Chapter six
Diana woke at the sound of something collapsing on the floor beside her bed. She almost jumped with the shock and stared over the side, it was to dark to see anything... "Phantom? Is that you?" Her eyes grew wide when she felt her loving pet curled up beside her. A low moan shattered the tense silence, "Erik!!" Leaping out of bed, she lit her lamp and froze. He lay on his side, seemingly attempting to curl into a ball. His rasping breaths sounded weak... "Erik! What happened?!"
She raised his head into her lap. Her hands prying at the spot on his side that he covered with the last of his strength. "Erik! You have to let me see!" Limply, his hands released their hold and Diana sagged as the wound was revealed. "My God..." Something had ripped its way threw his skin and had hit a rib. Blood was welling from the hole, an oozing puddle began to form on the floor. With eyes wide she surveyed the damage, her mouth hanging agape. "...Diana..." His whisper was barely audible, his hand closed weakly over hers.
Grasping his hand with all her strength she tried to think, he needed a doctor, there was no way she could do anything for this! But that meant running for help, and to leave him like this.... Her eyes closed as tears welled up behind the lids. If I scream, someone will come, someone will have to hear me, I cant leave him bleeding to death!
The door to her room slammed open, a strange man rushed inside, flushed from running. "Is he still breathing? How bad is the damage?!" Diana stared at him, but her mouth worked as if possessed. "It looks bad, the wounds on his side and he's losing too much blood. I think he's still conscious, he whispered my name..." The stranger grabbed Erik's wrist and checked for a pulse. Letting that drop he pressed his hand against the wound to stop the blood flow.
"You've been very brave mademoiselle, I thank you deeply. I must ask if you can assist me in returning Erik to home where, if we hurry, I might be able to save him." Diana nodded without thinking. Together they lifted Erik up and carried him, to Diana's shock, right threw a hole in the wall that had appeared where her mirror was. The way was dark, they traveled it in hurried silence. By the time Diana could see properly they had come to a stop beside the cool waters of the underground lake.
"Sir! You've led us to a dead end! Where do we go from here?" With a gesture, the stranger indicated a small boat on the nearby shore. "We need to get across the lake. I'll row the oars, you need to talk to him, see if he can hear you." Diana nodded and helped to place Erik's still form in the boat, he moaned lightly as he was set down. Once in the small craft, Diana took his hand in hers, whispering whatever came to her mind desperately into his ear. Only when they reached the other shore did Diana really have time to consider how strange this all was. Her guide Lifted Erik from the boat, his gaze was enough to tell Diana that they were in time. To her shock, he merely pressed the wall and a door opened!
He motioned her to follow, and then disappeared into the hole. It was then that Diana remembered the stories of the dancer, Christine Daae, and her mysterious lover, The Phantom of the Opera. Her heart raced and she backed into the boat behind her. That man with Erik... could he be the Phantom? With courage she had not known she possessed, she took a deep breath, and entered the Phantoms lair.
The room was lit only by the remains of a fire; its dying embers cast strange shadows on the floor. Above the black marble mantelpiece, a statue showing a demon and an angel, locked in loves embrace, appeared to watch her... Elegant tapestries and rugs covered the floor and walls, seemingly of Persian origin. An ebony table rested beside a luxurious couch. Here, the Phantom lay Erik down. Then with speed she did not realize men possessed, ran to another room. For her part, she sank into an armchair and tried to relax. Whoever this man was, he wanted to help Erik. As far as she was concerned, that was enough to warrant investigation before accusation.
The man suddenly reappeared with a bag and sat down beside her, once again their eyes met. "...Can you help him? Is there some way I can help?" From the Phantoms glance, she could tell he was in control. "You have been a great help already, however I believe I can handle this from here." His smile calmed her down; there was something about him she felt she could trust. "Why don't you get yourself a glass of water in the kitchen? When I'm done removing the bullet and stitching him up I'll call you."
Without another word he turned and removed a tool from the bag, Diana had a feeling she would not enjoy watching this. A bullet? Why would anyone want to shoot her teatcher?! A short search led her to the kitchen he had suggested. The floor here was done in marble and the table and chairs in oak. With relief she discovered the sink worked. Washing her face, she looked for a cup. Several cabinets met her gaze with a challenge. She sighed, there was no way she was about to engage in a dig threw someone's kitchen.
