That Face in the Mask

Chapter Seventeen: All The Things We've Shared and Seen

A/N: Thanks to all the readers who read and reviewed last chap. Glad to know I didn't completley overdo it on the descriptions and/or offend anyone too terribly...

Also, many of you did predict correctly in the reviews: Yes, this story will be coming to a close soon. There are only about four or five chaps left to go, and I'm currentlyworking on a few other fics I'd like to publish this coming summer or fall.I hope you enjoyed guys enjoyed this fic, because it was so much fun writing it, and hope you'll keep reviewing!

Tell me if there's any horrid mistakes in this chap and what you think


His warm body igniting the flame of passion within her. The sweet smell and bold touch of his body united with hers, pleasing her beyond any imagining. His hot, rushed breath whispering sweet, unforgettable words in her ear

"Meg, I love you"

Meg Giry awoke with a start. It took her a moment before she realized she had been asleep in Erik's lair, and a bit longer before the fog in her memory cleared, allowing her to remember why she was there. It was now morning and a few rays of early light cut through the lair's darkness. She sat up, shaking her tangled hair and pulling the covers back up over her body in an effort to keep the cold air of morning out and preserve the furious, hot memories of the previous night…

She could hardly believe anything that happened yesterday. It all seemed so surreal and distant, like it had happened to some other girl in some other lifetime. She could scarcely believe that she and Erik actually, really, well…..

Thee mere thought of it made her both blush furiously with embarrassment and ache for more of the beautiful pleasure so skillfully introduced to her. She never knew Erik could be so passionate, so alive as he was last night. It was astounding. In the final moment of their heated passionate affair, she had breathlessly began singing

"Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion-play has now at last begun"

The thought occurred to her how she was now no longer the pure, untouched girl shed' always been. She had surrendered her chastity willingly, without any bonds of marriage. She vaguely recalled the numerous warnings and scolding she'd always received by her mother and others about making sure she always remained a pure, untouched virgin until she engaged in holy matrimony.

"The final threshold
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return
"

It was so ironic how Erik's music always seemed to be able to perfectly describe these instants in her life.

Oh well. There was nothing to do about it now but deal with the consequences, which she hoped wouldn't be too severe.

"Meg?" Erik asked lazily, startling her out of her thoughts

"Good morning monsieur" she said playfully, gently fingering the small tufts of hair on his bare chest

He groaned and rubbed his head

"Oh, mon dieu, I really shouldn't have drank the entire bottle of margaux last night, I-"

He stopped as he noticed Meg, in his bed, lying next to him under the covers, and his face immediately began reddening

"Meg! What are you doing? I, we, I thought-"

"Nice to see you this morning too, Erik. Do you have, uh, any memory of last night at all?"

Of course he did. Or, at least he thought he recalled the sweet taste of her lips on his own, her brazen hands exploring his bare flesh, the heat and pleasure that seemed to last an eternity. But he thought he'd only dreamt of that ever happening to someone like him.

As if reading his thoughts, Meg cleared her throat smoothly and replied

"No, Erik, you didn't dream it."

He looked over at her, a strange combination of shock and embarrassment creeping over his unmasked face.

"No, Meg, I couldn't possibly have-"

He stopped short of himself as he began lifting the bedcovers only to discover Meg was right. He was lying in bed with nothing to cover his body, his clothing in a discarded, hasty mess on the floor. If his face hadn't been very red before, it certainly was now.

"Oh.. my... god. Oh my god, Meg, I'm so, so sorry."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek smoothly

"About what?" she asked innocently, batting her eyelashes

He chuckled nervously "You know damn well what"

He slicked his fingers through his hair, guilt boiling up inside him. Oh god, how could he have done this to her? Did he just let lusting, primitive instincts take over and throw self-control to the wind like in all his fantasies? How could he do this? And to Meg? Nothing would ever be the same between them now. Their was no way their relationship was just friendly anymore.

He realized with a start, that, from the very beginning, it never had been.

Out of force of habit, he reached up to trace the slick outline of the always-present mask on his face, only to discover its absence. Instinctively, he covered his face with his hands, looking around nervously

"Oh no. Meg, uh, what happened to my-"

"It's right here, Erik, calm down" she said, handing him his white half mask from the bedside table. He quickly grabbed it away from her, fitting it onto his flaming face

"Thank you"

"You're welcome. But Erik, you do remember what I told you last night?"

He nodded, recalling her sweet words

"That mask belongs to the Phantom. Not Erik. Not my Erik. You're not some mysterious masked man any longer, you're just a man, and I want to see the face in the mask."

He sighed, nodding "I remember, Meg, but, I have to wear it sometimes. It's just habit, and a precaution. You understand, right?"

