"Cloaked under the night

With nothing to suppress

A woman and a man

No more and yet no less"- Excerption from the diary of Erik

Erik's POV

I sat there at dinner with Christine in silence. Just moments before, she had given me a sight I had never seen before. I had been laying in bed right up until I heard a loud bang come from the kitchen. When I got to the doorway, Christine was standing there in her corset. I gasped at such a sight…Never in all my life had I ever seen something so beautiful. She rushed past me and began rummaging through the wardrobe closet as I stood there watching her. I hated corsets more than anything in the world because of what they did to one's lungs. But I didn't back away, I approached her from behind, and pressed my lips up against her shoulders. How I wanted to consume her, body and soul. Her milky shoulders and back were driving me mad…I couldn't get enough of her…

We sat there at dinner, eating in silence. I wasn't exactly eating…mostly picking around tiny morsels with my fork. Sometimes I don't even know why I agree to having dinner with her. She spends all day cooking just for me to eat two mouthfuls.

"How is your dinner?" I asked.

Christine looked up, chewing a piece of the pork she had placed into her mouth.

"Very good." she wiped her mouth with her napkin. "I hope you're enjoying yours."

"I always do. I just wish I could eat more."

"You're underweight." She placed her hand over my own, and my eyes met with hers. "I worry about you sometimes."

"You shouldn't worry about me, Christine. I've been this way since I was a child."

"But you're safe, Erik. Nothing bad is ever going to happen to you again, so why does your nervous stomach stick around?"

I placed my silverware on my plate, and gently pushed it away.

"It's not my past that keeps my stomach weak, it's everything, Christine. It's the worry of being taunted when out around Phantasma, it's the worry of being beaten, it's the worry of you hurting me….Everything keeps my stomach the way it is."

Already I knew I had eaten too much, for within seconds, I grasped my aching stomach, and stumbled to the bathroom. How I hated throwing up, but I couldn't help myself. When my stomach finally felt better, I lifted my head out of the toilet, and grasped the sink, only to spot Christine standing in the doorway.

"Could I perhaps have some privacy?" I growled.

This had scared Christine, for she left me alone. I turned on the sink, and washed out my mouth before reached for my towel that was hanging over the tub. Why couldn't I be like a normal person? Why couldn't I eat without spitting it up like a newborn? I pounded my fist into the wall in anger before walking back out to the main room to take a seat at my piano. I had thought I scared Christine, but that wasn't the case. She brought me out a glass of water, and held it to my lips.

"Here, Erik, this will make you feel better."

I thanked her, and slowly drank the cool water as I watched her clean up from dinner.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

"No, just sit there and rest."

I felt terrible for just sitting there and letting her do all the work, but what was I to do? First she cooks all day for me only to have me throw it up, and now she's cleaning too? Curse my wretched body!

"Play for me, Erik?"

I turned to find Christine standing behind me. I turned back to my piano, and smiled.

"Any requests?"

"Past the Point of No Return."

When I heard her say this, my blood had run cold. It had been so long….and that night..so many memories.

"I don't know…"

"Please, Erik…"

How could I ever say no to her? I pounded on the keys of my piano, and sighed.

"Ok…."

"Then you'll be needing your mask."

From out of nowhere, Christine whipped out my Don Juan mask and handed it to me.

"Found it in the closet." she giggled.

I pushed it aside, and looked down at my keys.

"No thanks."

"But if you're going to play it, you need to look like Don Juan."

I knew she wasn't going to let me rest until I placed on the mask, so I turned away from her, and placed it on before turning back to the keys. I sat there playing the first verse of the song as Christine stood beside me. But once the first verse was over, I heard her begin to sing…

"You have brought me to that moment where words run dry

To that moment where speech disappears into silence, silence

I have come here hardly knowing the reason why

In my mind I've already imagined our bodies

Entwining defenseless and silent and now I am here with you

No second thoughts, I've decided…decided…"

She was running her hands up and down the sides of my arms and shoulders. I had a hard time playing the piano because she was seducing me with her touch.

