Note: Here's the next chapter! Yes, I know that you all want to throw rotten tomatoes at me cuz I took forever to update, but you gotta realize, this past week was hell week for our musical and I was tired every evening...once again, I might as well say this now, most of this chapter and the ones to come, will be dedicated to my friend Brandy because she has been helping me write when I got stuck in little holes...hehehe...now I really must go to sleep for I just finished up a show this evening. Come Erik, let's go to bed...
Chapter 19
Ana walked quietly towards her opening spot. The curtain had not yet opened for the first act and there were sounds of the orchestra tuning and people chattering away. Erik would not be there, watching her perform her solo. But Alex would, Alex would watch her like a cat watches a mouse while he plays with it. Ana once again steeled her thoughts against Alex. He only joined to frighten her, to make her know that he would tell everyone about her supposed secrets. And they would believe him because he was a patron, a rich patron. And she was nothing but the poor wife that walked out on what appeared to be such a loving husband. Ana snorted on that thought. 'If he's such a loving husband, then the devil is a totally humane and nice person.' The conductor tapped his baton on his stand, signally the orchestra to look up at him for they were ready to start. Ana's thoughts about Alex dispersed from her mind and she bent all her concentration on the dance steps. Music came from the pit, the curtains opened, the singers began to sing and the dancers, danced. All in all, everything fell into place rather smoothly.
Intermission came quickly and Ana barely had time to grab a small glass of water to wet her parched throat. She was pushed back out onto the stage and quickly she found her spot. The pit began to play the opening to her solo and Ana waited to hear for the chord that brought her in. It struck and she was off. Fifteen minutes later, she went for the ending pose. Applause resounded throughout the House, and not one person was sitting; except for Alex. Ana took her bows and noticed Christine sitting in one of the boxes near Alex. She smiled at her new friend and let her eyes wander to Christine's husband. He was roguishly handsome with eyes that could melt anyone's heart. Their little boy looked just like his father, with the exception of having Christine's curly hair. An ache shot through her body as she tried so vividly to remember her own son. She exited the stage with that thought in mind and went to stand in the wings. She was done for the night, but decided to watch the woman who she would be understudying come the next show. The woman, Madame Sarah LeBrana, was an older woman by what appeared to be at least ten and one years. She was pleasantly plumped and her mezzo-soprano voice had a lovely ring to it. She was quite nice, and simply showered Ana with compliments on her looks and voice. Ana took them in and thanked her in a shy manner, as though she didn't receive compliments enough, which she hadn't.
The play was over within another half an hour. Christine had come back and Meg nearly bowled her over in her total excitement. Christine introduced Ana to Raoul and to their little son James-Gustave. The boy was as cute as a button and well behaved. The three woman talked, and Christine told Meg of where her, her son, and Raoul planned on visiting in the next couple of days. Meg told her that she was lucky to be able to travel whenever she wished it. Ana just merely smiled and nodded in the appropriate times. Her mind was occupied on the man that was currently laying in her room. Ana hoped that the fever had broke and that maybe he would be awake by the time she'd return.
"Ana, don't you agree?" Meg's voice startled her out of her dream.
"What? Oh yes, I agree." Ana had no clue to what she was agreeing with, but she hoped it was for the good. "I am terribly sorry, but I must take my leave. I...my friend may be awake. Good night and I shall hopefully see you again in the near future, Christine."
As Ana left, she heard Meg whisper audibly to Christine. "I heard her sick friend this morning...it was a man!" Ana smiled and shook her head.
Ana placed the key into the keyhole. Twisting it, she heard the click of the lock and pushed the door open. The single candle that she had left burning was the only thing that illuminated the room. Walking as silently as she could, she crept towards the bed where Erik still laid. Kneeling down by the bed, she pressed her ear to his chest she listened to his breathing. Her heart leapt when she heard no rattling in his chest. Finally, his breathing had returned to normal. Touching her hand to his forehead she sighed in relief. The fever had broken and Erik was out of dangerous woods. She sat back on her heels and thanked God Almighty that he had survived. She wasn't sure why she was glad he survived, but a shiver made it's way down her back.
Erik took a deep breath as though he was going to wake up at that moment and Ana stared at him, wide-eyed.
"Erik?" she whispered, placing a hand on his chest. Just then, a knock on the door startled her and she jerked her hand away from his chest. "Who is it?" she asked, her voice shaky with nerves.
"It's me, Christine. You had left your shawl behind. Meg went off to a party and she asked me to return it to you." Christine's soft voice came through the door.
Ana groaned inwardly. "I'll be there in just a second." She quickly grabbed the blanket and covered Erik's body totally. Then, brushing herself off, she headed towards the door. Opening the door just a crack she looked into Christine's dark brown irises.
"Thank you Christine, I appreciate it." she stuck her hand out to grab the garment.
