Chapter 12

Odette's POV

Darkness clouded around me. It was so cold wherever I was. Everywhere I looked, I could see a mysterious shadow lurking about in the black fog. Something pulled me farther into the dark as I coughed. The smell of the air around me was putrid; the scent was that of a carcass left in out in the hot sun for a week. It smelled of death and nothing and nobody could deny that. Putting up with the scent, I looked around me once more. Where was I?

Suddenly, a memory floated across my mind. It was the morning I met... what was his name. I could feel it on the tip of my tongue, but could not put my finger on it. An image than came to me and again, it was of the man's whose name escaped me. Something told me he was of great importance. A barrage of images, memories, and even smells attacked my mind. A white mask, a rescue in the park, sandalwood... They were all belonging to... Erik. They all belonged to Erik, the masked man, musical genius, broken hearted man, best friend, my guardian angel; the love of my life.

It all came back to me right in that moment of realization. I was dead and Erik was all alone with my... dead body. He must be crushed! What about Victor? Oh yeah... Erik killed him, but I don't care for him. I'm glad he's gone but because of it, but now I'm here by my lonesome; all alone in the world.

"Odette, that first night I saw you in your true form, I was taken. The way you panicked when you saw the confusion on my face and the excitement in your eyes had me hooked, not to mention how beautiful you looked in the candle light. Ever since then, I couldn't stop thinking about you. Whether I was playing my music, gathering my needed supplies, or even sleeping, you were there in every moment. How could I have been so stupid as to not let you know how I felt; what I feel. Now I know it may not be that important now you are gone, but I need you to know that I love you with all of my heart and not even death can stop me from loving you." a voice whispered.

Warmth...light...comforts...the smell of sandalwood... I felt like a heavy chain had been broken off of me and I could fly away. Then I felt somebody holding my hands although they wore leather gloves. Who did I know that wore leather gloves? Wait just a minute; sandalwood and leather gloved hands! It just had to be Erik! Slowly, I opened my eyes to a blurry mess.

Erik's POV

I knew the love confession would work. It just had to. Slowly her eyes opened, yet she couldn't exactly keep her eyes in one place. Perhaps her vision is a little out of order. "Erik, is that you?" she asked removing one of her hands from mine to touch my face. A single tear raced down my cheek and onto her hand.

"Yes it is me, my dear." I said while taking the hand feeling my face and kissing it. A smile lit up her face. "How do you feel?"

"I feel free like a caged bird that has been released." Every word she spoke was filled with joy. Her eyes then became focused on me. They were locked onto mine as mine were to hers. "Oh Erik, I love you!" Before she could sit up all the way, she winced in pain and quickly laid back down. I cracked up laughing at her attempt and received a scowl from her. "Thanks for the warning me." she said dryly.

"I love you too." I said with a smile and she smiled right back up at me. Her blonde hair was sprawled out all around her and her eyes were glittering. How I could have stayed sitting there all day looking at her like this, minus the injury... and clothes... A thought suddenly came to my mind. Should I...? When I looked back at her, she was looking at me as if she was expecting it at any moment. Slowly, teasingly slow, I brought my face hovering inches from hers. Her breath smelled heavenly and tickled my nose. With the tip of my fingers, I traced her lips. Then ever so gently, I placed my lips upon hers. To my surprise, she kissed me back! This kiss was nothing like Christine's. It held all the love in the world, all the passion, all the fire I longed for in a kiss. When I pulled back to look at Odette's face, she was smiling.

"Take me home, Erik." And with those words, we left the dreadful mansion, and made our way back to the opera house.

Odette's POV

He kissed me! Erik kissed me! I never thought my first kiss would be so... so amazing. Words can't describe what I was feeling. My thoughts were all in a messy pile and I couldn't manage to say anything but 'take me home'. Erik carefully picked me up and carried me outside. He sat me down on the steps that led up to the house and went to find a horse in the stables and a carriage. I watched him walk all the way out of my sight and when he was gone, I let out a loud squeal. I wonder where this day will take us?

"Odette!" Alice came running up next to me. "I'm so glad you're alive!"

"I'm happy too. Way too happy." I said giddily. "Erik kissed me." The look that came across her little face was priceless.

"Really!? I can't believe he actually did that." she squeaked. "So... how was it?"

"Um... I... It was my first kiss and it surpassed my expectations." I said plainly. "He was so gentle, yet passionate, and I knew right in that moment that there was no other person better than Erik who I would want to share my kisses with. He has to be the world's best kisser."

"Is that true?" My face burned up instantly. Erik was standing with his arms crossed over his chest and his signature smirk plastered across his face. Alice was giggling next to me which reddened my face even more. "Let's go now, my dear. The 'world's best kisser' would like to make it home before anybody else returns here." Erik came and picked me up again, and carried me to the readied carriage. Alice hopped in next to me right before Erik closed the door and took position as the driver. I talked a little bit more with Alice, but soon fell asleep from how tired I felt.

A/N: So... I liked this chapter and so should you! Please read and review. And just so all of you know, I'm pretty certain the last chapter will be the next, but if it's not, then I'll tell you otherwise.