Chapter Twenty Five
Once I was at the Prima Donnas door, I looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was behind me. Thankfully, no one was so I went in and locked the door behind me.
"Alright, it is very dark." I blinked blindly, "I need a match…" I reached my hands out before me, reaching for anything I might trip over. I felt very foolish as I walked further into the room.
"Ow!" I hissed in pain. "Well, I found the vanity table," I grumbled as I rubbed my sore knee. I felt the flat cool surface of the table; I felt nothing but dust. I opened the side drawer and felt inside those as well. I found what felt like ribbons, hair pins and a brush. Still no matches.
I sighed. "Bloody hell. Why can't I ever find what I'm looking for?!"
I went to the other side of the vanity and searched through the other drawer. I found paper, a quill, and what felt like torn envelopes. I felt the dread slowly seep into my heart; if I did not find any matches here then I wouldn't be able to go to into the tunnels and see Erik…
I sighed hard this time and sat down on the small bench; I felt the tears start to burn my eyes when I didn't find any matches. Out of all the bloody rooms in the opera house that had spare matches, the Prima Donna room had to have none! I wanted to throw something, anything, but I did not want to destroy the room - not again. I folded my arms and laid my head down on top of them on the vanity table; it was then that my fingers felt something cold and round touching the tips of my fingers. I snapped my head up and felt just below the surface of the vanity, I felt a cold round knob to another drawer.
I pulled it open and felt around inside; I felt nothing but the flat surface of inside drawer. But I felt further in the corner of the small drawer, and then I found a small match box. I snatched it out and shook it, and it made a wonderful shuffle sound; small wooden sticks slid back and forth as I shook it! I didn't realize I was holding my breath until I let it out.
"Finally," I sighed, lighting the match. The match gave me enough light to see. I looked around for a candle, but instead I found a small oil lamp.
"Travel size." I smiled as I lit the wick. "Usually these lamps are larger."
I went over to the mirror and placed my hand over the frame of the gilded mirror and found the hair line trigger that opens the mirror. As I pushed open the glass, a rush of cold wind blew at my body and face. A cold chill went down my body, and I shook, hearing my teeth chatter. I shook myself and went through, closing the mirror behind me. As I twisted and turned through the tunnels, I rehearsed what I was to say to Erik, over and over, so I would not forget or stumble over my words. I hate it when I do that. Once I had what I was to say to Erik, I felt a little more at ease. I ignored the cold and pressed on in the dark tunnel. As I held the oil lamp above my head, I saw little critters squeaking and running away from the light. I made a disturbing sound and walked around them.
Once I got to the top of the winding staircase, my heart leaped in my chest! I was almost there. I picked up the skirt of my gown and went down the stairs quickly, faster and faster I willed my aching legs down the spiral stairs. I even got a bit dizzy, but I pushed myself. I just wish I could have remembered what had almost happened to me the first time I went into Erik's labyrinth alone. This time, I was not so lucky…
As I was hurrying down the stairs, I had forgotten about the trapdoor that was beneath my feet. I stepped on the stair and it gave away underneath my weight. My blood-wrenching scream surrounded me until I fell into freezing water. I sank deep but kicked my way to the surface.
I gasped and spit out that foul tasting water that was in my mouth.
"Oh, oh no." I blinked through the water in my eyes. There was little light so I could see nothing. The small oil lamp had sunk. I swam to the wall to find a way out and found none.
"No, this can't be happening! There has to be a way!" I was angry now, angry at myself for not remembering the trap doors. "B-b-bloody h-hell!" I stuttered as my teeth chattered together from the cold water.
Suddenly I heard a, clink, clink, clinking sound that was coming from somewhere up above, I ignored it and kept feeling across the wall for something, anything I could us to climb out. Once I got myself at least half way out of the water I lost my footing and slipped down, back into the freezing water.
The water was so cold; it caused my entire body to shake. I started to feel painful pinpricks stabbing all over my body. I even bit my tongue a couple times from chattering my teeth; I started to taste blood.
"One more time, you can do this, Josie, climb!" I pushed myself up another rock. "Almost, almo- OW!" I yelped as my forehead came into contact with iron.
