Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow;
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny; I find it kind of sad.
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take.
When people run in circles…
"Right, good plan, because the hospital loves it when you show up with a bloody mess of a man and tell them that he spontaneously appeared in front of us, but we're pretty sure that he's The Phantom of the Opera. Jessie, go home," Ben said as she crossed her arms and flashed her friend a skeptical look.
Jessie frowned deeply, "You can't keep him here Ben! This isn't one of your stories! He's a dangerous murderer!"
Bed held up her hand, "All we know for certain is that he's badly hurt; regardless of his past he needs help. And he's staying here until he decides otherwise."
"Fine. I really hope you don't regret this," Jessie declared brandishing a finger as she moved through the door. She looked back from the front porch; "I just want you to promise to call someone if you need help."
Ben nodded sincerely, "I will Jess."
And then she was alone.
Ben took a long steadying breath and risked a glance at her closed bedroom door. I should be dreaming, she thought to herself. Fantastic happenings do not occur to boring girls. If any time requires a stiff drink, she decided, it's now.
Moving into the kitchen, Ben forced herself to think clearly. The man would rightfully want answers when he woke up, and what exactly would she tell him? I was just walking home from watching the film about you for the sixth time and you just popped into existence in front of me, I guess I should be careful about wishing for things!
Downing her scotch, Ben tossed the glass into the sink and crossed the living room again to her studio. Her eyes glanced over to the bedroom door with every other step. The man's going to have enough shocks when he gets up, she thought as she locked the door, he certainly doesn't need to see the products of my fantasies.
"Je pense que quelques-uns répondent sont dans l'ordre."
Ben's mind shut down. She'd guessed a thousand times about how that voice would sound. The idea of it had filled her dreams since childhood. But hearing it-oh, hearing it transcended words. She couldn't even turn to face him yet; the power, and magic of that voice had made her stone.
"Sicherlich können Sie ebenso dumm nicht sein als Sie scheinen."
Hearing him speak German allowed some of the blood to flow back to her brain. Taking a deep steadying breath, she turned to face him.
Even wearing a blood-spattered, ripped shirt, he radiated elegance as he leaned against the door jam. Bandaged hands crossed over a lean chest lead Ben's eyes up the black leather full-face mask framed by unkempt, black hair that hung just below his ears. Ben felt her heart stop when she met his eyes. They weren't yellow like the books said. Rather they were a warm, shimmering amber; Ben could feel herself being mesmerized. I may as well be facing a viper, she thought faintly.
"De vrouw, moet er een taal zijn die u spreekt," the perfect voice carried a distinct note of annoyance as he used a third language. Ben knew she should speak; she had to speak to him, but her voice had vanished the moment he had used his. He mercifully broke eye contact for a moment to glance around the room. She had just enough time to exhale before his arresting eyes focused back on her.
"If I learn that I've been kidnapped by an idiot, I'm going to take my own life."
Whether it was the fact that he spoke in English, or the derision in his tone, but Ben's mind kicked back into gear. "Hey," she started weakly.
His eyes narrowed at hearing her reply, "So you do have some grasp on communication," he drawled as he took a slow step forward. "Now, who are you, and where am I?"
Ben swallowed hard and cursed herself for not being a badass, "I'm Ben, and you're in my home. What's your name?" she said softly.
The serpentine eyes sneered at her, "And I am sure the honor is mine Ben," he said her name as though it were an insult, "I am Erik, and I was hoping for a slightly broader idea of my location."
She was secretly grateful that he was being an ass. It allowed her to concentrate. "This is Ithaca, in New York State," she explained slowly, trying to gauge how well he understood.
He cocked his head a fraction as he took a moment to think. "In America?" he asked finally. Ben nodded. "How did I get here?" his voice was as finely honed as a scalpel. Erik took another step forward. Even five feet away, he was too close for comfort.
"I don't know," she answered without thought. The piercing eyes narrowed and he moved forward again. "I mean, you just appeared out of nowhere!" Ben tried to explain while moving away from him.
"Inconceivable," That mesmerizing voice had become a growl, he continued walking slowly towards her.
Ben was being pushed back into the kitchen, "I mean it! You appeared out of thin air, covered in blood in front of me!" She couldn't escape his piercing gaze, and all too soon she backed into the kitchen counter.
"That is inconceivable," he repeated almost snarling, and he was still moving towards her.
Ben looked around the room briefly; the phone was out of reach, and her cell was in her bag back in the living room. Damn, damn, damn, this is not going well. "You keep saying that word. I do'na think it means what you think it means," the quote fell from her lips without thought, and she regretted it instantly when Erik surged forward and trapped her between his arms; her back was pressed against the counter.
"Tell me what is going on," he snarled dangerously.
This is bad. This is bad. This is bad. Ben's mind ran in helpless circles in the face of his overpowering gaze. She had to do something to throw him off guard, or she'd never regain control, but what? She glanced around wildly hoping for any kind of idea.
Erik's hand moved like lighting and caught her jaw, bringing her gaze back to his. "I asked you a question," his eyes narrowed.
"Are you hungry?" Ben blurted suddenly. Inwardly, she kicked herself.
Surprisingly, it seemed to work. He blinked and removed his bandaged hand from her chin. "What?"
She decided to run with it, "Well you can't have eaten for over a day, and I know I'm hungry, so what would you like to eat?" Ben ducked under his arm and moved quickly to refrigerator.
Confusion danced across his eyes as he looked, really looked, at his surroundings for the first time. He looked back to Ben, who had situated herself next to the kitchen phone and knife block.
"What is this place?" he asked her again, much softer this time. And Ben was struck by the instant change in Erik's demeanor, moments ago he had radiated power and menace, and now he seemed merely lost.
Ben sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, "You're in Ithaca, New York, like I said, but in the year 2005."
To Be Continued…
A/N: Hopefully, people are starting to get a clearer idea of what's going on; and we'll get more information from the next chapter which will be from Erik's POV again. Love it? Hate it? I can't make it better, if you don't give me feedback!
Also the three phrases Erik speaks first are French, German, and Dutch and they respectively translate to
"I think some answers are in order"
"Surely, you can't be as stupid as you seem"
"Woman, there has got to be at least one language you speak"
I don't know how correct the translations are b/c I used an automatic on from the internet.