BEcause of your black heart

Chapter 5

I had been there for over three days. Erik and I made love excessively, as if it was the only thing we knew how to do. It wasn’t so much a case of physical pleasure more then a case of undeniable love. Most of it only resulted in us holding each other very closely.
I was so happy to have given myself up to him. There was no other man on earth I could have done that with. Erik was mine; he was my only love and my only concern.
On the third morning, I awoke to the sound of someone calling Erik’s name.

“Erik?” someone called out. “Erik?”

Erik and I had been asleep in bed. He shot up with a look of worry on his face. He quickly put on his trousers and shirt and ran out into the lair, motioning for me to stay there. I sat in the bed, not making any sounds. I got up and slowly walked to the exit of the room, peeking out to see who was there. I gasped when I saw Madame Giry. Erik helped her out of the boat. She smiled at him.

“Erik,” she said curiously. “You aren’t wearing your mask.”

A look of alarm spread across his face and he covered his face with his hand.

“I-I’m so sorry.” He said. She shook her head and moved his hand from his face.

“No, I don’t mind. I’m actually quite happy to see you without that wretched thing on, it must feel much better.”

Her smile vanished.

“What’s wrong?” Erik asked.

“Erik,” she said, taking his hands. “The Vicompt’s cousin has come to study ballet here, he sent her here to train with me and—“

“No, I know already.”

“You do?”

“Yes, I’ve known about Amelia for days.”

“Oh, well that’s not what the problem is. She’s missing; she’s been missing for days. We haven’t informed Raoul yet but when he finds out we’ll be done for.”

Erik frowned and sighed.

“I….. I know where she is.”

A looked of alarm came over Madame Giry’s face, she almost looked frightened.

“W-what do you mean? Where is she?”

Erik looked toward the door and motioned for me to come forward. I hesitated at first, but then came out. I was embarrassed, standing there in one of Erik’s shirts. The cool air in the lair went up my bear legs and I shivered a bit.
Madame Giry’s face went white. She looked at Erik, then to me, and then back to Erik.

“What’s going on Erik?”

“I… I’m in love with her.” He said, shaking his head.

She dropped her jaw and looked at him with wide eyes. Erik turned to look at me and smiled.

“This is nothing like it was with Christine.” He said quietly.

Madame Giry closed her mouth slowly and looked at me with fierce eyes. Suddenly, she walked up to me, grabbed me by the arm and took me down to the lake. She pushed me towards the boat.

“Get in.’ she said firmly. I quickly moved over to Erik into his arms. He held me tight, as if he refused to let me go. Madame Giry began to tear up; the tears began to stream down her face.

“Erik, you can’t keep her here!” she said.

Erik looked at her in awe, but then slowly released me. I still held on to him. He pushed me out a little and looked me in the eyes.

“Goodbye,” he said sadly. “Until tonight.”

I hesitated but then let him go. I got into the boat and let Madame row the boat away. I looked back at him as he watched the boat drift away, I blew him a kiss and mouthed the words ‘I love you.’