Ch 8
"Bella, come with me, I want to introduce you to Raoul, you may not remember him, he was a child hood friend," Christine was explaining as she pulled Bella down the hall of the opera house.
"Oh I remember him, you too were so close, like, childhood sweet hearts," Bella giggled when she saw Christens blush.
"Yes, I guess you're right," Christine said, "Well you see were married."
"Oh, that's wonderful," Bella smiled.
"Raoul," Christine let go of Bella's hand, she ran up to a man with long hair.
"Bella, it's good to see you again, alive and healthy," Raoul said as he approached her with Christine at his side. Suddenly Bella thought of Erik, she felt the need the see him, it was hard being away from him for so long.
"Yes, it's good to see you to Raoul," Bella smiled, she still felt the; lingering in her heart, she wanted to be with Erik, not here.
"Yes, ahhh I have an idea, how about we go out to dinner, to celebrate," Raoul said with excitement.
"Yes that would be lovely," Christine agreed.
"Well, I guess that would be fine," Bella said.
"Alright, well come get you around seven," Raoul and Christine left the opera house with hopes of coming back later that day.
Bella sighed as she entered her room, she wanted to go and see Erik, but she couldn't seem to turn down time to spend with her sister.
"Ahhh Bella," Bella turned around, John was standing in her door way with his big smile.
"Oh, hello John," Bella turned from the mirror. John was one of the stage hands and had become close with Bella, was even staring to fall in love with her.
"I heard about your dinner arrangements with your sister and her husband, and I was wondering if I could join you," John said with a timid voice.
"Oh, well I guess that fine, I don't see why not," Bella had no idea the feelings that John had for her.
"Oh, good well I'll see you later," John left the room, closing the door behind him, leaving Bella alone with her thoughts.
Erik: Insolent boy!
This slave of fashion
basking in your glory
ignorant fool this brave young
suitor sharing in my triumph.
Bella smiled, she turned towered the mirror and saw Erik leaning against the wall with his arms crossed and a frown set on his face. Bella laughed at the way he seemed to be pouting. She walked up to him and put her arms around his neck.
"And why do you seem so upset about John, he's only a friend," Bella said.
"Yes to you, but to him he wants to be more, and the way he looks at you," Erik's frown deepened.
"Haha, silly phantom, you should know by now, you're the only one for me," Bella pressed her lips to his in a small teasing kiss. Bella looked up and saw a glint of lust flash though his eyes, and felt a shiver run up her spine. Erik deepened the kiss with force, he wanted to keep her all to himself, and no one else was to have her.
"Bella, my Bella," Erik said while brushing a strand of hair out of her face. Bella smiled, she was his, and he should know that by now. Bella staying in Erik's arms, just loving the feel of him being near.
By the time Erik had left it was close to seven, Bella watched from her bed as Erik left. They had made their way from the mirror door to the bed, holding each other and telling one another how much they loved each other.
Bella sighed as she stood up; she was still in her dancing cloths and needed to change. Looking though her wardrobe, Bella found a dark red dress with black lace going up the back. As Bella dress there was knocking at her door then Christine entered.
"Here let me help you,' Bella allowed her sister to tie the back of her dress and help pick out a pair of shoes to wear.
"There, you look beautiful, now let's get going, John and Raoul are waiting for us."
Bella followed Christine out of the room, they walked out of the opera house and into the cold night, Bella couldn't help but feel as if a part of her was left behind.
"This place is beautiful," Bella exclaimed as they walked into the restaurant. Bella followed the others as a waiter led them to a table in the back. As Bella was about to sit down John pulled out her seat for her, as did Raoul with Christine. Bella nodded her thanks and waited for the two to be seated.
The night was full of laughter and old memories being brought to the surface. Bella was enjoying herself, but she felt that she would be happier if she was with Erik. Most of the night was spent with her thoughts going back to Erik.
"Bella, you seemed distracted, is everything alright," Christine asked.
"Oh, yes everything is fine, I just can't help thinking, you know about the past," Bella said with a hint of sadness.
"Well let's leave the past behind us and start over, with a new beginnings ," Raoul said as he lifted his glass of dark red wine, "To new beginnings ," They all held there glasses and tapped then together.
Yes to new beginnings. Bella thought to herself.
As the night went on Bella felt herself become tired.
"Come, let us leave," Raoul said as he noticed both Bella and Christine become tired.
As the group left, they didn't notice the man that had been watching them, of more importantly Bella.
Bella laid her head down on the pillow, she would have loved to go down and sleep in Erik's arms, but he had left her a note saying he would be gone, and to go to bed knowing that she would be tired. Bella slept through the night fitfully, not used to sleeping alone, with Erik always there with her.
Erik watched as his Bella slept, she seemed to have an uneasy sleep, with tossing and turning. Deciding it was because she was alone Erik entered her room. Being careful not wake her up Erik picked her bride style and carried her down to his home, no their home.
