An: yea sorry for the like month delay, I guess you could say I've been kind of busy, but by the time school is over I don't think the wait will be as long. Anyways um…didn't really take as long to go over or edit this so hopefully it's not to bad with errors and all but I don't think its that bad. Anyways hope you enjoy this long awaited chapter.
Chapter 4: The Master
When I woke I found myself once again in somewhat of a haze. Candles were still lit around me, but I had no clue whether it was night or day. Nothing seemed real. I lifted myself up from the bed and looked around nervously. Something had woken me up. I knew this because I heard and felt something pull at me to be awakened, but I couldn't place what it was. After clearing my head I got up slowly out of the bed, careful not to feel pain and hurt myself once again.
I walked over to the corner of the room and opened a side door, which led to a magnificent marble bathroom. I stepped inside and went to a water basin, which had already been filled with water. Cupping the water in my hands, I splashed it unto my face trying to wake myself up. Drying myself off I walked back to the bedroom. It was so weird. I know I had woken from some kind of dream, but it didn't seem like a dream, but at the same time it was.
In the dream, I had begun to walk once again down the halls of this house. I could hear the music that I had been looking for in the beginning. That music that seemed to push on my very being, pulling me towards it as if my heart would burst if I couldn't hear it. But no matter how many corridors or rooms I went through I could never find the very place the music was coming from.
Whenever I passed the gray hall with the one door at the end, I could feel it luring me to it, wanting me to go down its stairs and fall back into the deep pit which I had fell through the first time I had encountered this place. I remember now in my dream, going back to that door and going back down those stairs and no matter how hard I tried to pull myself away and tell myself I would be trapped again I just kept going as if it didn't matter. Its like I knew that if I were to be trapped again, I would most certainly be saved again by the masked stranger just like before. That he would come for me no matter what.
As I went down those stairs I remember now that I had made it all the way to the bottom and nothing had happened. I didn't fall. At the end of the stairs I can remember seeing yet another door. The music was fuzzy and somewhat distant sounding, but something inside of me told me it was coming from behind that door.
Unfortunately I had woken up before I ever got a chance to open it, everything became blurry then. But the music, the music sounded so real. And now I can recall more then just the sound of a symphonic piano piece…but a voice, yes, there was a voice. Singing, so softly, but loud enough for me to hear…it sounded so…so…
I closed my eyes. The silence engulfed the room as I stood in the middle of it. As I stood there listening carefully… So real.
I opened up my eyes. This time I knew it wasn't just a dream. Where my ears deceiving me again? I could hear the music.
I didn't think much on the dream. I've heard things before of people having so called " foreseen dreams." I don't know if this would be known as one, but it must mean something.
Whatever the dream was, it had increased my curiosity to its highest peak and I no longer could hold back my urge to do what Cathy asked of me. Besides, Its not like I was going to stay at the house for long or visit ever again anyways…. right? So I might as well find something about this place. Marie and I will have much to talk when I see her again. But I don't intend on telling her, or anyone for that matter, on what had happened to me here.
It's hard to believe how harmless something can look until you get to curious and you end up regretting it in the end. This time Ellis was wrong. Very wrong. This wasn't just a house. It was something much more. And what lies inside is just as important. I wont be able to leave this house until I find out what it is, or else I just might be haunted for the rest of my life.
Oh how much I wished that I could tell Marie that there was nothing to be afraid of. That this was just some old abandon house. That there's nothing inside of any interest or inquisitiveness. But I would not be able to do this. I don't think I have the heart to lie to her. So instead ill just say nothing. I wonder what Cathy's servant friend, Mr. Hanson, told the others what happened to me. Surely he didn't tell them the truth? Maybe I wont have a choice. Ill have to lie to them. Its better then causing problems. As Cathy said I must not let myself get into affairs with Erik. If he is how Cathy says then I must not let anyone know about him. If they were to find out what happened to me here in his presence it could only lead to sheer disaster.
Suddenly a great booming sound broke the silence inside the room. Thunder. I jumped and came to my senses. Hastily walking over to where the window lay hidden under great thick curtains I pulled them apart and opened up two big glass doors that lead to a small balcony. I didn't step unto the balcony. I just stood there looking up into the sky. Tall black Oak trees reached up with tangled branches toward the ever-darkening sky almost reaching higher then to where I was standing. The sun was fully gone from the horizon but there still was a small red streak across it. Dark clouds held there ground near by. Everything was very still and quiet. Nothing moved as if time had just stopped. Soon more lightning and thunder flashed across the sky. Any minute it would pour down rain. I closed the doors and drew the curtains closer together.
