Note: Alrighty y'all...here's the next chapter! I'm soooo sorry that it has taken me forever to update! But I just recently graduated from high school, took a senior trip and now I just got back from a two week music program here in Lancaster. I didn't have my computer with me and there was no way I could update! But all in all, I believe that this is a good chapter! Let me know what you think by reviewing please!
Chapter 26
Erik slowly eased off the swan bed as Ana sighed in her sleep. He had worn her into sheer exhaustion and it didn't really help that she had just performed that night; her opening night none the less. Yet she had been demanding in the bed, wanting more from him than ever before. And he had given all that he had, thus why she was worn out and sleeping contentedly on the bed while he was barely tired. He had napped most of the afternoon away and even though he overexerted himself, he didn't feel the least bit tired. What he felt was to go sit down at his organ and play. He was itching to write out the song that had been floating around in his mind. The melody was somewhat simple and it reminding him a lot of Ana. Grabbing some spare ledger paper, he picked up his quill and brushed the feather across his lips. Humming the first few bars to himself, he began to slowly write out the melody. It flowed from his mind to his hand and within the next half an hour, the melody was almost complete.
When the melody sat completed, Erik got up to stretch his legs. He glanced into his bedroom where Ana still laid, sleeping. It was well past eleven and with a heavy heart, he knew that he would have to wake Ana. As he stood there, he felt the familiar leap of his heart. He knew, deep within his soul that he was in love with Ana. He tried to tell himself differently, telling himself that it was just a mere lust and that he enjoyed her company. Yet, there was something much deeper; one that hadn't been there when he was obsessed with Christine. With Christine, it had barely touched his heart. He was only interested in keeping her away from that boy. He was just lusting over her, he wanted to feel her lithe body against his. He had hoped that she could look at him without fear. But that hadn't happen, instead she had runaway with the young boy and shuddered at his horrible monstrosity. With Ana, he felt like he was complete and a whole person. When she left him to move about in the world above, he felt like he was missing something, that he knew only Ana could give him. Was this what that boy had felt for Christine? Knowing that he might not be able to live with out her? Erik was sure of it. The boy had risked his life knowing full well that Erik could kill him with the flick of his wrist. And now, Erik would risk anything to save Ana's life. But the truth remained was did she feel the same way? He had long ago stopped calling Ana a trollop and a whore. He somehow knew that what ever she said was the truth and that Alex was a pompous git and ass.
Erik resolved that when he would awake her, he would attempt to tell Ana about his love for her. He also would ask her about her passion, the one that caused Ana to sneak out behind her husband's back. If it pained her too much, Erik would tell her to wait until she was comfortable. He walked back to his organ and sat down to complete the song that was going to be for Ana. Maybe if he was lucky, Ana would take to the world above and sing it in one of the shows that showcased the musical talents of the people of France.
Ana was in a dark tunnel, one that she couldn't get out of. It was so dark and damp, that she shivered uncontrollable. She had nothing on except her dancing attire; no cloak to protect her. She couldn't see a thing but she could hear Alex's maniacal laugh all around her. She ran blindly until she reached what appeared to be the stage. There standing on the stage was Erik, dressed in his finest attire. He held out his hand towards her. She stepped towards it but drew back when another woman came to his side. She reached up to kiss Erik on the lips. Sadness tore through Ana as she looked on as the couple continued to kiss.
"He doesn't love you, my dear. He never did. Who could love a monster like you! You are nothing, worthless to anyone." Alex said, coming up behind her and whispering it into her ear.
"No! You are wrong! NO!" Ana said, twisting in her sleep.
"Ana! Ana wake up, you are having a horrible nightmare!" Erik said, shaking the wriggling woman.
"Get your hands off me you monster!"Ana shouted in her sleep. Erik let go of Ana as though touching her had scalded him. He took a couple of steps back, astonished by what he had heard. Ana, on the other hand, sat up with such quickness that it had looked like her body never touched the covers when Erik had dropped her. She looked around and saw the look of surprise on Erik's face. That look changed instantly to a steely, cold gaze. She gave him a questioning look. Had she said something in her sleep that she didn't mean to say?
"Erik, dear, what is the matter? Are you okay?" Erik heard her words, but his brain didn't comprehend them. Instead of hearing them with honest puzzlement he heard her words like she knew what she was saying and just laced them with drippy puzzlement.
"I am fine. Now, you must get dressed, surely your presence will be missed. You do not want any more rumors about your infamous lover being spread around." he said sharply, putting some loathing and malice into his already cold voice. He turned and started towards the archway that lead to the stairs into his main lair when Ana's soft voice halted him.
"Did I say something horrible in my sleep Erik? Is that why you are so mad?" Erik turned around quickly.
"Did you say something horrible! No my dear, you just happened to tell me to get my hands off you. But who could afford the touch of a horrible monster like me? Certainly not you, so it seems." he growled lowly.
Ana slowly got up out of the bed and wrapped one of his robes around her naked body. Then she made her way towards him, her eyes never leaving his. She reached him and brought her hands up to his face. Slowly she lifted the white leather mask off his face and stroked the parchment-like skin that was beneath it.
"Erik, you are no monster and you know it. You are simply a man who was born with a minor disfigurement. I never called you a monster, it was Alex whom I called a monster. I had a nightmare and he told me that you didn't..." but she didn't continue, she just looked away.
"I didn't what?" Erik asked her, taking her hand and placed it on his chest.
"I had a dream where you were kissing another woman. It tore me apart and Alex appeared beside me and said that you...you didn't love me anymore. I told him that it wasn't true and he grabbed me and started to shake me. It felt so real, that I screamed at him to let me go. I called him a monster, and if you heard it I am sorry. But it was just a silly dream." she said, wrapping her arms around Erik's middle and laid her head against his chest.
'No, it's not a silly dream my love! I really do love you and I can't live without you by my side!' he screamed silently in his mind, the words ready to roll off his tongue. Instead he said, "Yes, just a silly dream that will be forgotten. I am sorry that I got mad at you. Now, come we really must get you back to your room. I'm sure someone will notice that you are up later than normal. But then again, who know's." Erik said, gathering up her discarded clothes. He led her back up to her room, gave her a deep kiss that held the promises of later that evening in it and turned to walk back to his lair. He was almost ready to depress the mechanism when Ana's voice called to him.
"Will you be coming to see the show tonight? After all there is only one more show after tonight."
Erik smiled at her, "Mon ange, I would not miss tonight's performance for anything in the world. I shall be there, look towards Box five." With that said, he depressed the mechanism yet didn't move away from behind the mirror. Instead he watched as Ana hummed a tune as she busied herself by cleaning up and putting fresh clothing on. She took his robe and inhaled his masculine scent then laid the soft silk fabric to her face.
"Oh Erik, if you only knew that deep down, I truly love you. I would die for you if the occasion called for it." sighing she placed the black robe in her closet and walked out of her door, locking it behind her. She was ready to face whatever Jammes threw at her because she knew that Jammes could never have what she had and that was a love for a man and not a monster.
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!
