Hello everyone again :)
Sorry I haven't been around, but finally I've been able to update! As always, I'd like to thanks everyone.
Now, enjoy chapter 52!
Lovephantom83
She had shut the door hard behind her, sitting on the floor as she tried to wipe the tears that were rolling down her face.
There was no way to make that kiss abandon her thoughts now.
She cried. And it was not because of what might have seem the most obvious reason: seeing another woman kissing him. No, surprisingly enough, jealousy had taken over her but it was not because of that.
Angeline had managed to express such passion with the simple gesture of a kiss… It was all so terribly evident that it made her furious. So furious because she hadn't been able to express so that fateful evening.
Yes, she had kissed him. Shyly the first time. The second time she took more time. She allowed herself to get lost in the taste of his lips mixed with the salt of his tears, as her trembling hands held his face and she provided slight caresses to his cheek, which had been uncovered at the moment.
His tears, which were only and exclusively shed for her…
And she had paid him running away as soon as she heard his defeated, enraged and exhausted voice asking for her to leave.
A kind of self-hatred for being so…childish invaded her, making her give a sharp punch to the floor.
Perhaps all that meant that her destiny was not entwined with his, after all... Perhaps Angie was more deserving of his love…
A love she seemed eager to show so very openly. Anytime. Anywhere.
Why couldn't she have done the same!
She took both her hands to her face, letting out the feelings her throat would not allow her to express with words. With drowned sobs, her silent tears began trailing down her porcelain cheeks.
Erik chose that moment to open the door, without really knowing if he would be able to resist the urge of crashing down like her, pull her to him and embrace her forever. She was curled up on the carpet which covered the floor. He could sense her small form shiver, following the rythm of the sobs that racked through her.
Miserable… that state of permanent angst had been caused by no other than himself.
Trying not to disturb her, he crouched down on the floor so that he was more or less at her level. Christine lifted her face when she noticed the gentle touch of his hand on her back.
Her eyes were sad, tremendously sad, as much as his own or even more.
Was he so anguished? No, he had no reason to be like that. It was not his fault.
'Christine…', his voice was soft as he pulled her up to stand and held her arms. 'I realize I must explain so much to you. Maybe…'.
He was interrupted by a shake of her head. Then, she leant one of her hands on his shoulder, just as her head instinctivelly did a similar motion, letting its weight slightly rest on him.
There was so much quietness, so much safety… so much peace in his presence. In his arms.
And yet, she could not tell him. And she feared that she could never do. How much longer could she stand the silence, watching how she lost him at last?
Erik understood the meaning of that gesture. She had always told him more things in that way than with words. She did not need explanations or she did not want them. He knew she was trying to make him see that it was not his fault but he could not help feeling like that. He could not bear hurting her.
Slowly, she moved away and her lips curled in a reassuring smile. She wanted him to know they would be all right.
But he knew things would not be so easy. Resigned, he walked towards her, took her face in his hand and kissed her brow. Perhaps it was best to leave her alone for a while. After stroking briefly her cheek, he retired.
Christine smiled inwardly. With a simple gesture, he had made her feel much better.
The new day brought other expectations but did not change her mood in the slightest. She did not dare to see him again, to speak to him…anything.
With a sigh, she rested her bare feet on the wooden floor. She was aware that the moment when she had to face him was closer by the minute.
She could not let her nerves betray her again…
She used what little strength she had left to make her legs support the weight of her weak body so that she could get changed.
Twenty minutes later she found herself in the main square. She did not have to wait too long for Édmond to put an appearance.
'I'm glad to see you, Angeline', he smiled and offered his arm. 'Precisely, I trusted that I would meet you today, for I'd like you to accompany me to a place in a while...'.
She did not understand why but a knot had formed deep in her throat when she heard him say that.
What if she told him then? Would it be too late?
A worried expression, tormented, crossed her features. 'Listen, Édmond…I…I've got something to tell you, please…'.
He looked at her in concern that emotion shifted quickly. He kept biting his lower lip, though. 'You know I'd love to hear that, dear, but you see...this is serious business we must attend and there's not much time to spare. It has to do with our...plans'.
Plans… Good Heavens. She was really sinking fast in dangerous waters, and she did not know if...
'Our plans', she nodded nervously. 'Is it that…you are thinking of going into action so soon?'.
He laughed aloud, trying to calm her down. 'Not right away but very soon. You…you must promise me that you'll be calm when this starts, okay? I'm just going to introduce you to some people, nothing more'.
'Who will these people be?'. Fear was obvious in her quivering voice.
'My colleagues. They are really looking forward to meeting you'.
She gulped hard.
She was scared, scared staff. And he hadn't allowed her to tell him what she had come to...
That she simply could not carry on with the plan.