Just to remind you, Erik does have magic. I've mentioned it twice, but I need to make extra sure you know because it's a very important factor in this chapter.
This chapter is all about Erik finding out more about Amme. Learn about her friends, family, all that good stuff.
Amme walked home, feeling very depressed. She had thought the Phantom didn't want her because of…anything like that. She couldn't believe when he said Joshua just wanted to sleep with her. Not all men wanted that, did they?
No. Amme sighed. The only man who never expressed any interest in her in that way, besides her father, of course, was Kevin. And even if she wanted her best friend with her at that moment, he was back at home. Ahsela. She wanted to be there too. She wanted it so badly it hurt, like being run through with a dull blade.
And whoever was wielding the blade didn't have the decency to put her out of her misery. He just kept pushing it farther in.
Amme stopped thinking of Ahsela; it would only make her feel worse than she already was. She needed to face the more immediate problem.
Of course, Amme was upset she had lost her temper like that. The Phantom didn't wholly deserve it. She wished he hadn't mentioned anything about marriage, but it wasn't his fault he didn't know how she felt about men right then. She didn't want a husband; she didn't want a lover, or a boyfriend, or a fiancée. If he wanted more, then that was his problem. He'd have to find someone else.
What to do about Joshua, though? The Phantom's accusations had to have some level of truth in them, but Joshua had never said anything to her about sex. That was smart on his part—Amme was a virgin and had every intention of keeping it that way.
Actually, Amme was rather surprised he knew enough not to say anything like that to her. Joshua had never struck her as the brightest bulb in the bunch. The Phantom did, but he was the one to bring that cursed subject up! Maybe she wasn't as good at judging people as she had supposed.
Erik paced back and forth in the sewer, swearing in every language he knew. Which, FYI, was a lot. Before, he would never have had supposed just mentioning marriage to Amme would bring out such a reaction. And now she didn't want to see him! So much for being careful. He'd have to move to plan B. He always had a plan B.
He sat down and glared at his desk. Right then, he couldn't remember what plan B was. He was still in shock about what happened.
"Laetitia!" He said suddenly. "I need to talk to you!"
Slowly, very slowly, painfully slowly, the siren's head came out of the water. "Yes, bossman?"
"What is the most sure way of finding something about someone?"
"Someone?" Laetitia glared at him. Everyone seemed to be doing that lately. "This 'someone' wouldn't be this Amme Eledhwen you've been talking non-stop about, would it? If she doesn't what to tell you something, then leave her alone."
"When did you find these new morals? You never cared before if I decided not leave someone alone."
"Fine," the mermaid said grumpily. "But the most sure way is not the easiest way."
"That's alright. Just tell me how."
"You remember how to break into people's minds?"
"Better than you do."
"Just go into her mind and…hunt around a little. But be careful about it; if she finds out, it could get ugly."
"Uglier," The Ghost corrected. "She's already furious at me."
Laetitia started to sink back down. "Is she? In that case, you're doomed. Good luck and good bye."
Erik shook his head. Laetitia was such a pessimist.
The next evening, he waited as Amme changed back into her normal clothes and headed outside. He followed her, careful not to make any noise. Luckily, he could turn invisible. Otherwise, this excursion might have been impossible.
He had decided to break into her mind when she was asleep. If, for some reason, Amme could stop someone from entering her mind, she wouldn't be able to do it as effectively when sleeping. He would just have to be careful not to wake her up.
Ten minutes later, Amme and Erik had left the main city. He had no idea where she was planning on going, and she showed no sign whatsoever of stopping. Where did she sleep? Did she sleep? Maybe that was why she always looked so tired in the morning.
Then she turned into a small forest. Erik nearly lost her then. She hadn't speed up, but the trees made it harder for him to follow. He wondered why she was going this way. Did she have a house here, or something? Or was she meeting someone.
Amme stopped, and Erik realized the answer to both his questions were the same: no. She lived there, outside. That was why she came in wet so often. He frowned. Why did she live there? Didn't she make enough money to buy proper accommodations? Maybe she should come live with him.
He terminated that thought before it took over his mind.
"Starlight!" Amme called. "Fate! I'm back!"
A tiny kitten, looking exactly like a ball of black fluff, jumped onto her shoulder and licked her ear affectionately. On the ground, a black horse opened one eye and whinnied. Somehow, it sounded annoyed.
"I'm sorry," Amme apologized. "I didn't mean to wake you."
The horse grunted and closed its eye again.
The cat meowed, pawing Amme's hair.
"I just wanted to spend some time here. You know, I've barely talked to you the past two weeks."
She talked to cats and horses. Interesting. And people said Erik was crazy.
Amme nodded in response to the cat's meow. "I know. It's too bad, isn't it? But it's his fault, so there's nothing I can do about it."
Erik had the sudden, strange feeling they were talking about him.
The cat yawned.
"Alright!" Amme laughed. "I know I'm boring you. I can take a hint! I should probably get some sleep, too. I don't think I've gotten enough, lately."
