Disclamer: I don't own any Phantom stuff, ya'll should know that by now. As you can guess I'm back from Italy, and are somewhat over jet-lag, since this chapter is going up. It was amazing, except when driving. AHHH, Italians drive like lunatics ! But I never saw any accidents, so they drive like safe lunatics.
A huge thanks to all the reviewers, all your input is helpful, and A.E. Hall, I hope this is better for you, that's another reason why this chapter is up a day later, trying to make everything more poetic. And while on the topic of editing, my Editor hasn't really been much of a help recently, I talk to her all the time, but she's just not editing. It's either : A: Got shot by a crazy southerner b/c she's a yankee living in the south (yes, there still are people fighting the war) B: It's summer and she's being extreamly lazy C: just quit... I think its a mix between B and C, so that means I need a new editor. If anyone know's of anyone, that would be very helpful, since I can't catch everything I do wrong. : Anyways, here's Chapter 14, hope you enjoy:
Several days passed since the night on Apollo's lair. Aslynn and Erik spent more time together than in the past. Mostly by spending time together was being in the same room, where they still kept to themselves a good deal. Frustrating enough, Aslynn found that it was still hard to keep a conversation with Erik, but he was a bit more willing to respond to her ever-ending questions. When she wasn't trying to talk to Erik she worked on the puzzle book she bought. Some of the problems were very easy, while others took most of a day.
The misanthrope man spent most of his time composing. Ever since he and Aslynn had become friendlier he decided that he was going to write another opera, for if the opera house ever reopened. He tried to loosen up to Aslynn, and that night on Apollo's lair helped. From that night he learned that there might yet be hope, and she didn't judge him. Afterwards she told him that she had a good time, which shocked the phantom.
She doesn't seem to care about my mask. Or at least hasn't asked about it in a while. Maybe I was wrong to think of her a Christine. Instead of keeping away she tries to hold a conversation, something Christine would never do. She doesn't want to leave either. At least, she hasn't asked to yet.
She won't stay here forever; she will want to leave sometime, Erik thought as he walked in circles in his room. Aslynn was asleep and Erik took the time to be in his chamber.
But until she does ask, what do I do? Do I really care for her? Is that why I keep thinking about her? Maybe telling her that I care for her would keep her from leaving.
Come on Erik get your head out of the clouds. Aslynn wouldn't stay with you always. Telling her what you feel could scare her, like it did Christine. But she's not Christine, and I wouldn't call this love, no. She still wouldn't stay, she'll see behind the mask sometime, and then wish to leave.
As he dawdled upon this thought he took off his cold, bone white mask, and set it down on a nightstand. Stiffly he walked over to a heavy black drape and pulled it back. Behind it was a shattered mirror, the cracks like a sunburst coming out of the center. Seeing his reflection the man turned away in disgust.
No, look at me, she wouldn't stay for this. I'm a monster; I was never meant to be loved. I've learned that in this hell of a life. Society's shunning of me, expect for Madam Giry's kindness. The gypsies don't count. Well, there is Dargoga.
He returned to the shattered mirror. Slowly taking his hand to his combed back hair, he pulled off the black wig. His eyes narrowed as he looked at his reflection with his thin blonde hair. On the disfigured side of his face hair was missing. Curling his lip he stared at his image with hatred.
I could force her to stay. He thought, picking up a candlestick. No that would make me more of a monster and any chance I had would be gone. With that he threw the lighted candle across the room. As soon as it hit the stone floor it went out.
"Why would anyone be kind to a monster like me? Damn, how long I've wanted to get out of the fires of hell, to be someone's angel again. To reach my heaven." He snarled, his temper flaring.
While Erik cursed his reflection he failed to hear a faint cry coming from the room Aslynn was in.
In her room Aslynn was tossing in her bed. Glimmering sweat beaded up on her face as she kicked off the sheets. Still in a deep slumber she tossed again.
Far away, Aslynn was walking down an empty beach, the warm wand sliding threw her toes. Her bare feet enjoyed the warm water that had just washed up on the shore. Welcomed warm rays of sunshine beat down on the brunette's back. It seemed like an eternity since she walked along the shoreline; with the sound of crashing waves ringing threw her ears.
Not knowing where she was going or how far away she was to travel, were cares that didn't bother her. Instead her mind was overcome with the view around her, and the crispness of the air. It had been too long since she last heard the waves crash against the shore and smelt the salt air.
