Author's Note: My relative seems to have taken a turn for the better; thus no trip is necessary at this time.
So without further ado, let the story commence...
We were silent on our journey, only speaking when necessary.
While bouncing about of Erik's monster of a horse, all I could do was replay the events in my mind and stew about how brutally unfair Erik was being. If anyone had been misled, it was I. Our bargain had been to write a real opera together. And he had manipulated the entire thing as another scenario to win Christine. And then he had the nerve to imply that I was of loose woman just because I had been plied with love potion and wine all night!
But I had my own frailties. I had known all along how he felt about Christine; and yet I had developed a jealous and possessive nature that I had no idea I was capable of. And he was not my husband, not my fiancé, not even my lover; and now we were no longer friends or partners either.
About a half hour into our ride, the skies opened up into a downpour. Erik cursed and stopped at a countryside inn, announcing that we would stay there for the night rather than risk becoming ill by attempting to get all the way to Paris in the rain. The spot would have looked idyllic in good weather. There was a meadow and a well, a garden, and even some sheep wandering about. He handed me money and ordered me to purchase a room for the two of us as husband and wife, presumably so we could avoid any attention from the locals. I almost laughed with the irony of it.
After all of the arrangements were made and Erik had tied up Mephistopholes, we made our way towards the flight of stairs that led to our room. The alcove was rather quaint and cozy with brick cobbled walls, a large bed, a wooden table with two chairs, and a fireplace that made my heart sink with forbidden memories.
Having no other room to change in and no dressing screen, I turned my back to Erik, stripped off my wet green dress and changed into my cotton nightgown. I was too tired and upset to worry about formalities. Besides, he wasn't seeing anything that he hadn't before. Not that it made any bloody difference to him, anyway.
Erik stripped down to wearing only his wet breeches as he did not have anything dry to wear. I averted my eyes from the sight of his nakedness, remembering all too well the sight of his flesh by firelight.
After lighting up the chimney, he sat down on one of the wooden chairs, rested his head on the table and closed his eyes.
"Surely you don't intend to sleep there all night?" I asked as I slipped under the covers.
"I have spent nights in far worse places in my time, Mademoiselle."
"Well, you don't have to suffer all night sitting up in that chair. Take the other side of the bed."
"I'd rather not."
"Well, I'd rather not hear you growling and cursing like a bear all the way to Paris because you didn't get any sleep!" I snapped.
"Well, since you put it so charmingly..." he reacted snidely.
Once settled in bed with Erik beside me in the dark, I observed how soft moonlight was streaming in through the lacy curtains of the window beside us. Everything, including the bed, seemed bathed in the moonlight with a romantic glow. How cruel to be in such a place as this now.
Erik, apparently exhausted, fell asleep right away, his back turned to me. A tear rolled down my cheek. If things had been different, we could have been making love in the moonlight rather than ending off our acquaintance forever. I closed my eyes, willing myself not to think about it anymore, that I would go stark raving mad if I did. So I concentrated on the sound of Erik's breath and the rain. And, incredibly, I slept.
"Noooo!"
The agonized cry made my heart pound as I sat up, startled into wakefulness.
Erik was thrashing about beside me. "Not a cage..." he mumbled. "Please...not a cage…"
Let him suffer with his nightmares, I thought. He deserved it for being so cruel.
But then his cries became heartwrenching. His body shook with horrid keening sobs. I could not bear it.
"Erik, hush now!" I whispered, reaching out to touch his shoulder. He seemed to push me away from him in his sleep.
Then I sat up, cradled his head in my lap and gently stroked his hair. "Ssssh...it is just a nightmare...you are safe..."
For a moment, he halfway opened his eyes and saw me. Then his body began gradually to relax. He nestled closer to me, wrapping his arms about my waist and clinging to me as if he would never let go. I caressed his naked back and shoulders, scars and all, soothing him. And for the rest of the night, we slept in peace.
In the cold light of day, he was no longer by my side but preparing to continue our journey.
As I watched him put on his boots, I wished that I knew the magic words that would change everything. But I didn't. And I could no longer bear the agony of our inevitable parting. Better to end it now.
"We needn't travel back together," I said. "I will speak to the innkeeper and arrange transportation for myself from here."
"No," he shook his head. "I won't have you travel alone."
"Our bargain is over now. Thus, you really do not have any more say over what I choose to do."
For a moment, he glared at me with anger in his eyes, but then seemed to sink with despondence.
"Very well," he sighed. "As you wish."
Having donned his hat and cape, he walked towards the door.
"You're not leaving now?"
"Why not?"
"It's still pouring out there!"
"Since you are no longer my concern, there is no need for me to spend any more time on this journey," he said coldly. "It has rained all night and morning. There's no telling when it will stop."
"But you'll get sick…"
"I am not unaccustomed to spending time in bad weather, Mademoiselle." He stopped abruptly as if he had suddenly remembered something. But just as quickly shrugged it off. "Throughout my life, I have had to become accustomed to uncomfortable situations."
So he was determined to leave now. I tried to muster up some semblance of dignity to our parting.
"Thank you for helping me with my opera, Erik," I ventured. "You are a genius with great knowledge. And a patient teacher as well. I shall always be indebted to you for all that you had taught me."
"It was my pleasure." He bowed mockingly.
I shook my head with disbelief. "I know that you never liked our opera."
"That's not so," he denied, his eyes seemingly sincere this time.
"Really? But you always said it was romantic nonsense."
He shrugged with a sardonic smile.
"Maybe the world needs romantic nonsense every once in a while."
We just stood there, me in my nightgown, and Erik in all of his riding attire. And neither of us seemed to know what to say. I knew the proper thing to say was 'goodbye', but I could not say it.
Neither could Erik, it seemed. For without a word, he swept out of the door. And out of my life.