This was what Erik had been waiting for. He watched as Amme swung herself onto a tree branch and closed her eyes. He wondered if that was the best place to sleep; what if she fell off?
Soon, Amme's breathing became deep and steady. It was time.
Slowly, he reached out with his mind until he felt the millions of other minds, including the insects and even plants. He was very grateful that he couldn't feel the creatures in the other four kingdoms.
It didn't take long to find Amme's. Hers was different from everyone else's. It was different from a human mind, too. It seemed more…spacious. Opened. Alien. But far too filled for someone who looked to be only nineteen or twenty.
Erik went farther in. Her mind only proceeded in getting stranger. It was far too wild to be human.
Amme wasn't human.
He came to that conclusion simply. It wasn't exactly a startling thing. She had always seemed different. This just confirmed it.
But what was she, then?
He went deeper until he found the place where her memories were storied. Amme might think she wasn't organized, but at least her mind was.
Erik entered the first one he came to and this was what he saw:
He was in a large room, with a window that covered the entirety of a single wall. On closer inspection, he realized it wasn't a window, but there simply wasn't a wall there. Looking down, he saw he was at least three stories up. All around he were trees.
He turned back to the room. There was a tall blond man holding up a small, black-haired girl. A woman laid on a large bed, a tiny bundle in her hands. Erik, studying the woman, thought she looked remarkably like Amme. To be precise, the only difference was the hair and eye color. This woman's hair was a brilliant shade of red, while her eyes were violet.
The bundle moved. Erik realized it wasn't really a bundle; it was a baby girl. He glanced at the other girl, who had to be Amme. She had a sister—he never would have guessed that.
The family talked in soft voices to Amme, the mother, the new baby. But Erik couldn't understand the language they were speaking.
He pulled out of the memory. It had been very pleasant, but he wished he knew what they had said.
Erik chose a different memory and dove into it.
Three hours later, the Phantom had seen an Amme very different from the one he knew. The first difference, and the one he picked up on quickest, was that this new Amme flirted. And kissed. He must have watched her kissing two-dozen different men. It had been very scary, and every time he got horribly jealous of the man she was with. She didn't seem to go any farther than flirting and kissing, though.
Another difference: the new Amme moved more. She was much more active, to the point she seemed to have trouble sitting still for long. The Amme he knew would stay motionless for hours if she had to.
She was much quieter now, too.
The people that came up frequently also seemed to be significant. There were five people who appeared the most. One was the baby—now grown up. He gathered her name was Emily, and Amme seemed very protective of her. For what reason, Erik couldn't imagine. Emily seemed able to take care of herself.
The next was another girl. She was different from the two sisters; her skin was more tan, and her long brown hair wasn't nearly as thick. He found out her name was Maria.
Another girl, who was called Veronica, was dark skinned and black haired. She seemed much more serious than the other three, but, when her laugh came, it was just as enchanting as the others.
The fourth girl was…interesting. Her hair was as red as flame, and her temper matched it perfectly. She seemed to be the eldest, but she still looked young. Her name was Sophia.
The last person was, unfortunately, not a girl. And, even worse, he's looks were perfection. His skin was paler than Amme's, his hair was blond, and his eyes were dark blue. He appeared so much, it was frightening. Erik would have to be careful about this strange man, who was called Kevin.
Those were the people who seemed to be most important in Amme's live, but Erik felt he was missing something critical. He still didn't find out why she came to France, why she had changed so drastically.
Erik decided to watch one more memory before leaving. Until the next night, that is.
He was in a clearing in the forest he had come to realize was Ahsela. Amme was walking hand in hand with a strange man. He had wavy chestnut hair, and hazel eyes. His mouth was full and his nose was perfectly straight.
He leaned down and whispered something in Amme's ear, which Erik realized just then were pointed.
Amme laughed. "I don't think so, Erland!" She teased. "I'm not that easy!"
Erik was thankful she had started speaking English. He could understand English.
"It was just a suggestion!" He smiled. "Clearly, it didn't go over very well."
"Not at all." Amme agreed. Then she became serious. "I wish you didn't have to go."
"I wish I didn't, either." He sighed. "I'll come back soon, I promise." He moved to kiss her.
That kiss was different. Erik didn't know how, but it was. More passionate, he supposed, which meant, for him, more threatening. Amme appeared to be throwing herself into it, as if there was no tomorrow.
When they broke off, she stared straight into his eyes. "I love you."
"And I love you," he replied, smiling again.
Erik yanked himself out of Amme's mind so fast, the woman stirred. His heart was pounding so hard, he expected it to explode at any minute.
Sigh. Aren't I mean? Don't worry, Erik; Erland won't come into the story for a while.
Does anyone want to guess what species Amme is? Have I given you enough hints about it?
So, anyways, I was rereading this chapter, and I was thinking why do I only have this labeled as a romance story? It could definitely be considered also a fantasy. I mean, Laetitia's a mermaid, Amme talks to animals, and Erik turns invisible and breaks into people's minds! And so, I changed it. It is now a romance and fantasy story. Yay!