Note: I do not own Erik, sadly, or The Phantom of the Opera. I also want to thank my new editor Specifulme, for so kindly helping me with this. Miss AAJ had writers block and was sick these past two weeks so I to find a new editor. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews!
It had been almost five years before that the tragic fire destroyed the Paris Opera House. The Phantom of the Opera, or Erik, as he was once known, had spent the last four years in solitude under the Opera House, except for monthly visits to the city for rations. Soon after the fire, he fled from the dungeon and the memories it brought. When a year later, he could no longer picture the beautiful shades of gold and burgundy in the Opera House, he returned. The theatre he returned to was not the brilliant architecture he remembered, so he fled back down to the darkness of his house. Dust layered the seats and the stage, and the smell of smoke still lingered in the air. The marks from the fire were also, still deep in his heart. It was the night of that fire that the woman he loved left him. She didn't love him in return. It was also the first and probably would be the last time he was kissed.
He sat at his organ playing when over the music he could hear heavy footsteps slushing though the water echoing off the stonewalls of his personal prison. He listened closely as they approached; his hands flying gracefully over the keys. It had been a while since he had visitors, but he didn't bother to find out who it was. They managed to get pass his traps, which proved them to be clever. He slipped back into the ecstasy of his music, where he spent most of his time.
He heard a voice call out to him, and recognized it as a voice of a stagehand: 'the Drunk'. He was too wrapped in his music to hear what the stagehand said.
Aslynn could feel her pulse rising in her ears, like a loud drum being carried into battle by a frighten solider. She shivered from the mixture of fear and the moistness of the air. She forgotten the racking pain in her body; as it was replaced with a burning fear in her chest. She closed her eyes, hoping that she could shut out the fear, but it failed to work. Instead, it caused her head to pound with an unbearable pain. She groaned softly, and let her chin fall to her chest.
The man shrouded in darkness turn partially towards the visitors, revealing half of his face.
"Six months. I told you not to return unless you wanted to die," a strong, yet calm voice filled the air.
The larger man spoke, "We are very sorry Monsieur Phantom, but we thought that, maybe, you could help us..."
"There is nothing worth me helping you," interrupted the man cloaked in night, "Why would I help you, you owe me…who is this?" He added after seeing the prisoner.
"This," the heavyset man gestured to Aslynn, "is the reason for our coming to his dreadful place. She was to feisty for us, so we thought you would like to deal with her, being you don't go out much." He said with a laugh.
The man got up from the organ, only half his face was visible; the other half was hidden in shadow. He walked around the bench, down the Victorian steps, and onto the dock that extended onto the murky water. The men and Aslynn were standing up to their knees in water. Aslynn's head was still pounding, but sis did the best she could to catch a glimpse of the cloaked man: the strong voice. Her chest tightened and breathing became harder. She lifted her weakened head enough to catch a glimpse of the man. She could feel his eyes watching her every move like a hawk. She couldn't make out his emotions, because she saw only one dark green eye. His black hair fell below his ears, and was slicked back. He was wearing a white-buttoned shirt, and black trousers, toped with a large black cloak. His eye met hers briefly, and she hurriedly put her head back down.
"What did she do, to derisive me?" asked the face of darkness.
"HA! What did she do? Its more like what didn't she do." The large man replied with a sickening laugh, "She called attention to us in public, then attacked us, and would corporate, oh the list goes on."
"Oh, is that so," the Phantom said dully, not very amused with this offer, "So you think she deserves the torture chamber," he paused, "It has been empty for five years."
"I don't know what she deserves, but we didn't want to waste more time trying to figure that out," the man replied.
"So you wanted me to waste my time on her, and do your dirty work," the Phantom said, slight amusement appearing in his voice.
"Oh, no, we didn't mean it like that," the large man humbly corrected, seeing that he might have angered the Phantom.
Aslynn stood and listened to her fate be decided, with the smaller man on her side, to keep her from running away.
