Under The Spell Of A Phantom.
Three: Music.
Her heart was thundering against her chest.
Her palms were begining to sweat in a alarming manner.
Her body trembled and shook, any second she could faint.
It was all because of the man Ruby was now staring at.
He was over six foot with jet black hair and grey green eyes.
But it was his half moon white mask that rose her curiousity.
One side handsome and pure, the other covered by the plastic object.
Ruby's mind was spinning around in a fast and uncontrolable pace.
Who was this mysterious man?
Why was he down here instead up there with the others?
What was making her feel these brand new feelings like this?
How could he just stand here and stare at her without a word being said?
Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she broke the silent moment between them.
A fierce frown appeared along with a unsettling sneer across his face.
"You shouldn't be down here, go back to where you come from." He growled, stomping towards her.
Ruby backed herself against the curtain but it's useless support made her fall down on her bottom.
The stinging pain was only noticed for a few moments as it was soon replaced by the chilling stare the mystery man gave her.
"I'm sorry, I won't come down here again!" She cried, looking away from him.
He relaxed his angry features by bending down and offering his hand to her.
Ruby gazed at it then to his eyes, they were so unusual and burning right through her like he knew every secret she had.
"Take it." He said, softly.
Without a second's pause, she placed her hand into his.
For a moment, they looked down at them suddenly amazed of how they fitted so perfectly.
"Come," He whispered, breaking the tender moment between them.
With every bit of strengh in him, Ruby stood once more and walked back inside the room.
He led her to the organ where more sheets of music lay on it, the confusing notes capturing her eyes.
Letting go of her hand, he sat on the stool and began to play a beautiful, peaceful melody.
She watched him in awe, breathless of how magically talented he was adding more of the mystery.
But as Ruby began to hum, he started to sing low at first then rose to normal hearing level.
His voice, it was like something out of a romance novel or the operas she went as a child.
The man turned his head to stare at her, a curved smile appeared instead of that frightening sneer.
She placed a hand on his broad shoulder, not once did he pull away or stop singing because of it.
Once the song came near it's end, he held on one note while his fingers pounded the keys until everything went silent.
Tears fell down Ruby's face, it was such a beautiful and powerful piece of music that touched her thoughts forever.
He stood up from the stool, never tearing his gaze from the woman standing before him.
"Who are you?" She asked.
He opened his mouth but nothing came out which deeply disappointed her.
"Come, I'll shall take you back to the ball." He said, offering his hand once more.
Realising that she will not know his name, Ruby placed her own with his and followed him out the room.
She stole a few more glances behind her, remembering every part of it in her memory.
The pathway was dark, no candles shone to guide them through here or up the staircase.
Every step was hard and struggling for Ruby, it seemed like she didn't want to leave that place or him.
Within a few minutes, they reached towards the ballroom to find it eeirly silent and no-one around.
She heard him curse under his breath, a word that was strange and forbidden to say from anyone.
He stopped and turned around, his burning eyes captured hers.
"It seems the ball has finished and that you are the only person here." He said, sternly.
"But it's not just me. There's you." She replied, softly.
Ruby regretted her words by the angry look on his face.
"No-one knows that I am here, this is our secret you must keep forever and never tell anyone. Do you understand?"
The threatening tone of voice he had made Ruby unsettled but swiftly nodded her head without hesiation.
"Good, now I must depart. Farewell, my lady." He said, lowering his lips on her hand gently.
"It's Ruby. My name is Ruby." She added, with a small smile.
He studied her quietly, repeating her name over and over in his tortured mind.
"Well, Miss Ruby. It's been a pleasure meeting you this night, may you have a happy and free life." He bowed, then walked down the pathway.
"Wait!" She called, stopping him in mid-step.
"Yes?" He said, turning his head slightly only showing his white mask.
"At least tell me your name if I can't ever see you again." She pleaded.
A heavy sigh escaped from his lips.
"It's Erik." He replied, then carried on walking into the darkness.
"Erik, what a unusual name for a man..." She muttered to herself.
Turning her heel, Ruby headed towards the entrance only to feel a weak spell wash over her.
With a sigh, she collasped to the floor in a dead faint.
Erik was just reaching the staircase when he heard a bang that froze his blood.
He ran back to find Ruby lying there with her eyes shut.
For a moment, he could just leave her there and think nothing more of it.
But inside, something was pulling him to do the right thing.
"Just like before with her... Stop it, Erik!" His mind raged.
Gathering Ruby in his arms, he headed back slowly to his rooms down below.