"Past the point of no return….."

It was then that she sat in my lap and wrapped her legs around me. Her hands were running up and down my chest, as her lips met with my neck….God, but I continued playing.

"No going back now

Our passion play has now at last begun

Past all thought of right or wrong, one final question

How long should we two wait before we're one?"

She was singing so passionately as her lips were gently sucking at my neck.

"When will the blood begin to race?"

It was then that Christine groped me through the trousers, causing blood to rush straight to them. Her hand lingered as she kissed me neck again.

"When will the bud burst into bloom?

When will the flames at last consume us?"

It was then that I pulled away from her kiss to sing the last verse together.

"Past the point of no return

The final threshold

The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn

We've passed the point of no return…"

At the last line, Christine and I began passionately kissing, and in the mitts of it all, I lifted her up on top of the piano as her legs were still wrapped around me. I pressed my lips to her ear, and began softly singing…

"Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Lead me, save me from my solitude

Say you'll want me with you here beside you….

Anywhere you go let me go too, Christine, that's all I ask of you…."

We broke away, and I looked down at her.

"You can have your book back, Erik." she said. "The one I borrowed from the library."

So much for my try at being passionate….

"Are you finished with it already?"

"No, I was half way through it and stopped."

"Why?"

"It was horrible, Erik. It was about this boy who was taken hostage by gypsies and beaten. Every chapter was filled with abuse beyond belief. I stopped reading at chapter ten…Oh, Erik it was horrible."

I held her close to my chest, and rubbed her back sympathetically. That's what she would have done to me….

"You shouldn't read such things, Christine. Your mind is pure, and should never be filled with such filth."

"Is that what happened to you, Erik?" Christine asked. "Is that what the gypsies did to you?"

I cringed, and thought about the story Christine had read. No, the abuse I had experienced was much worse than the abuse the character experienced in the book.

"I don't want to talk about it, Christine. I've experienced much worse than the character in the book."

She pressed a kiss to the side of my neck, and I looked down at her.

"Show me….Show me what they did to you."

My breath caught in my throat. Christine wanted to see what the gypsies had done to my body…How could I ever show her such a horrific sight?

"You don't need to see." I assured. "You need to keep your mind filled with happy thoughts, Christine, not nightmares."

"But it's you, Erik."

I stood up from my bench, and turned towards the roaring fire.

"You must understand that my body is even more horrendous than my face. I will not have you fearing my body as well, Christine."

But Christine didn't care. She swept over to me, and stood in front of my body, her white blouse turning red from the shadow of the flames behind her. Her hands wandered up to the top of my shirt, unbuttoning the first few buttons. I grabbed her hands, begging her not to do this, but she wouldn't listen. Button after button, her hands would pry away a little more of my shirt. I was a man! A strong one if that! I should have stopped her, but I never had a woman doing this to me before. Why couldn't I just stop her?

When my shirt was completely undone, she slipped the top of it off my shoulders, letting its remains hang loosely from my arms. The light from the fire lit up my scarred chest, scars that started at my shoulders and ended at the lining of my trousers, scars that crisscrossed in every direction, reaching all the way to my back and never ending. My body was like a maze, one with no escape…The path of one scar would only lead to the next…..

"Erik…."

Christine stood there in front of me, examining what the gypsies had done to my body. I had been stabbed numerous times, whipped more times than the amount of people living in the world, and raped. Yes, I had recovered from the whippings and stabbings, but my bottom still ached me every day of the week.

"What have they done to you?" her voice was filled with such shock, and I wasn't sure if it was for me or from the fear of my body.

"Horrible things."

I had expected Christine to be disgusted by my body, but she wasn't…not one bit was she disgusted. Her hands soon reached up, and began tracing the scars all along my chest. I sighed orgasmically, and closed my eyes. Her touch was sending shivers through my spine, soft, yet erotic shivers that ended up in my trousers.

