Mention: Chris Mann as Erik, Ramin as Nadir,

Erik uses some choice language in this chapter: don't be offended.

Chapter 29:

He woke with a gasp, shudders of pain coursing through his body as he fought to remember where he was and what had happened. His breathing was rapid as his heart pounded against his chest in a rhythmic tempo; his head was throbbing in pain but not as badly as his abdomen was. Struggling to move, Erik managed to sit up, the blanket strewn across him falling to his lap; that's when he saw it. His chest was completely bare, exposing his scars to anyone who looked upon him and stretched across his lower stomach was the long stitched up wound he had obtained the night earlier.

His injury pained him a great amount especially when he moved; he decided to inspect it closer. The stitching was done well; there were stains of dried blood blotting his skin in numerous spots. The blood didn't bother him much, what did bother him was the fact that the wound appeared red and extremely agitated; simple signs of an infection.

Erik's hands went to his face as he pulled his knees up closer to his body and grumbled in pain. He expected his mask to be in place but instead he was met with the repulsive feel of his marred skin against his cold fingers. With a jump Erik quickly began searching for his mask; normally he was fine by himself without wearing his mask but with practically no clothing on and all of his life's demons exposed upon his flesh, he needed to cover up the one appearance that shamed him the most.

The mask sat beside him on the bed, its white porcelain greeting him like an old friend. Erik quickly placed the covering over his face sighing in relief. He lazily turned his glance to the nightstand set beside his bed and analyzed all of the materials set upon it. A wash bowl filled with red liquid, stitching supplies, a glass of water, bloody bandages, and Erik's pocket watch. Reaching out a timid hand, he took hold of it and read the time, 10:45 in the morning.

Taking a moment to breathe Erik leaned back slowly against his pillows attempting to calm his rapid heart and quell the pain accumulating throughout his entire body. His mind would not silence as his thoughts ventured to the evening prior and how he came to be in such a state.

The Vicomte. He thought to himself. He hated that man more than anything and his hatred for him grew even more after he attempted to slice him in half with his blade. A smirk came to Erik's lips as he remembered how his own blade came to slash threw the vulnerable skin of that fops left arm. Hating to admit his defeat, Erik knew that the Vicomte was the one to win that nights battle. He was able to walk away with the prize; Christine.

Erik sat up wanting to forget about Christine for the time being, luckily with the pain of moving, his thoughts were quickly abolished. With a light gasp Erik glanced down at his wound; it was surly infected. Reaching forward with timid fingers, Erik traced a path across the slash.

Harsh pain raced through his body as his fingers pressed a little too hard. His head flew forward as he shut his eyes tightly and gave a loud groan in agony. His vision was going in and out of darkness and his head spun with dizziness making his stomach nauseous.

Instantly as his pain was voiced allowed, a startled gasp was heard from the foot of Erik's large bed. His eyes flew to the source of the noise only to be met with wild blue-green eyes, and stringy blonde locks staring back at him. It was May; she lay on her side propped up by her forearms staring from the foot of the bed. Erik had no idea how he was not originally aware of the girls presence; her eyes were heavy with sleep and the redness of past tears, her lips appeared pink and slightly bloated, her hair fell haphazardly around her face, and her dress was pulled up to her knee's exposing the creamy whiteness of her legs.

The two stared at each other for a long moment, not knowing what to do or say. Glancing from May back down to his wound, Erik gasped loudly realizing his exposed state and quickly drew the covers up over himself making sure no inch of any scar was exposed.

May found his sudden action peculiar; Erik still sat up with his knees pulled close to his chest, the blankets covered pretty much all of him but exposed some of his broad shoulders. She glanced over him timidly, his hair was muffled somewhat adorably from sleep, and May was shocked to see that his mask had been placed on.

May didn't know what to say, she was at a loss for words. That night nightmares plagued her mind, every hour she would awake panting and drenched with sweat. Erik remained the same all night, not moving an inch and thankfully not waking with anymore fever dreams or outbursts.

Pushing her hair behind her ear, May sat up slowly and glanced at Erik. "Good morning." She stated quietly.

Erik stared at her with wide unknowing eyes. Pulling the blankets closer to him, he spoke in barely a whisper. "Hello"

"How are you feeling?" May questioned, biting her lip.

