All I Ask Of You

Chapter 15

My dreams were filled with memories of my Mother, hearing her voice as she taught me to sing. Feeling her warm embrace as she hugged me whenever I felt upset or needed her. Her hands as she gently did my hair, humming a tune as she did.

As my eyes opened I immediately sat up, realizing that I wasn't in the dormitories, feeling panicky and disoriented.

"Everything is all right, my dear Celeste, I'm here," Erik spoke as he gently took my hands into his.

I looked at him as he sat at the edge of the bed and then around the room as the memories of what had happened immediately overwhelmed me. I wanted to cry but I had no tears left to.

"Nothing is all right, I-I've lost everything, my mother is dead, I'm so alone."

He was silent for a moment, only staring at me softly, and slowly he lifted his hand, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"You're not alone, I am with you."

Those words as simple as they were was just what I needed to hear and without even thinking I embraced the Phantom tightly as tears streamed down my face.

I could feel him stiffen at first as if not used to such a gesture, but slowly he relaxed as he wrapped his arms around me.

"I'm not much for comfort, but I'm glad I could give the little that I have," He told me with a smile as he pulled off, gently cupping my cheek into his hand.

"It's more than enough, thank you."

Erik shrugged as he chuckled.

"You would think I would learn to be comforting during my solitude."

I furrowed my eyebrows, never even thinking that perhaps Erik would need comfort as well, but it made sense.

"It must get lonely being here all by yourself," I said as I looked around at his lair.

He gave another shrug as he looked at the ground.

"After a while you get used to it, I don't belong anywhere else but here, the world above does not want nor need the likes of me."

"That's not true, you're an amazing composer and singer, you have talents that the world would love to hear!" I said reassuringly, trying to get him to believe that my words were true.

The Phantom laughed bitterly.

"Not even my own Mother wanted me and you think the world would?"

"Maybe, if you-"

He suddenly was on his feet, turning to me sharply, anger filling his face.

"Maybe, if I what go out to the world to be mocked at, ridiculed, dehumanized, being thrown into a cage to endure their beatings, laughter, and horrified screams, to be lied to, deceived, betrayed, all because of my cursed face!"

I stared at him as he breathed heavily, turning his back to me, fear rising in my chest at his fury, but I felt sympathy. He had been deeply hurt and mistreated by society everyone has treated Erik like a monster his whole life, he had every right to be angry. Never in his life has he had anyone look at his face without drawing back in fear, and maybe that's what he needed, someone to look and not be afraid.

I got up from the bed, walking until I was in front of him, gently taking his face into my hand.

"I will not be afraid of your face, let me see it," I whispered.

He recoiled at my touch, backing away from me.

"No, I will not subject you to that."

"You're not subjecting me to anything, I want to see your face, Erik, I promise I will not be afraid," I told him.

The Phantom looked at the ground, not responding.

I approached him, taking his hand into mine.

"Please, trust me."

His eyes looked up at me and I could hear him take a deep breath as he slowly nodded his head.

"Very well, I trust you, Celeste, but once you see it know you'll never be free from it."

I nodded.

Erik's hands went to his mask, lifting it off to reveal a face that was so distorted with an indescribable deformity that covered the entirety of the right side of his face, it was hard for my eyes to even know what I was looking at.

"Now you see what I am, the repulsive carcass that lies underneath, you must not bear to think of me with such a face."

I shook my head, skimming my fingers against his deformity, looking into his eyes, seeing all the sadness in the world in them. I will not be the cause of that, his face held no horror for me, it didn't change the way I felt about him.

"No, Erik, your face doesn't define who you are, it's your soul which I know is pure and beautiful."

I didn't even think as I pulled myself closer to him and gently pressed my lips against his.

He backed away, shock and confusion spreading across his face as if he were having a hard time understanding why I would do such a thing.

I sighed, wondering if it was wrong of me to kiss him, after all, he didn't love me.

"I should go, they'll be wondering where I am."

"I supposed you're right," He said slowly as he continued to stare with the same confused expression on his face.

As I got back to the dormitories everyone was asleep in bed and I was hit with an overwhelming sense of exhaustion as I collapsed onto my bed, ready to forget that this day had ever happened. Not bearing to think of it a moment longer.

It hurt too much.