"What happened here?" I felt her hand stop at a long scar the stretched across my left nipple, and was cut off by my trousers. But beneath my trousers, the scar continued and wrapped around my inner thigh.

"I…I was cut with a jagged blade for hiding my face from paying customers." I shuddered, remembering my master's anger and the pain I had received from such an injury.

"Oh, Erik…."

I opened my eyes to make sure I wasn't scaring her, only to see tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Christine, what's wrong?"

"How could someone do that to you?"

I lifted a trembling hand to her cheek, and wiped away the tears.

"Don't cry, Christine. The past is in the past….."

"And yet, I was never there for you. Forgive me, Erik, please forgive me for never being there for you. Back in Paris I acted like a complete selfish fool. You gave me the world, and yet, I never gave anything back to you. If only I had known about the gypsies and the scars….God, forgive me, I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you, Erik…"

"Stop." I calmly told her. "Just stop, Christine. This was not your fault. You couldn't have known."

"Because I never asked."

"It's alright, Christine."

I softly pressed a kiss to her lips, and tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear.

"Erik?"

"Yes, Christine?"

She never answered me, only took my hand and led me into our bedroom. Once there, the world around us fell away, leaving just the both of us standing before one another. I wasn't sure what was going to happen now, but when Christine passionately kissed me, my whole body melted. She laid me down on my mattress, only to crawl on top of me. My whole entire body shivered beneath her touch, and her lips met with my neck. My heart was racing a mile a minute as my fists grasped the sheets. Her kisses started at my neck, and trailed down to my chest, over my beating heart, and to my nipple. The same one that had the scar stretching across it.

Once her lips had indulged it fully, I found myself no longer capable of holding back my groans. She was tasting my scar! God! She was tasting the lumpy scar and lingering.

"Christine….yes,….yes…"

I closed my eyes, and let the wonderful feeling take over my aching body. This was all I had ever wanted, all I had ever dreamed of. She could have stopped right now and I would have been satisfied with just that, but she didn't stop! Her lips moved from my nipple, all the way down the scar that was cut off by my trousers. Feeling her lips all over my chest was the most amazing feeling I had ever felt. But I was already past the point of no return. Blood was rushing like lightning to my trousers, giving me the rush I had so longed for. Up and down, up and down…her lips traveled over every scar and patch of marred flesh I had on my body.

I pressed my eyes shut, and continued to sigh as her lips continued to consume my body. But when I opened my eyes again, something was different…..Christine was still leaning over me, kissing away at my chest, but her blouse was unbuttoned, and her breasts…..I turned away, and pressed my face into the pillow. I wouldn't…I couldn't…..I was the devil's child, I didn't deserve to see such beauty.

"Erik, is something wrong?"

I no longer felt her lips against my flesh, but she was still here, and I wouldn't turn….No! I wouldn't turn and see such beauty.

"You shouldn't expose yourself to me in such a way." my body was trembling, and my erection was only getting worse.

"Have you never seen a woman's bare chest before?"

I swallowed hard.

"In books…." was all I could get out.

I felt her take my hand within her own, and raise it. It was then that I turned my head, only to look back at her moving my hand towards her open blouse.

"Haven't you ever felt a woman before?"

My heart was racing so fast, that I could feel it hitting the flesh of my chest. I couldn't answer her. My throat had run dry, leaving me speechless.

"I'll take that as a no."

And just like that, a new sensation filled my body. I was touching her! Her hand pressed my own up against her breast. It was soft and warm against my touch. In all my years on earth, I had touched many things. I have touched the softest fur of animals, the rough edges of a whip, even my own manhood, but never….god, never nothing this….this magnificent feeling. My heart was about to explode in my chest, but I didn't care. Upon my touch, she even jerked her head back, and groaned. But one hand wasn't enough…no, it was far from enough. I lifted my free trembling hand, and pressed it opposite from the one I was currently touching.

