Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera does not belong to me (though I think if it were up to him, he wouldn't belong to anyone), only my own characters do.
Author's Note:
Sorry this chapter took so long, I hope the length makes up for the wait. I had two really busy weekends (Irish Fest 2010 and my Dad's Birthday party) and no time to write. Next chapters should be back to about one per week.
To phantommistress: Just so you know sweetie, I get no inspiration from books for the adult scenes, I write from experience. What is Erik hiding from S'ray? Read this chapter and find out. And though I rarely do this, Erik has a message for you: "15 times? 15 times? Are you trying to kill me, woman?"
To xXThAnKs-FoR-tHe-MeMoRiEsXx: Thanks for the compliment and I hope this chapter is worth the wait.
To flamethrowerqueen: Congrats to the only reviewer to get the count right on the nose! I hope it didn't finish you so you can still read this chapter. And what can I say? Variety is the spice of life!
To SafetyPinStitches: Yeah S'ray is lucky, lucky she can walk ;-). Erik, on the other hand, needs a massive dose of vitamin E (and probably several others as well by now).
To LittleMargarita: I outdid myself? I hope not, I've got plenty of ideas to go around yet for this story. So will S'ray turn away after his confession? You're going to have to read and find out.
To foxgodess07: I didn't think the syrup thing was new. Ah well, glad you enjoyed reading it, I know I enjoyed writing it. I hope this chapter is worth the wait.
To JonPooky: Yes, I love you too. Ladies and gentlemen, kids of all ages, my inspiration and sometime writing partner has made himself known.
To phantom's love: I'm glad you love the mythology and creatures, I plan on bringing a lot more into this. Erik has entered into a whole new world that he only dreamed existed before.
And just so everyone knows, the final tally for Erik is 8 times (with a little magical help of course).
I also want to thank everyone that has signed up for updates and marked it as a favorite; you also keep me writing and don't be afraid to write a review. I don't bite…well…not hard anyway ;-).
I'm going to do more artwork, but I can't decide who to draw next. So I need a little help from my readers. Who do you want to see next? There's a poll up on my profile and you can vote for any 3 choices. The one with the most votes get's drawn next.
Thanks to all who have read and reviewed; the more you review, the more I write. Now,
Phantom of the Glen
Chapter 17
What's Cooking?
Erik slowly opened his eyes to bright sunlight streaming over him through the windows. It took him only a few moments to realize he wasn't in his usual bed by the fire. Then he remembered the night before – Beltane – and smiled as the night and how he came to be in this bed came rushing back to him.
S'ray was still asleep in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder. She sighed and stirred beside him then. Her hand slid up his bare chest and neck; then cupping his stubbled chin, turned his face toward hers. "Good morning," she smiled sleepily.
"You mean afternoon," he smiled back. "Your windows face west."
"Close enough," she sighed snuggling closer to him.
"I'm surprised none of the little people have come in to disturb us," he said shifting his position a bit.
"Well, they're not allowed in here without asking first," S'ray explained running her fingers through his chest hair.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked narrowing his golden eyes.
"Positive," she smiled sliding her leg along his.
"Then how do you explain that?" he asked indicating the window where the word 'Harder' was clearly written in capital letters. The panes beneath it were covered with tiny hand prints as well as several face prints.
S'ray reluctantly rolled over and looked at the window. "That's on the outside," she sighed moving back to her previous position. "Luniana wrote that."
"Do you mean she? And the other two?" he asked reddening.
"Were watching us last night?" she finished for him.
He nodded.
"Yes, for a while anyway from the looks of that window," she said kissing his chest to calm him down.
"Is there no privacy here?" he demanded.
"So tonight we'll close the curtains on them," she smiled brushing the hair from his face.
"How the hell did they know?" he asked moving to a sitting position.
"I would guess the clothes in the kitchen and hallway were a clue for them. Also they were probably told about us by the other little people," she frowned at loosing her comfortable spot.
"Others saw us too? In the forest?" he demanded, his eyes starting to blaze.
"Well, what did you expect? It was Beltane; there were little people all over the forest last night. Besides, you certainly weren't trying to conceal our activities either that first time," she said sitting up as well.
"Don't remind me," he groaned covering his face.
"Why? Are you ashamed of what we did last night?" she asked cocking her head to one side.
"No, not at all," he answered looking up at her. "What we had last, that was beautiful. How could I ever be ashamed of that?"
"Well, you just seem so embarrassed that some of the little people saw us and now other Faye probably know as well," she said.
"And it doesn't bother you that we were watched last night?" Erik asked incredulous. "Both here and in the forest?"
"It does a bit. But you have to remember that little people have no sense of privacy, so for them it's perfectly natural to watch us," she explained moving behind him and putting her hands on his shoulders. Then her hands slid down to his chest in a loose embrace and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Last night was supposed to be just the two of us," he continued. "If I'd wanted an audience, we could have just gone back to the festival."
"In the old days we would have had to make love during the festival, on the alter stone in front of everyone," she said kissing his cheek.
"You are joking, aren't you?" he asked turning toward her.
"Not at all, that was part of the ceremony," she replied.
The phantom's eyes widened and then narrowed in suspicion as he turned to look at her. "Is that why you wanted me to take you instead of your brother or one of your men?" he asked with a menacing growl in his normally silky voice.
"No, like I said that was a part of the ceremony a long time ago, several millennia ago in fact. That's what the Queen of Beltane and the Green Man are supposed to do, it ensures a plentiful harvest. But that was when Alve were still wild and if it had been I would have told you just like I told you about everything else at Beltane," she said caressing his cheek. "You're not regretting last night, are you?"
"No, not at all. I just wish it would have been more private," he said, still red from the realization that they'd been watched during a very intimate moment.
