Ending a Perfect Dream

The cave was filled with candles and their faint glow, gave the room a mysterious, yet very romantic feeling. Isabelle continued to take in the awesome sight before her when she spied the organ...and the man sitting in front of it. He was playing an interesting song; she could feel passion, hate, and anger flowing through every note. She did not turn away, but closed her eyes and listened intently to the music. When this man played she felt as if she was flying through the bars of the music…every note that he played was full of emotion.

When the last note of the piece faded away Isabelle slowly opened her eyes, and began to stare at the man with awe and admiration. The man had put his head in his hands. His shoulders began to shake, and Isabelle knew that he was sobbing. She felt such pity for him…and her heart had begun to make a strange fluttering movement in her chest. She instinctively began walking towards him; as she got closer to the bench, Christine placed a firm hand on her shoulder. Isabelle jumped up in alarm.

"Not now, mon ange," said her mother, "He needs some time alone." Isabelle nodded hastily. In her daze, she had forgotten that her family was with her. Noticing her surprise, Christine draped a comforting arm around her daughter's shoulders and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

"I'm sorry, mon cherie," she said. Isabelle just embraced her mother tightly in return. Jeanette and Daniel came up quietly behind them.

"So Bella," said Jeanette pulling on her sister's nightgown, "Do you like him?"

"Netta!" said Daniel and Christine in unison. Both shocked at the carelessness of the question. Jeanette just shrugged her shoulders, smiled, and glanced up at her sister. Isabelle was staring at the man with the most intent look they had ever seen her give. She had the strangest urge to touch him right there. So she reached out a trembling hand towards him and just before it reached his shoulder she was interrupted.

"NON, BELLA!" cried Jeanette; she jumped in front of her sister's outstretched hand. As she did so her back hit the man; he did not feel a thing. Seeing this Isabelle broke away from her mother's embrace and glared at her sister.

"Why shouldn't I touch him?" she demanded angrily, "You just touched him and he did not feel a thing!" Isabelle's breathing had become heavier as she tried to control her rising anger.

"You should not touch him because…"Jeanette sighed heavily.

"WHY?" demanded Isabelle.

"Because, he can feel your touch…even when he can't feel mine," said Jeanette.

"W-What?" asked Isabelle slowly. If he couldn't feel Jeanette's touch then why could he feel hers?

"Because, mon cherie," said Daniel taking her hand, "You are still living unlike us," he glanced at the rest of his family, "And because you had succumbed to his music…" Isabelle looked at her father puzzled.

"How is that possible?" she thought stupidly, "How in the world is that possible?"

As she continued to stare at her family she suddenly realized the meaning to all of this. When she heard how he played she lost herself in his spell. She had never succumbed to anyone like that before…

She lifted her gaze to her family and then turned it toward the man.

"Is that why?" she thought anxiously. They nodded. The man then made a movement to rise and Isabelle stepped back. His back was to her as he picked up a rose and stroked the petals lovingly. She heard him say,

"I loved her…oh Christine…"

At the word 'loved' Isabelle's heart sank. He already loved another. When she heard the name 'Christine' her eyes filled with tears of rage and confusion. This man was in love with her mother? She quickly chased the thought away.

"Why am I always denied…" Isabelle could not go on. The tears had begun to flow once again. Jeanette walked up to her sister and put her arms around her waist. Isabelle glanced at her sister and gave her a hug in return. At that moment the man turned around and Isabelle could finally see him. Her eyes widened at what she saw.

He had a white mask over his entire face but behind it she could see his grayish blue eyes. Isabelle lost herself in those eyes; they burned with emotion. She felt as if she needed his gaze to survive. She could see years of cruelty and hate in them; yet she also saw love of the purest kind etched in them as well. Those eyes also seemed to hold a fierce mysterious fire that captivated her. She wanted to take away all of the pain he had…she wanted to make him happy. Her heart fluttered faster as she continued to stare deeply into those eyes; they would forever remind her of the sea on a stormy day…

Absentmindedly, she reached out a hand to touch his mask, but then she remembered that he would be able to feel her touch. He turned away from her and began to walk towards a desk littered with papers. She followed him and picked up a few along the way. She looked at them and her eyes widened in awe. These were not sketches of her mother, but of a different young woman. These were the most beautiful sketches she had ever seen in her life.

She felt a pang of jealousy as she continued to look through the sketches. She could see why this man had fallen in love with her; she was very beautiful perfect eyes, glossy dark brown hair, pale pink complexion, and she had the most beautiful lips Isabelle had ever seen. Her eyes filled with tears as she realized that she could never be as beautiful as Christine.

Isabelle raised her eyes to look at the man once more. He was sitting at the desk writing furiously. She approached him cautiously and looked over his shoulder. She could see that they were plans to build a building of some sort. She was amazed at what she saw. The sketches were flawless, every proportion was perfect.

"He's a genius!" she thought excitedly. At that moment her mother came up behind her.

"Come away, Bella," she said gently, "It is time for us to leave." Isabelle looked at her mother in alarm.

"B-But Maman," she said pleadingly, "I must know more of him."

"You will know more soon, mon cherie, but now we must go." Isabelle took one last look at the man and turned once again to her mother.

"Alright Maman," she said sadly, "Let's go."

Christine draped an arm around her daughter's shoulders and the scenery changed once again. The de Lon Craie family was now standing in Isabelle's bedroom. Daniel and Jeanette were now standing next to Christine. All four of them were silent, and after a few moments Christine walked toward her eldest daughter and embraced her warmly.

"Mon ange," she began sadly, "W-We h-have to leave now."

"WHAT!" cried Isabelle in alarm, "You c-can't leave! Not yet!" Isabelle squeezed her mother tightly as she began to sob. Her father walked over to his wife and daughter.

"Oui, mon ange," whispered Daniel gently, "We have to, dearest Isabelle."

"Non, non, non, non…" sobbed Isabelle, "Non! I need a-all o-o-f you here!" Jeanette then came over to her parents and sister. Her mother let her embrace her sister.

"Bella, it will be alright," Jeanette whispered tearfully, "We will live on in your heart."

"Non, Netta…non," Isabelle sobbed harder, "Please don't leave me!"

"We must, darling, we must!" sobbed Netta she was now holding her sister like she would never let go. The de Lon Craie family stood silent for a few moments. Each member was thinking about the happy times they shared and the future they would all experience. Isabelle finally broke the silence.

"Please remember me," her voice was barely audible, "Beloved Maman, Beloved Papa, and dearest, dearest Jeanette, never forget me!" Her mother, father, and sister put their arms around their angel.

"We will never forget you, mon ange," Christine was sobbing as well.

"Please remember us too," said Daniel sadly, tears were slowly running down his cheeks.

"I'll always remember you," said Isabelle raising her head, "Je t'aime, Maman, Papa, and Jeanette."

"Je t'aime, Isabelle." said her family in unison. The de Lon Craie family embraced one last time and in a flash of white light Christine, Daniel, and Jeanette de Lon Craie disappeared…

Isabelle woke with a start. She walked to her vanity and saw that her dark brown eyes were red. She also saw that her hair was astray.

"Oh! Now what will I do?" she asked herself.

Her eyes then turned to her piano forte, and she remembered her dream. In her mind's eye she saw the man in the mask, she could she his grayish blue eyes staring right back at her. Her heart began to flutter in her chest, and her breathing became heavier. She hastily turned back to her mirror, and she saw herself blushing fiercely. The redness of her eyes had disappeared and in their place there was a shine that she had not seen in a long time…