This chapter speaks for itself. Enjoy.
(Still using Erik's P.O.V)
I looked down at he slowly. The drug wasn't supposed to ware out for hours! She wasn't supposed to be awake yet!
"Erik...? What happened? there are tears in your eyes." I heard her murmur, reaching a hand up to rest on my cheek. That warm, gentle hand. I stopped crying immeadietly, showing no feeling in my eyes.
"You passed out backstage." I replied emotionlessly. "And I wasn't crying."
Annie removed her hand from my cheek, much to my discontent. She began to struggle to sit up, and I let go of her once she began to stand. She rubbed her head painfully. "Where are we?" she demanded coldly. I was surprised at how ignorant she was being whe she hadn't the slightest idea what was going on.
"You passed out, so I brought you here to rest." I lied.
"That doesn't answer my question. Where are we?"
I glared at her, bringing my voice low and threatening. "We're in the ballet dormitories. It's only polite to bring an unconcious woman to rest in a bed, what now?" I growled. "By the way, how was your evening at the stage play? Did you enjoy it?"
(Switching back to Annie's P.O.V, I suck at being Erik)
His voice was pure ice, cold and biting.
After recovering from my shock and the dizziness my head had caused, I straightened and allowed my eyes to adjust to the darkness. I could just make out the white of his mask in the gloom, but nothing else.
"I enjoyed my evening very well, thank you," I enunciated, making my voice as cold as his. I was in no mood for his arrogant side that seemed to once again be coming to the fore. I was loathe to tremble in fear of him as I once had, even though I knew that to treat him with anything less than wary respect was pure foolishness.
"You certainly seemed to enjoy the attentions of that boy," he hissed, drawing near to my face.
The fury in his voice was palpable.
"That boy, as you call him, was simply being polite. He's a perfect gentleman, unlike some men I have the misfortune of being acquainted with!" I placed my hands upon his chest and shoved, but he didn't budge, only stepped closer until I was pressed completely against the wall. A small frisson of fear worked its way down my spine; he hatedChristian with a passion it seemed, and perhaps it had been foolish to allow the younger man to assist me during the evening and chat so amiably to him. I quelled my reaction though. I had the perfect right to be polite and to enjoy the company of a pleasant gentleman.
"Oh, no, my dear! You are perfectly right! I am no gentleman! I have no right to claim such a title, do I? Monsters have no claim to the social graces!" He whirled away from me suddenly, breathing harshly, his cloak brushing my skirts as he turned. I had no idea where he had gone in the absolute darkness until my lamp flared to life on my dresser, bathing the room in low, golden light.
He stood by the dresser, his eyes riveted on me. I couldn't keep my eyes from devouring the sight of him in the dark gold waistcoat, black cravat, tail coat, and the pale gold lined black velvet cloak, his hair once again smoothed back, dark and gleaming, the white of his mask throwing the beautiful uncovered side of his face into smooth, chiseled lines, his brow and sideburns dark against his face. His eyes were more green than gold in the light, his mouth set in a hard smirk.
He seemed to fill the small room with his dark presence, making everything else seem colorless and lifeless compared to him.
I remained against the wall, my hood fallen back, studying him quietly, unable to slow the beat of my heart. Despite everything, I loved him still. Why could my heart have simply remained a block of stone? Why had this man come along, chosen me for his purposes, and made me want and need again, in vain, as I always had?
Finally I spoke, my voice not as steady as I would have liked it to be.
"You are no monster, Erik, though there are times you do act like one." I stepped away from the wall, removing my cloak and draping it over a chair. I turned to the mirror and studied my face. Earlier, when Erik pulled his little stunt on the stage, many people ran to the exits and stairs in panic. Christian and I were on our way up to the stairs, an I had fallen backwards by tripping over my skirts. I hit my head on the riling. I figured it would jut leave a small mark, but I was appearenly wrong. The swelling had begun to return somewhat with the late hour, leaving my skin marred.
He was beside me in an instant, cupping my face gently and turning my right side to him. He touched my temple lightly, judging the swelling. I winced at his touch, the place had grown quite tender again. He removed his gloves, slipping them into his cloak, and then turned me to him again, pressing the bruises gently with his fingertips.
