Took forever, but I finally got this written out. It's short, but I thought it would be better to post then to sit on it until I get more for the chapter.
Previously: Carlynda saw L'Angley at the bakery window as she was closing up the bakery. Erik goes to look for her when she doesn't show up and finds her scared stiff, in a ball in the dark at the bakery. He takes her to the Opera House where she finally tells him who L'Angley is and why she ran from home.
Chapter 15
Carlynda didn't go to work the next morning. She didn't expect to nor, for once, wanted to. When she woke up, she was pleasantly surprised to see Erik still there, holding her. Neither one of them felt inclined to leave the bed or even speak. They just laid there in each other's arms for an hour before Erik had to get up to start his day. He kissed her goodbye and assured her she would be safe, then he was gone. He left the bedroom door open a crack, allowing her to hear him rustle papers around and speak to Jules Bernard about business affairs. It was a comfort. He didn't once leave his office, as if he knew his presence was a comfort to her or to provide himself as a guard to the bedroom, in case L'Angley made an appearance. That was one thing she loved about him. He was protective. He somehow knew what to say or do to comfort her. It made her feel like he really, truly knew her.
She eventually got up and dressed as well, but was feeling too tired to do much else besides reading in bed. She read off and on throughout the entire day and slept plenty. She seemed particularly tired today and didn't have much of an appetite, much to Erik's frustration.
Carlynda glanced up when Erik came in in the evening. She had been laying on the bed, drifting off again. It had grown too dim to read by and she was feeling too lazy to light the lamp. So, he was able to come in without hiding from the light.
"Come, Carlynda." He held out a glove-covered hand to help her up. It had been some time since he wore his gloves around her and the sudden appearance of them seemed like a wall, like he was trying to put some distance between them.
"Where are we going?"
He pulled her out of the room and into his office. "Someplace safe." He pulled her to the corner of his office and faced a wall. He paused and turned back to her. "This is important. It will take you time to learn the path and it is vital that you know it by heart before attempting to get there or back by yourself. So, until then, you'll have to let me escort you."
She nodded, her curiosity growing. "Yes, Erik."
He turned away from her, facing the wall. He did something, but Carlynda couldn't see in the dark. She could sense the movement of his arm, though. Suddenly, there was a click sound and the wall swung open. A cold breeze brushed past them, making her shiver. She gasped, realizing what it was. "A secret passageway?"
"The opera house is littered with them. Come."
Yes. She remembered the stories now. The ballet girls told her that the Phantom of the Opera used secret passageways to appear and disappear at will. Erik must have found them and explored. That sounded very much like him.
He held her hand as he led her into the damp, rough passage. She found herself stepping even closer to him. She couldn't see anything. Erik brought no light with them. The air was cold and it got chiller as they made their way down. She stumbled over the stone passage, only her hold on Erik kept her upright.
"How can you see where you're going?" she whispered, but the sound still echoed around them. She tightened her grip on his hand.
"I know this place by heart." His statement was said so bluntly and coolly that Carlynda knew he didn't want to continue. He didn't want to show her this. The thought that he wanted to keep this from her, didn't want to tell her, reiterated the terms of their relationship. She was glad for the reminder before she got too caught up in her emotions. She had to remind herself that they were intimate friends, nothing more. He didn't love her like she loved him.
As they moved further down, the air became cooler and mister. She could smell water, feel it on the walls and her face. Erik walked more quickly as they descended. She tried to shift closer to Erik, looking for his warmth. He didn't seem to notice. He just kept walking, briskly with purpose. She had to take two steps to his one. It made it hard for her to stick right at his side, but she tried.
"Erik, can you slow down? Please."
He came to an abrupt stop and Carlynda walked right into his back. She felt him turn and tried to find his eyes, but couldn't in the darkness. "Erik, if you don't wish for me to be down here…"
She stopped when she felt his hand on her cheek. She felt the coolness of his leather gloves as he brushed his thumb against her lips. He moved forward and kissed her forehead with such tenderness it gave Carlynda wonderful fantasies of his feelings for her.