"Erik….." she called my name ever so softly, and begged me to never let go. I was so shy, so afraid and so shy. I was afraid to move my hands to her waist, shy to touch her anywhere else then where I was touching now. She was kissing me again….God, she was kissing me as my fingers embraced her breasts. This was so new to me, so new and wonderful….And as this new feeling tore through me, I found it harder and harder to control myself. I was now on her, kissing her ear, and running my boney hands down her milky shoulders. She was calling my name out like a hungry lioness stalking its prey. But having my name being called by her was only making my body ache for more. I ran my kisses down to her neck, and then her collarbone, right before letting my lips taste the top of her chest.

"Lower….Oh, Erik, lower…"

Yes, how I wanted to, but the question was "could I?" I was so shy….I didn't want to disgust her in any way and keep the tender moment alive. But she was begging me…she was begging me and I couldn't stop myself. Had she ever begged Raoul like this? Had Raoul ever brought her such pleasure? I pressed harder against her chest, causing my flesh to meet with hers…and oh, what a feeling it was. The only thing my chest ever crashed up against was the ground right before getting beat up. But flesh against flesh….oh, how wonderful it was. I could feel our hearts touching as they beat rapidly inside each of us, her breasts cushioning my own chest…..Pure heaven!

Her hands caressed my back, as my lips worked on her chest and neck. Her fingers tracing my scars over and over again as my kisses became more primal. I would have done this all night to her, but now it was my turn again. She gently flipped me back over, and began straddling me. In books I have read of this over and over again, but never thought in a million years that I would be experiencing this for myself. I arched my back against the mattress, and deeply sighed again and again. I no longer cared if I was to live life as a virgin, having all of this was worth giving it up.

"Christine….Christine…."

I wanted to call her name for the remainder of the night. In my mind, I pictured her naked, making love to me as the feeling of her straddling my lap continued. But soon, a new sensation began….It was my leg braces being removed. I opened my eyes, and there was Christine, taking them off, and laying them on the floor. I lay there heaving and trying to catch my breath, wondering what she was up to now, that's when her hands made contact with the lining of my trousers.

"Christine?" I was being serious now. As much as I wanted this, I couldn't imagine the horror that would play out among her face if she saw me completely naked. Damn you, Erik, it's not even proper! You can't!

"Erik, I've never called anyone's name like I did yours. When Raoul touches me, it's like venom to my flesh….Oh, Erik, let me touch you, let me give you what you have yearned for."

I lay there, my heart pounding against my chest, my mind screaming "No! Have some respect!" Then, there was the two sides of my conscious, one standing on each shoulder. While the one said "No, Erik, don't do this to her, it's not right." The devil on my shoulder however smiled and said "Yes, Erik, you deserve this after all she's done to you. Her body is the least she could offer you."

But before I could make a decision, it was too late, Christine was already unbuttoning my trousers. Once my trousers were completely off, Christine touched me! Just feeling a woman's hand clasped around me was pure bliss. For once, my hand wasn't giving me pleasure, it was Christine's hand! I had been raped more than once in my lifetime. I still have bad memories of my master touching me and trying to give me pleasure. He thought I liked the way he touched me, but I didn't….and when I would cry, he would silence it by making me pleasure him with my mouth.

"Erik, am I hurting you?"

Damn me! I was so focused on the memories of my master making me pleasure him that I had lost Christine's pleasure along the way.

"What? No….of course not….it's just…"

But she was already crying.

"I'm sorry." she was apologizing to me. Why? Her touching me had felt great, and if not for the memories of my master, I would have been calling out her name.

"Christine?"

I sat up, and ran my fingers down her cheek.

"I can't do anything right, Erik. I'm a horrible lover."

"No you're not, Christine. What makes you say that?"

"Raoul…." she wiped her nose. "Raoul said I gave horrible pleasure. I'm doing it to you too aren't I?"

How I wanted to walk right across the ocean and pound that fop straight into his handsome face! How dare he tell Christine she gives horrible pleasure! How dare he! He didn't deserve such a wonderful woman!

"No, Christine. You have given me nothing but the best."

"Then why is it that your moans ceased?"