Again I fell back into the water. I held my forehead and felt hot liquid slide down my temple. I swallowed a sob and reached up again. Instead of feeling the rock, an iron gate was falling over me. If I didn't find a way out, I was going to drown!
"Mon dieu, Erik! Erik!" I grabbed onto the irongate that was slowly pushing me down and yelled for Erik.
"Erik! ERIK! I NEED YOU!" I shook the irongate with all the strength I had, but it didn't stop. I started crying, yelling for Erik. Why wasn't he here? He was always supposed to come!
"ERIK!" I sobbed, sinking lower. My head was above the water, and I was getting pushed down faster. I inhaled as much air as I could before the iron-gate pushed me down below the water. I was panicking as I sank lower; I kicked my legs pushing against the iron-gate even though I knew it was a fruitless attempt. My lungs were burning, and I sobbed harder underwater. I never realized one could still feel the warmth of tears underwater.
Flashes of the nightmare I had when I was drowning came to mock me. My gown had tangled around my legs making it hard to move. I fought the urge to inhale. The clinking of the iron-gate had stopped for just a second and started again, but it sounded oddly different then it had. I let go of the gate as my head began to spin, and I felt my chest get heavy and burn. I coughed what air I had left in my lungs and inhaled water and choked on it. I felt a disturbance under the water as something began falling next to me. Then my senses went blank all together…
"BREATHE, DAMN YOU!" yelled a familiar voice.
I felt my body jerk and felt water burn my nose as I threw up what was in my stomach. A hard blow came down against my back which caused even more water to come out of my body, both from my mouth and my nose. Another hard blow to my back made me want to cry out in pain, but whenever I opened my mouth to speak, water came gushing out. I coughed and gagged as I coughed out the remainder of water. The tears I was shedding felt warm against my cold cheek. Once I was done and my ribs squeezed out everything, I lay limp on the cold cobblestone beneath me. I was exhausted.
Relief washed over me when the hand that was supplying the blows stopped, and instead of pain, I was now feeling a gentle hand rubbing my sore back. Then all together, the gentleness of the caresses stopped and was replaced with a growl.
"W-what in the h-hell were you t-thinking?! You h-have no idea h-how lucky you are, J-Josephine!"
"Er-Er…" I began to say, but the words had gotten stuck in my throat. I couldn't speak. I tried to turn around to face Erik, but I was so cold, I couldn't move my body; I felt numb all over.
"H-hush, J-Josephine, we need t-to get back t-to the lair and g-get warm, b-before w-we get H-Hypothermia," Erik stuttered, pulling me to him and lifting me into his arms. His own teeth were chattering as well from the cold. My body was pressed against Erik's chest firmly; my face was buried against his neck. Erik's skin was freezing - I found no warmth there - and I was sure my body felt the same against his.
Erik practically ran toward the lair. I kept my eyes closed and focused on the sturdy pulse that was against my cheek. I wanted to cry very badly; my body hurt terribly and was practically frozen from the strong breeze that was blowing against us in the tunnel. I must have squeaked in pain, because Erik began murmuring against the top of my head that we were close.
Suddenly, I heard a door being kicked open by Erik.
"N-now, you stay here f-for a minute," he instructed as he placed me on the carpeted floor in a dark room. "Here, here's a r-robe; now listen t-to me Josephine, I n-need you to remove a-all of you wet c-clothing. Take everything off a-and put on this rob, I will l-leave you to do the s-same thing-"
I protested by lying on my side on the floor, using the thick, soft robe as a blanket and covered my body. I was so tired and my body was stiff; all I wanted to do was go to sleep.
"Non, Josephine, wake up!" A strong hand pulled at my arms, lifting me back up into a sitting position. "Do you not understand, c-child?! If you do not r-remove your clothes you w-will get very, very s-sick, Josephine. You can die from it, is t-that what you want?!" Erik asked firmly, shaking me a little. "Do you?!"
"N-no," I whispered hoarsely.
"Good, I will b-be in my bed chamber d-doing the same. W-when I return, you better b-be in this robe! I-if not, I will u-undress you myself!" Erik threatened, shaking me again when I started to sag toward the floor.
"Do it now, J-Josephine," Erik commanded, slamming the door behind him.
