A/N: Promises, promises, ooh broken promises, right? What was that? It's been a year? Pff, don't be silly... It wasn't a YEAR... Yeah, it was a year, wasn't it :( I'm sorry! I've had so much to worry about. Too much. And I've unfortunately also lost interest in this story, that's why it's so short, sorry :( But I haven't abandoned it, don't worry :)

I've taken to writing my own original stuff, horror, yay. If you are interested just PM me and I'll send you a bit of my 'Inside the mind of a psychopath' so far, if you're interested, that is :)

Thank you for all the support, and don't forget to leave a final review for the final chapter! I love you all!

-outcast xx

Always yours- Chapter 10

Christine's POV

I pull the hood of my cloak delicately over my dark chocolate curls, and step over a burnt log that is lying just outside the entrance (or what is left of it) to my dark, abandoned home. It's still magnificent in its old, ashy glory, the blackened frame standing strong, framed by the evening sky. It was time to say goodbye.

I kneel down and pick up a small, burnt splinter of wood, probably from a carving, place a kiss on its rough surface and place it between my breasts, close to my heart always. I breathe a shaky sigh. I shall miss this place of my childhood, but if there's one thing I have learned from life it is, things will change no matter what.

I stand and pull my cloak a little tighter around my slim frame, it's a cold night.

"Christine, my love, are you coming?"

I smile; Erik's voice is soft, gentle and loving, full of sincerity and music. Beautiful music. I turn and soak in the magnificent sight of my mentor, my angel, my love, standing in his full glory in the moonlight. He stood his full height of 6'2", his skeletal body framed by his swirling cloak of midnight black, the moonlight cast a glow on his white porcelain mask, causing a soft halo of light to radiate around his face, only his wide-brimmed hat cut off the glow and caused a shadow to fall over his cat-like eyes that smiled softly at me, a fire of passion and love burning behind the golden orbs. He offers his arm to me.

"Lead the way, mon ange" I whisper as I place my hand on his.

"I think we need to take one final detour around our old home, my love" Erik's white teeth shine in the soft moonlight as he smiles.

I kiss him softly on his cheek, then we step onto the crisp, burnt grass and walk around the perimeter of the Opera House.

"The grass used to look so beautiful in the moonlight..." I sadly looked down at the brown carpet beneath our feet.

"Do not be sad, Christine, in this case the grass is greener on the other side."

I give him a watery smile and a tear rolls down my cheek, he wipes it away gently and nods understandingly. We do not need to say a thing, I know he is sad to leave this place as well, I can see it in the liquid gold depths of his eyes, but we both know we cannot stay.

He lifts his arm and I happily oblige to cuddle into his side as he pulls his cloak around both of us. Once we navigate our way back to the entrance, we stand in silence staring into the darkness of the crumbling building until he lifts his arm from me, turns and leads me to our waiting carriage.

He politely gestures for me to get in. I smile and pick up the skirts of my dress as I slide gracefully into a seat. I hear Erik and the driver whispering outside for a while before Erik's hooded figure sits next to me, the carriage jerks and I lean my head on Erik's shoulder as the carriage rocks me into a deep slumber.

Third person POV

Anyone who saw the carriage would think nothing of it; it was nothing out of the ordinary, well made and well kept. The large wheels turned slowly and gracefully over the rocky road, the suspension caused it to almost flow over the occasional bump and the curved roof shone its own grin right back at the waning moon.

The night was clear and calm, like an undisturbed lake, smooth, flat, cold and dark... That is, until the carriage found itself at the border...

I am woken by the sounds of shouts and the jerky movement of Erik's cloaked shoulder, I sit up, alarmed. I shriek in horror as I see the border guards trying, and succeeding, to pull Erik out of the carriage. His struggles are getting weaker by the second and he is outnumbered 5 to 1. I desperately clutch his arm, trying to pull him back into the carriage, but before I can get a firm grip, he falls out onto the dusty ground and the guards start beating him.

I let out a cry and am about to jump to his rescue when he shouts out in a gruff, gravelly voice, nothing like his own "No! Go!"

