Update time! I had a burst of inspiration today, plus I've been wanting to write this chapter for a long time. I thought it was the sweetest thing ever, but that's just my opinion and it may be biased. I'll let you be the judge of that. Just so ya know, I do not own the song, but I did change it up a little bit. Shoutouts to breannapierson1990 and all of my reviewers! Hope you-sa likey :)
Chapter 27
I burst out onto the roof of the opera house, spinning and laughing. "They loved me! And they threw roses at me. Not tomatoes, roses! Can you believe it?" I asked no one in particular.
"Yes, I can believe it." Erik answered. He was behind me, standing next to the door. "You have an amazing talent. They would have to be daft not to love you."
"Oh please," I scoffed. He wasn't moving, so I grabbed his hand and drug him out to the middle of the roof. As I looked up at him, something white flashed across the sky.
"Look, a shooting star! Make a wish." I exclaimed as I closed my eyes shut, making a wish of my own. As I opened my eyes, I saw that he was looking at me with that glint in his eye that I couldn't comprehend before. "What? Made your wish already?"
He took a deep breath and took the mask off of my face. "Why would I need to make a wish when all I've ever wanted is here?"
All oxygen rushed out of my body. Is he saying what I think he's saying? "Erik?"
"No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears,
I'm here, nothing can harm you,
My words will warm and calm you…"
Oh…my…goodness…..I had always dreamed of someone singing to me like this. I just never would have dreamed the circumstances it would be done in. But OMG he was singing to me!
"Let me be your freedom,
Let daylight dry your tears,
I'm here, with you, beside you,
To guard you and to guide you…"
I continued the duet, still not believing that I wasn't dreaming.
"Say you'll love me every waking moment,
Turn my head with talk of summertime,
Say you'll need me with you now and always,
Promise me that all you say is true,
That's all I ask of you…"
He took my hand in his and led me around the center of the roof, love shining in his eyes.
"Let me be your shelter,
Let me be your light,
You're safe, no one will find you,
Your fears are far behind you…"
I pulled away from him and walked past him, looking back at him with an expression of hope and love.
"All I want is freedom,
A world with no more light,
And you, always beside me,
To hold me and to hide me…"
He rushed to me and grabbed my hands again, spreading our arms out, then turned me to where we were both facing the same direction, his arms wrapped around me.
"Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime,
Lead me, same me from my solitude,
Say you need me with you here, beside you,
Anywhere you go, let me go too,
Mandy, that's all I ask of you…"
The biggest smile was on my face, joy erupting from my soul. Somebody loved me, and it wasn't just somebody: it was the Phantom of the Opera!
"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime,
Say the word and I will follow you…"
I turned to face him.
"Share each day with me, each night, each morning…"
"Say you love me…"
"You know I do…"
Our faces were getting closer and closer with each word until I could feel his cool breath on my lips.
"Love me, that's all I ask of you…"
Our lips were a breath away from touching, but Erik didn't move an inch. He didn't want to push me into anything I didn't want to do. Oh, honey, if you only knew…
I closed my eyes and leaned forward, shivering as our lips collided in a sweet kiss. Sparks lit up my spine as his arms went around me, lifting me into the air and spinning me. Once I came back down to the roof, our kiss continued, my hands finding his mask and gently sliding it off of his face. As we opened our eyes, I could see tears of joy in his golden ones as I believe he saw unconditional love and happiness in mine.
"Anywhere you go, let me go too,
Love me, that's all I ask of you…"
I kissed his deformed cheek gently, feeling his tears against my own cheek. "I love you." Was all he said.
I nodded. "I love you, too"
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he spun me around again. This time as I landed, I was out of breath and giggly like I was high on something. I guess I was, in a way…
A noise at the bottom of the street reminded me of where I was and what I was supposed to be doing: there was supposed to be a party after the performance that I had to go to. Well, with the way I exited, that may have been cancelled and a search party may have taken its place.
"I must go, they'll wonder where I am…"
"Come with me, Erik."
The smile fell from his face. "You know I can't, Mandy. They know that I'm the one that took you."
I sighed. "True. I'm gonna fix that, by the way. And don't expect me to have fun if they still have that party."
He laughed, the smile coming back to his face.
"Mandy, I love you…"
I giggled and placed a chaste kiss on his lips.
"Order your fine horses,
Be with them at the door…"
He led me to the door and opened it for me.
"And soon, you'll be beside me…"
As the door shut, my last words echoed out across the roof.
"You'll guard me and you'll guide me…"