It didn't occur to Aslynn how she got there, or where Erik was. All she cared was that she was home. A joy filled her soul that she hadn't felt since Chris died. Gracefully she continued to walk the beach, watching the seabirds dive into the water. Their swift movement was calming to watch.
She walked the warm beach until it faded into a street. The change in scenery didn't stop her. Aslynn kept on walking; knowing that she wasn't in her final destination. Under her feet she could feel the presence of the hot pavement, but it didn't bother her. The street was narrow, most likely one way.
Slowly people started to appear around the bare-footed woman, most of the faces she didn't recognize. A few she recognized as neighbors. They were all walking against her; each one of them had the same expression on their face. The source of this expression puzzled her, but she didn't think too much on it.
Just as slowly as the people appeared they began to disappear and soon she was walking down the road alone. She could tell that she was getting closer to her destination, wherever that is. Crossing in front of her friend's house, she decided to stop a bit. Glancing threw the window she saw two people getting ready to go out. Both were dressed in black, the shorter woman was tying a bunch of roses together.
Aslynn knew that this wasn't her destination so she kept going. The next thing the traveler knew she was walking into a crowd, and she could sense she was getting close. Gradually she started to pick out faces in the crowd.
She was walking with members of her family, some she hadn't seen in a while. All of the faces were very somber, full with grief. They pasted by her as if she was invisible. Aslynn also noticed that they too were all wearing black.
Suddenly she noticed two of her friends standing aside talking. Approaching them she said,
"Hey guys. What's everyone doing here?"
The brown haired man kept on whispering to a blonde woman, as if he didn't hear Aslynn. So she tried again.
"Hey Bruce, what's going on? It's not like you to do this."
The man she addressed as Bruce still did nothing to acknowledge her presence. Just as she was about to step in front of him to get his eye, the two turned and walked toward the crowd.
As they left Aslynn heard the blonde woman say, "Well, I think she went the way she would have wanted to."
After hearing this Aslynn realized that she was at a funeral. She noticed that the two walking away from her were also dressed in black.
Curiosity filled the traveler as she wondered if this was where she was meant to be. She looked down to find that she was wearing a simple white sundress that v-ed in the neck. In was very flowing and came to her knees.
"I must not be going to the funeral," she whispered to her self. "I'm not wearing the right clothes."
Walking deeper into the crowd she saw Peter. Peter was one of the few to really comfort her after Chris died; it was threw Peter that Aslynn meet Chris. He lost his father around the same time, so he understood her grief. The musician was also the only friend who was there the night Chris proposed, her late fiancé had worked it out for him to play Aslynn's favorite song.
Peter was standing with another young man who had dark brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. When she heard the voice of the young man her heart jumped. It was her elder brother Patrick.
His blue eyes, which matched Aslynn's, were full of sadness as he talked to Peter. His arms were tensely folded across his chest as he breathed heavily. The young woman could tell that Peter and her brother were deep in conversation, on a topic that made her brother uneasy.
She had always held a high respect for Patrick, and tried not to invade his private life. When they were little they would always wrestle and play childish games, and that created a strong bond between the two. He later went on to protect her when she was in danger. Because of all of that she decided that it was best not to interrupt them, so she walked on.
The next group of people she saw was some of her girlfriends from the university. All of them were seated on a bench, and wearing fancy black dresses. Knowing that they would never act weird around her, Aslynn walked over and said hello.
Meghan turned her head to look over in Aslynn's way but didn't say a word in reply. Confused, Aslynn tried again.
"Hey, what's everyone doing here? Meghan? Hello?"
Instead of getting a reply from the red head, Meghan turned back to the other ladies and whispered something to them. After she did this she turned her head back towards Aslynn. The red head gazed off for a minuet then nodded her head. The group instantaneously got up and walked into the crowd.
"Fine, I'll ignore you too." Aslynn huffed as she watched them walk off.
By this point Aslynn gave up hope on figuring out what was going on. She knew that this wasn't where she was trying to get to. Sighing, she push onward, her bare feet now brushing against the cold grass.
Fighting her way threw the sea of people Aslynn neared the center. There she found her mother embracing her younger sister. Both of them were deeply upset, and using each other for comfort. The bare-footed woman noticed how wet their cheek's were, and how puffy their eye's were as well.
