Chapter 10: In The Dark It's Easy To Pretend

- Day 5 -

'' …Kathrine? '' One eye opens at him, then it closes. Erik watches as she sighs,

'' Erik I hope you have a really good reason to wake me…''

'' I… do. I have something for you. A gift. ''

'' Except it's chocolate I don't care. '' As he doesn't object she turns to him, a grin on her face, excitement obviously overpowering the tiredness,

'' Is it chocolate? '' He smiles at her,

'' Why don't you find out? It is on the table in the- '' Before he has the chance to finish, Kathrine wriggled out of the bed where she almost trips and runs into the living room. With a chuckle Erik follows after her. He finds her standing halfway in the door, staring with wide eyes and her mouth open at the table. He put the books and papers that usually covered it aside and instead set the table with 2 glasses, a bottle of wine and in the middle a rather big cake that looks almost too chocolatey to be true. If Kathrine had diabetes, this cake would kill just by looking at it too long. Erik watches how Kathrine's hands fly to her mouth, an excited squeak barely muffled by the gesture. She surely has never looked more adorable. Slowly Erik closes the gap between them and gently puts his hands on her upper arms, the warmth of her skin tickling his palms,

'' I was hoping it would please you. I thought that it would be a good way to celebrate your success, even though it is a bit late. ''

'' Oh my god that's a cake! Look how awesome it is! It's chocolate cake! I'm gaining weight by just looking at it, this is perfect! '' Not giving him the chance to walk her to her chair and pull it out for her she dashes forwards and throws herself halfway on her chair and halfway on the table. She struggles for a moment before pulling her feet onto the chair, her soles touching each other so that her legs shape a diamond before her. He chuckles at her eagerness and takes his seat next to her. As soon as he settled she takes the first bite of the cake, groaning in pleasure,

'' This is awesome! It's so chocolately, I'm gonna die! ''

'' So you like it? ''

'' Are you kidding? I love it! Where did you buy that! I'm gonna order, like, 15 and eat every one of them before I'm out of the door! Oh I'm gonna be so fat and so frikkin' happy! '' He puts his chin on his hands, glancing at her amused,

'' I did not buy it. ''

'' Madam Giry? ''

'' She did not buy it and she did not make it. She merely bought the ingredients. '' Her expression drops, the fork halting in her mouth. Slowly her eyes move from him to the cake and back,

'' No. Don't tell me you made that thing yourself. '' He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly,

'' I thought it was a better idea than to buy something of what I do not know if it is filled with enough chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth. '' She looks at him in silence for a moment before titling her head with a grin,

'' I'm gonna kiss you. ''

'' I… You do not have to, it was my pleasure to- '' Kathrine suddenly leans right across the table to press a chaste kiss to his lips. While his mind still tries to not stop working completely, Kathrine goes back to the cake in front of her. As he licks over his lips he can taste the sweetness of the chocolate on them.

'' I'm glad I could please you. ''

'' Please me? Dude this is straight up high class food-porn! ''

'' 'Porn'? '' She smirks into the cake,

'' Porn's something people in my world enjoy extremely. It's probably one of the most common ways to relax and… have fun. ''

'' Sounds delightful. ''

'' Oh you've no idea. 's one of those things almost everyone does but no one really talks about it. ''

'' Of course you do talk about it. How am I not surprised? ''

'' As I said, kind of everyone does it. For me it's illogical to shut up about it. Same with using the toilet. ''

'' Yes… how could I ever forget the words 'Phantom I need to pee'. '' She laughs at his expression but most of all she laughs at the way it sounds when he says 'pee'. Like it tastes bitter on his tongue. She loves that.

'' So what's planned for today Master? Music, I bet. Something else? ''

'' I thought we use the rest of the day to each take a relaxing bath. I brought you another dress. I assure you, it does not need a corset. '' She smirks at the hidden meaning behind that before giving him a confused glance,

'' Why do I get a dress? '' She shoves another large bite of the cake into her mouth, smiling at the taste while Erik watches her relaxed,

'' I cannot take you to town in my cloths or in those you wear. We will have to avoid causing any attention. '' She abruptly stops moving as his words sink in. She swallows everything at once,

'' Wait! Slow down Flash! Town? You take me to town? '' He nods and rises to his feet. Kat watches how he moves to the sofa and grabs a small paper carton. He puts it down on the table in front of her,

'' I did promise, did I not? Of course we will have to wait until it is dark but- '' Before he can end the sentence she pounds at him and knocks them both to the ground. Erik grunts as he's the first one to come down hard. That doesn't stop her from keeping her arms firmly around his neck though while her whole body lies on his.

