Chapter 55:

Curling into ball I lay there as I listened to the sounds around me.

I could hear water dripping and the sound of rats squeaking as they ran along the walls.

Then I heard Erik coming for me.

Pushing myself up, I stood and called out "I'm over here Erik."

There was no point in trying to hide from him.

And I knew that if I ran I would more than likely get lost.

So I stood there in the darkness still holding the whip in my fist waiting for Erik to come to me.

"Why Lesta?" he said as he took hold of my shoulders.

"I had to stop you Erik. I could not stand there and watch you harm yourself." I said as I brought my hand up to touch his chest and discovered it was still bare. Then I began to wonder if he was still unclothed.

"But I deserve to be punished for the pain I have caused you." He whispered.

Stepping toward him I said "Take me home."

Removing my hand from his chest he led me back through the tunnels.

As we walked he said "You should never enter this labyrinth alone. You could be injured again or become lost."

"I know, but I had too. I had to stop you and I knew that if I came here you would follow. I never once thought of myself or my own safety. I was only thinking of you."

Stopping Erik turned to me and said in a passionate voice "You must never endanger yourself because of me. I am a beast and your safety and wellbeing is the most important thing there is. Please promise me Lesta you will never, ever put yourself in danger again."

I knew I should promise him that I wouldn't endanger myself again, but I couldn't.

"Erik I can not promise you that." I whispered.

I knew in my heart that if he was ever in danger I would do everything in my power to save him, including risking my life.

"Why Lesta..? After all I have done too you. The pain I have caused you, how can you say or even think of endangering yourself for me?"

"Because I care about you and you are my husband." I said as I stepped to him and brought my hand to the side of his head.

"Let's go home Erik. I am becoming cold and tired."

He sighed and then turned and led me the rest of the way.

As we entered our home I was glad to see that Erik did indeed have his pants on.

But my heart sank when I saw the damage he had done to his back.

Realizing I still carried the vile whip in my hand I looked it and sank to my knees.

Raising my eyes to Erik I said "Are you going to beat me with this thing too? I know I deserve it for the pain I have caused you."

Horror filled his eyes and he rushed to me. Falling to his knees he took the whip from my grasp and said "No..! I would never…I could never mare you…Your beauty…No…I may be a monster but I would never do that to you."

"Why Erik" I snapped "You said that this is the punishment for hurting another and I have hurt you. So do I not deserve the same punishment?"

"NO!" He cried covering his ears. "I can not hear such blasphemy! You are perfection and to even imagine something like that is…is…NO!!!"

Pulling his hands from his ears I said "Then what should my punishment be? Since you have punished yourself for my pain, then I must be punished for the pain I have caused you."

Looking around I spotted the door to the room of lights and mirrors.

Standing I went over to it saying "Maybe I should be made to spend the day in here" as I ran my fingers across the release for the door.

Moving into the room I looked at my reflection: My hair was a tangled mess and my face was tearstained and streaked with dirt. My nightgown was filthy and had a few rips from my escape into the tunnels.

Coming to the doorway but not entering Erik said "You must come out of there Lesta. It is no place for you."

Staring at him I said "I have not yet discovered the secret to awaking the lights that burn. Maybe it is the tree. Does the tree awaken the room?"

Turning I walked to the tree and reached out to touch it.

"No Lesta you mustn't!" He cried.

Running my hand over the surface I stood on my tiptoes and pulled on the lowest branch. I felt it give slightly and the room sprang to life.

Light and heat surrounded me and I sank to my knees.

I knew Erik feared this room because of the mirrors.

I knew he hated his reflection even with his mask on.

And now that I was watching him I knew it was even harder for him.

He knew that I would see his reflection a thousand times magnified.

The heat started to build and I started to sweat.

My nightgown clung to me and began to become transparent.

Sweat dripped into my eyes and burned them but I would not look away from him.

"Well Erik what is it to be? Do I stay here and burn for my crimes?"

Stepping from the doorway I heard Erik open a panel and the lights and heat vanished.

"NO!!!" I screamed.

Entering the room Erik came to me and lifted me into his arms.

Carrying me he took me to the couch and wrapped me in a blanket.

Looking away from me he said "You must never try to harm yourself Lesta."

Pushing the blanket from my shoulders I said "Then promise me you will never harm yourself again Erik."

Looking at me his breath caught in his throat.

His eyes beheld how the thin material clung to my body revealing my ever curve.

Standing I said again "Promise me Erik. Promise to never harm yourself because of me again."

Shaking his head he said "I…I…"

Reaching past me he grabbed for the blanket.

As he leaned forward I moved my body to his and pressed myself against him.

Whispering I said "I forgive you. Can you forgive me?"

"I can forgive you anything My Beauty as long as you are here with me. But how can you forgive the unforgivable things I have done to you?" He said as he pulled away from me and moved across the room.

Following him, I gently touched his shoulder and whispered "I'm here Erik."

Looking at his back more closely I could see the dried blood and open wounds. I could also see his old scares and wondered if he had made them also.

"Please Erik, let me care for you."

He stiffened and started to move away from me.

"Erik, please!" I cried "at least let me tend to your back."

