A/N: Sorry for the delay. Life and school had gotten in the way for both me and my beta. This chapter is a bit longer with some interesting developments. Thank you Halley as always and please don't forget to review!

Chapter Fourteen:

Taking Over Me

A few minutes later, Emmy opened her eyes to find Erik kneeling over her, his yellow orbs flaring.

"Amelia?" he asked, there was no concern in his tone as she struggled to stand up.

"W-what happened?" she questioned, lifting a hand to her forehead.

The spark in his eyes vanished as he mumbled, "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Emmy echoed, not believing a word he just uttered.

"NOTHING!" he barked, jumping up abruptly. "NOTHING!" Furious, Erik paced, the cape flapping at its master's heels. Emmy stared at him, not sure what to do. Her first instinct was to leave immediately yet she couldn't abandon him. She had abandoned him way too many times.

"I thought I told you to relax!" he bellowed, towering over her. Shrinking back, Emmy could find no words in her defense. Terrified, she gazed up at him as he resumed his pacing, grumbling incoherently.

For the life of her, Emmy remained in her spot despite the urges to leave and never look back. But it was too late. Too late.

He stopped his pacing, back to her. His breathing was labored and slowly he turned his head in her direction. "Do you love your teacher?"

She was taken aback by both the question and the eerie calmness in his voice. "Do you honor him? Do you love him?"

Her dumbstruck silence rendered her capability to speak, her heart pounding in her ears.

Erik took great strides towards her small form, his golden eyes piercing and cold. "Do you!"

Thinking quick, Emmy forced out, "Y-yes." At one point in time she would have been gladly to tell him her feelings, but now… now she wasn't sure anymore. And saying yes felt so hollow and meaningless. There was no warmth hidden within, not in her voice, not in her heart, and definitely not in him.

"Do you trust him then?" Erik's tone grew softer, lighter and for a second, Emmy swore the true broken Phantom that she had known was coming through. His eyes were no longer threatening or ominous, but gentler and compassionate.

This time, she meant it. "Yes."

Her answer had its affect as his features became lax and peaceful. A tiny quirk of his lips exposed the contentment he was experiencing. Emmy smiled as well, relieved that he didn't seem mad anymore. Maybe this was a big misunderstanding…

Getting down on one knee, Erik held out his hand. "I'm sorry for losing my temper," he replied soothingly. "I had forgotten my place."

Her eyes flickered over to his outstretched hand and making up her mind, she took it and was pulled up onto her feet. Yet, he did not let go. "I'm sorry Amelia. It'll never happen again, I assure you."

"O-okay," Emmy said meekly, looking down at their intertwined hands. "Honestly, it's all right." And she tugged once.

Erik's grip tightened. "No it's not. I scared you, something I never wanted to do. It won't happen again."

"I'm fine, Maestro. You startled me that's all." Fear was starting to tingle up her spine as his orbs burned into hers, his fingers curled resolutely in hers.

"It won't happen as long as you obey me. I cannot tolerate disobedience, Amelia, you know that," he said, his tone darkening as his hand continued to crush her small one.

"Erik!" she cried out, the short stab shot up her arm. "Stop it! You're hurting me!" Her arm wiggled to evade his grasp, but Erik only held her tighter, her fingers cracking under his intense hold.

"I do not like disobedience," he hissed, jerking her arm closer to him, forcing Emmy to yelp. "You will listen, little one. You will not disappoint me, understand!"

"Please!" she pleaded, squeezing back tears. "Stop A-a-angel!"

Something behind his mask snapped, and his grip loosened a little, but retained the fierce grasp. Seeing as this her only opportune moment, Emmy seized her impulse in defense. She ripped off his mask.

An inhuman snarl erupted in his belly, shoving Emmy hard from him. The mask clattered to the floor as Emmy looked up at the heaving Phantom, his hand covering his imperfection.

"You…you conniving wench!" Erik growled, his uncovered eye glowed with rage. "Deceitful wretch! After all that I had done!"

Emmy scrambled away from him, running out to the door. Madness… madness…. Madness!

She let go of the tears as they flowed freely, standing on trembling legs against the door. That… that beast could not have been her Erik. He wouldn't scare her, he wouldn't hurt her, and he surely wouldn't have manipulated her.

Why don't you face the truth? That was your dear beloved Erik! That was him in the goddamn flesh!

"Oh my God!" she moaned, cradling her head. "No! No! It can't be!"

How dare you hurt him? He gave you everything and look how you repay him! You humiliated him, reminding him of a horrible creature he is!

"I-I didn't mean too," Emmy whispered, shaking her head. "H-he was h-hurting me! I had to make him stop. I had to make him stop."