The pain that shoots through his back completely faded before it had the chance to begin as he realizes what happened.

'' Thank you! Oh my god we're going to town! '' She kisses him just as chastely as she did before and sits then up, her legs at each of his sides and her hands firmly on his chest,

'' Vamos a la ciudad! Yo no lo creo! Que son grandes! Dios mío, realmente vamos a la ciudad! '' (We're going to town! I don't believe it! You're awesome! Oh my god we're really going into town!) He smiles at her slip and leans back. Kathrine is so busy with her excitement that she did not even notice it. He cannot say that he minds it. Next to the fact that he can understand every word she speaks, she sounds wonderful. Her temper really blooms in that fast, fiery language.

'' How can it be possible that you sound so passionate but speak without any accent? '' Her grin does not drop as she shrugs,

'' Perks on being raised with both languages. I think the only reason I really slip is cause English's too slow of a language for me when I really get going and my mom, abuela and me are screaming at each other in Spanish. '' He smiles at her warmly, his hand coming to her face, his heart beating quickly at the way she still sits on him,

'' I… find it very appealing if you speak it. It harmonizes with your spirit…'' Suddenly her eyelashes flutter at him seductively and her voice lowers alluring,

'' Tal vez lo hablo ahora solo español… Si te gusta le tanto…'' (Maybe I will just speak Spanish then. If you like it that much)

'' Kathrine, do not tease me please. '' His pulse races as she leans down, her arms crossed on his chest, her face so close to his he can feel her breathe on his lips,

'' Mh, but it's so much fun…''

'' Kathrine- '' He breaks off and stops dead in his tracks as she suddenly leans forwards until their lips are almost brushing over each other. He can feel her lips stretching into a smirk. Erik's eyes widen as she licks from his chin over his lips up to the tip of his nose before her tongue arches up. He draws in a sharp breathe. Her eyes stare into his for a moment before she sits up on him again, arches her back and makes a roll backwards until she's on all four before him. He stays on the ground another moment and sits then up slowly. She smirks,

'' This was such a good movie reference and you don't know it. About time we watch Batman Returns. Then you finally see why I love Catwoman so much. '' She gets back to her cake. He lies back down.

Hours later he sits in front of his desk, feather in hand and paper before him. She insisted that he bathes first so that she can take a digestive nap. He agreed. After he was done he cleaned the bath faintly and filled the tub again in the same heat he did before. She woke up on her own as he entered the room. As soon as she disappeared in the bathroom he decided that now would be a good moment to write her scholar and finally rid himself of that problem once and for all.

'' What's that? '' He winces as her voice suddenly comes up behind him. His hand abruptly covers the note as he turns to her,

'' I thought you were taking your bath? ''

'' Forgot my dress. Why are you writing a letter? Somebody went on your nerves? ''

'' I am merely taking care of something. '' As he refuses to show her she makes a move like she would accept it. Then she snatches the letter from him and quickly takes a couple of steps away before he can follow. At the 'Dear Williams' her eyebrow rises,

'' You're writing to my teacher? Why...'' Kat trails off as she begins to really read the letter…

Dear Williams

I have not failed to notice your bothers to find Kathrine. I have to admit that I am quite irritated by your behavior. Did I not make myself very clear that I do not wish for any attempts to find her? I am not sure if you realize where your place is, Monsieur, but it is not beside Kathrine. Should you not rest your attempts, there will be consequences. I do not wish for any police in my Opera either. Do not forget who you are dealing with.

O.G.

'' Are you kidding me? '' She expected that her teacher wouldn't give up that easy. She did expect that Erik would be mad. But this is ridiculous. He sounds like a jealous wife writing the ex-girlfriend of her husband a mail to stay away from him. Why would Erik even feel threatened by Mister Williams? Him and Kat are friends, but that's it. Erik's eyes become cold in a heartbeat,

'' I clearly said that I will not tolerate any attempts to find you. He was testing my patience for too long with his silly tricks. ''

'' And that's the reason for writing something that makes you sound like a jealous wife?! '' He stands up so fast that she almost winces, his hand hitting the table while that, causing smaller objects on it to jump,

'' I am not a 'jealous wife', Kathrine. I am the owner of this Opera and people will do as I tell them to or there will be consequence! ''

'' You sound jealous! 'your place is not beside Kathrine', what do you even think he is to me?! ''

