Disclamer: I don't own any Phantom stuff, or the Bon Jovi song in this chapter. I was a little dissapointed after the last chapter not getting as many reviews. But to the ones who did review, many thanks, your support really keeps me going.This chapter would have beenup sooner,but last thursdayI started to read Angels and Demons, and couldnt put it downutillI finished it Monday. More should be up soon (sooner if I get more motivation coughreviewcough). Hope you enjoy!
Erik was waiting at the café at four, like he said. Aslynn wasn't anywhere insight. Should I wait? He thought, passing the inside area looking out the window. You knew she was going to leave, and you even gave her money. She could be far from Paris now. And yet you thought she would stay with you. Ha! At least you didn't give her your heart. She was only company, someone to talk to. Even though you didn't talk to her much.
After five minuets of waiting, Erik left, figuring that she would never return. He walked to the opera house, and opened the side door. He started to head to the stairs when he suddenly stopped.
She could just be late. Or maybe she got lost. Or worse…No, she's tough, and puts up to good of a fight, nothing like that could have happened to her. Maybe I should go back.
He hit his fist against the wall in frustration. "Damn her," he cursed, "Why am I going though this?"
With that he back tracked, and headed back to the café.
Aslynn was quietly sitting at a table when she heard the door open. She glanced up and saw a heavily cloaked man walk in, whose face wasn't visible. She had given up hope that Erik would meet her, so she didn't think much of the figure. She was too busy trying to figure out what she was going to do.
The figure approached her table, and spoke her name in a gruff, deep voice, a voice of someone who was extremely frustrated and angry, trying not to let others hear the frustration.
"Erik?" she asked the cloaked figure.
It nodded and pulled her out of the chair. "Come," he said.
She grabbed her stuff and followed him.
Once they were inside the opera house, he took off the hood and yelled, "WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU? ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED! ESPECIALLY GETTING CLOSE TO DUSK! YOUR DAMN LUCKY I CAME BACK TO SEE IF YOU ARRIVED!"
Erik was extremely angry now, his eyes full of rage and his mouth tense.
"I'm sorry, I lost track of time." She replied, looking down. His anger frightened her.
"Lost track of time? How was I to know that?" He yelled, his voice not as loud, but powerful.
"It's not like I wasn't going to come back. Like I said before, your the only person I know." Aslynn quietly said, still looking at the ground.
Erik didn't reply, but instead lead the way down to his house. It was uncomfortable how silent the long journey back was. Erik took Aslynn's bags and carried them for her. Once they were back on the dock of his house, Aslynn spoke again.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you that much."
Erik just nodded, and left to his room. Aslynn watched him go, and decided to go herself. She first went to the kitchen and unpacked the food items. Once done with that she retreated to her room, where she changed back into the slacks and shirt.
After putting a few logs on the dim fire, she curled up in a chair.
Oh I wish I were home. I don't like this time period. I miss everyone, and my freedom. Why the hell am I here anyways? For what purpose?
Aslynn awoke the next morning extremely stiff. Her next and back ached, and was a bit cold. The fire had died down to coals, and the room was a bit chilly.
I fell asleep in this chair last night. THAT was a bad idea; I'm regretting it now.
She slowly got out of the chair and arched her back. Following that she leaned to the side and doing so her back cracked. Once her back was less tight, she decided to put logs on the fire to heat the room up again.
Aslynn then let her self-fall onto the Victorian bed. I don't have to do anything today; I might just go back to bed. Rolling over to her stomach she remembered all the food she bought yesterday. Well I guess there is something to do then. I was planning on making dinner for Erik tonight, as a thank you for letting me stay here, and borrow his money. But I don't need to do that yet, it will only take two hours or so to prepare.
With that she slide under the covers and closed her eyes. After about thirty minuets of a light sleep she awoke with a start. It would take me only two hours if I were back home, with electricity. Ugg, with a Franklin stove, there's no limit to how long it will take. After letting out a deep sigh, Aslynn pushed the warm covers off, and got up again.
The room had warmed up, and the fire glowed warmly. She was still in the pants and shirt, and decided to stay in them. I'll just be changing later anyways. I probably won't bathe until I change either. No point in taking a bath twice. She gently pulled her light brown hair into a low ponytail, letting the shorter pieces fall in her face. She tucked the long bangs behind her ears.