A cry from the other room sent her running to investigate. Erik was awake, and by no means comfortable. His cry turned into a low moan as he strained to pull away from the source of the pain. With one last tug, the bullet came lose and slipped into the Phantoms hand. "We were lucky this time, this could have cost you your life Erik." Erik chuckled weakly as he eyed the small weapon; "We really are a frail species... to be killed by something so small..." He smiled at the look he received, that turned into a grimace as the needle and tread pulled threw his damaged skin. "Do me a favor Daroga... create a signal... so that you can warn me when you're being used as bait..." With a shocked glance he realized Diana was in the room, Daroga nodded and sighed. "I needed help, and she was conveniently available, besides, you were going to tell her eventually."
Erik glared at the Phantom for a moment, then nodded, his eyes unreadable. With what he had recovered of his strength, he beckoned Diana to his side. Once she sank down beside him, his eyes sought hers. "Diana, there are some things you need to know... but before you hear them, I want you to promise me something..."Diana nodded, "I've kept your secrets before, nothing you could tell me now would frighten me. I know your heart." Erik smiled softly, sadness hidden behind his mask. "What I tell you may make you think differently..." With a deep breath, Erik braced himself. Her eyes so wide and trusting..."Diana, I am the Phantom of the Opera, O.G."
Her expression turned into one of disbelief, a small shudder ran down her spine. "You?! The Phantom of the Opera? But I thought that..." She stared at Daroga. Daroga's eyes widened, "You thought I was the Phantom?" He sputtered, amusement written all over his countenance. With a sigh, Erik turned his head away from her gaze. His shame burning him just as deeply as the pain did. "You must despise me..." His eyes as well as Daroga's went wide as Diana placed her hand on the side of Erik's mask, tilting his face towards hers. "Ghost, demon, phantom, no name you could give me would change who you are. You are Erik, my instructor." She carefully wrapped her arms around him, aware of the pain his wound was causing. "That is all I need to know. As I said, I know your heart."
Daroga smiled and offered his hand to Diana. "If it is all right with you my friend, I will return Diana to her room. Soon the day will start and they will look for her." Erik nodded and planted a soft kiss on Diana's cheek. Despite the mask, his kiss was soft. "Now go quickly my dove, fly back to your world. If I can, I will come for you at nightfall."
Within the month, the wound had healed so that nothing remained but the scar. To Erik it was only one among many, but to Diana, it symbolized a great fear. The fear of loss, of losing one you care for, in a situation you cannot control. Despite investigation, the person who had fired the gun was not discovered. This caused rumors of the rivalry between the ghost and the viscount to take on amazing forms.
The bond that Diana and Erik shared seemed only to be tightened by the truth coming out. Now, the only thing between them was their pasts, and Erik's porcelain mask. Another opera swept threw the theater and rehearsals began demanding more attention. For the first time, the limits of Diana's voice were discovered. After several strenuous rehearsals, and two hectic performances, the desire to sing faded behind the need to rest.
"Diana! Pay attention girl! You're falling out of step!" Madam Giry's patience was beginning to wear thin. To her surprise, Diana sat down, her form shaking with sobbing. "Child! Whatever is the matter?" gently she took the sobbing girl into her arms. "I'm sorry madam Girdy... I'm just so tired... I can't do anything right!" Giry blinked back her surprise, Diana never complained. Thinking quickly, she came up with a solution. "Perhaps it would be best for you to take the rest of the rehearsal off and rest a bit."
Diana thanked her and walked slowly of to her room. Giry felt the ghosts eyes on her the rest of the hour. When her students ran of to fetch a drink and rest, his form materialized in the shadows. Silently they moved toward each other. "What is wrong with Diana?" his voice held concern. "The same thing that is wrong with most of our cast. She's exhausted." The specter nodded thoughtfully. "Then she is alright? There is nothing wrong with her?" The Ballet mistress nodded. "For some reason this has been a hard opera for our cast and crew to perform. I'm not sure why though."