'' I do not know for sure what he is to you, I do know what you are to him and I will not allow it! ''

'' You won't allow it? He's a friend you insensible asshole! Not my lover! He looks after me and we are close but he's not interested in me! ''

'' I really doubt that you would be capable to tell the difference. '' She laughs, a dry, sarcastic sound,

'' Oh because you know so much about love in those few weeks you allegedly felt it. '' Suddenly his eyes narrow and that's the moment Kat realizes she's taken a step too far. If she wouldn't be just as furious as him she might even care about that. But right now all she feels is anger at the man that grabs her arm tight enough to leave bruises,

'' I do know that he wants you for himself and that is not acceptable! ''

'' Because you want me for yourself?! What do you think I am, some object you can possess?! '' She rips her arm out of his grasp and walks away from him. If she doesn't leave now she knows she'll do something she's going to regret later. She has to go. They need some space from each other.

'' He is in love with you and I think you are in love with him as well, even if you try to blend it out. '' Her feet stop.

'' What? …No! That's ridiculous! ''

'' Then why is he so important to you?! ''

'' He's my friend! He holds onto my pills and makes sure I take the right dose! He drives me home when I enter an episode, he takes care of me! He's important to me because we're friends! '' Suddenly he looks at her like she just revealed a secret to him, his voice spitting venom at her,

'' Am I not important to you? ''

'' What? ''

'' Was everything you said just a lie? ''

'' How can you even say that! ''

'' Words are breakable, nothing guarantees that they are true. ''

'' So what you said is a lie too? ''

'' I can assure you, I only spoke the truth. '' She snorts, her arms crossing over her chest,

'' Yeah well so did I but that doesn't seem to be important either does it! ''

'' Kathrine you cannot be with him! ''

'' Don't you fucking tell me what I can do and what not! ''

'' That does not lie within your command. You are an ignorant child! How would you know what is good for you and what is not! ''

'' Oh but you do yeah? Sorry I didn't notice that living under a rock like a bloody salamanda suddenly makes you an expert for people! '' He stops a moment before his eyes narrow again. Slowly but surely he's losing his control and Kat knows she has to move away. She knows she has to go.

'' I fear you were right all along, you are not made to be here. You are an arrogant child who thinks people will do what you tell them to just because you have them wrapped around your finger! I told you before, Kathrine, I am not your dog! I will do as I please, if you like it or not and if that scholar comes close to you again I will eliminate him! '' That's the last string for her to see red. She quickly walks up to him to slam her hands into his chest as hard as she can, forcing him a few steps back,

'' Fuck you! Who do you even think you are you arrogant prick! Just because people are too afraid of you to put you back in place doesn't make you better than them! '' She moves to shove him again but his hands clasp her wrists tightly. He pulls her close to him,

'' Careful Kathrine, do not strain my patience…! ''

'' Or what! You gonna go 'Phantom' on me!? I'm not afraid of you, I'm not like the others up there! You think that your face or your childhood is an excuse for everything? Newsflash bitch, you're a normal human being! You're not a demon or an abortion! You're an asshole with fucking issues but nothing special! '' Suddenly he pushes her away from him, almost sending her to the ground.

'' You would never understand this! How could I expect of an arrogant wench to possibly understand anything of this! It was a mistake to ever try to teach you in the beginning! I should have made sure you and those other unruly children leave my Opera before you made the first step into it! ''

'' You like to talk all big about yourself! As if this place would be doomed without you! You're just some freak hiding away under the basement! You're too afraid to let people see you and you think you're leading this thing?! The only reason they didn't call the cops on your fucking ass yet is because they are stupid enough to believe you are a serious threat! You're not a ghost! You're a psychopathic murderer that can't even look into the mirror! ''

He is losing his control. Her words are cutting through his restrain like it would be nothing but a slim thread. Erik was furious before but he cannot remember a time where he ever felt this rage inside him. He knows that she was trying to move away from him, that she was trying to end the fight before it could come to this. But he would not let her. He knew he should have but he was so cross with her that he just couldn't. And now all it needs is one more word and he knows this will end in a bloodbath he will regret later.

'' What, you wanna hit me? Come on! Try it if you got the guts, bitch! '' His hand makes a move to hit her across the face but millimeters before her cheek she blocks the hit with her wrist and pushes his arm back. Before he can react her head shoots forwards and collides hard with his nose. The strength of the impact forces him to back off a few steps, his hand covering his bleeding and probably dislocated nose. Suddenly he's blinded by rage and in one large step he's close to her again, ready to tear her apart with his own hands. This time he manages to grab her on her throat and crash her into his organ, causing the sheets on it to scatter on the ground. Kathrine gasps and Erik sees her face scrunching in pain. He does not care. He wants to hurt her like she hurt him. He wants to break her. He wants to kill her.