"You are quite welcome..." Christine meant to go on, but the sound of a bed squeaking behind Ana stopped her in mid-sentence.
Ana felt her face grow extremely hot. "My friend is still sick. They must be waking up. If you'll excuse me, I'll go attend to them. Thank you once again." Ana grabbed the shawl and shut the door. Christine stared at the door, then smiled as she remembered Meg's comment. She left the hallway shaking her head.
Ana, on the other hand, rushed back to her bed as fast as ever. Erik's eyes were fluttering open as though he was going to wake up any moment. He groaned thickly, pressing a hand to his forehead. When he felt that no mask was on his face, his eyes shot open and he found himself looking directly into Ana's pale blue eyes. His confusion changed into anger and he gripped one of Ana's wrists.
"What have you done?"
Ana stared at him, her eyes wide with a clear distinction of fear. She then steeled herself against his verbal abuse and ire filled the ice blue eyes. "What have I done? Why, good Monsieur I have just saved your life. You should be thankful." She gazed right back into those blue-green orbs that seemed to be spitting out fire.
"You had no right, Madame, to remove my mask."
"Had I not removed your mask then you would still have the fever or you might even be dead. Now, come stop this stupid bickering, I see no reason why you should be worried about me seeing your face. I see nothing wrong with your face." Ana said, staring at Erik's disfigured face. The left side was incredibly handsome but the right side had looked like someone had burned him when he was young. The cheekbone protruded from his face, causing his eye to appear sunken into its socket. Skin was stretched and pulled across the cheek and up onto his skull. Veins were easily seen through the parchment-like thin skin and turned the skin slightly red. They made crisscross patterns across his face, and his nose was half gone, looking partially melted to his face. His lips were slightly pulled back into what one may call a slight grimace. As for his ear, well it was like his nose, appearing to be partially melted to his head. As Ana's eyes scanned up towards where his black hair was, she saw a large spot where obviously no hair grew. Erik squirmed under Ana's piercing gaze. Here was a woman, who was not afraid of his face, who didn't back away in fear or scream in terror. She claimed that she had seen worse and she had claimed that her's were much worse than his.
"Are you done studying me?" he asked sulkily.
Ana felt a blush creep up on her, she had forgotten about how long she had been looking at him. "Yes...would you like some brandy that I brought back for you?" She went and got the brandy bottle.
"What I would like my dear is to return to my home. I have many things to accomplish." Erik slowly pushed himself out of the bed and against Ana's quiet protests, dressed himself.
"Before you go, I want you to take something back with you and promise me you'll take it before you sleep. Otherwise, you'll find yourself sick all over again." She said, trying to adopt a stern motherly tone.
Erik merely nodded as he slipped his coat on. Ana walked to her dresser and grabbed the bottle of laudanum. Turning around she saw Erik gazing at the letter that Alex had left her.
"I see your...husband is demanding you to go to that bal masque otherwise he'll say something horrible that'll ruin you." Erik said in a monotone voice, accepting the bottle from Ana.
"Yes...he scares me at times. I am afraid to attend; afraid of what he might do." Ana's voice came out meek and small. Her eyes reflected all her fears and part of her past. Erik had no idea what made him say it, or why he said it in the first place.
"If you wish, I can accompany you as your escort." He watched Ana's eyes burn into him.
"I thought you didn't go into crowds; that you despised them." she said with a sarcastic manner.
"I do. But I wish to repay you for saving my life, by making sure this ass does not ruin yours. It would make you feel safe, would it not?" she nodded and was about to comment when he held up his hand. "And as for my mask, do not worry for I have a perfect costume for myself." He leaned on the table for support as he stood up and slowly made his way to the mirror. Triggering the mechanism, he quietly spoke to her before stepping beyond the threshold. "I will see you tomorrow afternoon for your voice lesson and we shall discuss your costume." Then he was gone, slipping into the shadows as silently as he had come.
Ana sank into her chair with relief. When Erik had said that she would attend with him, a glimmer of hope had shone through her dark clouds. Hope was replaced by a warm feeling that she had begun to develop as she tended to him. This feeling somewhat scared her, for somehow she knew that this feeling was love and she promised herself never would she love another man again. She somehow knew that this feeling was love and it somewhat scared her. Giving off a sigh, she stood up and stripped her bed down. Throwing the covers into a corner, she remade the bed and slipped into the cool sheets. Drawing the cover that Erik had given her up to her chin, she let dreams whisk her away from the strange feelings that were enveloping her.
If ya liked my chap. REVIEW! If not...tough cookies for you...now come erik, it is time for bed...
Erik- OOO! My favorite time...
Me-Erik! Shush, it's supposed to be a secret...
Brandy and Me- SPEEDBUMP time...(don't ask)
