Sing Sweetly, My Phantom
Chapter Ten: Ariadne Thinks She's Over Erik But One Night, She Is Simply Mistaken.
One Year Later...
As I looked out the window where the rain was lashing down and a full gale force wind was blowing, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. It has been a whole year since I said goodbye to Erik, my heart died that very day and will never be healed until I could find a way to return to him. I spend six lonely months alone in my bedroom, shutting myself away from the cruel world and cry until I couldn't no more. No matter how much Hera and Robert pleaded for me to come out, I refused to move. It was only until Matthew entered the room that I had to try and move on my life, he told me that he will never come for me and for that I understood his meaning. Slowly I healed execpt my dead heart, it only beated because it had to live. Time went on, I grew closer with Matthew but he never dared to make a romantic move. I went out for walks, spend hours talking to friends I haven't seen in months and felt human again. Though I was different to the woman before I fell for Erik, I knew it was a new start without him.
"Ariadne, are you alright?" A male voice snapped me from my thoughts, I turned and saw it was Matthew standing before me. Handsome to look at, beautiful to stare at and amazing to be with. He was a perfect friend, even though our romance was shortlived, I'm sure that in a another life I would marry him and be forever happy. "Yes, I'm fine." I replied, removing myself from the couch. He took my hands into his, a flashback of a distant memory came into view:
I'm in his arms, he sings to me such a beautiful tale of love and passion. I shut my eyes in bliss, it's only he that makes me feel this way. Me and him, the powerful couple that would overlook everything. Soild as a rock, meant to be and forever remembered...
"Ariadne?" Again, Matthew snaps me out of the vision and I stare into his eyes. Such promise and youth, I could see love burning in his orbs that I knew it was me that he adored. "Sorry, I'm fine really." I laughed, showing a weak smile on my face. He grinned in return that made his face lit up, it was a sweet moment to see. "Good, now listen. Hera has four tickets to the new Opera everyone has been talking about and I think we should go. What do you think?" He said. I let go of his grip and walk away from him, trying to sink this in. Questions filled my mind: why now? what Opera? when will this be? will he be there to capture me again? I remembered his final words before we left his lair: "Make a new life with Matthew, I will not capture or find you again like I did with Christine." I shut my eyes, feeling a new batch of tears prickling. Anger boiled inside me, why did my sister do this?! But I could never shout at him, it wasn't his fault he was only a messagener. I had to answer him, the silence was killing me.
I turned and showed a small grin, then I walked towards him. "Of coarse we shall go to the Opera, what is showing?" I asked, hiding my rage and bitter taste of revenge. "Well, it's on the Opera Poplaurie and it's called The Winter Rose, a love story about a young woman who fell in love with a man no-one thought she would but her family would disown her if she ever married him so she has to marry a another handsome man that is suitable for her only that she can't stop thinking about her first lover and they succumb to a passionate love affair. I don't know anymore than that other than the writer of the Opera will make a speical appearence on opening night which is a Saturday so you have plently of time to find a new dress." Matthew replied, a look of exictement was across his face. I nodded swiftly then I walked out of the room, taking each step of the staircase and entered my room, that was when I broke down in a flood of tears.
Days passed and the night of the Opera was coming ever nearer. I refused to speak to Hera after a massive arugement we had, pleading for her why did she do this to only have a simple answer: "It's time to move on, he will never return and perhaps one day, you will marry Matthew in time". I stayed in my bedroom that very day, angry and hurting at her cruel words. But in a way, she was right. He wasn't coming back. Yet this opera plot sounded familer, was I the lead and he the man I would never fall in love with? Would he be there? A glimer of hope came across my mind, dim though lingering.
Saturday Night...
I shut the bedroom door and walked down the steps, taking each heavy breath at a time. I was nervous and panicing yet I was exicted to see a Opera. I made a massive effort on myself, considering many times I have been to balls or parties. I bought a new dress in a shop in town, borrowed jewellery from my mother's vainty case and made my hair in ringletts. I heard voices in the living room which I headed, I opened the door and saw the sight before me. They stopped talking and gasped at me, admiring at my rare beauty. Matthew's jaw dropped, Robert blinked several times to see if that was really me and Hera was simply stunned. "Is that my baby sister? I don't think it is, perhaps a stranger?" She said, standing up and walked towards me. She rose her arms which I entered in her embrace, we forgave each other yesterday for the best. We broke away, smiling at each other. The men stood and were ready to take us, their arms waiting for our hands. Hera took Robert's while I waited for them to leave the room and took Matthew's, his eyes never leaving me.
The Opera Poplaurie was packed with people, they stood in the hallway waiting for the writer to appear and open the doors for the Opera to begin. I stood with Matthew, sipping a glass of white wine. Hera and Robert were in deep talking with a another couple, the lady was heavily pregenant and was rubbing her stomach gently. I smiled at the joy of a new life coming in this world, I wondered if one day it would happen to me but I was still young and ready to move on from the past. Suddenly, the lights dimmed to a low blaze. I gripped Matthew's arm tighly, a rush of fear washed over me. I noticed Hera and Robert came by our sides, frowning at the sudden lack of light. Then a loud booming voice came out of nowhere, it made me gasp in terror.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE OPERA POPLAURIE FOR THE PREMIRE OF THE WINTER'S ROSE. MAY I PRESENT THE WRITER OF THIS ROMANTIC TALE AND HIS WIFE TO BE, ERIK AND SAMANTHA!"
Loud cheers and claps came as the lights burned brightly, lush music played as the couple walked down the steps. To my horror, it was he after all! I couldn't believe the sight I was seeing, I felt the glass I held on so hard smash into a thousand pieces like my dead suddenly came alive and died for a third time. Handsome and more erotic to the eye, he smouldered charm and charsmia to woo the women around me. I shuddered, feeling a rush of coldness and betryal overcome me. Samantha was beautiful, thin and just perfect. Blonde hair flowed down her back, hazel eyes burned at every man she looked that made them grin stupidly but the women didn't care because they were in lust of Erik. I turned away from the shocking sight to see Hera and Robert under the same spell, I shook my head at them. Then I turned to Matthew, he was in the same state too. But when I looked back, his eyes were burning into mine. Not once did he stop and notice, he quickly turned away and looked at his woman which she smiled back at him. My stomach twisted and turned, the constant stabbing of my mind and soul killed every passionate thought of what we used to have. He had moved on, forgotten all about me like I was nothing.
They headed towards to the two doors, cutting the red ribbon and pushed them open. "Let's go in, the opera shall begin in seven minutes." He said, with a small smile on his face. Bile rose in my throat, I couldn't stand being in this room with him any longer. The crowd rushed in, even Robert, Hera and Matthew went in without me. I remained, watching it all around me. He let her go in first but he did look at me, his mask frowning back at me. "Erik, why?" I said, my voice breaking. His amazing eyes that burned were different, a shadow overcast them like I never really knew them. "Because I could, Ariadne." With that, he turned his back and entered the room.