Shade: Warning, this chapter contains slight sexual content. It's not bad, I don't think, but I promised I would warn you.

"When will the flames at last, consume us?" –The Point of No Return

Chapter 13: The Near Breaching of Fate

Erik carried Nasrin down the corridors as quickly as he could, not wanting to risk anyone finding them. He laid her down gently in the boat and rowed off fervently, throwing himself into each stroke of the oar.

When they reached his lair, he carried her over to her bed and put her down gently, covering her with the sheets. He smiled at her peaceful expression and caressed her cheek.

She opened her eyes slowly, her eyelids fluttering open. Her gaze fell on Erik and she smiled.

"Well done. You did it." Her voice was hoarse and shaky.

Erik's eyes sparkled when they met with hers. "We did it." He ran his finger down the bridge of his nose, gently touching her lips. "If I remember correctly, it was you who swung on the chandelier and crashed it."

"But it was you who hanged Buquet."

"Yes, with your noose." He began to pick her up slowly in his arms, drawing her body closer to his.

"But it was you who . . . who . . ." Her body was pressed against his, and she could feel his heart against her chest.

"Who what, Fire Rose?" he asked softly, his lips brushing hers. She began to lose her breath.

"Saved me," she finished with a sigh. She touched his face, her heart hammering in her breast. "Would you like to save me one more time?"

He tightened his grip on her waist and gently lay her back down, his face hovering over hers. Their breaths mingled in the air.

He took off her white mask and wig. "You look so much like me at the moment. Please, when we are alone, look like yourself; it's far more pleasing to the eye."

She shook her head, unaccustomed to this newfound freedom, her few strands of smoky hair falling over her face. Her hands found his jacket and she removed it without breaking eye contact with him. "Take it off," she said.

"Take what off?"

"For now, the mask."

His hands crept up to his face and he peeled it off slowly, still nervous of her reaction. But she merely smiled and brought his head down to hers, planting arduous kisses along his jawbone and the deformed part of his face. He let out the most pitiful whimper Nasrin had ever heard and she felt a tear fall on her shoulder.

"Erik," she cooed, taking off his wig and running her fingers through his fine hair.

He looked down at her in shock. Her gaze was so soft and gentle, but it wasn't pity in her eyes like it was with Christine. He shivered as her soft hands moved from his face to his chest. She looked up at him expectantly.

In a moment, his lips met hers in a storm of passion, his breathing shallow. His hands traced down her back to the clasp on her top, his tongue pulsing in and out of her mouth until she made soft moaning noises. He fiddled with clasp until he heard the tell tale snap and saw the top loosen around her front. Without breaking eye contact with her, he slid the thin fabric off of her and placed it gently aside.

"Perhaps I can let you sleep in my bed just this once," he said, pressing his lips against her neck, his warm tongue briefly caressing her skin. Nasrin shivered, her grip on him growing stronger.

"That would be lovely," she murmured as she kissed his forehead. "I'm sure it is much softer than the floor."

He stood up, lifting her in his arms with him, and began to walk slowly over to his bed, kissing her deeply and easing the tense muscles of her back with the pressure of his fingers. He felt the swan's head of his bed against his thigh and he gracefully dipped Nasrin into a bow, sliding her from his waist and onto the bed.

She looked up at him tenderly, completely succumbing to him. She lured him closer to her, that seductive smile on her lips.

As he moved in to kiss her, she moved away, keeping her lips chaste with unbearably coy snickers.

He hissed slightly, irritated with this unnecessary play, and grabbed her head, attempting to kiss her that way. At the last moment, she turned her head up, and he kissed her exposed neck. He growled and narrowed his eyes.

Nasrin grinned and held his head in her hands. She kissed the corner of his mouth, just before his lips, and moaned against him, quivering.

His breath quickened and his grip on her tightened. "Please . . . Fire Rose . . ."

"Can't even form a sentence?" she asked teasingly. "All right then, enough is enough." She kissed him passionately, moaning as he pressed himself against her reclined form, shaking with contained fervor.