"You need a warm compress against this," he whispered, touching my right eye which was still a bit inflamed. He drew nearer to me, looking down at me with an unfathomable expression. "How did you get these bruises?"
"I fell on the stairs." I replied carelessly, looking away from him. Erik began to chuckle.
"Ah, yes, when I killed the men, right? I haven't done that since I last saw..."
"Christine," I finished for him, moving away from him, unbuttoning my jacket, keeping my eyes lowered.
He was still by the mirror, not moving. When he spoke, his voice was low and dangerous once again.
"Do not speak to me of Christine."
I whirled to face him. "It must be spoken of, Erik! Surely you can see that she is happy! She loves her husband, she's having his child, and they are overjoyed!" I ripped my jacket off of my shoulders and threw it upon the bed. I was grabbed by the arms and turned to face him, his eyes blazing.
"At my expense!" he roared. "They would not have that precious joy if it wasn't for me! I could have had her, kept her, but I let her go." His voice lowered, turning ragged with pain. "I let her go, when I could have kept her with me, my wife and lover." He shook me as if to make me understand.
"Not willingly, though, Erik! Surely that would not have been what you would want, to have to force her every night! You are not worthy of such an act, Erik." I tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held me with iron force.
"You know nothing of me," he raged behind his gritted teeth. "What I would do to possess her. To see her tonight, looking so exquisite, on the arm of that puppy!"
I spat on him, ripping my arms finally out of his grasp and turning to face him. He lunged at me, flinging me away fro him and throwing me onto the bed. I shrieked in fury and came up, trying to land a blow against his face, but he pinned my hands above my head and covered me with his body, quelling my frantic movements with the shock of his weight on me.
"You see!" I raged up at him, struggling to free myself of him. "This is how I am treated! You cannot even seem to conduct yourself in a decent manner!"
"I tried to hold and comfort you after you were injured..." he spat. My mouth flew open in outrage at his audacity.
"After drugging me!" I shot back. I knew he had drugged me. He gave me a shot. I've experienced that kind of drug before, when I was owned by a rapist. He drugged me on most nights, if I refused him. And I could never forget the feeling. It was so terrible. You felt something strange and cold run down your body, then spasms start, and finally you go numb and pass out.
"Forgive me, my dear!" His teeth were bared at me, every movement of his chest rising and falling harshly felt against my own. "And you forget that you are in debt to me! I control your fate here,Annie! Do not forget that!"
Beneath him I stilled, staring up at him. So, nothing had changed. The moments of quiet intimacy. He meant to give my whereabouts tothe policeif I disobeyed him. Why did I love such a man!
I closed my eyes over the hot tears that threatened, pressing my lips tightly together to stop the tremblling.
Above me, his harsh breathing had slowed. He made a low, angry sound in his throat and his hands released my wrists and cupped my face, once again gentle. He lowered his forehead to mine.
"Please, don't cry Nni. Please." He softly kissed my bruised cheek. I shook my head, resisting the mad impulse to tilt my head and meet his lips instead.
"Get off of me, please," I whispered, keeping my eyes closed.
He was still, then slowly removed his person from mine and walked slowly toward the mirror.
On the bed, I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.
"You could conduct yourself like a gentleman if you wanted, Erik. You can be gentle and considerate when you choose to be. Why you cannot act as such at all times, I know not the reason." I slowly sat up, brushing a curl that had come loose during our struggling behind my ear.
He stood perfectly still, a dark, silent statue. His eyes, which were suddenly tortured were piercing mine in the mirror.
"You want to know the reason." He said slowly, his voice low and dangerous. "Then you shall. Look and see why I cannot be your perfect gentleman!"
He turned and flung the mask at my feet.
Haha! See, I can writre long chapters if I want to! And this one didn't even take me too long. ;) hehe. So I'd better get reviews for this! No one's been giving me feedback! It saddens me so! Oh yes, another cliffie. Don't expect me to be leaving you off in a non-cliffie spot. It's not gonna happen. Sorry, folks.
