explained to her about Erik before they left)
As the cart pulled beside his house, Robert could felt as though his inside were being torn out of him. He wanted nothing more than to live with his family in peace, but that was not luxury granted to him.
A man with dark tan skin stepped down from the driver's seat and walked over to Robert who had a worried look on his face. "Where's Erik?"
The man raised his hand to silence him as a thick accented words flowed from his lips in understanding to the gentleman's confusion, "The boy told me that you wanted you're family at the opera house, and asked me to get the preparations in order so that you're wife could work there. Fortunately, since I work there myself live there, I was able to inform the ballet mistress of her new arrival. I hope you don't mind that I took the liberty of doing so, sir. But rest assured the boy is watching us. I believe it would be appropriate to say that I am his mouth and body when he doesn't want himself revealed."
Robert understood this and nodded because he knew that indeed the emerald eyes were watching his companion's every move.
Erik looked down from is perch atop a nearby house ready to move if anything went awry. For the man talking to Robert had taught him many things, mainly illusions that he used occasionally at street corners, but the Persian man had taught him how to defend himself to the point of killing another man quickly and without anyone knowing what had happened. He had only killed one man before, of course this was a terrible burden for a thirteen year old, but it was necessary for him if he were to live free of the cage he had been raised in.
Robert started to place the few trunks that they had in the back of the cart as Meg and Alissa stepped out into the fading daylight. He helped them up into the small wagon before climbing in himself. He swiftly picked up his young child and hugged her tightly before placing her back on the wooden seat before he turned to his wife. The tears were threatening to cascade down his face when he saw the confused and scared look on her face. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her delicate waist and pressed his lips to hers, hoping that this moment would never end. He pulled away and rested his chin on her shoulder squeezing his eyelids tight as a tear broke through his defenses.
"Alissa…" he tried his best to sound strong but the hard knot in his throat thwarted his every attempt "I love you so much, never forget that. Oh God Alissa please don't ever forget that."
As the words set in, her eyes grew wide and filled with confusion and apprehension. "No, Robert, I won't forget because I'll always be by your side." She looked into his eyes hoping he would say something to agree with her but was distraught as she saw no such hope in his eyes.
"I know how you want to stand at my side during this storm but I wouldn't be able to ever forgive myself if something happened to you! I'm not strong enough to lose you or Meg. I have to do this on my own."
Her fingers began to caress his russet locks. She couldn't leave him he was her shelter in every storm and yet, her rock clutched to her, trembling and broken. He caressed her cream-colored cheeks with a calloused hand.
He glanced at his daughter who clutched her beloved teddy bear to her heart looking at her father with complete innocence in her eyes waiting for him to sit next to her, he spoke gently to her "Now ma petite Papillion you grow up to be as strong as you mother and you never let anyone tell you that you aren't smart or beautiful because, my darling…" he fought to hold back the imminent tears "you are perfect in every way. I love you, Meg.". and placed a tender kiss on her head.
Robert looked to his wife and met her rose petal lips for the last time before jumping off the wagon just before it sped on through the velvet darkness,.
Tears streamed down Alissa's face as she reached out for her husband one last time she called out to him "Robert, I love you!" please don't die… please come for us soon. The heat from his kiss lingered on her lips as the rain started to fall over the distraught family
Meg not understanding what was going on yelled at the driver, "Wait! You forgot Papa! We can't leave with out papa!"
Her mother reached out to hold her in her arms as she chocked on the words not wanting them to escape her lips but knowing they must, "Papa… Papa isn't coming with us darling".
Meg threw her mother's arm off of her. "NO! He has to come with us!" the anger and hurt in her voice growing.
She turned to the shrinking figure of her father standing on the street. She flung out her hands as if to try and reach him, "PAPA! WHY AREN'T YOU COMING? WHY ARE YOU SENDING US AWAY!? PAPA?! WE LOVE YOU PAPA! PLEASE DON'T SEND ME AWAY!!!" her voice growing desperate as his form dissolved into the sheets of rain that struck her face, disguising the tears that freely fell down her face.
Alissa held her head in her hands and started weeping. Meg finally threw herself into her mother's embrace as they both sobbed uncontrollably as they watched the man they both loved finally slipped into the darkness.
As soon as the cart was out of view, Robert fell to the ground letting the tears that had built up behind the dams of his eyelids freely flow mingling with the rain that pelted his body. He could still hear his daughter's cries to him, how he had longed to tell her that he didn't want to send them away, how he wanted them with him for all eternity. He kneeled on the harsh road, for what seemed like hours before he finally stood again. He wiped what tears were still on his face, knowing that no more would come for there was not another left for his body to shed. He quickly pulled his wet cloak over his form and began down the long street headed toward in the opposite direction of the opera house knowing that he would probably never see his beloved or his little girl ever again.
Ok just to let everyone know i'm open to any ideas or suggestions they have in this story. So yeah reviews are greatly appreciated, they really do help me in my writing process. Ok then thanks for reading!
Adieu
Le Chat Gris
