Note: Before I get started on the usual pre-chapter stuff I just wanted to say to all those who are victims of Hurrican Katrina, or have family in that area, that my prayers are with all of you/them, and that everyone can get thru this natural disaster.
Now on to the regular stuff: Sorry it's been 3 weeks, but I've been very busy with school starting back and all. This chapter would have been up sooner (like a week and a half ago) if my computer didnt screw up and lose the whole chapter... And since school is in, and marching band, which takes up your life.updates might be a bit less frequent, (or not, haha, if I'm slacking off in class). Also MANY thanks to all of my reviewers! I got so many reviews, and good ones to, so I'm writing comments back to all of them (which I have never done before). For those who saidGarnier was the builder of the Paris Opera house, congrads! The shampoo people, well... yeah.
des ires: of course i'm going to finish it, im not one to start things and not finish, but it might be a while. I mean I already have the ending all planned out. And i'm a Clarinet player
Kay Blue Eyes: Yes,you have the right Garnier. Thanks for the heads up on watching the conversaions with modern day stuff,I guess i forget sometimes.
eriksangleofvoice: Yes, another winner. And thanks for the review!
cylobaby: shampoo... well, your not the only one. oh wait, isnt that like the Lorel brand or something?
coolspot: thanks for the review, and they will be soon.
Aislynn "lesh" Meyers: Another shampoo... close, but not it. haha. thanks for the review, and the little boost with the comments. I was so happy to read it!
Erik'slittlelotte: haha, im glad you like Aslynn's character. I mean why wouldnt Erik need a bit of 'shaking up'. haha.
Queen of Perf.: And another winner. sorry this isnt that much sooner of an update. oh and along the lines of him as Aslynn's employer, well, hes not so much along the lines of the builder like he is historically hint, but you'll find out mroe later
Nicole: THanks for the review!
The air inside the deserted opera house was warmer than the chilly wind outside. Stuffiness filled the woman's lungs as she inhaled. The air was much staler than what she had been breathing for the past several hours. There was a familiar lingering smell of smoke. The only light came from the lantern that the man cloaked in darkness carried. That small amount of light disappeared quickly into the darkened rooms, almost as if absorbed by a sponge.
Aslynn's leader remained silent when he lowered the deep hood that shadowed his whole face. The glimmering white mask was all that the woman could see of his face, as his gloved hand let go of hers. His green eyes were dark and emotionless, as well as the non-masked side of his face. He continued to walk forward and Aslynn followed in his wake.
As the two approached the door to the stairs, the woman grabbed Erik's arm. At her touch, the phantom whirled around, his eyes suddenly full of a raging fire. As he looked at Aslynn his eyes softened a bit, since she caught him off guard.
"Sorry, I just prefer going down these steps feeling your presence. I guess its 'cause of the first time I came down here…" she trailed off, breaking the fiery gaze of the Phantom. He doesn't seem to be in the best of moods. He didn't really greet me at all, or say anything to me yet.
Erik nodded and took her left hand into his right-gloved one, that way she was close to the wall when they traveled down the spiral stairs.
As they descended into darkness, Erik's grip tightened on the young woman's hand. It got to a point that caused Aslynn to wince. Curious of his behavior, she glanced over to the masked side of his face that was facing her. The muscles in his jaw were tense, but that was all she was able to read. When they made it to the glassy lake Erik let go of his death grip.
After she was in the boat she looked at her hand, which was very white from the lack of blood. Damn, I wonder why he's like this. He's usually very gentle. And this silence is really getting uncomfortable.
After what seemed to be forever, the black curtain blocking off Erik's home from the rest of the lake opened and the black gate rose. Algae that grew on the gate dripped down as the boat went under. Once the gondola was clear, the gate automatically lowered again, locking everything out, or in. When the boat softly hit the dock Aslynn jumped out.
The slight rock of the boat caused Erik to look up from his knot tying. He was shocked to find Aslynn not in the boat, but on the dock. She had never jumped out like that before, even before he tied off the boat. Maybe she just wants to get away from my touch. Growling to himself at the thought, his mood just went further downhill.
He quickly finished tying off the boat and followed the woman up the stairs. As he approached her she stopped, near the top step. Her head was hung to her side slightly, like she was listening to a far off song.
"Waiting for something?" He hissed in a low, deep voice.
She shook her head and moved on. Her head hung slightly as she did this. Why is he so pissed? Did I do something? She stopped again away from the path she thought Erik would take. Turing around she saw him brush past her. He slowly walked on, his shoulders ten sly hunched.
"Erik?" Aslynn whispered, turning back around to follow the masked man.
