(A/N: Disclaimer: I don't own the song "Spanish Train" by Cris DeBurgh, or anyother songin this chapter. That good enough for you Phangirls (and others)? I just want to say thank you, Daddy, both for reading this and for lending me all your music so I have something to listen to while I type. Sorry for the wait, but the School Board invented a torture called exams. Honestly, they're as sadistic as Erik himself!)
(Editor's Note: No, the above is NOT implying that I am her father. A: I am not related. B: I'm younger than she is. C: I'M A GIRL!)
Question: What is a Mary Sue? I've seen the term, and I understand that it's a bad thing in fanfiction, but what does it mean?
5. "My Hand Wins!"December 28, 1881
Elizabeth woke up feeling warm and happy. Afer a few minutes of lying there, though, she began to feel uneasy, as though something were wrong. What could it be? she wondered. Then she remembered last night. She almost started crying again, but just before she did she opened her eyes... and sat bolt upright from shock. It was as if last night had never happened. She was in Erik's spare room bed!
"But why? How?" she gasped in wonderment. Erik appeared at the door. For a few moments he said nothing, then:
"Did you sleep well?" he asked in a low voice.
"Yes, just fine thank you." Elizabeth replied. She tried to keep her voice calm, but despite her efforts it shook slightly. Erik just stood there looking at her. He almost felt sorry for her. She looked so frightened. And well she might! He told himself, trying to invoke some of last night's anger. He succeeded only partly. He opened his mouth to give her hell for her behaviour but she spoke up first.
"Erik, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't think. You were perfectly right to defend your property and your rights in whatever way you wish. I was wrong to speak to you like that, and to do so in public was inexcusable. For what little its worth, I apologize."
Erik was dumfounded. She had objected, as any sane and reasonable person would have, to him committing murder, and now she was apologizing for it. And she seemed genuinely sorry, not just trying to save her neck. He didn't know what to do. No one had ever apologized to him before. The gentlemanly thing to do would be to accept her apology and withdraw discretely so she could dress, but he wasn't feeling at all like a gentleman. He decided to compromise.
"You'd better be sorry," he growled. "Now get up and get dressed."
When Elizabeth was alone she had a hard timeholdiong back herlaughter,she was so relieved. She was aware that Erik was too angry and proud to say he had forgiven her, but he had as good as told her she could perhaps win that forgiveness. She hopped out of bed and rummaged around in the bureau that she kept her clothes in. When she was dressed she left her room and Erik waiting for her at the table. Arminta was munching something in a corner and the whole scene looked very peaceful, but Elizabeth could feel the tension that lurked beneath the surface.
After breakfast Erik prowled around his lair while Elizabeth played quietly with Arminta. He was bored, and he didn't know what he wanted to do. He admitted to himself that the last few days had been entertaining. His mind jumped from the entertainment of the last few days to entertainment in general. He suddenly wondered if Elizabeth could sing. He asked her.
"Well, a bit. Not Opera though." She said.
"Sing for me." Erik ordered. Elizabeth stood up and took a deep breath.
Shedid not have a great voice, not like Christine, but it was quite pleasant to listen to, and Erik found it quite enjoyable. Of course, since he had no interest in training her, he could just listen uncritically, because it was none of his business to help her improve. Not that she could improve much; she had pretty much reached her full potential already.
"That was nice." He commented. "Sing another." For all the imperious wording, it was a request, which Elizabeth happily complied to.
Erik liked this one even more than the first. "Bravo." He applauded. Elizabeth smiled and began the next song.
Erik didn't applaud this time. He couldn't break the silence that followed the last note. The last song was sung in a lower range than the other two and Elizabeth had done a beautiful job with it. There was something about her rendition of the song that was special. It had a certain quality, that Erik couldn't quite identify, that Christine's singing lacked. The certain quality was sincerity. Elizabeth meant every word with all her heart. She didn't know why Erik was silent, so after a few minutes of silence she asked timidly:
"Shall I sing another?"
Erik nodded. "Yes please. Could you sing something light?"
Elizabeth thought for a few moments, and then sang "Mungojerrie And Rumpleteazer". After, with a wink at Erik, she sang "Macavity: The Mystery Cat". When she finished Erik told her to stop before she wore out her voice.
"But Erik, I'm not..."
"Do you play cards?" Erik interrupted.
"Yes." Elizabeth replied. Erik fetched a deck of cards and they played a game of whist. Elizabeth lost badly.
"I didn't say I could play well, I just said I could play. I'm better at poker."
"But poker's no fun unless you gamble." Erik protested.
"So let us gamble. I don't have much, but I'll do my best."
Erik looked shocked. After all, young ladies do not gamble. Then he remembered that Elizabeth was a most unusual young lady. In fact, to call her a young lady one would have to completely rewrite the definition. "All right, we will gamble. What will you put up?"
"What do you want?" Elizabeth asked boldly. Erik had to think about that for a moment. What did he want...That she could pay? Then he had an idea.
"You must promise, on pain of death, never to criticize my judgment again," he said firmly.
"But I wasn't going to, anyway; so that doesn't benefit you particularly." Elizabeth protested. The Phantom looked irritated.
"Very well then, if I win you will have to... Answer two of my questions truthfully and at as great length as I say. How's that?"
"Fine. And If I win you must... you must... oh, I can't decide. You chose: will your forfeit be to go maskless to the next opera, or to give me a dance at the Masquerade Ball?"
Erik gasped and gaped at her in consternation. What a choice! And yet neither was really awful. The dance would perhaps be rather pleasant, and if he were alone in Box Five being maskless wouldn't be so bad, might be a nice rest in fact... Clever Elizabeth to come up with those two forfeits like that.
"Neither is too awful. I chose both. Now, shall we play?"
Erik let Elizabeth deal, and they were off. It was a long game. Both were playing carefully because of the stakes. Elizabeth was being more careful than Erik, who started out playing carelessly, thinking her boast about her skill to be just that, a boast. He soon found out his mistake. His opponent was not a flamboyant player, but she was very good, and a master at a poker-face. If Erik hadn't known better, he would have sworn she was wearing a mask. The end of the game was very tense, but Erik was pretty sure he'd won when Elizabeth laid down her cards. Erik gasped. Not only did she have a good hand, she had subtly almost concealed a card behind another so he had missed it. She had won alright. Erik laughed and swept up the cards.
"I'll stick to playing whist with you, Mlle... Elizabeth. By the way, if I may be so bold, what is your last name?"
"Holmes. Don't look so surprised; I was born English. I have spent much of my life in France, where I learned French."
"Well, Elizabeth Holmes, shall we go and take some air up on the roof?"
"I would be honored to accompany you, Monsieur Le Fantome." Elizabeth answered with a regal curtsy. Erik blew out the candle and took her hand so he wouldn't have to light a lamp.
(A/N: In case you're wondering, there is something odd about the songs Elizabeth sang. I chose those particular songs for a reason, several reasons actually. Don't worry, all the mysteries surrounding her will be cleared up in the end.)
