OMG! I am SO sorry! I was so busy with school and my band that I somewhat forgot to post again. PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I've been working on this story, I just never got around to putting it in the format. I AM SO SORRY! I love all my reviewers- I didn't mean to make you all wait for so long. PLEASE FORGIVE ME!
A Few Thanks
surf with music- Woot! Another fellow clarinet player! Waha! We clarinets are beginning to consume the music world as we know it! Victory dance! Hehe, yea, so calming down, I play clarinet too, if that wasn't a given from my reaction. Yea, it kind of is a bother not being able to do drum corps, I agree, and my school doesn't let clarinets in jazz band so that's a real bummer. But, hey, can't complain. I'm a senior, and my section this year is amazing so I am a happy camper. Our show this year is Earth, Wind, and Fire. How cool is that? Oh yea, as for the name Raylan, give me a chance to go find it and I will get back to you on that. Thanks for the comment! Sorry I took so long updating.
Dernhelm- You called the patron a smurf... that...is...so... TRUE! Ha! That was a great comment, and a great way to sum him up. Bravo! And as for Ethan being comic relief...yea that would suck if he died right now, cause I mean, who would stir up trouble if not the jealous male? And the coffins coming...it's coming! Really it is... whenever those darn grave robbers get here. Thanks for the comment. Sorry about it taking so long.
shimmeringtears- Aw, you are the greatest! I am so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so SO sorry this took so long. Please, I beg for forgiveness! I've been a bad authoress... I'm so sorry I kept the update from you. Thanks for every great comment you have ever made. I'm so sorry this took so long. You're my favorite reviewer and I am sorry that I might possibly disappoint you by not updating.
Ok, I must grovel... I seriously feel bad for not updating sooner. Please forgive me! I offer you this update to serve as a peace offering. I hope it pleases. Thanks so much everyone, and once more I apologize for the delay.
-Olivia N.
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Raylan's wildly curling, brown head popped out of the door at least an hour past the time they had arrived. She looked back and forth, eyeing the surrounding before daring to take a step outside her room into the dark, cool atmosphere of the Phantom's cave. Her motions were soft, nearly inaudible as she slid barefoot across the stone surface, her rich brown eyes consuming all images that lay about her.
She was careful, eyeing each dark crevasse and opposite room, keeping a watchful eye out for her host. Swiftly she darted across the room into the dark corridor she had watched the Phantom escort her dear companion from a small opening in her door. They had vanished into the darkest of halls, past a place where her eye sight could not follow. She only prayed Ethan had held his tongue about this Opera ghost, and that he was safe as their host had promised.
Her eyes had begun to adjust to the dark lighting of their hosts night world, but the hall that she had entered had no means of light of any form. So her pace slowed as she fumbled about blindly through the corridor, praying to come upon some lit room where possibly her companion was being kept.
Suddenly two candle lights loomed in the distance, even and unmoving, their yellow flames constant, waiting for her. The hall around them seemed to grow black about those two unblinking points.
Raylan moved trustingly towards them, convincing herself that it would indeed be the entrance to her companions quarters.
The lights waited, for her arrival, for her to feel her companion's door. Raylan's hand outstretched, groping for the door knob, but before she could grasp anything, a voice echoed through the hallway as she walked past. It asked harshly, "Where are you going?"
Raylan instantly jumped like a startled cat, her shoulders raising to about her cheeks and fists lifted instinctively as she stared wide eyed about.
The lights smiled as he stood waiting for her to respond, hidden within his darkness. His domain.
"Uh," Ray hesitantly spoke to the darkness, "To see my friend... I think."
"You should have asked me. You can easily die down here," The smile grew, "Too easily."
"Oh...so it's you," She finally lowered her hands to her sides, sighing with relief before she continued, "I couldn't find you."
"You didn't look very hard," He growled. Obviously, he had watched.
"I didn't wish to intrude in your private space," She cleverly retorted with somewhat of a side grin.