Erik's eyes stayed wide and glued to May. He pulled the covers tighter again then cleared his throat attempting to sit up a little taller.

"Fine." He stated plainly.

May's brow forwarded "Truthfully?"

Erik's demeanor finally fell as he slouched his shoulders and hung his head low. He gave a light cough before responding.

"I feel like hell."

May's heart hurt for Erik, she hated to see him in such pain. She wanted desperately to make him better but she knew that there was not much she could do.

"I'm sorry." She sighed solemnly.

"For what? You didn't do this to me."

"I know but I just hate seeing you like this."

Erik sighed bringing his arms out from under the covers, rubbing the palm of his hand against his left eye. Sliding to her feet May began to go about her nurse like duties. There was an air of uneasiness cast over the bedroom. Neither of them wanted to speak, leaving the room in silence, yet it was not an awkward silence it was rather comfortable.

Erik shut his eyes and laid back against his pillows, making sure his bare body was not exposed, while May collected the wash bowl of bloody water and rags. "I will be back in a moment." She spoke, items in hand. "Don't do anything foolish while I am gone."

Erik gave her a nasty look, not appreciating her joke to the full extent. May responded with a quick glare and an easy giggle before exiting the room. Erik made sure May was completely out of the room before he once again pulled down his blankets to examine his injury. It was surely infected; Erik prayed it would not cause him to become ill. He hated to be sick and would hate himself even more if May had to witness him in another run down state, worse than how he already was.

May returned quickly and Erik swiftly covered his body making sure she would not see any inch of his marred flesh. May watched his action and was again confused; why would he cover himself, and so hurriedly at that. "What was that?" she questioned somewhat mockingly with a smirk. Walking to the nightstand May set down the now cleaned wash bowl with new rags and a glass of water.

Erik stared at her for a moment. "Nothing, I'm just cold…" a loud cough erupted from his lungs before he could finish. May gave a sympathetic groan as she grabbed the glass of water and sat upon the bed helping Erik sit up.

Her hand was pressed flush to the scarred flesh upon Erik's back; and as soon as Erik realized what was happening he flinched away and moved so she could not touch him.

May looked at him quizzically but chose to ignore what had just happened. "Here, drink this." She stated offering the glass of water.

Erik took it quickly and swallowed nothing but a sip before thrusting the glass back into May's unexpected hands. With a frustrated grunt he quickly gathered the blankets around his shoulders laying back down and rolling onto his side away from May's gaze. He did not want any inch of his marred skin exposed to her innocent eyes, and he was willing to hide himself form her for as long as possible if that meant he could spare her a simple glance.

Erik could tell May was becoming frustrated by the sound of her uneasy sigh. There was a long moment of silence between them.

"Well, it is early; I am rather hungry and I imagine you must be too. Why don't I go make us some breakfast?" May suggested. Erik had no response, he clutched his blankets tighter and attempted to blend in with the matters some more. "Alright then," she replied awkwardly. "I shall return shortly."

Erik counted the seconds until she was gone. His body screamed in agony as he lay curled on his side, but he did not care; he was warm and fully covered, that is all that mattered to him. Deciding to take some time for himself Erik let his eyes close shut as he dozed off for a few minutes as he waited for May to return.

She was back quickly. Tray in hand and hair pulled back loosely once more she stood at the side of Erik's bed glancing at his calm form. His heavy eyes were shut tight and his blankets were pulled snug against him, his body rose and fell with his stable breathing, he seemed almost peaceful in his slumber. May hated to wake him but she wanted to make sure he had something to eat so that he could regain his strength; and so she quietly bid him awake.

"Erik," she sighed leaning close to his ear. "Wake up Erik, you fell asleep." After a few more tries of calling his name he finally woke with a slight jump. He looked very confused when he woke; May couldn't help but giggle at his flustered state.

Erik rolled onto his back and rubbed at his unmasked eye as May gathered the tray once more, taking her spot at the foot of the bed.

"A little breakfast in bed never hurts." She stated with a light hearted smile.

Erik glanced over the tray of food; it was a simple breakfast of toast with some jam and tea for the both of them. The thought of eating made Erik's already nauseous stomach turn even more.

"I'm not hungry." He grumbled rolling onto his other side unconsciously forgetting his injury for the moment being. "Fuck!" he cursed allowed as his wounded side pressed into the mattress.

