Hello! I am sorry for the lateness of this chapter, i had to take my MacBook in for repair and didn't want to start a new chapter if they were going to wipe my hard-drive or something...Also, now that i've been writing this for a bit i'm changing the Maturity rating to M (to be safe) and the placement from Humor to Drama...yeah...this story is not turning our at all like i planned...
Thanks so much to Nightbird1995, TheTamster, AndromedaTodd, RoseTheFanFictionLover, stained-glass-shadow, and La Belle Marauder for reviewing chapter 2 and to all of you who are watching/have fav'ed this story.
The Phantom's Physician - In which a suspicion is confirmed - Chapter 3
Dr. Josephine Hammond pulled back her hair as she examined her face in the small mirror that lay among her possessions, grimacing as she watched a bruise beginning to form. She let her hair fall back into place, staring into the face reflected by the glass. She looked so much older now then she had 2 weeks ago, the first time she had ventured down into this hellish cavern...and her positively demonic patient.
Erik was not a man who was used to limitation. He was also not a man used to a constant companion, especially one who's soul purpose was to enforce those limitations. He was moody, reclusive and refused to be touched by her. He preferred the darkness to even a single candle's light and didn't sleep or eat much at all. But she could have endured this along with his blatant disregard for her authority and instructions...if it weren't for his temper.
She prodded the small lump that was now beginning to form on her lip...at least the bleeding had stopped. His outbursts had become so much more intense as time dragged on, but this was the first time he had actually harmed her physically. Previously he had been...reserved...almost afraid to touch her even in his most violent rages. He usually took it out on the objects that littered his room or, if it were turned on her, in the form of verbal assaults and threats she had no doubts about his ability to carry out.
This particular outburst had come as a surprise to her, almost completely out of the blue. The two never talked, never held long conversations or exchanged more then a few words. If she were to push a subject or start on something he knew would turn into something more then a passing remark he would ignore her or cut it short with a swipe of his brutal sarcasm. It had become something of a a game for her...and him, she suspected. How far can the good doctor pry before the crippled phantom has had enough.
Well, this outburst was proceeded by a conversation...a fact that should have put Dr. Hammond on end from the word go...
She had been wandering around the number of chambers and room that made up Erik's house. She had never been given a formal tour, due to the fact that it's owner was bed-ridden up until a few days ago, but knew or could guess what most of the room were meant for. She was moving rather purposeful around the maze, opening and closing doors quickly.
"What, Good Doctor, are you doing?" Erik's light, musical voice made her freeze. He always addressed her as 'Good Doctor' and had only ever used her given name or surname once, the first day they had met.
"Looking...for something." She turned around slowly. His hazel eyes watched her, amused. She had finally allowed him to get up and walk around at his will this morning and appeared to be in his good grace because of it.
"Your quest would go much quicker if you would simply ask me." he pointed out. Doctor Hammond gave him a suspicious look, having expected a shrug or dismissive comment. "I did build this place with my own two hands." he held up his hands for effect, wiggling the long, slender digits.
"Yeah...well...," she considered ending it here, embarrassed by her quest, but being an extremely curious person she threw her pride into the wind. "Do you really have a torture chamber down here?"
"Yes." He chuckled, a look of self-satisfaction in his eyes. He had long ago changed his half-faced mask to one that hid all of his face, save for his mouth, chin, and eyes so these where her only indication of his moods. She realized that he had known the reason for her snooping long before he began speaking to her. She didn't like being read by a man like Erik, a man who could really do something with that kind of information. "Does that scare you?"
The question added to her unease. His voice was light and pleasant to listen to, tainted with just enough playfulness to make an unweary person forget the danger he posed. To Dr. Hammond he would forever remind her of a sleek, black panther lounging in the shadows of some tropical forest, watching its pray. she decided to be honest. "Not any more afraid then I ever am around you."
"You are afraid of me?" his voice changed slightly, less playful and more...flat, like he didn't have to wait for the answer and was quickly growing bored of the conversation. "even though i couldn't hardly sit up without assistance for the last two weeks?"
"I wouldn't say 'afraid'," she replied quickly, finding she didn't want him to stop talking...his voice had an addictive quality to it...almost otherworldly. "Uneasy perhaps. There is no point in denying that, even now, you are much stronger then me but you're also very intelligent and it wouldn't be in your best interest to harm me...I'm just happy im not treating whoever you fought...assuming there were others"
She could hear the sharp intake of breath as she gave voice to her suspicions. She watched as all reminisce of playfulness drained from his face, replaced by cold, bitterness and a touch of shame. "What would make you 'assume' otherwise?"
