The Love of a Stranger
Ob1MegOb1

Thanks again to you all who continue to read and review. I continue to look forward to knew and old reviewers and to watching that review number climb. So thank and once again and here is the next chapter.

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us."
-Helen Keller

Chapter 9

(Erik)

I listened as the carriage wheels slowly rolled away carrying Rebecca and William in it. Even if the Vicomte did intercept it he would unfortunately find out that I was nowhere to be found. Hopefully that would be enough for them to leave Jasmine alone.

I sat down on the couch in the living room my mind whirling. I wanted to talk to Jasmine but I was afraid to tell her the truth. God awful afraid. The pain of Christine was still fresh in my heart and adding somebody else there was probably not the smartest thing to do at the moment.

I pulled on my cloak and and fit on my mask. I finally figured that worrying about this was useless. Most likely William would tell her and hopefully she would have enough time to think about this. I mean I had got her children back, its just the way I came about it that might be a little flawed.

(Jasmine)

I sat at the bottom of the stairs thinking about what Christine said. At first I had tried to tell myself that it was okay, I mean, I had told him to get my children. He had done that. He did it a little deceitfully maybe, but whats the matter with a little deceit?

I then sighed, realizing I was kidding myself. Deceit no matter in what form was wrong.

(William)

I was very eager to get home. I was going to rid of this plague called Erik in one conversation. He had lied to Jasmine, and all for his lust over her. I shook my head in disbelief not believing that everything they had said about the man was true. He lies to get whatever he wants. "Well by tomorrow it will be like Erik never existed. And everything can go back to normal at home."

Rebecca looked up at me with big round eyes. She was still unwilling to speak to me, even after all that happened. "Come on Becca," I muttered, "Why won't you talk to me?"

She looked away from me and I almost thought I saw disgust in her eyes.

(Jasmine)

It was nearly eight o'clock and still no sign of Erik or my siblings. I began to worry that they had been caught by Raoul. "Oh god please no," I whispered. They were all I had left and to lose them would make me lose all that I had to live. But I slowly heard the sound of horseshoes against the hard cobblestone street.

I got up quickly pressing my ear against the door. I listened hoping to hear the voices of my siblings. But instead I heard the harsh voices of gedarmes. I quickly flipped the lock on the door and made my way to the main room. I felt desperately along the floor searching for the same trap door I had only used a few days before.

I had barely pushed myself down and pulled the hatch closed when the gedarmes came bursting through the door. I locked the hatch quickly and prayed to god that they would not notice it. I heard them proceed in searching the house. Why? They had already done so before and not found the phantom, why were they searching again?

"There is no sign of anyone in the house," a deep voice said and I sighed in relief to know they had not found me.

"I highly doubt that, " a more dignified voice said, "the children would have nowhere else to go but here. No matter," the voice continued. Just to make sure there is no one here I want you to burn the house seargent."

"Excuse me Monsieur de Changey burn it?"

"Yes these people are traitors for harboring a fugitive they must be dealt with. So burn the house seargent."

"Yes sir," the voice answered.

Quickly I went to the hatch door and tried to open it but it was no use, it would not open. Something was on top of the hatch and I could not lift it. It was then I realized they had known I was there the whole time. They had trapped me.

(Erik)

I raced down the road on the back of one of the horses I had kept in the stables. He was a black steed whom was the fastest I had ever ridden. As I approached closer to the city though I began to feel something had gone wrong. And when I got further into the city I saw that smoke was rising in the distance. And it was in the direction of Jasmine's house.

(William)

I sat there in horror as the driver pulled up to our burning house. "No," I muttered and I went to get out of the carriage. I almost ran into the burning building but the flames were too large.

"Jasmine!" Rebecca screamed running forward but I had to hold her back. "Let me go! Let me go William! Let me go"

"No Rebecca there's nothing we can do!"

I turned though at the sound of horseshoes and I turned to see a black steed come galloping up. And to my annoyance and immense relief I saw Erik atop it. "Where is she?" he demanded his face filled with fear. But not the fear that I had seen before. This was fear out of concern for Jasmine.

"She's still in there!" I cried, "Please help her!"

I had barely even said the words and Erik was already disappearing into the house, the flames engulfing his figure.

(Erik)

It was like hell. Not like the other night when I had started the fire in the Opera House. No this felt like hell in its purest form. It was sweltering hot and I could barely see through the smoke and flame. The smoke made me choke and I lifted my cloak to keep from suffocating. I knew exactly where I was going I just wasn't happy about the obstacle that lay before me.

Looks like this fire had been planned because right there on top of the hatch door was a dresser preventing whoever was down there from getting out. The dresser itself was slowly catching on fire and I quickly went over using my cloak to keep from hands from burning. I pushed with all my might.

And through the adrenaline rushing through me I managed to move the damn dresser. I threw open the hatch and dropped inside. "Jasmine!" I called still not being able to fully see in the room.

"Erik," a small voice said and I turned to see Jasmine lying in the corner of the room. "Erik," she said again. Her hand slowly reached out and I grabbed it quickly.

"I'm here," I said gathering her in my arms. She was barely breathing and I knew it was from the smoke. "Don't worry," I said softly. She didn't answer and I could see she was barely conscious in my arms.

Carefully balancing her in one arm and using the other to get up the ladder I pulled us up and out of the trap door. And then I just managed to get us out of the house when it caved in on itself.

"Jasmine!" Rebecca screamed rushing over.

"Don't worry she's fine," I whispered, "Lets get in the carriage and we will go somewhere safe."

"Safe!" William cried, "There's nowhere we go anymore! Our home is gone you bastard and why? Because of you!"