May blushed at his sudden choice of words. She had never heard him use such dangerous vocabulary before; she found it slightly enthralling. Erik gave up and lay on his back once more staring up at the ceiling fighting off waves of dizziness that blackened his already unsteady vision.

May chose to ignore his outburst. "Erik, you must eat something."

"No!" he stated angrily. His temper was beginning to rise.

"You have lost a considerable amount of blood, you must regain your strength, and I do not want you to become sick."

His dizziness was increasing as his anger amounted. "I do not care!" he practically shouted.

May was flustered by his sudden snap in demeanor. "Why are you being so cross with me?" she argued back.

He began to sweat as his breathing picked up pace. His head was spinning uncontrollably, and for some reason he felt as if all of his pent up anger from the night prior was finally being released.

A wicked laugh escaped his lungs; it was deep yet wildly fierce, making May recoil in fear. "Why am I being so cross?" he stated with no inflection. His fury finally snapped. "WHY AM I BEING SO CROSS?"

With sudden strength May did not realize he had at such a moment of weakness, Erik flew upright throwing the tray from the bed with a loud grunt. The contents crashed to the ground, fine china shattering into millions of pieces as hot tea stained the perfect Persian carpet. May yelped in fear as Erik quickly sat up upon his knees lunging forward and grabbing her by the forearms forcing her close to him meeting his gaze.

He had barely noticed he was now bare to her wandering eyes.

"Why am I being so cross? Goodness I don't know, maybe it is because the one true woman I love dearly ran off with another man last evening. The same man who practically tore me in two with his fucking blade!" he was shouting in May's face, searching her horror filled eyes for anything he could find. "I had her in my clutches, I HAD THAT DAMNED WOMAN! But no, as soon as her brave knight comes to rescue her from the horrid beast who threatens to love her… I am no more." His lip began to quiver. "I am forgotten," tears began to fall. "I am nothing but a… a- MUDEROUS HEATHEN… w-who wants nothing more than to capture the fair lady in the tower and rape her mind until she fully belongs to me."

Erik's grasp upon May began to loosen as his tears flowed. He had never cried like this in front of her; only once had she seen him cry, that was the night he finally let her see his true face. The tears then were filled with acceptance and happiness; now his tears were of nothing but despair and loneliness, something May wanted nothing more than to wish away.

Erik grasped her tighter suddenly, pulling her even closer. "Why May? Why would she do that? She was ready to submit to me, her arms were outstretched begging for my grasp, but then nothing. NOTHING." He took a long moment to breath. "I guess that is all I am to her. Nothing… Christine Daae, whom I have given every ounce of my being too, every inkling of love I possess in this god awful body and blackened soul of mine, sees me as just a pitiful man who she can toy with. Well she has fooled me for too long, and now… now I- I have HAD IT! It is to be war upon her now, upon her and that damned boy she is constantly running off too."

May's hands calmly went to his heaving chest as she asked a feared question. "What do you plan to do Erik?"

He met her gaze and gave a wild smirk as his tears began to subside. "Christine will be mine." He spoke menacingly low. "God DANM IT, she will be mine if it is the last thing I ever do on this heinous planet. And that precious Viscomte of hers… he will be sorry he ever tangled with the Opera Ghost."

Thrusting himself away from May, Erik once again fell back against his pillows; his hands covering his face as he fought to regain his grip on reality.

May sat dumbfounded staring at her lap. She had never seen such an outburst from him and she hated it, it was something she never wished to encounter again. He was wild with anger and completely lost in the recollection of his distraught emotions; his eyes read nothing but hate something she had never witnessed before in his golden orbs.

Glancing at Erik, she noticed that he no longer had the barrier of sheets to cover him and she now saw all that she witnessed the night before.

That was not all she noticed though.

"Erik, you're bleeding!" she gasped as she sprung off the bed to retrieve bandages.

Erik hadn't even noticed that May could now bare witness to his body. He cursed loudly again realizing his vulnerable state than quickly tangled himself in the bed sheets becoming dizzy from his sudden motion.

May turned confused by what she saw.

"I am fine it is only a little blood." Erik whispered quickly before a cough racked through him.

"Erik, I am not picking this fight with you again. Now please remove your covers."