"Oh fuck," she said softly, but loud enough for the Phantom to hear.
"What was that you said," he asked her, in a tone that one would take as anger.
"Nothing, my head hurts, that's all," she replied softly, which was true, but wasn't the reason for her softly speaking out.
The Phantom could tell that she spoke the truth but could also tat her pain wasn't the only reason for softly speaking out. HE studied her with interest and saw the large lump on the side of her head. He turned back to the man and said,
" Leave her with me, I will deal with her."
The man looked at the young woman, then back at the Phantom.
"Ok, you have five days. If we don't find a corpse or see her wandering out of the theater, after five days, she is yours. If not, we will take her back," he said with relief from getting rid of his burden.
The out raged Aslynn, so with her fading strength, she lashed out at him,
"You sick bastard, I didn't even do anything that bad to you. Now I'm a prisoner. To hell with you."
The smaller man slapped her across her cheek, and pushed her towards the dock.
"Leave us!" The Phantom commanded.
The frightened men began to slowly back away.
"Go, I said!" The Phantom yelled, his voice echoing off all the walls.
This scared the men even more, and they fled. Once they were out of the gateway, the man cloaked in black pushed a lever on the dock that caused the black iron gate and curtain to lower.
He then turned fully and faced Aslynn. Aslynn lifted her head again, and upon seeing him, gasped in shock. The man wore a mask that covered nearly half of his face. The white porcelain contrasting with black hair, and made his skin seem darker. The mask cut around his red lips, and went across the lower part of his jaw, revealing only his cleanly shaven chin and neck.
Her gasp didn't shock him. He looked at her at her hands, and saw they were bound tightly with a thick rope. Her wrists were bright red and raw.
"You should get out of the water," He said to her, his voice calmer now.
She just stood there. She had always been stubborn, and wasn't going to change that how. She didn't trust this man and the pain in her head was getting worse. She closed her eyes again; the fear in her chest was smashed by the throbbing pain in her head.
The Phantom saw her do this and called out to her again, "You really could get out of the water, its not helping you at all."
His voice was reassuring, and she replied,
"How do I know that you're not just going to make it worse, and through me in your torture chamber."
"Your just going to have to trust me, it might be worth getting out of that cold water," the Phantom said, amused by her stubborn fear.
She looked at him, and then at her surroundings. She was about 20 feet from the dock. She slowly started to make her way thought the water to the dock. She stopped when she was about five feet away.
"I'm a prisoner, so I guess I have no choice." She said out loud to her self.
The phantom let a small smile slide across his masked face and held out his hand.
Aslynn reached the dock, and shyly accepted his outstretched hand. She tried to pull her self up, but failed to find the strength. So, he put his other hand under her arm and easily lifted her out of the water.
Once she was on the dock he pulled a dagger out of his boot. Seeing the shimmering blade in his hand, she used the last of her energy and kicked him in the shin. That weak kick took the rest of her, and she collapsed on the dock.
The Phantom was shocked that this girl had kicked him in the shin. He stepped back as she fell. Her eyes shut as she hit the dock. After landing she groaned in pain. He waited a bit before bending down, with the silver dagger still in his hands.
A million thoughts went flying though Aslynn's head as she hit the ground. Most of them questioning why she was here, and why was this man trying to kill her.
Why would he want to kill me, I haven't done anything to him, she thought, her eyes still closed.
She could feel him bending over her. She tightened her eyes and bit her lip expecting the worst.
She felt a smooth, cold hand close around her wrists, and then the cold blade against her skin. It didn't cut into her; instead it cut the bindings on her wrists. She then felt the cold, firm grasp on her wrists loosen and opened her eyes. The man started to walk away, his back toward her. She lay on the hard dock, watching the cloaked man. He stood very still, with his back still to her.
She tried to get up, but she collapsed under her own weight.
