Author's Note- Alright, here is the next update…another transitiony chapter…
ErikandChristine- thank you, and glad you like how I presented that scene.
Ram Jas- lol…just keep reading! And, sorry that I haven't had an update for the phic we are working on together, I'll try to get something written for you…
Araiona Dubois- Thank you very much! And, yes, it was, but it is gonna get closer I deem, hehe…
Cold-Blooded-Angel- lol, then I consider it a job well done! And, mush is hard (yet fun) to write, lol, so glad you like it!
Phantomlover22- aye, he is. Yay for Erik!
Tallacus- really? Same here, lol, which is how I wrote it…simply replaying the film in my head. Hmmm, alias? Not a bad idea, I might have to think about that!
Chapter 30
Cold Darkness
A few hours later Jen awoke, shivering. It had gotten colder. She shifted slightly in Erik's embrace, and he moved. "You awake?" she whispered. "Someone has to guard." He replied sleepily. Jen smiled and snuggled up closer. "It's cold." She muttered. He smiled slightly. "Thank you for pointing that out."
"I can't feel my fingers." A worried look crossed his face, and she reached up, putting her hands on his neck to warm them. Erik hissed as her icy hands touched him. "Cold like yours." She managed a soft laugh. Her voice was hoarse, he noticed. "It's not unusual," she carried on, "My hands are always cold…I have a mild case of carpal tunnel, or, that is what people tell me." Jen licked her dry lips, cracked from the blistering cold. She tasted blood. "Just stay warm." Erik told her. "You don't want frost bite."
"I know that silly." She replied, rolling her eyes. Jen stretched, then yelped as a sharp pain raced up her arm. She ran a hand along it, looking for the source of the pain, she could tell something had cut her. She nearly sliced her finger when she found a shard of broken glass embedded halfway between her wrist and elbow. She winced, touching the dried- or was it frozen?- blood around it. "Are you alright?" Erik asked, worry evident in his voice. "I'm hurt."
"What happened?"
"Glass…from the window I think. It's in my arm and hurts like hell." Jen replied, not daring to remove the source of her pain. "Let me see."
"You'll just try to remove it." She said coldly. "Yes, your point being?" She looked up at his unmasked face and glared. "You are not a trained professional Erik, and might do more harm than good."
"It has to come out."
"I don't care…" she replied coldly. "We can find a doctor to do it."
"At this time of night?" Erik's temper was rising. Couldn't she see that he wanted to do it to help her? "It has to come out Jen." With that he lunged for her arm, and pulled the piece out. Jen yelped in pain as he did it, then snarled at him before watching the blood run down her arm. Erik tore some cloth from his shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound. When he finished, she smiled smugly at his companion. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" The percussionist simply glared daggers at him. Erik shrugged and tore another piece of fabric to wipe away the blood, then pulled her closer for warmth.
"I hate you." Jen muttered after a long period of silence. Erik smiled. "I know, that is why we get along so well." Was his reply. Jen smiled slightly. Her smile faded after a short while, however, as she examined her arm again. "I won't be able to play for awhile." She said, sadness heavy in her voice. Erik kissed the top of her head. "You won't have anywhere to play for a long time, my dear." He told her in a comforting way. "That was rather out of character…" Jen mused, noting the strange look. "You are supposed to be mourning at your loss of Christine, not cuddling with me." She explained. Then she stopped. "Why…why did you let her go?"
"You saw?" Jen nodded. "Yeah, I was waiting for you to leave before showing myself."
"She…she could have chosen me, but she only wanted to save him." Erik said sadly. Jen watched his expression change from sadness to anger. "How do you know the second kiss wasn't of her own will?"
"I…don't." he admitted. Jen raised an eyebrow. "But," he continued, "I knew that that one kiss with Christine was less emotional than the ones I have shared with you."
Jen smiled and looked out into the night. "Thank you, Erik."
"For what?" he asked, turning to give her a confused look.
"For giving me a chance." Jen turned to meet his gaze, and smiled at him. The moonlight caught the marred side of his face, making it stand out. She didn't care, it was just as handsome as the other side to her. "We will see how long this will last." Was his reply. "Get some sleep." Jen lay her head on his chest. "If you insist." She muttered before falling into a deep sleep, finally exhausted.
XxXxXxXxX
Erik watched the stars and sighed. Why had she chosen him? And why was he happy Christine hadn't? It didn't make sense to him. Then again, women never did. Of course, he only knew a few women- Jen, Gabby, Christine, and Madame Giry was about it, except for those he knew in Persia, but they were different. And of the ones he knew well enough, the only one that really seemed to see him had been Christine. But, she had proved that wrong. She was afraid of him, he knew that. "It's all my fault." He said softly to the night. "I scared her away."
Of course, she had been the one to take his mask without permission. SHE had been the one to ignite the flame inside him. She should have known the consequences. Anger rose inside him, and he wanted nothing more than to strangle something. Preferably Raoul. But, no, he didn't. He wanted to stay with Jen. Even if it meant being outside, sleeping in a snow bank. The thought of the snow made him shiver. It was cold. He moved to lay down, gently pulling Jen with him, careful not to wake her. She muttered something in her sleep and moved closer. Erik smiled and pulled his cape over them both. He would stay awake to keep watch, but this was far more comfortable than his previous position. Closing one eye, Erik let himself rest.
XxXxXxXxX
Gabby and Joseph stood and watched as the Opera House burned, along with countless others. It was a sad sight, seeing a once great building, the pride of Paris, fall into ruin. It was even worse for her knowing why it had burnt and what had caused it all. She shivered despite the warm coat she was wearing, courtesy of Joseph. It couldn't keep out the cold she was thinking of though. The sight of the lair destroyed like that, of the mob wishing to destroy everything, was horrible. Luckily the lair was still for the most part, in tact. They had found it empty, which had cured much of their bloodlust. A few small things had been taken or broken, but the Organ had been left as it was, and Erik's room had been untouched. Candles had been knocked about on the floor, and the area was strewn with broken glass, but it was nothing that couldn't be fixed.
Waffle mewed pitifully, and Gabby turned to look at him. Joseph pulled his girlfriend closer. "We should go." He said softly. Gabby nodded, still thinking about the lair. And Erik, and Jen. Had they escaped? She hoped. A few members of the mob had entered the tunnels to search for them. Gabby knew that Erik was smart and had probably left plenty of false trails, but even then the mob might have found them. She could only hope.
"Gabby?" The voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "Wha? Oh, sorry…coming…" there was a detached sound to her voice, Joseph noted. She was worried about something, or someone. "It's Jen, isn't it?" The cellist nodded. He smiled reassuringly. "She'll be alright." He said. "If I didn't know better, I'd say she almost knew that Opera house better than the Phantom."
Gabby smiled at that. "Maybe." She muttered in agreement. "Where is Edward?" Joseph stopped and looked at her. "I haven't seen him." He said, a look of worry crossing his face for a brief moment. Then it was gone. "He will be alright…probably looking for Jen." His partner nodded and forced a smile, then they sank back into the crowd, looking for somewhere to stay.
Author's Note- Alright ,there you have it…another chapter…and where is Edward? Hmmm…hope you enjoyed that…and I will try to get another update up in a few days )