"No! I cannot allow that!" he cried.

"Erik stop this!" she went to remove the blankets herself but it was no use.

"You insolent girl just leave me alone!" He coughed again as they hollered at one another

"You ignorant man let me help you!" she screamed back. May was at her wits end. She crawled up onto the bed as Erik turned on his back; she straddled his lap, an act that surprised Erik to a great extant. She began pulling at the blankets once more as he struggled beneath her.

"Maygen get off of me!"

"No!"

"Why don't you just leave? Go on and crawl back to your own boy just like Christine did…" his words were cut off as May let out a straggled yelp bringing her hand down hard upon his cheek slapping him harshly.

She couldn't believe what she had just done; her hands flew to her mouth covering her gasp as she stared with frightened eyes. Her hand stung and she noticed a red mark upon Erik's flawless cheek. She wondered what would be in store for her next; would he hit her back, would he force her to leave?

May watched as Erik's long fingers went to his reddened cheek. There was a moment of hesitation between the two. May didn't even dare to breath, she was too afraid of what might happen. Unexpectedly Erik's grasp went to May's hips as she sat straddle upon his lap. His grasp was feather light as he held her still afraid she would make any sudden movements.

He met her eyes slowly. "For such a dainty ballerina, you surely do not hit like one." May let out the breath she was holding for so long as she fell against his chest hitting him in mock anger.

Erik hissed in pain as May's arm accidentally came in contact with his wound. May quickly drew away in fear.

"Now will you let me help you?" she inquired.

Erik hesitated. "May, you must understand that I am not built like the gods. I have faced extreme horrors in my life which are reflected upon my flesh. I fear that you will…"

"Erik, I am not frightened, I saw your body last night I know what you look like. Please just allow me to help you."

He was willing to let her help him but yet he was not willing to have her leave her current place upon his lap. Never had he had a woman before him in such a daunting position; he felt enthralled by her nearness, accepting the fact that the parts that labeled him a man were demoralizingly close to what labeled her a woman. He was lost for a moment in a head spinning haze that took him by surprise; Erik had never thought of May as a woman but now in her current position he was beginning to note that she was exactly that, a woman.

Erik gave a groan allowing May to do what she wished, and as she removed herself from him, he couldn't help but sigh in defeated desire.

Moving to the side of the bed May helped Erik sit up slightly before grasping the top of the blankets. She met his eyes cautiously as he gave her a brief nod of approval.

As slowly as she could May began to remove the covering, exposing Erik's pale skin to her wandering gaze. She was met with the same sight; endless scars, protruding ribs, appealingly muscular abdomen and the now bleeding stitched up wound that stretch across his lower stomach.

May glanced to Erik as she pulled the blankets just below the band of his undershorts. "Hideous, I know." He sighed as he glanced upon himself.

May's hand came to rest gently upon a single scar causing Erik to gasp in delight of the sensation of flesh against flesh.

"No, not hideous." She paused tracing the expanse of the scar. "I'd call it enthralling."

Erik couldn't help but chuckle as she gave him a brilliant smile. Never in his entire life had he imagined someone call his body 'enthralling'. That's what he adored so much about this girl, no, woman; she had such an outlook of pleasure in the world that she could turn the worst of situations into the brightest of moments. She was his light in an endless world of darkness. Erik had barely noticed May cleaning his wound until she was done. He had thankfully not ripped any of his stitches.

Erik quickly grasped May's wrist as she began moving away. "May, I apologize for what I said before. Please know that I did not mean that. You are not like Christine; you could never be like Christine." May glanced at him quizzically. "No, that is a good thing, believe me…" he trailed off.

May took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I forgive you Erik." She stated with a grin. She waited a moment before dropping his hand to busy herself with cleaning up bloody wash cloths and the mess of their attempted breakfast that was now shattered upon the floor.

Erik watched her flit around for a few moments; his head was pounding due to all the yelling they had done prior. Shutting his eyes Erik attempted to relax. He listened as May entered and exited the room cleaning the mess he made; she was such a good little nurse. A thought came to his mind then; he had taken awareness of his state earlier but never inquired about it.

He heard May enter the room once more. "Pardon my asking little one, but I seem to have been stripped of my trousers…" he began. May's already pink blush turned crimson at his questioning. Erik gave her a wicked smirk. "Care to explain?"