"Listen," I said getting in his face, "I'm sorry that your home is gone and don't think I wanted this to happen boy! Now get in that carriage with your sister!"

He glared at me getting in with Rebecca. "Erik," Jasmine said suddenly. I looked down at her.

"Jasmine you need to rest," I said quickly, but she shook her head covering my mouth.

"Erik my Aunt Evelyn. Just ask the kids they know where she is." I nodded as she smiled closing her eyes as she finally fully passed out.

(Jasmine)

I awoke to the sound of hoof beats and gentle arms holding me. A tiny hand in mine which I soon came to realize was Rebecca.

"Rebecca," I said softly and I heard a cry of joy come from her.

"Jasmine!" she cried embracing me. The arms that had held me helped me sit up so Rebecca could sit in my lap. "Oh Jasmine you scared me," she said her voice quivering.

"Yeah so did you," I muttered. And then I suddenly rememebered Erik. "Erik?" I said softly. It was then I realized he had been the one holding me for he reached out and took my hand.

"I'm here," he said, "We are almost to your Aunt's. Hopefully we will be safe there for a little while."

"Yeah," I whispered. To tell the truth I wasn't thrilled with going to her home. My aunt had never been there for us when our parents had died and she had basically abandoned us. And now bringing a complete stranger into her house would probably not help the situation.

(Erik)

When we came up on the house I was very surprised to see that it was a nice house. I wasn't extremely surprised but to see a house in way better condition than Jasmine's made my blood boil a little.

"Does this aunt know how much her cousins suffer," I said under my breath.

"I heard that," Jasmine muttered in my direction, "And yes she was just not on very good terms with my mother, and we'll leave it at that."

(Jasmine)

He did not seem satisfied with my answer but it will have to do for right now. "Jasmine," Rebecca said softly, "What if Aunt Ev does not let us stay?"

"Oh don't worry she won't refuse us," I said smiling, "We are after all family."

As we got out I could hear soft footsteps on the ground. "Jasmine," the familiar voice of my aunt called. It sounded familiar because it sounded exactly like my mother. "What on earth are you doing here?" she said, "I heard there was a fire at the house I was going to try to send word---"

"Its okay," I muttered, "We need a place to stay---"

"And of course you are welcome here, including your company."

"Thank you," Erik said softly.

(Erik)

She was a medium sized woman with the same black hair as Jasmine and Rebecca. She had the same deep penetrating brown eyes but she seemed tired and worn. And there was definite tenseness between her and Jasmine, something I knew would make this stay a lot more...interesting.

(Jasmine)

As she led us in I suddenly felt very uncomfortable in this environment and I suddenly realized someone else was in the room. "Do you have company Ev?" I asked casually.

There was the sound of laughing in the next room, and I recognized one as the sound of Ev's daughter Elizabeth. "Yes," she said happily, "Elizabeth is visiting with her fiance. Elizabeth!" she called, "We have company."

It was then I heard Elizabeth come in the room. Elizabeth had always been a close friend of mine even when Aunt Ev hadn't been. She was only a year younger than me but that had not stopped us from being close. But I heard hesitancy in her step as she approached me. "Jasmine," she said softly, "My god what happened?"

"Really long story," I muttered, "Maybe I'll tell you some time."

I could hear her laugh softly, "Yeah well it is nice to see you cousin."

"Likewise," I said smiling, "So who is this fiance of yours?"

"Well Jasmine I don't want you to be angry with me--"

"Why would I be angry? I'm sure he's great person to be with you."

But I then heard familiar footsteps enter the room and suddenly my heart froze. "Hello Jasmine," a familiar voice said. It was a voice that I had not heard in nearly two years.

"Paul," I muttered softly.

(Erik)

I followed them into the house hoping just to follow their lead and hope they would not ask too many questions. But some questions of my own arose when this man entered the room. I knew the look he was giving Jasmine, something had happened there. But it seemed Jasmine was less then enthusiastic about seeing, or in her case hearing, this man.

"Well I'm tired," she muttered, "after all I was almost burnt to a crisp. So Erik will help me to my room? I shall show you the way."

I slowly went forward now unfortunately all eyes on me as I grabbed Jasmine's arm and led her upstairs. She told me the way to the guest room where she stayed during family visits. She quickly closed the door behind her. "I'm sorry if that was uncomfortable for you," she said softly still facing the door.

"Oh it seems it was more uncomfortable for you," I said back. She laughed to herself, "Yeah believe me Erik this is one story you don't want to hear."

I smiled at her snideness as she made her way back over to me. She sat down on the bed and smiled in my direction, "So I guess I never got say thank you, for recovering my siblings, and saving me."

I opened my mouth ready to spill everything, but she put her fingers to my mouth, "Don't worry Erik I know and I'm okay about it."

I looked at her astonished, "You are?"

"Yeah," she said, "It was a little deceitful but I'm hoping that will be the last?" she said eyebrow raised. And even though she was trying to kidd about it I could tell in her eyes that she was truly testing me.

"I hope so," I muttered softly, "Right now you should probably rest," I said.

"Oh believe me I did enough of that already, come on I should show you around," I said smiling.

I smiled as well, "This should be interesting."

(Jasmine)

I smiled taking his hand in mine. It felt so nice to just feel him again and the happiness he always spread through his touch. And it was nice to have things be normal for once in the past few days. Hopefully this would be the last running away for awhile. And hopefully maybe I could purse a normal relationship with this man. This new door that maybe I could finally reopen in my life. That is if the other doors in the house didn't slam in my face first.

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