"It is not that," he whispered, his lips brushing her forehead as he spoke. "I will not be able to hide from you after this. No more hiding." He pulled her into a tight hug.
"And that scares you?" she said softly into his ear as she returned the embrace. He nodded. "Don't be scared."
He pulled away and sighed. "No matter what, Carlynda, I will keep you safe. No matter what."
Something in the way he spoke made shivers go down her spine.
He took her hand again. "Come. We're almost there."
They entered a cavern with a murky, misty lake. The lake stretched out into some wide tunnel and on the walls were several lit lanterns. They were dimly lit to give her some light, but the shadows still held strong to the edges around them.
"The underground lake," she gasped in wonder. "I heard about this," she whispered. The atmosphere seemed to demand nothing more than a whisper.
Erik stood there beside her, close enough to feel him stiffen. "What else have you heard?"
"That the Phantom of the Opera lived down here, on the other side of an underground lake."
"And what all do you know about the Opera Ghost?"
"Not much. A deformed man who wore a mask over his face. He kidnaped and murdered and blackmailed. He died in the fire that he started during a performance. He fancied himself in love with a singer who loved someone else. I don't pay much mind to the stories. Is that where we're going? You found his home, or lair as the ballet rats call it?"
Instead of answering, Erik led her to the bank of the lake where something was floating on the water, waiting for them. She couldn't see it well with the dim lighting, but could conclude it was some sort of long, narrowed boat.
"Watch your step," Erik said as he helped her in. He waited until she was settled in before climbing in himself.
He didn't sit, but reached down to grab something long and circular. He used the pole to push off into the lake.
"Oh," she said, "we're in a gondola."
Erik didn't respond, making Carlynda feel a little foolish for saying anything at all. She kept quiet for the rest of the ride.
The gondola ride was smooth and peaceful. Carlynda tried to enjoy herself, and she usually would, but Erik's mood kept her from relaxing. He was moody, solemn, distant. She was concerned about him. He was afraid of her. No, he was afraid of how she would react. He was afraid that she would be afraid. The thought was ridiculous. Carlynda would never fear Erik.
The gondola jerked slightly when it hit the shore on the other side. It was just as dark on this side as it was on the other side.
"I apologize for not coming down earlier to light the candles," Erik said distractedly as he helped her from the gondola. He led her forward and she heard a creak as a door opened. He quickly let go of her as soon as she was past the door, hearing it creak shut behind her. "Stay right here until I light them."
It was an easy enough request to follow. With no light to see from, she knew it would be foolish to move around.
A spark of light came from beside her. She turned her face away, allowing her eyes to adjust as more candles were lit. As soon as her eyes adjusted she turned back around to see the beautifully decorated space around her.
She spun around and gasped at the beauty around her. It was a parlor with mismatched armchairs, a beautiful persian sofa, a moderate size fireplace with a beautifully decorated mantel, large bookcases filled with books on both sides. There was an archway to her left that led to a kitchen. There was a hallway on the other side of the room, still dark with lack of light. on the wall by one of the bookcases was a closed door. Candles on golden candelabras lit the room on tall stands, a few were on small side tables by the chairs.
"This is beautiful, Erik," she said smiling at him. His back was to her as he lit another candelabra by the hallway. His back tensed as she stared. This was the first time she saw his form in the light. His hair was black, not dark brown. She always knew he had a handsome profile, but seeing it so clear made her heart jump like it was the first time seeing him.
He didn't turn right away. "I'm glad it pleases you," he said tightly. "Do you trust me, Carlynda?"
She shook her head. "Of course I do, Erik. You should know that by now. I wouldn't be here if I didn't. You don't have to be afraid of me."
He slowly turned and Carlynda got her first glimpse at his face. His skin was pale from lack of sunlight, but not deathly pale and his eyes were a piercing, bright ember, but what caught her attention was the white mask on the side of his face.