Erik slowly set Bella down on the crunched silk sheets, resting her head on the soft pillows. Erik quickly changed then slipped into the warm bed beside Bella. As he slowly started to fall asleep, he noticed she slept on without any fits.
Bella opened her eyes, finding herself not in her room, but somewhere much more familiar. She snuggled closer the Erik, allowing his arms to tighten around her body. She smiled, she was happy to be back where she felt safe.
"Bella, my Bella," Erik whispered into her hair. Bella smiled again, she was his Bella.
"Erik," Bella whispered as she pressed her face into his chest.
"Come, we had slept long enough," Erik sat up with Bella still in his arms.
"Hmmm, I guess you're right."
Bella once again sat beside Erik as he played at his organ, his eyes closed as the music flowed around them.
Bella: Night time sharpens, heightens each
sensation
darkness stirs and wakes imagination,
silently the senses, abandon their
defenses,
helpless to resist, the note I write,
for I compose the music of the night.
Bella closed her eyes and leaded in Erik's shoulder, feeling the warmth of the music wrapped around them; binding the two together.
"You should be getting back," Erik said, he stopped playing and looked down at Bella.
Bella stood with the other dancers as they watched Carlotta though a temper tantrum, she had been going off on how her dress was too long and that she kept stepping on it. Bella sighed; she was staring to get tired of her.
"Bella," Bella turned around and faced Meg.
"What is it Meg?" Bella asked.
"There's a guest here to see you, he's with the managers now, and your sister and Raoul," Bella nodded and followed Meg to the front of the opera house where she saw Christine and the managers along with Raoul, and a taller man who had his back to her.
"Ahhh Bella, there you are, this Monsieur Dante," Raoul said.
As the man turned around, Bella froze, the others noticed her eyes grow big and her face fade pale. Bella felt her breaths come out uneven, as if she had just ran here. An uncomfortable feeling seemed to invade Bella's body, and then she noticed, it was fear. The fear of her past had come back to haunt her. She felt frozen, her legs to stiff to move, her body felt heavy, and a strange chill came about her.
"Bella, are you alright?" Bella couldn't hear Christine, even though she stood right next to her.
"Maybe that cold that has been going around has come to the opera house," That voice, why must it be that voice.
Bella felt her mind start to recognize again, the feeling in her legs returned as she turned on her heel and ran back to her room. She heard the gasps and the calls from her sister and Raoul, along with Meg and the managers. She could practically see him smiling as he watched the discomfit control her. No she wouldn't cry, not in front of HIM, not any more. Bella slammed the door behind her; her vision became blurred as tears streamed down her face. Bella jumped as she felt the warmth of another person behind her. She let herself go, she let go of the tears she tried to hold back, and she let her guard down, but only with him.
Erik watched as Bella walked up to the others along with Meg. Her face was formed in a beautiful smile, she was happy to be there. But as Raoul introduced the man that was standing with them, her face seemed to twist, that once brilliant smile was gone, and her bright blue eyes seemed to fade as if glazing over. The bight face seemed to fade into a sickly pale, a strange sense of fear seemed to settle in the pit of Erik's stomach, he felt the need to go down there and get his Bella out of there. Bella was in pain, her face said it all, but did any of those fools do anything about it. That fear was still there but now anger was there to join it. Before he could do anything Bella took off, he followed her in the shadows till she went to her room, slamming the door behind her.
Using a passage way Erik made his way into her room finding her standing in the middle of her room, trying to hold back tears. It broke Erik's heart to see her so broken, like a shattered mirror, some people wouldn't bother due to the pain they would also feel, but Erik went over to his broken mirror, holding her shattered body, putting it all back together.
"Bella," She seemed to calm down from the sound of his voice, but she still shook with sobs.
Erik: Let me be your shelter
let me be your light
your safe, no one will find you
your fears are far behind you…
Bella: All I want is freedom
a world with no more light
and you, always beside me, to hold me and to hide me…..
Erik: Then say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime
let me lead you from your solitude
say you need me with you here, beside you…
any where you go let me go too
Love me, that's all I ask of you.
Bella turned around in Erik's arms, facing him with wide eyes; those one glazed blue eyes were now deep pools of emotions.
"Bella, I want you to stay with me forever, I want you to be mine," Bella felt the cold metal as Erik fastened a thin chain around her neck. Looking down Bella saw the ring shin, he had proposed to her. There ring was a Safire with two small rubies on both sides.
"Erik," Before Bella finished wrapped her arms around Erik and kissed him with all her might, putting as much love and emotion as she could.
"I take that as a yes," Erik said with a smirk. Bella nodded her head as fresh tears ran down her face. Erik smiled then lifted her up into his arms carrying her down to their home. Yes, that sounds nice.
A/N: omg! im not going to cry! im not going to cry! oh look at that im crying...
