What Dreams
May Come
Chapter 14
Kiss From
A Rose From
The Grave
AN: Bonjour everyone! Thank you all so so much for the wonderful reviews! Yes, a little fluff in the last chapter, and a little more in this one. Hope you all enjoy…cause the fluff won't be happening much longer. Special shout outs go to: Mad-Idina-Fan98, NiatheWickedLover, Doglover645, Elphaba'sGirl, and L8lzytwner! Thank you all so much! Your reviews were awesome to read! Again, more fluff so enjoy!
Phantom Fact: This wonderful musical created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and produced by Cameron Macintosh almost didn't happen. For a long time, there were numerous technical problems going on with the show that even the Director and those financing the musical were ready to pack their bags and hit the road. Good thing everything came together, or else we never would have been introduced to this musical gem!
Another fun fact: Michael Crawford was initially discovered by Sarah Brightman; the original Christine. It happened by chance that she had gone to see her voice teacher and happened to hear Michael singing in another room. She had mentioned him to her then husband; Andrew Lloyd Webber who had hired him for the role. Course, Michael thought he was going to be given the part of the devilishly handsome Raoul and had spent months studying the role. When he arrived he told them proudly "You've found your Raoul" to which Andrew told him that yes they did…they hired him last week. He was then told he would be the Phantom of the Opera. Many did not believe in his voice, and very few doubted he could do the role, which he quickly silenced his critiques on Opening night.
Elphaba and Meg watched Erik writhe beneath the blankets, worry shimmering in their eyes. His fever still had not broken, and no matter how hard they tried, nothing seemed to work, and for a moment, Elphaba feared she would lose the masked man before she even really got to know him.
Meg sighed and replaced the cool cloth on his forehead. A hiss from Erik's lips, and Meg couldn't help but wince slightly. Tenderly she brought her hand down and cupped the unmasked part of his face.
"Come back to us Erik…please" she voice came out no louder than a broken whisper, a soft cry in the dark that no one else could hear.
Elphaba raked her fingers through her long raven hair and sighed. She had been fighting for the past three days to keep her tears at bay, and by now, her resistance was starting to break down. If something didn't change soon, she would shatter.
'You're going to lose him' she thought to herself.
Tears flooded her eyes, distorting her vision. 'You're going to lose him forever.' Suddenly Elphaba straightened and shook the echoing voice from her mind. No, she wouldn't lose him, not now nor ever. Though unconsciously, she wondered why she even cared. She had just met him, so why would she shed a tear for this man?
"Miss Elphaba?" came Meg's voice through the haze.
Startled, Elphaba jumped and turned to face Meg, staring at her, worry shimmering in her cinnamon colored eyes.
"I'm sorry what?" said Elphaba
"I said you're a witch right?" frowned Meg.
"Yes" answered Elphaba slowly, a little unsure to where this girl was going.
"We'll…can't you use your magick or something to help break his fever?" asks Meg, as if she were stating the obvious
Elphaba was about to retort stopped and face palmed.
"Oz…now why didn't I think of that" she groaned between her fingers.
"Me thinks someone is a little enamored" smirked Meg.
Elphaba straightened and stammered as her eyes widened.
"I…no…I mean," sighing, she slumped her shoulders at Meg's knowing glance. "He intrigues me…plus he saved me…so to speak" Elphaba added as an afterthought.
"Saved you?" asks Meg. Curious she turned to face the raven haired beauty.
"When I arrived here…Erik found me and attended to my wounds…and brought me food…I don't know many who would do that for someone who just suddenly popped up out of nowhere…let alone someone who is green skinned like me"
"He's a very caring man…he has the biggest heart I've ever seen…and it's ashamed that very few have ever really gotten to see the real Erik that's hidden beneath the façade of the Phantom" sighs Meg sadly.
Elphaba nodded. This was a discussion she had not had with Erik in regards to his past, nor of him being this dreaded phantom that so many people seemed to fear, and though she was intrigued, she would wait and hear it from Erik's lips and his alone.
