Chapter 19
In sleep he sang to me
In dreams he came
That voice which calls to me
And speaks my name
And do I dream again
For now I find
The Phantom on the Opera is there
Inside my mind…
The two began circling each other as if waiting for the other to make their first move. Then, Erik grabbed her hand and spun her towards him before catching her and they began dancing.
Sing once again with me
Our strange duet
My power over you
Grows stronger yet
And though you turn from me
To glance behind
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside your mind…
He spun her again only this time farther away so he didn't catch her. She turned to face him but he had vanished. Her eyes scanned the crowd but saw no trace of her masked partner. So, she closed her eyes and just listened to the music.
Those who have seen your face
Draw back in fear
I am the mask you wear
It's me they hear
Your/My spirit and my/your voice
In one combined
The Phantom of the Opera is there
Inside my/your mind…
He's there… the Phantom of the Opera…
Everyone began chanting the chorus part all pointing in different directions as if seeing him in some part of the room.
He's there… the Phantom of the Opera…
She felt a pair of hands reach out and grab her from behind and turned to find the Phantom looking down at her. He took her hands in his and began leading her towards the center of the floor.
In all your fantasies
You always knew
That man and mystery
Were both in you
And in this labyrinth
Where night is blind
The Phantom of the Opera is here/there
Inside my/your mind…
Erik let go of her hands and began circling her once more.
"Sing, my Angel of Music!" He commanded. "Sing!"
He's there… the Phantom of the Opera…
As Ashley meant do go down an octave, her voice chose not to listen and made her sing high. She tried coaxing her voice to let her go down before she went any higher knowing her voice would crack if it went too high but still she kept going.
"Sing my angel!" Erik shouted again to the girl before her. He listened as her voice continued climbing higher than he anticipated. "Sing!" He heard the innocent yet strong voice continue singing and knew he had found his angel. "Sing for me!"
Her voice soon hit the high note and Ashley felt as if she had just woken from a trance. Her body felt light and all that happened seemed almost like a blur. Had she finally lost it? Did her dreams overtake her and cause her to do something completely out of her control? The room was dead silent as all eyes were on her. Or was it just her? She allowed her body to turn and came once again, face to face, with the Phantom of the Opera.
"I once brought you to the seat of sweet music's throne. To my kingdom where all must pay homage to music… music…" He sang to her and she felt her passions rising within her. Was this what Christine felt like when he first brought her to his home? It sure as hell felt like it. "I have come here for one purpose and one alone! Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me to serve me… to sing for my music… my music…" Ashley found her thoughts returning to the night of Don Juan Triumphant and when she and Erik shared the stage. She could feel the same electricity from then happening right here. Then, he sang again…
Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation
Darkness wakes and stirs imagination
Silently the senses abandon their defenses
Helpless to resist the notes I write
For I compose the music of the night
As she listened to his voice, she felt her entire body begin losing its control. His voice alone was enough to send her into that blissful state between dreams and reality.
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Hearing is believing
Music is deceiving
Hard as lightning, soft as candle light
Dare you trust the music of the night…
As Erik touched her chin turning her towards him, she could feel the same exciting electricity she felt from him before.
Close your eyes for your eyes will only tell the truth
And the truth isn't what you want to see
In the dark it is easy to pretend…
That the truth is what it ought to be...
Softly, deftly, music shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Ashley had ultimately given up trying to resist and allowed the music to control her. She loved this song so much and she loved hearing his voice so much. She never thought she would ever experience something like this in her life; to have the Phantom sing Music of the Night to her as he did to Christine not that long ago.
Close your eyes start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Close your eyes and let music set you free
Only then can you belong to me
As Erik came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her, she led herself fall into his touch and let him as close to her as possible.
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin, let your darker side give in
To the power of the music that I write
The power of the music of the night
He took her left hand and saw the ring resting on her finger. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it before pulling her to him and capturing her lips with his own. Ashley didn't dare protest and began wrapping her arms around his neck and letting her hands wander into his hair. Erik had wrapped one arm around her waist while his other hand was busy cradling her neck while keeping her in place. After a moment they pulled away and stared lovingly into each other's eyes.
You alone can make my song take flight
Help me make the music of the night
As the song ended the entire room broke out into a thunderous applause. They didn't seem to hear the people around them because they found themselves lost in each other's arms and eyes. Ashley felt like crying when she heard his voice singing to her, thinking for a moment she was losing her mind. But when he appeared upon the stage she was reminded that Erik was not like most people and his entrance were both a bit flashy but also exciting. She was living her own Phantom story and she only hoped that it doesn't end just yet.
