Erik

"You're so beautiful." She whispered to me with a light shining in her eyes which only caused me to falter. I…I don't understand…she wasn't afraid? She thought me beautiful. How could she? Could she not see this…monstrosity on my face? Though as my eyes flickered over her face in astonishment, I saw that her gaze had shifted onto my own, seemingly transfixed with my own eyes.

As I felt my heart beat faster with fear, I took deep breaths to try and control it. My eyes looked to her hand which I noticed did not rise high enough to touch the grossness of my features and my eyes hardened to it, though in response she only smiled further. "I'm sorry, I just do not want to irritate it. May I?" She asked and I blinked before dumbly nodding my head, scarcely believing my own eyes as she then lifted her hand and fearlessly pressed it to my face.

At first I twitched, feeling the sting so she quickly moved her hand to thumb my cheek, obviously not wanting to cause me pain. The light smile rested easily on her lips as her eyes scanned my face once more, drinking in every line and shape as I simply watched her. This was a woman of rare quality and one that I still did not understand. "How?" I asked in a quiet croak, my throat having gone dry.

"Pardon?" She questioned innocently, arching an eyebrow at me with an expression that only spiked my desire for her but I expertly hid the emotion away.

"How can you…touch it? Why do you not flee from me?" Not that I wanted her too, but I just could not understand. All had fled from me before, including Christine, but not her. Not her. I felt blessed, but I was also preparing myself for the moment when she would turn and walk away with scorn. I should have known better.

"Weren't you listening to me you great oaf?" She questioned with a smirk as she rested both her hands on my shoulders. "I love you." A coldness washed over my body before it then ignited into an eternal flame which refused to be quenched. Her arms wrapped closer around my neck and I hardly dared to breathe as she lifted herself up onto her toes, expertly pointing them so that she could reach my face, which she had described as beautiful. Her eyes gazed lovingly into mine before she reached forwards and brushed her lips against mine in a chaste, feather light touch which made her gasp softly as if she had not been the one to initiate the contact.

The brush of her warm lips against mine felt like the softest of silks yet firmer, and more real, leaving a slight tingle upon the flesh that she had touched. She loved me? Me? Of all people she could have at her beck and call for love, she chose me. As I started to release the breath I had been holding, Anne pushed forwards with a greater confidence, gripping the collar of my cloak to pull me down towards her as she turned her head and pressed her lips more urgently against mine.

Wanting to taste her more definitively, I began to move lips in time to her rhythm, which was slow, leisurely but still passionate, allowing no silent word or expressed emotion to be missed between us as I found her waist and pulled her tightly against my chest, refusing to relent her for anything or anyone. She was mine. All mine.

Anne opened her mouth slightly at my guidance and instantly I sought entry with my tongue, firmly pushing her lips wider apart as she gasped and experienced this new sensation as I swept up the taste of her mouth, which was sweet and natural. Her own tongue rather timidly tapped at mine in a soft prod, making me smirk slightly before she began to grow in surety and answered me pace for pace.

My hands slid into her flaxen hair, tangling my fingers into those long locks before gripping the ribbon she had so neatly caught it in to give a firm tug and it fell to the ground forgotten as my increased pace drew a soft moan from her throat as she tilted her head backwards and I instantly turned my attention to the soft skin of her neck and jaw.

She was even softer than I had imagined, her scent so intoxicating that I was going to go insane with need unless I try and stop myself now, but Anne. Her strong fingers were gripping at me tightly, knowing exactly what she wanted as her lips danced over my face, even catching the hideousness that she seemed to cherish with undivided attention as my hands ran up and down her waist, following the curve until I had the shape memorised completely.

"Erik…" The seductive groan kindled the flames in my chest into an even brighter inferno, bringing emotions and desires that I had never in my entire miserable life felt before. If this is what it is to truly love, then I know now that Christine had been nothing but a fleeting fancy, for Anne was everything that seemed to fulfil me. She was the piece to my soul that had always been missing, the tenderness and compassion that was her meant to supplement what I lacked myself.