"Yes, I suppose. But I wish you didn't think you always have to wear it when I'm around. I don't mind Erik. Really"

He leaned over, kissing her gently on the cheek

" I know, I know. How about we compromise then? I promise, I'll take the mask off it night, and only wear it during the day. Does that suit you?"

"Yes, I think- wait, you wear your mask when you sleep?" she asked, amazed

He nodded "Always have, but I'll try breaking the habit. If you really want me too"

"I do. It means a lot, Erik. Truly, it does"

With that matter settled, they both laid back in bed, hoping to catch a few more luxurious minutes of sleep. After awhile, Meg asked lazily while yawning,

"Erik? What time is it?"

"Hmmm? Oh, I don't know, let me check my watch"

He leaned over, glancing at his watch on the bedside table

"About ten o'clock."

"Oh, all right"

She laid back down, allowing herself another moment's rest before her mind fully grasped the information and she bolted back up

"TEN O'ClOCK? A.M.? Erik! Erik, get up!" she said loudly, shaking him

"What? Meg, what is it?"

"Erik, it's morning. We spent all night together! Oh, I'm three hours late for work, and Maman's probably frantic with people looking for me by now. No! Oh god, this is just wonderful. Great."

By now, she had scrambled out of bed, picking up her discarded clothing from the previous night's events off the floor and hurriedly dressing, muttering to herself. Erik had calmly slid out of bed and dressed in a hurry, looking as neat and presentable as always, while Meg looked a frantic mess in her state of panic, her face flaming as she realized Erik was most likely watching her getting dressed. Looking over her shoulder, she knew she was right when Erik instantly jerked his head down and nervously tugged at his collar.

Meg sighed as she realized there was no way she would be able to lace her corset by herself, but she struggled with it anyway. After what seemed to be an eternity, Erik, trying not to burst out laughing while watching her performance, came over and swiftly laced up her corset for her, taking care not to pull the laces too tightly. After that ordeal was over with, Meg scooped up her dress and flung it on, hurriedly pulling the skirt down and pinning her messy hair up. She kissed Erik once, swiftly on the lips before departing and calling back "I'll come back soon. I love you!"


As Meg rushed in pulling on her dress, Erik noticed a paper fall from the bodice of it and float gently to the floor. Before he could inform her, she had already kissed him swiftly and left.

When she was gone, he bent down to pick it upI hope this wasn't anything important to her. Oh well, she'll realize it and come get it next time she's here. Nothing to worry about he thought to himself.

Erik moved to place it on his desk, but the letter seemed to start to haunt him. He glanced at Meg's name in an vaguely familiar handwriting. No, he couldn't. It was Meg's business.

But, then again, he did feel sort of responsible towards her now, and she wouldn't mind too much if he just glanced at it, would she?

Ignoring the protests from his conscience, he picked the letter up and quickly broke the seal before he debated about it anymore. But Erik couldn't imagine the words written in gentle, soft script would provide him with the horrible pain and worst betrayal he had ever known

My Dear Meg,

Surely, it hasn't escaped your notice that I've harbored affections for you for quite some time now. I believe that we will be very happy together when we're married. I can't possibly imagine anyone else on earth I could love more than you. Our courtship together has been the happiest time of my life, and I'm sure we'll have many more happy times together in our new life. I love you more dearly than I can exclaim, Meg, and I'm sure you must feel the same. I'm overjoyed that we will finally be united in matrimony at last, since it's something I've always dreamt of.

The main purpose for writing this letter to you, sweet Meg, was to express my love for you in words, though no words could ever describe your graceful charm and beauty. Now that our engagement is certain, I was hoping you might meet me at the theater tonight to announce it to everyone after the show, and mayhaps go out to celebrate afterwards in private, if that suits you.

I do hope you are as happy as I am right now Meg, and I'll look forward to our meeting tonight.

Your loving fiancée,

Cedric Grieg

Erik clutched the letter to his chest in pain, sinking to his knees on the floor, barely able to breathe. So this must have been what Meg had been trying to tell him. That she was just leading him on, for fun and enjoyment before she went out with her fiancée! She was engaged? All this time, he had loved her, trusted her with his heart, his life, and she had now destroyed it. He had finally allowed his heart to soften and to heal with his love for Meg, and now she had driven a dagger through it, causing twice as much pain.

He knew, he just knew he should never have trusted her, or allowed himself any affection for her. He didn't think he would be such a fool as to make the same mistake twice. Even Christine's betrayal hadn't been this awful for him.