Erik's hands moved gently down from her shoulder to her breasts, her stomach, finally landing on her hips, his lips still dominating hers. As his hands found the small of her back, he yanked her waist against his and held it still. "Oh, Christine," he murmured tenderly between kisses.

Nasrin stopped and brutally pushed him away. "What did you call me?"

"I . . . I called you-"

"Christine! You called me Christine!" Nasrin struck him across the face. "You . . . you . . ." She roared in hatred, shoving him aside and storming off to her bed, grabbing her top.

"Nasrin . . . I-"

"Erik, just be silent!" she spat, throwing her top over her exposed chest. "Forget anything even came close to happening! Forget . . . everything! I know! I know what you will say! I cannot be Christine! You love her! I know I cannot hold a candle to her beauty, her unsurpassed poise! You will always love her and I am damned to always be second best at most!" She tied her top over her chest and put her normal wig back on, a pair of tears tumbling gracefully down her flushed face.

"Please, Fire Rose . . . I didn't mean to . . ." Erik stood up, his large white shirt draped over his chest, exposing a small patch of hair.

"But you did!" She pointed an accusing finger at him. "Well, where is she, Erik? Where is your Angel of Music now that you must pretend that your bride is her!"

"She left with the Vicomte de Chagny! She betrayed me and abandoned me!" Erik roared loudly, upsetting a nearby candelabrum. "You aren't the only one who aches for a love that cannot be!" He began to tear slightly, the razors of betrayal cutting deep into his masked vulnerability.

Nasrin felt a faint sense of pity, and, not being completely apathetic, approached him slowly, winding her arms about his neck and allowed him to cry into her shoulder. He wept for a fair few moments, emotional turmoil racking his already decrepit heart. She held him tenderly, realizing that nothing would happen between them tonight, and simply nuzzled into his neck, casting aside her own fury in order to comfort him.

"It's all right. It just wasn't meant to be, Erik." And to herself she added, "Thankfully."

Unfortunately, her last comment reached Erik's ears and he brutally shoved her away, growling.

"Do you want me to be miserable, you selfish wench?" he hissed.

Nasrin was taken aback, never seeing such a display of tactless anger from him. When his words finally registered in her head, her expression crumbled and a tear pattered on the floor.

"You jumped! Are you scared of me, Fire Rose? Do you finally see the monster in me?" Erik roared, storming towards her. "Come now, be like everyone else! Cower before the demon you are bound to!"

"Erik, you're frightening me!" she cried, backing up slightly as he drew closer, his hunched over form shaking with madness.

"Am I? AM I?" he bellowed grabbing her shoulders and pushing her brutally against the stone wall of his lair. She cried out as a sharp rock cut into her back. He held her still. "You do not want to tempt a desperate man, my dear!" He spat the words 'my dear.'

Nasrin recoiled, shivering with her eyes screwed shut. As he pushed her harder against the rocks, she raised her hand, striking him severely across the side of his head. He stumbled back, his jaw slacked in awe. "You dare to hit me again?"

Nasrin gritted her teeth and roared, regaining her normal fiery temper. "Yes! Keep doing it Erik! Transfer all of your hatred and pain to me! That's the way to go about it! I can handle your anger for you, as it is evident that you cannot handle it yourself! So go ahead Erik . . . go on . . . STRIKE ME AGAIN! Remember one thing, my 'darling': Hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn!"

Erik froze for a moment before advancing towards her again, eyes bottling the fires of hell. "I have heard that saying before, do not take my for such an imbecile! I believe it is you that must remember that, though I have found that saying to be true, you are nothing, and I mean NOTHING, but a useless . . . little . . . GIRL!"

That was a nerve never meant to be touched. Nasrin's eyes widened in fury and she felt a plethora of dark emotions bombard her wracked brain. She snarled in animalistic rage and clenched her fists.

