Not much to say here either. This one's cute.

Chapter 8 Don Juan is Played

I lied on my bed, mixtures of sleep and grief overwhelming me. Every time I woke, I could only think of Christine's words...She did not love me. She did not want me to love her. This resonance filled my head over and over; sometimes I understood and sometimes I didn't. Sleep was no better. Nightmares haunted me...of Christine, of Aria, of Persia...but I was so tired...

I held Christine to me, kissing every inch of her face that I could reach. My heart pounded painfully as my hand slipped from her shoulder down to her hips...Christine shoved me away, her eyes cruel and hard. "Erik! Stop this. I do not love you. No one can love a monster."

I turned from her as I realized the leather mask had fallen from my face. Tears streamed down my face in a never-ending river. "Go Erik. Go away."

Christine turned and walked from me...and the shadows consumed her.

I sobbed and rushed down a tunnel blindly, seeking comfort in Aria. I gazed at Aria thru the mirror; She looked as she had the night of the Gala, except she looked...odd. Her head faced the ground, its seductive red hair forming a protective curtain that hid her eyes. Aria's arms were wrapped around her waist in an anguished manner. "Aria!" I called to her, knowing she would rush to me in concern and hold me until my tears were shed.

I thought I knew.

Aria's head rose and her gaze met mine. Her green eyes brimmed with tears of pain and sadness.

I stopped in amazment; I did not know what to say or do...I forgot my own misery. It was mirrored on her face, and it was a look I knew well. Her red lips trembled, and a desolate

tear trickled down her face like a moonbeam falling from its silver surface.

She looked so immensely agonized that I moved to take her in my arms. But the closer I moved, the farther she backed up. I ran at her but could never reach her.

Finally Aria's lips parted into words, each one slicing my soul until it was split in two.

"You don't love me."

I stood in shame, unable to tell her how I really felt...because I knew now..but I could not tell her...

The room whirled for several minutes before I saw Aria, again... Aria and Hans danced together, too close...too close...the room seemed to be filled with an aura of desire and lust...Hans's hand snaked up her back and roughly brought her mouth to his...

"NO!" I screamed, tears roaring down my cheeks, beneath my mask.

"NOOO..."

A hand on my shoulder.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" I screamed again, the last reminants of the dream filtering thru my mind.

I sat up in bed, finding my face wet with real tears. I gazed into the hazy face of Aria.

"Erik, it's ok! It's just me!"

What the...ARIA WAS HERE!

I snarled and bounded out of bed, seizing Aria by the shoulders and squeezing them with all the bruising power I could muster.

Aria shrieked in pain. "Erik stop it! You're hurting me!"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" I bellowed.

"I'm not g-g-going to tell you if you're..." She gasped out, finally wrenching herself from my hands.

I advanced on her, my face twisted in rage. Thank Almighty my mask was on.

I had never seen Aria so frightened of me before. Had I been calmer, I would have been humiliated. But right this moment I found it satisfying.

"WHY HAVE YOU COME?"

I grabbed her wrist and felt her bones give way slightly. I grinned wickedly.

Aria's eyes became more and more determined; finally she succeeded in pulling one hand away, and with all the force she could summon she smacked me across the face.

I yelped. Besides the stinging blow, Aria had also hit the bruise still in existance from my ordeal with Raoul.

I backed away from her, shaking my head, trying to lessen the ringing in my ears. I was suddenly reminded... "I may be a woman...but don't underestimate me..."

I bored my eyes into Aria, advancing once again. Then...it sort of hit me...

Aria, her sleeping body curled into me, my arms around her tight, my heart beating out of control.

Aria, my lips against her, pressing with a certainty I didn't understand. Aria, her hands resting gently on my chest...Aria, her hair flowing around my hands like silk...

Aria!

These thoughts passed rapidly thru my head, and I was left heaving for breath as emotions cut thru to me, destroying all the anger and hatred and misery on their way to my heart. Gasping, I stumbled back into a rocky wall, sliding down it feebly.

Aria cried out to me...but...

Aria, Her beautiful smile surrounding me with simple happiness. Aria, telling me gently that she didn't care for Hans. Aria, hiding a secret from me...

ARIA! Her red lips under mine, granting me something I had never received willingly.

ARIA! Her body warm against mine...

"ERIK!"

A hand on my arm, shaking me urgently.

New thoughts entered my head, but I didn't like them.

Aria, refusing to tell you of her Wednesdays.

Aria, hurting you with your own sword!

ARIA, seperating you from Christine!

That evil little voice sneered. Stay neutral.

I opened my eyes slowly and stared at Aria. Her eyes were wide with worry and I felt her hand on my chin, trying to get my attention.

"What are you doing here?" I said in a monotone, jerking my chin away.

Aria frowned and sighed. "It's been nearly three days since...since the Gala. I was worried."

"And I knew you wouldn't take care of yourself properly," she added, touching the sword-wound gently.

"Three days?" I muttered in surprise.

My brow furrowed. A thick, faint bruise ran down Aria's cheekbone, coloring the skin purple. I brought my hand up and stroked it. "What happened to you?"

Aria froze, hesitated; then: "I...I fell."

I growled and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at me. "You are lying. Tell me."

Her face was...too close. I moved it back, blinking away unwanted feelings.

Aria bit her lip. "Andre and Firmin...questioned me." she said softly.

I sat up straighter. "Questioned you? On what!"

"You."

I roared. "WHAT DID YOU TELL THEM?"

Aria looked at me, her eyes shot with hurt and disappointment.

"If I'd told them anything you'd be dead now. I said nothing, and I can't believe you thought I would."

She yanked her chin from my hand and stood up. "Get up."

I flushed, ashamed. "Why?"

"Because that's going to be infected," she said, pointing at my wound. I sighed and followed her. Aria had already set a basket down on a small table of mine and waited expectantly. I pulled a stool nearer and sat.

Making herself at home, she heated some water. Aria bid my remove my shirt. I hesitated before obeying. It did not seem like a very good idea...no matter how I tried to deflect them, the feelings I had were always near the surface, like a fish waiting for food.

I shivered as her slender fingers held my arm and cleaned it with utmost gentleness and care. I closed my eyes and looked away; If I looked into her eyes again I knew I would not be able to hold myself back. Aria wrapped it tightly and handed me another wet cloth for my eye.

"Are your ribs cracked?" she asked.

I answered that I didn't know; I did know, but that side of my mind I was most trying to repress wanted to feel her fingertips press into my ribcage. I felt goosebumbs raise as she did just that, asking if it hurt more than it should. I shook my head. She moved to my back, and was satisfied that the slap she had given me by sword-flat was healed well enough. I slipped my shirt back on and turned to her.

"How did you find me here?" I asked curiously.

Aria shrugged and smiled ruefully. "It wasn't easy."

I eyed the basket she had brought along. "What's in there?"

"A treat. But it will have to wait until I leave...so I guess I'll be going."

I grabbed her shoulder. "Wait."

She turned, her verdant orbs questioning me.

"Remember...when you played your life?"

Aria's eyes clouded in bewilderment, then cleared in understanding. "On the violin?"

"Yes. Would you like me to play mine?" I murmured.

Aria brightened and nodded.

I hesitated, trying to prepare her. "Aria...my compsition-Don Juan- is rather...overpowering and cruel sometimes. I don't want to hurt you."

Aria shook her head determinedly. "It's alright. Don't make it easy on me."

I gave her a chair and retrieved the first piece of Don Juan. I did not really need the sheet of paper, but...

I sat down at my organ, stroking the keys of my very first friend. We had our disagreements, sometimes; but she, my organ, was loyal to me.

Her ivory keys begged me not to play this terrible piece. It hurts. I patted the organ's black keys gently and eased the music from her.

I do not know how long I played; played furiously, gently, tenderly, icily, miserably, joyfully. Softly, loudly, murmuring, roaring, whispering, snarling. But the ending on Don Juan had changed...no longer anguished and alone... but something else.

Eventually I lifted my fingers from the keys, my breath ragged and labored. I had nearly forgotten Aria was there. My face was wet, from a mixture of light sweat and tears.

I turned to her, feeling immediately guilty and ashamed. I should not have put her through this.

Aria had fallen from her chair onto her knees, shaking. Soft sobs slipped from her mouth, making her shoulders heave up and down in an effort to breathe. Her head rose to look me straight in the eyes. Abruptly, Aria stood up and stumbled to me.

I didn't know what she was going to do...hit me or hug me?

Aria stared into me, her hand brushing my face. I swallowed, uncertain; a range of emotions were running thru both her and I. I could feel Aria's arms wrap around my neck finally. A hot, sweeping sensation overpowered me, and I pulled Aria to me tightly, burying my face the soft skin of her neck. I fought a moan as I became aware of Aria's slender fingers rubbing my neck in such a sad, tender way. I was quickly losing my control over these senses that ran thru me when Aria was pressed close. My eyes were nearly rolling back into my head for the effort. Her silky skin was begging for my lips to run over her neck, run over her face until I could again feel her lips in mine...

Another emotion was quickly overtaking me, and I did not know its name. But I didn't like it. I backed away from Aria, my chest laboring to silence the gasps issuing from my mouth. The new emotion faded, but the rest of me longed for Aria's warmth again.

Aria bit her lip. "W-well I should go." She murmured faintly. "Dress rehearsal."

"That's right!" I announced, glad for the conversation to keep me from recalling her against my chest... "The first performance is tonight!"

I was suddenly touched. Aria was the lead; she had a busy day ahead of her, yet she still found the time to come to me and make sure I was alright. Aria had made me of higher importance than her blooming career.

"Come...I will take you back." I said, holding out my hand. Aria's hand rested lightly on it. Memories of the last night her hand had been in mine entered; I got light headed. Pushing those disturbing thoughts from my mind, I lead her graciously to the little boat and settled her in it before shoving off.

"You...Are you coming?" I heard Aria whisper.

"Tonight? Of course." I replied nonchalantly. "Why would I not?"

I could feel Aria hesitating. "Aria?"

"I...I didn't know. I thought maybe you had something else to do."

I was completely confused. "Like what? Really Aria, why wouldn't I come?"

Aria shrugged and dropped her head like an injured child. "I just wanted to know. It...It's important to me that...you attend." she muttered.

My breath caught and I momentarily stopped pushing the boat along. It was important to her?

I was so confused.

I shook my head and did not answer her. What could I say? Did she think that something else would be more important to me than watching her perform?

I thought guilty about Christine. She would have been my top priority if she had been attending. I sighed and tossed my head from all those annoying deliberations.

I docked the boat and held out a hand to Aria. She grabbed it...then...I was falling forward and hit the water with a splash. Sputtering, I stood up in the shallow water and glared incredulously at Aria. Her emerald eyes twinkled in mischief as she splashed me, laughing mercilessly. Finally realizing the joke, I sent a wave her way. She shrieked playfully and retaliated in a likewise fashion. The water was freezing cold, but we were laughing so hard we didn't notice. I overturned the boat and sent her flying. She never came up.

Panicking instantly, I called her name as loud as I could. I heard a giggle from beneathe the water. I stared at the boat and smirked. I submerged myself and crawled under to the space Aria sat in. I came up to find her smiling at me. What a picture we were; sopping wet and acting drunk.

I growled. "Never scare me like that again."

Aria lips opened, and her beautiful laughter trickled out and over, flowing around and hugging me. "I think you're getting soft, Opera Ghost."

I grumbled at her inaudibly.