"Our games of make believe

Are at an end . . . " –The Point of No Return

Chapter 23: Failed Seduction

I had shed my guise for once. I had allowed myself to give in to a moment of compassion and visit Erik as who I was before. His dream . . . it had been too graphic for even myself to bear . . . though the intense symbolism in it was startling. I hadn't known dreams could delve that deeply into the sub conscience so subtly.

It was imperative that I soothe him . . . just this once . . . for no one . . . not even him . . . especially not him . . . should have to deal with that type of pain . . .

Love wins over the beast of hate, my conscience cajoled tauntingly. Love cannot be slain by hate! For then love intensifies!

I hated the fact that blind hate always had input from the sub conscience, no matter how dark it was. It was imperative that I shed this guise finally and manifest myself to him.

Enough . . .

Enough pain had been experienced on both sides . . .

Though the words never passed his lips, his artwork had spoken of his love more than any simple phrase could convey. My face was everywhere; and when I appeared to him, he just wanted to touch me. He wasn't looking for me to roll on my back so that he could satisfy himself in me; he just wanted to touch my face . . . such simple chastity was not characteristic of lust.

Enough . . .

I strode out of my lair, intent on this finally coming to an end. Dodging his traps, I reached the portcullis without disturbance.

"Erik, we need to talk!" No answer. I knocked on the iron bars. "Erik!"

He wasn't in his lair . . . then where was he? I fell silent. Christine . . . Could I hope to match his feelings for her now?

You must try . . . else how will you live with yourself?

My conscience spoke true. I redirected myself to the mirror, my heart pounding. How would I say this? Could I possibly manage to just simply blurt it out to him? Tell him that not only I am Nasrin . . . but that I have been aware of his sufferings and have let it continue thus far?

Do you think he could forgive you after that?

"I'll make him . . . he knows I love him. I have told him so; likewise his artwork has spoken to me of his love. It is only right that we are together." My reasoning failed to calm me as I walked slowly up the labyrinth. I could swear my heat beat resonated through the chamber and would betray my position.

Then I heard him . . . speaking in a venomous whisper to another. I felt as though I was in danger and my body began to shake. But I wanted to hear . . . what was going on? I walked closer to the mirror and saw Erik conversing angrily with Jean who was on his feet and standing just beyond the glass, growling.

"I declare we make a truce for now," Jean said to him. "It is apparent that Daevas wants to destroy both of us. I propose that we take her down. Then I can kill you."

Erik let out a laugh; it was a harsh, evil sound. "I don't make truces with little boys possessing toy guns, Monsieur le Comte. I am very able to take care of Daevas myself. I don't need your assistance; I don't believe you could harm a hair on her head anyway. She's a feisty little spitfire."

They were plotting to kill me?

I took a step back, wanting to be silent, but I stepped in a puddle of water and my shoes splashed the water everywhere. I froze and Erik's head shot up, his eyes glowing in the darkness. My blood began to roar.

"Hold on a moment, Monsieur le Comte. Perhaps I shall see what you are capable of. Give me but a moment." He stormed in my direction and my first instinct was to flee; but I fought against it and stood my ground, clenching my fists.

He grabbed me around the arm and his icy grip threw me into a thrashing fit. My arms struck at his face, but he moved aside and threw me out of the mirror, sending me crashing on the floor of Christine's dressing room. I groaned and stood up.

"Do what you like with her Comte; I will watch from here. This should provide me with some entertainment, watching the demon and the fop battle for survival." He laughed and I ran at the mirror, grabbing at the mechanism to open it and tell him.

"It's locked, Daevas. You must fight." His tone was twisted with bloody amusement. "If you haunt my dreams, I will haunt you whilst you are awake."

"Erik!" I cried. "You don't understand. I'm really-"

Jean interrupted me by covering my mouth with his hand. I thrashed madly in his grasp and my hand glanced across his face. He grunted and threw me on the ground.; my head struck the chair in front of the vanity. Leaping up, I punched him in the face and moved to storm out the door. I grabbed the handle and pulled, but it was locked. Whipping around at Jean, I found him smiling ruthlessly at me, the key clenched between his teeth.

"If you want to leave, get the key." He walked up to me slowly.

I smiled and diminished the space between us, making an effort to make my hips sway as I moved.

"All right, Jean. I'll get the key from you. But please, don't make this end too quickly." I grabbed his shirt and pushed him on the bed behind him. It was amusing to see him look so shocked. His eyes bulged and he didn't know whether to strike me or pull me closer. I growled and straddled him, lowering my face to his neck and planting sucking kisses on his flesh. I fought the urge to vomit as his sweaty skin made my taste buds shrivel.