"Why?" he whispered. "Why do you show me, a monster, such kindness?"

"Because I am your wife" I said as took his hand in mine.

Turning he looked at me with his tear-filled eyes and whispered "my wife, my angel of mercy."

Leading me up the steps, he hesitated at the door to his room when he saw the worried look on my face.

The last time I had been in there was the day I had lost our child.

But I also knew that that was where Erik kept his medical supplies.

Taking a deep breath I nodded my head and said "It's alright Erik you can open the door."

As I entered to room I saw that the couch I had laid on that day was gone and the coffin, his coffin, was now in the corner covered with a sheet.

Seeing my confusion Erik said "I did not want you reminded of past heart-aches if you ever entered here again."

Smiling at him weakly I whispered "Thank you."

Taking my hand in his again Erik opened a panel and led me into his bathroom.

I looked around as he lit the gas lamps:

The room was made of a black stone that reflected no light. One wall contained a huge bathtub made of the same stone. But the most conspicuous thing about the room was that there were no mirrors. Shivering, I also noticed that the room held no warmth and I suddenly felt as though I were standing on a tomb.

Glancing up at him I saw that he was staring at me and I wanted to turn and run.

But I knew that I could not.

So stepping towards the bathtub I said "I need to wash your back and cleanse your wounds properly" as I turned the water on.

"You can not mean too..." He stammered "I will not allow you to bathe me Lesta!" He said with more force as the realization of what I was preparing to do became clear to him.

"Erik there is no other way for me to cleanse your back." I said as I knelt on the floor by the tub.

"But Lesta it is not right for you too bathe me." He cried.

"Why?" I snapped. "Have you not bathed me?"

"Yes. But that was different. You are my wife; it is my place to care for you."

"And you are my husband. So why can I not do the same for you?"

Lowering his head, he turned away from me and whispered "No one has ever… ever bathed me."

Turning the water off, I stood and crossed the room to him.

Placing my hand on his arm I said "Please Erik allow me to do this for you."

His shoulders sank as he stepped away from me and began to remove his pants.

Quickly looking away from him I busied myself with getting out towels and a fresh sponge and some mild soap to wash him with.

When I turned back around I found him sitting in the tub with his knees drawn up to his chest.

He seemed to tremble as I approached him and knelt.

"Relax Erik" I whispered softly.

Dipping the sponge into the water and then lifting it, I carefully began to cleanse his wounds. But as the water ran down his back I heard him inhale sharply.

I quickly pulled away from him and said "I'm sorry, I did not mean hurt you."

Turning to look at me he said "No, please continue. You did not hurt me."

"Don't lie to me Erik. I know what I saw and heard."

"I do not lie Lesta. The pain was caused by my own hand, not yours. It is only that I was unprepared for your touch."

"Then what am I to do Erik? I can not bear to see you in anymore pain, but your back needs to be cleansed."

I sat back on my heels and thought. Then smiling I stood and went to the cabinet.

Finding a container of healing salts I walked back over to the tub.

Dipping my hand into the container I scooped out a large handful of salts and sprinkled them into the water.

As the salts dissolved I looked at Erik and said "Lay back."

Looking at me with shock in his eyes he said "I will not."

"You must."

"Then leave me!"

"I will not Erik."

"Why Lesta..? Why are you being so cruel?"

"I am not being cruel. I am only trying to care for you." I said as I knelt by the tub. Placing my hands on his collarbones I began to push him.

Grabbing my wrists he said "No!"

"Why Erik...?" I asked as I looked into his eyes.

Looking away from me he said "I beg you please do not force me to reveal my shame."

"What shame? I do not understand. Why will you not just lay back and allow the salts to cleanse your wounds?"

He squirmed around in the tub and said "Will you at least look away?"

Nodding my head I turned around as I listened to him inhale deeply and then sigh.

Becoming curious I reasoned a quick glance over my shoulder would do no harm. I just wanted to make sure that he had indeed lain back.

But as my eyes traveled over his body I inhaled sharply when I saw his swollen manhood.

He immediately started to sit up and cover himself, but I stopped him by placing my hands against his chest.

"Stay as you are Erik." I whispered as I ran my hand slowly down over his stomach.

I felt his body become rigid under my finger as I heard him say in a choked voice "What are you thinking my Dear?"

It was as if I was in a trance.

Ignoring him I moved my hand lower on his body.

Then growing bolder I brushed the tips of my fingers across the top of his hardness.

I heard him inhale sharply.

Quickly pulling my hand back I said "I did not mean to cause you more pain."

Looking at me he said in a raspy voice "Oh there was no pain."

Blushing I said "Oh…I will leave you to finish your bath."

"Stay" he said as he caught my wrist.

"Join me."

Blushing deeper red I said "I…I can not. It would not be proper."

Growling he pulled me closer to himself as he said "To hell with proper. You are my wife."

Shaking I allowed him to pull me forward.

Rising up he brought his lips to mine.

Parting my lips I let him plunder my mouth with is tongue as his hand caressed my hair and back.

I moaned into his mouth as the heat began to build within me.

Finally pulling away from him I said "Erik" in a breathless whisper.