Hey everyone! Sorry it's been a while I had my wisdom teeth ripped from my head on Monday and haven't been able to concentrate hard enough to write that and my muse desided that it wanted nothing to do with me for a long time so finally I got this up. I am really sorry It was so long, I promise I will be better from now on! Well I have no idea where I am going with this chapter but I'm sure it will be great! FYI, I own nada!
Chapter 8
Good-bye's
Eric's POV
It was a few hours before Emma had calmed down enough to sleep, she fell asleep against my chest the slight hitch in her breath and the glistening tears on her face the only indication of the pain she was going through. I wanted to kill the man who had hurt her so deeply…destroy his very being and make him watch as everything fell down around him…but why? I couldn't fathom why I felt so strongly about this.
Up until a few days ago I had hated Emma for saving me and preventing me from hurting myself so that I might end this hell that is my life and now…suddenly I didn't hate her anymore. I still was not thrilled to have another in my life; I had lived alone for so long that I just…didn't want to share my life with another. I was frightened, the Phantom of the Opera was scared of a woman; I didn't want to get close because I feared the rejection that Christine had given me and I did not want to live with that ever again…The pain was too much.
Still…even that didn't make sense in my mind. I didn't love her, so why was I afraid of rejection? Very slowly I reached out and brushed a strand of her light brown hair from her face and I found a soft smile on my lips. With gentle fingers I traced the features of her face; she had such soft skin…and was really quite beautiful. Not as beautiful as his Christine but…beautiful. Her face softened in sleep while during waking hours it might appear stubborn while she slept her face was soft and untroubled…or it had been a moment ago.
A frown now marred her features. "Damien…no Damien…STOP! Please stop!"
Damien…did he know anyone by that name? Who was he kidding? He didn't know anyone anymore. As softly as I could he slid out from under her and left her with her nightmare not even thinking it might be best to hold her and try and wake her up. My mind was focused on Damien. I had to find him and make him pay for what he was doing to that amazing woman who seemed determined to keep him here in a hell that…wasn't as bad as it used to be. 'I wonder why that is…'
I took the catacombs up to the surface and looked around Paris in the setting light. Where to start? I had to find this Damien…
Emma's POV
I woke later with a head ache from all the crying and frowned slightly, the spot next to me was empty and cold. What were you expecting Emma? He was just comforting you, it didn't mean anything to him.
He has lived life alone for a very long time. You are just a nuisance and a care taker he does not even want. I got up and rubbed the pressure points in my head to lesson my head ache before dressing and getting ready for the day. I vowed that when Eric returned home from where ever he was that I would look at his wounds and determine how much longer I was needed. It could not be much longer now…but I would really miss him. He had grown on me in a way that no other patient of mine had.
Sure he was ungrateful, rude, snide and didn't want me around but…last night when he had held me…oh forget it Emma! Besides what man would have you after what happened?
I made myself something to eat and sat down to wait. I began to get very nervous when the clock struck two in the afternoon and he still was not home. Perhaps I should go after him…like you would be able to find him Emma…
At ten that night I was pacing, had something happened to him? Had he tried to kill himself? Had he been arrested for some reason? Or had he simply chosen to leave because it seemed like I would not?
Then suddenly without warning I heard his voice behind me "You look like a cat that has lost its tail. What is wrong?"
I spun to face him but he was not there…what the? "Eric get your butt over here! Where have you been? I have been worried sick about you!"
He was chuckling…laughing at me… "If I had known leaving for so long would make you pace like this they yell gibberish at the walls I would have tried it sooner."
I glowered at him "Of course I am! You've been gone for hours! I was starting to wonder if you had died out there!"
He laughed again "relax Emma; you are worse than a hen that has lost her chicks. I am perfectly unharmed as you can see very well I am sure. I was out working."
I frowned slightly "Eric… I know this is probably none of my business but…It wasn't your old kind of work was it?"
He gave me a searching look then answered my question with a question; I'm sure so he could infuriate me, "What old work?"
I rolled my eyes "You know very well what I mean by that Eric so don't play dumb. You're the smartest man I know, I know you know what I am talking about."
He laughed again. This is the happiest I have ever seen him…what had changed? Perhaps I should just drop this and be happy that he is happy. "Very well, I know what you mean, but no, that is not what I was up too. Must you always assume the worst if me Emma?"
I blushed at that, ashamed "You are right, I should trust you more. Forgive me, it was not even my place to ask."He gave me a puzzled look but did not attempt to contradict me so I moved on hurriedly "take your shirt off, please Eric. I want to see how you are doing."
Without complaint he shed his shirt and I was struck by how many scars he had on his chest…had he tried to do this before and failed? No the scars didn't look like they had run that deep…I examined his knife wound and nodded, he would heal fine now without me. It was time for me to go… "You are healing very well Eric. I must say you are a fast healer."
"I have always been that way."He said watching me closely as he always did when I examined him. It was like a survival instinct to insure I was not going to hurt him…
I smiled up at him encouragingly then stood and handed him his shirt "You will be ok now Eric. I'll leave in the morning."
Eric's POV
The strangest set of emotions swept through me when I heard her announce that she was leaving me in the morning. A day ago I would have rejoiced and now…what was I feeling? I did not know, so I did the only thing I could think of and pushed the confusing feelings aside like they did not exist and nodded to her "Very well, I will make sure everything is ready for you when you leave."
She smiled at me kindly "Thank you Eric. I'm for bed; I will see you in the morning. She left me standing there as she closed the door to her room.
Slowly I went to my own room still pushing my conflicting emotions out of the way.
The next morning I was up before Emma was and had set all of her things that I had found around my house in her bag for her. She came out smiling at me in a dress she had sown while she was here, she could not dress as a man in the outside world.
I gave her a very small smile in return "Here are your things Emma."
"Thank you Eric."
We stood in aqward silence for a long time. I had no idea what to say, I had never really said good bye to anyone but my beloved Christine…
At last in a rush she said "Eric please take care of yourself."
I looked at her shocked; she still cared for my safety even though I was no longer in her charge? I hid my emotions from her prying eyes and nodded to appease her "I will try."
"Eric?"
"Yes?"I asked watching her with my cat like eyes.
"If you ever need…a friend my house is just down the road from here to the south, just outside of town. I don't mind visitors, in fact I love them. So if you ever need…to talk or…just to be with someone else you can come to my home or send a message there and I will come here."
I searched her eyes; she was serious…but why? Why would she care so much? Especially when I had made it so clear on all but one occasion that she was not wanted here?
Instead of voicing my confusion I nodded once more doubting I would ever call on her but…grateful for her offer…in a way. She had showed me that there are those who do care…and care too much. "As you wish, travel safely." And with that I went to my organ and began to play. What a strange woman this Emma was.
I heard her leave but I did not turn around to watch her go; I was alone once more…why did that sound so…sad? Was that not what I wanted? Eric what do you want?
Ok so not what I had planned on writing originally, but this was better. Please review and tell me what you think. Also I kind of have an idea of where I would like this to go but I really do need some ideas for the middle area and for how to get to where I want to be. Any ideas at all are welcomed. PLEASE review, I am begging you! I hope you like this so far and thank you two the two reviews I got for my last chapter. Thank you for speaking your mind, I will try to do better, keep telling me what you think!
