Chapter Twentysix
DISCLAIMER: OK; I don't own phantom of the opera. Plain and simple
She wanted to sleep. But she couldn't. The carriage stopped and told her they had reached the cemetery. She had requested the cemetery first so she could say goodbye to Iris.
"Good Monsieur." Karen spoke as she exited. "Please wait here; I shall only be a moment."
"Yes Mademoiselle" She quickly left the horse-drawn carriage and walked into the cemetery. Placing roses she had purchased on her sister's grave. Goodbye Iris. I'm sorry Erik couldn't have been your brother, like I said. She returned to the carriage; and it left almost as quickly as Erik and Christine got to the Cemetery. Seeing the roses; Erik knew she was in that carriage that had just left.
Karen had lost everything she's ever loved. She lost her best friend because she had to leave Erik. She lost Erik because of an unknown reason. A reason she could not figure out; and her sister had been murdered. All are gone now. She would be able to start over again. How many times would she have to start over before she finally found a life that she was happy with.
She was happy with her life in Paris. She had a fiance who loved her more than air; she had a best friend; and a loving sister. Her sister is gone; Erik had left her for Christine, just as he promised he wouldn't do; and Meg was left behind in an attempt to escape. Escape insanity.
The scenery was amazing. The trees were covered in sparkling snow; shining under the new day.
"Mademoiselle." She heard the coach driver calling. "Were here."
"Thank you Monsieur." She picked up her bags and left. Standing infrount of a new opera house; a new place to meet new and strange people. But; she stopped hoping for a new phantom, for a new man. She loved Erik; and had lost her ability to love or trust anyone else.Her hands clutched around the handles of her suitcases; which were filled with clothes Erik had gotten her; and her optics toy.
Almost as she began to walk towards the door and ask to be a ballet girl in the new opera house; she heard Erik's voice ringing through the snow. Erik jumped off his black horse before it had stopped; and took her in his arms. Christine grabbed his horse's reigns and tied it with her's. Keeping a hold on them. Karen did not turn around to him. All she did was take her ring off and give it to him.
"I wish you and Christine good fortune." she told him half bitterly. "She has no siblings to die and make her crazy. So you may never worry with growing bored with her. She's got no family to drag her down." She slipped out of his arms; leaving her ring in his hand. But he wouldn't let her go. He grabbed her hand and wouldn't let her go.
"Karen; it wasn't what it looked like. You've got to believe me; I love you."
"I've heard that lie before." She was cold. Erik couldn't even find the woman he had fallen in love with behind all that ice. "You say that; but then you grow bored with me; and go sleeping around. I'm glad I found that out; and then-" She let her sentence drop due to the company they had.She just shook her head and freed her hand from him. "It looks as if your getting what you want Erik. Christine De Changy."
"Karen." Christine came in. "It wasn't Erik who kissed me, it was vise versa. He is crazy about you; he rejected me. He needs a strong woman like you. Someone who he can know will come after him if he's in trouble; but someone who can mother him. I can't do that. Not for him. He needs you; and he loves you."
"Words do not mean anything." Karen fought stubbornly. Fighting back tears. "Why can't you just take her Erik? You obviously still love her. You told me that. I asked you about her; and you said she was beautiful."
"I may have said that; but Karen, your the only person I love. I said she was beautiful before I realized that I only love you. I never; would leave you for anything. Not for Christine; not because you had that break down; not for my own life. I don't know how to make it anymore clear than that." Erik told her; Grasping her tiny hand in his.
"I'm sorry." Christine said. "That I didn't even ask if he had someone. I acted without thinking that within the last three years; he's found someone to love him. Karen; believe him; he loves you with all his heart. If he can stay with you during something so horrible as what happened to your sister; he won't ever leave you." Erik was nodding along with what Christine was saying. Karen made no movement; no sound; but when she turned to Erik; she was smiling. He hugged her tightly; nearly knocking her to the ground. Tears poured out of both Karen and Erik's eyes. Erik kissed her; holding her tightly. Karen agreed to go back with him. He told her he'd have to meet her back; he had a horse to take back. "I'll take it." Christine told them. "You two go back together." Christine gave them a quick smile before getting on her horse and taking them both back. Erik helped Karen get her things on the carriage. Once they both sat down; he took her hand and slid the ring back on. The ring that reflected all that they had been through. The nights of love; the days of pain; the times when they didn't know if they could ever be together. It had a new reflection; the reflection of when Karen began to trust him again. When Christine De Changy had said that Erik would be perfect for Karen only.
Erik and Karen returned early the next morning; and Erik helped her unpack her things.She never felt so at home as she did when she came back. She knew she belonged there with Erik; her love. He grabbed onto her arm gently; and swung her onto the bed. She laughed as he rested beside her. She was home. Erik kissed her; as if she had been gone for a year instead of a day.
"My god; leaving like that scared me." He told her. Smiling down at her.
"I did not mean to scare you. I did however want to leave before you woke up. I figured you'd think Raphael took me; and you'd get yourself hurt; so I left the note."
"I'm sorry I let that happen. I didn't see it coming; but if I had; I wouldn't ever have-" She cut him off with a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him.
"What surprised me; was that you came after me."
"Of course I did." He sat up and helped her sit up too. "I wasn't going to lose you over a misunderstanding. That's why when I came home; I kissed you; and we.." He waited to see if he was saying something wrong, but quickly covered it up. "I wanted you for myself; It is not every day that I get an angel into bed with me."
"Erik!" They turned and saw Meg standing in the door. She saw Karen sitting on his bed; she instantly knew what had happened. "Karen! Did Erik make up with you?"
"Yes." Karen smiled.
"Wonderful! I thought it was strange that you two came back together; considering the rush Karen left in." Erik smirked; and kissed the side of Karen's head.
"It's a damn good thing you know not to come during the night." Erik grinned. Meg switched her gaze between Karen and Erik; and her eyes grew wide.
"You two-?" Meg asked; trying to figure out if she understood it correctly.
"Well it better be us two." Erik teased further. "Unless she's got Raphael on the side." Karen made a gagging noise; making both Meg and Erik laugh.
yes. :D How many of you saw them making up coming?