I slummed against the floor and tried in vain to remove my wet, heavy clothes. They came off very slowly, and they stuck against my skin. I struggled and struggled until everything I wore was gone. I took the thick robe and pulled my arms through; I immediately felt the warmth of the robe as I tied it around my waist. The robe was too big; the folds almost went all the way around my body as I tighten the sash. A knock on the door made me jump. Erik was at the door.
"Josephine, are you decent? May I come in?" Erik asked through clenched teeth; he was trying not to stutter.
"Yes…" I croaked.
He opened the door, and I saw Erik's tall frame in the door way.
"Good, can you stand?"
Would I be still sitting on the floor if I could?! I wanted to say but my throat closed in on me. I tried to stand, but my legs just would not have it. I hissed in pain and fell to the floor.
"I'll take that as a, 'no'," Erik whispered, helping me up into his arms again.
Again, I pressed my face into Erik's neck and was relieved when I felt his already warm skin. I buried my cold nose in the crook of his neck. I heard Erik hiss in response.
"Would you mind removing your cold nose from my neck?" Erik growled, jerking his neck away from my nose. "You're just as bad as Ayesha."
I wanted to ask him why he was comparing me with his cat until I looked up and saw that we had entered the library. A very large pillow was placed before the roaring fire; a forgotten book was on the side of it.
"Now, stay put for a moment, and let me get some blankets."
Erik laid me down on top of the large pillow - it was big enough for me to fit perfectly on – and went to fetch a blanket. I closed my burning eyes and tried to forget what had happened to me.
I was enjoying the warmth until I felt a presence enter the room. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. It was not Erik, I knew, so I tried to ignore it and pulled the lapels of the robe under my chin. The presence became unbearable to me as I tried to forget about it; I opened my eyes to find two large, blue orbs glaring at me before the fire.
"Ayesha…" I whispered, regretting it dearly because it hurt to speak. Ayesha responded by licking her black paw, as if to say, 'that is my name'. Her reaction brought a smile to my face. I reached out to try and pet her soft, shiny coat, but stopped short when her ears wentg flat against her head.
The expression she had said, 'Don't touch me.' So I glared right back at her, but only playfully. Ayesha is a very high maintenance cat, I realized, eyeing the jewel collar that was around her neck. I sighed softly and closed my eyes, still waiting for Erik. Why was it taking him so long to fetch blankets? Suddenly, I felt a cold paw tap at my cheek. I peeked through one eye and saw that Ayesha had come to sit a little closer to me.
So if I ignore you, you will come to me? I wondered, closing my eye. I sighed again and waited. Sure enough, another cold paw was tapping at my cheek.
"Meow."
I opened my eyes fully and Ayesha didn't hesitate to playfully swat at my bangs that had fallen into my eyes. My raspy giggles filled the silent room. While Ayesha was distracted by my hair, I was able to pet her silky coat.
You little brat, Ayesha, I thought, smiling to myself.
"Interesting."
I looked up and Erik was standing at the end of the large pillow, looking down at Ayesha.
"She never gets too close to a stranger; perhaps she senses your weakness."
"Perhaps," I whispered, sitting up.
Erik draped a thick quilt over my shoulders and placed a small tray with a cup of steaming tea before me. I grabbed the cup and began gulping down the hot tea, not caring that it was burning my entire mouth. I savored the warmth of the tea as it settled within my cold body. The tea was mint, with honey and lemon; it was delicious and the honey soothed the ache in my throat.
"Josephine…" Erik whispered my name. I looked up from my cup and saw that Erik had his hands placed on the mantle over the fire place. His head was bent down and his shoulders sagged just a little.
"What in the hell were you doing waltzing around in my labyrinth?" Erik growled, looking over his shoulder at me.
I almost choked on the tea I was swallowing. "Huh?"
"Damn it, Josephine!" Erik picked up an ordainment that was before him and threw it across the library. I gasped as it hit the other wall, and it broke into pieces. I looked back at Erik wide-eyed. He was hovering in front of me; his chest was shuttering, and he seemed to be gasping for air, or was he just trying to calm himself?