"I'll have a talk with Luniana and the Brownies, re-state the rules for them," she said rubbing his shoulders.
"Mmm, that feels good," Erik groaned, letting his head fall forward. "I know you're trying to seduce me again, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to disappoint you."
"You're not going to disappoint me," she smiled. "I'm just rubbing your shoulders to make you feel better."
"It's working," he replied closing his amber eyes. "Besides, wasn't our bargain for just one night and not one night and one afternoon?"
"It was and just because I'm caressing you and making you feel good, doesn't mean I'm trying to seduce you," she said moving up to massage his neck.
"Then what are you trying to do?"
"To get you to relax for a change, you're always so tense."
"I think its working."
"Why?"
"I feel like falling backwards on you," he smiled. "And I'm starting to get a bit sleepy too."
"Close enough, lie down on your stomach," she said patting his back.
"As you wish," he smiled.
As he lay on his belly with his head resting on his forearms, S'ray threw her leg over him and straddled his waist. "Ow," she frowned.
"Are you all right? I didn't hurt you last night did I?" he asked turning his head toward her.
"No, I just haven't used those muscles in a long, long time and now they're protesting at being used so well last night," she sighed running the heel of her hand up his spine.
"Mmm, do that again," he groaned.
S'ray repeated the motion with more pressure this time. "Better?" she asked.
"Very," he sighed and nodded to affirm his reply. He felt her hands start to work outward from his spine and over his ribcage. He smiled in pleasure, wondering where she'd learned to do this; she knew all the spots on his body that ached this morning. He almost felt like a normal man, he'd slept in a real bed with the woman he loved and who loved him in return. They'd made love to each other the whole night and never once had she turned away from his face.
He sighed contentedly; this was almost everything he'd ever wanted in life. The only part of a normal life he was missing now were children, but he supposed the little people filled that role for now.
Children, how could he have forgotten about that possibility last night? He suddenly blanched and stiffened at the thought. Why hadn't he thought of that before? Erik you idiot! he cursed himself. Do ever think of anyone else except yourself?
"Everything all right lover?" S'ray asked after feeling him stiffen beneath her hands.
"S'ray, I'm sorry," he said not wanting to face her.
Oh Hell, she thought, now what did he over-think? "For what?" she asked moving to sit beside him.
"Last night, I didn't think . . . I . . . you . . . I may have gotten you pregnant," he said burying his face in the pillow in shame.
"Ah," she nodded caressing his shoulder. "Turn over so I can look at you."
The phantom reluctantly rolled to his back, pulling the covers up above his waist again. He kept his eyes closed, afraid of her reaction.
"And open your eyes, I'm not upset or angry with you in any way," she said looking into his amber eyes. "In fact, maybe you should be upset with me."
"Why should I be upset with you? I'm the one who has probably gotten you with child because I can't control myself," he said angry with himself.
"Now listen here, everything is not always your fault," she frowned taking him by the shoulders and shaking him. "I don't know where it was pounded into that thick skull of yours that everything bad that happens is always Erik's fault, but it's not always Erik's fault. And if I was pregnant it would be just as much my fault as yours, so get over it already."
"But if you're pregnant then it is my fault, I did practically rape you in the forest," he almost growled, unhappy with being shaken. "I can't even remember how many times I made love to you, they just kind of blur together like we never stopped."
"I'm not pregnant you idiot," she growled in return. "And it was seven times."
"And how can you be so sure?" he snapped. "Seven? Really?"
"Because I chose not to get pregnant and so did you," she replied icily. "Really, well eight if you count that time when I woke you up."
"What? How can you choose something like that? Either it happens or it doesn't. Just because I'm not experienced with women, doesn't mean I don't know how pregnancy works or what causes it. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not stupid," he said trying to keep his temper in check. "Then no wonder I didn't wake up with a . . ."
"You may know how it works for humans, but you're completely ignorant when it comes to Alve," she said cutting him off and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Then enlighten me, please," he said throwing up his arms in defeat.
"First of all, have you ever known me to have a monthly cycle like human women?" she asked.
Erik thought for a moment, trying to remember anything in her behavior over the past months that would have indicated that she was going through her monthlies. He'd gone through adolescence with Antoinette Giry, so he was no stranger to the mood swings and other symptoms that women went through. "No, I don't," he answered clearly puzzled.
"That's because I don't have one," she replied. "We live for so long that there is no rush to have children."
"But isn't that . . . "he started clearly puzzled.
"Not for us, it's a conscious choice," she shook her head. "And we both chose last night."
"We? But, I'm not . . . " he trailed off.
"You're part Faye, that's enough," S'ray replied.
"I still don't understand," he said looking up to meet her eyes.
"Alve choose to have children, both parents have to want it for it to happen," she explained. "That way children are always born of love and not lust."
"So there are no unwanted Alve children," he said bitterly turning away from her. "No ill-conceived and ugly children."
"There are no ugly children," she replied softly.
"My mother would have argued that with you," he answered with an unhappy laugh.
"Then she was a stupid cow for not realizing the beauty of her own child," the Alve whispered, turning him to face her. "I find you to be very handsome."
"But . . . " he said gazing into wide violet eyes that held only love for him.
"She was a stupid cow," she repeated. "Now don't argue with me, you handsome half-goblin."
"I . . .," he was silenced by her lips meeting his in a kiss. Her eyes were open, watching his reaction. His arms went around her and pulled her to his chest.
"I love every bit of you," she smiled brushing his hair from his face and kissed his uneven cheek. "Even the imperfections. And I love you all the more for those."
His normally hard amber eyes softened with long suppressed emotion. The phantom had no words to answer her; this was something he'd longed for all his forty odd years of life and never expected to have. This woman gave him her love, unconditional and true; smiling and in his arms. Tears of joy leaked from his eyes, his breath stopped when she leaned forward to kiss them away.
