Note: Alrighty y'all...here's the next chapter! I wrote this in about an hour, and I thought it was quite good. Trust me, I know where this is going! And the only person who know's is my bestest best friend, monica, is the only person who know's what's going to happen. And she likes the idea. Y'all will have to keep reading to find out what happens!
Chapter 25
Ana was the first to awake and it wasn't due to the music box this time. This time it was due to Erik's wild thrashing movements. It wasn't just twisting and turning but wild, erratic movements. He was also mumbling something and at times he would whimper in pain, as though someone was striking him. Ana couldn't take it anymore and leaned over to shake him awake.
"Erik, Erik wake up! You're having a horrible nightmare!" She cried loudly near his ear. Erik jerked awake, sweat pouring down his body from his dream. He was breathing heavily as though he had just ran miles and miles. He looked at Ana with glazed eyes.
"Erik, what's the matter? Are you okay?" she asked as she ran a hand through his sweat-filled hair.
"I...I had a nightmare, that is all." he said, trying to calm his breathing.
"Yes, I figured that out, but what about? It would be better to talk about it than to keep it inside and let it eat away at you." she said, now stroking his arm.
"I...I don't think I can tell you. You would be too horrified." he said, not looking at her, but instead straight ahead.
"Erik, nothing could be as horrible as my life. I have lived through enough torture and pain from Alex to last me a lifetime. I know you have lived through just as much as me. I promise you I can take it." she whispered.
Erik sighed and looked at her. "Fine, but you must promise me that you won't bring it up again. I don't like to relive it."
"I promise. I promise with all my heart." she said, scooting closer to him.
"My mother was a gypsy who gave her heart to a rich man. He courted her for sometime until he coaxed her to sleep with him. She was only seventeen at the time and too blinded by her love for him to realize what the consequences might be. Little to be said, she ended up pregnant with me. When she found out that she was pregnant, she went to tell her lover. He let her go, telling her she was too young for him and that he was married to someone else. She was so heartbroken that she told her mother of her pregnancy. Her mother, who happened to be the necromancer of the camp, was outraged and instead of giving her a blessing for a healthy child, she cursed her daughter. She said that her child would have a horrible disfigurement and would be outcasted from the world. She then turned her child out from the camp and never spoke to her again. Nine months pass and she gives birth to me and true to her mother's curse, I was born with...with this monstrosity. My mother was so horrified that she created a mask for me to wear. I learned about my past from her when I was a little boy. She was into her cups too much and was spitting mad. She told me of how I came to be and that I would be nothing."
"Not believing her, I told her it was all a lie. That's when she told me that she could never love a monster like me. She gave me away to another gypsy camp. But the man who owned the camp saw me as part of his freak show. He ripped my mask off and the only thing he would let me wear was a cloth sack. The Devil's Child, he called me. The people who visited the carnival pouring in by the tons to see the child that was born by the Devil himself. It frightened people to go to church. Some would say Hail Mary's while others just laughed. One day, we were in France and this young girl was standing by my cage and she was neither saying Hail Mary's nor was she laughing. In fact, she looked like she might cry. I went back to fixing my stuffed monkey, who was my only friend, when the owner came into the cage. He pulled off my sack after whipping me, and yanked my head up. As usual, people laughed, said Hail Mary's and threw coins into the cage. The girl was the last to leave and even then, she was slow in going. The man was picking up his pay when I untied the rope that was in my cage. I quickly formed a knot and put it around his neck. I pulled hard, the man struggled for a few moments before he slowly sank to the floor, dead."
"The girl turned around and looked in horror as the man lay dying at me feet. She did the only thing, opening my cage, she rescued me. Taking me to the Opera House, she saved my life. I owe her everything I have." he said, as a single silent tear made a track down his disfigured face.
"That girl, it was Madame Giry, wasn't it?" Ana said, as she wiped the tear away from his eye.
"Yes. I owe Antoinette all that I have. She risked her life to save mine." Erik said, turning to look at Ana.