Hearing the young woman fall again, the Phantom turned. His green eyes met her dark blue ones, which were full of pain and fear. He walked to her and offered her his hand. He could tell she was weak and frightened as she reached up to take his hand, her arms shaking. He pulled her up, gently supporting her and guided her off the dock, and up the old stairs. They reached the top of the stairs, where the organ and a hundred candles filled the open room.
The Phantom then offered her a seat in a large mahogany chair. She gratefully sat, letting her body relax slightly.
The phantom studied her, and she knew he could see the cuts and bruises on her face. The soft candlelight highlighted the blonde streaks in her hair that wasn't visible on the dock. Her faded green dress was torn across the stomach and covered in dirt. Her red lips were chapped, and she had a cut on her bottom lip. She was a mess.
After several minuets of silence the Phantom finally spoke.
"Since your going to be here a while, you'll want to clean up."
Aslynn looked up at him, his back was turned to her. He was tense, as if he didn't want the trouble of dealing with her.
Since she didn't reply, the phantom went on,
"I will show you your room and bathroom. I'll draw you a bath as well, so you can wash up."
He turned around, hoping to get a reply from the somewhat mysterious woman.
Seeing his dark green eyes looking in to hers, she slowly managed to whisper,
"Thank you."
As she started to get up the Phantom walked over to her. He helped her out of the chair, and walked her though the open room, down a hall, and opened an old Victorian mahogany door. He grabbed one of the candles that lit the hall, and head her into the dark room. He left her standing in the doorway as he walked around the room, lighting all the candles, giving the room a soft glow. He then went to another door, and lit the candles in that room.
As Aslynn watched the man light up the room, she surveyed her surroundings. The room had a large, four post Victorian bed with carvings engraved in it. On the bed was a red satin comfiture with maroon embroidery. Next to the bed there was a small night table. On the opposite wall sat a vanity set but with no mirror. The vanity's legs were made of an iron design. The design was followed up the sides to where the mirror should have been. Nest to the vanity set was a mahogany dresser, matching the same design as the rest of the room.
Once the man was done lighting the inner room he turned to her and beckoned her in. She heard running water as she entered a fancy bathroom with a large bathtub set on claws and made of a red marble. She saw the tub being filled with water from a fancy spout, and she noticed that there was, again no mirrors in this room.
"I will fetch some clothes and a towel for you," the phantom said briskly as he turned gracefully, his cloak swishing out behind him and exited the room.
Aslynn watched the man leave, and looked around this room. She saw a sink with the same fancy spout that was on the tub. The floor was made of tan tiling, and on the floor nest to the old tub was a Persian rug. After the few minuets that Aslynn spent looking around the room, the man appeared in the doorway.
"This is all I have to offer," he said holding out a pair of black trouser and a white ruffled shirt. "It has been a while since a woman has been here," he added softly.
"Thank you," Aslynn managed to choke out. She walked over and took the clothes from him. There was also a towel mixed in the pile of clothes.
"While you stay here, these two rooms will be yours. I will not come in with out your permission." The phantom stated. "There are no locks, so you'll have to trust me," he added, seeing Aslynn check the door for a lock. With saying that, he left, shutting the door behind him.
Aslynn set down her new clothes next to the tub, and looked around for some shampoo. Next to the sink she found some with a bar of soap. She went back over to the tub, and turned the water off. She stuck her hand into the water to find that it was very warm.
She slowly undressed, first taking off her worn shoes and stockings. As she slowly peeled off her dress, she saw bruises on her stomach and shoulders. Blood was gently oozing from the bright red line on her stomach.
To her surprise, she was still wearing her blue striped bikini under the dress. She was also still wearing her necklace, which had tow small sharks teeth on either side of a silver cross.
Once she was completely undressed, she started to slip into the tub. As the warm water reached her waist she hissed in pain. The warm water rushed over her cut, and she held her self up. Slowly she lowered her self into the water, trying to keep the pain down. Once she was submerged, she let her body relax.
Hope you enjoyed, more coming very soon. Please review now!