Aslynn started to walk towards them until she saw something that made her stop dead in her tracks. In front of her was a headstone that belonged to Chris's grave. That seemed to be the final destination of the crowd, which seemed very odd to the traveler.
Again Aslynn knew that this wasn't where she was going, so she tried to push threw the crowd. Not getting far, she grumbled, and cursed at the people. As she was about to yell 'get out of my way' she saw another headstone that took all the sound out of her mouth.
In front of this new headstone was an open coffin, orbited by fresh earth. Standing next to the grave was Heather, clutching a small object in her fist. Taking a deep breath Aslynn slowly walked towards Heather. As she approached she heard her friend say,
"I shouldn't have had her go for that wave. Damn." Pausing, Heather opened her fist. "Well, she will be with her love know, maybe be happy again."
The female surfer picked up the ring that was in her palm and bend over the coffin. She slid the ring onto the body's finger. As she did so Aslynn's mind blacked out, and when she blinked she was standing at the foot of a driveway. The driveway led up to a large, elegant house, with a horse drawn carriage at the door. She blinked again and was back in the graveyard.
Now shaking, Aslynn approached the grave. She held her breath as she bend over the black coffin to look at the corpse. What she saw made he stumble back, while letting out a small scream.
In the casket was a perfect image of her body, with her eye's close. The body in the tomb's hairline had a large bump and scrape on it. Behind it was a large gash that had been sown up.
Overcome by violent shakes and her legs like rubber, Aslynn dared to look at it again, just to makes sure. This time, as she looked onto her dead body, she started to fall. She fell inwards, letting out an ear-piercing scream.
With her whole body paralyzed with shakes, she awoke with a start. Gasping for air she bolted up, sweat pouring down her body.
"It can't be true. It was just a dream. Oh shit. It can't be true." She rambled to herself.
The frightened woman's attempt to calm herself failed, and her body started to uncontrollably shake again. Slowly she stumbled out of bed, and made her way towards the door.
Stumbling through the hallway, her legs like jello, she fell into the wall. After struggling to get up she used the wall to guide her down the hall. Using the wall as a guide, she made her way to Erik's room. Her breathing was heavy and her chest tight. The world around her was swirling.
After what seemed to be an eternity she reached the old wooden door that blocked off Erik's room. Forgetting his warning not to enter, she opened the door and stumbled in.
"Erik, I'm…" she stumbled, but stopped as her cloudy eyes saw the coffin on the floor.
"Oh shit." The faint woman whispered before crashing down to the floor.
Erik's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his door open, and the young woman stumble in. Automatically his hand went up to his unmasked right side of his face, to cover it. He heard her weak voice start to say something until it stopped.
The anger from his thoughts magnified instantly. His first thought to the young woman was that she had seen his face, that he didn't cover it fast enough.
"Damn you! I told you not to enter my room," he yelled, his rough voice echoing off the black drapes that covered the room. "How dare you enter my room! Damnable woman, why the hell did you have to do that?"
In his fury he whirled around to find Aslynn on the floor. The way her body was positioned was hard to tell if she saw his face or not. Her breathing was heavy and eye's closed. She appeared to be in some kind of shock.
Still enraged Erik snarled at the woman, and took the opportunity to put his mask on. He turned back around and picked the white mask off the nightstand. He slid it onto his face. Then the now masked man walked into his bathroom and filled a basin with cold water.
Red-hot anger was beating through his veins. He carried the basin to the disobedient woman and set it down on the floor. After staring at Aslynn for a bit, he kneeled down next to her.
Slowly he pulled his gloves off, and dipped his hands into the ice-cold water. Cupping some water in his hands, he splashed it onto the woman's face.
Aslynn was brought back with the feeling of cold water running down her face. The first thing she saw luckily wasn't the coffin, but Erik's strong hands filled with water. Seconds later that water was in her eyes.
Slowly she lifted her head, towards Erik. She met his green eyes that were filled with anger.
Seeing that she was awake, Erik stood back up, drying his hands on his un-tucked white shirt.
"I told you to stay out of my room." His voice was overwhelming with anger, but remained soft, like a growl.
Aslynn looked to the floor. "I… I'm sorry… I just…" she stuttered.
As she tried to get words out, she recalled why she was there, the dream. Upon recalling the nightmare she started to violently shake again. Unable to control her body, her head slightly turned away from Erik. Through the swirling objects the saw the casket again, and her body became as stiff as a board.