He would never hurt you! He would never hurt you! But you hurt him… you're no better.

"He could have killed me," she squeaked. "God, his eyes! He wanted to kill me."

Burying her face in shame, Emmy sobbed and cursed herself. She had brought this on her. She had begged him to teach her and she lost her best friend, she lost her control, and she lost herself. She was losing her mind! And he would always be there… singing songs in her head, making sure she won't ever forget her place or that she belongs to him.

"No…" Emmy groaned, sliding down. "What have you done! What have you done!" Sniffling and whimpering, Emmy lifted her red and tear-stained face to discover Trey standing several feet away. "T-trey?" she murmured, not sure if her eyes were deceiving her.

He didn't speak, but smiled softly and sympathetically down at her. That smile was enough to break her down, making her remember he was a dream to her. He would never be hers, not when Erik is around.

She felt him wiped away a tear, and fearfully mixed with hope, she gazed up. His face was inches from her, his rich brown eyes wandered over her, imprinting her into his memory. His lips were parted slightly and his voice was barely a whisper, but she heard everything.

"I'm here if you ever need me."

Emmy closed her eyes, tilted her face upwards, as his breath continued to wash over her, the sweetest and warmest sensations battling her earlier fears.

Opening her lids, Emmy saw that she was alone and frowned. Where was Trey? He was here…

Blinking, she stood up and looked around but couldn't find him anywhere. But his words lingered in her mind, the brief touch of his finger gave her the strength she desperately needed.

My Knight in Shining Armor… my Raoul.

xxXXxx

"Do not fight me. You cannot win!" Erik hissed between his teeth. "Give in Amelia. Give in and be reborn!"

He held her down fast, so she wouldn't escape, but it didn't matter as she began to lose control… Fight…her mind whispered… Fight.

She tried but was too weak… must stay awake…

"Come to me," Erik chanted. "Come my Angel of Music!"

She gasped as her body convulsed violently, her heart's rapid beating sky rocketed. Almost… almost…

A numbing sensation began to build up, starting at her toes and traveling up… up… up…

"Come and live!" His scream echoed as she opened her dilated hazel eyes.

She was no longer Amelia Sawyer.

"No!" Emmy bolted up in bed, sweat profusely pouring down her face and body. Taking slow, deep breaths, she tried pulling herself together, calming her wild heart as the nightmare replayed over and over. Each time she felt her will slipping away as some new unwelcome force took over. Something was happening within her as her stomach lurched.

She quickly ran into the bathroom just in time as the sickness erupted. Dumping the contents from yesterday's dinner, she sat on the cold tile floor as her body shivered. Something was happening…

She flushed the toilet and dragged herself back into her room. Her stomach seemed to settle and she felt a little better, but the nauseated feeling remained. She should stay home… she should stay… but she won't.

Emmy stared in her mirror… her skin all white and washed out, yet what caught her attention was her hair.

The waviness she had, had turned into a few strands of curliness… up into her roots. Grabbing a fistful, her chocolate eyes widened as the shade was darker… much darker than her natural color.

"What has he done to me!" Emmy whispered horror and sickness seizing her. "What did he do?"

xxXXxx

Emmy blankly looked at Mrs. Anderson, her entire countenance pale and sluggish. Her parents had commented on her staying home, but she refused, claiming it was a nasty night. How she lied… lied! She couldn't seem to stop herself, which increased the alarming dread. What was she doing? What was she thinking?

They were staring at her, she knew. Everyone from their safe, sheltered lives. But they wouldn't say a word… no… they wouldn't ask her what was wrong… she would lie if they did. Lie… lie…

She didn't take part in the scales. She wanted too… but she wouldn't. He would hear her if she did. He knew her voice and he would know she was here. No she would not sing. She will not. She will not.

Her stomach began to bubble… burning… her throat tried to constrict itself, but the burning hurt… the burning was strong… the burning won.

Starting low, her voice gradually became louder and louder, working up to the hardest note—the High C. There she held it out, long and loud, with perfect clarity and little effort made.

Her mouth shut, silence filled the room. Mrs. Anderson and everyone stared…stared. They all stared and she wanted to scream, to cry, to make them all stop.

Stop staring at me! Stop!

Tears were gathering but they would not fall. She wanted them to stop but they would not. Her voice… god… it wasn't hers! It wasn't hers!

The room began to spin; lights were surrounding her… lights. Echoes of faint voices murmuring were in her head. Louder and louder the voices grew!

Not me… the thought repeated. Not me…

"E-excuse me," she croaked and fled the room.

TBC…