There was no clock in the room so I had no idea what time it was. I knew Cathy said she check up on me soon so if I am to leave this room than I must go now. It wasn't like I was totally going against what Cathy asked of me. Yes, it is true she didn't want me to leave this room, but she also didn't want me coming back to this house at all and if this is to be the case why stay in this room? I then began to remember what Cathy had told me before…
I must warn you though Christine… I know that you are curious; you have a right to be. What you've asked of me is fine, but don't let your curiosity go out of control as it did when you entered this house…I ask you to stay in this room and to not go wondering off alone. Erik is someone you do not want to get entangled with. He is a very powerful person and is friends with many powerful people, including Mr. Brock's family. I may not know him very well, but I know that he is very dangerous and if you are ever to come across his path unlike you did in that chamber, you will be sucked down into his world and believe Christine, you do not want that. He is dangerous, not someone you want to toy with. I have had encounters with him and being with him for so long I still am not use to his ways. I can even see in Mr. Brock's family, even though they are just as dangerous, fear in there eyes each time they come to visit here…Trust me Christine, these are people that you do not want to get to know. I know we are new acquaintances, but as an older woman who has more understanding in these kind of affairs I ask that when you are in better shape to go back to where you are from…that you never come back here. There is nothing, but trouble if you stay here. Do you understand? You've already been put through a horrible event when you fell into that chamber….
There is one thing about what Cathy said that keeps me from doing what she asks. She says that I do not want to get involved in these affairs, but the only thing is, is that…I already am! The moment I stepped into this house my fate was sealed within its walls. How can I do what she asks when so much has happened to me here? How can I just leave and forget what happened to me? Even though these questions float around in my mind, there is still something that makes me want to heed her warning. Erik.
I don't even know him and he's already made a huge impact in my life. But if Cathy is right in what she says about him I have the feeling that I most definitely should not stay here. I don't want to cause any trouble and I doubt Cathy would lie, saying things like what she said before about her so called "master". Yes, I suppose she could be hiding something, I mean, he can't be that bad. He saved my life after all…but I also cant help thinking that he had something to do with the very trap he had saved me from.
As thunder and lighting continued to crash from outside, I finally came to the conclusion that I would do what Cathy asked and not come back to this house, but go against staying in this, now cramped feeling, room. I wont stick around to learn any more then I already know. I'll just take one more look around this house, find the mysterious music that I've been hearing and, if I accidentally happen to stumble upon him, I'll thank Erik for helping me…even though I'm not sure if he deserves it if it is true he has something to do with that chamber.
Knowing I didn't have much time before Cathy came back to check up on me, I put on a light robe over the night gown Cathy had given me to wear to feel more comfortable in. I suddenly started to notice the pain in many parts of my body and couldn't walk to fast or I might hurt myself again.
Quietly I approached the door and stepped out into the hall. There was no one in sight and the hall was very dark and eerie. I hesitated for a minute to search for the music. I didn't know how I ended up in the room I was resting in, so I had no way of knowing which direction to take. Trusting my gut feeling I began to walk silently down the hall….
I walked down halls for some time. The house must be bigger then I thought because I was yet to come across Cathy or any other servants. But there had to be a somewhat good amount of servants taking care of this place or else I don't think it would be in such good shape.
After knowing once again that I was certainly lost, I finally decided to open one of the doors in a hall. Quietly, so not to disturb whatever may be on the other end, I opened the door and stared in awe. I found myself on the top of a flight of stairs looking over a large ballroom. There were candles lit on the walls and tables put to the sides. But what made the hall so magnificent were the huge mirrors hung on the sides of the walls, a whole set on the right side and then a repetition of mirrors and windows on the left. The candle's light reflected off the mirrors making the room glow with radiance. The roof was a light red color with small chandeliers and a balcony hall like in the entrance hall was on the right side apparently for viewers who wish to watch.
I forgot right then about searching for the music and stepped down unto the ballroom floor. Lighting flashed from the windows and thunder bellowed. The candles flickered lightly, almost seeming to dance on top of their holders. While wandering through the room, I finally started noticing the music again. It was so close! Closer then I thought it would be. I then suddenly became filled with so much excitement that I hadn't noticed that I had begun to dance.
Besides from my love of music I also had a great passion for dance. Since I was very young I had been practicing ballet and other dance steps, which, unfortunately, had declined since I had begun to live with my fathers friends and their daughter.
But, as if I had only been practicing yesterday, I began to dance, in perfect form, the steps I was taught before my father had passed. Not thinking on how silly I probably looked dancing by myself, seeing as there was no one around to watch me.