Finally ready to start working, she left her room. The halls where dimly lit, most of the light coming from the room on the lake. Once she reached there she found Erik sitting at the desk, working on something. Either he didn't hear her come in, or was ignoring her.
"Men," Aslynn said under her breath, shaking her head. When she was ten feet away from the desk Erik put down his pen. He still remained silent and didn't acknowledge her presence, which frustrated Aslynn. She waited a bit before clearing her throat.
"So, are we cool about yesterday?" She asked, her voice a bit shaky, afraid of the man's response.
Cool? Erik thought. "No I'm not cold, thank you." He coldly replied still not turning around.
"Not cool as in chilled, but like, you know, cool."
"No, I don't know." His voice was low.
"Ugg, cool, like," Aslynn started trying to figure out the right words. She had forgotten about modern language. "Cool…"
"I still don't know what your talking about, and no I'm not cold."
Aslynn let out a groan of frustration. "How else do you say cool? Okay wait, how about 'Are we okay about yesterday.'"
"I don't know, are we okay?" Erik was now being sarcastic, feeling that Aslynn was getting annoyed. He smiled to himself.
Erik's back was still towards Aslynn.
"Damn it, Erik you know what I mean." Aslynn replied, her tone showed how annoyed she was.
"Do I?"
"Stop being such a smart ass. Ugg, I mean, what happened yesterday, are we over it?"
Now turning around Erik coldly replied, "Yes, now was that so hard?"
Aslynn glared at Erik. I haven't known this man long enough for him to mock me. He must think it's so funny. For a moment their eyes dug into each other's. His green eyes were feeding off hers, and shown with amusement. Finally breaking the stare off, Aslynn turn her head. Those green eyes made Aslynn feel something, but she couldn't place the feeling.
"Fine Erik, be that way. I'll be in the kitchen." With that she turned and briskly walked away. Before she left the room she stopped.
Erik watched her all the way to the doorway. He was very amused at how easily she got frustrated. How her frustration seemed to make her glow. No, what am I saying. I could never think of her like that. Remember what happened last time Erik.
Aslynn turned around, and called out to Erik, "And I'll ask that you don't come in."
Erik raised an eyebrow, but remained silent.
Well, at least he seemed to hear what I said. He so frustrating.
Aslynn left the room and made her way to the kitchen. Once there she put on some water for tea, and found something for breakfast. While she at, she planned how she was going to prepare the food.
I think I'll start with the tortellini, since that takes the most time. Then the dessert, and after that the chicken, since that takes a bit too. Oh hum, I guess the asparagus is last. Well I guess I should get started.
She pulled out all the ingredients for the tortellini, and started to mix the dough. After a little over two hours, she was done stuffing and making the pasta. Erik hadn't come in yet, which made Aslynn think that he actually listened to her request. Her next part of the meal was dessert, which needed to be baked. She melted the chocolate and made a batter. Once that was done, the young woman decided to go ahead and try and bake it.
Sliding it into the Franklin stove carefully, she luckily didn't burn her self. While it was baking, she pounded the chicken breasts. Even though it was at least four hours until dinner, she had know idea how long it would take, so she went ahead and started to cook them. After an hour when the cake was done she looked for something to take it out with. There were only thin, warn towels, which made her nervous.
I'm definitely going to burn myself, she thought.
Reaching into the blazing hot oven, she quickly pulled out the iron pan. She wasn't quick enough, and the heat from the steaming hot pan quickly bleed though the towel. The added weight didn't help.
"DAMN IT!" she cursed, quickly setting the pan down on the counter. "Oh fuck that hurts. AHHHH!"
She left out a howl of pain, and ran over to the sink.
Erik was working at the desk when he heard a good deal of blasphemed language float down the hall.
"What is she doing?" he softly asked himself. "She better not have broken anything."
He set down his pen, and silently walked down to kitchen. As he approached he smelled a sweet smell of food, which he hadn't smelt in a long time. He pushed the closed door open to find the young woman bent over the sink. The water was running, as she softly cursed.
"What in God's name are you doing?" He asked, his voice demanding, but not harsh.
Hearing Erik, Aslynn turned to face him. His white shirt was tucked in to his coal black pants, and the top was unbuttoned, revealing his well-sculpted chest. His black hair was pushed back behind his ears.