May was completely flustered she had no idea what to tell him. "Um… uh Yes. You um… well last night you were bleeding profusely. Uh and the blood was everywhere, even all over me. I noticed uh later on that your… trousers were completely soaked in the blood."

"Huh." Erik replied mockingly.

"Yes. I only wanted you to be comfortable and so… um instead of having you lie in your ruined trousers all evening I-uh I decided to remove them for you."

Erik chuckled at her awkwardness "Oh, well how daring of you."

"Yes, I only had your comfort in mind… nothing else."

"Well I sure hope you had nothing else in mind." Erik replied with a cocky jeer.

May scoffed hitting him on the shoulder playfully. They were both silent, May sat beside him upon the bed once more staring at his wound with worried eyes.

"Do you think it is infected?" she questioned worriedly. "I did the best I could cleaning it out but there was just so much blood it was hard to be sure."

"Possibly the slightest infection, but nothing horrible." He replied with a lazy grin. "Thank you for your concern my little nurse."

May blushed, "I am no nurse." She replied attempting to hide her flattered smile.

Deciding to change the subject slightly, May glanced at the wound. Her fingers came to rest beside the stitched skin feeling the warmth of agitated flesh. "Does it hurt?" she questioned up to Erik.

"Yes, the wound itself does… but not your touch."

May bit her lip as his gold eyes bore into her blue-green gaze with something undecidable written beneath its glow. She decided to be daring allowing her timid fingers to run agonizingly slow down the expanse of Erik's stitched flesh.

His skin was slightly cold but yet rather soft and smooth, minus the few uneven patches of scars. She instantly loved the feel of him; she had never touched a man so intimately before and she adored it. She adored the way her fingers moved with the rise and fall of his breathing, the way his skin was so taught yet delightful to touch, and just the feeling of knowing she was touching a man who was never originally used to such caresses. She felt strangely powerful.

Every now and then Erik would let out soft sighs of delight as he let May's fingers explore the terrain of his abdomen. He was enjoying such a new sensation of touch to places no one had ever seen before. A sudden slip of May's fingers had Erik jolt in unexpected pleasure.

Her hand skimmed the skin just below the waist band of his undershorts. She could feel his muscles pull tight and she was suddenly met with a brief moan coming from Erik. This moan was not in pain though; it was caused by so much more.

May went to retract her hand when Erik quickly stopped her. "No! No please don't move."

"Did I hurt you?" she asked timidly as she watched Erik pant, his chest rising with his rapid intakes of air.

"No… no not at all." He sighed.

May's heavy eyes were glued to him as she explored timidly just beneath his waist band. Her fingers were cautious and she carefully watched Erik as she allowed herself to be so brazen.

Erik's breathing was heavy as his eyes remained glued to May's curious form. She was slowly making him lose not only his mind but his firm grip on any of the senses he held.

May's lingering digits slid closer across the top to his center. Growing up in the dormitories she always heard tales and stories of men and what made them different from woman; she knew of passion and lust but only from tales told by the older girls in the corps, she knew what made men different. As her fingers touched the slightest bit of manly hair beneath his undershorts, May had no further desire to explore further. She listened as Erik gave a cry in what she didn't know but it was a sound she had never heard him make before; it sent a shock threw her body which pooled at the bottom of her stomach, scaring her yet exciting her, causing her breathing to become labored

Wanting nothing more to do with the situation, May was quick to jump from the bed and begin towards the door way. "I-um… I will make you some tea. I will be back shortly." With that she left to go busy herself in the kitchen and hide her embarrassment from Erik's all-knowing eyes.

"What just happened?" he thought to himself. His body was filled with an undenounced desire that had yet to be quelled. How was someone so innocent, so capable of touching him in such a way? His head was spinning in pleasure and confusion. She was so timid yet so willing to touch him; Erik did not understand what caused her to do such a bold thing.

He enjoyed it though; this bold new May, he liked it. Her simple caresses drove him mad, mad enough to leave him wanting. Wanting what, he did not know. Racking his mind for a reason he realized that he had to be with her, he could not bare to be in opposite rooms, he needed her presence. Quicker than he should have Erik swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood. Instantly he fell back against the mattress groaning in pain and nausea from his sudden movement.

