She looked so peaceful asleep. Even if it were a drug sleep. I could watch her sleep like that forever, but I believe the chloroform might kill her then.
I removed the mask and her eyes began to flutter open, and then she must have remembered what happened for she sat up in a jolt.
"Did you sleep well Christine?"
She looked at me and opened her mouth to scream.
"Oh don't do that, it will hurt your voice. I told you not to do anything to hurt it."
She looked at me strangely. "Angel?"
I sighed. "Yes I'm your angel."
"You…you're the opera ghost…"
"Christine there is not opera ghost, there is no angel of music. There is only Erik."
There was a look of fear on her pretty face.
"I don't mean to hurt you Christine. The fact you were chloroformed and we're both still virgins should tell you that. I should apologize for that, drugging you and kidnapping you and all…I was jealous and it affected my actions."
"Jealous…."
"Oh yes, I'm in love with you. I lay awake at night wondering what would happen if we were to be married one day."
She leaned away from me.
"I don't plan to force you into marriage or…drop a chandelier on that fop boy yours were talking to or something Christine. I know I have no chance with you. And though that fact kills me I'm accustomed to it."
"Please let me go! I'll do whatever you want anything! Just let me go!"
"I will let you go, when that fop boy goes back to his little castle in the country side or where ever the bloody hell he lives. As for what I want from you….I would mind being placed in that dark circle of hell of being forced to only be a friend to the person I love."
She looked at me confused.
"Friendship Christine. If you take all I've been through and then all I've done I don't deserve a lover but perhaps a friend."
"Um….."
"I won't force you Christine….however there's always that chance heart break will make me do something…horrible."
"Are you threatening me?! You can't just kidnap me away from everything and expect me to…"
"I'll give you a day or so to think about it. Dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes I suggest you finish crying which I know you're about to do and then wash up for it. I won't be eating till you're asleep because my mask gets in the way, but I will be there." He turned for the door.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
He stopped and looked back to me. "Erik Richards; who ells but myself?"
And just like that he left closing the door behind him.
Like that masked fiend said I did burry my face in a pillow and cry. How could I not?! He kidnapped me what kind of sick person dose that! And his mask was frightening…I didn't even realize it was a mask at 1st it was so uncanny; I thought he was some expressionless demon that spoke with its mouth closed! Who wears a mask like that? Where do you even get a mask like that? What was under it?
Probably something hideous.
I dried my eyes after a while and got out of bed and went to try the door. It was unlocked and outside of it was, well I don't know what to call it really. It was a sort of music room, with the only wall was the one my door was on, and had about 5 other doors in it to. And it was a cave wall of white stone, across from a lake.
There was another door open in the stone wall which I went to and saw it was a dining room. There was a long table about 8 people could sit at, 3 on each side and 1 on each end, and at the far end there was a plate of some roast water fowl some bread rolls and a small cake. It was mouthwatering to look at, but I couldn't be sure if it were safe to eat or not.
"It's safe if that's what you're thinking."
I turned around to see him, just sitting in the chair at the end close to the door; dressed in all black including a new mask, and blending into the black chair he sat on.
"If you don't believe me, again I remind you that you were drugged and out cold yet I didn't touch you or through you in my torture chamber." He chuckled. "I had an acquaintance of mine whose a cook make it just for you."
"Well you have a bite then, prove it to me!"
He sighed and leaned his head down. "My mask I wear when eating shows a bit too much of my face for me to let you see me in it."
"What's wrong with your face then?"
"My twin brother had to be removed from the side of my head when we were infants. He didn't live, and I was left with a gap on one side, then a few years later…..something horrible happen and the good side was burned off….it's mostly just scar now."
"And you don't want me to see it?"
"Grown men have cried upon seeing my face. Women scream and faint at the sight. The only people who can look at my face without this are bloody Persians."
"You've been to Persia?"
"If you value your sanity you will pretend that place doesn't exists."
"What…..alright?"
"Now sit down and eat Christine, why would someone; who lays awake at night wishing he could smell your hair; poison you?"
Taking a chance I sat down and took my fork. "If I die I'm going to come back and haunt you."
"Splendid!"
I took a bite. It tasted normal. Actually better than normal.
"Oh it's delicious!" I began to devour the entire contents of the plate.
"I shall tell my dear cook you thought so."
I continued eating and he just sat there and watched me, causing me to feel uncomfortable and stop eating.
"Thank you but I believe I am finished…"
"But you haven't tried the cake yet Christine…."
"I said I'm finished thank you." I put my fork down on the plate with a clank.
He let out a small whimper and held his head for a moment. "I do not like that sound. It reminds me of how my mother use to throw her spoon down when she caught me in the room during diner."
"You were allowed to eat in the same room as your mother?"
"I hate to eat outside with the dog. I miss that dog…not sure if there is any truth to this but my father said I nursed on that dog as an infant."
"Uh…that is…strange…."
"Forgive me if I made you have some sort of odd mental image you do not wish to think of."
"I'm going back to that bed room now…" I stood up and walked to the door.
"But we haven't had today's music lesson Christine. You didn't think I would stop teaching you did you?"
I didn't know what to say.
He stood up and walked to me.
"Oh god you're tall…."
He chuckled. "7 feet exact. Come now Christine it's lesson time."