Chapter Fifteen

"I'm not leaving, Erik," I answered firmly.

Erik looked at me with cold, intense eyes. "It's for the best."

"I can't leave," I repeated. "Not now."

I could tell he was becoming cross with me.

"I don't want to. I have fa-" I stopped myself. I didn't have family here… Not anymore. I sighed and pushed past him.

"Emily!" he called after me.

I ignored him and shook my head. I put a hand to my mouth, choking back sobs. This was my only home and I didn't know where he planned to take us. My eyes were shut tight, tears dripping down my red cheeks.

"Emily!" he called once more. "Come here!"

I whipped around to face him, a few more tears falling from my eyes. "Do not order me around!" I demanded. "I am not a child!" After I had said this I gasped, surprised with my sudden temper. I exhaled and looked at Erik with my soft, brown gaze. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to snap. I-I just…" I trailed off, not sure what to say.

Erik walked towards me and wiped my tears away and nodded. "It's alright, my love."

My love… As the words escaped his mouth I looked at the ground, then fell into his chest, sobbing. I could feel him put his arms around my awkwardly and rest his chin on my head in comfort. "Quiet, Emily. It's alright."

Oh, how childish I felt sobbing like this! He sounded like my father as he talked in such a tone. When I was younger and I had fallen and hurt myself my father would use the same emotion and tone in his voice to cease my crying. I sniffed and looked up at him. "Erik, what will we do? Where will we go?"

"I do not know," he answered honestly. "But if you would like to stay here so much, we shall."

I took the back of my hand and wiped my tears away. "Are- are you sure?"

He nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Yes. I will keep you safe."

I smiled and a single tear of joy fell from my eye. "Oh, Erik…" I whispered happily.

Erik placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

"Oh, Meg!" I called happily. "Meg!" I stood at the edge of the stage. She and the other ballerinas were all rehearsing. Meg turned her head from my calls and looked at me. "Emily?" She began to rush of the stage towards me.

"Meg!" Madame Giry called in a motherly manner. "Meg Giry!" Though, Meg completely ignored her.

"Emily!" Meg said with a smile on her beautiful face. "What is it? Why are you so giddy?"

I smiled brightly. "He's back, Meg. He's back."

"Erik?" she question.

I nodded. "He's back!"

Meg gave me a friendly hug. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Erik wants us to leave," I said, breaking the hug. "He wants me to be safe from Jude."

"Leave?" Meg echoed. "Oh, no, you can't!"

"He said we may stay, but I can see he's frightened that Jude will steal me away."

"It will be alright, Emily. I'm sure he'll protect you."

I nodded. "I trust him."

"Mother trusts him too, but always has her doubts."

"Should we leave, though?"

"No, Emily!" Meg said, holding my wrists. "Don't leave. Mother will make sure that Jude leaves and that you're safe."

I sighed. "Jude will come back. He did before."

"Meg Giry!" Madame Giry scolded. "Are you a dancer or aren't you?"

"Yes, mother," Meg said sadly. "I have to go, Emily."

I nodded. "I understand."

Meg smiled and gave me another quick and friendly hug, then turned around rushing back to rehearsal.

I smiled as I watched Madame Giry scold her daughter and friend. Madame Giry always was a good mother, and even a second mother to me. Turning around, I walked off the stage quietly humming a familiar tune to myself, but unfamiliar to anyone else. As I turned and started towards my bedroom, I heard Aurora's voice coming down the hallway.

"Sweetheart, calm down," she said comfortingly. "Shh… It's fine. You need to forget." Aurora turned the corner, holding Jude's hand. Her black hair was pulled back with a fine ribbon and she looked at Jude with a worried look on her face.

They stopped when they saw me. "Emily?" Aurora called.

I nodded and looked at the floor. Then I heard Jude growl, "Mademoiselle Durand…"

"Monsieur DeLouis," I replied coldly.

"How are you, Emily?" Aurora asked with a smile, trying to break the frigid air in the conversation.

I nodded. "I'm alright, thank you Aurora."

She cleared her throat. "That's good."

"How are you, Aurora?" I asked. I could feel Jude looking at me maliciously.