Erik watched and waited for the woman to explain herself. He realized that something was out of place when she started to shake. As she turned towards his bed her body froze.
"You just what?" Erik questioned with a powerful voice, still angry.
Aslynn didn't answer him; she just looked at the coffin. She felt as if someone punched her in the stomach.
"Answer me woman!" He commanded when she didn't respond.
Words came to Aslynn's mouth, but not to answer the fuming man's question. To her self she said,
"I'm dead. No, I can't be. Oh damn…" the woman started to tremble again and she ran her fingers through her messy hair.
Erik frowned, and said, "Your not dead, your as alive as anyone."
Still looking at the coffin the vacillating woman replied, "No, I'm dead. I'm dead damn it!"
The masked man moved in front of Aslynn, blocking her from the coffin. He squatted down so he was looking her in they eye.
"Your not dead." His voice was fierce, and his eyes still flaming with rage.
Aslynn's voice rose as she spat, "Yes I am, damn it, I'm dead!"
The phantom noticed that her shaking stopped as soon as he blocked his bed from her view. Then it occurred to him that the coffin on the floor was why the fainted. "That's not your casket." His voice was a bit calmer, but still overcoming.
Looking up into his eyes, Aslynn was calmed a bit, but not much. "It has to be. I saw it. I was in it. My family was there…"
"What are you talking about? This is the first time you've seen my bed."
"It was more than a dream, I was the only one wearing white, and everyone else was dressed in black. I saw my body in a coffin, I'm dead." Her weak voice told Erik. She wanted to know if that really wasn't her coffin, like Erik said, so tried to get up.
Unable to she fell back down to the ground. Again she tried, this time standing up on legs that felt like they were fragile sticks. As she started to wobble over towards the casket Erik called out to her.
"Where are you going?"
Aslynn didn't reply, she just stood next to the coffin, building up the courage to look in. Finally ready she leaned over the edge. Inside she saw red silk sheets, and no body.
"I told you that's my bed." The phantom growled, getting up.
Aslynn came back to her senses again and whirled around. "You sleep in there?" she demanded.
"Yes."
Aslynn was quiet for a while, thinking the past events through. Suddenly she said, "But I'm still dead. It's starting to make sense. I'm dead, damn."
To Erik it sounded as if she was almost laughing. She must still be in trauma. He stiffly folded his arms over his chest. "Your not making sense. Your alive."
Maybe she's been right about the whole 'not from this time' thing. It's a very unlikely story, but with her saying she's dead, it's starting to piece together. So then if she's been telling the truth, she died the day she was brought down here. Ha, so I really do live in Hell.
Since the woman didn't reply he went on. "So, I'm taking it that your never going back to where you came from?" He unfolded his arms as he approached the young woman.
It was Aslynn's turn to frown. "No, don't you get it, I've been telling you that I'm dead. There is no going back to the twenty-first century or surfing or my family."
As she said that, her eyes started to water and her voice was shaky. She realized that there really was no going home. That she would never be able to wrestle with her brother or go to concerts with her sister.
She brought her hands up to her eyes to cover the tears that were starting to fall. Aslynn turned away slightly, warm tears now running down her cheeks.
The Phantom watched the young woman as she tried to hide her sadness. He wasn't one to be sympathetic, especially receiving very few accounts of sympathy himself. Though he was still furious with her for entering him room, this was one rare time in which he wanted to show sympathy.
It tightened his heart to see the distress of Aslynn. Unsure of what to do, he stepped towards the weeping woman, but stopped, afraid of what her reaction would be. If he touched her would she recoil from him?
At this point I guess I have nothing to loose, the masked man grimly thought. Slowly, he walked up to the woman and after hesitating for a moment he rested a hand on her shoulder.
Instead of rejecting the gesture, Aslynn turned towards the Phantom and buried her head into his shoulder. Erik's breathing instantly increased and he was lost for what to do. The mourning woman then unconsciously put one of her hands on Erik's muscular chest, lightly grabbing onto his shirt.
The masked man jumped out of shock, his eyes wide. This was not what he expected. The warmth of the woman against his tense chest was something he had never felt, along with the warm, wet tears that bleed through his shirt.
With one hand on her back, Erik was unsure of what to do next. After a while of her soft weeping into him, he used his other hand to stroke her hair.
Aslynn's head lay above the rapidly beating heart of the Phantom of the Opera. As time passed, the heartbeat returned to a normal speed, as did his breathing. The rhythmic beat of Erik's heart calmed the woman.
