Freakstar: I now accept all reviewers! But facepalm Spellcheck didn't catch that comm!
Goldenpuppies: They didnt forget...and conflict is coming, but not about that!
Invaderoperaghost: Thank you!
The pathways he
led her down this time were not rough, but smooth hallways of stone.
A musty smell lingered here, stirred up by their haste. Once they
reached the end of the hall, Christine knew exactly where she was -
she was staring into her room. Thinking he had tricked her, she spun
on her heel and glared at Erik, opening her mouth to let out her
anger, but his swift gloved hand was quicker than she - holding his
hand over her mouth, he gave her his instructions.
"Go in, and
layer a few dresses on yourself. No bags, no luxuries - just clothes.
Wear as many as you can, but also be sure you can still run decently.
I'll be waiting."
"You'll wait here - outside the two way
mirror?" she whispered in horror. He let out a low chuckle.
"My
back will be turned all the while." he said lightly.
"Promise?"
An
amused smile tugged at his lips. "I promise. Now go; you have
little time. Make sure the door is locked." he said, and even
before she reached the other side of the mirror, his back was
turned.
Feeling terribly self conscious knowing that he was on the
other side of the mirror made her dress as quickly as possible. She
put on her Don Juan costume - it was light and thin, easy to wear
under clothing. On top of that she out on a long, flowing light black
dress. Then, spotting a blue dress that was Meg's from her old
wardrobe, she put it on, knowing that Meg's dresses were larger
than her own. Meg would never miss it; she only wore these plain
dresses before she became Populaire's latest diva.
After that,
she tied her hair with a black silk ribbon and ran back to the
mirror, where Erik stood, still with his back to her.
"Are you
quite finished yet?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
He turned
around only a bit, and held out his hand. "Come, we have much
farther to go before dawn."
Brisk, chilly wind blew
into Christine's face as once again they reconnected with the rest
of the world. Much to her surprise, she saw that the sun was sinking
quickly in the sky.
Just as he said, Erik had brought them to the
stables.
"What now?" Christine asked softly, looking around
cautiously.
"I took this fine stallion before; I don't
believe they'll be missing him too terribly." Erik replied,
stroking a black horse. Next to that horse stood a pure white one -
Cesar, another horse Erik had taken once. Some how they had gotten it
back - and in better shape than he had been before, though that part
was kept silent.
"Come, it's nearing twilight. If we're
lucky, we'll have night to cloak us in secret. Until then, we must
ride hard and fast, not letting anyone take a second look at us.
You'll sit in front - that way you can hide their view of my mask."
He said, already saddling the horse with great care. But then he
stopped, bent down, just about to fasten a buckle, when he looked up
into her eyes. "Christine, are you sure about your choice? There
will be no going back after we begun...unless I say it. You'll be
under my control; are you sure this is what you want?"
Christine
smiled. "You mean, this is the point of no return?"
Erik
looked away, but was unsuccessful in hiding the coy, yet sheepish
grin that tugged at his lips.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she reached
up and touched his cheek, gently making his face turn towards her
once again. In confusion he stared at her, awaiting what she'd do
or say next. Staring into his eyes, she whispered with more passion
than she originally intended to, "We're already passed the point
of no return. Erik...when I said I love you...I gave you my heart. I
meant it. I'll follow you to the depths of hell if need be."
"But
my dear, you already have." He replied back, then leapt onto the
horse with ease. As she slid into the saddle in front of him and they
started a quiet trot, she was left to ponder what he meant by those
words. She was riding with her angel that she knew and loved, yet,
even if it was slightly still unknown to her, she was riding with a
man that was nearly a stranger. No one, after all, could be an angel
and a murderous man at the same time, now could they?
A chill ran
down Christine's spine, though she couldn't decide if it was
because of the night breeze or the cold thoughts that now dwelt in
her mind.
Down
alleyways and passed tall village homes they galloped at break neck
speed, going so fast that the world simply seemed quite the blur to
the sleepy Christine that bobbed up and down on the horse as she rode
side saddle, nothing holding her on except her grasp about Erik's
back and his own firm arm around her waist as he guided the swift
horse. Surely they'd have to stop this, or the horse would be dead
in a few hours, but still the continued on.
Christine looked up
at the night sky. Oh, it was beautiful! Void of all clouds, the sky
stretched out before her like a black velvet blanket, thousands of
diamond like stars blinking, scattered across it. The full moon led
the way, giving the horse a pathway for it's wild hoofs to gallop
upon. Had this been a leisurely night, she would have deemed it the
perfect evening. But this...no, this was far from perfect. Christine
was fleeing everything she had ever known, every possession and true
friend she had ever known...with the exception of one...
She
glanced up at her angel's face, now all too real as lines of wary
and fatigue settled in on his forehead and under his eyes. He
remained emotionless and blank, as if this meant nothing to him; as
if he was out for a stroll to clear his whirling thoughts, instead of
being the target of a manhunt...a monster hunt. How could he stay so
calm and poised at a time like this? What was he thinking of? Was he
of clear mind, blocking all unwanted thoughts? Or was he thinking
only of her - fearing what might be ahead, but hiding it as to not
alarm her.
Either way, she wished she could ask him, to break the
long silence that stood stiffly between them, despite the fact that
they were so close to each other. Yet something in the way he looked
made it known to her that she was not to ask anything of him yet. Not
yet...
Christine
fell asleep after not too long, and lost consciousness of everything
that was happening, though she had a feeling she missed little. The
next morning she vaguely remembered stopping to rest the horse by a
river for it to drink. Christine slept on the tall grass during this.
She remembered something covering her...a cape? Thinking it silly to
presume such a thing, she shook her head, trying to clear the
thought. But then something else dwelt in it's place...the angel
that she once thought she knew...was he still in Erik? Hidden deep
down?
Why did it seem he acted so cold and detached from her if
just days ago he promised that he loved her? He loved her, that much
she was positive of. But she could always spot that weakness in his
eyes before - but now that seemed to be missing. Whenever she gazed
into his eyes, they were blank, like an locked iron door that stood
as a barrier to anyone who tried to see his emotions within. But
why?
She longed to ask him, but even now she knew that in doing so
it would be her undoing, even if she didn't fully understand why.
"I am surprised, Christine - I didn't know any woman could
sleep as you did through the night." Erik said suddenly, extending
his hand to help her from the long, soft grass that had served as her
bed. She looked at him, frightened and confused. "Why? How did I
sleep?"
"Heavily!" He nearly laughed as he said this. "Why,
we made four stops last night - poor thing here needed resting badly
after our flight. Every hour or so we had to stop. So, I'd gather
you in my arms, slide of the horse, and find a soft place for you to
sleep at while I built a fire to keep you warm. And then, when the
horse was well rested, I'd gather you in my arms once more and ride
on. Just once during the night did you stir during that whole ordeal.
Have you always slept so sound?"
Christine blushed. "Only
recently...I have been getting very little sleep - so when I do, I
suppose I sleep heavily. Forgive me for causing you all the
trouble."
But Erik just let out a hint of a grin. "Nonsense,
my lady - a pleasure to serve you." He said, then walked away to
prepare the horse while Christine wondered if that had been genuine,
or of pure mock.