However, he groaned and his hands found my legs. He fondled the clasps to my tights and pushed me on my back, looking triumphant. What an imbecile. He lowered his head and kissed my chest. I shot a look at the mirror, which I found had slid aside slightly, allowing me to see Erik's look of utter revulsion.

I laughed at the look on his face and threw my head back. I could feel the key brushing tantalizingly against my skin as he kissed me. He looked down at me and moved to cast aside the mask on my face. In a flash, my leg shot up, catching him between the legs and he froze, his face a look of shocked horror. He opened his mouth to take in needed gulps of hair as he clutched his groin. The key slipped from between his lips and landed on my chest.

Shoving him off of me, I struck him in the side of the head and laughed as he fell, wheezing and moaning. As I unlocked the door, I glared at Erik.

"You might want to deal with yourself as well, Erik. I could handle that just as I did Jean's." I shot a look down at his pants, raised my eyebrows as the shadows outlined a very distinct shape and stormed out of the room.

If he wanted to kill me . . . he wouldn't listen to any plea I set out to say. He was bent on revenge; time to strike back. As I opened one of the other trapdoors in the opera house, I walked to the labyrinth, guardedly keeping my hand at the level of my eyes.

Once I stumbled upon one of his traps, I would rearrange it, changing it to set off something different at a different time. If he was going to send Jean and his men after me as well as hunt me down himself, self-defense was in order.

I would not kill him . . . he must know that I am who I am. I had to defend myself . . . for if he spilled my blood, he would never know. It was imperative that I stop him from this.

"What do you think you're doing?" came Erik's dark voice.

I turned around slowly. "Erik . . . listen to me . . ."

He stormed up to me and grabbed my wrist, throwing me into the wall. "Nothing you can say will hold any weight with me. I knew Jean wouldn't prove as much of a nemesis as I. It was, after all, me whom you wanted to harm. Well, I am here before you unarmed. Go ahead." He pushed his face against mine menacingly.

"I don't want to hurt you anymore. I don't want to fight . . . Enough."

He threw me down on the ground and pressed his foot on my corset, ensuring my stillness.

"Then why are you resetting my traps, you lying heathen!" His foot applied more pressure to my stomach. I wheezed as the breath was pressed out of me.

"For . . . self-defense, Erik. You . . ." I coughed, feeling my breath become shallower until colored specks blotted my vision.

"I what?" He yanked me up to him, his scorching breath making my skin sticky.

"You are plotting to kill me. I don't . . . want you to, before you know the truth." I fought against his grip and grimaced.

"And what truth is that, demon?" He moved his grip from my shoulder to my neck, squeezing the breath out of me.

"I . . . I . . ." I couldn't speak, and already my world seemed to be overtaken by black.

"Yes?" he tested.

I fought from his grip and gasped. In a moment, unable to work my vocal chords, I pressed my lips against his, forgoing the guise of Daevas and allowing Nasrin to show him love. I pulled on the hem of his coat, feeling as though I would collapse at any given moment. Those lips . . . I had been without them for months and only now did I realize how much I missed the feel of them. My body began to shake and I thought I heard a roaring in my ears, but I would not release him.

All of a sudden, Erik's lips closed completely, sealing me off from him and he brutally shoved me away. His eyes were far angrier than I had ever seen them. The back of his hand flew across my face, almost disengaging my mask from my face. With a jolt he threw me to the ground, a hiss of rage following my cry of pain as my head struck the ground.

"You filthy little whore! Touch me again and I'll hang you!" He stormed off, his cloak caressing my legs before falling against the floor once again.

"It's me . . . Nasrin . . . oh my love can't you see?" Against my better instincts I began to cry, my head falling against the stone as rats darted around me. My breath was slowly returning and I stood on shaky feet, vomiting slightly as my deep breaths triggered a reaction in my gut. I staggered to my lair and lay, curled in my bed, coughing and weeping at the same time.

He wouldn't listen to me now . . . I had damaged him enough without doing a thing. I don't even think he would believe me if I took off my wig before him. Sleep crept on me, its spidery fingers wrapping around my shaking frame, soothing my spasms.

Sleep little demon, you tried . . . my conscience assured me. You will try again in the morning.

I let out a chocked sob, two tears making their way over the mask and cascading down its smooth surface. "Erik, I love you . . ."

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers! 25! Wow!

GerrysISUChick04: Eek! Don't Punjab me! I updated, see? And Jean haters club? I'm game! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Ali: Yeah, I know. Well, I guess you say his dreams have convinced him otherwise, ya know? Thanks for the review and here is your update!