Erik's throat constricted with emotion and his arms tightened around her. He buried his face in her silky, honey colored tresses and just held her to his chest trying to sort himself out. Her arms went around his neck, her fingers tangling in his ebony hair. She stroked the nape of his neck and whispered, "Ai jhyli o Aesol, Ai jhyli o Aesol."
"That's beautiful, what does it mean?" he asked, wonder in his voice.
"It means 'I love you Erik' in Elven," S'ray smiled, content in his embrace.
He silently rolled the words around his tongue, trying to remember how she said them. "Ai jhyli o Aesol," he slowly repeated to her.
"Close, but you called me Erik," she softly laughed. "'Aesol' is Erik in Elven. Try this instead 'A kuugaan o T'kuul'."
"A kuugaan o T'kuul," he repeated. "Now what did I just say?"
"You said 'I love you S'ray' in Goblin," she replied with a smile.
"It doesn't sound near as beautiful as Elven," he said raising his head and gazing into her violet eyes again.
"It does when you say it," she sighed caressing his cheek. "Your tongue is so talented you could be one of the rare non-dragons who can speak their tongue."
"There are other pleasures I'd prefer to give you with my tongue," he whispered erotically to her.
She shivered at the memory of his love making from the night before; his tongue was very talented indeed. "Later lover, later," she said breathily and snuggled against his warm chest.
"If you'll have me later," Erik said with a sad look in his eyes as he leaned back against the pillows.
"Ai jhyli o Aesol," she whispered against his beating heart as her eyes closed in sleep again.
"Ai jhyli o S'ray," he replied, also drifting off.
Erik was startled awake by someone pounding on the bedroom door. He looked down; S'ray was still fast asleep in his arms. Gently, so as to not disturb her, he lifted her from his chest. Then he slid off the bed, wrapped a blanket around himself and walked to the door. Passing his mask, he automatically grabbed it and put it on again.
"It's about time you woke up and what happened to . . . Erik?" Tavlyn said, eyes growing wide at the phantom's obvious state of undress.
"Yes Tavlyn?" he smirked blocking the Alve's view of the bedroom.
"So the story is true then?" he grinned.
"What story?" Erik asked.
"The one I heard about you and S'ray last night," he replied still grinning.
"And what did you hear about us?" he inquired.
"That you're lovers. I didn't believe it at first, but this confirms it," Tavlyn said and moved closer so he could whisper. "So, how was she?"
"Depends, how was Luniana?" Erik asked with a smirk.
Tavlyn turned beet red. "You didn't tell anyone did you?" he hissed.
"Well not yet, but I do tend to talk more when I'm drinking," he said still smirking. "So, what are you doing here Tavlyn?"
"You'd better ask her," he said motioning behind the phantom.
Erik looked over his shoulder and saw S'ray standing there, wrapped in a sheet.
"Morning Tav," she smiled ducking under one of Erik's arms and putting her arm around his waist.
"You two missed the morning, it's already well after noon," her second smirked.
"Mmm-hmm and here I thought the great Tavlyn would have been able to keep Luniana occupied longer than he did," she smiled leaning into Erik.
"Are you trying to kill me?" he complained. "She's a Pixie!"
"Remember that when you bed your next serving wench," Erik smiled pulled S'ray closer to him.
"We'll be down in a little while," she said. "Get yourself something to eat in the kitchen while you're waiting."
"I've eaten twice already," he said. "And if you don't stop your Pixie soon, she may make enough food to fee Cyd."
"Great," she said rolling her eyes. "Tell her to stop cooking and that I said so," she sighed. "If she wants to fight about it send her up here."
"Yes Ma'am," he saluted and left.
"So why is Tavlyn here?" Erik asked after closing the door.
"It was supposed to be a surprise," she sighed going back to the bed. "I asked Tavlyn to teach you how to handle a sword better."
"I already know how to use a sword," he said slightly insulted as he sat beside her on the bed.
"I know and against a human you handle yourself very well," she said swinging her legs back up. "But against a Faye, well, you need help."
"I suppose you're right," he sighed and stretched.
S'ray smiled wickedly and suddenly pulled the phantom backward onto the bed.
"What was that for?" he asked looking up into her laughing eyes.
"No reason, just felt like doing that," she smiled leaning over him.
"Well, I've got a reason for this," he smiled and reaching up, pulled her mouth down to his for a long slow kiss.
"You know, if we keep this up, we'll never get out of here," she smiled when he relinquished her lips.
"True, but then Tavlyn is stuck in the kitchen with Luniana longer as well," he smirked.
"Don't torture him too much or he'll take it out on you during training," she said removing his mask so she could kiss him again. "And as for you, no mask in bed. In fact, I want you to take it off as soon as you come in here."
"Take it all off!" Luniana chirped from where she hovered at the window. "Breakfast is ready! Eat now, sex later!"
S'ray laughed as Erik colored again in embarrassment.
"Like you said, no privacy," he laughed as well.
"More pancakes?" Luniana asked Tavlyn.
"No thank you, I'm full," he said covering his plate.
"Are you sure?" she pressed batting her eyelashes.
"Yes, I'm sure," he replied feeling like a cornered animal.
Erik couldn't help but chuckle at the situation the one-eyed Alve had gotten himself into.
"Sit down and eat," Luniana ordered flying over to Erik.
Tavlyn sighed in relief, glad her attention was no longer focused on him. "Eat up and meet me outside with your sword," he said and escaped the kitchen and further attention from the Pixie.
"Luniana, are you trying to make enough food to feed Cyd?" S'ray exclaimed entering the kitchen.
"No, just us," she chirped.
