*finally remembers to breath* Wow. It's not often I can say something is truly breathtaking, but this story is one such jewel. Magnificent! I was in a dream state through most of the story, not wanting to stop, 'til I was sure it was really finished. I couldn't decide whether to cry or cheer at the end, so I think I'll just do a little bit of both! Thank you. I find myself weary with the everlasting, syrupy fantasies of little fangirls who try to shove themselves into the story and change it simply to suit their own desires, no matter how inaccurate, or just plain monotonous their changes may be. You haven't done that. You took a beautiful tragedy and simply expanded on the theme, weaving in elements of pure human vulnerability and passion, without too much angst or sticky lemony-ness.

I loved that you chose to make Lucie a mute at first, instead of shoving poor Erik with the ever popular cute, little, undiscovered prodegy everyone else seems so eager to pair him up with. Most people ignore the realities of being mute, thinking "Oh, it can't be that bad, I mean it's not like their deaf, or anything", not realizing the difficulties attatched to not being able to communicate with your fellow human beings in a way they take for granted. This one really hit home to me, because, who better for Erik to establish a bond with, than someone who is almost the exact opposite of himself, a man who is well aware of the power of his own voice, and is fully confidant in his abillity to use it.

Ok, it's time I drew this episcle to a close before I wax poetic, and start freaking you out! :) I look forward to reading more of your work! Keep it up!

What a beautiful story. I shall look forward to more of them.

Well I just finished this. It was just too sad. I wanted to cry my eyes out. I had such high hopes for Erik and Lucie. It will take me a while to recover. Poor Erik got shafted again.

A bittersweet ending to your story, in its own way, a refreshing change of pace. Of course, it's painful to read of Erik dying, but the way you portrayed him, I got the feeling he didn't really want to live anymore. He was able to enjoy a few brief moments of happiness, and perhaps he was content with that.

But as one life goes out (Erik), another enters (Adrien). So even though Erik is gone, he is not.

This was a lovely story, one I feel could, if you ever feel so inclined to do so, could be revised and expanded into a novel-length story.

Thank you for writing an intelligent, fascinating, beautiful story. I'd add more adjectives, but I think you get my drift.

HDK

Simply wonderful. The ending befitted the rest of the story:

Bittersweet.
Sad.
Dramatic.

And over. Thank you for sharing this with us readers. I hope you continue writing. You have excellent writing skills and your english is surprisingly better than many Americans who've written it their whole lives.

Take care Dear Authoress.

er... I accidentally jumped down to the last line before getting there...
Well, stellar ending. And, no offense, i'd hoped that Lucie would end up with Théodore anyways because Erik was too old for her.

What a strange and bittersweet ending. I loved it!

I felt sorry for Lucie but things did turn out for her. Thank goodness for Theodore having married her. I somehow think Lucie would always be in love with Erik; yet growing to love her husband as well.

It seems as if Erik didn't die after all; that he staged his death to get the gendarmes off his trail. His visiting Christine at the end would mean he never could rid himself of his fixation upon her. I wonder if he would visit Lucie as well? Interesting thoughts.

It was a fine story. Thank you for sharing it with us readers.

I'm hoping you do write an epilogue as well - we shall see.

Very well done! I especially enjoyed the part about the statue (Adrien) and Erik's son (Adrien) because it hints at prescience. One might like to think that Erik would have gone to Lucie and at least acknowledged his child, but I liked the edgy ending with Erik still captivated by Christine. Could there be hope for him yet, that he would see what she has with Raoul (home, hearth, family) and wonder what he could have had with Lucie?

Of course, my hat's off to Theo. It's always nice to have a selfless hero in a story, and he is one. It is good to know that baby Adrien will be loved.

Among your strengths as a writer are descriptive detail, and you have a wonderful voice. You are more fluent in English than most who speak it as a first language. I thoroughly enjoyed your authentic French phrases -- they were a pleasure to read. (All the more a pleasure as I am helping my teenage daughter learn French now, and since she is fluent in Spanish and speaks Portuguese, you'd think this would go smoothly. It won't be long before she outpaces me, since I haven't studied French in many years!) I also liked that you didn't bog down the pace of the story and linger over such scenes as the childbirth. You kept your focus throughout the story.

~ML

I read the opening paragraphs and found myself chuckling to myself. Not because of what was being planned, but that I, too, named one of my characters -- a villain, no less -- Fournier.

You did an excellent job in describing the attack. As I read it, I found myself clenching my jaw, my anger matching Erik's, feeling the blows as Erik felt them.

And those tender moments between Erik and Lucie? Fantastic! Poor Erik, he is so used to rejection that it is difficult (to say the least) for him to understand how Lucie could love him.

'If my heart was not shattered and ground to dust, I would give it to you, Lucie,' he murmured, and then his head bowed.

Oh, you broke my heart with that line.

Wow, That Was Such an Amazing Story.
You Wrote It Wonderfully.
Just Wow =]
Well Done, I Loved That So Much x

Sorry to be slow in catching up with my reading...and reviewing. Things are a bit hectic for me right now, but eventually all will return to a more normal pace. For now, I shall have satisfied myself by reading chapter 7. I think what sticks out most in my mind is the image of Erik mourning the loss of Hermes. It was very touching to read, and I could almost feel his pain.

Thanks again for another fine chapter.

HDK

Excellent. I wonder who those strange men were who attacked Erik. The sensuality scene was very touching. I'm eager for the last chapter, but I do wish there was more. :) You must write other stories soon.

I'm not sure what to say about this chapter. It is well written, but I am left with misgivings about the pace of the plot.

In this chapter, Erik is nearly beaten to death. He cannot even walk, so Lucie carries him to his home. (Loved the part about his giving directions, btw.) He rallies enough to tell her that he cannot love her, and even more so that he can partake of what she gives him, i.e., herself.

While it is always good to see Erik being loved, it seemed to me to be a little rushed. Not that I think he would deny himself the joy of such an experience with a woman professing her love for him, but because he was so terribly injured such a short while earlier.

Fournier and his friends seem like a real threat to Erik. The townspeople will surely know who he is, based on the description of the sculptor in a mask, and this can only lead to more trouble for Erik. I suppose I should celebrate his night with Lucie, in case the bad guys do him in before he has a chance to enjoy more time with her.

My hat's off to you for a lovely writing style, and for your gentle and loving treatment of Erik.

~ml

I cannot believe that those evil jealous men are still planning to hurt Erik! They almost killed him! He killed in self-defense but there are no witnesses - except perhaps that Lucie saw and heard those men after they'd left Erik for dead.

How happy Lucie is that she and Erik are now together. I wonder though; how long can it last when others are out to destroy Erik?

Very good chapter. Thanks for updating.

LOVELY LOVELY LOVELY I WISH I WAS HER agh sight ogh well lol absolutely lovely and heartouching seriously keep it up and post soon plz
Loraine