Chapter Twenty-Nine – From God Above
"Paien…Erik is not a bad man, is he?" he asked, tying his robe securely before leaving the bathroom and lighting the candelabra that stood upon the nightstand.
"No, why would you think that?" the puppy yawned, lying complacently on his belly as he stared at Erik.
He sighed, realizing how silly it was making the dog "talk" just so he could vent his frustration and concerns. Still, he needed someone, and he knew Paien wouldn't judge or hate him. "Erik can't stop thinking about his precious Angelique, Paien…sometimes in ways that he shouldn't. He doesn't lust, he…he envisions the future," he insisted, curling his hand into a fist as he pressed it to his chest.
"…it's still lusting," Paien blinked.
He growled. "Yes, I suppose it is…but what do you expect of a man who has been barred from the rights most men receive without a second thought? She…she loves Erik, and Erik loves her…none of this would have been possible without her…or without…" Without a warning, his eyes fell upon an object he had not paid much mind to for many years of his life. The crucifix had always been in this room and he hadn't bothered to move it, but now it called to him, as though he was a child that had been out too long, the Father calling him back to his side as night fell. He walked towards it, a strong, sudden feeling of pained happiness filling him as he fell to his knees, covering his face with his hands. "…oh God…it has been a very long time since Erik…since I spoke with You," he said softly, his eyes stinging with tears. "So many times I begged for some sign of mercy, some slight of hand that You might show me a bit of kindness…after everything I endured since birth, all the scorn, the abuse, the heartache…now my life is overflowing with blessings…how I wished to be accepted, to be recognized for my talents and left alone when it came to my face…most of all, I wanted a wife to take out and to come home to…Angelique is…she is the Angel You have sent me…my soul would shatter if I were to lose her now…" His eyes moved to the little box lying on the piano's edge, hidden discreetly in the shadows. "…I suppose all I wanted to say is…thank you…thank you for…all of this."
The heaviness in his heart seemed to lift off of him as he sighed deeply. Rising to his feet, he stretched out his hand and caressed the velvet box which contained the ring…oh, how badly he wanted to ask her right at that moment, how he yearned to take her in his arms and claim her for his own for once and for all… "No…it needs to be just right…the perfect moment…" He slipped the box into a secret compartment in the baby grand piano, his sigh soon changing into a hum, his hum rising into the air and becoming a soft song. He continued to sing even after little Paien had nodded off. As tired as he was, he was still restless. As he turned to move towards the bookshelf in search of a particular novel, Angelique's face flickered into his mind. He could see her, singing on the stage with him, singing to him, meaning every word she annunciated. He felt himself in a trance, still humming and singing softly, when he opened his eyes and froze, realizing that somehow, he had made it into her room. "Mon Dieu, have I been possessed?!"
She was lying on her bed, her hair splayed around her like a shining sea of chestnut-red waves, her eyelids fluttering open. "Er-ik?" she murmured, causing shivers to run down his spine. "Are you well?"
"I…couldn't sleep," he stammered, moving away from her. "Erik is sorry. He just…he had to see you. Please, go back to sleep-"
"Erik," she whispered, reaching out towards him. Her fingers lightly gripped his robe as he eyes shone with all the pride and joy in the world. "Erik…you know I love you, don't you? You know that I'm so very proud of you?"
He nodded, his mouth dry as he fought to answer her. Instead, he let go of his fears of being too forward, scooping her up into his arms and stealing her away, stalking down the darkened hall until they entered his room, lit dimly by a single candelabra. The shadows and glow of the weak, ancient light only served to make Angelique drowsy once more as she pressed her forehead against his cold, yellow neck. He felt his pulse jump at the feel of her soft, warm skin, his breath hitching.
"Keep singing, Erik…please?" she breathed.
He placed her gently upon his bed, sorely missing the absence of her lithe body against his. Slipping the covers over her as she started to shiver, he sang once more, sweet melodies that he conjured then and there as he exposed his soul and heart to her. He felt his heart become pierced with an invisible knife when he saw tears slide down her face, a heartfelt smile on her lips as she grabbed his hand and kissed it tenderly. "Hold me," she whispered, fighting for consciousness.
He surrendered at once, taking her in his arms once more before sitting on the bed and cradling her. She rested against his heart, her breath slowing until he felt her body slacken in his grip. His own eyes fluttered shut as he leaned back into the pillows and held her close, pressing his lips to hers before feeling the sweet recesses of darkness and slumber claim him for a few hours of blissful, dream-filled sleep.
~OG~
The weeks that followed Erik's successful debut as an actor and manager were filled with more ideas and productions than he had ever dreamed he could do in a lifetime. The weeks turned into months, and before he knew it, it was soon the start of fall, the air chilling once more and biting into their skin.
"Where has the time gone?!" Erik grumbled, sinking into his desk at the manager's office. "I wanted to propose ages ago to Angelique and…well, look at me now! It's been six months since I've been manager and owner!"
"You have been very busy, Erik," Philippe noted, pouring them both a glass of fine wine that Erik had saved in his desk. "Besides, it's not as if Angelique doesn't love you."
"No, but it isn't fair to her…or myself! And I don't want to continue with this madness – it's time she live a proper life," Erik insisted.
"You two haven't done anything for anyone to think of you as improper," the Comte protested.
"She deserves so much better…that's it! Tomorrow is Sunday – I shall propose to her then! We'll finally be alone and I shall have all this paperwork out of the way. We've already finished this season's show of Carmen, and I've already got several ideas for this next season…I shall give everyone the week off – everyone needs it. We've been thrust into doing show after show due to popular demand and the public's responses to each performance…yes, take the week off, and propose tomorrow…Mon Dieu, what if she says 'no'?!"
