Love of a Stranger
Ob1MegOb1

I'm so so so sorry again for taking so long to update. With the combination of writer's cramp and school its been very hard to update anything I'm writing. So I hope this chapter meets expectations and I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 13

(Jasmine)

The cool breeze from the window was hardly comforting tonight. Nothing seemed to calm the searing heat coursing through my body. Thankfully it wasn't the fever that had afflicted me so many times before, but I knew it was the anger at what had transpired tonight. The argument of who Erik was had been expected but the harsh remembrances of the prostitution and morphine had been completely unexpected. Those were secrets I had been hoping not to share until much later. I turned though at the sound of footsteps approaching my door. I prayed it wasn't Erik because I don't think I was even close to revealing my secrets just yet. But as the person entered the room I recognized the heavy footsteps of my Aunt and my dear brother.

"Jasmine," Ev said forcefully closing the door, "We need to talk."

"Aunt Ev please can't this wait until tomorrow?" I heard William beg.

"No it can not," Ev said her tone raising, "This needs to be solved now."

(Erik)

I was heading back upstairs my heart utterly confused on where to go next. A part of me wanted to just return to my room and leave the situation to tomorrow. But another part wanted to see her now, to apologize for my behaviour this evening and to maybe find out some answers. But I shook my head knowing that wasn't going to happen, the pain on Jasmine's face in remembrance of the addiction made my heart ache. I knew she had endured enough for the night.

But as I walked past her room and Elizabeth's I thought I heard a full fledged argument coming from Elizabeth's room.

(Jasmine)

I sat there listening to my brother and aunt argue about something that they wished to discuss with me but Will thought it should wait until tomorrow.

"Don't you think she's been through enough for one night Ev?" Will protested his voice edged with anger.

"You choose a very inappropriate time to finally grow up," Ev said, "I won't stand this in my house anymore.

"Please can't we just---"

"No!" Ev said her voice raised too high for someone of supposed propriety. Then her voice was suddenly directed towards me, "I want him gone Jasmine. I want that monster out of my house!"

My heart suddenly blazed with anger, "Why must he go?" I demanded, "He has done nothing wrong."

(Erik)

Normally I would have passed the room by and left the people within its quarters to their own privacy, but after what had happened tonight I was for some reason nervous about what was transpiring in there.

"Why didn't you stand up for me!" Paul's deep voice bellowed, "I am your fiance and it is me you are supposed to defend not your whore cousin."

My hands clenched in fists at my side. How dare he call her that! This man was walking the fine line of me bursting through this door at any second.

(Jasmine)

My aunt's voice was now livid, "He has done nothing wrong? Indeed. He disturbed our supper for one thing tonight. It was obvious how much pain he was causing you by the look on your face and the way he was painfully gripping your hand. He is obviously controlling you."

I now stood on my feet fists clenched, "He disturbed dinner? Right, and I assume Paul was just an unfortunate victim of the argument then is that what your saying? And as for my pain the only thing causing that is you and your family Ev. Your the one who brought up the addiction that is no longer there. You brought the pain upon me Ev, and I hate you were so eager to bring it out."

(Erik)

"I wasn't on anyone's side Paul, I was just trying to keep you two from going into an all out brawl at dinner. I don't like Jasmine's situation with him yes but right now I think he makes her happy."

Paul suddenly laughed aloud, "Oh Elizabeth have you never heard of the man? Did you not hear of what he did only a few days ago?"

"I'm not a fool Paul of course I heard of what happened. I know what he is but it seems that when he is around Jasmine, he's...he's not like that all. He seems like a normal person."

"Your defending him again," Paul said his voice rising slowly, "Stop defending him!" And then a smack and a cry of pain echoed in the room. Without a thought I burst into the room. There was Elizabeth standing there clutching her cheek with Paul there his hand still half raised.

"What the hell do you want here?" Paul asked.

"Tell me what the hell you're doing here and maybe I will," I said standing up there to him.

Paul's steely eyes met my own and he smirked, "This is none of your concern Phantom," he said putting an emphasis on the last word.

"When it concerns Jasmine and her family you better damn well know by now its my business."

Paul smirked again which made my blood boil all over again. "Your pathetic," he muttered. And then with a will of my own my fist collided with his poumpous smiling face.

(Jasmine)

We all jumped at the sound of breaking glass. And then little footsteps came running into my room. I knew it could only be Rebecca who sounded both out of breath and tired as she entered, "Jasmine!" she exclaimed.

"Rebecca lower your voice please," Ev said.

"You don't understand. Jasmine, Erik and Paul are fighting in the hallway!"

"What!" I exclaimed. I jumped up and stumbling over random objects made it out into the hallway where I could definitely hear the sound of a scuffle.

(Erik)

What I had meant to be a one punch affair turned into a full out fight. Right after I had punched him and knocking him into Elizabeth's dresser he charged me which sent us tumbling out the door, and into the hallway. We must have rolled several times each of us finding a way to lay a hit on each other when we could. Suddenly two pairs of arms pried me away still thrashing. I watched as Ev and Elizabeth somehow managed to pull him away but before they could fully he reached and knocked off my mask.

Everything seemed to happen in slow motion after that. Elizabeth screamed at the sight and Ev's face became one of horror. I quickly covered my face with my hand but obviously not fast enough. And out of the corner of my eye I could see Paul smirking that annoying smirk in my direction. But before I could even say anything two arms yanked me away and Rebecca picked up my mask in turn. All of the sudden I was thrown in my room and looked up to see a very annoyed Jasmine standing there.

"Well did you accomplish what you wished?"

"What are you talking about?" I said astounded. "He was hitting Elizabeth and insulting you!"

"Oh so you thought the way to help was attack him back? Erik did it ever cross your mind that it could make things worse?"

"No!" I said standing up to her my face inches from hers, "I was protecting you and your family! Thats why I did it!"

She cringed at me yelling at her, and for the first time I saw something relative to fear in her eyes. She backed away from me looking away, "I'm sorry Erik, I guess, I should go."

I sighed, "Jasmine wait..." I said but she slammed the door in my face. I stood there for several seconds wondering what the hell just happened.

"How could this day gone from bad to worse?" I muttered. As I turned to go sit on my bed there was a soft knock on the door. I rushed over and threw the door open but the only person there was Rebecca holding my mask.

"Here's your mask Mr. Erik," she holding it out timidly.

I smiled at her innocence, "Thank you Rebecca," I said softly. She smiled at me as she walked away.

"Don't worry Erik she'll be better by tomorrow."

I nodded my head closing the door behind me. I stared down at the mask surprised for the first time that the removal of it had not been what started this horrible night. Hopefully, after everybody got some rest it would be better. "What was I thinking?" I said laying down on the bed. Not thinking as usual I said to myself. I sighed laying the mask on the bedside table. Sleep was not going to come easy tonight.

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