Chapter 14: Starlight

Amelia stood completely still, staring off into space, her eyes lost as heavy rainfall caused her long auburn hair to become soaking wet; Erik was growing frustrated whilst giving his statement to the police,

"Is this really necessary? My friend was stabbed! She needs medical attention!" Erik roared before moving to Amelia's side, urging her to look at him,

"Amelia, you need to let them tend to your wound" the masked man begged... His voice was muffled due to Amelia's lack of attention until she finally snapped out of it and looked at the group that were looking at her in concern,

"What?... Tend to... Oh no, that's not necessary. I'm not hurt" Amelia mumbled in reassurance causing both Erik, the police chief and his fellow workers to frown,

"Are you certain, Miss? Mister Y says he definetly saw Mr Johnson stab you and we also found the weapon used" the police chief said whilst gesturing to the blood stain on the front of her blue dress; Amelia looked at it before developing a look of realisation,

"Oh... Right. The dagger... It... It's just a prop. It retracts when pressed against a solid surface to stage a theatrical stabbing scene. When the blade retracts it crushes artificial blood spheres that would spill the contents on the actors costume so that the audience can believe they have actually been injured during the scene... I would never carry a real weapon and I noticed it in a box of props in Mister Y's office that was to be authorized later today..." Amelia explained causing Erik to sigh in relief; Amelia's statement drifted off when she noticed two officer's lifting Edward's lifeless body onto a stretcher and were about to cover him with a blanket,

"Wait..." she called, rushing over to them causing Erik to look after her surprised as she went to Edward's side; Amelia cupped her former fiance's lifeless, pale cheek and sniffled sadly,

"... I'm so sorry, Edward... Despite everything that had happened between us... I couldn't bring myself to hate you... I can't even bring myself to do so now... Because I did love you, Edward... I really, truly and deeply loved you with my entire heart... I know that probably makes me a fool but... I hope you knew that... I..." Amelia struggled as she straightened his cravat as best she could whilst tears spilled down her cheeks,

"... He was never yours to love" a voice said causing her to look up to find a woman standing there with tears of her own,

"... Belladonna..." Amelia murmured in surprise... Not for seeing her former fiance's lover but for the swelling belly she had,

"Why couldn't you just let us be happy?" The former prostitute demanded angrily as her tears fell,

"I... I gave him my blessing for you both to be happy. I agreed to break the engagement... He said... He said it wasn't enough... He said I had to die..." Amelia tried,

"LIAR!" Belladonna accused loudly, shaking her head,

"He would never have left me home alone when I am close to my due date... You must have been... Blackmailing him or something" the woman accused as Erik came to stand by Amelia's side, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder,

"According to Mr Johnson's insane babbling. You were unable to conceive a child and so once again encouraged his attempts once more to attempt to kill his former fiance" Erik defended firmly causing Belladonna to frown,

"No... That's... He... He wouldn't..." she struggled,

"It seems that Mr Johnson was suffering from on off disillusions that made him forget you were indeed pregnant... His mental health was obviously not completely in tact" the police chief reasoned... This obviously accurate information caused Belladonna to burst out crying before rushing away; Amelia attempted to go after her but Erik gently prevented her,

"Best to leave her alone... The police shall make sure she returns home safely" her masked friend reassured her softly before gently pulling her into a comforting hug, leading her back towards the concert hall with Christine and Gustave.