After what seemed to be an eternity for Erik, Aslynn's grip on his shirt loosed and she pulled back. Taking her sweaty hand, she whipped away the last tears. Not ready to face Erik's eyes, which where last full of fury, Aslynn looked down at her feet.
Running her fingers through her tangled hair she muttered, "god, I'm a mess."
Hearing this Erik replied with a calm voice, "No, your not."
Looking up to the man she smiled, "Do you have to disagree with everything I say?"
At this, the Phantom didn't reply. He just looked off past the woman. Most of his anger was gone, but he never was able to get over something that quick. The angry fire that ran through his veins earlier was gone.
The young woman watched him; her puffy red eyes traced the stone cold mask. It was on the right side of his face, like it always was, but something seemed different. For some reason he didn't look the same.
Feeling a pair of eyes upon his face, Erik glanced down to the woman. She was looking at him with an odd look, as if she lost something.
Suddenly it hit Aslynn what was different. Erik's hair was no longer the neatly combed back black hair that it usually was. It was a very light brown, almost blonde and stringy thin. Above his ear where his mask stopped, hair was missing, a good chunk of it too.
"Erik," Aslynn started, curiosity ringing in her voice, "Your hair hasn't always been blondish, has it?"
Without delay he turned away from the woman, covering his head with both of his hands.
"Damn it. How could I forget? Damn." Erik fiercely cursed to himself.
He briskly walked to the small table next to a shattered mirror. From the table he picked up a wig of black hair and placed it on his head. Cursing again he looked into the mirror and saw Aslynn looking at him.
She didn't appear to be frightened or disgusted by the sight, which shocked him. At least she didn't see the worst of it. Slowly he turned around.
Aslynn watched him with curiosity. He was a man who was very self-conscious of his image. She must admit, his hairline was very odd, along with the thinness of his hair. Seeing the wig answered her question, and when Erik turned back around he looked like he usually did.
Anger rose back to his eyes, but this time it wasn't geared to her. The silence became uncomfortable so she meekly said, "So, blonde is your natural hair color."
"Yes," he growled, "Pretty sight, isn't it?" His body was tense, and he held is arms to his side. His top lip was curled up.
Turning from his blazing eyes the young woman said, "Well, um… I just… it's different from what I'm used to seeing."
"Look at me! I will not have you mock me," Erik snarled.
Aslynn walked over to the piano that occupied a wall of Erik's room. She pulled out the red satin covered bench and sat down. She looked up to Erik who was still across the room. His lip was still curled.
"I wasn't mocking you, I just was a bit shocked to find that you wore a wig. Wearing a wig isn't bad; I mean I know plenty of people who wear wigs. Well they are all cancer patients, and they didn't have any hair."
Erik didn't respond to this. Cancer was known, but didn't know that people lost their hair from it. Taking a deep breath he tried to calm himself.
Since the Phantom didn't reply, Aslynn softly said, "Thanks."
The masked, and now wigged man loosed a bit, his frown softened. "Why?" he simply asked.
"For having a shoulder to lean on. Or at least letting me lean on you, to comfort me. It meant a lot. I mean how often do you find out your dead?"
"Less than I wish," he muttered under his breath. "Your better now I presume?"
"Yeah, I guess so, but I got to get out of here."
The look on Erik's face changed as quickly as a north wind. Reading the look she added, "Not for good though. I don't have anywhere to go. But a stroll in some fresh air, some sun."
His face returned to an emotionless pallet as he nodded. "It's too early in the morning to be in the streets of Paris. It's full of prostitutes and drunks."
"Will you take me up later?" Aslynn asked, looking up into Erik's eyes. He still remained across the room, but wasn't as tense, or angry.
He nodded and added, "Try to get some more sleep."
Aslynn shot up from the piano bench. "Are you crazy? After that dream or vision, whatever you want to call it? Hell no. I'm happy staying right here." She fiercely replied.
A bit alarmed by her response Erik walked over to the young woman. His eyes remained locked with hers. The fear he saw earlier when she was looking to the coffin was gone.
"Let's leave this funeral room though." He said in a deep voice, leading the way to the door. After letting her go through first, he followed and closing the door behind him.
Note: This was another fun chapter to write, since I love doing the dream flash back things. Please review and let me know what you think about my story! (everybit of input helps!) Grazie