The yellow eyes hardened into slits. "So you say," His voice was harsh and displeased.
Her ears caught the tone and so she replied tenderly, "I apologize sir."
For a moment it was a deathly silent, and then he asked gentler than before, "Do you wish to see your companion?"
"I was just curious to if he was comfortable or not," She bit her bottom lip hesitantly, "I wont if it displeases you."
"He is suitably comfortable. A bit put off that I was forced to separate you, but there are few other habitual rooms. I have so few visitors, that I never made room for them. However, I think that after a while he will see why he is there," His voice was still so strong, always commanding and dominating.
Raylan's brows knitted in confusion, "What do you mean?"
The Phantom grinned, a soft, sad smile, "I'm not entirely a horrible person. He will learn that soon, I believe... If you wish to see him-" A candelabra suddenly appeared-lit. The twin lights had been his eyes, glowing in the dark, Raylan realized as her own gaze fell puzzled upon the small flickering flame. A black gloved hand distracted her eyes though as the Phantom pointed towards the darkness, "You should take the next left and it will dead end there."
She nodded, thankfully and respectfully. Very carefully she made her way around him, the hall closed enough that she could feel the very warmth of his body as she shuffled past.
Strangely though she stopped mere inches from his reach, staring thoughtfully into those glowing eyes behind the darkness of a veiling mask. "Monsieur, if I may be as bold to inquire," She paused, once again nibbling the edge of her lip in deep thought, "I...I would very much like to be able to address you by a name...if that is not too much to ask. I... I would just like to be able to call you by any other name than the ones you are known for in the Opera House. It doesn't seem... polite for a house guest to call you Phantom."
Through the darkness Raylan could see him nod in agreement, but his reply was slow and hesitant. He spoke it as if it were a secret, to only be known by few in this world. "Erik," He replied gently, "I am called Erik."
A small, true smile spread across her pretty pink lips and she repeated warmly, "Erik... lovely name."
He dipped his head in a nod. Oh! So like Christine this one is. So very curious, always curious of the man within the beast.
Again she smiled, a small bashful laugh escaping her broadening grin. It had been long since she had been so close to any other man than Ethan, so very long since she had heard the gentle kindness in a mans voice... and strange it was that it would come from him.
When her cheeks began to flush nervously was when she continued to edge slowly away, still facing him and smiling although her hands now clasped her cheeks to hide the scarlet blush. "Uh," She stuttered nervously, "I'm uh...I'm just going to go check on my boy...um...thank you Monsieur... Erik."
He nodded, a small smile of his own appearing upon his pale flesh, "Very well." And like always, with a majestic swirl of his cloak, Erik disappeared into the darkness.
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Raylan watched him until he disappeared, content with the way their conversation had ended probably for the first time in all their brief conversations. Sighing with relief she made her way down the hall, following his instructions precisely. It had not been long until she found the dark door within the corridor, raping on it lightly as a greeting.
The door creaked open. Blue eyes peeked out, looking worried. They relaxed upon settling on Raylan's face, the door instantly opening to admit her in.
His room wasn't luxurious by any means, but the Phantom had been right, it was suitable. A fair sized bed dominated a corner, with thick quilts to ward off the chill from the damp stone floors. Candle lamps lit up the room, and a dresser sat upon the opposing wall as the bed, old and worn, suggesting a story of its past. On the wall sharing the door, stood a writing desk-complete with ink, paper, and quills. The wall opposite the door stood empty, naked.
Raylan gazed about with skeptical eyes and laughed, "Well...mine's better."
Ethan nodded with a grim smile, "He likes you better."
"Well, I also pose less of a threat to him," Raylan pointed out wisely as she took a seat on the edge of the bed.
Ethan gave her a look, "In what way? I haven't threatened him, yet."
Raylan chuckled, "Your another male in his territory. It's basic animal instinct."
"Bah!" Ethan scoffed, but knowing silently she was right. She was always right, sadly.
