Erik was worried. Meg hadn't woken, and it had been almost a day. Through sheer luck Erik was able to procure a room, and had managed to find the next passage to France was leaving in two days. Stray thoughts wondered through his head. Did she hit her head? I wonder how she will react to everything. Will I be able to touch her anymore? The last thought was quickly shaken away. Stupid, you were never able to touch her in the first place. The kiss you two shared was a fluke in time. An unnatural event that will never take place in the future. Ah but you know that it wasn't. Why do you torture yourself like this Erik? That accursed little nagging voice was back in his head. You know that the girl cares for you and we all know that you care for her, so why do you not let your true feelings be known? Erik growled slightly, willing the voice to go away. My, my, and when we thought that we were going to be able to deal with a man instead of a monster, the voice said in mock despair.
"I am not a monster. Meg said so." The words sounded weak and childish to Erik, but they were the only condolences that he had at the moment. Then why do you deny any feelings she may have for you? You can be so blind at times Erik. With sweet words the voice departed leaving Erik in his silence and thoughts. Why do I deny these things? Because I know what my voice can do to women that's why. But have I ever bothered to think that I may be loved? She said I wasn't a monster, she kissed me… Christine kissed me, but she wasn't truthful about much of anything she said to me.
"Erik?" the soft sound of Meg's voice reached Erik's ears from the bed. Erik glanced over at her. Her eyelids fluttered open and looked around wildly for a moment. "It wasn't a dream." Meg sat up quickly causing the bed covers to fall a bit revealing her current state of undress. A rosy hue crept into Erik's cheeks as he turned away. Meg glanced down, "Oh!" She quickly drew back the covers and wrapped them around herself, shielding everything but her neck and face from view. The breath in Meg's throat caught as she looked at Erik. His figure was almost exactly as she remembered it, tall, wiry, thin (perhaps a bit thinner than before), and he was still the incredibly beautiful Erik she had begun to fall in love with.
"Erik," she said softly. He turned around slowly letting his eyes rest on hers. Exactly as she remembered, that golden gaze sent delightful shivers down her spine, but much to her distaste Erik was wearing his mask.
"I had begun to worry," a deep rumble emitted from his mouth and flowed around Meg like liquid honey.
A small smile flitted across Meg's lips. She moved toward Erik a bit, intending to stand and wrap the blankets around her, but before she could move very much pain laced her body. She cried out in pain and held her body stiff hoping the pain would pass. "Don't do that!" Erik said almost sharply. He raised his hand to push her back down but she shied away from him.
"I'm sorry, I wont do it again, just don't hit me," she whimpered. She sunk down into then bed and buried herself in the blankets. Startled and hurt, Erik dropped his hand into his lap. Never before had he struck a woman. Loathed them, yes. Played cruel tricks on them, of course, but never hit one.
"Meg, I-" he stopped and stared at the shaking form in the bed, Meg was crying! "Meg, I would never hit you. Ever," he said softly.
Meg didn't know what had come over her. All of a sudden she was deathly afraid that Erik was going to hit her. Erik, who had held her, kissed her, tried to protect her only three months ago, was that the Erik she was afraid of? The irrationality of it all caused her to convulse with sobs. "I know, oh Erik it was so horrible," Meg's sobs were muffled by the pillow. "What's wrong with me?" She raised her head to look at Erik. Tears shimmered in his eyes and pure pain was written across his features. Sadness crept into his eyes and stayed there.
"Sleep Meg," he murmured, looking at the floor. He refused to let Meg see him cry.
"Will you sing for me?" came the hushed reply.
Erik looked into her pleading eyes. Who was he to deny this poor girl, who had lost so much, anything? Erik nodded slightly and a look of happiness washed over Meg's face for a moment.
"Night-time sharpens,
heightens each sensation . .
Darkness stirs and
wakes imagination . . .
Silently the senses
abandon their defenses . . .
Slowly, gently
night unfurls its splendor . . .
Grasp it, sense it -
tremulous and tender . . .
Turn your face away
from the garish light of day,
turn your thoughts away
from cold, unfeeling light -
and listen to
the music of the night . . .
Close your eyes
and surrender to your
darkest dreams!
Purge your thoughts
of the life
you knew before!
Close your eyes,
let your spirit
start to soar!
And you'll live
as you've never
lived before . . .
Softly, deftly,
music shall surround you . . .
Feel it, hear it,
closing in around you . . .
Open up your mind,
let your fantasies unwind,
in this darkness which
you know you cannot fight -
the darkness of
the music of the night . . .
Let your mind
start a journey through a
strange new world!
Leave all thoughts
of the world
you knew before!
Let your soul
Take you where you
long to be !
Only then
can you belong
to me . . .
Floating, falling,
sweet intoxication!
Touch me, trust me
savor each sensation!
Let the dream begin,
let your darker side give in
to the power of the music that I write -
the power of the music of the night . . .
You alone can make my song take flight -
help me make the music of the night…"
The words poured out of Erik's mouth and wrapped Meg in a sense of security that she hadn't known for a great while. A smile touched her mouth as her eyelids began to droop. A few words escaped her lips before she slipped into blessed unconsciousness, "I'm sorry."
"Shush, sleep mon chéri. I will be here when you wake," Erik whispered. He was so tempted to smooth back the hair that had fallen over her face, but afraid of frightening her, he didn't. A calm fell over the room as Meg slept. Erik gazed at her sleeping form with fondness, while he was completely shocked at the words that came out of his mouth. They were not what he had intended to sing. He shook his head to clear it of thoughts. With a sigh Erik got up and walked over to the small couch against the wall and laid down to sleep.
A/N: okay sorry about this guys, i know most of this is taken up by the song. and i am sick so my brain is a bit off right now... eh. leave a review, they help me keep going! you'll get food! ... god knows that is enough of an incentive for me... heh.
much love
kat