Forget Me Not: Chapter 8

Sorry for the wait! It was a combination of puppy training, computer troubles, and (of course) laziness. So yeah. I do not own POTO. I tried to steal Ayesha, but Erik caught me and almost killed me! He heh...that was a gooood day.

PS: Please forgive all typos you find in this chapter. I'm writing this on a different computer. Ussually I write on Microsoft Word, which has spell check, but today I must settle with Wordpad, which does NOT -grumbles- Forgive me.

Erik examined his new discovery with a careful eye. It was tiny, and yet so extravagent! Much more extravagent than his, he noticed with a small smirk. It was covered in diamonds, some bigger than one of his fingernails! Swarvoski, he guessed, or another well known name. The gold band was sparkly and expensive looking, making the whole package beautiful, yet awfully gaudy. It didn't appeal to him at all personaly, If he were to give one to a woman (which he was quite certain he would never have the chance to do so) it would be much more simple.

So whos was this It certainly wasn't his, he would have remembered purchasins something so horribly...big.

Christine! It must have been her wedding ring! But what was it doing here? He thought hard. Why would she take it off? He found it near the wall. But she wouldn't have...

He sat down on the bed and threw the ring at the wall with force. It landed quite close to where he had found it. So she threw it... he thought. But why would she throw her wedding ring? Was she not happy in her marriage?

"I love you!"

No. No way, not possible. She could not love him. She'd just met him! And besides, even if se did love him, he could not love her back. He loved another, forever.

But why couldnt he move on? She broke his heart! If he felt anything for her he should hate her! Yes! He hated her! He hated...

Christine.

Christine stood outside the mansion, not sure where to go. To the Giry's? No, it was much to late to be bothering them. To the opera house? Erik had not forbidden her from returning. Would he allow her to stay? It would not be for long, only till morning. Then she would go to the Giry's and figure out where to go from there. There was no chance of him being asleep. Ad she really should check on him, make sure his condition had't worsened...

She felt desperation strike her as rain began to pour. There would be no carriages circulating this time of night. The chauffer ha long since retied to his quarters. It would be much too difficult to try to juggle her suitcase and the reigns of a horse at the same time. The opera house as not in walking distance, it would take hours in the pouring rain. And besdes Erik's house would be the first place Raoul would look.

She was dreading the morning. In the morning, Raoul would awaken from a peaceful dream ad find his wife gone. She felt terrible, horrible guilt wash over her as she stared up at her bedroom window. She needed to leave now, or she'd never be able to go.

She left her suitcase on the porch and took out only one thing- her fathers photograph. She just couldn't bring herself to part with it. She stuffed it into the bodice of her cotton nightgown and mounted her horse. Kicking his sides, she rode into the night. It wouldn't be a long ride...

A young child cries desperately as she lights a candle.

"Papa...you swore to me you'd send me the angel of music when you died! Well, you're dead now, papa, and I am lonely beyond belief! Please, send him soon papa, I miss you terribly, and I cannot take an empty promise!"

A child crying to her deseased father. A child to share his loneliness. A child to draw him out of his darkness? Erik looks on as he feels a tiny spark of hope for the first time in his sorry life. He isn't sure why he speaks, all he knows is that he must comfort the child.

"I am your angel of music! Sing for me, my child, I wish to hear your voice!"

The child's eyes widen, but she does not hesitate to sing the song her father taught her.

"Angel of Music

Guide and Gaurdian!

Grant to me your glory!

Angel of Music

Hide no longer!

Come to me strange angel!"

Erik can help but sigh as he hears the child's angelic voice She stops all too soon, grinning childishly and staring at her feet.

"My dear, what is your name?"

"Christine Daae, angel." she mutters.

"Ah yes, Christine, if you will allow me, I will teach you to become a great prima donna!"

"Better than La Carlotta?" the girl asks, her head raising, eyes wide in amazement. Erik grins to himself, recalling the shrill toad whose voice he had to endure at every opera.

"Much better than La Carlotta. Much better than anyone here."

Christine is now overly excited, for the small girl is now on her feet, jumping up and down and talking about operas and music and how jealous the others will be!

"Oh, and wait until Meg hears I have my very own angel! She'll be so j-"

"One request, my child," Erik cuts in. Christine sits down immediately and folds her hands neatly in her lap. A blus creeps up her face as she stares at them intently. "You must tell no one about me, alright? This will be our secret. Can you keep a secret?"

"Yes."

He felt memories flood his mind. A lonely child. A gala night. A rich boy. A roof top. A Masquerade ball. A cemetary in winter. Denial after heart breaking denial, promise after empty promise. And Christine Daae, the cause of his suffering. He hated her! He ran out in a blind rage and threw her ring into the lake, gritting his teeth at the horrible -plop- sound of the water. She tore his heart from his chest...his very chest! And what did he do? He pined for her, likwe a love sick dog! He threw the other ring into the lake, this time letting out a cry of rage. He was nothing more than a pawn in her perfect little life, helping her achieve her perfect little dreams...and for what cause? What thanks did he recieve? Betrayal and solitude! She wasn't worth his time, his misery, his effort!

He ran to the organ and grabbed the song he'd been working on, All I Ask Of You...how dumb was he! He had thought it was his own creation, when in reality it was only their love song! He threw sheet after sheet into the burning fire, watching with glee as the sheets curled and blackened as they burned.

"NO MORE MEMORIES! NO MORE SILENT TEARS!" He screamed. Horrible Christine had destroyed poor Erik!

And yet, the fact was that he WASN'T poor, innocent Erik. He wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was a murderer. He was a horrible person...

No! He refused to let himself feel self loathing now. For once, for just this once, he had to see himself as the better person. Just this once.

Down, down ever further to the catacombs of the opera house. Would he be happy to see her? Would he apologize for lashing out at her? No, of course not, he was much too arrogant. He would most likely allow her to stay, but not speak to her the entire evening...Finally she was at the edge of the lake.

"Erik!" she called.

No response!

"Erik! she called again, louder. Again, nothing. She repeated his name over and over again. Finally, another voice was heard in the darkness.

"Why have you returned?" the voice was shaky and came from behind her. She quickly turned around, only to be greeted by darkness.

"I...I only need a place to stay for the rest of tonight." she replied rather meekly, looking all around her.

"And do you really believe you will recieve it?" the voice came from aboe her. She looked p expectantly. Nothing.

"After all the pain you've caused me?" It came from below her. She quickly gt to her feet and pounded on the groun with her small fists. Pain? Had she really hurt his feelings that much by taking his ring?

"Say you'll share with me

One love, one lifetime!

Say the word and I will follow you!"

The voice was cruel and mocking and seemed to come at her from every angle. He eyes widened, from fear and disbelief.

"You remember..." and her world went black.

Erik stepped off the gondola calmly. He'd heard her screaming from the other side of the lake. Now for his choice...did he leave her? Did he kill her?

She was beautiful as she lay, her hair going every which way, eyes closed, mouth twisted in a frown.

He couldn't kill her. Gingerly, he picked her up. He lay her down on the bed. Placing her head on a pillow, he took multiple sheets and pillows and lifted her legs. She'd wake soon. And he'd be all too prepared for her when she did.

-For those who have not read the Leroux book, Erik is a vantriloquist.

-On back, head supported, legs upthe recovery position for fainting. I was in St John Ambulence -smiles-

If I got any lyrics wrong, I'm sorry!

PS: Yay! Arwen1604, can't wait for the next story! I was so happy when I read that today!

-Son Kat