"You . . . You can rot in the pits of hell where you belong, you arrogant bastard!" With that, she spat in his face, her upper lip curling into a snarl.

He looked down at her, more irate than she had ever seen him. He walked towards her slowly, one intimidating step at a time, his back hunched like a barbaric creature.

"Then I shall meet you there, my 'bride!'" He grabbed her arms and threw her forcefully down beneath him, not even wincing as she struck the cold stone. A small cry of pain echoed her fall. She looked up at him in shock, a cut drawn bloody on her cheek from the coarse rock. She touched her face and came away with a smear of crimson on her hand.

Her expression turned firm with ire again and she rose to her feet defiantly, her cheek oozing small droplets of blood. Without a word, she walked up to him and smeared her blood on his bare face.

"There, now you have my blood on you. You can never wash that away, no matter how much water you pour on yourself." She wiped the rest of his blood on his white undershirt. "That's enough," she finished firmly.

Erik touched his face in disgust, coming away with Nasrin's blood coating his palm. All at once, a connection seemed to be made, for the insanity in his eyes dwindled and faded, giving way to his normal passive gaze. He looked at Nasrin in shock.

"Fire Rose . . ."

Nasrin shook her head and held up her hand, clutching her other to her cheek. "Don't you dare . . . say . . . a word."

"Are you in much pain?" he asked, approaching her.

"Why in the name of Hell would you care? If you must know . . . the look in your eyes when you hurt me was much worse." She pressed a piece of her crimson cloak against her wound.

"Do you need anything else?" he asked quietly.

Nasrin looked up at him incredulously, but didn't answer. She just looked back down and walked over to her bed, covering herself with her grimy sheet and turning from him. Tears flowed silently from her eyes as she touched the chastity beads on her waist tearfully, awaiting blessed slumber.

Erik, defeated and culpable, walked dolefully to the ironic splendor of his swan bed with the diaphanous black canopy. He reluctantly kicked his feet under the covers and allowed long restrained sleep to take him.

That night's rest was different for Nasrin. She had never dreamed of making love to some one. Usually, she dreamt of being chastely embraced, with words of devotion being whispered in her ear. However, fate made a change. Perhaps it was due to the fact that her encounter with Erik had been the closest she had ever come to love making. In spite of this, she dreamed of her child-like innocence being cast aside in something far more meaningful than naked lust.

There was silence between her and this enigmatic man, but the silence spoke more of undying fidelity and love than any whisper could. She couldn't see his face, for his lips never left hers and she was unable to open her eyes. Her hand rested on his face, and she could feel the powerful muscles of his jaw working as her head moved with his. She could feel his hands on her hip bones, his fingers dancing across her stomach. She tensed; this man had a touch that set fire to all of her senses. Nasrin desperately yearned to know his identity.

The only aspect of this man that remained close in Nasrin's mind was his smell. This man had a very odd scent to him; he smelled of fresh wood and blood.

But Erik . . . she had thought to herself. He smells of musky roses.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! (gives them all a cookie)

xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: Your wish is my command. (bows) ERIK!

Erik: What?

Shade: Hug my loyal reviewer, now.

Erik: All right. (hugs tightly)

Shade: Thank you Erik! (hugs him) And thank you for the review, here is your update!

Mademoiselle Justicia: LOL! Your review had me laughing my friend. Just picturing Christine being chased by rats is enough to make me giggle to myself. I'm not an R/C basher, I mean, that's how the story ended. Hardcore E/C shippers I don't think would like me, because just the idea that one day Christine would be like, "You know, I miss Erik. Bye Raoul!" To me it just never seemed probable. Nasrin, as mad as she was at Erik does have very strong feelings for him, otherwise she would do just what you said. Well if you are waiting for that point to come and want to see how she fares on her own, you'll like the next few chapters. But, just like the best of us, Erik doesn't just let her go. Mwahaha! And conspire for Christine . . . perhaps we should wait until Nasrin meets her. Nasrin has a few ideas as to what she wants to do to her. You know her, she doesn't stomach jealousy well. (winks) Thanks for the review, here is your update! And just because I can, I have summoned Erik to hug you!