The Alve rolled her eyes and muttered something in her own language that Erik didn't understand. "This is why I don't let you cook," she sighed sitting at the table. "You always get carried away with the amount of food to make."
"I was just trying to help," she pouted.
"I know and we appreciate it," S'ray smiled. "You just need to remember that just because we're bigger doesn't mean we eat in proportion to you. Remember we eat less than you."
"I'll try," she said perking up.
"Otherwise I need to get Cyd over here to eat all this and he says he always flies funny after eating your pancakes," she laughed.
Erik almost chocked at the picture of the great dragon leaning to one side as he flew.
"Chew your food, you're not a dragon," Luniana scolded and went back to the stove.
"I'd recommend going shirtless or wearing something you won't mind getting ruined. Tavlyn tends to be rough when he teaches," she said between bites.
"You're in a good mood," Luniana twittered as she helped S'ray tidy up the bedroom.
"Yes, I am," she smiled putting fresh sheets on the bed.
"So was he good?" the Pixie asked hovering in front of her.
"You were watching, couldn't you tell?" the Alve asked with a laugh.
"Looks can be deceiving," she countered.
"He was incredible," she smiled, smoothing out the fresh sheets.
"And?"
"And what?"
"How many times?"
"For who?"
"You first."
"I don't know, I kept loosing count."
"And tall, dark and half-Faye?"
"Mmm, eight, but he had help," she smiled wickedly.
"And this morning?" she pressed.
"We didn't do anything, except sleep and talk," S'ray answered.
"You're not going to let him sleep on the floor by the fire tonight are you?" Luniana asked concerned.
"Certainly not, no matter what he tells me about himself."
"What does that mean?"
"He's got this idea in his head that when he tells me about his past that I'll turn away from him."
"So you love him?"
"Very much Luniana, very much."
"He loves you too," she twittered. "I saw how he looked at you last night at Beltane, especially when Cyd picked you up."
"Oh and the way he held me and touched me last night," she smiled wrapping her arms around herself. "Simply heaven."
"What else?" she asked.
"He sang to me, it was so wonderful Luniana. You can't imagine what his voice sounds like when he puts his heart and soul into a song," she sighed sitting down. "There's no mortal or immortal voice that can match him. Oh, he melted me. He may have been inexperienced with actual seduction, but he was so good at it."
"Does he really know how to please a woman?" the Pixie asked.
"Does he ever, claims he learned it from a book of all things," she replied with a shiver from memories of the night before.
"How do you learn that from a book?" Luniana asked puzzled.
"I'm not sure, but I want to know what book that's in and why it's not in my library," she giggled.
"Now I just want to see what you already know," Tavlyn said raising his sword. H was dressed in just his breeches and eye patch. "Come on then, attack and fight me."
Erik lifted his saber and came at the Alve from his blind side. Tavlyn whirled and easily blocked the blow with the flat of his sword. The Alve continued turning and smartly hit the phantom across the back with the flat of his sword.
"Whuff," he went as the air rushed out of his lungs and he went down to one knee.
"Is that it? I thought you knew how to fight already," Tavlyn said letting his guard down.
The phantom frowned as he stood again, his back still stinking from the blow. He raised his sword again and went on the attack. Tavlyn met him and blocked his blow. Erik tried to use his size to force the smaller man down. The Alve's wiry muscles knotted and he shoved the larger man backward instead. The he smacked his opponent across the thigh with the flat of his sword again.
"Ooo, that could leave a mark," the Alve grinned.
Erik swung at him again, a blow that would have broken a bone if it had connected. The other man smiled, that one had made his arm tingle. He danced back, gripping his sword with both hands, dug it into the soil and threw up a cloud of dirt at the phantom. The phantom coughed and backed up, blinking the dirt from his eyes.
Tavlyn came forward, planted his bare foot in Erik's chest and pushed him over backward. "Is that all you've got?" he asked.
The phantom got to his feet again and swung at the Alve. His blow was blocked again and he was smacked by the flat of Tavlyn's sword again. He turned and struck again, the Alve danced around him and hit him in the back with the flat of his sword again.
"Well, that was fun," Tavlyn said not even breathing heavy. "But now, it's my turn."
Tavlyn struck at him, the phantom brought his sword up just in time to block the blow. Erik's arm rang from the blow and he staggered back. "Come on," Tavlyn growled. "This is too easy."
Erik snarled and thrust at his middle. The Alve moved out of the way and caught the saber with his own sword, pulling it from the phantom's grasp. Quick as thought, Tavlyn kicked him in the chest again, grabbing the saber from the ground in almost the same motion.
Then the Alve was on top of him, a knee planted squarely in his chest. Tavlyn held both swords crossed, a blade on either side of his neck. "If you ever hurt her, I'll kill you," he said and then stood. "Thus endeth the lesson.
The Alve held out his hand, Erik grasped it and was pulled to his feet. "Thank you," he said regaining his composure. "It seems I don't know as much about swordplay as I thought."
"I'll be back tomorrow for another lesson," he said tossing his saber back to him. "I suggest you find something with more weight. And don't forget what I told you."
"You wanted to talk about your past," S'ray said sitting near him by the fire pit. "Are you ready now?"
Erik nodded his head, never taking his eyes from the crackling fire. "I've been dreading this all day," he sighed.
"Why? I've already told you that nothing you can tell me will make me change my mind," she replied.
"I know," he said looking up at her. "But I still have to tell you, this is the only way I'll know for certain."
"Very well, I'm listening," she said moving closer to him.
"It started over 25 years ago, when I was still quite young. I was a young man and desperately wanted to see the world, so I left the opera house and began making my way to the Mediterranean. I eventually wound up in Istanbul, my plan from there was to follow Marco Polo's Silk Road to China and after that I hadn't planned out yet," he said looking back to the fire and into time.
