Oh my! I wasn't going to write another Chapter until Monday but all the nice reviews made me change my mind! Oh, and I mentioned earlier that I was GREATLY mixing Erik's (Movie/Musical/Book), but I suppose it's based off the better looking Phantom. I love the idea of a man so tortured by the fact that one side of his face is that of beauty and the other side is monstrous.
She slept. He had watched her slowly fall into troubled dreams, unbeknownst to her. The way she bit her bottom lip as she tossed amongst the silken covers had almost driven him mad with desire. These thoughts and feelings, once only felt when he played his music, now were felt without the aid of his tortured melody. He had never had the pleasure of having a woman in his home, captive or not.
He averted his eyes from the sleeping form of Claire. Erik couldn't bear to watch her a moment longer. He wanted to be beside her, feel the touch of another human being. He knew he could never have that. Music, the one thing in his life that would never abandon him, was the only thing allowed to make him feel these things. He loathed Claire for making him feel love, when she had never done anything for him. Yet, he also felt bound to her because of these feelings.
Erik walked over to his Organ and sat down. He needed to write, compose. His fingers lifted above the keys and then came crashing down. The haunting notes at once began to pour through him and into his fingers. He wasn't in control of his body anymore. He belonged to the music.
After an eternity of this loud playing he was pulled back by the sound of someone moving about behind him. He turned his head towards the noise. It was Claire, awoken from her sleep. She looked beautiful in her simple white dress, her hair slightly disheveled from her tossing and turning. He turned his head to one side, studying her liquid movements as she cautiously approached him.
"Your playing woke me," Claire said. Erik felt overcome with an even more foreign emotion, guilt. He had wanted her to sleep peacefully. He had forgotten she was there; he was so used to be alone. He got up from the organ and put his head in his hands, gently massaging his temples. He must have looked quite insane.
"I am sorry," Erik said quickly and turned his back to her. He felt like sobbing but held all that in. He was not one to show much emotion. Deep in thought, he missed her light steps coming up behind him. A gentle touch on his shoulder sent him into a rage. He shoved her to the ground and cried,
"Do not ever sneak up on me like that!"
He now stared down at Claire who had her head turned away from him in shame. Her breathing was heavy and her shoulders shook from silent sobbing. She looked so small and breakable lying there. His face, which had been contorted with anger, now slowly melted. He couldn't bear to see her like that.
"I'm not used to being touched," he whispered, "And I usually hear people coming, I wasn't paying attention." All of his apologies didn't seem to be bringing Claire to her feet.
Then, for the first time in his life, he allowed himself to show true compassion. Erik knelt down by Claire. He removed the glove from his right hand. He stared at the article of clothing for a moment and then tossed it aside. His hand found its way to her shoulder, his flesh touching hers for the first time. He heard her gasp. His hand must have felt cold and undead on her warm flesh. Without thinking he ran his hand down her arm until he reached her hand. Waiting, he gauged her reaction. She had stopped shaking but he could not tell if her tears had ebbed as well. He could have waited forever to receive her answer but she gave it to him. Her hand took his. Time stopped for a moment as this kind gesture sunk into Erik's mind and invaded his soul. She turned her tear soaked face to him and smiled.
Erik nodded and stood, helping her up as well. He let go of her hand. She seemed to mind but he did not care. He had betrayed himself by helping her from the ground. Next time she would not receive such pity.
"You have been a delightful guest but I fear it is now time for you to be leaving. Come, you are more missed above then below."
