Requiem of Love (Erik's Side of the Story)

Well, just thought I’d have a little fun retelling the story in Erik’s words. Since Requiem of Love was my first fic, I figured I’d stick with familiar territory to expand my writing skills. I rather like this version, because I was curious as to what the Erik in my story might have going on in his head as the evening progressed. Now you get to see for yourself.

I don't own any of the Phantom of the Opera characters and have written this purely for enjoyment and will not be profiting in anyway.
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Requiem of Love (Erik’s side of the story)

I thought it would be a night like any other. I would bring my Angel of Music down to my lair and have her do her vocal warm ups and then rehearse her lines. We’d break for dinner and chat a bit, if it wasn’t too late. We’d continue rehearsing and afterwards I’d sing to her, which would often make her very sleepy. Many nights I could have laid her down in my bed and taken in her beauty as she slept, but always the gentleman for my Angel, I would have her gather her things and then return her to her dressing room.

When I first started training her in person, she was merely more than a child. I would always bow and wish her a fond farewell at the end of the evening. There was never any physical contact with her, aside from me helping her in and out of the boat. As she grew older, she no longer needed much assistance other than taking my hand, but I always insisted on lifting her back and forth. Even then, it was just a few seconds of touch.

As time went on, I started to notice that sometimes my hands would linger and my eyes would lock in on her. It was becoming an involuntary reaction now that she had grown into a woman before my eyes. The first time it happened, I’d hoped that she’d thought she was imagining things or hadn’t noticed; but once it had happened on several occasions, I chided myself and knew I’d have to exercise more restraint and awareness. For the most part I succeeded, but did slowly let my guard down and do away with some of my formalities. I no longer said goodnight from a far. Things gradually went from a kiss on the hand to a kiss on the forehead. From there, things went from a kiss on the forehead to a kiss on her cheek and me whispering “Goodnight, Angel” in her ear. Sometimes when I’d kiss her cheek, I’d come so close to grazing her mouth, I could feel her lips trembling next to mine. I longed to kiss those innocent lips, yet always resisted, knowing I was not worthy of such a prize. As time went on it was becoming harder and harder to stifle my feelings.

Whenever my starry-eyed Angel would look at me with praise and admiration it meant the world to me. I wanted to just sweep her up and tell her of my love for her, but the fear of losing her trust and respect always put me back in my place. I’d even considered pushing her away and ending my tutelage, but knew I couldn’t live without her in my life. “I’m just her teacher and friend, nothing more,” I had to keep reminding myself. “As long as I remember that, things will be fine.”

Back to the evening at hand.

I watched as she slowly began to gather her things, not wanting her to leave. She had been in such an adorable state throughout the wonderful evening, so giddy with excitement and nervousness. We had a few glasses of wine to toast the announcement of her starring role in the debut of a new opera. She would be the first to sing it to the public, so naturally she was feeling anxious. Once I broke out the wine it seemed to calm her down a bit, but she still could barely contain herself. I told her not to worry and that I would have her in her most stellar form by the time the production was ready.

“Do you have everything Angel?” I asked as I walked towards her.

“Yes” she replied quietly. Her mood had definitely shifted.

When I helped her into the boat, I stepped in first, then caught her around her waist and lifted her up. For some reason, she clutched her arms around my neck more tightly than she ever had. I suspected the wine must have made her a little tipsy. I slightly spun her around before her feet touched the floor of the boat. She then raised her face which had been delightfully pressed against my neck. She looked up at me in what seemed like a saddened trance. I just stood there gazing back not knowing what to say or do. I then dismissed it as her still being worried about her role. I slowly leaned down and caught a curl that was askew on her forehead, twirling it in my fingers before gently brushing it out of the way.

“We should go.” I said softly.

She simply nodded in response.

Out of nowhere she began to yell. “Wait, stop! My shawl!” and lunged forward. Tripping over herself, her shoes, her dress, I’m not really sure which, just that whatever it was made her tumble right out of the boat and into the lake. “Oh Angel, what have you gone and done!” I laughed in my head.

“Are you alright, Angel?” I asked, my voice shaking, struggling not to erupt into laughter. I didn’t want to add to her obvious embarrassment.

She casually replied, “Umm, yes, yes fine, just thought I’d take a quick swim.”

Finally, I let out a thunderous laugh, “Hahaahaahahaah!” (Imagine Michael Crawford’s rooftop laugh here)

“Think I could get a hand here?” she asked with a pout.

“Most certainly, Angel” I said as I leaned over and extended my hand.

She tugged at my arm with such force that it caught me off guard. Over I fell, right in after her, with a big splash.

“Woopsie” she said as innocently as possible, batting her soaking lashes at me.

I could feel the rage boiling up inside me. “Insolent girl, you’ll pay for that! How dare she?!” I thought, as I trudged forward. I was so furious I wasn’t sure what I was going to do once I got my hands on her. “Wait Erik, wait. Calm down. Don’t do anything crazy,” I had to tell myself. “Remember that you love her. You could never hurt your Angel.”

Trying to get away, she yelled, “Erik, wa wa wait a minute, don’t do any..!” but before she could finish I responded by dunking her, head first into the water.

“Woopsie” I laughed in triumphant satisfaction as she emerged, huffing and puffing. “There we’re even. Now let’s climb ashore and get out of these wet clothes.”