"I was young and very sure of myself; I thought I knew it all. I wound up attracting the attention of the wrong people in Istanbul. The Shah of the Mazanderan Court had his men capture me and I was taken to his dungeons," he said removing his shirt. "This is the result of my stay there."
His chest was criss-crossed with many scars. Some were so old as to be only faded white lines; while others were more recent and left raised ridges that stood out plainly even on his pale skin. The phantom's back was much worse; S'ray recognized those marks, he'd been flayed. She went to him and gently touched his back. Still unused to being touched, he unconsciously flinched away from her. Undeterred, she laid her hand on the scarred skin, letting her warmth soak into him. "How did you escape?" she softly asked, wrapping her arm around him.
"That's the part I've been most dreading," he said turning his head to look at her. "Because of this face, they made me an offer."
"What kind of offer?" she asked tightening her arm around him.
"Either become the Shah's personal assassin or be slowly killed as entertainment for his mother the Khanum," he replied taking a deep breath. "I said yes, I didn't want to die yet and certainly not as entertainment for some woman. So I was turned over to Nadir Kahn, the Shah's Daroga. He nursed me back to health and then I was turned over to the assassin's school."
S'ray lifted his arm so she could be closer to him and wrap both her arms around him. She knew about the schools of death of the east, she shuddered involuntarily at what he must have gone through.
"Heard of those places, have you?" he asked draping his arm around her shoulders.
She nodded and gave him a reassuring hug.
"There, needless to say, I received more of the scars you see now," Erik sighed. "I won't go into the details of what and how I was taught there, but I know more ways to kill and torture a man than any fiend in hell. Finally I was returned to the Shah as a great prize, the best assassin to come out of the school in several centuries. He was quite pleased with his new servant and immediately set me to work.
"I don't know how many people I killed on his orders. I kept track for a while, but eventually just gave up; the numbers were too great. After a while I was put in charge of entertaining his mother, the Khanum. She was a cold and cruel woman, whom I later found out, was the iron hand behind the Shah.
"The Khanum would have me slowly strangle people; servants, criminals, nobles, merchants, anyone who displeased her in anyway," he explained, not taking his eyes from the flames of the fire.
"Then I started to actually enjoy it; I would invent new and vicious ways to strangle people for her enjoyment. They started to call me 'King of the Stranglers' and I guess I still am. It only became worse from then on, the Khanum was no longer content with just having people strangled. She would have me build elaborate torture devices for her victims.
"The Shah would still send me out on special assassinations for him. Then his mother would send for me as soon as I returned, still covered in blood and stinking of death. She would take such pleasure in watching me kill; it was almost sexual for her I think.
"One day the Shah asked me to design a new palace for him, complete with traps, secret passages and rooms, dungeons and torture chambers; everything despots like them would want in a palace. I did it and after it was built he kept an even closer eye on me because I knew so many of his secrets now.
"I had grown to loathe them both and made no secret of it, especially to the Khanum. Then they decided that perhaps they should get rid of me and the attempts on my life started. Trouble is, it's not easy to kill a master assassin.
"Finally after several botched attempts on my life, I gave him a choice. Either let me leave and live in peace or I would slowly kill him in the worst way I could imagine. The Shah allowed me to leave, but had Nadir Kahn keep an eye on me for him with the warning that if I ever harmed the Daroga he would declare a fatwa on me.
"That was almost 15 years ago," he finished looking over at her. "I came back to the opera to find that my childhood friend had married, had child herself and been widowed while I was gone. And you know the rest from there."
The phantom watched her expectantly, waiting for the moment she would push him away in disgust. His eyes widened in surprise as her arms tightened around him instead. He looked down into deep violet eyes that were filled with tears, tears for him. "Oh Aesol, Aesol, shar o'bi meraesaer. Air pyr's taraes sai ti shar o'bi pyli, Ai mor jhyli o. Ai mor jhyli o," she cried holding tight to him.
"I'm not sure what you just said, but this isn't what I expected," he softly said wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"I still love you Erik," she said with a hitch in her voice.
"Why?" he asked. "You deserve someone more worthy than me. You deserve the love of one of your own kind."
"I don't know why," she said shaking her head. "I only know that I love you Erik and I don't want anyone else but you."
"Never in my life have I ever imagined that someone would love me like you do," the phantom said caressing her tear dampened cheek. "Oh S'ray, I love you so much I can't find the words to even tell you."
"Then show me Erik, show me," she pleaded softly.
He leaned down and gently caught her lips in a kiss. The kiss was soft and tender, but it took her breath away just the same. His lips left hers moved softly over her cheeks to then ghost across her closed eyes. Erik pulled her close to his chest and leaned his head against hers.
"You are my heartbeat and my breath," he whispered combing his fingers through her silky hair. "You are my life, without you I am dead. Without you I am a monster that cares for nothing but himself and his own selfish wants."
S'ray hugged him close, gently caressing the scarred skin of his back. "Erik, Erik, Erik," she murmured against his chest.
"You're the reason I'm alive and I would die for you," he continued lifting her chin so he could gaze into those beautiful violet eyes. "I love you more than life itself."
"Oh Erik," she sighed caressing his unmasked cheek. Then she pulled him down to her for another kiss.
"Your mouth is so sweet," he smiled, cupping her chin in his hand. "I could kiss you forever."
"I may very well let you do just that," she sighed gazing into his warm golden eyes.
Unable to turn down her invitation, he kissed her again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, holding his mouth to hers. Her lips parted to deepen the kiss; Erik moaned into her mouth, desire flooding his veins. "What you do to me S'ray," he said hungrily and pulled her against his arousal.
"Take me to bed Erik," she whispered against him, her own heart beating as quickly as his.
