A/N: Sorry this took me so freaking long to update. Yes I'm still alive, believe it or not. Enjoy! Please, please PLEASE I BEG of you, R&R! Thank you!
CHAPTER 12
Staring into the shimmering black hiatus that was the lake under the Opera House, Aaralyn sighed deeply. All she could think about lately had been Erik, which made sense, since she had seen no other human being for…she didn't know how long. His regal image was forever painted in her mind and his gentle strength and his seemingly divine power over music was forever etched on her soul.
Despite her complete contentment here in the catacombs of the opera, it seemed as if something in her life was missing. She couldn't quite place it, but it was as if a small hole had been carved into her spirit during her time with Erik.
Rising from the lake's bank, she made her way to the first dark path that her vision crossed, and started toward it. Shadows cast by the small torches played across the walls and sent a chill up her spine, inclining her to turn around. It was obviously not wise to wander in the catacombs of the opera without a guide.
An icy hand clamped onto her forearm and she nearly screamed, but another hand closed over her mouth. Her body relaxed as she saw her angel's face.
"What are you doing? Where were you intending to go?" Erik's eyes showed mild curiosity and slight confusion.
"I'm…not sure."
"Why would you wander this labyrinth without a guide?" Aaralyn couldn't bring herself to even hint that she was even the smallest bit unhappy with her circumstances.
"I don't know," his eyes bored into hers, pleading for an answer. Her eyes met his gaze evenly. His cloak swirled around him as he turned to leave her right where she was standing, left to find her own way back. "Wait," she blurted, her hand coming down on his shoulder with force she didn't know she possessed. Words failed her.
"What?" Erik demanded.
"I…it's so cold…" she said, suddenly finding the cracks in the floor quite interesting. Erik only stared at her, knowing she would confess to what she felt if he waited. He crossed his strong arms over his chest, waiting for her to finish. Finally, she spoke. "I miss light…and warmth!" she exclaimed, only just realizing for herself what she couldn't live without. Erik's gaze softened just a little. "I miss wind and trees! I miss…"She wanted to continue but seeing his expression she stopped. Assumedly, he got the point.
"I don't want you to be unhappy…" was his understanding reply.
"Erik, I could never be unhappy when I'm with you! It's just…"
"Have you any family in France?"
"A brother, yes, he's a doctor…but I don't want to leave here! I never should have said anything, I'm sorry I brought it up. No place on earth could make me happier." However truthful her statement was, it made a tiny tremor of satisfaction glide down Erik's spine. But he couldn't force her to stay with him in the darkest pits of hell.
"What is your brother's name?" he raised an eyebrow in question.
"I'm not telling. You'll send me away."
"Aaralyn," his hand found its way to the soft flesh of her cheek. "Making you unhappy with me would be ultimately worse than any separation between us. You can't be expected to live here, down here in this black labyrinth, with me." His gaze focused suddenly downward, knowing that their time together surely would have come to an end sometime. He just didn't know it would come so suddenly, a shock crushing the breath from his lungs. She moved closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "You would hate me," he finished.
She looked up at him and shook her head. "I won't leave you."
"Yes you must…I can't bear the weight of your unhappiness with me on my shoulders. You need to go. You can see your sun and feel the wind on your cheeks and hear the leaves in the trees rustle quietly…I do believe it is about autumn now. And once you are satisfied, you can return to me. You won't hate me because I let you go. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, you know…"
"But…" her small protest was silenced when he placed his finger firmly on her lips. He turned his back to her and disappeared into the shadows of the labyrinthine pathway before she could say a word. Small cracks in the walls scratched her back as she slid down to the floor, tears filling her eyes. Puzzlement and utter despair filled her heart and mind as she tried to understand his words.
The next morning, Aaralyn woke and dressed quickly, though hesitant to leave her room. Her hand hovered over the brass doorknob for a second before she turned it.
Erik was sitting on the divan in the living room, dressed in a white poet's shirt and loose black pants. He rose and took her hand. "Come with me."
Aaralyn dreaded what was to happen. Almost mindlessly she followed him through the black halls of his lair, tightly clasping his hand, enjoying the rare warmth of his hands against her unusually frigid ones. They came to the small door to the ground floor of the grand opera house. Aaralyn reached the door first, and turned back to look at Erik. She took his other hand. "Erik I don't want to go…"
"Child, you…you must." he fought to keep his voice from trembling. "Your brother is waiting." Without thinking, she wrapped her small hand around his neck and brought his lips to hers, speaking without words what she couldn't say, and what they both could understand. She drew away just slightly so that their breath still mingled and her forhead rested on his.
"As you wish."
And with that she turned and opened the door that separated Erik from his life and the one he truly deserved. Her fingers lingered on his for one glorious moment, and then she was through the door, wrapped in her brother's tight embrace, with her angel still closed into his world of unforgiving night, now without her to guide him.
