I felt my way down the narrow, pitch-black passageway. My feet moved quickly and sure, even though I was deprived of my sight, with my heart pounding harshly in my ears. It was I who had "discovered" this second, hidden door, years ago; it had been explored thoroughly, many times. And I knew somehow that it was the only way that I could go, without getting caught, directly into Erik's domain.
Gritting my teeth, I wondered how on earth I had been able to keep such a cool composure for any length of time around Christine and Erik. Memories and images flashed through my head, of all the times I had bitten back any feeling, had smothered any emotion. Suddenly, a new image entered my mind…Raoul and Erik, arguing…snapping out of my thoughts, I stepped up my speed and rushed towards the end of the passage.
After about two more minutes, my effort paid off. I saw a faint, arching glow of light from the left side of the underground path. Feeling about clumsily, I reached to my neck and tugged from a thin chain the only thing that had continued my affection for Erik…a tiny, silver key that had been left on my dresser three years ago after I had found the passage. Finally, my hand found a small indent in the wooden door, and I prayed that my suspicions were correct.
A click told me they were. Feeling a small bit of smug satisfaction, I pushed the door open, hoping to the gods that Erik had trusted me with something useful…and, entering the softly lit room, I knew he had. It was a small space, but contained another door…that was, conveniently, unlocked. I wondered if it was coincidence, and decided it couldn't have been anything else. I turned the knob slowly, feeling an icy draft from under the door.
"Please, no!"
My lip curled at the echo of Christine's voice. It must be true that there was a thin line between love and hate…my eyes adjusted quickly to the dim lighting and I walked down a small flight of steps that led to a spiraling staircase, my body feeling damp in the underground air. Everything seemed cold…the walls and steps were all stone, torches for light few and far between. I could sense the biting, heady smell of lamp oil, and I knew I was getting closer. My lungs were burning and I now took the stairs two at a time, feeling my chest clench in anticipation as the voices came closer and closer….
The stairs suddenly opened up into a huge cavern. Several torches lit the area, and the pale light shimmered off the deep, dark lake…and, no less that ten paces away, in the light, were Erik and Christine, their lips locked in what seemed to be a passionate…if not utterly artificial...kiss. Narrowing my eyes, I straightened my shoulders and stepped from the shadows. It was time to take care of some business.