With a word of thanks and a courteous bow, the ghost took his leave. He entered Diana's rooms as quietly as he could, however she saw him coming and smiled. "Erik, you should know better then to try to sneak up on me." He returned her smile and sat at the foot of her bed, with a loud meow, Phantom leapt onto his lap. "For your information, I do know better. If I had truly wanted to, I could have come in here without being seen... Even if you were looking right at me." Diana smiled, his confidence causing a feeling of amusement to rise in her.
"Oh? I think you underestimate me." Erik shook his head, was she trying to challenge him? With a sly grin he vanished back into the shadows. Diana blinked, and then smiled. "Is this your way of playing hide and seek? Ready or not, here I come!" Erik sidestepped as she ran at him; she missed and fell onto her bed with a plop. "You need to keep trying! I'm here!" changing her tactics, Diana ran the opposite direction from which the sound was coming. By the loud thwack that was heard, it is safe to assume that she connected with her target. Erik stared at her, "Perhaps you do know me too well..."
Diana smiled and pushed herself to her feet, he joined her a moment later. With a sigh, Diana sank down onto her bed. "The rehearsals are really starting to wear me down." Erik nodded, his eyes once more holding concern. "I saw your incident on the stage, Madam Giry can be a bit harsh..." Diana shook her head no. "It was my fault Erik, not hers. I'm sorry I behaved so childishly..." she blinked as his warm hands folded over her own. "We all have our bad days, no one holds it against you." His smile warmed her heart, with a sigh she relaxed into his arms. "I need to rest for tonight's opera, will you be attending Erik?" his chuckle teased her ears, with gentle fingers he caressed her back. His arms wrapped around her always felt right.
"I will of course be attending, though I should leave you now so that you can rest." A feeling of incompletion descended on her as he released her and stood. With a respectful bow, he vanished threw her mirror. Once on the other side, Erik made his way to the stables, he had plans for after tonight's performance. A shadow moved in the corner and he spun to face it, snarling under his breath as Roul advanced on him. "I think we need to speak."
Diana woke at the sound of something collapsing on the floor beside her bed. She almost jumped with the shock and stared over the side, it was to dark to see anything... "Phantom? Is that you?" Her eyes grew wide when she felt her loving pet curled up beside her. A low moan shattered the tense silence, "Erik!!" Leaping out of bed, she lit her lamp and froze. He lay on his side, seemingly attempting to curl into a ball. His rasping breaths sounded weak... "Erik! What happened?!"
She raised his head into her lap. Her hands prying at the spot on his side that he covered with the last of his strength. "Erik! You have to let me see!" Limply, his hands released their hold and Diana sagged as the wound was revealed. "My God..." Something had ripped its way threw his skin and had hit a rib. Blood was welling from the hole, an oozing puddle began to form on the floor. With eyes wide she surveyed the damage, her mouth hanging agape. "...Diana..." His whisper was barely audible, his hand closed weakly over hers.
Grasping his hand with all her strength she tried to think, he needed a doctor, there was no way she could do anything for this! But that meant running for help, and to leave him like this.... Her eyes closed as tears welled up behind the lids. If I scream, someone will come, someone will have to hear me, I cant leave him bleeding to death!
The door to her room slammed open, a strange man rushed inside, flushed from running. "Is he still breathing? How bad is the damage?!" Diana stared at him, but her mouth worked as if possessed. "It looks bad, the wounds on his side and he's losing too much blood. I think he's still conscious, he whispered my name..." The stranger grabbed Erik's wrist and checked for a pulse. Letting that drop he pressed his hand against the wound to stop the blood flow.
"You've been very brave mademoiselle, I thank you deeply. I must ask if you can assist me in returning Erik to home where, if we hurry, I might be able to save him." Diana nodded without thinking. Together they lifted Erik up and carried him, to Diana's shock, right threw a hole in the wall that had appeared where her mirror was. The way was dark, they traveled it in hurried silence. By the time Diana could see properly they had come to a stop beside the cool waters of the underground lake.