"I have treated a patient with similar injuries before, years ago in America. He was a boy about 17 or 18. He had been helping his father re-tile the roof of his barn and slipped. He fell almost 20 feet, would have died if it weren't for the maple they had planted on the side of the building...slowed down the impact just enough...gave him some nasty cuts though. The boy lost an eye but lived. Of course that was an accident, he just lost his footing...," Erik was completely silent, eyes wide and jaw tight. He had though he knew her, how to read her...but he had never guessed she knew... "But you don't strike me as the kind of person to make that mistake...to loose your footing...on accident."
"You knew!" He hissed, grabbing her by the collar of her dress and pulling her forward. she lost her footing and fell. All she could see was the storm raging in this man's eyes, all she could feel was the cold anger that rolled off of him in waves. "You KNEW and you still saved me! You think YOU have a right to choose, to go against MY wishes. Perhaps you think you know better...or think me some kind of coward who has forfeit the right to choose!,"
He gave a hollow laugh, releasing her roughly against the stone wall, running his thin fingers though his slick black hair.
"Perhaps you think i don't deserve such an easy escape, after everything i've done...you felt an eternity in this hell was a better price to pay for my transgressions," he came and knelt next to her, grinning evilly and fixing his dark eyes in hers. "your right about one thing...I am stronger then you...much stronger."
He stood, pulling her up by the collar once more, forcing her to her feet unless she wanted to be hung by her own dress, and pinned her to the wall. He could almost smell her fear, feel it at it ran through her small body. He leaned down, placing one hand against the wall, the other tangled itself in her long, golden locks. "You think you know hell?" he whispered into her ear, tugging sharply on her hair, causing her head back and her chest out.
He could smell it now, smell her...roses and fear...thats what this angel smelled like...this woman who thought she could make his choices for him...though she could control his fate...thought she had the power to choose for him. He ran a finger over her cheek, tracing her angular jaw, her soft skin was warm beneath his cold fingers, her body burning against the stone-cold wall. He couldn't have Christine...but perhaps...
He closed his eyes, inhaling the smell of her hair and running his fingers across her neck, tracing the lines and contours of her skin. He had kill countless men in the past, both out of necessity and pleasure...but he had never given in to this beast, this monster that slept so patiently under his skin...
He paused as his fingers made contact with moisture. Was she crying? somehow he imagined her to be stronger then that...He opened his eyes and looked down at his hand.
Blood.
His middle and pointer fingertips were coated in a wet, sticky scarlet liquid that was dripping down her soft, white chin. He followed the stream up to her lips. Her teeth were clenched, biting her lip to the point of drawing a steady stream of blood. He lifted his eyes a fraction of and inch to make contact with her large green ones.
She was watching him.
He met her gaze and found himself unable to look away. They were not filled the hate or disgust he dad expected. She stared at him, anger and disappointment and surprise etched across her huge emerald eyes.
He released her as if burned, backing away. What the hell was wrong with him. This woman had saved his life, sat by his bedside, dressed his wounds and kept him company...despite her obvious dislike for him and his home...and this was how he repaid her...
Suddenly Erik stiffened, his face utterly blank under his mask. He gave Dr. Hammond a stiff but respectful little bow and hurried down the hall and into the darkness, Leaving the Good Doctor bewildered and alone.
Now, a few hours later, Dr. Hammond had still not seen Erik since he had left her in the hall. She sighed, still slightly flustered and utterly confused. thats what you get from spending your life shut away from the world... she thought and placed the mirror back in her bag and double checked she had packed everything.
She entered the room with the swan bed just as Madame Giry was pouring a cup of wine for Erik, who was lying down, staring at the ceiling. the madame greeted Dr. Hammond happily but Erik made no move to suggest he had noticed.
"Well." Dr. Hammond sighed. "Im off. I've left all my instruction in a notebook on my bedroll. If you have any questions im sure the Opera's doctor would be more then able of answering them for you. I've taken far to many days off work as it is and people might talk if they see you coming to see me Madame Giry."
"Yes, I understand." It was a goodbye, a 'don't call me' sort of goodbye, a definitive, end of a relationship sort of goodbye. She was washing her hands of this place and didn't want to be invited back...But Madame Giry knew just how little personal feelings meant to Erik if the need of a doctor or of a woman like Jo Hammond ever arose. Once you are brought to the attention of the Phantom of the Opera you were not easily forgotten.
It was for this reason that Madame Giry didn't feel sad as she watched the young doctor she had come to like very much leave the room and return to her life on the surface. This wasn't goodbye, she could see Dr. Hammond again...all she had to do was wait.
Please Tell me what you think! This chapter feels like a bit...much to me. do you agree? any ideas were i should go from here?