That didn't stop him though; as soon as his vision regained he was on his feet slowly making his way to the black dressing robe that hung nearby. As soon as he was able to cover himself, he was out the door headed slowly to the kitchen. His wound screamed for him to stop but he refused until he reached the intended destination and stared wide eyed at the young woman flitting about.

May did not seem to notice him so he decided to use the moment to his advantage. He watched her as she worked to make his tea. Reveling in everything that she was, Erik analyzed every inch he could, starting at her dark blonde wavy locks down to her bare feet that padded upon the stone floor. She was elegance yet disarray all in one.

As her fingers came to rub at her eyes then rake threw her hair Erik made the slightest of noise informing her of his presence. May turned in a flash staring at him with wide eyes.

"What are you doing out of bed?" she questioned, hurriedly rushing to his side. Erik couldn't keep his eyes off of her. "You silly man, you need your rest. I will not stand for you getting sick." Grabbing his arm May pulled him slowly until he sat steadily at the table gazing at her wildly all the while. His stare made her slightly uncomfortable. It was so heavy and laden with the unknowable, it frightened her. She assumed it had to do with her actions of the few moments prior. She blushed wildly.

May began to ramble uncomfortably as she turned to pour the heated contents from the now screaming kettle resting on the stove. "You know Erik, yesterday was my birthday. Is that not exciting, I am now 16. But I feel much older. Not too old by no means just maybe three of four years above my current age." Erik continued to gape at her. "My you are a man of many words at the moment… I was supposed to meet with Jack yesterday evening but I ended up here instead. I don't mind though; please do not get me wrong but…" As she rambled she began to pour hot water into a fine tea cup not realizing the severe trembling of her hands. Without a second thought she tipped the kettle a little too far pouring the steaming contents onto her hand. A yelp of a pain ripped from her lungs as she dropped the kettle onto the stove and kneeled to the floor clutching her burning hand.

In an instant Erik was kneeling before her grasping her hand as gently as possible in his own as she winced. Tears threatened to escape Mays eyes but she dared not to cry in front of Erik again.

Erik held her hand so gently it was as if his grasp was nothing but a feather. "God, I am so stupid!" May exclaimed as she brought her other hand up to cover her furious blush.

"Shhhh it's alright." Erik crooned massaging her wrist tenderly with his frigid digits. He inspected her hand closely, internally cringing at the red blotches showing up her and there across her palm. Lightly with his other hand he traced up the sensitive skin watching her reaction closely. May gasped and flinched away as he pressed into a sensitive area causing her pain.

Erik's gaze was instantly on her watching as closely as he could. Her face was turned away, her lips were trembling, her eyes were shut tight, and her breathing was heavy. His own injury pained him as he bent on the floor but he ignored it completely as he worried over May and her wellbeing.

"Erik, please don't worry about me, you have to get back to bed." May explained as she turned to stare at him.

He ignored her completely and let his actions take over quicker than expected. As carefully and slowly as he possibly could Erik brought her wrist to his lips and placed the softest of kisses to the sensitive skin. May shuddered with a quick intake of air at the sudden occurrence. His lips were so unexpectedly soft and warm to the point where it left May wondering.

Slowly bringing his gaze up to meet her anxious eyes Erik placed another kiss to her burning palm enjoying the sound of her apprehensive breathing. He had never given a caress so adventurous in his life and had no idea why or how he was doing so but he enjoyed it more than ever expected. He felt powerful, more powerful than ever as his actions caused an almost breaking point in the girl. He carefully one by one placed his lips to the tip of each of her fingers watching as her blue green pool never wavered from his own golden orbs.

Neither of them had a grip on anything occurring; actions were being spoken instead of words that so desperately needed to be shared.

May unconsciously played with danger as she bit her lower lip in anticipation. Her motion was taken into consideration by Erik, driving him mad thinking about what her sweet lips would feel like against his own.

Tenderly Erik reached with his opposite hand to grasp her chin tilting her face closer and closer to his. Their breaths mingled with another as their eyes darted from glance to lips and back again. They were lost in each other like never before. Both were playing with fire, and both were willing to be burned without fear of the consequences.

"Happy Birthday Maygan." Erik sighed as he allowed his lips to meet hers.

X Thank you for reading! Please review!(: