Not again!
Elizabeth found herself in a familiar and dank cellar. Stone seemed to swallow her up, and no matter where she turned she found darkness. The only variance was the level of moisture, different on each opposing wall, and the angle at which the floor tipped severely. She did not bother going upwards. For weeks she had been having these dreams and in each one the pathway above was cut off - a massive amount of stone having crumbled to block her escape. Instead, she simply turned her gaze downwards, where she knew he would be waiting for her.
Dread and anticipation filled her, even as she began the trek toward his lair. The cold began to permeate her flesh, and in the odd state of mind she found herself in, she wondered whether she could bring a cloak with her into her dream if she donned it just before bed.
"Master?" her inquisitive, soft voice queried as she neared the gondola. In only her second dream of him and this place she had tried to escape and in her scuffle, fallen into the water. The beastly man had jumped in of course, and saved her - but for the brief moment she was submerged the terror of the siren had been thoroughly instilled in her. She had heard the high, terrible noise of it's song - breathing the putrid water in her attempts to scream. The ghost had forced the water from her lungs and breathed air into her once more. The thought of his lips against hers made her shudder more. He did not answer.
"I am frightened!" She pleaded in her most convincing tone. She had learned much about the moods and sensibilities of this creature in her nightly dreams, and had found this her only weapon against him. Fragility.
Without a sound, and quite suddenly, a bony hand gripped her arm just above the elbow. Her breath caught and she turned to regard her captor. She was met with the icy white of his mask.
"Must you startle me so?" She queried, as he ushered her into the gondola. He only seemed to smirk, looking past her as he easily moved their vessel through the waters.
"If it pleases me," he said finally, his voice low and stern. Elizabeth was silenced, drawing her lips together in a thin line.
"Do you cause me to dream of you? Please, Monsieur, free my mind from this curse." Elizabeth was imploring, pretty eyes wide with fright. Her words earned the weight of his fury. Her chin was caught roughly in his grasp before she could blink, and his horrible face hovered a mere inch from her own. Tears welled in her eyes, and even in her fear Elizabeth could not help but notice how attractive the exposed portion of his face was. Indeed, even his anger seemed to add to the appeal - as the muscles in his jaw flexed. His eyes burned with anger, and he opened his misshapen mouth to speak. The words did not come however, and the steel of his gaze softened a bit at sight of her tears. He released her roughly.
"Is that how I told you to address me, child?" His voice danced with hidden threat, and Elizabeth responded quickly - stammering.
"N-no.. Master!"
Her strange tutor and tormenter seemed pleased. The rest of the gondola ride was uneventful, Elizabeth trembling in the bow with fear while her assailant towered above, paying little mind to her.
"You are breathing to live, not to sing. They are entirely different." The voice was softer now, an enchanting tenor. The chords he spoke resounded in her soul, and Elizabeth found herself without fear - even as she hovered dangerously close to his beloved organ. He was seated at the bench, regarding her as a pupil. "Try again," he demanded.
Elizabeth took a deep breath. This was all rather frustrating! She had always found music fascinating. Her life was too steeped in it for that to be avoided. She had never, however, had any desire to participate!
"No," he commented calmly, as he stood. "Like this," and then the beast turned man demonstrated a proper breath. Elizabeth mimicked him poorly. With a frustrated shake of his head, he stepped down from the dais and circled about her. Elizabeth stiffened as he stepped behind her, his arms looping about her. One hand splayed widely upon her belly, and her gaze fell to the long fingers. His other hand traced the side of her throat. Elizabeth shivered and opened her mouth to complain, but his finger crooked beneath her chin - effectively closing her mouth and forcing her head upwards once more.
"From here," he murmured, his lips at her ear. Elizabeth felt flush, suddenly overwhelmed with his proximity. Warily, she took a shaky breath. "Once more," he spoke again, a pleasure in his tone that made Elizabeth want to hear it once more. Just as she relaxed within the odd sort of embrace and - heavens forbid! - almost enjoyed the moment (it was after all, only a dream!), he released her. The room suddenly felt more cool for his absence behind her.
"Come," he stated simply. "We're going above."
Lesson apparently ended, Elizabeth obeyed.
The streets of Paris at night seemed no different in her dream. Elizabeth found herself escorted upon the arm of the masked man in her dreams down the alley-ways. He commented idly to her several times about the architecture of certain buildings, though it seemed he cared little about her response to his thoughts. He seemed to have a certain destination in mind.
Before long, they stood before a massive fence and a beautiful home within. Elizabeth stared at it, idly wondering if it were warm inside. She was freezing. As suddenly as they had stopped, Elizabeth felt his absence. When she turned to look for him, all she could see in the bleak night was the swirl of his cloak.
"Wait!" She called, and then cursed her foolishness. He paused, and turned to her. Was he smiling. In beckon, he sang lightly.
"I am your angel of music... Come to me angel of music.."
Oh, what a sweet sound! It thrilled her spirit and Elizabeth began to follow him. Just as quickly though, another voice pulled at her consciousness.
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!"
Elizabeth turned to see her mother at the gate. Only then did she realize that he had taken her to her own home.
"Mama?" She croaked in confusion. Looking between the two, she found that neither seemed to be able to see the other.
"I am your angel of music, Come to me angel of music.."
The words reverberated in her mind, and Elizabeth groaned at the choice presented to her. She began to follow after him once more, only when she neared him - he seemed to dissipate, and then disappear.
"Come in child, you'll catch a cold!" A warm cloak swallowed her shoulders, and Elizabeth blinked furiously to clear the confusion from her eyes. Was she still sleeping, or awake? She found herself, suddenly, not in the gown she had worn in her dream but in her night clothes - standing on the street in front of her home!
She allowed herself to be ushered into the house and tucked into her own bed once more. She lay awake until morning, fearful of what may happen if she dared to dream again.