Existential Disclaimer: Obviously, by the sheer fact that you are now reading this, you have conquered bad faith, and have exercised free will in some capacity. It is clear that in the course of life, our psyches have been developed in part by POTO, which we do not own, nor would we engage in such objectifying partisanship, and in such matters we have been quite lucky - even though there is no such thing as luck. Author's Note: Yeah, I know. Existentialism scares me, too. Anyway, the delay was hardly my fault this time - ff.net banned me, and I couldn't post for a week. Now that my exile is over, I have returned. Much love and many thanks to my reviewers, and I hope everyone enjoys chapter 4. ~Chapter 4: A Study in Newfound Courage. . .~ "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage." ~Lao-Tzu The cellars were more damp than I remembered, and I soon found myself struggling desperately against the urge to cough. Nadir led on, his soft footfalls the only sound in the silence beyond the slight rasping of my increasingly labored breathing. His lantern cast a dull light over the surrounding darkness, and in those ominous shadows, countless fears loomed. Spectral shades danced in the waning light of the single candle, and I found myself torn between my dread, my love and my soft suffering. The worst of it was my doubts; it had been a long time - a veritable eternity from my perspective - since I had last beheld Erik, since one kiss seemingly sealed our fates to solitude. My thoughts drifted desperately, the memories that had been my refuge for so long playing in my mind like some grand Opera. I closed my eyes; I shook my head. Memories were soon to be supplanted by reality, and I could not appear before him as a daydreaming helpless child. Of course, fate had not been kind, and I would not be dynamic in any event. He deserved more, and I greedily prayed that he would see beyond that. I turned back to the darkness, the moist air that was playing havoc with my lungs as we drew near the lake, the soft footfalls of the Persian, and the shadows in the faint light. Time passed slowly, far too slowly, but I kept walking towards my goal. Nadir had not spoken since we reached the cellars; it was as if we had transcended the boundary into hallowed ground, a place where history reigned so irrevocably that one could not escape it, and no one dared defy it. When we reached the lake, he wordlessly helped me into the boat, and we began our crossing. Being surrounded by water was not the best place for me, and, inevitably, I began to cough. As usual, I couldn't find a handkerchief, but, sensing my distress, Nadir handed me one of his own. The sounds of my wheezing broke the silence, and I looked away from the Persian, who cast his glance to the wretchedly broken house looming in the distance. Surely, Erik would hear us coming from the remnants of his home. Erik; he was ignorant of my plight, and I dared not think of what reaction he would have to it. We pulled up to the dock, and Nadir assisted me out of the boat. As I turned towards the house, a tall, dark form emerged from the surrounding night. ~Flashback~ "Take her now and leave this place! Forget all you've seen here! Forget me. . ." Erik ordered wretchedly, cutting the rope around Raoul's neck. Raoul grabbed my hand, and turned to flee. "But, Erik. . ." I whispered, unable to say 'I love you' even as the words echoed in my mind as Raoul pulled me away, "Erik. . ." ~End Flashback~ "Nadir," the tall form called in a majestic, if sullen voice, "you're late, and I do believe you have a cold." "That wasn't me, Erik," the Persian whispered grimly as I stepped out from behind him. "Christine?" Erik whispered in disbelief. ~Flashback~ "Raoul," I pleaded as he forcefully placed me in the boat, "I just want to say goodbye." "Even if that were a good idea, Christine," Raoul said powerfully, getting in the boat and beginning to row, "I hate to think what would happen if we were here when the mob arrived. I love you, darling, and I only want to protect you." "I know," I whispered, but in my mind, I knew that his protection, however well intentioned would be the thing that would destroy me. ~End Flashback~ "Christine," he said, slightly louder, approaching me warily, "you've returned. . ." "Yes," I said breathlessly, controlling my urge to cough - I had to get inside, away from the lake if that control was to last - "Oh, Erik. . ." Words failed me, and I simply extended my arms to him. Slowly, he approached, and took me into his arms. As the ardor of our love became apparent, Nadir made a quick exit towards the house. "Why have you returned?" Erik said almost pleadingly, as if he was begging for the words that had caught in my throat the last time I was in his arms. "Because I don't want to live the rest of my life without you; I love you," I said, pulling him close, and feeling suddenly renewed and refreshed. He nodded, his tears falling and mingling with my own as he refused to let me go, "Come let us go inside," he bade eventually, and I took his hand, following him almost happily away from the lake and the past that lay beyond it. *To be continued* |
| Where there is Love |