Here's the update at last, part 13. Please R&R. Atrice

Phantomluvr - it isa fact, that the guys who can get what they want, always want what they can't get... ;)

Part 13 - Fight until silence

Her heart was beating faster, as she came closer to the tree. She was sure she heard him! Lucille had forgotten all about her socalled fiancée, didn't even notice him following her. Erik hadn't left her, he had come back to her. He didn't hate her! Lucille was so happy with this knowledge, that she felt like crying, or perhaps something that Erik liked even more…

"In sleep I dreamt of you, my dreams came true… your voice that sings to me, and shows me love. But do I dream again, for now I find – the Phantom from the Opera is here, just near my mind…"

Erik really wanted to answer her… he wanted to sing to her, his light in darkness. She came to him, light in darkness! But not with that boy following her. The man who claimed to love her too, but refused to listen to her. Could he even hear how pure her voice was, how little you would need to sing to make her tremble? Artus, that was the name, he thought. And Artus did not listen. Erik filled with rage inside, forgetting Lucille standing only a few meters from him behind the tree, not seeing him. He hated when people wouldn't listen! Erik felt like… he grabbed his sword, seeing that the rival had done the same. 'He kills without a thought, he murders all that's good…' he suddenly remembered another piece, something he once heard Christine sing. What might have been the reason, why she turned against him. Lucille was even more genuine than Christine, and would for sure hate Erik too, if he did murder Artus. Eriks mind was twisted - he wanted to do something, he wanted to get rid of that boy for good, so that Lucille would stay with him forever! But he was afraid that she would leave him, if he did what he wanted to do. The young man had now walked past Lucille, who just stood still, like she was waiting. Artus came closer to the tree, and there was no escape.

"Artus!" Lucille screamed as she heard the sound of his sword pulling loose from the sheath, and from behind the tree – exactly the same sound, just accompanied by a sound she now loved… a cape swishing through the air. She was horrified, she could not see what was going on, and because of her inner panic, she couldn't listen clearly, where was Artus, and Erik, and what happened?

"So… this is who owns your love! A man, who hides behind… a mask!" Artus said, almost with a laugh, but the voice was still firm and not happy. He stood in front of her – closer to Erik than herself. He had revealed himself, probably standing a few meters from Artus. Lucille hated the fact that she couldn't see now. She couldn't see the hard face on Erik, his mind twisted every way.

"Everybody wear masks..." Erik answered, trying to calm his voice down, but Lucille clearly heard the anger in it. He did at least try to keep a conversation with Artus, so that they wouldn't fight – in any case, that was what she hoped for.

"Right… you're nothing but a man, who does not deserve someone like Lucille…" Said Artus, sounding superior, like he had everything under control. But it wasn't so.

"You don't know what you talk about, sir… but do you really want to fight me?" Erik finally asked the question, Lucille had feared. 'Don't answer him, Artus… please don't…' she thought, but nobody could hear her thoughts. She heard Artus walking back and forward in front of her, like he was protecting her from the man she loved. Why had Artus become so… blind?

Artus didn't answer, didn't give any warning - and Lucille heard the clinging of the swords in front of her, and backed away. She could do nothing here, it seemed like it had to happen. Their swords sounded alike, and they didn't speak while fighting. Who was on top and who wasn't?

"Erik? Artus! Stop it… please!" she begged, not seeing how fierce their faces was. How they couldn't hear her now, in their own world. The fight became wilder, around the tree, and Lucille fell down on the grass to sit, crying. She didn't want this to happen! Why had everything come out of hand, why was everything so wrong all of a sudden? She heard someone fall to the ground with a low yelp… she listened. No sounds at all. The sound of the swords had stopped, they had stopped fighting. Everything was silent… Lucille had a bad feeling about this. Someone came running to her, kneeled down in front of her. A handkerchief dryed her tears from her chins, someone stroking hair away from her face. The person sat down next to her, and pulled her close, holding her. She didn't care who it was holding her. 'It has all gone wrong', she thought, 'nothing will ever be good again'. And they just sat there, silent but together.