Note: Here's the next chapter! I got time in musical tonight to finish it off, so here it is. And I must say that I have to dedicate this chapter one of my best friends, Brandy, who basically helped me with this whole plot line for this chapter. I believe that this is an AWESOME chapter! Oh, and Erik is reliving that horrible night in this chapter in his dream. Just FYI. ENJOY AND REVIEW!
Chapter 17
Ana felt that morning couldn't come fast enough. Every hour or so she awoke to change Erik's compresses. The one time that she awoke, Erik was tossing and turning in his fever. She knew that the intense dreams came when the fever was nearing it's peak. He mumbled something, something about a joke wearing thin and letting the audience in. In his unconscious state he gave a jolt and yelled, "Let my Opera begin!" Then, he began to talk, and Ana's eyes widened as she listened to his sad tale.
Erik was standing in his lair, slipping the black mask over his face. This was it, this was the night that his plan would fall into place. Christine would be his and his alone, no one could stop him. Not even that pompous fop Raoul who had the audacity to steal his one true love away from him. He silently made his way up to the stage. Every thought bent on convincing Christine to be his. He hears the chorus begin and the music strike it's clashing chords. He dodged the brainless wits that were standing guard looking for him.
'Hah! They thought that they could catch the famous Opera Ghost. It will take more than a few guards to stop me.' he thought as he climbed the platform that Don Juan would be coming to any minute.
"-If I don't forget myself and laugh. Hahahahahaha" Ubaldo Piangi said, laughing and then ducked behind the curtain. Erik took his chance and pounced on Piangi, the punjab lasso in hand. With a quick twist of his hand, the lasso went around Piangi's neck and took the heavy-set man's life as easy as a warm knife through butter. Christine's haunting melody drew him in as he tied the heavy-set man up. He drew up his cloak to his eyes and stepped out from the red curtain.
"Master.." the man beside him sang.
"Passarino, go away from the trap is set and waits for it's prey." Erik sang as he lowered his arm, revealing himself.
"You have come here, in pursuit of your deepest urge.
In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent...silent.
I have brought you, that our passions may fuse and merge.
In your mind you have already succumb to me dropped all defenses, completely succumb to me.
Now you are here with me, no second chance, you've decided...decided."
"Past the point of no return.
No backward glances, our games of make-believe are at an end.
Past all thought of if or when, no use resisting.
Abandon thoughts and let the dream descend.
What raging fires shall flood the soul, what rich desires unlock its door, what sweet seduction lies before us.
Past the point of no return,
the final threshold,
What warm unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return."
Here, the woman that he was singing to turned around to face him. Erik drew back a little and looked into her pale blue eyes. The woman was not his precious Christine, but young Ana. He was taken aback, but soon the flash of recognition fled from his mind and all he saw was Ana. Ana sauntered towards him in a seductive sway and she began to sing.
"You have brought me,
To that moment when words run dry.
To that moment when speech disappears into silence...silence.
I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why.
In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining,
defenseless and silent. Now I am here with you,
No second thought, I've decided...decided.
Past the point of no return,
No going back now:
Our passion-play has now at last begun...
Past all thought of right or wrong,
one final question,
how long must we two wait before we're one?
When will the blood begin race,
the sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?"
By this point, both Erik and Ana were on top of the bridge, each on one side. Slowly they made their way to the middle of set, their voices blending together in a rich harmonious voice.
"Past the point of no return,
the final threshold,
the bridge is crossed so stand and watch it burn.
We've passed the point of no return..."
Erik had Ana in his arms her back pressed firmly against his chest, his arms wound around her waist in a possessive hold. Then, slowly he turned her in his arms singing the haunting melody that Christine and Raoul had sung to each other.
"Say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime.
Lead me, save me from my solitude.
Say you want me with you,
here beside you.
Anywhere you go let me go too
Ana, that's all I ask of..."
But he never finished his beautiful serenade, for at the exact same time he went to say 'you', Ana; whose hands had slid up to hold onto the back of his head; pulled off the black mask and reveled the horror beneath it to the audience. He looked into her eyes, her beautiful pale blue eyes, that were now filled with horror. Rage blinded him and he took out his sword. Cutting the rope that held the chandelier up, he then hit a hidden mechanism that opened a set of trap doors. He and Ana fell, down through the fake fire and into the many passages below the Opera house. He untangled himself and picked Ana up rather roughly. Taking her wrist into his hand, he began to pull and tug her along behind him. She gasped in pain as he gave a rather hard jerk and she stumbled forward. When they had reached his lair, Erik dragged her out of the gondola and slammed her into a brick wall.
Taking her upper arms into a bruising grip he shook her. "Why did you do it Ana? Why? ANA!"
Ana listened to his tale as he recalled his thoughts, his feelings and the beautiful song. But when he reached the part where Christine had turned towards him to begin singing her part, he didn't mutter out Christine's name, but hers instead. Ana's eyes opened in surprise as she heard her name muttered from his lips. He described the beautiful attire that she was wearing, the rose that was tucked into her dark black hair and behind her ear. Then, he began to sing her part. His voice was haunting yet held a rich tone to it. It seemed to envelop her into a cocoon of serenity. She felt tears gather at the corners of her eyes as he began to sing about her saving him from his solitude. For the first time, she felt compassion towards him and for what he'd been through. Then she saw his mood change, his body tensed as though something happened.
Suddenly Erik started to writhe on the bed, his arms flaying about, his body bucking. Ana ran to the bed, her eyes open and frantic. "Oh, Erik, you must hold still." she placed her palms on his chest which was covered in a layer of sweat. She placed her weight on her hands, but Erik continued to jump and jerk on the bed; his hands clutching the scared side of his face, horrified screams of rage erupting from his lungs. "Erik...HOLD STILL and SHUT UP!" Without thinking Ana threw her body on top of Erik's. His body twitched once more and then he was still; his breath labored and deep. Ana released her breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding. She shifted to climb off Erik and get more compresses, but as soon as she moved Erik's arms flew up and around her, pulling her into his chest; knocking the air from her lungs. His arms shot up and took her upper arms in a bruising grip. Ana gritted against the pain as he began to shake her violently. Then he started to sing again, his voice an angry deep growl, "Down once more, to the dungeon of my black despair! Down we plunge to the prison of my mind! Down that path into darkness deep as hell!" Gasping for breath, tears in her eyes, Ana desperately pleaded with Erik; somehow knowing it wouldn't work, "Erik, please..." Lost in his horrible past, Erik continued his eerie song. "Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place? Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!" silent tears slid fluently down Ana's pale cheeks as Erik's fingers bruised her arms in his unconscious anger. "Hounded out by everyone! Met with hatred everywhere! No kind word from anyone! No compassion anywhere! Ana, Ana...why, why...! Why did you do it Ana? Why? ANA!" Erik yelled as his eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright; Ana recoiled in startled fear. Her fear was replaced with concern as she tentatively placed her hand on his sweaty shoulder; her hand burning with the heat of the fever.
"Erik?" she asked softly.
"Ana..." Erik's whisper faded away as his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell back to the bed; unconsciousness taking him once more.
Right guys, please tell me what you think of this chapter! And Ella, do not worry, your idea will be coming into my story shortly. No fear, for I am here...with Erik...mwahaha! okay, now I must really go to bed...
Milady Midnight: Yes, this is OFFICIALLY my first fan fic, I have others but I haven't continued them...thank you so much for the review!
Lusc-Fire: NO POPPING MY BUBBLE! but you can join me in it!
Moon Avenger: I agree, the Erik's don't have a say at all. They are under our control! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!
