Awww, my reviewers! They disappeared! Oh well, I hope this chapter makes up for everything! I liked it... Meh, I like a lot of things. But hey, I'm bored and tired and listening to Murderdolls. Oh what fun I get out of this. And I highly recommend fufulupin's Phantom of the High School ficcie or whatever it's called. I love it to bits and pieces! So read on my little human things!
Chapter 31: The Cemetary
The wonderful days between Erik and Amile were coming to a close. Christine and Raoul would be coming back soon and the opera house would be up and operating again. Amile cherished the last few days, attaching herself to her father as much as possible. Erik was not aware of the days with his daughter coming to a close, but as Amile thought, he would never be aware. He didn't understand. He didn't see these things. But day in and day out, Amile would still smile, even if it was a sad one.
The snowfall increased when the opera house began running again. The staff was still arguing and talking over Erik's Don Juan Triumphant! Amile feared what might happen the night of the opera, if they agreed on it. If they didn't, there would be a disaster like none has ever seen. The new managers had learned quickly about Erik's reputation. If he said something bad would happen, it would be. And what he described in his letter regarding requirements of the opera, when he stated his threat if the didn't do as he asked, there would be such a disaster so much worse than the death of Joseph Buquet. The managers feared Erik more than anything. It almost gave Amile shame to be Erik's daughter. But she was still his daughter and she would do anything for him. Even if it meant having to commit a murder herself.
Christine and Raoul did come back. Raoul acted like a hawk over Christine, watching her at all times. He even slept by her room at night, making sure no one got to her. Erik got so angry at Raoul for this. He wanted to kill Raoul so badly that he would do anything just to do that.
One night, Erik sat on his chair, writing angrily on a paper, practically ripping it. Amile watched him, afraid of what he might be thinking up. Erik's lips were practically white from being so stressed. His hatred for Raoul probably fueled this. Then Erik sat up straight. "Amile, come here." he demanded. She slowly got to her feet from her position on her bed. He looked into her eyes. His eyes always drew her in. They were enchanting, hypnotizing, beckoning. They were an unusual mix of color of golden green. He smiled at her, fatigue and stress evident in him.
"Tomorrow is the anniversary of Gustav DaaƩ's death. Christine will have to go to the cemetary, I know it. She loved her father too much not to do it. And that's where we will get her."
Amile held back the urge to scream, 'We! What do you mean we? It's you who wants her!' But she didn't. She nodded. He smiled tiredly.
"But I need you to do something for me. In Gustav's tomb, there is a door opening mechanism. I need you to open the doors on my signal and turn on the gaslamp inside, okay?"
She nodded, not wanting at all to do the task in which her father asked of her. But being as submissive as she was, she nodded again and walked away.
Amile couldn't sleep that night. Her heartbeat was going in unnatural thumps, scared. She had never been really scared in her life. This was getting out of hand. Erik was becoming really insane, losing his mind over a girl that didn't really love him back. He had just watched her day in and day out. Amile regretted ever saying anything as a child about Christine. She blamed herself for getting everyone into this mess. It would haunt her forever. She gazed into the darkness that dominated the lair like a black sheet. All she could ask herself was why did she do it in the first place.
The cold morning came in. Amile was so tired from the lack of sleep she got in the previous night. Erik seemed excited, on the other hand. He was dressed and happy about his newest idea. In her mind, Amile knew it would fail. All of Erik's plans usually did when it came to Christine. Amile very slowly got dressed. Erik looked at her when she came out.
"Are you okay Amile? You look sick."
She shook her head, though she wished she was sick so she wouldn't have to do anything today. It was all against her will. He stroked her hair gently, smiling at her.
"It's okay Amile, it will all be rewarding in the end."
Right there, she actually felt like smacking him hard across the face, knocking some sense into him. It wouldn't be rewarding to her. Only to him. He practically worshipped Christine with every fiber of his life. He stood up straight, in a triumphant pose. "Yes, today will be that stupid Raoul's downfall. He will regret ever laying a hand on Christine." Amile winced at the words. She didn't want anyone's downfall. He looked back down at her. "I need you to take a horse from the stables, you know how. You will ride to the cemetary and wait for me. It may be an hour or so before I actually get there, but be ready."