"You were saying…about being a witch" said Elphaba, wishing to change the subject.
"If you're a witch…couldn't your magick heal him?" asks Meg
Again Elphaba face palmed, "Now why didn't I think about that" she groaned.
"I think we already did this" laughs Meg.
Elphaba couldn't help but smile back at Meg before turning and snatching the Grimmerie from her satchel. Furiously she paged through the archaic tome, hoping, praying to come about a spell that would work.
Meg sat and tapped her toe against the ground. Sighing she leaned against the chair and rested her head in her hands. She hoped this strange woman would be able to find something, anything to help save Erik's life.
A few pregnant minutes of silence and Elphaba straightens in her chair as her eyes glare at the page in front of her.
"Aha!" she exclaimed triumphantly.
Startled, Meg jumps and nearly tumbles out of her chair. Grabbing the sides, she catches herself before righting.
"I take it you found something" she huffed in annoyance.
"Sorry and yes…I think this will help" says Elphaba apologetically
"Think?"
"It's a strong healing spell…stronger than any I've cast…it may help eradicate his fever and rid his body of whatever is making him sick" says Elphaba
"Will it hurt him?" asks Meg in fear.
"No" smiles Elphaba.
"Then cast it" nods Meg. She was still hesitant regarding this woman's claim to being a witch. I mean really, witches don't exist, neither does magick. That would be like saying fairies and unicorns exist.
Elphaba nodded. Setting the book down in her lap she starts to wave her hands around the archaic pages. She could feel her magick hum and crackle at the tips of her fingers; a sensation she had missed greatly.
Meg frowned but stiffened as an emerald glow, rippled to her right. Hesitantly she turned and her eyes widened seeing the emerald light vibrate around Erik's writhing body.
"What are you doing!?" exclaimed Meg out of fear.
"Healing him" pants Elphaba. Crystal droplets of sweat dripped down her forehead, matting her hair and making a few stick to her forehead. The magick hummed louder and crackled at her fingertips.
"Elphaba!" screamed Meg. A flash and the light vanished away. "What the hell just happened!?"
"What…you…requested" pants Elphaba. It was a spell that normally wouldn't affect her, but given her injuries and everything else had taken quite a bit of her strength, leaving her winded and gasping for air.
"What do you-"starts Meg, but stops, hearing Erik move. Turning her eyes widened seeing the paleness in his face slowly fade away. He was no longer writhing in pain, and his face was relaxed.
"Go on…check him" says Elphaba
Meg nods and places her hand over his forehead. A gasp and she spins around to face Elphaba, "The fevers broken!"
"See…told you I'm a witch" smiles Elphaba.
"Oh my Lord in heaven!" exclaims Meg, "That…that…that" she stammers.
"Meg?" asks Elphaba worriedly.
"That was so cool!" exclaims Meg, nearly knocking Elphaba out of her chair.
Grabbing the sides of her chair, Elphaba rights herself, turns and glares back at Meg
"Sorry" blushes Meg embarrassed.
Elphaba couldn't help but laugh. The longer she got to know this strange, quirky girl, woman, the more she reminded her of her best friend back in Oz. And that thought alone, brought tears to her eyes.
"Mademoiselle?" asks Meg, noticing the tears.
"Please…Elphaba" she said as she tried to hide her tears.
"Elphaba," nods Meg. Gently she rests a comforting hand on the green woman's shoulder, "What's the matter?"
"You just…remind me of someone" says Elphaba softly.
"Who?" asks Me as she scoots closer.
"A special woman…who I had to leave behind" answers Elphaba; her voice was soft, and tinged with tears.
Meg smiled, "She must have meant a great deal to you…to speak so fondly of her" she says as she rests a gentle hand over Elphaba's.
"She is…was…I mean," Shaking away the tears, she turns her gaze towards Meg, "She was the only friend I've ever had"
"Was?" queried Meg having noticed the way Elphaba used the term in past tense.
"I wronged her horribly" answers Elphaba in a hushed whisper of a voice.