"Do not play dumb with me! You could have gotten killed if I hadn't heard you! You could have drowned, Josephine, and no one, not even I, would have known what had happened to you. If I hadn't heard you, and you did drown, I would have found your body weeks later in the gutter! That is, if the fish hadn't eaten away at your face, I might have recognized you!" Erik bellowed forcefully. I heard the strangled emotion Erik was trying to control.
I looked down at the teacup in my hand. I was unable to look into Erik's eyes any longer; too much emotion was there, and it made my throat tighten with the need to cry.
"Look at me, Josephine!"
I closed my eyes so the tears that so willingly wanted to fall wouldn't. I know what I did was wrong, and I was sorry. When I didn't look into Erik's eyes, Erik crouched before me and held my chin toward him. I was inches from Erik and his burning eyes glowed red, fierce and demanding, yet they held hurt and despair.
"Do not cower away from the truth, Josephine; what you did was a very stupid thing that almost cost you your life! Do not ever come into my labyrinth without my knowledge, do I make myself clear?!"
Erik didn't wait for me to answer before he shook my chin roughly and asked if I understood.
"Yes…" I croaked.
Erik let go of my chin a little too roughly; when he let go, he pushed me away. My heart broke, and it made me feel like I had lost Erik somehow. My mind screamed at me to tell him the reason why I came down, but my heart had sealed my lips shut. Once Erik had left the library, I sat there before the fire, silently crying to myself.
"What have I done…?"
I sat there before the fire until my legs fell asleep and had begun to tingle. My tears had stopped, and my face felt dry and tight. I blinked and sighed. Ayesha had taken over half of the large pillow to my left. I looked down, and she was purring while cleaning her black paw, swiping lazily with her tiny pink tongue. Ayesha suddenly stopped in mid-lick, looking up alertly. I raised an eyebrow to her behavior; her ears were slightly shifting backward and forward. She was hearing something I could not.
"What is it?" I asked, looking from her to the half opened door.
Ayesha got up and padded her way toward the door. I got up – hissing in pain from the tingling needles that were poking everywhere on my legs - and followed close behind her. She poked her head out of the door and stretched lazily, and then she turned left down the dark hallway. We passed the art room Erik introduced me to and went further down. If it wasn't for the tinkering of a silver bell that hung from Ayesha's collar, I wouldn't have been able to follow her in the dark. Ayesha suddenly stopped, and I was standing in front of a closed door. The tinkering of piano keys I heard was coming from within the room. The music I heard was very soft yet very sad, almost mournful…
I swallowed hard as I listened to Erik play; I closed my eyes and lost myself in Erik's music.
Ayesha on the other hand began meowing and scratched against the closed door; obviously she wanted to go in.
"Ayesha, hush please."
The notes Erik played didn't changed at first; over and over he played the same melody. The melody went sad, then sorrowful, before quickening slightly; he added more weeping notes to mingle with the sad keys. Before long, I found myself leaning against the wall and slowly slipping down it.
Was Erik playing what he was feeling?
Light spilled into the darkened hallway and onto my face; I opened my eyes wide. Ayesha was nudging open the door with her nose!
"How in the world did you do that, Ayesha?!" I whispered to her before she disappeared behind the door. "Non, come back!" I whispered, trying to grab her before she went into the room. I was on all fours, and she slipped right between my fingers. I sighed hard, blowing the bangs that had fallen into my eyes.
I stood up and went to open the door, but stopped short with my hand on the knob. The little voice in my head warned me not to go any further, but the beautiful music urged me to. Plus, I was hoping I would be able to beckon Ayesha before Erik saw her! I opened the door and peeked through. The room Erik was in was quite small, smaller than the art room and library. What made it even odder was the room was round. There was no fireplace and there were no electric lights, only candles lit the area around Erik and the piano he was playing. I stepped to the side and leaned against the door post, closing my eyes, I wanted to kick myself! Ayesha was rubbing herself around Erik's ankles.
So much for a quick retreat, I thought, irritated.
"Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to have a seat?" asked a grim voice.
I started when I heard Erik's voice. How did he know? I bit my bottom lip and slowly padded my way toward Erik and the large black piano. Erik didn't stop playing as I approached nor did he look at me; his main focus was on the music he was playing.
"Sit," he commanded.
