Chapter 9: Where in the World Have You Been Hiding?

The seasons came and went, and there was never any sign of the stupid Phantom. I regularly checker the catacolmbs, but they were all empty and rather abandoned. It came to the point where I couldnt even look at the ring anymore. I used it as a charm on a necklace as a symbol of my engagement. What kind of engagement was it when I could see the man to whom I was engaged? I cried often and slept very little. I didn't audition for any operas and rarely spoke. I watched every opera and attended every party, but I couldn't bring myself to smile, not even for my families sake.

"Vanessa, are you attending the party tonight?" Pioter asked me. I nodded not wanting to speak, as I often didn't. He had become a full time actor in the Opera Populaire. He had a good voice and was a good actor, but he was still a flirt and was trying to hit on me. I turned him down repatedly, but he never listened. Tonight would just be another night where he would try to steal my heart and I didn't want to deal with that, but it was my parents party so I had to go.

I wore the same thing I wore to every party, a simple dress with a simple design. If it was a masqurade like tonight, I had a mask that went with it. Pioter tried to dance ith me, but I turned him down every time. I didn't want to dance with anyone but Erik, and he was no where to be found. I only wished he was here so I could hold him and tell him I loved him. The songs began to change and Pioter insisted I dance with him. I finally gave in and agreed to one dance. He was a good dancer, but I wanted it to be over so I could return to my seat and wait for the night ot be over. At the end of the song, Pioter didn't let go of me, and held me tightly to his chest.

"Let me go, Pioter," I said in a harsh tone. That was usually enough to let me go, but now wasn't one of those times. He got on his knees and held onto my hands.

"Vanessa I love you with all my heart and I want you to be happy always," he said, making my jaw drop. "Please marry me, I'll treat you like a princess until the end of your days." I felt dumbfounded. I couldn't answer, I knew I couldn't. I loved Erik and even though he wasn't here to love me, I still loved himand I wasn't going to betray him.

"For the love of God, Vanessa, say yes!" I heard my mother shout. "I want grandchildren, you know!" I looked at her with rage before glaring back at Pioter who had the ring in his hand. I clenched my hands into fists and bit my lip, containing the scream that wanted to escape.

"Vanessa-"

"No, no, no, no, a thousand times no!" I shouted. "I'm sorry Pioter, but I can't marry you. I have to marry Erik, he's the one I love. I love The Phantom of the Opera!" I felt a wave of tears come down my face and felt a pair of strong arms embrace me. I thought it was Father or my brother, so I went to push them away. I looked up and saw those beautiful eyes I fell in love with so long ago.

"Erik . . ." I breathed. He looked at me with a pained smile and shaky eyes. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I had to kiss him. His lips were as soft as ever and his kiss was even more passionate than when we made love. He pulled away and held me tightly, glaring at my parents who were glaring at him.

"Guards, sieze him!" Pioter's voice rang.

"No!" I shouted, fully intent of protecting him. Erik pulled me into his arms as the men got closer, their guns ready to shoot us. I clung to Erik's jacket and felt the floor dissapear under my feet. I screamed and felt Erik's arm come up under my legs and felt him run. He didn't speak a word, going down a series of tunnels I didn't know were here. We finally came to a room with nothing but a table with a lit candle on it. I felt Erik let go of me, and I was scared. I thought he was gone again.

"Vanessa, why did you deny him?" Erik asked. I looked in the direction of his voice and saw his sword glitter in the candle light.

"Because I love you, Erik," I said, afraid he would leave again. He walked towards me and held me in his arms. I held him too, feeling the tears want to surface. Once they did, it was hard not to sob. Erik stroked my head and hushed my sobs. I clung to him, afraid he was going to leave. I didn't want him to leave, I couldn't do it again. He was the love of my life, the one person I knew would always love me too. I continued to cry and Erik held me tighter. I felt his body begin to tremor. I looked up and saw him crying too.

"Erik, why did you leave?" I asked, my voice full of the sarrow I'd tried so hard not to show other people. Erik didn't answer me for a long time. I wasn't even sure he heard me until he let go of me and Leander against a nearby wall. He looked at me with those pleading eyes I hated seeing. I reached out for him but he flinched away from me. I didn't know what he was doing. It was almost like he was afraid of something. He looked like a terrified child who didn't want to get scolded and whipped. I reached out for him again and this time he let me touch him.

"You...you deserve better," he said simply. My hands became shaky and my grip tightened. I wasn't going to let him leave again.

"Don't do this, please," I pleaded. "I need you. Please Erik, don't go." He looked at me before taking my lips in a very needy kiss. His hands roamed my body and he began removing my clothes. I removed his too and in a matter of moment we were both bare, and he had me pinned to the wall. The damp walls were cold on my back, making me shiver. I felt Erik begin to touch me, making me moan and shutter. He began kissing my neck, not saying a word. I couldn't take the pleasure and I didn't want anyone to find us due to my noise making so I bit down Ina Erik's Binet shoulder making him groan. He obviously couldn't take the suspence because he slipped into me and started thrusting wildly. It wasn't like the first time we'd done this. He was more aggressive and angry. It was like he was trying to hurt me as opposed to just make love to me. Still, I couldn't help but moan at the pleasure. His breath on my skin, the warmth of his body against mine, the way he felt
inside me, all of it made me explode. It wasn't long before I did, him fallowing shortly after. He pulled out of me and payed us both on the ground together. He placed me underneath him and looked down at me. I smiled up and him and caressed his face, pulling his mask off as I did so.

"Why do you love me?" he asked, covering his deformity. "Why not love the Polish boy. He's normal and handsome." I smiled and cupped his face, the mask resting by my head. He looked at me, his hands now caressing my body. I gently touched the right side of his face, making him close his eyes and sigh.

"I love you, Vanessa," he said, his voice shaking.

"I love you too, Erik," I replied. Without a word, Erik stood and dressed himself. I went to do the same, but he grabbed me and placed me against the wall. He held a finger to his lips, telling me to shush. I pulled my knees to my chest in an attempt to cover and warm myself. When Erik was finished he looked at me and handed my my clothes. He kissed me and pulled me close, holding me the way I longed for him to do.

"I'll explain later," he said. "But for mow, make it look like I raped you. I left enough marks to back up whatever story you make." With that, be left. It was a short while after when I heard people enter. I did as Erik said and made it look like I was raped. I began to cry as my brother entered the tiny chamber. He must have known he what Erik wanted him to believe by simply looking at me. He wrapped his overcoat around me and carried me back to the surface. I continued to fake it until I was alone in my room. Father and my brother waited outside my room and so did a few law men. I went the mirror, the only thing covering my was a small blanket. What I saw wasn't the woman I know I was. I looked broken and used, something no man would ever want. Was that his plan? Make me undesireable? I examined the bruises all over my body. There was one that particularly caught my eye. It was on my neck. I could remember a point where Erik had grabbed my neck in an atepmt to leave love marks on it. The bruise didn't look like a hand. With the initial bruise and the love marks, it looked like a dog collar and leash. I swallowed my breath and touched the mirror.

"Anywhere you go let me go to..."I sang softly, my voice cracking. "Please Erik, don't leave me alone..."