Oh how the love pours in. I figured out where the rest of the story is going to go in the shower this morning, so, yeah. But don't worry! The fic will live on for many more chapters! And very soon, Amile's going to get her sight back. Yay for Amile! This chapter is kind of straying away from the original story just a bit, as in Erik suddenly goes back into super-parent mode, but does that really matter? No, not really. Don't worry, in this, Amile and Erik cannot be seen by any management, so they're safe. Don't know what I'm talking about? Well then, READ IT!
Chapter 17: She's My Daughter
No one but Raoul knew about the Blood Ghost as she was very good at hiding. Lord only knew where Erik was, but she couldn't tell. But she did feel kind of guilty for not obeying him. He was trying, and she could understand that. For some reason though, she couldn't forgive him for hurting her. Fathers just don't do that to their daughters.
After getting the feeling of the opera back in her, Amile hid herself behind the main stairs. She, for the first time in a long time, felt complete. No worries came over her. Now she felt she could return to the lair in high spirits. As she stepped out of her hiding place, she heard a voice that she knew too well.
"Amile? What are you doing out here?"
It was Erik. How could she not feel him close to her? She inched away from him, in shame. "I'm sorry." she whispered. She felt his fingers touch her mask. "What on earth is this thing?" Now she was trembling. "I-I'm really sorry. I am!"
They were interrupted by a woman's voice. "Excuse me? But can you help me?" The woman approached them without fear, probably thinking they were actors. Amile tried to make it look like she wasn't blind by trying to focus on where the woman was. Erik spoke gently. "What do you need?" The woman cleared her voice. "Well, I'm looking for a girl. She would be about fifteen or so now. Very dark hair and blue eyes. But, um..." her voice dropped to a whisper. "She's blind." Amile felt her body freeze up. That was her this woman was describing. Erik looked at her sideways. "Why?" The woman cleared her throat again.
"She's my daughter."
Amile felt her father also freeze up. Then she felt the woman look at her. Amile, on her own free will, removed her mask and moved her eyes up to 'look' at this person who claimed to be her mother.
The woman gasped. "Danielle?" she whispered. Amile felt her anger rise. "My name is Amile." she hissed. The woman walked up to her daughter. "I named you Danielle, but apparently that changed." Amile sent a heated glare at her mother. "As well as other things." she hissed. The woman put her hand on her daughter's shoulders. "I know that we have never met. But your real father has become very rich in England and I came to see if you were alive. I thought someone might take you in, and here you are." Then Amile felt Erik stand behind her. "Excuse me madame, but I am her father now." Amile nodded. The woman backed up. "But in legal terms, she is mine." Erik put his hands on Amile's shoulders tightly, in an angry grasp.
"Well then. Some mother you are, causing your daughter to be blind. Yes, that is so parental indeed."
The woman took a step forward. "I did it for her saftety, so that if she was to die, she would't have to watch it happen. And if she lived, she wouldn't see the horror of the world around her." Then Erik smiled. "Oh, hide the horror of the world around her, eh? Well, hate to tell you, but it is only temporary. She will see again. But I don't think you know horror. This, my dear lady, is horror." With a simple movement, he took of his mask and was greeted with a terrified gasp. He put it back in. "No, madame, she is my daughter." The woman was still trembling, judging by the aura of fear around her. Then she turned around and ran out of the building.
Amile turned around and smiled at her father, then hugged him tightly. He kissed the top of her head gently. Then tears came to her eyes. He would have never let her go with someone that had hurt he so badly in the past. Just that one action showed all the love in the world to her. She buried her head into his chest and sobbed. "Thank you." she whispered. He stroked her hair gently and took her back to the lair, knowing full well that no one in the world could ever take his place in his daughter's heart. She was his daughter.