He stopped, hearing her faintly call his name. He turned his head slightly, his upper lip curled.
Seeing that he heard her, Aslynn went on.
"Did I do something?" Her voice was a bit louder than a whisper.
"What?" he growled.
"I just… you seem really angry, and I was wondering if it was my fought?" She mumbled looking down to the floor.
At this Erik turned so he was fully facing the woman. With his lip still curled he spat, "What makes you think I'm angry?"
Aslynn just shrugged, still not meeting his gaze.
"Answer me woman!" he said louder, approaching her.
"It's just how you never spoke during the journey down here… and," she started but was cut off.
"What if I just didn't want to talk? Does that make me angry? You just expect too much from me. I told you from day one that I wouldn't be of much company." His voice grew with every statement so by the end he was yelling.
"I remember what you told me," she started but was again cut off.
"Look at me when you talk!" he growled, grabbing her chin and turning her head to face him.
Aslynn briefly stared into his fiery eyes before bring her arm up to push his away. Stumbling back a bit, she kept her gaze upon his face.
"Can't even stand my touch now?" he fiercely said, taking a few steps back.
"No, I just don't like being faced to do something. I usually like it when you… when you gently hold my hand," she whispered the last part.
He didn't say anything, but just turned and walked away. He heard her, but didn't know what to say, or what she exactly meant by it. His chest swelled up with each large breath of air. After walking all the way across the room he stopped at the doorway. Resting his hand on the frame he took a deep breath, trying to calm down a bit.
After several minuets his breath returned to normal, and he turned to find Aslynn in the same place where he left her. She was playing with one of her rings, and most of her mind seemed to be elsewhere. Her brown hair fell in front of her face, hiding her eyes.
After a few more moments of silence, Aslynn felt a pair of eyes on her. She looked up to see Erik standing in the doorway to the hall.
"You know, I was offered a place to stay today, but I turned the offer down. I would prefer to stay here, even though its underground." She said, still playing with her ring.
"What?" The Phantom asked in a hoarse voice, not believing what he was hearing. How could she be offered a place to stay? And yet she said she would prefer to stay here, thru my anger and me. How?
Walking over to the couch she said, "I turned down an offer for free board. Oh, and I also have a job."
This completely shocked Erik. He remembered her talking about getting one, but never thought she would act on it. "What are you thinking? Why did you get a job?" He said with his voice rising.
"I can't stay down here all the time. I need something to do. I'll be doing accounting work." She boldly said, sitting down.
"How did this all happen?" he asked, anger starting to slip thru into his voice.
"Remember what I said about trying to help this man being robbed, and the robbers brought me down here?" Erik nodded. "Well, I meet that man today. He found my ring, and he offered me a job and a place to stay." She stated before Erik cut her off.
"Why did you take the offer? Don't I give you enough?" he snarled.
"You have given me more than enough, but like I said before, I can't stay down here all the time. Anyways, I only took up half of the offer. The man is very kind as well, I mean he gave me back my ring," she said looking down at her engagement ring as Erik again cut her off.
"Just because someone gave you back a ring doesn't mean he's trust worthy. What's so important about this damn ring anyway?" He said, anger and impatience ringing clear in his voice.
"It's my engagement ring. I thought I lost it for good."
"Oh, so it's the ring that your 'pretty boy' gave you," the Phantom started to go off on Chris until Aslynn cut him off.
"How dare you say that about him! You know nothing of what he was like!" She yelled, jumping to her feet. Erik's mood was starting to rub off on her.
"I can say whatever I damn like to. This is my house, remember? I could kick you out when ever I feel like it!" Erik growled, the fire in his eyes burned bright.
"Do it then! Even thought its your house doesn't give you the right to go off on others!" Aslynn bellowed, her flesh turning red in anger.
"Yes it does, I can say what ever I want to about that no good, waste of a man you called your 'fiancé'!" The Phantom spat.
"Stop it! Damn it! Stop it!" Aslynn yelled, briskly walking over to Erik and slapping him hard across the face. As soon as she did this tears started to roll down her tan cheeks.
"How dare you touch me, you wrench!" he yelled, grabbing her wrists. This woman was trying all of his patience.
"Let go!" She growled in a low, but strong voice, kneeing him in the groin.
Almost instantly Erik's grip loosed as he crouched down in pain. Never before has a woman done that to him.
As he did this Aslynn added thru tears, "I don't know what your problem is Erik. Your not usually like this."
With that she fled to her room and slammed the door behind her.
After recovering from the pain from Aslynn's action, Erik stomped off to his organ and started to hammer away. As all of his bottled up anger was released into a harsh piece of his music, Erik replayed what had happened.