Erik was surprised when Gustave asked his mother if he could tuck him in that night; Christine smiled softly in Erik's direction before nodding, standing and leaving her son and his father alone... Erik approached his son's bed hesitantly and awkwardly tucked him in,

"I... Are... Are you comfortable?" Erik asked timidly, watching the little boy nod,

"Yes, papa" Gustave said with a tired yawn,

"Papa?... Why was Miss Amelia so sad that the bad man died?" Gustave asked in an innocent tired tone and Erik frowned in thought before sitting on the edge of the bed,

"I... It's hard to explain, Gustave... Miss Amelia and Mr Johnson were once intended to be married... Miss Amelia loved him but he did not feel the same" Erik explained gently causing Gustave to pout in confusion,

"But... Shouldn't only two people who love each other get married?" the 10 year old reasoned, Erik chuckled lightly,

"You would believe so... However there are some families that prefer to join two families together for the sake of money... I believe Miss Amelia was upset because she still loves him" Erik explained,

"But... The bad man tried to hurt her... How could she love him?" Gustave demanded, sitting up in his bed and Erik smiled sadly,

"Sometimes we cannot help who we love, Gustave... The heart is much more powerful than the mind sometimes even if it tells us to do the things that will end up causing us the most painful of heartbreaks" Erik replied before hesitantly ruffling his son's hair with a gentle hand; Gustave was silent as he thought before looking at Erik once more with curiosity,

"Papa?... If you and my mama are in love... Then why don't you get married?" the boy asked causing Erik's heart to stop for a moment,

"I... Ah..." he struggled,

"Don't you love my mama?" Gustave pressed curiously,

"I... Gustave, a part of me will always love your mother. She gave me you... Sometimes... Happily Ever After... Doesn't mean forever. It just means that a new story is on the way... Even if two people who were once in love... No longer... Feel for each other as they once did... Do you understand?" Erik asked delicately, watching Gustave tilt his head in thought,

"... I think so... You still love my mama but... Not in the way you used too..." Gustave tested, smiling when Erik nodded in confirmation,

"That's right" Erik praised, ruffling his son's hair again causing the young boy to giggle before settling back down under his covers and yawned as Erik made sure once again that he was all tucked in,

"... Nighty night, Papa" Gustave whispered tiredly; Erik smiled softly,

"Goodnight, son" Erik bid, turning down the oil lamp before leaving the room as his son fell sound asleep.

Amelia was sat silently within her attic room, feeding Jacqueline the mouse a bread crumb when Erik approached her from behind and placed a blanket over her shoulders,

"... You once told me that you named your little mouse friend after your mother but... You admitted that the name you took was in fact your mother's real name" Erik pointed out after a long moment of silence,

"What does the name Jacqueline mean to you?" He asked curiously as he sat next to her, watching as the small furry creature joyfully ate her small treat,

"... It was her middle name... Amelia Jacqueline Carrier" the mournful woman admitted... Erik nodded in silent understanding; It was a long silent 10 minuets before Amelia finally looked at Erik despite the tears that were still fresh upon her cheeks,

"Do you think me a fool for loving Edward despite everything?" she asked him suddenly causing him to look at her surprised,

"Of course not. Amelia, the fact that you still love him despite all the pain he caused you only makes me believe even more that your heart is the purest I have ever known... I would be no friend and also a hypocrite to call you foolish. I continued to love Christine despite how she left me heartbroken... Now I realize that I deserve to be with someone whom truly loves me... Unfortunately that is not her but Gustave is happy that we are not staying together because we don't love each other... My son is a very intelligent young boy" Erik murmured with a soft proud smile,

"... Just like his father" Amelia said with a soft smile,

"You'll find a woman worthy of your heart one day, Erik" she told him,

"And I am certain you shall find a man whom is worthy of yours" he replied, lifting her hand and pressing a kiss to the surface but Amelia smiled sadly,

"... If I am quite honest, Erik... I'm not sure i'll ever be ready to fall in love again... I'm not sure I even want too" Amelia admitted, laying her head on his shoulder causing Erik to frown sadly,

"... I understand" Erik told her brokenly,

"But don't worry... I'll do everything in my power to help you find a woman whom is worthy of you" Amelia promised causing Erik to close his eyes hopelessly thinking that he may have already found her... And she had given up intentions of ever falling in love ever again.

Can Erik convince Amelia to open her heart again? Review for Chapter 15!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996