But, he finally realized, he had never loved Christine nearly as much as he loved Meg. Meg was his whole world. When he was so heartbroken and depressed, she had been there for him. Always. He actually thought she might have loved him, but he realized now with a new sense of bitterness that she never had. It had all been some charade for whatever reason, she decided to continue until it had all spun out of control.

He felt the rush of cold, bitter tears slowly rolling down his face beneath his mask. He should never have allowed himself to continue with the charade. He actually allowed himself to believe someone loved him, truly cared for him, and now that he knew the truth, it hurt so badly. He had had so many wonderful experiences and fantasies about her, nothing would be able to soften the blow of reality thrown at him.

He recalled the one day, so long ago, when he'd secretly watched that foolish boy and his dear Meg walking down to the meadow together. He'd watched the boy's hands explore a bit and Meg giggle and twirl her hair so flirty and he'd been such a fool, he just thought it was nothing. They were just childhood friends, he thought nothing more. You're worrying for nothing. He'd just assumed they were old friends who cared for each other. Of course, it had crossed his mind the boy was young and an intelligent musician, and Meg was an attractive, lovely girl, but Meg had assured him she didn't love Cedric like that.

Well, it appeared she'd changed her mind. Drastically.

As he knelt there, taking slow, ragged breaths, his sadness and hurt quickly turned to fury and rage. How dare she do this to him! Was he just going to stay here and accept it and give up, let her hurt him like this? Hell no! He had kept quiet the last time, never revealing to Christine that he knew of her betrayal until the very end, but he wasn't going to do that again.

Angrily getting up off the floor, he grabbed the wretched letter, shoving it into his breast pocket, trying to control the urge to rip it up and burn the remains. He wasn't just going to let Meg get away with this. Not after all they'd been through together. That little bitch wasn't going to just break his heart and leave him here while she went off flouncing about with her secret fiancée. He grabbed his coat off the chair, and shaking with uncontrollable rage, knocked over the chair and table, sending them crashing to the floor and his sheet music scattering everywhere, floating gently downward. One piece in particular caught his eye. Trying to control his rapid breathing, he reached down and looked at the title: Dansuse Belle

That composition he'd written as a gift for Meg. He had given her so many nice things, both objects and emotions. Well, she just as well might have burned them right in front of him after everything else she'd done. He grabbed the composition furiously, ripping it into shreds and threw them all around his lair. He flung his coat on and slammed the trapdoor to his lair as he stalked along the secret tunnels, intent on catching up with Meg and her little lover at the theater.

Let it be war upon them both!


Meg scurried into the theater, ignoring the cries of "Meg, you're late!" and "Giry, where you been?" as she raced down the main hall in search of her mother and Cedric. They were probably both extremely worried by now, and she had to find them. She also desperately needed a good excuse for her absence last night. Maybe she'd use the tavern excuse again. Her mother would most likely raise hell about it, but it was better than letting her know what she'd been doing.

She went down into the orchestra pit, looking for Cedric. She hoped he wasn't still upset about her refusal to marry him. The odd thing was, she didn't see him anywhere, and today was a full stage rehearsal before the performance tonight. He would never miss full rehearsal.

"Gilles!" she called out to one of her and Cedric's friends, a fellow orchestra member

"Hi Meg. Glad to see you made it today. Your mother's nearly driven herself insane worrying about you. You better go find before..." he let his voice trail off and chuckled. She sighed, frustrated

"Thank you, Gilles, but I'll see to that in a minute. Tell me, has Cedric made it in today?"

"No, I haven't seen him around anywhere. As a matter of fact, I haven't seen him since yesterday morning at practice. I assumed he was off having some fun with you, and uh, that's why you both were late" he said, grinning wickedly

She rolled her eyes "No, that wasn't the case at all, Gilles, and if you could kindly remove your mind from the gutter for a moment, I'm serious. I'm worried about him. Something happened yesterday and I need to see him" she said, nearly frantic by now

His expression turned serious instantly "No, Meg, I'm telling you the truth. I haven't seen him at all, nor has anyone else I've talked to today, but I'll look out for him and let you know if I find him, all right?"

"Yes, thank you Gilles" she said, patting his arm before racing off yet again. She flung the side doors open and headed down towards the coast, running. Something must have happened to him. He wasn't that upset, was he?

When she finally reached the shore, she climbed down the coast and jumped the last few feet down to the soft ground. She brushed off her dress anxiously and began walking around while calling out

"Cedric! Cedric, where are you? Cedric-"

She was about to call out again when her foot hit something large and soft . Her call turned into a shrill scream of horror as she looked disbelievingly at the gruesome, bloody sight on the ground before her eyes


Sorry for the awful cliffie, but you know, reviews might motivate me to update quicker and not leave you hanging so long (-Hint-Hint)...