Little Lotte- oh I miss you, we need to get together this week, NEED. Anyway, thanks for the help, hope it appeases you, I sorta took some inspiration from Mandy. Love you!
Chapter 2
"Christine?" Erik repeated, his golden eyes twinkling in awe like a child at Christmas. Katie backup in fright, her back hitting a stone wall, Mandi right beside her. Looking over at her closest friend, Katie grasped Mandi's hand, squeezing it as she bit down on her lip. Time seemed to freeze in Katie's mind, as she looked over her familiar surroundings. She had been here so many times before, in her dreams at least. Every inch of the large music room was both familiar, and foreign to her. The giant red oak organ, the large soft red velvet chair, the bookcases of thousands of sheets of music, the golden harp in the corner, all called to her, like an old love letter tugging at her heart.
"You've came back." He whispered, backing away from the girls, turning to the organ, running his long, skeletal hands over the black mask he wore. Katie exchanged confused glances at Mandi, neither one of them understanding what had happened. Erik turned, tears glistening in his eyes.
"But why Christine? Why did you come back?" He approached Katie, running his hand through her hair, twirling a single curl around his finger. Instinctively she drew back, partially hiding behind Mandi.
"I'm not Christine!" She screamed, tearing herself away from both Erik, and Mandi. Running to the door, she turned back, glaring at him, and pleading with Mandi to follow her, before disappearing off into the darkness. Mandi stood dumbstruck for a moment, her eyes transfixed on where Katie just stood.
"Lotte!" Glancing over at Erik, she followed Katie out, calling her name into the darkness that met her on the other side of the large doorway.
"Lotte! What the- Where are you?" She called out, her words echoing back into her ears as she ran down the small cavern like hallway, the heels of her shoes clunking upon the hard stone, splashing up water when she ran through a shallow puddle.
"Lotte! What the fuck? Where-" Her frustrated scream was cut off as water surrounded her body, the murky water flowing into her mouth. splashing around in the darkness, she tried to pull herself back up, but the weight of the soaked costume pulled her downwards, her arms scrapping against the slimy stone wall beside her. Fear overcame her body as she tried to undo the knot that held the oversized cloak she has wearing off, but her shaky fingers, and clouded mind couldn't overcome the simple tie. Trying to take a breath, but only being met by water, Mandi looked up hopefully at the surface, before her world faded into nothing.
Katie ran through the labyrinth she faced, knowing every turn, every trap door. Nothing mattered to her but getting away from him, getting away from this place. After what seemed like a lifetime, she emerged from the world of darkness, meeting the sun's kiss upon her pale skin. Sighing in relief, she collapsed down upon the stairs that met her in the world above, the stairs to the famous Paris Opera House. Hanging her head in her sweating palms, she tried to clear her mind.
"This can't be happening." She told herself, looking up at the world around her, the world she longed to belong to for so long. Gentlemen and their ladies passed by her without a care, dressed in full suits, and top hats, flowing dominos and parasols of every colour. The failing sunlight danced over the gold that surrounded her, giving the atmosphere a look of joyous heaven.
"This is only a dream, Jammes will wake me up out of this..." She told herself, looking up into the pink and orange sky.
Mandi gasped, her eyes fluttering open, falling upon the shimmering yellow orbs in the darkness. Her chest heaved with her laboured breath, her costume heavy with water clung to her desperately, her hair spread over the stone floor like butter on bread. Sitting up, her eyes adjusting to the dim light, Mandi watched the faint out line of a man turn from her, starting off into another direction.
"Wait!" She called out, stumbling to her feet, taking notice that she no longer wore the chunky black heels she had on earlier, instead her pale feet practically glowed in the darkness. The figure turned, those orbs looking over her as she approached him.
"You saved me didn't you?"
"Yes" He answered simply, turning from her.
"Why?" She inquired, stepping closer, catching him by the arm. His eyes burned into her skin, causing her let him go.
"Would you have rather I didn't?" He inquired.
"Now come, those dripping clothes won't do you any good." He turned his back to her once again, silently returning to his home. Curiously, Mandi followed him, a shiver running down her spine when she stepped from the cold, damp stone, to a soft, warm carpet. Taking her through his home, he glanced back, a small smile appearing on his lips beneath his silk, black mask.
"If I may inquire, why would such a beautiful girl wear a man's suit?" Mandi's face turned crimson red, as she looked down at her attire.
"Well..." She started, trying to decide what to tell him.
"It's a costume." Beneath his mask, Erik raised his brow quizzically.
"A costume?" His lips curled up into a wicked grin.
"You must be one of the performers then, from the Opera House?" Bitting down on her lip, she shook her head, averting his gaze.
"No, I'm not from around here." He escorted her into a rather spacious room. A single white four poster bed sat in the center of the room, off white silk sheets laying upon it, reflecting the pale yellow walls. Erik made his way over to a pine Armour, opening the grand door, thumbing through the contents, finally pulling out a light pink dress. Mandi nearly chocked in disgust at the gown. Holding her hand up, she cringed at what to her eyes looked like a massacred cupcake.
"Thank you, but I think I'll stay with the soaked cloths."
"And why is that, Mlle?" He inquired, unable to fathom why a woman wouldn't find such a dress pleasing.
"It's pink." She stated obviously, a look of disbelief in her brown eyes.
"I don't wear pink, I have never worn it, and shall never wear it." Erik chuckled, looking back at the array of coloured fabric that hung before him.
"And what colour would appease you, Mlle?" He asked sarcastically, amused at her reaction to the dress.
"A black perhaps? If not, something dark, a deep red?" She asked hopefully, taking a step closer to peer into the vanity. Nodding his head, he pulled out a black domino, a sigh of relief coming from Mandi.
"If I may ask, why black? Black is for mourning." He stated, handing it over to her.
"Why do you wear black?" She asked, motioning to his monochromatic outfit. Erik clenched his teeth.
"It appeases me." He answered simply, walking around Mandi, towards the door.
"Well, it appeases me too, Erik." He stopped dead in his tracks as she spoke, snapping around, his eyes wide.
"What is your name?" His velvet voice rang in her ears.
"Mand-" She cut off, not wanting to give him the name she was given at birth, but the name she felt most comfortable with,
"My name is Jammes." He nodded his head, disappearing off into the rest of his home. Looking around his home, Mandi looked into the full length mirror, holding the dress up against her.
"It would be a miracle if this actually fit me." She told herself, before removing her soaked clothing, allowing it to lay haphazardly on the floor. It took what seemed like ages, but she finally got the dress on, after fumbling over the random hooks and ties. Pulling her wet hair back, she tied it with a simple ribbon. Sighing heavily, she looked into the mirror, her mind racing over Katie.
"Oh Lotte, where did you run off to?" She asked herself, tip toeing over to the door. Peering out into the rest of Erik's home, she looked for him, but he was no where in sight.
"Good." She told herself, before sneaking out of the room, heading to the door, leaving his home behind to find her best friend.