She blinked and took a step forward. "Erik, what…?" She froze as her mind caught up with what she was seeing. She glanced around the home again, her heart starting to pound as the stories she heard from the ballet rats came back to her. The Phantom's Lair. The Phantom who wears a mask on one side of his face. The Phantom who terrorized the Opera House with his heavy demands and deadly consequences. Blackmailer, kidnapper...murderer.
She gasped, this time in fright, as she took a step back, her hands flew to her mouth. She shook her head, trying to think, but all she could think about was the Opera Ghost's frightful reputation...and that she allowed that same person into her bed.
"The Phantom of the Opera."
Erik flinched, but didn't otherwise move or speak. He stood there, still like a statue.
She shook her head as she took another step back, each step back felt like a knot tightening around her heart. "No, no, no, no. This...this doesn't make sense. This...I don't understand. How…? No, this...I...I can't think. I…"
"Carlynda."
One word, that was all he said. Her name, just her name. But his tone was defeated, resigned.
"I don't believe this!" she cried out. "You...you...I slept with you for months. I...how...You must think I'm some sort of fool not capable of catching on." She laughed humorlessly. "I should have known. I met you here. You're always here. This is where we met up, where it all started. I would feel the brush of your mask on occasion, but never realized it was a mask. I didn't ask about it, didn't think. I even saw something occasionally, but...oh, I am foolish!"
"You are not foolish," he defended. "You trusted me, that's all. You didn't ask because you trusted me."
She was barely listening. "This doesn't even make sense. How could the Erik I know be the Phantom everyone is afraid of? I don't…I need to think. I...I..."
Erik took a cautious step forward and raised his hand to her, as if he was approaching a frightened cat.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled instinctively, as she flinched back. She hugged herself.
He froze immediately and stepped back. She refused to look up at him, so missed his pained expression.
"Despite what you may think of me now, you will be safe here," he said, his tone revealing nothing of his feelings.
She glanced up at him, but his face was a stone now. Expressionless.
"There's a bedroom at the end of the hall for you." He picked up a candelabra from a stand that stood next to him. He held it out for her to take. "I'll come back later. There's food in the kitchen. Fresh."
She hesitantly reached for the candelabra. She took it from him, carefully making sure she didn't touch his hand. She had too much on her mind right now. She needed to be away from him just for a while so she could think.
He didn't wait to see her to the door. As soon as the candelabra was in her hand, he left. Very much like the ghost he played for years.
As soon as the door closed behind him, Carlynda sank to the nearest chair and let out a few breaths. Erik was the Phantom of the Opera, the Opera Ghost. She wasn't sure how to take that. The Opera Ghost was evil, a bad person. He did horrendous things.
Erik, though, the Erik she knew was kind, loving, even romantic. Yes, he had something of a temper and there are times when he jumped to the worst possible conclusion. But she never feared he would hit her or kill her. She felt safe with him.
He was a survivor, she knew. She told her brother as such. The fact that he killed someone before didn't seem to strike her as odd. But she always thought, if he did kill before, it was in self-defense or to protect. Not burning down an opera house with innocents inside.
She rubbed her heat as if it would smooth the ache inside. There was one question that only she could answer. Did she still feel safe with him?
She tightened her hold on the candelabra and stood. She didn't know.
Carynda stood before the fireplace mantel and thought it over in her head. But she simply didn't know.
Erik was afraid to tell her who he was for this exact reason. He feared her reaction. He expected she would react badly. Knowing this did calm her a little. He didn't want to hurt her. He didn't want to lose her, but he put her safety first.
That was still the Erik she knew. The Phantom was the past. Erik was now. But, how long would he carry this secret if she wasn't in danger?
Great. Now she was no longer afraid of his past, but slightly angry that he kept this from her.
She sighed and started walking slowly to the bedchambers. She needed to rest, give her mind time to adjust to everything.
Please review.
Story is not abandoned and will not be. It just might take awhile to update.