As Erik ordered, Amile managed to go behind the stable worker's back and take a horse, quickly riding out to the cemetary. She felt like crying the whole way there. Her heart felt as heavy as lead and she wanted to die. Her white mare moved quickly. "Not so fast..." Amile whispered. She wanted to take her time, maybe not show up at all. Erik was doomed and she knew it. Then the cemetary came into view. It rose like a mountain of the dead. She cringed at the sight. It felt almost disrespectful to her to even try to get anywhere near Christine's father's grave. But she had to. It was for her father. She wanted Erik to love only her again, even if it meant doing things against her will.
She let her horse go, watching it gracefully prance among the graves and to wherever it felt like going. Amile looked sadly at the tomb. She bit her lip as she pushed open the doors. Years of experience had taught her how to open doors without trying, like her father before her. Her body froze as she looked at where Gustav's body lay. She saw the lever to open the doors. A shiver ran through her. She would have to be in a dark, cold room with a dead body for a certain amount of time. Just the thought chilled her. Though she didn't have to stay in there until Erik got there. She could wait.
Her depressed feeling slowly drifted away as she watched the snow cover her footprints. She felt so sad on the inside, but her outside didn't show any sign of it. Then she heard quick footsteps behind her. "Amile..." came a voice she knew all too well. Just as she expected, when she turned her head, there was Erik. He was panting. "She's coming, get in there." That's when Amile felt a sudden spark of independence in her.
"No."
Erik looked at her sideways, trying to comprehend what she had just said. "What did you just say?" She felt her fear come back. Since she was young, she had a fear of Erik that came very rarely. But now was a time when it resurfaced. "N-no." she repeated. He glared at her.
"And what makes you think you can deny my orders?" he demanded. She looked up at him and shivered. Then she shook her head. She was to submissive for her own good. Yet again, she gave into him. Slowly, she went back in the tomb, shutting the door behind her.
Then she heard the sound of what sounded like an angel singing. It was Christine. Amile's hand flew to the gaslamp, slowly turning it on. A warm light filled the tomb. The cross behind her was illuminated. Quickly, she pulled the lever activating the door. In a small blast of light, Amile managed to slip out of the tomb to behind it, where Erik stood. He smiled at his daughter, but she didn't smile back. He shrugged, then walked to the side of the tomb. The air was soon filled with his voice, another angel in a dark world. Amile felt herself being absorbed into it. The melody bringing her to the edge of fainting.
Suddenly, the melody was interrupted by a noise that sounded like a horse. Amile felt panic rush through her veins. In an adrenaline rush, she climbed to the top of the tomb and peered over the side. Just as she had expected, Raoul had come to his beloved Christine's rescue. Erik came out from his hiding place, anger flowing through him. "You..." he hissed, like some sort of poisonous snake. Raoul jumped from the horse and took out his sword. Amile felt fear come back into her. "You'd better not hurt him." she said quietly, not loud enough for anyone to hear. To her relief, Erik too pulled out a sword. The two men stabbed at eachother madly. They pranced around the area by the tomb, coming so close to killing one another. Then, Erik cut Raoul's arm and Amile silently cheered for her father. It was like a battle between good and evil, but Amile didn't know who was who.
In a flash of glinting metal, Erik's sword rolled to the side and he was forced to the ground. Raoul pointed his sword at Erik angrily. Then Christine jumped to Erik's rescue.
"No! Raoul! Not like this!"
Raoul looked to her, then Erik, then back at her. He abandoned his spot over Erik and placed Christine on his horse, then he jumped on as well. They rode off quickly, leaving Erik in a stunned state. He stood up and brushed some snow off of himself. He grinned wickedly torward the direction in which the two were headed. "Then, it will be war, against you both." he said shakily. Amile quickly jumped from her own hiding place to her father's side.
"Daddy! Are you okay?"
He sighed and nodded. "I'm fine." he said softly. Amile picked up his sword and handed it back to him, her arm shaking. Erik took it from her and placed it back in its hilt. Then he looked to her, a warm smile coming over his features.
"Thank you Amile, for helping me as much as you did."
She didn't fully accept the thank you. She looked away from him, in shame. Then she felt his arms go around her. He whispered into her ear, "Amile, no matter what happens between us, you will always be my daughter, my own angel. Nothing, not even Christine, can ever change this." Amile shakily hugged him back and looked down at the ground. It seemed like a lie, but this was Erik. She would probably never know the truth.