The former opera ghost didn't need to have her ask him twice; he picked her up in his arms and carried her into the house. As he was closing the bedroom door, S'ray reached up and pulled his mask off. He brought her over to the bed and lay her down on it. Erik took his mask from her and placed it on the bedside table. Then he went to the windows and pulled the curtains shut before finally coming back to her.
"I feel more nervous with you tonight than I did last night," he confessed combing his fingers through her hair again.
"Perhaps it's because your past is no longer between us," S'ray said brushing an unruly lock of ebony hair from his face.
"Perhaps," he smiled. "I truly didn't expect to be here tonight with you."
"Why?" she asked putting her hand on his chest.
"I thought that when you found out I'm a master assassin and enjoyed torturing and killing people that you would reject me," Erik explained.
"I knew you'd be back with me, I made up my mind before you told me about your time in Persia," she said gazing at him with love her eyes.
"I don't know why I ever doubted your love," he said and kissed her again. Her fingers combed into his hair; holding him close as she opened her mouth to deepen the kiss. He groaned in desire as his own tongue slipped inside to taste and explore again.
His hand slid up under her shirt to caress one of her breasts. She gasped into him as his thumb stroked her now hard nipple. Erik felt himself grow hard as her leg brushed against him.
The phantom growled low in his throat; skin, he wanted to feel her skin next to his. He rose up to his knees and in one swift motion, ripped her tunic open so her chest and stomach were bared before him. S'ray gasped in surprise, and then sighed in pleasure as he drew one of her nipples into his hot mouth. By the time he moved to her other breast, she desperately wanted out of her trousers.
He already knew what she wanted. His hands worked the fastening at her waist as he kissed his way down to her stomach. Erik growled again and dragged her pants and pantaloons off her writhing body. His hand slid up her leg to stroke the inside of her thigh. "So hot and wet," he murmured as his hand slipped between her thighs.
S'ray moaned softly as his finger slipped inside her. He covered her mouth with his, drinking in her cries of pleasure. She writhed and trembled beneath his touch; her body shuddering with a small climax every time his talented fingers brushed her clitoris. "Aesol, Aesol, Aesol," she gasped reverting back to Elven as her hands slid up to caress her own breasts.
His mouth moved to her throat so he could listen to the music in her cries of pleasure; cries that his touch brought from her lips. Still, he couldn't help but watch her touch herself; it was the most erotic sight he'd ever witnessed. Her hands cupped and caressed her breasts; fingertips dancing over her hard nipples. Erik's eyes darkened and his breath quickened as he watched one of her hands slid down her body to the treasure between her thighs. He swallowed hard as he watched her start to pleasure herself right before his eyes. Suddenly he was much too warm and his trousers were much to snug in a certain place.
Erik rolled to his back and quickly shed his trousers and underclothes. Moving back beside her, he pulled her hip against his aching erection before drawing her unattended nipple into his hungry mouth. His hand slid down her hot skin to slip two fingers into her slick channel. She cried out and arched against him as he moved his fingers in and out of her. He moaned low in his throat and ground himself against her.
S'ray felt wonderful as she pleasured herself for him. A tiny gasp escaped her lips as he pressed his hot erection against her thigh. That pleasant pressure had stared to build within her again. She knew she was close and started using two fingers to stroke herself to release.
He felt her body start to tense around his fingers and her movements become more wild and wanton. He looked from her breast and his eyes moved down to watch her fingers work herself to orgasm. Her scent filled the air; she was so close to climax he could taste her without having to touch her. Then he felt her body clench onto his fingers as she cried out his name and shuddered with release.
The phantom watched and felt her body come down from climax, he'd never seen or experienced anything like it. He slid his fingers from her body and licked her juices from them. When he'd finished, he took the hand she'd used to pleasure herself and did the same. Then he gently caressed her body, drawing small gasps and sighs from her lips. "You are so incredible," he said, animal lust making his silky voice rough. "A wanton, pagan goddess lies naked before me. She tempts me to sin with her ripe, pleasurable body. Wordlessly she pleads with me to take my pleasure of her flesh."
S'ray gazed up at him, his voice and words seducing her. Her hand slid down his chest and stomach to grasp him gently.
Erik gasped and continued, "Her hands caress with promises of more exquisite pleasures to come if I but give in to my own desires."
She smiled and sat up. Then she leaned over and kissed his throat before slowly licking it from base to chin.
"She touches me as no other woman ever has before," he whispered beneath her.
Sitting up again, she laid both her hands at his shoulders and lightly raked her nails down his chest.
"Her touch leaves trails of lust and fire on my bare skin," he gasped.
Then she leaned over and licked one of his nipples before kissing her way down to his stomach.
"She knows my every lustful desire and dark fantasy," Erik continued watching her follow the thin line of hair that ran down the middle of his stomach.
Her mouth was upon him then, slowly she licked his length as he drew in a long shuddering breath.
"She knows my wicked dreams because she is in every one of them. She has haunted me for the longest time and now I find myself in her bed. Her prisoner or her captor, I do not know nor care," he sighed letting his head fall back on to the pillow.
S'ray smiled and alternately licked and kissed her way up and down his erection.
"I only know I am going to surrender to our every dark desire and fantasy. Then once we have played them out on each other's body to rest and repeat them again," he finished as she drew him into her mouth. He arched against her and a long groan of pleasure came from his open mouth.
She sucked on him, her tongue swirling around his tip. He gasped as her fingers dug into the thick muscles of his hips. His body bucked against her, relishing in the pleasure her mouth bestowed upon him. S'ray smiled as she licked and then blew softly upon him; even his moans of pleasure had music in them. She covered him with her mouth again and pulled a strangled cry of pleasure from him.