"Anne." I breathed, my face pressed to her neck as she brushed her fingers through my hair, the movement bringing a soft peace to my aching soul which had so long been trapped in darkness. Let any man try and take her from me now, I dare them. Let anyone try and steal my Anne away and we shall see how long they last, for she was indeed my Anne now. Mine and mine alone.

"Erik…do you love me?" She asked and I stopped, drawing back so that she may look into my eyes and for once, I hid no emotion, I hid nothing. I let her see everything and her eyes widened quickly in understanding before she gave me the smile that she reserved for me only, love shining through her eyes. I knew she knew, but I decided to tell her anyway.

"More than music." I whispered to her and she gasped sharply at my comparison, a hand jumping to her mouth as she understood the gravity and depths of my feelings for her. I'd give it all up for her. I'd throw away my music, I'd burn every composition I had ever written, I'd even destroy my organ if she asked it of me. If she wanted, I'd never sing again, but I knew that she never would demand such a thing, but she needed to know all the same. "I love you Anne, my dearest Anne." I whispered to her as she embraced me tightly, feet leaving the ground as I pressed my eyes shut and held her close, burying my face into her hair as for once, I felt perfectly safe and protected. "My Annie." I heard a small sob so I drew back, but she was still smiling.

"No one has ever called me Annie before." She told me with a few stray tears of joy streaming down her face, but I didn't want them there as they reminded me too much of sadness, so I brushed them away as carefully as I could but then she caught my hands in hers, holding them tenderly before turning her face to kiss my palm. "I forgive you for everything Erik, because I know you mean it." Her eyes suddenly grew dark and I frowned ever so slightly, wondering what could be causing her unhappiness now. Surely not me? Was this the moment she turns me away? She can't! Not now! "But I need you to promise me something." She requested and I arched an eyebrow at her.

"What is it little dancer? What has you so distressed?" I asked but she clutched my hands tighter, stepping even closer to me with pleading eyes.

"Say that you promise." Although I was unsure of what I was promising her, I nodded my head.

"You have my word." She relaxed drastically, so I allowed her this moment of seeming madness, as it had brought the smile back to her face and that was all I wanted.

"Erik, I'm going to tell you everything, but now you must promise that no matter what you hear, you won't think less of me. You won't judge me on who I was born as, or how I have kept secrets. Promise me that you won't hate me because of my deception and promise you forgive me for not telling you sooner." Her firm grip remained on my hands and I looked down at her with careful study. She was obviously frightened of something, and what she asked of me was a lot. She was asking me to put complete faith in her, however as I thought these requests through, I knew that I was being too guarded. This was Anne who was asking me to promising these things, and she had already told me of her feelings. I was certain that no matter what she told me, those feelings would remain the same, and in addition, who was I to judge on secrets? I have many of my own, some I hope to never reveal.

"Alright. I vow that regardless of what you tell me, my Annie, nothing will change." I promised her before tilting her head back to touch my lips to hers in a kiss of meaning, expressing every word I could not find and she exhaled softly against me, the warmth of her breath skimming over my skin before I pulled away and I smirked with pride as I looked at her slight breathlessness and the lusty look in her dazed eyes. "I will still love you, Anne."

"Good." She answered and I smirked further as she struggled to get her mind back into form. As she blinked herself awake, I stooped down and swept her off the ground, causing her to gasp in surprise and I gave her a deep look before carrying her towards the organ where I sat her down on the bench as she had looked like her knees were about to buckle. Anne gave a look of surprise before glancing over her shoulder towards the bedchamber, making me chuckle.

"Slow down my love." I murmured warmly in her ear and I noticed her slight shiver at my tone, making me grin a little. "There is plenty of time for that later, but for now you need a clear head to tell me what you need to tell me as I doubt we would get very far in discussion with me undressing you." The effect was instant and it made me chuckle. The deep flush rose to her cheeks as she stared at me a moment before quickly averting her gaze, though a small smile touched her face with a little embarrassment. "Come, tell me." I invited so she exhaled and reached out, resting her fingers on the keys but did not play.

"My name is…Lianne-Marie Danielle Royer." And then it came gushing from her in a flood of words that did not stop until every last secret that she possessed had been revealed.