"Sir! You've led us to a dead end! Where do we go from here?" With a gesture, the stranger indicated a small boat on the nearby shore. "We need to get across the lake. I'll row the oars, you need to talk to him, see if he can hear you." Diana nodded and helped to place Erik's still form in the boat, he moaned lightly as he was set down. Once in the small craft, Diana took his hand in hers, whispering whatever came to her mind desperately into his ear. Only when they reached the other shore did Diana really have time to consider how strange this all was. Her guide Lifted Erik from the boat, his gaze was enough to tell Diana that they were in time. To her shock, he merely pressed the wall and a door opened!
He motioned her to follow, and then disappeared into the hole. It was then that Diana remembered the stories of the dancer, Christine Daae, and her mysterious lover, The Phantom of the Opera. Her heart raced and she backed into the boat behind her. That man with Erik... could he be the Phantom? With courage she had not known she possessed, she took a deep breath, and entered the Phantoms lair.
The room was lit only by the remains of a fire; its dying embers cast strange shadows on the floor. Above the black marble mantelpiece, a statue showing a demon and an angel, locked in loves embrace, appeared to watch her... Elegant tapestries and rugs covered the floor and walls, seemingly of Persian origin. An ebony table rested beside a luxurious couch. Here, the Phantom lay Erik down. Then with speed she did not realize men possessed, ran to another room. For her part, she sank into an armchair and tried to relax. Whoever this man was, he wanted to help Erik. As far as she was concerned, that was enough to warrant investigation before accusation.
The man suddenly reappeared with a bag and sat down beside her, once again their eyes met. "...Can you help him? Is there some way I can help?" From the Phantoms glance, she could tell he was in control. "You have been a great help already, however I believe I can handle this from here." His smile calmed her down; there was something about him she felt she could trust. "Why don't you get yourself a glass of water in the kitchen? When I'm done removing the bullet and stitching him up I'll call you."
Without another word he turned and removed a tool from the bag, Diana had a feeling she would not enjoy watching this. A bullet? Why would anyone want to shoot her teatcher?! A short search led her to the kitchen he had suggested. The floor here was done in marble and the table and chairs in oak. With relief she discovered the sink worked. Washing her face, she looked for a cup. Several cabinets met her gaze with a challenge. She sighed, there was no way she was about to engage in a dig threw someone's kitchen.
A cry from the other room sent her running to investigate. Erik was awake, and by no means comfortable. His cry turned into a low moan as he strained to pull away from the source of the pain. With one last tug, the bullet came lose and slipped into the Phantoms hand. "We were lucky this time, this could have cost you your life Erik." Erik chuckled weakly as he eyed the small weapon; "We really are a frail species... to be killed by something so small..." He smiled at the look he received, that turned into a grimace as the needle and tread pulled threw his damaged skin. "Do me a favor Daroga... create a signal... so that you can warn me when you're being used as bait..." With a shocked glance he realized Diana was in the room, Daroga nodded and sighed. "I needed help, and she was conveniently available, besides, you were going to tell her eventually."
Erik glared at the Phantom for a moment, then nodded, his eyes unreadable. With what he had recovered of his strength, he beckoned Diana to his side. Once she sank down beside him, his eyes sought hers. "Diana, there are some things you need to know... but before you hear them, I want you to promise me something..."Diana nodded, "I've kept your secrets before, nothing you could tell me now would frighten me. I know your heart." Erik smiled softly, sadness hidden behind his mask. "What I tell you may make you think differently..." With a deep breath, Erik braced himself. Her eyes so wide and trusting..."Diana, I am the Phantom of the Opera, O.G."
Her expression turned into one of disbelief, a small shudder ran down her spine. "You?! The Phantom of the Opera? But I thought that..." She stared at Daroga. Daroga's eyes widened, "You thought I was the Phantom?" He sputtered, amusement written all over his countenance. With a sigh, Erik turned his head away from her gaze. His shame burning him just as deeply as the pain did. "You must despise me..." His eyes as well as Daroga's went wide as Diana placed her hand on the side of Erik's mask, tilting his face towards hers. "Ghost, demon, phantom, no name you could give me would change who you are. You are Erik, my instructor." She carefully wrapped her arms around him, aware of the pain his wound was causing. "That is all I need to know. As I said, I know your heart."