Raylan chuckled, a small and warm laugh. "He isn't that bad," Raylan said gently, a kind smile on her lips.
"You're not in the dungeon," Ethan pouted, sticking out his bottom lip for emphasis.
"And you're not in the heart of the lions den," She shot back with a sly grin.
He thought on that for a moment, before admitting with a growl, "Good point."
Raylan did a small victory dance, the playful side of her rejoicing of her witty victory over Ethan.
Ethan made a face and turned his back to her. "Not nice," He sulked, using the classic moping method.
Raylan said in an innocently sweet voice, "Ethan...aww, don't be like that. I still love you...although you are sulking like a baby and I am making faces at you behind your back."
Ethan huffed and stuck his tongue out at her over his shoulder, joining in their traditional game.
"Oh!" Raylan grinned devilishly, "So that's how it is going to be." With that she bound to her feet and grasped him around the center, tickling his sides with swift fingers.
Ethan couldn't resist her torture and he began to laugh, loud, obnoxious giggles.
Raylan laughed along with him, not being able to resist the humor in it all. Her tickling didn't last long though before she fell to the floor in a heap of laughter.
Ethan watched her, laughing helplessly.
It was nice to laugh, for the both of them. Things had been so stressful lately, so damn dangerous that both had nearly forgotten how much they enjoyed each others warm company.
She had always been able to joke with him, that was the one thing Raylan missed the most, always able to be open with him- without fear of how he would react. Looking up to him with fond eyes she said warmly, "I've missed this."
He nodded, "As have I." Ethan then pulled her to her feet once more, this time clasping his arms about her waist and pulling her into a soft hug.
She sighed, gently leaning into him and nestling her head into the dip of his shoulder. He was always so warm, always so comforting, the very idea of a good man. A lover or a brother, he would always hold some kind place in her heart.
Giving a releasing sigh she said softly, "I'm so sorry Renold...for forcing you here, for making you feel like I didn't love you...for everything I have ever done wrong. I'm sorry for the life you have been made to live, and the loss of the one that could have been...if only we had left you alone."
He lifted her chin, and looked into her eyes, his voice soft and honest as he said, "I had any number of times to back out. I had the choice to leave, at any point. I didn't have to go through with this. And, I'm not sorry that I did. I don't blame you, I never did. It was-and still is- my choice. I always knew you loved me Eb, maybe not the way I wanted you to, but I figured it out. Our love is a different king of love, a stronger love, and that's good enough."
"Our brotherly, sisterly love you mean?" She laughed, giving him a gentle, joking punch to the shoulder.
"Of course," In return, he ruffled he hair.
Raylan's already wildly curling hair practically turned into a fro from the action, and with a gentle growl she left his embrace, trying to tame the mass with her hands. "Damnit," She cursed under her breath, "I have a bush for a head."
He laughed, and said mockingly, "Shall I call you... bushy?"
She glared, "Not unless you want to become a stub." She made a threatening scissor motion towards his crotch.
Ethan's hands quickly moved to protect himself, "That's not necessary."
"Oh come on, no one wants to see you reproduce anyways," She said, an evil grin crossing her lips.
"You're evil," he cried, scooting away.
She gave a nonchalant shrug and advanced on him, that playful but still malicious grin widening.
He gulped, "Now c'mon Eb, let's think this through."
She laughed, "Thinking? How will that help? It's never stopped me before." With that she pounced, practically tackling him upon the bed and once again digging her fingers into his sides as she began the whole tickle attack again.
He laughed and squirmed, but managed to catch her hands in his before the tickling climaxed.
Raylan's eyes widened when he caught her hands, and she squirmed to get free...but barely.
He held fast and pressed his luck, "Oh! what now?"
She squealed cheerfully, "Ah! Help! He's going to...going to... tickle me!" It was all a giant play, one that she had to admit she enjoyed immensely. Sometimes in times of great stress, life called for moments of randomness.
