Author's note: I went back and changed this changed this chapter and the last chapter a bit.
I want to thank my friend Brittany (A.K.A evil genius) for giving me ideas and writing most of this chapter. Luv ya to pieces Brit!
"Perfect," I mouthed spinning around and admiring the charming display of toys in the oversize nursery. Bright colored novelties littered the room from top to bottom. I took my time to slowly ingest every detail.
Erik had devoted so many hours fidgeting it to perfection. I laughed remembering how he leapt from corner to corner, first making a toy similar to his favorite music box, and then painting a mural of a circus on the wall. Though I found the theme quite odd considering his circumstances I knew better then to interrupt him. He was running around as if he were a busy mother hen.
I graced my feet doubly upon the floor and ran my fingers down the crib. Sweet Rebecca was on her side. Her pale eyelids were shut comfortably. Her fingers were curled into a week fist. I covered my mouth and laughed through my nose at the sight. Her tiny helpless body rose with each breath. I couldn't help but touch her figure. I ran my fingers down her small back in a massage-like motion and bit my lip to hold back tears. I'm a mother now. The thought echoed in my mind. I leaned down and kissed her cheek. It felt as if my lips were grazing silk. When I rose up I realized what side she was sleeping on, her right side.
Faint notes quivered in the distance. I swirled around as a three shocking organ cords combined. I couldn't ignore them, but I had a feeling that was the original purpose. Erik was drawing me towards him. Before I knew it I was startled by the slamming of a door, a door my hands had slammed. I was in the music room. He had cast his spell on me once again. I hadn't even noticed my trip to the room. My heart raced as his hands danced across the organ. It seemed as if a million notes were filling the empty spaces within this room all at once. Three melodies with three different tones joined as one. The first was triumphant, the next was eerie and a faint touch of lust lifted from the keys. Every note originated from his hands. His hands! If you wear deaf you could feel the music just looking at the movements within his hands. It was almost like a dance. When the melody was soft and mellow his shoulders slightly lowered and his fingers skidded gracefully. As the volume increased and notes became sinister his body lurched in a way that caused my whole body to tingle.
I couldn't resist sitting next to him and whispering in his ear, "Do you know how incredible you are with your hands?" He tilted his head back and sighed knowing what I meant by my words. As if to prove what I said was true in a blink of an eye he placed my body in front of him and caressed notes around me. I gasped in shock as he ran one hand down my thigh and kept playing with the other. I wanted to slap him and kiss him at the same time. I knew what he wanted. I guessed that he knew the baby was sleeping.
"Erik I'm still sore," I nearly shouted with rage, but my anger didn't last long. Erik wasn't above me. The opera ghost gripped my hips and sent me tumbling backwards. I was terribly frightened by his cold stare, but somewhere within me screamed for more. He steered me to the couch and dropped me there. A hint of a smile brushed his lips before he spun around and sat back at his bench. He wasn't going to do anything to me, only fill me with rage. I shook my head and rolled my eyes into my skull. He just loved to play these games. His fingers were perched above the keys, but he seemed to be waiting for something. I sighed with disbelief. His little tricks worked every time. I tiptoed to the piano and slipped my hands under his shirt trying to catch him off guard. He swirled me around and laid my body on the bench.
"Next time, I trust you will be quicker." He ordered harshly once again grabbing my hips.
"Yes," I moaned under my breath. A sly smirk spread across his face. He knew that his little charades drove me insane, every time.
"I love it when you're naughty," I said nibbling on his ear.
His grip softened around my hips and he tilted my head to his. If he had lusted over my body he would have forced himself upon me already, but he loves me. He only allowed his lips on mine for a few moments before turning away. His body tensed as he tried to contain his desires. The struggle within him was more then obvious. If it is perhaps at all possible, I now love him even more.
"I love it even more when you're sweet," I said grabbing his face and tasting his lips one last time before running off.
A knock shook the door. I raced to be the first one to open it and swung it open. My heart leaped when I saw Jolie in the doorway. We both squealed and strangled each other. When we parted I noticed Joseph by her side. My eyes lightened. Jolie now looked as a grown woman with her husband by her side. She wore a fur coat that Liana had made for her, and her hair packed into a civilized bun. The outfit rarely fitted her personality. The Jolie I used to know only wore tutus and ribbons in her hair. She had become a woman that day she said her vows.
"We've come to see the baby," she said grabbing my hand and sending me an open grin that reassured me she hadn't changed entirely.
I nearly skipped to the nursery feeling like a child again. Jolie wrapped a hand around my shoulders and leaned her head on mine as a sign of how intimate our friendship truly is.
I turned the knob and slid a hand through the jarred door. I peaked an eye through the tiny slit then closed it. Erik was in the room leaning over the crib with his unmasked face in view. Even though I wanted so badly for him to be social I knew he wasn't ready yet to face the world.
"Um, just give me a second I beckoned before stepping inside.
"Addie she's not moving." Erik said when he realized I had stepped into the room. He stared back at me and waving his hand over Rebecca's eyes.
"She's just playing," I tried to convince him while partly trying to convince myself.
"No Addie come here and see," he replied motioning towards the crib. His eyebrows furrowed in worry.
I walked slowly to the crib. I wanted to ignore him and refuse to listen, but I knew that wouldn't help. I peaked over the crib to see Rebecca gazing in the distance as if something was there and not responding to her father's movements.
"Rebecca sweetie," I called softly while gently tapping her arm. Her body still moved with her breaths but no movement came. I paused for a moment. My hand just lolled in the air. I closed my eyes for a moment to maintain my sanity. "I'm going to get the doctor," I nearly whispered.
