Author's Note: I appologize prefusely for the time in which it took for this small chapter to reach you all. It was the last week of school and I had finals, and whatever else...What a pain...but now it's summer! (Hallelujah!) and I plan to keep this story going for all of you who are, like myself, praying for a new chapter on atleast one other person's story each day...I have already written a third of the next chapter, which (as are my intentions at the present time...) will include the wedding...Well, I hope you all enjoy this small teaser and I apologize for it's length.
Start A New Life With Me
The sun shone in through the kitchen window onto the mahogany wood dining table in front of which I was sitting. I traced the outline of the rays of light with my finger and the shadow of my hand followed suit. My thoughts, Everything inside of me was swarming. My heart was dancing and my mind was it's partner. After a few minutes, I couldn't stand it any longer and I got up from the table. I walked around the kitchen, straitening a vase of flowers that wasn't crooked to begin with and fusing with anything I could find. Today was the day, the day that I would become a beloved wife to my Erik. I was ecstatic. Butterflies made my stomach lurch, but in no way was I nervous. Anxiousness was more what I felt, complete anxiousness.
I heard the faint sound of footsteps on the staircase and my attention immediately snapped to the kitchen door to see Erik there. He was dressed magnificently, everything about him looked as if it had been considered and cared for. Even his mask looked as if it was polished. I couldn't help but grin at him. Something inside of me felt as if it had been letdown as I looked upon his mask. I decided to ask him to do something I knew he wouldn't consent to, but I was determined to ask anyway.
"Erik…?"
He stepped into the light that gleamed through the window. "Yes, My beautiful bride?"
I smiled and prepared myself for his response. "Do you plan on wearing the mask as we are wed?"
He stopped and stared at me with a puzzled expression. "What is it that you are asking of me?"
I swallowed, slightly scared by his unpredictable response. "I just wanted to know…if you were going to wear your mask during the wedding?"
"How could I not?" I looked to the floor, my eyes resting on the tips of my own feet. I could feel the heat of his glare upon my face, but the words that I wished to speak, refused to come. I waited in silence. "Gabrielle.." His words carried the hint of a warning that made me meet his eyes. "Are you saying that you want me to forsake my mask for the ceremony?" His voice was growing angry at an astounding pace. "You cannot honestly say that you wouldn't leave me at the alter, if you had to make your marriage vows while looking upon my true face…!"
My mouth fell open at his harshness. "Erik…!" I whispered roughly.
"NO! GABRIELLE! HOW COULD YOU ASK SUCH A THING OF ME?" I took a step back as the volume of his voice grew. He advanced and I continued to retreat, step by step. "I CANNOT AND WILL NOT LOSE YOU TOO! AND THAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT COULD COME FROM OUR BEING MARRIED WITHOUT MY MASK! NOT TO MENTION THAT THE PRIEST WOULD NEVER CONSENT TO READING THE BIBLE IN FRONT OF A CREATURE SUCH AS I!"
"Erik, PLEASE…You are scaring me!" I whimpered softly.
"SCARE YOU? OH, BUT THAT'S WHAT I AM, ISNT IT…A FRIGHTENING MONSTER!"
"ERIK! Your face was NEVER a horror to me…As long as you dont let it control you as you are now, it couldn't frighten me!" I pleaded to him with my eyes. "ERIK! I LOVE YOU! YOU!…Please…do not scare me…not on this day of all days…we are to be married! AND I WILL MARRY YOU…NO MATTER….WITH OR WITHOUT YOUR MASK!" His pace quickened and he was soon standing inches from me. He reached out to me and out of instinct I recoiled from his touch. I hadnt thought about my actions, but remembering Christophe's unruly fist had caused me to flinch as Erik reached for me. He stopped advancing on me and looked at me, with sudden horror.
"Gabrielle! I'm so sorry…what have I done!" He started backing away from me with utter terror reflecting in the green pools of his eyes, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe what he had done.
"Erik, calm down…it's alright…"
"NO! I…I…let my anger take control of me…I let the monster which is part of me out of it's cage…set on you…!" His words came in frantic sentences, his body trembling while he spoke.
"ERIK!" I advanced on him quickly, giving him no time to recede. I took his face between my hands and held it firmly. "ERIK! LISTEN TO ME! YOU DID NOT HURT ME…I STILL WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU COULDN'T, EVEN IN YOUR ANGER…SO THERE IS NO HARM DONE…WE ARE GETTING MARRIED…FORGET THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IS TO COME DURING THE DAY! THIS DAY!"
He closed his eyes and let his rigid body, relax against my own. I sighed out of relief. In all seriousness, I hadn't expected much less of an outburst from this conversation. His breathing calmed and he lifted his head to meet my gaze and smiled kindly.
"Yes…you're right…I am truly sorry though…"
I leaned in close to his ear. "Don't be! Now…how are we going to begin this lovely day?"
He laughed boldly and I stared at him curiously. "There is no we this morning, I'm afraid, my love…"
"Excuse me!"
He laughed again. "Did you truly believe that I hadn't planned out this day perfectly?"
"And in this perfect day, us spending time together, isn't an included event?"
"Don't get so worked up my love, I simply mean that there is a carriage waiting to take you to get a wedding dress, and then it will take you to where we are to be wed…while I prepare in my own way…even I know that it is custom for the groom to not be allowed to see the bride the day of the wedding…Now, the carriage is waiting…hurry, gather your things…" he winked at me lovingly.
"Erik…I just cant understand you sometimes…" I smiled and hugged him once before setting off to do as he had instructed. Once I had collected all that I would need, I went downstairs and found Erik standing by the door, gracefully leaning against it's frame. Slowly, I approached him as he remained where he was, our eyes never breaking away from each others. Finally, I was close enough to touch him, but he beat me to it, pulling me into his warm embrace. I sighed contentedly, and after a few moments started to move away. I began to walk out the door but his hand firmly on my wrist made me stop. He tugged on my wrist, not harshly, but forcefully and I was in his arms once again.
"Erik…you planned this…I must get going, if you would like the ceremony to happen this evening…otherwise we can delay it…"
"Don't speak such blasphemy…I simply couldn't let you leave without one last kiss…"
"One LAST kiss…? You planning on never kissing me once we are married?" I joked playfully.
"Gabrielle…please…I was serious…From now on, our kisses will be like those shared between two souls…two hearts that can never be severed…because they are bonded by the sanctity of marriage…" He stared at me so honestly that I couldn't help but take in what he said and place it within my heart.
"That was beautiful Erik." I gasped.
"No...it is you who are beautiful, my angel, my love…my wife…" And with that we pulled me in for our 'last kiss'.
I don't remember much that followed, except that I was soon in the carriage heading for the seamstress's shop. As I looked over my shoulder, Erik stood within the woods near the road, watching me leave. I smiled at him and mouthed 'I love you'. As I sat there thinking about Erik, I had to admit to myself that I wished every kiss could be like our last. Those thoughts plastered a permanent grin on my face that lasted until long after we reached the Seamstress's shop.