I obeyed, taking a seat next to him on the black bench. I looked down and watched as Erik's elegant fingers glided over the ivory keys. I placed my own fingers against the far keys to the left so I wouldn't interrupt his playing. I closed my eyes against the cool surface, remembering a time where life wasn't hard and happiness wasn't hard to find.
"I waited for you in the chapel, Erik," I whispered without thinking. Erik hit a foul note and recovered quickly. I looked up at him, who ignored me. Erik's clear eyes were unblinking and expressionless.
"Why didn't you come for me?" I whispered, lowering my eyes. Emotion swelled my throat, and it made my voice break. I bit my lip, feeling weak.
Erik's aloof demeanor didn't change; his lips parted as if to speak, but he only moistened his lips.
"Wasn't that part of our agreement? If you did not want what I offered, we would forget about one another."
I inhaled quickly, holding my breath. I did remember.
"But I have not refused your lessons, Erik; I merely stated that I should rethink them."
Erik ceased playing to look at me; he made a face between a glare and scowl. I didn't let that bother me; he would hear what I had to say and understand why I said what I did. I did not look away from his angry, clear eyes as I spoke.
"Erik, the way you acted –what you said - frightened me. And yes, I will admit that for a split second I did not want your lessons because I was afraid you would not let me have a life outside of your lessons…"
Erik then made a face and swallowed hard. Was that guilt on his face? He started playing again, but that didn't stop me from speaking what was in my heart.
"Please, understand that I want your teachings, but I do not want to give up a friend either. So I'm willing to compromise-"
Erik stopped playing to look at me. "A compromise?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, we will have our lessons, and I will prove to you that Garrit is nothing more than a frie-" Before I could finish speaking, Erik growled and stood from the bench.
"No, Josephine. No compromises. Either you take my offer and become one of the most talented sopranos or you stay a dancer and keep your pathetic friend." Erik sneered sternly.
"That's not fair, Erik."
"Life isn't fair, Josephine!" Erik yelled stepping closer to me. "Make your choice."
My heart was pounding in my chest, and I couldn't breathe properly. The air was stuck in my lungs. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"You try my patience. Make. Your. Choice!"
Say something! my mind yelled. Anything!
I looked into Erik's eyes and they glowed red. I knew then that I couldn't have it both ways. Erik's hands went into fists at his side, and they were shaking. I felt the tears burn my eyes again as I stood there.
"So be it then," Erik bit out.
"No, wait…"
But it was too late; Erik grabbed my forearm and pulled me out of the room. I stumbled behind him as he dragged me along; I tripped over my own feet as he pulled be up the stairs that led to the Louis-Phillip room. Erik pushed me inside and switched on the electric lights; he then bent down and picked up my wet clothes from the floor.
"Erik, please, let me explain!"
Erik whirled around baring his teeth to me. "No, I gave you your choice, Christine! You either have it all or nothing!"
I started when I heard what he called me. "I'm not Christine…" I whispered.
Erik growled deep in his throat, ignoring what I said. He then pulled me out of the room and back down the stairs, leading me toward the shore. A smaller version of the gondola was there; Erik picked me up and placed me in it.
"Take the boat and go. Do not stop until you reach the end. From there, get to the surface and stay there. Do not try and come back down through the mirror because I will seal lock it so you will cannot open it!"
I looked up at Erik with pleading eyes. "Please, don't do this Erik."
Erik grabbed at the lapels of the robe and yanked me to him. "You did this to yourself!" Erik hissed through clenched teeth. Erik waded into the water and gave the boat a hard push that set the boat gliding across the black water.
I looked down at the little lantern that was attached to the front of the boat. It gave me enough light to see my surroundings. I looked over my shoulder and saw the iron-gate close behind me; a dark shadow moved behind it.
"Erik…"
A/N: PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!!! But you can leave a review and tell me what you thought of it=) So sorry for being mean to Josephine but you all just have to trust me! As I was writing this chapter I found a video on YoutTube and it really helped me write this chappy! My muse had taken over so blame him, if you would like to listen to it for you self the video is call, Les Affres De La Cremation -Dark Sancuary. They have very beautiful music, dark and compelling=) When I wrote the part when Josephine was downing this song some how fit very well with that whole drama scene so try and find it and listen to it=) or you can look me up on youtube and clink on the video on my page at Weepingwillow2616!