She surprised him that afternoon by cleaning his apartment. He wasn't exactly dirty, in fact he was a major perfectionist, but since the few days she had been staying with him things had been left unattended. He played his music while Ayesha hissed at everything Elisabeth touched. "Is there anything you can do about that cat?" She asked. Erik went over to get Ayesha and sat her down by his side while he composed. A few minutes later Elisabeth came into his room and asked for his dirty laundry. Erik began to chuckle, then outright laughed. Ayesha had never heard her master make this sound, and she leaped at Elisabeth, scratching her ankle. "Ouch!" She exclaimed. Erik grabbed Ayesha and locked her in the next bedroom. He came to Elisabeth and told her to sit down. "It's only a scratch, I can handle it." She protested. Erik looked at her. "It is a wound that must be tended." He said.
He placed his pale hands on her ankle and she gasped. "Did I hurt you somehow?" He asked. "No, just, your hands are very cold." She reached down and touched his fingers. "Your dreadfully bony, I wish you would eat more." He began to put some herbal ointment on the scratch and replied, "It's not a question of eating, my flesh simply doesn't fill out the way a normal person's does." He placed her feet on the ground. "It will heal. I apologize for Ayesha, she's rather temperamental." Elisabeth smiled. "Like her owner." He looked up at her and their eyes met. Erik felt a charge of something, he couldn't explain. She leaned down and never took her eyes off him as she placed a small kiss on his jaw not covered by the mask. He jumped up and ran into the kitchen. All his life, his childhood and teenage years and his adult life, and never, never had anyone willingly kissed him before. He leaned against the counter and felt tears in his eyes.
"Erik, what in the hell is wrong with you?" Elisabeth came charging in, and he felt threatened. "Why did you do that?" He snarled. "Well, you kissed me the night before; I don't see why this is different!" He clenched his fists. "I thought you were asleep." She stood before him and her eyes lit up. "Because it was me this time, because I kissed you knowingly and without fear." He looked at her as she realized this. "It took a lot of courage for me to simply kiss your cheek, and I knew if you had been awake you would have screamed. You did not see my lips I hope?" He was calming down, but an edge of fear tinged his voice. "My eyes were closed, I swear. But know this Erik; I am not afraid of this disease you keep hidden from me. I am afraid of the emotions you keep pent up. One day you will explode, and who will bear the brunt of your frustration?"
With that said Elisabeth turned and locked herself in her bedroom. Erik picked up Ayesha and sat in his chair, petting her fur and sobbing into it. Elisabeth didn't understand. She said she wasn't afraid of his disease, yet she had never actually seen it. She was only right about his wrath, his restricted feelings. All his life he had hid behind anger, never allowing himself to feel fear, joy, or even acknowledge his loneliness. He admitted to himself now, he was attracted to Elisabeth. He needed her company, her lively chatter, even the fights they had made him optimistic. At least he had a friend to argue with. The feelings he kept locked away came out in a flood of tears, and he ripped off his mask to cry into Ayesha's fur.
Deep down he desired Elisabeth. He had always been denied female companionship, from the slaves in Persia who could not stand to pleasure him; and would run away to the laughing Khaunum, to the Courtesan's who could not be paid enough. Her presence irritated him at times, she was overly affectionate, and he was afraid to admit his satisfaction from her kiss. As Erik buried his face into the tortured cat he felt warm hands upon his shoulders. Elisabeth began to massage his shoulders and he kept his face hidden within Ayesha's fur. She kneaded his collarbone and began to rub his back. Erik's heart was racing so fast he felt as if he'd have a heart attack.
Suddenly Elisabeth bent down and took his mask; she never looked at him as she handed it to him. He wiped his face and placed it back on, then turned to look at her. Elisabeth's eyes were red where she had also been crying. Erik stood up and went to her, then enveloped her in a tight embrace. She sank into his arms as he placed his head on her shoulder. They stood together for a few moments, and Erik whispered into her ear. "I'm sorry. I have a lot of problems." Elisabeth simply agreed, "Yes." He took her hand and led her to his organ piano, where they sat, and he hummed the chorus from Act II of Don Juan Triumphant.
She looked at him, her eyes dry. "What is that?" She asked. "Don Juan." He replied simply. "Play it for me please." He looked down, and then back at her. He took the first piece of paper and told her "This is how it begins."