Daroga smiled and offered his hand to Diana. "If it is all right with you my friend, I will return Diana to her room. Soon the day will start and they will look for her." Erik nodded and planted a soft kiss on Diana's cheek. Despite the mask, his kiss was soft. "Now go quickly my dove, fly back to your world. If I can, I will come for you at nightfall."
Within the month, the wound had healed so that nothing remained but the scar. To Erik it was only one among many, but to Diana, it symbolized a great fear. The fear of loss, of losing one you care for, in a situation you cannot control. Despite investigation, the person who had fired the gun was not discovered. This caused rumors of the rivalry between the ghost and the viscount to take on amazing forms.
The bond that Diana and Erik shared seemed only to be tightened by the truth coming out. Now, the only thing between them was their pasts, and Erik's porcelain mask. Another opera swept threw the theater and rehearsals began demanding more attention. For the first time, the limits of Diana's voice were discovered. After several strenuous rehearsals, and two hectic performances, the desire to sing faded behind the need to rest.
"Diana! Pay attention girl! You're falling out of step!" Madam Giry's patience was beginning to wear thin. To her surprise, Diana sat down, her form shaking with sobbing. "Child! Whatever is the matter?" gently she took the sobbing girl into her arms. "I'm sorry madam Girdy... I'm just so tired... I can't do anything right!" Giry blinked back her surprise, Diana never complained. Thinking quickly, she came up with a solution. "Perhaps it would be best for you to take the rest of the rehearsal off and rest a bit."
Diana thanked her and walked slowly of to her room. Giry felt the ghosts eyes on her the rest of the hour. When her students ran of to fetch a drink and rest, his form materialized in the shadows. Silently they moved toward each other. "What is wrong with Diana?" his voice held concern. "The same thing that is wrong with most of our cast. She's exhausted." The specter nodded thoughtfully. "Then she is alright? There is nothing wrong with her?" The Ballet mistress nodded. "For some reason this has been a hard opera for our cast and crew to perform. I'm not sure why though."
With a word of thanks and a courteous bow, the ghost took his leave. He entered Diana's rooms as quietly as he could, however she saw him coming and smiled. "Erik, you should know better then to try to sneak up on me." He returned her smile and sat at the foot of her bed, with a loud meow, Phantom leapt onto his lap. "For your information, I do know better. If I had truly wanted to, I could have come in here without being seen... Even if you were looking right at me." Diana smiled, his confidence causing a feeling of amusement to rise in her.
"Oh? I think you underestimate me." Erik shook his head, was she trying to challenge him? With a sly grin he vanished back into the shadows. Diana blinked, and then smiled. "Is this your way of playing hide and seek? Ready or not, here I come!" Erik sidestepped as she ran at him; she missed and fell onto her bed with a plop. "You need to keep trying! I'm here!" changing her tactics, Diana ran the opposite direction from which the sound was coming. By the loud thwack that was heard, it is safe to assume that she connected with her target. Erik stared at her, "Perhaps you do know me too well..."
Diana smiled and pushed herself to her feet, he joined her a moment later. With a sigh, Diana sank down onto her bed. "The rehearsals are really starting to wear me down." Erik nodded, his eyes once more holding concern. "I saw your incident on the stage, Madam Giry can be a bit harsh..." Diana shook her head no. "It was my fault Erik, not hers. I'm sorry I behaved so childishly..." she blinked as his warm hands folded over her own. "We all have our bad days, no one holds it against you." His smile warmed her heart, with a sigh she relaxed into his arms. "I need to rest for tonight's opera, will you be attending Erik?" his chuckle teased her ears, with gentle fingers he caressed her back. His arms wrapped around her always felt right.
"I will of course be attending, though I should leave you now so that you can rest." A feeling of incompletion descended on her as he released her and stood. With a respectful bow, he vanished threw her mirror. Once on the other side, Erik made his way to the stables, he had plans for after tonight's performance. A shadow moved in the corner and he spun to face it, snarling under his breath as Roul advanced on him. "I think we need to speak."