Meg nodded. Tenderly she wrapped her arms around Elphaba and pulled her close. "I don't know what wrongs you may or may not have committed against this woman you speak so fondly of," starts Meg, "But if she's as wonderful as you say she is…then I'm sure she will find it in her heart to forgive you for all your trespasses"
Elphaba had stiffened at first, feeling Meg's arms wrap around her. This was not something she had expected from the blonde. I mean for Ozsakes, they had just met.
Slowly, she relaxed into the hug and smiling slightly, brought her arms up and wrapped them loosely around Meg's slender waist.
"Thank you" whispers Elphaba softly
Meg pulled back and winked at Elphaba, "Any time" she says softly. A pregnant pause and she regally rises to her full height, "Well…I suppose his cupboards are bare as a silk worm's belly"
Elphaba frowned and rose
"What?"
"I'm sorry…it's a term my mother often used when it was time for her to journey to the market for fresh food" apologizes Meg.
"I'm actually not sure…I've been restrained to the bed for the past few days" she finished dryly.
"Knowing Erik he hasn't ventured out to the streets of Paris in a while" laughs Meg, "I better go and fetch the both of you some food" she says before turning and snatching up her cloak, quickly clasps the ends before heading back up through the twisted labyrinths which made up the catacombs.
Elphaba shook her head before returning to her perch by the bed. Turning, she gently threaded her fingers with Erik's.
"You certainly make interesting friends" she whispered softly. Leaning closer, she tenderly brushed a few stray strands of raven hair off his forehead. To her relief, his skin felt cool to the touch. The fever was broken. "At last…now all you have to do is wake up" she smiled.
Elphaba remained by Erik's side, her fingers laced tight with his as she waited for him to wake up. Softly she spoke to him, and every now and again, she would brush her fingers against his cheek.
After what felt like an eternity, Erik finally stirred. A light, weak moan slipped through his soft lips as he shifted slightly beneath the blankets.
Startled from her slumber, Elphaba bolts upright and turns. Unconsciously her fingers tighten around Erik's.
"Erik?" she whispers softly.
Another moan and Erik's head languidly turns to face Elphaba. A wince and his eyes blink open.
"E…Elphaba" he rasps
"Hi" smiles Elphaba, "How are you feeling?" she asks as she unconsciously cups his cheek.
"Like sunshine and rainbows" grumbled Erik
Despite everything, Elphaba couldn't help but laugh at Erik's answer
"Nice…I would have expected you to say like lollipops and sunshine…but that works too" teases Elphaba
"Odd term" frowned Erik.
"No more than yours" smiles Elphaba.
"I can't argue with you there," smiles Erik. Suddenly he stiffened, feeling something grasp onto his hand. Slowly his eyes dip below and widen seeing his and Elphaba's fingers laced together.
Panicked, Erik wrenched his fingers out of Elphaba's.
"I'm sorry" he said, his voice full of fear
"Don't be" smiles Elphaba, understanding now why Erik had reacted like that.
"It was improper and highly inappropriate of me" blushes Erik.
"I liked it" admitted Elphaba; the words had slipped from her mouth before she even realized she had said them.
"You…what?" asked Erik shocked.
"I liked it" repeats Elphaba, her voice coming out stronger than before.
"Don't lie" growls Erik as he turns his face away from Elphaba.
"Why in Oz would you think I'm lying?" frowns Elphaba.
"Cause no one…enjoys the touch of the damned" replies Erik, his voice came back empty and emotionless.
"Hey," slowly Elphaba leans closer to Erik. Tenderly her hand lowers as the tips of her fingers lightly brush against Erik's strong jawline. Smiling, she gently returns his gaze back to her own, "I thought by now you would know that I never lie…I only speak the truth" finished Elphaba gently
Erik stared back at Elphaba. His eyes were conflicted; doubt swam within like a ribbon of silk floating through the bubbling waters of the silver moon.
Slowly, Erik's hand rose and cupped Elphaba's cheek, and for a moment, the two stared into each other's eyes.
"Mon ange" whispers Erik softly. Gently, he pulls Elphaba's lips down towards his.