His body tensed beneath her and his breath came in short gasps. He could feel the pleasure winding up in the pit of his belly. She played him like a fine instrument, knowing every nuance of movement that would give him pleasure. Finally after all the long, lonely years of his life, he gave himself over to another and gave her the control to pleasure him as she would.
Her mouth continued its pleasurable journey over him as his body tensed in anticipation of release. She ran her hand up his leg to grasp his waist as she licked and kissed and sucked him. His sounds of pleasure grew more desperate as she brought him close to the edge, only to let him calm down again. "Oh God S'ray," he groaned beneath her, "please, please."
"Please what?" she asked blowing across his feverish skin.
"Please woman," he groaned unable to find words for what he wanted her to do.
"Again, please what?" she asked and licked up his length.
"Fin. . . fin . . . finish me," he groaned raising his head to look at her with passion darkened eyes.
"Very well," she smiled and covered him with her mouth again.
Erik collapsed back into the bed and released the breath he'd been holding in a long groan. With every stroke of her tongue he felt himself drawn closer to the inevitable flood of pleasure that would overwhelm him and release him. He gasped and gripped the edges of the bed; he was so very close now. Then her tongue touched just the right spot; he surged into her mouth and poured himself out in release. He was over taken by the wave and shouted her name as his body shook with pleasure.
When he was finished, she swallowed and licked her lips. Then she sat up to look at her un-done phantom. He lay limply on her bed; his eyes were closed and his mouth open. His chest heaved up and down as he came down from the high she'd given him. She watched him close his mouth and then swallow as he came back to his senses.
"S'ray," he murmured holding his arm out to her, eyes still closed.
"Yes Erik," she smiled going into his embrace.
"Ai jhyli o," he said opening his eyes and pulling her tight against himself.
"I love you as well," she sighed wrapping herself around him. "You look beautiful when you're un-done."
"Un-done, so that's what you call it," he murmured pressing his lips to her hair.
"Or would you prefer passion drunk?" she asked her fingers brushing over his chest hair.
"Mmm, good description," he smiled. "Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?"
"What you're doing now on my chest."
"Remember last night when you first took time to really see me naked?"
"How can I ever forget that wonderful sight? You're so, so beautiful."
"You were surprised that I'm bare, unlike a human woman."
"Yes, but I find it so enticing now."
"And I told you that all Alve are bare."
"There's only one Alve I want to see naked."
"Well the same goes for the men," she answered caressing his chest.
"But that doesn't explain your fascination with my chest hair," he said quirking an eyebrow.
"Of course it does, Alve men don't grow beards or have any hair on their bodies either," she replied. "You saw Tavlyn with his shirt off today or didn't you notice?"
"Frankly no, and as I said earlier, you are the only Alve I'm interested in seeing naked," he said rolling her to her back. "But thank you for the explanation."
"You're welcome," she sighed as he bent to kiss and lick her throat. "Oh Erik."
"Say my name in your language," he whispered against her skin. "I love the way it rolls off your tongue."
"Aesol, Aesol," she gasped as he cupped one of her breasts.
"God what you do to me S'ray," he groaned against her. "I've just been un-done and you've already got me hard and wanting you again."
"Sael saji ti Aesol, saji ti," she replied lifting his face so she could look at him.
"As you wish," he whispered and caught her lips in a kiss.
While they kissed, she pulled him on top her. She gasped into him when she felt his erection at her hot, wet entrance. Erik needed no urging and gratefully slid inside her. They lay still for a few moments, savoring the feeling of their bodies joined again. Then he began moving above her; long slow strokes, almost pulling out from her completely before slowly sliding back into her and drawing the most exquisite mewl of pleasure from her. "Aesol, Aesol," she sighed beneath him.
"Oui, mon amour," he breathed against her. "Dites à Erik que vous voulez qu'il fasse."
"Tharaes Aesol, casaes," she moaned as he licked one of her hard nipples.
"Avez-vous besoin d'Erik pour vous faire venir défaits?" he asked grazing the same nipple with his teeth.
"Or Aesol, vaeri taji ti tysti ial-pyli shor o," S'ray pleaded beneath him, her body writhing in anticipation.
"Alors Erik fera comme vous désirez, mon amour," he whispered and thrust into her willing body harder and faster.
"Aesol, Aesol," S'ray gasped beneath him and pulled his mouth down to hers. Her legs wrapped around him as he drove into her. Her lips parted and his tongue slipped inside to deepen their kiss.
He leaned on his elbows and twined his fingers with hers. His mouth moved down to her throat as his body surged into hers. She was getting close; he could tell from the sounds she made and the way she moved against him. Then she shuddered against him and cried out his name in release.
Erik stilled while she trembled beneath him. His hungry lips moved from her throat to her shoulders; then back along her collar bone to the valley between her breasts. She gasped at the sensations that flooded her still highly aroused body.
He started moving again, easily sliding in and out of her slick passage. She moaned low in his ear wrapped her legs around him once more, changing the angle of her hips so he could thrust deeper within her. "Or, or, casaes Aesol, casaes," she gasped.
The phantom raised his head so he could watch her. Her eyes were half-lidded and dark with passion. "Voulez-vous être sur le haut d'Erik?" he whispered sensuously in her ear.
"Or Aesol, or," she gasped.
He rolled them over so she was on top of him, straddling his hips. He released her hands and grasped her thighs to steady her. Then he sat up and slid them both backward till his back was resting on a pillow against the tall headboard. His hands slid up her hips and sides to pull her close to his chest. "Mmm, beaucoup mieux," he murmured kissing her neck.
S'ray draped her arms around his neck as she rocked on him. She let her head fall back so he could kiss the full length of her throat. A shiver of pleasure ran down her back as his hungry mouth licked and then sucked one of her hard nipples. One of her hands drifted down between them to stroke herself.