"Erik, whatever happened in the past is over. You have to live for the future and to get to the future, you must forget the past." she quietly spoke, giving him a kiss on his cheek.
"Believe me, I am ready to forget the past." he said, cupping her face. Ana looked away shyly before looking back at him. He gave her a ghost of a smile, before rolling her towards him.
After cleaning themselves up, Erik took Ana back to her room to get ready. She gave him a chaste kiss, knowing that deep in her heart that their little spat and his letter that he wrote was forgotten. He didn't want her as a whore, but hopefully as a lover.
"After tonight's performance, meet me here. I'll pick you up, and we'll celebrate your opening night." Erik said quietly, resting his forehead on hers. The cool mask touching her one side. She nodded and felt him place a kiss on her forehead, then on her lips. She smiled as he pulled away and made sure she got back into her room alright. He blew her a kiss and pulled the mirror shut. Ana waited two beats before making her way to her bed. She pulled the blankets back and picked up the letter that Simon had delivered yesterday.
She sat down at her desk and opened the letter. Pulling the letter out, she opened it.
"Dear Ana,
I know we have only met a week ago, and I am sorry I haven't contacted you for a week. But, I had pressing matters to take care of first. I had an amazing time at dinner that night when we met and I was wondering if I could see you again. I shall be coming to the Opera to see you on opening night. I want to ask you for a carriage ride. Maybe after your performance two nights from now? Let me know when I see you Opening Night. Break a leg.
Sincerely yours,
Simon Suffret"
Ana stared at the letter in disbelief. Simon wanted her to go on a carriage ride, two nights from now? Erik would be furious if he knew she was going on a carriage ride with another man. Let alone, she might be with him later that evening. She had no choice but to decline his offer. He was a nice man and all, but she held no interest in him what-so-ever. He meant nothing to her but a friend, and she enjoyed his company but not as much as Erik's. Erik was like her soulmate, when she is with him, she felt complete and totally whole. He chased her fears of Alex away and with Simon she felt like something wasn't right. Something felt unsecure when she rode home with him in his carriage. Sighing, she put the letter aside and got up to go get ready for the play.
An three and a half hours later, Ana was taking her final bow with the cast as roses were thrown towards Ana's feet. Madame Giry was smiling at her from off-stage as Meg clapped enthusiastically beside her. Ana was smiling radiantly in her beautiful, yet simple gown. The curtain closed and Ana gave a whoop of surprise as some of the main cast males lifted her onto their shoulders. She laughed as champagne corks popped all around and the guys placed her down.
"Mademoiselle Knoll get's the first sip of champagne! She was fabulous!" Pierre Sureay, the male who played the male her character loved with all her heart. She giggled and made a quick toast to tomorrow night's performance and slipped out as everyone became more and more rambunctious. She made her way back to her room, when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around and found herself staring into Simon's gray eyes.
"Mademoiselle Knoll, you were fabulous tonight." he said, letting go of her arm.
"Thank you Monsieur Suffret. I received your note, and I can not accompany you on that carriage ride. I have other plans that evening. I am terribly sorry, now if you'll excuse me, I have to go change into a more comfortable attire." she turned and walked away.
When she entered her room, Erik was lounging on her bed. "Good job telling that pompous windbag off, I'd hate to have to threaten him to stay away from you." Ana giggled and the two walked into the mirror.
Simon climbed back into his carriage, and faced the figure across from him.
"What did she say to your invitation? Did she accept?" the figure asked, his voice almost sounding like he was growling.
"No, she did not accept. She turned me down, saying that she had other plans." Simon said, removing his gloves and laying them down. He took his cane and tapped the top of the carriage. It jumped forward and the two men sat in silence.
"Now what do we do?" Simon asked, after a few minutes.
"Do not worry, Simon. She will accept that carriage ride two nights from now, whether she likes it or not." the figure said, and stared out the window as they passed cottages. Simon looked at the figure quizzically and remained silent until they reached his mansion.
Alright, you guys know what to do! Click that review button down in the lower left hand corner, and please please please ( I don't beg normally, but I am now!) Review! Ciao!