I hear the driver flick the reins and the horses gallop off across the border at full speed, leaving behind the sound of fists beating Erik's flesh and his gruff shouts trail off into the distance.

"I'm not the Opera Ghost! I'm not the Opera Ghost!"

Everything is silent, apart from the hollow sounds of the horses' hooves and my broken-hearted sobbing. I've lost my one and only love for good this time, and this was supposed to be my happy ending...

The carriage slowly comes to a halt but I make no move to get out the carriage, look at the house, or even lift a hand. I sit there staring at the floor, tears streaming down my face, my hands resting in my lap. I feel the driver get off of his seat and hear his footsteps around the carriage to the door. I close my eyes and turn away from him as the door opens.

"... Christine?"

Time freezes over as my ears are blessed with that musical, soft, velvet voice. I turn sharply and stare at my Angel of Music, standing there; cloak, mask and all, holding the door open for me to get out.

He chuckles and gestures over his shoulder casually, "You coming?"

I fling myself into his arms, fresh tears of joy, relief and confusion streaming down my cheeks.

"Erik! Wh- what? How!?"

He hugs me tightly, "Shh, hush, my love... The driver and I swapped seats before I even got into the carriage... It was a precaution that I'm glad we took"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugs, "It wouldn't have been realistic if you weren't cuddling up to the 'Opera Ghost', I guess"

He chuckles as I softly punch his shoulder, "How dare you make me cuddle up to another man!"

Erik hugs me tightly again as I whisper, "I'm just glad you're safe..."

That night we had left an old life to live a new one, walking side by side, laden with our luggage towards our new home, a small, yet cosy cottage, red rose buses growing around the walls and, as promised; beautiful, lush, green grass shimmering and shaking in the moonlight...

Erik's POV

A week had passed since Christine and I had moved into our new home, we had settled in nicely and our music had flourished as the rose bushes in the garden have. A bunch of the darkest maroon roses always laid on top of the piano, tied together with a black satin ribbon, a reminder of our strong, passionate love. I am now confident enough to walk around the house maskless, as this is a quiet part of the country so I do not have to worry about anyone but my angel seeing my face.

I wait patiently outside for Christine, as she is busy bathing, I gaze up into the moonless sky, the stars glinting sweetly in the dark void. My hands are clasped loosely behind my back and I rock slowly back and forth on my heels as I quietly hum a tune to myself. I make a note to myself that I should write it down when I get back inside.

I hear Christine walking up to me; I turn and smile as I let my eyes gaze at her beauty. She is wearing her loose white dress that she uses as her sleepwear, her feet are bare and her hair is loose. She glows with a radiance one can only describe as purely angelic.

"Erik..." She smiles and kisses me softly, yet passionately and I stroke her cheek lovingly as she pulls away. I take a moment to just lose myself in her deep, chocolate eyes and she stares into mine.

I took a deep breath and held her hands, "Christine... I know I messed up on my first try..."
I let go of one of her hands.

"And I never really managed to apologise for how meaningless it was back then..."

I pull an object from my back pocket.

"But I hope you can give me a second chance..."

I press the object into the palm of her hand and close her fingers around it.

"Because I love you, always and forever"

I get down on one knee and her eyes widen in realisation and surprise. She slowly opens her fingers and gasps as the single diamond twinkles questioningly on the silver band that lies in the centre of her palm. Her hand covers her mouth in surprise as she glances from me, to the ring, and back. She then falls to her knees with me, clutching the ring to her heart, laughing in pure joy and resting her forehead on mine.

"Yes! A million times yes!"

I laugh along with her and kiss her deeply and passionately as I slip the ring onto her finger and hold her as close to my body as I possibly can.

The stars shine down on us as we lie on the green grass staring right back at them, our hands clutched together as we talk aimlessly about our future, surrounded by the soothing sound of trees' leaves rustling in the breeze and the occasional owls hooting, creating the music of the night, cloaking us in its beautiful darkness. There, in that moment is where I wish I could stay for eternity. For in that moment I knew that Christine was forever mine, just as she knew I was forever hers.

The End 3