Erik: (hugs tightly)

Shade: Good job Erik! YAY! (dances)

Erik: (doesn't)

Dragon-mage16: Hello, welcome to my story! I am pleased you like it so far. Here is your update, I hope you like it! Erik, once again, hug my kind reviewer!

Erik: (hugs tightly)

Shade: YAY! (dances)

Ethalas Tuath'an: Well, yes, Nasrin does do something to Erik and Christine. She gets actually rather cold towards Erik after this chapter and starts playing the game of seduction (just as Erik did to Christine in the movie. So it's karma for Erik and just plain dislike for Christine.) And yes, his lair remains intact. Do not fear! (I love the lair too much to destroy it.) You're welcome for the order of events, now allow me to explain since I don't like my readers being confused. In the play, there is no massive fire during PONR, but the whole Christine ripping off his mask and him stealing her through a trapdoor remains the same. The chandelier didn't start a fire in the play, it just destroyed a helluva lot. So Masquerade and Don Juan will most certainly still happen. The movie did take some liberties with it. (That doesn't mean I don't love the movie, let's face it . . . Gerard Butler is H O T!) In accordance with my other reviews, you know that Nasrin doesn't take to competition and jealousy very well. In this chapter, as you can see, Erik pushed her over the edge. Later, he will do something else, and she will become pretty much insane. (like intense murderous madness) And Nasirn's sacrifice? It's sort of odd, because she never said or thought, "I will sacrifice this, this and this to be with you Erik!" It is just more along the lines of her saying she'd give anything to be with him and it just happened to be something she treasured. You'll get hints of it later on, I promise. Thank you for the review, I hope this clears some more stuff up, though if you're still confused, let me know. Here is your update! Erik, once again! Hug my special reviewer!

Erik: (hugs tightly)

Shade: (smiles) Good!

jessiejo: LOL, yes the plan worked out. Though Nasrin almost died . . . that would have been very bad. O.o;; But she didn't and Erik saved her, YAY! Thanks for the review, here is your update. And ERIK!

Erik: I know by now. (hugs tightly)

Shade: YAY! I have employed Erik to hug all my reviewers and he's been doing a great job. Right Erik?

Erik: (nods)

Shade: Good! (claps)

Videociraptor: LOL, I agree. Cute in a demonic way . . . but cute. Erik was such a gentleman, saving our Nasrin. Such a good Phantom! (pats)

Erik: Don't you ever do that again.

Shade: (nervous laughter) Sorry mon ange.

Erik: And don't sweet talk me in French. You accent sucks.

Shade: Well sorry! Sheesh. Anyway, I agree, chapter 12 was one of my favorites too. But then again, some of the later chapters are (in my opinion) are great too. Huzzah for Vi-vi-kins! Now Erik will give you a hug!

Erik: (hugs tightly)

Shade: Thanks for the review, and here is your update!

Maska: Yes, Christine was probably like, "OMG SHINY! BUT MOVING FAST! MUST RUN!" (sorry to any hardcore Christine fans out there) And I don't think you should be concerned with Erik's issues as much as Nasrin's . . . she goes nuts . . . and I mean very . . . like murderous. And Erik just started his few chapter long pushing her to the brink. So where does one draw the line between obsession and love? I can tell you Nasrin blurs that line. Mwahaha! Thanks for the review! Here is your update! And Erik!

Erik: (hugs tightly)

Shade: Very well done Erik. We must make our reviewers feel loved and appreciated. As it would be awkward for me to hug them, I am glad you agreed.

Erik: You bribed me . . . with promises of killing Carlotta.

Shade: . . . . no I didn't . . .

Erik: Yes you did, now you'd better kill her or I'm not doing this again.

Shade: All right! (hurries off) (but doesn't really do it because Carlotta amuses her)