So she got a job working from some guy that found her ring. And she was offered a place to say, but declined. She prefers to stay here. I'm sure that her view will change now, especially after my actions. I'm a monster; there is nothing to hold me back from my actions. Damn it! Why was I even put on this Earth?
For my music, that's the only reason. To show the world my music. But they don't listen to its beauty, its power! Maybe in time… but that's all I seem good for, that and killings… I'm sure it's wondered how such a hideous beast can play such music. That's how it was with the gypsies. 'The Devil's Child' who could sing and play anything better than the Angels themselves.
His fingers flew up and down the organ, while his feet worked the pumps. The melody that he was creating was haunting, yet full of sadness and anger. Trying to get rid of the redrawn images of life with the gypsies, he went back to Aslynn.
She is one of the first people that hasn't wanted to leave. She doesn't seem to be bothered by my mask either. Damn, what have I done?
She'll leave for sure now. But isn't that what you wanted? To go back to solitude, to die alone?
"Even if she did stay she would never love you," he said aloud. As soon as he realized what he said, he stopped playing. "What am I thinking? I see nothing in her."
Don't lie to yourself Erik. You know she's beautiful.
"NO, I've learned that I can't love, since I'll never be loved in return." He snarled to himself. Rubbing his temples he banged his head on the edge of the organ.
After cursing to himself he pulled his head off the edge of the organ. Grinding his teeth he went back to playing. It took over an hour for the Phantom to calm down to a safe level. As he finished his last piece he figured he should check on the woman.
Slowly he rose from the bench and made his way down the dim hall to Aslynn's room. Upon reaching the wooden door he knocked gently. From inside came a muffled "Come in."
Aslynn was curled up in one of the armchairs facing a roaring fire when she heard a knock on her door. What the hell does he want?
"Come in," she called, not really wanting him to enter.
She heard the door slowly creek open, and then close. Her back was to the door so she couldn't see Erik. Not hearing him walk across the room she said, "What do you want?"
From behind her came a rough, deep voice, "I just wanted to check on you."
Still not turning her head to face him she heard him sit down into the other chair. "Why the hell would you care?"
Erik didn't respond. He just sat in the chair, trying his best to control the monster inside him.
Since Erik didn't say anything, Aslynn turned to see what he was doing. She found him sitting in the chair next to her, his shoulders tensely hunched. He looked like a volcano trying very hard not to erupt. If he hadn't put her in such a miserable mood, Aslynn might have found his appearance very humorous.
Erik observed Aslynn out of the corner of his eye, while he pretended to stair into the fire. The fire caught a glimmer on her cheeks, like that of moisture. Her usually bright blue eyes were red and swollen. Her hair was falling out of the loose knot she had it in. She must have been crying before I came in.
The silence was becoming very uncomfortable for Aslynn, so she daringly spoke. "I found this nice bakery in town today."
At this Erik turned his head to face the woman. He raised the unmasked eyebrow, which Aslynn took as "is that so?"
"It probably will be easy for me to stop by it on the way home from work, so we can have fresh bread with dinner." She said, her voice shaky. She was still recovering from their quarrel.
"There won't be a need for that." The Phantom harshly told the woman.
"But, I just figured…" she started, but faded off seeing the look on the masked man's face. The last thing she wanted was another argument with him.
Realizing that he was letting the monster creep out, Erik softened his voice saying, "About earlier, I wanted to say… you never told me who this man was you will be working for." He tried as hard as he could to be gentle with his voice, and try to sound more caring.
"Donatien Garnier, he used to be in the shipping industry. He has a huge house." She tucked some of the fallen hairs back behind her ear.
To this Erik just nodded. He had heard the name before, probably on of the box seats in the Opera House.
Thinking to Monsieur Garnier, Aslynn remember the invitation to dinner. I wonder if this is an okay time to ask Erik about that? Well, I might not have another time like this. "He invited us over to dinner sometime next week." She told Erik, not meeting his eyes.
"Well, since he did offer you a place to stay, I expected it of him." He replied, missing the us part of it.
"So when would you like to go then?" She dared to look up into his dark, green eyes.
"You can go when ever you want, you're the one who eats the most around here." Erik still wasn't catching on to the idea of both of them being invited.
"Well, that's great, but BOTH of us were invited. So I would like to know what you would prefer." She told Erik, in forcing the both.
He finally understood what the young woman had been saying. He was expected to go as well if she said yes. An expression of shock slid across the cold, masked face.
A little bit of a cliffhanger, but I wanted to post sooner than later. Please review, Reviews are the gold of writers!