Evermore

by Child of Dreams

As all fairytales do, this story begins with the simplest of words: "Once upon a time..." But that is where our story, a different type of fairytale, takes a turn. For this is not another tale of fair maidens and foppish princes... No, this is the story of two people drawn together under the most interesting of circumstances, a tale both as old as time and as fresh as a rose...

42. Once Upon Another Time

A/N: Okay, I have spent the past three days writing this chapter when it usually only takes me three hours, so you guys had better appreciate this!

Chapter Forty-Two: Once Upon Another Time

It had been three days since Christine's death.
Madame Giry had been forced to drug Erik's tea in order to get him to leave the redhead's side long enough for the older woman to wash and stitch up the bullet wound before, with La Esmeralda's help, dressing her in an elegant ivory silk gown with a lace-trimmed neckline and vine-like embroidery on the skirt.
Now the red-haired girl lay upon a small bed that was fitted with black and gold velvet sheets and surrounded by thousands of dark crimson roses, in preparation for the funeral that was scheduled to take place the next morning.

Erik had stopped eating, and several times, Madame Giry had to literally force him to drink something.
He didn't see the point, though.
Why should he eat or drink when Christine would never do so again?
Yes, he knew that he would most likely end up starving to death if he kept this up, but death was vastly preferable to the torturous Hell that a life without Christine would be.

Now, as he gazed down at Christine's lifeless form, Erik broke down in tears.
"Erik is sorry, Mon Coeur!" he wept, clutching the redhead's limp hand tightly, tearfully pressing his lips to each of her fingers and then her palm before placing her hand tenderly back on the bed.
"Erik is so sorry... He should have protected you better..."
His words became unintelligible through the heaving sobs that wracked his thin frame as he fell to his knees, unable to stand, and then eventually, ended up in a seated position.

Eventually, he ended up crying himself to sleep, and therefore never heard the slight creak as the door opened, or saw the cloaked figure that stepped inside and made its way silently toward the still form on the bed.
Stopping next to the bed, the cloaked figure just stood there for a long moment, staring down at the body of the girl who was able to win the prince's heart.
The figure turned and looked down at the sleeping man on the floor, dried tearstains clearly visible on his face.
Then, taking no further course of action, the figure turned and left the room, departing just as silently as it had arrived.

A/N: Please review to unlock Chapter Forty-Three...