"Then she is mad," Philippe said firmly, sipping his wine. "Listen to me, Erik, you've changed. I can't tell you how much you've transformed…if she loved you when you were the reclusive Opera Ghost, then she will love you even more so now that you've become a good man, as well as becoming the toast of all Paris."
Erik placed his chin atop his fist as he looked at Philippe, still unable to believe that in the span of seven months, they had become associates through the opera, as well as decent friends. Erik was invited to social gathers through the de Chagnys and found himself mingling with others little by little, though he still greatly preferred his solitude in the darkness with only those closest to him. Even so, it was nice to be one of the "human race", and the soft, fleshy mask he had created had been worn out so much that he had to create another, which turned out even better in consistency and comfort than the last one.
"…thank you, Philippe," he said at last, his voice low and soft. "...I don't suppose, once I ask and if she says 'yes'…you and the others might wish to join us for the wedding? I'd much prefer something small and intimate, quality over quantity, you know."
The nobleman chuckled, nodding his head. "Yes, I understand. I'm sure we would all love to attend. I know that Mary would enjoy that before she left for London to continue her studies, and we would all be happy to help."
Erik nodded, taking a sip of his drink before letting his fingers caress the cufflinks on his sleeve, remembering how Angelique had presented them to him so many months ago. A hopeful smile grew on his lips as he thought of her. Maybe, just maybe…
~OG~
"It was awfully generous of you to give the whole theater company the week off, Erik," Angelique said as he helped her out of the carriage. She watched her breath materialize before her eyes in a puff of smoke before vanishing once again. The wind mussed her hair around her face and bit at her neck and skin, causing her to clutch Erik's arm.
"I believe we all need this," he said, his heart leaping as she clung to him. Even after all this time, she still managed to make his pulse quicken at the drop of a hat. He slipped his scarf off and twirled it around her with a flourish, almost appearing to strangle her beautifully with the silky cloth. She stood still and waited for him to finish adjusting the article of clothing before straightening his collar and fixing his thick blue cravat, her fingers lingering on his neck causing him to shudder in delight. Linking arms, she rested her head upon his shoulder, letting him walk her towards the pond. They sat down at the bench and watched couples and children walk by, saying nothing, enjoying each other's company.
"You're cold," he noted, wrapping his arms and cape around her.
"Only because you're not close enough," she smirked, embracing him tightly and kissing his chin. "Would you call me crazy if I told you I missed your old masks? The ones you wore before this one?"
"I thought you were insane when you suggested I show more of my face, and I thought you were escaped from an asylum when you wanted to see my face devoid of any covering," he remarked snidely, his heart melting as he looked down and saw her giggling at him. "…but Erik is most happy when he is with you…it's a strange, exotic feeling when someone loves you despite the face you own, the past you've been through…" Taking her hands, he kissed each knuckle reverently, his breath on her skin making her shiver. His stomach twisted in a knot as he felt the little box tucked into his pants' pocket, his heart pounding so wildly he was afraid she could hear it. "Ahm…Angelique?"
"Yes?" she asked, raising one eyebrow at him playfully.
He slipped his hand into his pocket and withdrew the box, though his hand remained hidden and curled tightly around the item. "Erik would like to…apologize."
Her brows furrowed at this in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Eri-…that is, I have been wanting to ask you for the longest time, and I've let my new job and position take over for some time…it hasn't been fair to you, or even to myself, and I cannot bear to wait any longer." Getting off the bench, he kneeled before her and exposed the box in the dying light of that cool Sunday evening, watching her eyes widen in wonder, tears filling them instantly. "Angelique, you were the redemption that God sent to me…and I can only hope that you won't mind living with a corpse for the rest of your life…" Skillfully, he took one of her hands in his and opened the box with the other hand, the ring glistening before her. "Angelique, my love…will you marry me?"
"Oh, Erik!" she sobbed, tears flowing freely from her face as her free hand covered her mouth. The sudden motion made him stiffen, doubt seeping into his mind when she flung herself at him and kissed him feverishly. "Yes! A thousand times yes, Erik! I thought you'd never ask!"
He choked as he gasped, clutching her to his chest as he closed his eyes in delighted bliss. He held her for a moment, the two of them feeling each other's heartbeats until he pulled away to wipe her tears from her face. "T-The ring," he stammered, his hands shaking as he remembered. "I should…here." He plucked it from its cushion before taking her hand and kissing it. "Read it first…there's something inside."
With trembling fingers, she took the item from him and squinted as she read the inscription that had been engraved inside the golden band. "Angelique, Angel of My Heart – Erik," she read aloud, smiling at him once she finished. "Help me put it on." He willingly did so, slipping the ring onto the proper finger before kissing her hand passionately. "Oh, Erik!" she whispered, kissing his forehead. "Thank you."
"Non, mon ange, I should be thanking you," he murmured, resting his forehead against her neck. "You've made Erik the happiest man alive."
"Erik, let's go home and tell everyone," she pleaded, running her fingers through his graying dark hair. "Please? I'm so excited…when do you want to be married?"
"If I could, I would take you to the church right now," he confessed, earning a laugh from her. "It would be nice to plan something special, something personal…a month or two, perhaps? No later than November…it would be nice if we could do all this before Christmas."
"Our first Christmas together," she sighed, sending shivers down his spine. "Married…let's go, Erik." Kissing his lips, she smiled at him and embraced him once more. "Let's go. We have a lot to do before November."
"Yes," he nodded, his eyes staring off at the setting sun, feeling dazed as if in a dream, a wonderful dream. "Yes, we do."
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter - we are nearing the end of the story, and I just thought it would be nice to stop here for the time being. I'll be back with another chapter of what ensues shortly, I promise ;) Thanks for tuning in and please don't forget to let me know what you thought of it. See you all next time!