"Indeed, I am," He took both of her hands in one of his, and proceeded to attack her.
She squealed and wiggled helplessly, laughing hysterically and wriggling like a snake. Several times she bit her tongue to fight back screaming with laughter, only slightly worried that their host would get suspicious in hearing such sounds, but after a few moments she could help it.
She screamed through laughs, "Ah! Alright, alright! I give! I give! Ethan! Ah! That tickles! I give!"
He laughed, still holding her hands, "I am triumphant!"
She gasped, "Darn you and your male strength! If I was a boy I would whoop your ass." Confidence was written all over her expressions, the kind that reminded him she could fight as well as any male.
Ethan smiled, continuing to play on her words, "But you're not."
She stuck her tongue out at him, "Yes, but... I look better naked." The last bit was her last resort at sounding dominant.
Ethan paused, thinking it over. He finally admitted with a shrug, "That's true, but not by much."
She grinned, happy that she had at least won on that topic, and with a sigh of satisfaction, rolled off the bed to stand gracefully on the cold, stone floor. She smiled for a moment more before saying softly, "Well, that was interesting... now if you don't mind, I am going to try and discover just what it is our host expects me to do to repay him. He has yet to answer that question."
Ethan frowned at being brought back to reality, even more at her statement. He warned sternly, "Be careful what he asks of you."
"It will be fine," Raylan reassured him with little courage. She somewhat doubted the statement herself.
He nodded just as doubtfully, "I hope so."
Again she smiled, this one more subdued and gentle as she ruffled his hair playfully. "No worries my friend," She sighed as she made her way towards the door, "No worries." With that she exited, closing his door softly behind her.
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Raylan's travel back into the foyer was much quicker, this time actually knowing the way. She was relieved least to say when she entered, her eyes rejoicing at the sighting of light. With a relieved sigh she paced across the stone alcove, her bare feet making soft padding noises as she walked.
Music trickled softly down to her, the organ singing as it had upon her entrance to this palace of darkness. Raylan paused, her ears catching the gentle sound wafting through the air. Her eyes turned to lay upon her host, sitting once again at his infamous organ, playing oh so softly a tune she could barely hear.
Once he felt her eyes upon him, the music stopped, and he looked up,"Yes?"
"Um," She grinned sheepishly and said the first thing that popped into her head, "How are you?"
Erik's lips thinned. He had obviously not wished to be interrupted. "I am fine," He growled, annoyed to be disturbed for such a simple question, "And you?"
She shrugged and answered honestly, "Tickled."
An eyebrow raised at this, but he dismissed questioning it, "And what do I owe for this great pleasure?"
"Well," For a moment she pondered, again nibbling her lip in silent contemplation, "I was...well I was just wondering if perhaps you have decided exactly what it is you desire me to repay you with. I know that last time we spoke of it you had not made up your mind... perhaps now you have?"
He nodded, "I have decided. I shall see what you protect more than anything," He paused to relish in the anxiety of the moment, and then continued with a wicked grin, "Your journal."
"My journal..." She repeated him with weak, shocked words, her mouth hanging limply, "But...but Monsieur... I will answer any question you have to ask... what good could it possibly be to you?" The sides of her lips twitched nervously. No, she couldn't give him that. Everything was in there- everything! It was her life, everything he needed and some things he had no right knowing.
He smiled, a cold smile, "I am not so certain I can trust your spoken words Mademoiselle, but I do not believe you would lie to your own personal thoughts."
She nodded, a cold glare in her eyes and her voice bitter as she asked, "Then you are certain that is all you want?"
He mulled for a moment and then said contently, "For the moment, yes."
Raylan's eye twitched when he said for the moment, but she chose to ignore it and gave a stiff curtsey. "Very well," She almost growled, "I shall go fetch it for you."
Thanks yall! Sorry for the delay! Try to make the next one sooner. Thanks everyone.
Your Faithful, but Late Authoress,
-Olivia N.