His hand slid around to caress her unattended breast. She arched against him as her free hand tangled in his midnight hair, holding him to her breast. He groaned against her wet skin as she ground herself against him and moaned in pleasure. Her cries soon became short and breathy as he felt her body tense around his.
He pulled her hand from between them and licked her fingers before reaching down to stroke her himself. S'ray gasped and rocked harder against him, her fingers now digging into his shoulders. His other hand grasped her hips, pulling her down to each of his thrusts.
Her movements now wanton and wild, she leaned into him and fiercely kissed him. Erik's mouth opened in surprise only to find himself at the mercy of her insistent tongue. Unfazed, he kissed her back as she desperately ground herself against him seeking release.
"Erik!" she loudly cried out and arched violently against him in release. He pulled her hips tightly against his and joined her, spilling himself deep within her. She collapsed against his chest, spent and breathing heavily. Erik released his grip on her thighs and slid his hand up to gently caress her back. He brought his other hand up to his mouth and sucked her juices from his fingers.
"Je vous aime, Je vous aime, Je vous aime, Je vous aime," he murmured over and over as she lay on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
"Oh Erik, I love you so much," she sighed raising her head to look into his loving golden eyes. "Let me show you what it means to be loved. Only death can part us and I would come back from that to be with you."
"Only if you let me love you with a passion that's been caged for years and is now finally free," he whispered in response. "My blood boils for you; together we'll let the flames consume us till there is nothing left but our love."
"Never has a man spoken such words to me or about me," she smiled softly brushing her fingers over his lips.
"Only fools would not notice a beauty such as you," he smiled brushing her hair behind her ear.
"I hate to disappoint you, but I am only an average looking Alve woman," she replied draping her arms around his neck.
"I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," Erik said caressing her.
"Again, such words you say to me," she said resting her head on his chest again. "Poetry and song, I thought that only happened in stories now."
"Didn't your husband sing or recite poetry when he was courting you?" he asked stroking her hair.
"Oh he would try, but it wasn't in him," she sighed looking up at him. "He was a warrior, nothing more and nothing less."
"Mmm, then I've got a lot of time to make up for," Erik smiled, his fingers lightly brushing her jaw before cupping her chin and tilting her head up for a kiss.
"So you remember what you said to me earlier?" she asked when they parted.
"Every word, my Pagan Goddess," he replied.
"Pagan Goddess, I like the sound of that," she smiled wrapping her arms around him.
"It fits you, especially after what you were doing to yourself earlier," he said with a smirk.
"Does that mean you enjoyed watching me?" she asked with a wicked little smile.
"I did, I've never seen a woman do that before, even when she didn't know she was being watched," he answered caressing her back.
"So you thought only men could do that?" she asked raising her head farther to better look at him.
"Not true, I just wasn't sure how a woman would go about doing that," Erik replied. "So how often do you do that?"
"Depends on how frustrated I am," she smiled. "Just like you."
He reddened for a moment; he hadn't realized that she knew about that particular vice of his. "I . . . ah . . . I," he stammered.
"I don't know why you're embarrassed," she sighed shaking her head, "I'm not. Besides, there's nothing wrong with pleasuring yourself as long as you're not doing it all the time."
"How did you?" he asked surprised.
"I command six healthy, virile men, of course I know what you do when there is no female companionship available," S'ray replied. "Besides, I know I dress much more provocatively than what you are accustomed to with women."
"Very true," he nodded. "And I must tell you that I'm very jealous and possessive." To demonstrate he pulled her tight against himself and kissed her fiercely as if he were branding her as his own. "You're mine and I'll never let you go or allow any other to have you," he vowed drawing back from her a bit.
"Now that's the goblin in you talking," she laughed lightly.
"I'm serious S'ray," he said evenly. "If any other man were to even touch you, I would kill him."
S'ray looked up at him in surprise, no man had ever made a vow like that to her before. Even her husband had not loved as fiercely as Erik obviously did. She gazed into golden eyes which revealed the true depth of his feelings for her. "I believe you Erik," she said caressing his rough cheek.
He leaned his head back against the headboard and ran his fingers absently through her hair.
"Tired now?" she asked.
"Very," he said letting his eyes closed.
"Then let me go so you can lie down and I'll come right back to your embrace," S'ray said kissing him under his chin.
"If I must," he sighed taking his arms from her.
She slid off him and pulled pillows back where they belonged while he lay down in the middle of the bed. When she was satisfied, she pulled the covers up over them and gave herself over to his embrace. Erik pulled her close to his body and closed his eyes in sleep.
Author's End Note: Here are the translations, Elven are from Jhonen Olain's Eberron Journal and the French are from the Free English to French Online Translator.
Shar o'bi meraesaer - what you've suffered
Air pyr's taraes sai ti shar o'bi pyli - It doesn't matter to me what you've done
Ai mor jhyli o - I still love you
Sael saji ti Aesol, saji ti - Then take me Erik, take me
Dites à Erik que vous voulez qu'il fasse - Tell Erik what you want him to do
Tharaes Aesol, casaes – Faster Erik, harder
Avez-vous besoin d'Erik pour vous faire venir défaits? - Do you need Erik to make you come un-done?
Or Aesol, vaeri taji ti tysti ial-pyli shor o - Yes Erik, please make me come un-done with you
Alors Erik fera comme vous désirez, mon amour - Then Erik will do as you desire, my love
Or, or, casaes Aesol, casaes - Yes, yes, harder Erik, harder
Voulez-vous être sur le haut d'Erik? - Would you like to be on top of Erik?
Or Aesol, or - Yes Erik, yes
Mmm, beaucoup mieux - Mmm, much better
Je vous aime – I love you
Coming up in Chapter 18 – The Master Has Now Become the Student