icanhearthedrums only time will tell about Erik's condition.

RedDeathLvr, I'm a very cruel person!

So, let's find out what happened.

Right now.

~ "Thank you for meeting me here on such short notice Cynthia." Thanked Erik as she stepped through the door. Her violin was in her right hand as she tried to pretend that she liked being awoken at this hour. She suppressed a mighty yawn and waited until Erik guided her to a chair. It was soft, cushioned in all the right places.

"So, why did you summon me so early on a day when we don't have to work?" She placed her violin down on her lap and kept a hand resting on it rather protectively, "I had hoped to spend today relaxing." Erik took the chair opposite and began to pour some tea, Cynthia could tell what it was from the scent; Earl Grey.

"I want you to play a few pieces for me. Test songs if you wish." Cynthia heard him slide it over to her, there was something slightly different about the aroma of this tea. Usually Earl Grey was sweet-smelling, yet this had a slight hint of must. She brought the steaming hot tea to her lips when something occurred to her.

"Wait a minute, you can play the violin already - why ask me?" She placed the tea back down into the saucer gently, it made a slight clattering noise.

"Yes, however I have not the string talent nor flare to bring this piece to life." He admitted, she could hear a slight smirk in his voice. Around people he was always withdrawn and distant, but with her it was different; She could hear the tone in his voice become more confident and cocky. He was worse than a boy in adolescence.

"You flatter me, however I'm sure your playing would suffice. You are after all a talented musician in many respects and I would rather not spend my day here. It is no insult to you, however me and my sister are due some time off after stressful performances. Therefore, I would respectfully ask to leave, Sir." Cynthia stood from her chair, prepared to leave when she hear the masked man scoff.

"It is of course a great insult to me, Cynthia." Now, he stood too. "We both know why you don't want to be here, it has nary anything to do with that luke-warm sister of yours." The auburn grit her teeth in anger and agitation.

She knew what he meant, the other day that uncontrollable spark between them... Why, oh why had she been so stupid?! Nadir would be so ashamed, so embarrassed and heart-broken if ever he knew. Once again, she sat down, her hands now rested on her lap as they writhed together.

" -" She began, her head hung down as she heard him slumping down in his seat too, taking a sip of tea.

"Erik." He corrected rather than interrupted. Despite the fact she thought such an informal title was inappropriate for work conversation, she continued.

"What happened, what we did was a mistake..." She trailed off, not quite believing it herself.

In that moment they shared when their souls connected, everything seemed so right. So wrong. It was hard to even put into words, it was like it was just them alone in the world with nothing put sweet nothings, promises of love and music to occupy their ears. It made the world so much clearer to them, yet so much more hazed. Their true feeling shone out so bright that the rest of the world was a distant memory, lost in the shadows of their pasts.

They were both so tendered by the scars of the past, their hearts were always bleeding out and wasting away. But when they connected it all changed. Their hearts felt so overcome with happiness and lust that those wounds healed over. For a while, even just a little while the pain dulled. It filled their souls with such a sweet ecstasy they had both been waiting their whole lives for. But it was wrong.

"It wasn't a mistake Cynthia." The Phantom placed his large, warm hand atop hers and slowly enclosed his finger around its gentle palm. He turned it over, tracing little circles on her palm. Rubbing the callouses on her finger tips she had earned from so much playing. He watched as her lips involuntarily began to part as she concentrated on the feeling of his innocent caresses.

"It... It had to be Erik," She used his name so naturally it even shocked her, "what about Nadir? I promised him, I promised him I'd be faithful..." The rage that flooded through him when she said his name made him grip her hand a little too tight. She screamed, "Erik! You're hurting me!" He immediately recoiled and stared at her, scared.

"I'm sorry!" He gasped as she held her hand, he's left quite the red mark, it'd surely bruise. How could he harm such a beautiful and pure creature? He loathed her yet he loved her. She was his devil and his angel, his savior and his darkness, his muse and his represent. He needed to be close to her, yet they were so far away, it was as if sometimes he were in the underworld looking through a fragment of mirror into the heavens.

In that mirror was beauty and splendor in all her glory, all he had to do was place his fingers on the glass. If she did too, the barrier would fall. Then they could be together forever, loving and living 'till death should they part.

But this angel was no pure spirit. This fragment of mirror was shattered by her past, by her loneliness and solitude. The mirror showed himself, an entity like himself living life only as a means to survive rather than a blissful experience. She was too scared to touch the mirror, to break the barrier. Her heart was so tender, a slight change could break it.

Now, her hands shook, her lip quivered and she found herself so flustered. There was no way she could stay. This was all a big mistake, she'd left herself so utterly defenceless and open to his advancements and attacks. He offered comfort but in exchange wanted her heart.

Her hands nervously and shakily wrapped themselves around the tea-cup and Erik watched intensely as she raised the cup to her soft red lips.

"Wait!" He stood up, knocking over his chair but it was already too late - she'd taken a sip.

She wasn't quite sure about what was happening at first. The sounds all around her muffled and became muddles of screeches and bassy sounds. Then her head began to feel light, like when you yawn and stand up to quickly and you feel everything go fuzzy. Though that feeling usually passes, this one did not.

At first she felt the solid grip on her shoulders, but that feeling became a slight buzzing sensation. Her muscles relaxed and she let go of the tea. The tea-cup and all its contents landed with a shatter and a spill along the smooth floor. The world was slowly slipping away and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get back.

Erik watched as her body slid down the chair, unconscious. At first he was worried that he may have slipped a little too much into her tea, so tested her pulse. He was relieved to find it was still strong.

In one big scoop he collected her up into his arms, smiling as he tucked her peacefully sleeping face into his chest. She was usually so sour faced and sceptical looking, it was strange seeing her so at peace. She was so beautiful when she wasn't always building barriers around herself and the outside world.

There was always something about her, something that screamed to leave her alone. But Erik recognised this, he could so empathise with her. She had no idea who he was, who he is and that was how he wanted to keep it. But for now he had preparations.

If he could not earn her love with words, then with actions he would portray his affections for her. He wanted to win her heart, to heal it over and become its other half. He only had to show her how gentle he could be with it.

The next two chapters will be very strange.

I ask you to be patient.

Until next time.