"I'm not dreaming; it really is you?" She said hopefully. Erik placed a kiss on her forehead then moved towards her ear.
"You are dreaming no more than I." She began to shiver as his voice invaded her mind and his breath caressed her skin. But her self-consciousness caught up with her as she finally noticed that they were being watched by the crowd.
"Maybe we should move from the dance floor." She said and Erik immediately became aware of their situation.
"Perhaps you're right." He agreed and began leading away from the dance floor and the curious eyes of the other con goers. But just as they began moving Ashley's knees buckled and everything started going dark. "Ashley!" Erik quickly scooped her into his arms before she could hit the floor.
"Bring her over here!" Someone shouted and he brought her over to one of the tables and set her in a chair.
"What happened?" He glanced up to see Chelsea standing not too far away and saw the look on her face when she noticed Ashley unconscious in the chair. "Ashley! Ashley, are you alright?" She came over and tried waking the girl but to no avail. Erik made sure she was still breathing and checked some of her vitals.
"She only fainted." He said calmly, but inside he was relieved that she was fine.
"I should probably get her back to the hotel." Chelsea suggested. "Perhaps… if you don't mind…?" Erik knew what she was going to ask.
"I'll bring her back." He said.
"Thanks." He nodded then lifted her back into his arms. Chelsea picked up Ashley's bag and they made their way from the ballroom.
The train ride back to the hotel was extremely awkward. All the while there were people staring at Erik not because of his mask or anything, but because of the young woman in his arms. He refused to set her down at any time during their journey and he never took his eyes off her for a moment. He never noticed the strange looks he had received from the other passengers because his mind was focused on Ashley. He had found her and was overjoyed to have her back in his arms. But when he saw her collapse he was ready to panic. He could bear to lose her for a third time. After some time they reached their destination. Chelsea led him off the train and back out to the hotel only a few feet away.
"We're on the 15th floor in that building." She said pointing to the large Marriott sign before them. Once again she led them to the building and through the lobby where they received more odd looks from the few people lingering around. She brought them to the elevator and when the doors opened, Erik was reluctant to step inside. "It's perfectly safe. Trust me." He took a deep breath and stepped into the small space and nearly jumped as the doors closed and they began rising. "How do you know Ashley?"
"She is the most precious person to me in both my world and this one." She wasn't expecting that. When they finally reached their floor she led them down one of the hallways and to their room. She pulled out her card key and slipped it into the slot to open the door. The light in the room was already on and their two other roommates were already inside and were surprised by the site they saw.
"Oh my God, what happened?" One of the girls asked coming over to them.
"Ashley fainted at the ball." Chelsea explained. "I asked him if he could help bring her back." She gestured to Erik but when she turned he was already moving past her and over to the large hotel bed and gently placing the girl in his arms on the soft covers. The girls watched him as he carefully tucked the unconscious girl then kneeling down next to her, just watching her sleep.
"I get the feeling he won't be leaving any time soon." One of the girls said. "Who is he anyway?"
"Not sure." Chelsea said shrugging. "But he knows her and I get the feeling she know him too."
Ashley could barely remember what happened the night before. She did remember waiting to go to the Phoenix Ball and entering the dark ballroom and sitting down listening to the music. But after that it was a vague blur. She didn't even remember passing out either. So when she came too in the hotel room, she began to think that maybe the whole day may have been a dream. She slowly opened her eyes and was greeted by the red lit alarm clock on the bedside table to her right. It was 8:30 in the morning and she was back in the large fluffy hotel bed like the first night.
Did we even go to the con yet? She thought. Then as she made to turn to her other side, she felt something heavy resting on her stomach. Her eyes wandered over the white comforter and found a dark figure nestled half on the floor beside her and half on the bed next to her. She slowly sat up, making sure not to disturb the sleeping figure and wondered who exactly they were. They weren't allowed to have guests staying in their room so this was a bit of a shock. His face was facing her but she couldn't see him because his hair curtained his features from her. She wanted to move it away so she could see him properly but didn't want to risk waking him. But it was just so tempting. He seems fast asleep, so maybe… Her hand began moving towards his face. When she touched his hair, she gently moved it and tucked behind his ear. Her breath caught in her throat at the site of his face.
Erik! She almost wanted to shout out but was all too aware of the three other girls in the room. What is he doing- But she stopped herself when the rest of the night before came back to her. She remembered Erik coaxing her to him as the Angel of Music then sharing a dance with him while they sang. Then he sang to her…
"My God…" She whispered.