XxDallysGirl4Life-x-GerrysLoveTartxX: Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Bananas in Pajamas: Now as much as I believe fairy-tale endings are impossible . . . good ones might come out and surprise you when you least expect them to. But twists, you must realize by now, are my game! And yes, the gore is why I bumped up the rating. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Jessica: Completely understood, lol. Erik's wits jump in soon enough. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Sincerely Nessa: Hello, welcome to my reviewing family! Yes, Jean is a freaking idiot. You just want to slap him. Although I don't quite have a good reason why Nadir would give Nasrin to Erik if it was against her culture, I tried (maybe I didn't do a good enough job) in saying that Nasrin defies her culture and even her religion. She is a belly dancer, so her body being shown is somewhat required, but I completely understand what you're saying. I guess Nadir gave Nasrin to Jean because Erik doesn't have a religion. (shrugs) I dunno. Anyway, glad you like the story even with my faux pas! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

harem98: (gives tissues) Of course Erik can hug you! ERIK!

Erik: (hugs tightly)

Shade: (celebrates) I hope that helps! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Norma Jean the Dancing Machine: LOL! YES! A SUBLIME IDEA! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Jen Lennon: OH! If I interfered with your sleep, forgive me (bows) Madame Giry, by telling Erik of Nasrin/ Daevas, would be putting herself in grave danger, because then she'd admit to lying to him. So she will be tortured a little bit, but she won't tell. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Crimson Rose to Ebony: Hello, and welcome to my reviewing family! Thank you so much! Always nice to hear someone telling me that, lol. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Dragon-mage16: (hides) A great idea! MWAHAHA! Anyway, I updated! YAY! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

xxXGoddessXofXdeadXloveXxx: LOL, I know! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Artemis12's phantom: Thanks! Don Juan will be coming soon. But stuff is in between. Yes, Nasrin actually came. The reason his hand went "through her" is because earlier he said he couldn't distinguish the five hands in front of his face. So he really completely missed her, lol. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Corpse X Bride: OOOH Are you seeing it in NY? If you are, then you see Hugh Panaro! (I think) If you do, lemme know in a review or something! XD! I actually saw it while writing this and I actually found myself looking for Nasrin during the Masquerade. Then I stopped and went, "What am I doing?" It was amusing. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Mademoiselle Justicia: XD! Yes, Erik needed a hug after that chapter. There will be more of the fop . . . unfortunately . . . I guarantee you will hate him more than Raoul by the end. (nods) I saw the chapter! EVERYONE GO READ MADEMOISELLE JUSTICIA'S STORY CUZ IT ROCKS! YAY! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

phantominhell: HELLO! Thank you so much! I'm glad you're enjoying it! I've had dreams that do that to me, so it was like visiting old times. (though my dreams are never that intense) Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Penmora Zenith: Hellow, welcome to my reviewing family. Yes, that scene and one other scene are the only slightly acrobatic scenes for Nasrin/ Daevas. And the church one was way more intense. (nods) Overdoing it is not what I aimed for, ergo I'll only do it once or twice. Well, thank you very much. (bows) I'm glad the story excites you so, lol. (gives tissues) Thanks for the review and here is your update!

AngelOfTheNight: (gives tissues) I know, Erik's dream was so dark, it freaked me out writing it. O.O;; Nasrin's compassion will almost always win out over her rage. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

tink8812: LOL, I know. Madame Giry gets stuck in the middle of everything. And true, Nadir could figure out Daevas's identity in a snap . . . too bad he hasn't seen her up close and personal, LOL. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Ethalas Tuath'an: I don't think I ever asked you, but what does your name mean? Anyway, thank you! Nasrin is trying, poor thing, to tell him. And she does believe he loves her now. OH! I get it now. Well, the blood being spilt . . . you hypothesize well. (nods) But, the person spilling the blood is not who you might think. Have fun at camp! Hope you like the story as much when you return as when you left! Thanks for the review and here is your update!

GerrysJackie: I know! (pats) (gives tissues) The torture is unbearable. As you can see in this chapter, the rage that birthed Daevas is dying, so don't worry. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

LadyOfLegends: XD! Yes, Sunbeam, suspense, LOL! From Shadebean. Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Natsuki: HI POOZLE! XD! The ghost lives on! Thankee very much! And huggle Erik as you need, your Erik mind you, for my Erik would not be spared enough to live his life, LOL. Ew . . . (vomits) Thanks for the review and here is your update!

Victorian Dream: Sorry, but the rating had to be changed. There was absolutely no way in avoiding it. Anyway, be prepared for a little more angst, than revenge, then anger, then . . . . who knows? Thanks for the review and here is your update!

DragonheartRAB: LOL, she did . . . for a brief moment. Thank you so much. (bows) Thanks for the review and here is your update!