"Oh, fine," she said. "Jude's alright as well."

"I can speak for myself, Aurora," Jude snapped.

Aurora looked at him, a scared look in her eyes. "Shall we go, Judas?" she asked quietly.

"Yes," Jude grumbled. He let go of Aurora's hand and sped forward, shoving past me.

I turned around and watched him go, leaving Aurora behind him. I rushed to her. "Aurora, I thought you'd leave him!"

"I couldn't, Emily," she said, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "I can't leave him alone. Not in this state of mind he's in. I'm scared. I don't want him to hurt anyone else."

I sighed. She was right. Without someone to monitor his actions, he could seek me out and hurt me again. Or Erik. "Be careful, Aurora. If he hurts you, come straight to me or Madame Giry. Yes?"

Aurora nodded and sniffed, holding back tears. "Yes. I'm sure he wouldn't hurt anyone, though."

"Well, we don't want to take chances," I said. "Perhaps you should see Madame Giry and tell her this. Maybe she could help."

"Yes," Aurora replied. "Could you go find Jude and tell him to wait for me? We've bought a small cottage at the edge of town. It's quite nice really. I'm afraid he'll storm off there without me."

I smiled hesitantly. "Al-alright," I stuttered.

"Be careful," Aurora said. She lifted the folds of her skirt and rushed back down the hallway towards the opera hall to find Madame Giry.

I put a hand to my forehead and sighed. What am I to do? I thought desperately. Find Jude?

Not wanting to let Aurora down, I walked down the hallway as well. I got to the foyer in time to stop Jude at the door. "Monsieur DeLouis!" I called, rushing to him.

Jude turned around and looked at me with unreadable eyes. "Mademoiselle Durand," he said.

"Your wife as told me to tell you to wait for her. She is having a word with Madame Giry," I said. It was strange not calling Jude 'Jude'. Perhaps the dispute from the previous week caused some friction.

"Alright," he said. Then he sighed and looked me in the face. "Emily," he began. "Let's stop this. It's foolish- childish even. That man you say you love is not a man."

How dare he talk of Erik in such a manner! "Jude-" I was cut off.

"Emily, we can run away together. Aurora will never know," he said, taking my hands in his.

I didn't pull my hands away. I only led him over to the edge of the room so that we wouldn't earn attention from anyone else. "Jude," I whispered. "I can't. Like I said, you're married and it would be wrong."

"She'd never know!" He was persistent. "We could flee Paris. What do you say?"

I sighed and looked at the ground. He tilted my head back up with a hand. "Emily, I love you," he whispered to me. And, once more, he kissed me. While he kissed me all I could think of was Erik and how I hoped he did not see. I put my hands against Jude's chest and pushed him away. "Jude!" I scolded. "This is highly inappropriate!"

He looked hurt and sighed. "Emily, I-"

A second masculine voice cut him off. "Be quiet, foolish boy," it said. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I gasped, turning around quickly. I looked into the familiar face of Erik and my heart slowed its pace. He passed me a put a hand around Jude's throat, pressing him to the wall. Jude choked and struggled to breath. Erik stared at the poor man with cold, expressionless green eyes. "Stay away from her," he warned.

Jude held onto Erik's arm trying to pry it off. He gave a weak and pitiful nod.

Erik released him and Jude fell to the floor gasping for breath. He looked up at Erik, with a hand on his throat taking long breaths.

"You touch her again," Erik said darkly. "It will be the last thing you ever do."

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Author's Note: Jude just got owned… O.O

Sorry for the long wait! I've been super busy with school! Chapter Sixteen, if there is a chapter sixteen (MWAHAHAHA!), won't be released until after I get out of school, which is May 21.

Sorry it's real short, too! I had trouble thinking of what to write for this chapter. I have some ideas and possible ideas for a sequel. *wink wink* ;)

Reviews are greatly appreciated! I want to know what you guys think should happen. Are Emily and Jude meant for each other or is Jude just a love-crazed man who can't understand the fact that Emily's in love with someone else? What's your opinion on Aurora and her means to stay with Jude?

If you have any questions about the story or myself please PM me or put it in your review and I'll reply as soon as possible! Thanks guys!