Dancing there, my mind suddenly jolted into the past. I saw my father playing the violin and singing to me…one of my favorite songs. Before I could think on my actions I began to sing that song. The song my father use to sing to me and I would with him. I don't know what was going on in my head, but I began to feel like my father was there with me. Watching me dance. Watching me sing to him. I remember every verse as clearly as the last day I ever heard it. It had been so long since I got to sing for myself. I always had to do it Ellis's governess's way. But not today. I sang, as I wanted to sing. It may not be very good, but I didn't care. No one was around to here me anyways.
As I came to the half waypoint of the song the feeling of a presence became even stronger. Soon it seemed I wasn't the only one singing. It seemed like someone was singing with me. If this house was truly haunted it must be haunted of the past.
Tears began to fill my eyes as I truly almost began to believe my father was there with me. Singing with me. It sounded so real. But I didn't stop singing. I didn't want to stop believing, so I kept on going. Nothing could stop me. I sung the song with as much force and power as I ever had. My vocal cords straining with the highs and lows of my voice. Everything was swirling around me. Soon the other voice became stronger and it sounded as if everything was in its control, even me. As this other voice and me sung the last and final words our voices echoed throughout the whole hall as if it could shake the very ground I stood on. But it was not my voice I found that was causing this disturbance. When the song was over lightning flashed immeasurably outside and thunder boomed loudly. Suddenly the candles that were surrounding the hall blew out and I found myself in darkness except for the lightning flashing outside. I stood frozen to the ground. I was bewildered, not knowing what was happening. I soon came to my senses and new now that it could not have been my father. Someone else must have been singing with me, but who?
Before I had time to regain myself I saw something move in the corner of my eye. I turned and gasped. The figure was standing not more then fifteen feet away from me. I darted backwards, alarmed by the unannounced presence in my mist. I couldn't see his face because it was too dark, but as soon as the lighting streaked through the room I caught the glimpse of a white mask. It was him. Erik.
I shuddered in alarm by the fierce expression on his face. His eyes were like fire as if they could glow in the dark. I almost didn't even think he was real. A ghost or something supernatural just by the way he stood in an exceedingly powerful manner.
I caught my breath in my throat. My heart skipped a beat. I merely stood there, frozen. Not knowing what to say or even think. But he was the first to make a move. He came towards me slowly and gracefully in a beat all his own. A thick magnificent black cloak around his shoulders swept along the floor.
Fear leapt in my chest, but I did not move. Even though he looked like someone I may not want to be in the same room with, I had to remember that he did save my life. So he wouldn't possibly hurt me now.
Soon he was no more then a foot next to me. He was much taller then I thought. Almost a half a foot taller then me. And not just a normal kind of tall, but an almost overpowering tall. He was sleek and lean, but I could tell he was very strong. I couldn't tell much else because it was too dark except the repeated lighting and thunder from outside. For what seemed like forever, but were only a few minutes, he stood there looking down at me.
Then finally he said, in the most beautiful voice. "…Come with me."
He wasn't asking me, he was telling me. I said nothing, but just nodded my head slowly as if transfixed.
He then turned and walked the other direction towards a door at the end of the hall. I hesitated at first, not knowing if I should follow him. Where was he going to take me? Was I in trouble?
Then suddenly I realized something and felt very foolish for not knowing it first hand. It was not my father who I thought was singing with me. Of course it wasn't. It was him. But why?
If I was going to know anything, the only way to find out was to follow this man into the darkness beyond. I was, in some ways, afraid, but I new exactly where we were going. I should have known. We were going to the room beyond the stairs with the trap below it. He must have been the one producing the music I had been trying to find.
I walked up back close to his side. He opened the door and led me out into the dark hall beyond. Finally, I had found what I was looking for. But I wasn't exactly sure if I was happy about what I had found.
AN: wow wasn't that exciting. I mean seriously if Erik asked me to come with him id go too you know what I mean hehee... anyways oh my gosh you wont believe what I got ( I feel like rambling so yea). I was about to get this "pirates of the Caribbean" tank top from hot topic, which was really cute and stripy and stuff, but seriously just before my mom was about to buy it for me I spotted something even better. An actually effing phantom of the opera t-shirt with the mask and flower and everything on it and I went all berserk and stuff and got my mom to get that for me instead. It was insane…. I'm really not that obsessed I just thought that was really cool. Anyways ta ta!
>>>Thanks once again for your wonderful reviews! …Ive finallygotten my self-confidance back lol.