Kat's already bruised back is protesting at the new pain that runs through it and seems to tear every muscle in her body apart. That organ is heavy, solid and it will not break even if he crashes her into it until her body bursts. That seems to be his plan because he uses his grip on her throat to crash her head into the instrument while his hand cuts off her air. Her vision goes blurry, her throat burns from the force he uses to strangle her. Out of instinct her foot kicks hard into his stomach what throws him off her. He knocks one of the candlesticks to the ground in his fall which is tossed into the water through that. Before the splashing noise can fade Erik is back on his feet what allows him to block Kat's next attack in the last second. Erik quickly grasps her on her shoulders to ram his knee into her stomach. He only watches for a second how she coughs up a few drops of blood before allowing his fist to pound into the side of her head. She curls on the ground, pain going through every fiber of her body. She feels nauseous. Kat hears Erik laughing,

'' What is it Kathrine, did you expect this to be easier? '' As she hears him approaching she quickly lies flat on her back and moves her legs between his to kick them apart. The moment he falls to the ground, she's on him and crashes her fist into his temple, the other collides with his cheekbone. Before she can charge at him again, he pushes her off. She tries to get to her feet but he's quicker and rams his foot down onto her ribcage. Kat screeches in pain. Her ribs aren't broken but she knows that they're probably badly bruised. She rolls her body out of his reach and quickly forces herself to her feet. When he's in front of her to make another go at her she lashes out at him. While she barely misses his face with her claws she manages to slash open half of his shoulder. He howls.

They gain some distance between them, glaring at each other. Erik's shoulder shows 4 large, badly bleeding marks that could just as easily have been caused by a tiger. Both of them are hurt to a point by now where normal people would give up. But their minds are filled with rage, the adrenaline in their minds pushing the pain into the background. With a roar of anger Kat throws herself at him and knocks both of them into the water with that. He cries out as her body forces his even harder onto the rough ground of the low water. They struggle to push the other under water. At some point Kat manages to kick him off her and roll to the side. Both sit on all four now, their bodies soaked but that doesn't matter. Erik's nose is bleeding even worse by now, the skin on his deformed cheek and temple split and bleeding. The scratches her nails left on his shoulders look raw. His hair is messy all over his face, his eyes almost a tad darker in their rage. Kat's lip is split and bleeding heavily, her side aching what tells her she probably bruised her ribs. Her vision is blurry, small black dots dance in front of her. Her head is pounding so bad she can't remember the last time it was this bad. Their knuckles are bruised where they threw punches at each other, the adrenaline pumping through their veins but the pain and the coldness of the water causing both of them to slowly come back to their senses. Bit by bit they realize what happened. While Kat allows her body to slack until she sits on her legs and halfway on her hip, Erik crouches on all four a step away from her.

Suddenly Erik's eyes widen as if he only now realizes what happened and he falls back, the water splashing around him as he looks at her with wide eyes. Soon Kathrine can spot the horror in his eyes and her heart starts to ache. Why can't he just apologize and realize it was a mistake? Why does this have to destroy him like that? They fought, yes. But both didn't put all their power in their punches. Kat could have knocked him out before he hit her a second time, Erik could have chocked her as he had the chance. The only reason none of them really is dead, is because they didn't want to do it. He turns his head from her and slowly rises to his feet,

'' I think it would be best to return you. '' Kathrine's eyes close as a stab runs through her heart. Is that it now? Was everything for nothing? She wants to argue, tell him to stop being so sensible and get over it. That this was bound to happen at some point. That they both knew it had to happen. But she can't. Her teeth are grit so hard it hurts, her lips a thin line and her eyes refusing to open as she turns her head away. He's not the only one that feels guilty. But he would never believe her that. He would never believe her that she cares for him. He's too wrapped up in his self-loath and his insecurity. This day began so wonderful… why did it have to end like this?

'' Yeah. '' He offers her his hand but she ignores it and stands up on her own, wringing the shirt a little. There's blood on it from both of them. He remains at her side for a moment longer before he goes to fetch his mask, wig and cloak. As soon as he's dressed and she grabbed her bag, they get into the boat and he brings her back to her room. He's not saying a word while that. He's not even looking at her.