"I'm glad to see you're awake, my dear." Ashley nearly shrieked at the sound of Erik's voice. She saw him staring at her from his position and felt her cheeks begin to burn.
"Y-you've been awake?" She stuttered.
"Not the entire time, but when I felt someone touching my face…" He said smirking. Ashley couldn't help but feel embarrassed. She realized her hand was still touching him and quickly withdrew and placed both hands in her lap under the covers. Erik couldn't help but smile at her. Even as a young adult, she was still very much the innocent child he once knew. He reached up and gently touched her cheek causing her to look back at him. The blush on her cheeks began receding but her heartbeat continued to race. She threw the covers from her body then slipped from the bed and knelt down next to him.
"How?" She asked. Erik knew that she would want to know how he came to be there. However, not even he knew the answer to that question.
"Perhaps there is a God that wants us together." He said half jokingly. But his joy was short lived when he saw tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ashley, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" Ashley just smiled and shook her head.
"I'm just so happy you're here." She said wiping the tears away. "I was afraid I would see you for another six years." She laughed a bit at that. Erik took her face in his hands and looked into her large hazel eyes.
"I would travel to Hell and back to find you my perdue ange." He whispered before sealing his endearing words with a kiss. Ashley felt like she could explode with all she was feeling at this moment. Joy from the knowledge that Erik, the man she's been irrevocably in love with since her early teen years. Confusion since she had no idea how he managed to come to her world in the first place. Fear thinking this might just be another dream and she could wake up at any second. And love for the man sitting before her and kissing her so tenderly yet still so passionately. Nothing at all could ruin this moment for her. That is until she heard someone whisper an "aww" and someone shushing them. Ashley suddenly broke away from Erik and turned to see her friends were awake and watching their little display.
"How long have you been up?" Ashley asked feeling mortified that she'd been caught.
"A little while." Chelsea said. Ashley felt her cheeks begin to burn and she looked down into her lap. Erik couldn't help but laugh at her embarrassment which earned and annoyed look from Ashley.
"Don't laugh!" She said angrily even though inside she was sort of laughing herself.
"I can't help it." He said. "You were always so adorable when you were embarrassed." Ashley gave a slight huff but a small smile broke out none the less.
"So, Ashley. Care to introduce us to your Phantom?" Ashley rolled her eyes at the comment but knew that her friends weren't going to let her off so easily. So she explained to them everything that happened from the time she was fourteen to the night of Don Juan Triumphant back in Paris, along with her second death. It did seem incredibly farfetched that Ashley had indeed traveled to a different world, but if she said she did it, there was no point in arguing the fact.
"What a romantic story." One of her friends said. "But what I don't understand is how you're still alive now if you were shot and killed twice?"
"It's a mystery to me as well." She explained. "But all the time between my return when I was fourteen to the time of my return last week, I thought it was only a dream. It's so strange." Erik knew that she was unaware that her family knew about what happened. He could only imagine what she would say if she knew.
"Well, we should probably get ready for the con." Another of the girls said. "It's only the second day and there's so much to do." And with that said, everyone began preparing for the convention day. Ashley decided she would re-wear her Alice costume today and pulled it from her bag. But her wig was nowhere to be found.
Must have lost it at the ball. She thought remembering the night before. It was worth it. But as she continued pulling out her dress and shoes, she felt something slice her finger and recoil her hand to find a paper cut. She reached into the bag to pull out whatever caused her injury and brought out the card she received yesterday from that man. She looked at the number and the name and the wheels in her head started turning. Then she looked over at Erik who was leaning against the wall just behind her. Should she take him up on that offer? Would Erik agree to it? Would she be able to go through with such a feat?
"Say, Erik?" He looked over at her and she felt her breath catch in her throat as they made eye contact.
"Yes?" He asked.
"I was wondering…" She felt very nervous asking him this. He seemed to make her feel like a small child when she spoke with him, but she knew that he treated her as the young woman he knew she was, even if she did act a bit immature at times. "…what would you say if… I was to perform in a concert?"
The songs used in this chapter were The Phantom of the Opera and Music of the Night from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera.
I moved the Music of the Night scene to the ball right after Phantom. This was actually my original idea I was going to use for the first version, but I chose not to use it at the last minute. Oh well, I got to use it now, right? And, of course, I changed Ashley's rejection and fear because she had the ring, so she would be able to accept that he was there.