"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!"
― Bram Stoker
Chapter- 13- Enchanted
He took my hand. There was a kind of...revelation shining in his eyes. His eyes were exultant. I was happy to see him that way, away from a while from all the despair dwelling in his heart.
He started to lead me towards the boat, but like a child, I could not turn my eyes away from his lair. It was as if he had created a small bewitching carnival in this place.
He turned to look at me and let go of my hand. He seemed gratified and amused by my fascination with his lair.
I took the opportunity at once, smiling like a jaunty child. The objects placed around were unbelievable. Antique and beautiful, they must have had a worth that out-placed mere money. One candelabra caught my eye, its hands were made of gold, and it had been carved like fire. It looked as if fire had been molded into the very object. It was seething with beauty.
Another one stole my attention. On one of the arms of the candelabra was carved a woman, on the other a man. The center stand carving depicted the woman with wings, holding the man's hand and leading him towards the flame that burned-ephemeral yet eternal. It was genius.
I walked around more and noticed Erik's bed. My mouth lifted up with amazement. It was a swan-bed! I went up to it and ran my hand over the large wings of the silver-copper swan. Old and beautiful red drapery worked as the bedding. I heard my own laughter, struck with marvel.
"Oh Erik, this is.." I turned and found him standing in-front of me. The distance was painfully thin. He was looking at me with subtle hilarity and pleasure. The urge to touch him tortured me within.
"As much you like my humble abode, I have other things to show you. You are welcome here anytime, to stay and see."
I took his extended hand and let him lead me to the boat. I took one last look at his lair before the craft commenced to move in the aquamarine waters.
888
It was quite marvelous how the Opera house had secret entries and passageways that not even the managers were wholly aware of. They were lying in plain sight and yet were concealed so intelligently that it was imperceivable for anyone to unearth them.
We had now ascended enough flights of secret stairs for me to assume that he was taking us someplace higher up than the balcony.
Finally, we reached a door. He opened it and led me into the room. It was a small room, absolutely empty, devoid of any windows. It was partially drenched with darkness.
"Come", he said, as he oddly took me near the front wall of the room.
"Stay still for a minute, Rose."
I was just five inches away from the wall. He placed himself behind me. He was quite close.
"Close your eyes", he whispered, as he surprisingly tied something around my eyes, concealing the sight from view. What could he possibly have to show me in this small and empty room?
I felt him move away from me, and moments later, I started hearing shuffling and sliding noises. Curiosity had ripened within me. Then, the noise ceased and I felt his presence behind me again.
He gently wrapped his hand around my waist and there was little distance between us now. The sensation of being at such an intimate distance from him, and the curiosity about what he was going to show me, made me draw up my breath in anticipation.
"Do not open your eyes until I tell you so", he said, in his beautiful husky voice.
He untied the cloth from my eyes.
"Now", he whispered in my ear, his breath sweetly tickling my neck.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Fear rushed through me for a split moment and I stumbled backwards. But Erik tightly held on to me.
And then there was just pure awe. What I was seeing was sheer heaven. The part of the wall that I had earlier been beholding, had now completely vanished. In its place was glass so thin, that it was not even visible. It was as if we were suspended among the stars. The night sky shone in all it's marvel and we were a part of it.
It was a large window, shaped like a humongous curved closet door. But the thinness of the glass and surrounding frames, and the astonishingly clear view of the sky had made it thoroughly magical. I knew that he could feel my awed smile; I did not have to tell him how beautiful it was.
He was still behind me with his hand on my waist and I was savoring the moment as much as I possibly could. Although my heart felt that he loved me too, the sheer beauty and joy of the idea was too much for me to completely accept. It could not really be true. He loved Christine, did he not? How could he have that place in his heart for me?
He released me from his grasp.
"Close your eyes again, Rose."
I did as I was told.
I felt his hands brush along my neck and I shivered at his touch.
When he was done, I lifted my eyelids up and looked down.
"Erik, this is.." I could not find a proper word for it.
It was a necklace. An absolutely beautiful tiny specimen of a rose, carved in platinum. It was as if he had stole a part of the silver stars and created the pendant from it. The carving was unbelievably intricate for its size. It hung to my neck by a thin gold chain.
I turned to face him.
"Erik, this is so beautiful, but I cannot accept this.."
"I made it for you, and you will have it. You can chose to wear it, or keep it, but it stays with you."
It was a command.
"It is late now, Rose. Your eyes are tired. Let me take you to your room."
"No, Erik. I want to stay some more, please. With you." I softly glanced at the beautiful night sky and then looked at him.
The traitorous scarlet had invaded my cheeks again.
He slowly walked up to me. My heart was thudding vehemently now.
He crossed the distance between us and whispered huskily, in my ear.
"Rose, I cannot tell you how grateful I am to have you. You are more than a friend, you are like a companion to me now. And although, you refrain from telling me about what haunts your soul, I will find out. I shall save you the way you did me."
He stepped away from me. His eyes were playfully brooding.
"Now let me lead you back. Or I shall have to add stubbornness too, to your list of vices, my strange foolish girl."