Author's Note: Erik sends his love to all of my lovely reviewers! Please review!
This chapter is dedicated to Kat097 for having such awesome modern day phics. You're an inspiration to us all!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything, as much as I wished I did. And I never will.
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I was in a dimly lit hallway. Where I was standing, it was made of a strange dark wood that I had never seen before, but I could see further down the tunnel it became replaced by a stone that resembled granite, though I couldn't be sure.
In front of me stood a man. His identity was unmistakable. But he was no angel, of that I could be certain. I couldn't see much of what he was wearing; it was covered up by a large cloak. The ceiling, which was a good foot over my head, stooped dangerously low over his. As if his cloak and height weren't odd enough, he also wore a mask over the upper half of his face, leaving only his mouth and chin visible. The mask was a beautifully crafted object. It was black and seemed to be made out of a type of porcelain, though I couldn't be sure.
These things were only given momentary notice by me. His voice was weaving me into its spell, enthralling me beyond hope of being saved. I wasn't sure I wanted to be saved. His voice made me feel like I could live forever. He extended his hand to me, and I took it. Only then did I dimly register that his hands were gloved. The texture of the leather almost brought me out of my reverie, but not quite.
We started to walk down the hall, my eyes never leaving his. He watched me, with an expression that could only be described as hungry. He made me feel, somehow, like a queen. But not a queen of any realm that I had ever heard of: a queen of the night. He had an aura of darkness which he wore as surely as he wore the cloak that graced his shoulders.
We walked through dimly lit passage ways for what seemed like an eternity. We finally reached an underground lake, many levels below my apartment. My Angel helped me into a gondola, which was waiting for us at the shore.
It wasn't until I was in the boat that I woke up. I screamed as he began to push us along. I didn't like the looks of the water beneath us, murky and gray as it was, so I decided not to tip the boat over. As I frantically yelled at the man to let me go, he spoke.
"You have nothing to fear from me Christine." His speaking voice was clear, cool, and left no room for argument. Even through my growing terror I had to admire how easily he kept the boat going so fast. It couldn't be easy to keep the boat going a normal speed, and we were going at a breakneck one. He must have worked many long hours at building his arm muscles.
When we reached the shore, I saw a door in the rock. At the sight of the door my terror bubbled into hysteria. I punched my Angel as hard as I could. He grabbed my hands, picked me up with ease, and slung me over his shoulder, his patience apparently grown thin.
We entered the dwelling. The scene that met my eyes boggled my mind. I had expected something spectacular, but my new surroundings were almost frighteningly normal. It looked as if someone had taken a conventional living room and placed it here, who knows how far beneath the ground. The only thing that separated it from a typical dwelling was the lack of windows.
Behind me, the man spoke. "Welcome, Christine."
I turned around. "Who are you?" was the question that left my lips, though so many crowded my mind that it could have easily been any of them.
My Angel spoke to me for the last time. "I am Erik." Now that I knew he wasn't an angel, he could never be one again.
Erik continued to speak, after a long pause. "I am also a man, a man who loves you more than life itself." He got to his knees. "I think I may die of my love of you. Please forgive me."
I felt the color drain out of my face, as Erik got up from his knees. If this man could deceive me for five years and then kidnap me, what couldn't he do? Fear, acute and wild, filled every part of my being.
I flung myself at him, hoping to overpower him. If I could but get past him, I could make it to the other shore and then back to my apartment. Once there, I could call the police to arrest him. This man wasn't my Angel. I had no angel. My father's words had been lies. My whole life was a lie. Tears flew down my face as I beat him with all of the fury I felt.
I pounded his torso as well as I could, which didn't seem to have much of an effect on him. I wished that I could see his face; his expression could give away his intentions. Before I could stop it, my treacherous hand slid up and tore off Erik's mask.
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Review Responses:
MetalMyersJason: Would it be alright if I call you MMJ::coughs: I'm not a sir. I'm glad you think it's right to pay tribute.
Monj: I'm glad you like my Christine! Maybe I'll throw in a tank just for you. XD! I luff you very much.
Vicangel: What's so confusing about the last chapter? If you could tell me I'd be much obliged. I'm always open to ways of making my phic better. Thank you for reading even though you think it's confusing. It means a lot to me. Anywhoo, here's your hat::gives a spiffy new reviewer hat:
Tink20::evil grin: We'll see about that! I'm not going to make it ALL cake and roses.
WildPixieChild: I'm glad you like it::gives a spiffy new reviewer hat: Could I call you Pix?