Chapter 8: You Lied To Me

Rose was stunned as Erik lead her to his underground domain and they came to a stop before a lake and Erik removed his cloak before wrapping it around Rose's shoulders,

"It gets colder and a lot more damp as you venture further in. I am used to it but as you are not used to these conditions... I would feel a lot better if you wore this so you might avoid from catching a cold" Erik told her as he fastened the cape's clasp and Rose smiled up at him gently,

"Thank you" she told him as they carried on further into the catacombs until they finally arrived at Erik's home.

The cavern was illuminated by candles and various art work of set designs and costumes from various different productions that the opera house had put on in the past,

"Wow... This place is so beautiful" Rose whispered and Erik smiled brightly,

"I am glad you like it... I want to apologize for... allowing you to believe that I was a ghost as I did to the others" Erik admitted before leading her to an area where a couch sat and Rose sat down as Erik began to prepare them both some tea,

"I... It was just that... If people knew that I was down here... Or... What I truly was then..." Erik struggled,

"It's ok, Erik. I understand" Rose assured gently as Erik came and offered her some tea before sitting on a chair that sat across from the couch on which Rose sat and there was a long moment of silence between them,

"... Are you ok?" Erik asked concerned and Rose smiled at him gently and nodded,

"Yes, Still a bit shaken but I'm ok" she assured, taking a sip of her tea but frowned when she noticed a portrait that was hanging above a fireplace set piece that Erik had pushed against the cavern wall and Rose stood slowly, approaching it with a frown on her face,

"... Christine" she murmured as she looked upon the portrait of her step sister and Erik closed his eyes as Rose turned back to him,

"... I asked the phantom to send Christine her angel of music... Erik... Have you been the one who has been teaching, Christine?" Rose asked and Erik sighed, standing from his chair,

"Your stepsister has an amazing gift and I admit that when I recieved your letter... I was curious... I heard her sing and... Her voice was that of angel's but I knew that it could become so much better if she had training... You asked for my help" Erik reminded her gently,

"I asked a man I thought was a spirit to send a message to an angel... I never asked for you to lie" Rose said sadly, turning away and approached the lakeside so that she could have some room to think and Erik looked at her guiltily,

"... I just... I wanted to help her" Erik murmured as he approached her but Rose only turned her head to look at him slightly,

"... Do... Do you love her?" she asked quietly,

"Yes... Yes I do... Very much" Erik admitted and watched as Rose carefully removed her cloak,

"I'm sorry... The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you" Erik murmured, accepting the cloak that she offered but held onto her hand gently,

"It hurts because... i understand about the phantom but... This... You lied to me" Rose whispered sadly, closing her eyes as a tear fell down her cheek but slowly turned into Erik's arms as he gently pulled her into a hug and brushed a soothing hand over her hair,

"I give you my word, Rose... I will never lie to you again" Erik vowed as Rose sniffled slightly as she cried,

"... Cross your heart" she instructed gently and Erik nodded,

"I cross my heart" he told her before hesitantly pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

Erik spent the rest of his night reading the works of William Shakespeare to Rose until she fell asleep with her head rested against his shoulder he moved carefully so as not to wake her before lifting her into his arms gently after placing his book down and he proceeded to carry her bridal style back to her attic room and laid her gently on her bed and gently pulled the covers over her,

"Sleep well, Rose" he told her before leaving through one of his many secret passageways.

Erik was stunned to find that Rose had not told Christine that he and the angel of music were one and the same... He could only pray that Christine would accept the news as well as Rose had done... It took Erik many nights until he finally decided that he had to tell Christine the truth.

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Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996