Chapter ten

Erik pulled her into a corridor, his blue eyes flaming. "What was that display all about?"

"You said my father wanted to see me."

"I lied." He hissed. "But you knew that didn't you?"

She gulped nervously as he magically opened another wall and pulled her inside. "Maybe." She sighed. "Listen, I am weary and Raoul is on the mend. I wish to retire."

"Really?" Erik said. "You will retire…when I am done with you."

Amanita's patience was wearing thin. "Listen…you must understand. I have affection for Raoul, how could I not? He is a good man…we are suited to each other. And if he asks me…I will become his wife."

Erik's face flinched for a moment. "No you won't. You're going to marry me."

She touched his face. "Erik…you know I do care for you. However, our paths have been chosen a long time ago. You chose your life of thievery and as for me…my life has been carefully laid every stone of the way. You…you cause me to stumble."

"I cause you to stray from the path." He said pulling her close. His face glowing the torch light. "I can give you what you need, what your heart desires. Do you think he can?"

"I will not answer that question." She said as she removed his hands from her body. "We shall meet no longer like this! If you do not leave within a week I shall expose you!"

Erik laughed. "You wouldn't Amanita."

"Why wouldn't I?" she asked. "Erik…you are killing me! Do you know…what this is like for me? I care for you and I wish I could explore the depths of my feelings for you. You are very persuasive and I can't tell you how many times I have wished to be swept off with you. But my desire to help my people is much stronger than any." Erik's hands cupped her face and she slapped at his hands before snapping sharply at him. "Keep your dirty hands off me!"

Erik's eyes blazed with anger and she immediately regretted her words. She didn't mean them; she wanted to make Erik hate her. If he hated her, he'd leave her and stop causing all this forbidden turmoil inside her. She didn't want feelings for him. She'd talked herself into believing that she'd be happy with Raoul and she wasn't going to let him discourage her.

Erik reacted by giving her a shove. She tripped over a cobblestone and fell backwards! Erik immediately knelt down and over her. Concern and passion in his eyes as he hovered over her. Her heart pounded as Erik gently touched her face with the hands she had dared to think dirty moments ago. His eyes studied her closely and he ran his hand down her side to her knee. She caught his hand and shook her head.

For a moment she thought he was going to be angry, but he merely pulled her up so that their bodies were closely pressed together. She inhaled as he pressed his lips against her neck. Loving you keeps me alive, He sang gently in her ear. think again before you leave me. His love cannot be as true as the love I offer you. You're wasting time pretending you belong with him, come to your senses.

She pushed him away and he pulled her up from the ground. Slowly, they moved towards the direction of her chambers. Erik kept a firm grip on her eye, never breaking eye contact as they moved along the corridor. Loving you keeps me alive; I'll be in your heart forever. And you'll be a part of me, for now till eternity. You've talked yourself into believing he's the one, come to your senses.

Erik stopped and pulled her into his arms. The first time I laid eyes on you, I knew I'd never be the same. He edged closer, backing her against the wall. I never knew I'd get such pleasure whispering your name. Amanita closed her eyes and listened. Erik's voice was so beautiful, strange and melodious she could almost hear the music in his voice. If loving you keeps me alive then how can leaving me be right? Turn back and let me love you. Stay with me and let us dance into the night!

You are the one! The only one to make me see the empty life I lead. Now she wasn't sure if this was just a song, or was he attempting to make her understand what he was asking through a common love of music. You are the love, the only love I'll ever need. The first time I laid eyes on you, I knew I'd never be the same. I never knew I'd get such pleasure, whispering your name. If loving you keeps me alive, then how can leaving me be right? Turn back and let me love you. Stay with me and let us dance into the night!

He pushed the wall open for her. She dipped her head and stepped through the wall. He caught her elbow and forced her to look at him. "Distance between two people only happens when someone allows it to happen. You're putting that distance between us."

"It is beyond my power Erik!"

"No Amanita, it's right within your grasp. Just say that you consent to be my wife."

"I cannot! No matter how hard I may wish it…I shall never consent to be your wife!"

Erik watched as she exited her chambers and he smirked. He almost had her. She cared for him, but he wasn't going to tell her anything until she said those three words that he was waiting for her to say. She had yet to say 'I love you' and those were the words that assure him that they would spend an eternity together.

He walked back along to where Raoul's room was. After glancing through a hole in a wall, he observed Raoul was alone. He exited the wall and entered Raoul's room.

Raoul jumped and exhaled. "Good God! Are you mad?"

Erik laughed. "Far from it, just very clever." He hastily went to lock the door. "So…this strange illness that ails you is over?"

"Indeed. The doctor said it was a fever. I must have caught it when I went out riding in the rain."

"Hmm." Erik said. "Possible…but not logical."

"Certainly you're not suggesting poison? That would be improbable."

Erik frowned. "Improbable, but not impossible. Sir Basil is a man of many tricks."

"I won't disagree there. So…what did Amanita's father need of her?'

Erik smirked. "He didn't. I just didn't want Amanita to reproach herself for such an embrace with you when she's my wife later on."

Raoul laughed. "You saw that display and you still insist that she will be your wife?"

"If you'd seen our display in the secret chambers….you know it's my name written on her heart, not yours."

Erik watched as Raoul's eyes narrowed. "What…display are you talking about?"

"Putting it delicately…I could have had her virginity, if I'd wanted it." Raoul's eyes narrowed. "Yes…she dares to go that far with me. She let's me touch her at her own leisure."

"You're vile."

"You're a fop!"

"Monster!"

"Imbecile!"

"Vulcan monster!"

"Adonis child!"

Raoul exhaled and crossed his arms. "Get out of here now!"

Erik smiled. "Sure…brother."

Raoul retaliated by throwing a pillow at him. Erik caught it and laughed. He returned the pillow to the bed and tucked it behind Raoul's head. "I know….we're not supposed to hate," Raoul said. "but I cannot help but hate father. Someday I will conquer that, but not today."

"Why would you hate him?" Erik asked. "You had everything."

Raoul nodded sullenly. "I did. But…he robbed the years of childhood from both of us. Nothing he could do or say could ever make up for that."

Erik nodded. "I know what you mean. I often wondered what it would be like to have a younger brother." He smiled. "And I got….you. What a cruel joke."

Raoul punched him in the arm and Erik laughed. He wondered if Amanita were to marry Raoul….which was unlikely. Would he be able to hate Raoul at all?

The song Erik sings is from 'Dracula' and it's called 'Loving you keeps me alive.' In my opinion the best version is done by James Barbour. My new favorite artist and he's certainly running a close third behind Hadley Fraser and Ramin Karimloo. I know I said I wasn't updating, but I had to elder sit today for 5 hours so I had time to write.