"I was thinking about my master." I confessed. "How he made me do horrible things to him."

"We can stop, Erik."

I laid on top of her body, and gave her a soft kiss.

"Only if you wish to, Christine. Your touch gives me nothing but pleasure."

From beneath the covers, I felt her take my hand and run it seductively along her skirts. Her eyes were burning into my own, so much that I was throbbing with want…want for her body.

"I need to know." she pleaded. "I need to know if your touch will make me feel the same way."

Her hand traced my own down to her bare ankles, and up underneath her skirts. Her flesh was so milky and smooth, so smooth that I wanted to place kisses over every inch of it. When I felt her panties, I slowly pulled away, afraid of being burned.

"What scares you, Erik?" she softly asked. "What scares you?"

"I'm inexperienced, Christine, what if I hurt you worse than Raoul?"

"I want to feel you, Erik….please."

My hands trembled as they painfully pulled down her silk panties and threw them to the floor. I had never touched a woman before, and I felt my heart about to explode with such happiness. In my head, I closed my eyes and counted to three, before letting my hand sink itself into her. For the first few moments I didn't hear a sound from her. I still had my eyes closed, and couldn't bear to open them and see the pain stricken look upon her face. I was hurting her….I just had to be….But then, something wonderful occurred….She began moaning my name. She was gasping and pleading me to never stop. I was touching a woman and she was enjoying it! My lips crashed against her neck, as my fingers touched her….Oh, never stop! Never stop this moment! I wasn't even being pleasured, and yet, I myself was also groaning.

"Erik, never stop….never…."

I kissed her ear, and groaned. "Never, angel, never will I stop."

"Consume me…." I heard her scream. "Consume me, Erik. Let the flames consume us…."

She wanted me to make love to her…I couldn't….No, I couldn't do such a thing.

"No…."

I slowly pulled away, and turned from her. I couldn't let myself make love to Christine. I had been raped, I had killed so many people in my lifetime….what had she done to deserve such a monster?

"Erik, I want this more than anything. Why don't you feel the same?"

"I do…but….Oh, Christine I'm dirty, so dirty. My master made me filthy, and my murders have only covered my body in blood."

"Erik, let the past die…..You're here now. Oh, Erik please say you want this as much as I do?"

I slightly nodded.

"Then let me sing for you."

Christine and I kissed once again, and as we were, our bodies laid back against the mattress.

"Take me, Erik."

She was begging me, and what was I doing? Hovering over her body, shaking like a rattle snake.

"You're certain?" I asked.

"Yes." she was smiling at me.

"Certain that you want this monster fulfilling his lifelong desire on you like its prey?"

Christine leaned up on her elbows, and kissed me.

"You're a man, Erik. No more and yet no less."

We kissed for a while more, until my body could no longer take such teasing and I entered her. It was such a strange feeling…a strange yet wonderful feeling. Christine gasped in excitement as our bodies became one, and I did the same. In all my years on earth, I have read every erotic novel available to my hands, but never did I ever think that this would be happening to me. I laid there as still as could be, just taking in the feeling of myself being within her. It was only when Christine began moving her hips did the real pleasure begin. She lay there thrusting me against her barrier, sending me completely over the edge. I tried to stop her from moving, but it was already too late….I had finished. I felt like a pig….It was the best feeling I had ever felt, but I felt horrible that I couldn't last longer. But I ignored it….I pretended that it never happened, and let her keep moving beneath me.

"Erik…yes….yes…"

I wanted Christine to get every once of pleasure she deserved, and thrust into her until she herself finished. Yes, it had felt amazing, but we were both too exhausted to talk and fell asleep during another kiss. I felt terrible….I wasn't good enough for such an angel… I laid there most of the night thinking about what I had done. And so, before the sun could rise, ashamed at what I was, afraid to see her eyes. I stood while she slept, and whispered a goodbye, and slipped into the dark, beneath a moonless sky…..

Ok everyone, please review! This chapter took a lot out of me. Haha And I'd like to thank for the wonderful idea….Major win!