Stories of the Night (Phantom of the Opera)

Chapter 10: Passion and Memories

Warning: There is Mature content in this chapter. Not recommended for ages 12 and under.

I awake from my fitful sleep to someone banging on the secret door.

"Kane, I know you can hear me." Erik says from the other side of the secret door.

I drag myself up from the bed and over to the entrance to the passage, pressing my hand against it, knowing that he is just beyond that barrier.

"Just listen to me Kane, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Sh-she was once all I had, but she betrayed me. I never should have went up to her, I didn't mean what I said to her." He whispers, just loud enough for me to hear through the door.

I lean my head against the wall, trying to hold back a sob. "I loved you." I whisper.

"I know, I know and I love you. Please, just open the door Kane. I can't lose you like I lost her." He says.

My head snaps up, "Her! It's always her! Your dear Christine! I'm just here to replace, HER!"

Thunk! The wall shakes. "No! Please Kane, let me show you how much I love you, please!" He exclaims. "Just please let me open the door!"

I push the vanity aside even though I don't want to. Erik opens the door the second it is clear, he snaps me up into his arms, peppering my face and neck in kisses and whispering, "I'm sorry."

I don't answer or move as he holds me. He pulls away cupping my face in his hands, "Please talk to me Kane. This is killing me, I didn't mean for this to happen. All I wanted was you. I had planned the most romantic night for us, with beautiful music and wonderful food. Then after we eat we were going to go back to the swan bed. There, I would bare my love to you in the most intimate of ways. I'm sorry I ruined it." He whispers, his eyes shut, as if imagining it.

"Do you love me?" I ask, maybe he does, maybe he really loves me if he planned all of this.

"With my entire heart and soul." His fingers graze my cheeks. My eyes slip closed, his touch sending a warm sensation through my body.

Suddenly I feel his lips on mine, they kiss me tenderly but the kiss quickly grows in passion. I give into the urge, the drug that is my Erik and I kiss him back with everything I have.

He smiles, knowing that he has me, all of me. I press myself against him and whisper to his lips, "Let us make at least some of that wonderful night happen."

My hands run down his chest as his lips connect to mine again. He licks my lips, asking for entrance; which I gladly allow. I let out a soft moan as we kiss and his hands explore me.

He quickly pulls my dress off me and starts to unlace my corset as he kisses my neck. He glances down after my corset is off, "Dear god you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen."

I blush, slightly uncomfortable standing there completely bare in front of him. I peal his shirt off him as he backs me up until I hit the edge of the bed and collapse upon it.

My hands rub up and down his chest as his strong arms wrap around me, my eyes slip closed and we give into our deepest, darkest desires.

* * *

I wake up several hours later, groaning.

Erik, who lays behind me, presses a soft kiss to my bare back. "Shh, my dear. The soreness will fade. I'm sorry if I caused you pain."

I roll over, shaking my head, "No, that was the most magical night. It was perfect."

I shiver slightly, my shoulders bare to the cold air, as they had been uncovered by the sheets.

Erik pulls me closer, so that I was up against his chest. "Am I forgiven?" He asks in a whisper, sad eyes staring down at me.

I nod, "You are, as long as you don't leave me like that again."

"I promise." He says as he pulls the sheets up over us again.

"What happened with her? Why did she leave you?" I ask quietly.

He frowns, "She fell in love with another man... She was also afraid of my monstrous face." He motions to the mask he had put back on after last nights activities.

I set my hand against his mask, "You don't need to wear this in front of me. This face shows no horrors for me."
I gently pull it off and kiss the scared flesh. "I think it's beautiful... It shows that you have fought for your happiness."

"And yours as well." He kisses my neck. "Will you tell me of the night it happened?"

***
"You killed her!" My father screams in a drunken rage.

"No!" I exclaim, "She died of childbirth! It will often kill mothers!"

"She died giving birth to you! I have done everything to make sure you marry and have a good life but no you go running off somewhere everyday! What do you do? Do you sleep with a man everyday?" He yells stalking closer.

I back myself up until there is no place to go. I press myself against the wall.
"No! I write like mother did!"

"I don't believe you, whore." He holds up the noose. "You refuse to marry so This is for you... The perfect way for a whore to die!"

"No!" I scream as I try to get away but he grips my arms tightly in one hand and slips the noose over my head with the other.

He pulls it tighter and tighter, the rope digs into my skin as blood trickles down my neck and black spots appear in my vision.

"Stop!" Yells the man I was supposed to be engaged to. He throws a punch at my father knocking him out and then helps me pull the rope off.

Seconds later I run out the door, never to be seen in that house or anywhere near again.

* * *
Erik holds me tightly in his arms. "I'm sorry you had to go through such a nightmare my dear. I am here with you, he will never be able to hurt you as long as I am here."

I nod and slip out of the bed, quickly realizing that I was still bare from last nights events. I blush deeply and grab an extra blanket off the bed and wrap it around myself.

"There is no need to be embarrassed by your body, it is flawless." Erik smirks as he two stands up, in nothing but his mask. He picks his clothing up off the floor and turns his back to me. "You may change now if you are uncomfortable with me watching as you do so."

I quickly dress and turn back to Erik, who was looking in the mirror and straightening his mask. I sigh and walk over to him."How many times to I need to tell you that you don't need to mask when I'm here?" I ask as I carefully remove it and kiss him.

He smiles, "A million times. Now, I will be composing, come and see me after rehearsal."

He plants another kiss on my lips and then leaves through the secret door.