Under The Spell Of A Phantom
Nineteen: A Question Of Love
Ruby opened her eyes, letting out a long gasp. Was it all a dream or ever so real?
She turned her head to one side to see Eleanor, sitting on a chair fast asleep.
Her hands were linked into her own with a soft yet tight grip, just one movement would wake her.
Eleanor groaned as she rose her head and slowly opened her eyes to see her daughter staring back at her.
"Ruby!" She cried, igorning the happy tears falling down her face. "Hello mother." She croaked, with a smile.
"I'm so glad you are alright!" Eleanor said, reaching down to embrace her when Ruby asked. "Where's Erik?"
Her back stiffened of that name, it was a stuggle to sit back down and tear her gaze away from her daughter.
"Well, where is he?" She asked again, her voice growing needy. It took Eleanor two minutes to look at Ruby.
"He's being questioned by the police, he may be charged for the kidnap and murder of you and Mr Johnson." She replied, grimly.
The shock and horror was across her daughter's face that it broke her heart into a million pieces.
"No! This can not be! Erik didn't kidnap me, I killed Mr Johnson! I'm not dead!" Ruby wailed, letting dozen of tears fall down her face.
"I know my darling, he gave himself in as he thought you were. I'm so very sorry." Eleanor said, cluchting her hands even tighter but her daughter was stronger.
"No way! I'm not letting him take the blame!" Ruby cried, pushing off the sheets and steadily got to her feet.
"My child, don't you dare try and leave this hosptail!" Eleanor shouted, rushing to her side but she was faster.
Though she was in deep agony, Ruby dashed along the several halls to reach the exit igorning her mother's calling of her name.
She was dead, her soul sucked out of her body and entering heaven. Just like Christine, angels to roam that beautiful place forever.
Seeing Ruby collasp like that froze my blood like ice, there was nothing I could do than call her name and stop the rushing flow from her side.
Her lips were pale, I tried to kiss them over and over again but neither time worked. She was lost, it was all my fault once more.
Once her mother came in with two very big police officers, she screamed bloody murder and pointed her long finger at me saying it was I that killed her.
Though I didn't touch a blade or a weapon, I was the one that snatched her heart and destoryed her soul. I deserved every punishment thrown at me.
She grabbed Ruby off my hands so they could place iron cuffs on my wrists, then I was dragged out of the shop barely allowed a glance back at my dead lover.
Now as I lay in this damp and cold cell, I wonder when I'll be charged and thrown in the lions den to hear my fate. But my thoughts return back to Ruby.
How I long to see her, hear her breathe and be in her sweet arms. Feel her embrace, smell her scent and fall forever under her spell of beauty and love.
Not even Christine could bring out such a different and changed man in me, I used to be so violent and cruel to anyone around me. With Ruby, I was brand new.
But she was gone, just like her never to return in this world. Oh I feel so alone! God above, either take me this very night or let my sentence be worthy and true!
It took Ruby over a hour to reach the police station, the pain was unbelieveable but the journey was worth it for her.
The officers took a good look at her, shocked of not only her injury but the way she was hardly dressed in public.
She didn't care a bit of what they thought, all what mattered was telling the truth and seeing Erik again.
Her eyes fell on a friendly older gentleman who was heading her way, his golden orbs darted at her and his face lit up with a kind grin.
"Good evening, madam. What can I do for you?" He asked, not noticing the way she looked or how distressed she was.
"I need to talk to someone about the kidnap and murders at the jeweller shop eariler today." Ruby explained, feeling the nerves begining to build.
"Right, if you just follow me, we can have a nice chat somewhere private." He replied, offering his arm which she took. "Thank you sir."
Once they found a quieter office, Ruby sat down and waited for him to take a seat. "Now, tell me what you know." He started, clasping his hands together.
With a steady breath, she told him everything from the moment she met Erik to the attack which nearly left her for dead. The look on his face was enough to make her fear what would happen next.
"Are you sure that all what you just said is true?" He asked. "Yes, I'm very sure. Now please, I need to see him." She replied, her eyes begging for a answer.
The officer breathed out a heavy sigh. "You know, what you did is a very serious crime but it was a act of self defence so I'm letting both of you go tonight." He decided.
Ruby gasped out a laugh, her tears flowed down her cheeks. "Thank you ever so much!" She cried, rushing to hug him tightly. He gently stroked her hair while she wept for joy and relief.
After a few minutes, the officer pulled away from her embrace and said. "Let's go and release your gentleman, shall we?" She nodded her head in argeement and followed his every step.
Once they reached the cells, the wait inside Ruby was agony. Her eyes searched and searched for Erik as nearly every one was empty until they stopped at the final one.
A tall and broad back was facing her, she knew it had to be him. The officer unlocked the door but the figure didn't move or twitch, he let it swung by and Ruby entered inside.
With each step she took, her heart was pounding like a drum with it's never ending beat. "Erik?" She asked, placing her hand on his shoulder. Not a word was replied.
She frowned at this but then a idea came to her, would it work? Taking a deep breath, Ruby began to sing the final notes of The Music Of The Night hoping it would trigger movement.
"You alone can make my soul take flight..." She sang gently. "Help me make the music of the..." He joined in, removing himself from the floor and slowly turned around to face her.
"Night..." They sang together, their eyes instanly blazing back at each other. Hanging on the note until it faded away, Ruby ran to his arms and embraced him with her lips.
His hands roamed all over her body, animal they were but who could blame him? He broke away from the kiss to let his tear stained eyes burn into her own. "Ruby?" He asked.
"Yes, it's me my love." She gasped. "Marry me, Ruby." Her heart suddenly stopped, the answer was already there waiting for her to say it. "Yes Erik, I will marry you!"
With that, the officer left them to it as their lips captured each other's once more and succumbed to their passions that were long awaiting for them to embrace.