"What are you doing? I asked you not to come in!" She briskly replied, her voice more demanding than his.
"Your billingsgate disturbed my work, so I came to see what the hell you are doing." He said. Seeing her hand burning red he added, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Now OUT!"
"This is MY house, don't demand me around like that!" Erik replied fiercely. He wasn't use to being told what to do.
"I don't care. I want to be alone, so out!" She firmly said, pulling her hand out of the cold running water. She made her way towards Erik. He still didn't move. She made it right up to him with out him movie one inch. His cat-like eyes glued to her every move.
The young woman's blue eyes glared up to the masked face above her. He still didn't move. Fine Erik, two can play this game. She used her un-burned hand to shove Erik towards the door. He finally gave in, and left, without saying a word.
After Erik left Aslynn went back to cooking, even thought her hand hurt like mad. Was he concerned whither or not I was hurt? She thought. Nah, it's nothing.
Another hour pasted, and she was really wishing she had electronic tools. I know understand why people cooked all day. This is a pain.
She was nearing the end, but still had a bit more to prepare. Somehow she recalled singing along with a Bon Jovi CD, while cooking with her Mom. When she was little, her Mom would teach her how to make different traditional Italian dishes, and they would always listen to Bon Jovi. Recalling her favorite song she softly sang,
Sitting here wasted and wounded
at this old piano
Trying hard to capture
the moment this morning I don't know
'Cause a bottle of vodka
is still lodged in my head
And some blond gave me nightmares
I think that she's still in my bed
As I dream about movies
they won't make of me when I'm dead
With an ironclad fist I wake up and
French kiss the morning
While some marching band keeps
its own beat in my head
While we're talking
About all of the things that I long to believe
About love and the truth and
what you mean to me
And the truth is baby you're all that I need
I want to lay you down on a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses
Erik left partly against his will, and headed back to his work. When he was done he decided to check on Aslynn, making sure she didn't burn herself again.
This time he just stayed outside the door, and listened. No point in wasting my timegetting into another argument.
He heard her singing, an odd melody. He carefully listened to the words.
Is this about Chris, or just a song? He thought, pondering on the lyrics longer. Since she seemed to be okay, he left again, this time retreating to his room.
Finally Aslynn was nearing the end of preparing the meal. Everything was done, so she put all the dishes in the Franklin stove to keep them warm.
A hot bath would be very nice right now, she thought. I think that's what I will do. I'll just let Erik know, and make sure he stays out of the kitchen. With that she left the room, and made her way to the dark door guarding Erik's room. She knocked on the door, but didn't get a response. "Erik, I'm going to take a bath now. I'll ask that you still stay out of the kitchen."
She listened thought the door, but still didn't get a response. Whatever, I'll just get him before dinner. Shaking her head she went to her room, and drew a bath.
Once she was done washing and letting her bones soak, she dried off and tried to put the corset on.
"Damn these clothes!" She cursed, unable to tie it on the first attempt. So she tried again. After about five tries she was able to tie the corset so it wasn't half on. She then looked over her two new dresses, and decided which one to wear.
She pulled on the blue gown, which scoped down low in the front. It was the color of a deep blue ocean, and flowed down her body like the calm lapping of waves on a calm day. The dress had black embroidery consisting of swirls, which flowed down her sides. By the time she was done dressing, her hair was dry. She ran a brush thought it one last time before heading out to the kitchen.
On the way she stopped by Erik's door. The young woman knocked again, and called out, "Dinner will be ready in ten minuets." She waited, but didn't get a response. "I expect you to come." She added.
That finally got a response from the masked man inside the room. "I'll be there." Was the short response he gave her.
Aslynn smile, and went to the kitchen to set the table.
Erik was starting to get curious of what the woman was doing when she first knocked at the door. His questions were answered when she returned later, telling him to come to dinner.
I hope she doesn't expect me to eat. She will be in for a disappointment if so. Why would she go to all this trouble to make me dinner? He thought on that for a bit while he changed. He put on a clean shirt and topped it with his opera vest and jacket. He went to a cracked mirror and straightened his hair. Briefly cursing his mask, he left the shards of mirrors and left the room.
When he walked into the kitchen his eyes grew wide with shock.
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