Sherlock hated her; he hated her for wounding him like this, but he couldn't have been more thankful. Christine saw what he was and didn't care; yet he knew that he had just pushed her away. Looking up, he expected her to be standing there behind the pendulum waiting for him…She wasn't there.
" Christine!" The mournful cry ripped from his soul echoed through the tunnels like the cry of a wounded animal. He didn't know when he had began running, running upwards to her, not downwards towards his home. He needed her and he knew that if she didn't forgive him, he would never forgive himself.
I heard him cry out my name and a sharp pain lanced through me. "Damn you Erik!" I hissed through clenched teeth as I could hear him fumbling with the latch, followed by a frustrated roar. When he had finally clicked it open, I was up and ready for any rebuke my master was ready to give me. But to my surprise, he fell at my feet, his head in my lap, sobbing for my forgiveness. I didn't feel pity though; I felt love. It was the type of love that made one's heart leap at the mere thought of their lover.
" I am so sorry." He whispered over and over again and reaching down I hugged him. His strong hands pulled me down unto the floor with him, where I held him, his face pressed into the nape of my neck.
" I forgive you. Will you forgive me?" My words seemed so fragile, so empty as I snuggled against Erik, tears also falling from my eyes, but he nodded slowly. That is when I realized he didn't have his mask on and that I could feel every scar on my skin. I pulled away to admire this brave man who fought his own fear of others to show me why he was shunned, only to have him try to hide it.
" Let me see Erik."
" Why, so you can see what the face of a true monster looks like?" His anger made him move and I quickly caught hold of his face in my hands.
" No, so I can do this." I leaned forward; time seemed to slow for me as I kissed him, his lips were firm but surprisingly soft and smooth. The kiss deepened, on his accord, not mine as I began to run my fingers through his thick black hair. Suddenly he pulled back, and I felt his teeth cut open my lower lip. The blood was salty and it coated our lips like red lipstick.
" You're bleeding." He whispered as his finger wiped it away. " It was you who cut me, so I think we're even." He laughed quietly, it being soft and calming on my exhausted nerves. Placing my head back unto his chest, I realized I was sitting in his lap, his long legs wrapped around me. Erik seemed to know what I was thinking and wrapped his long arms around me also, holding me close. Breathing in his scent of cedar and peppermint, I felt the world tilt out from under me as I quietly fell asleep in my angel's arms.
Sherlock felt her fall asleep in his arms, every breath she took timed perfectly with his.
" If this is what love is, then it is the most painful thing I have ever felt." Sherlock told himself as he quietly untangled himself from around her and lifted her gently into her bed. She wouldn't actually let go though when he went to remove himself from her room. Instead the moment she heard the latch flick open, Sherlock saw her awaken.
" I am just going to get my mask. I'll be right back." He whispered and with one eye open, she watched him leave. He never had run so fast in his life. Jumping over the pendulum, which he knew he would have to put back in the morning, picked up his mask, turned and ran back to his Christine. She was already asleep by the time Sherlock came back in, but she had left an open space for him on the bed, which he gladly took. Placing the mask on her nightstand, Sherlock turned off the light and turning over, placed his hand over hers and quickly fell asleep.