The Phantom's Guardian (the Phantom of the Opera fan fiction)

Part 27- Revealed Secrets, broken hearts (II)

"Oh Gods...."

Desiree's moans of alarm reverberated in the semi- darkness of the room. She touched her head and found that her wig was gone and the dark locks of her hair hang wet and tangled around her face. A makeshift bandage was wrapped loosely around her head, covering a considerable sized bump at the back of her skull. She touched the bump and white hot pain wrecked her mind, threatening to push her back into unconsciousness again.

Desiree bit her lip in concentration despite the blinding headache and got up shakily. She looked down again to make sure she was not hallucinating before. Sure enough, she wore a simple white nightgown, which was a little short and tight for her. She guessed it was from Christine's room. She leaned on one of the mirrors in the room and looked around cautiously. However, there was no sign of Erik. The cold surface of the floor chilled her bare feet and Desiree shivered uncontrollably. Unable to stop her shaking, she desperately stumbled to the nearest one of Erik's cloaks and wrapped it around herself. The addition of a new layer of clothing diminished her shivers and she hugged the cloak around her tightly, savouring his smell of parchment and leather to calm her down a fraction.

She was sure that Erik would be furious right now and possibly would not forgive her ever. Her mind was racing and her heart heavy in her chest but a tiny part of her was relieved. Since he found out this secret, there will be one less lie between them. She wanted to get the confrontation over with, and her pounding head and chilled body did not help the matters.

However, Desiree knew that it was time to face the music now. She walked out of the room with her head held high, her hand clutching his cloak tightly.

********

Erik was standing like a statue near the table, his back to her. On the table, her old wig laid discarded. Desiree's bare feet almost made no sound but she could tell from the way Erik's shoulders tense up that he noticed her arrival. However, he did not turn around. She gulped and peered at his back, her feelings of unease and dread roaring and rising like a tide in her mind. Her heart beat as a hummingbird, threatening to jump out of her chest cavity. But Desiree dared not say anything to risk his explosive fury.

The seconds stretched into minutes and the tension stretched taut between the two of them.

Finally, Erik broke the silence,

          "What is your name, I do not suppose Derrick is your real one?"

          His voice was too calm. Like the calm before a storm, not even a leaf wiggling in the wind.

          "De.. Desiree..." she was not surprised that her own voice sounded raw. Maybe she swallowed a lot of lake water.

"You deceived me."

          It was not even an accusation. It was a statement. Desiree shuddered again. His voice was cold, colder than the floor she stood on. She had a sudden urge to turn and run as fast as she can. However, her feet were anchored to the floor and she felt more alone than ever in the dark lair. She hugged herself in the faint light of the candles.

          "Alas, no words. No explanation for your deception, no appealing for your innocence? I thought you were too chatty for a boy at first, I should have listened to my instincts then."

          Desiree looked down, and whispered,

          "I have nothing to say, except that I am sorry, I did not mean for it to happen like this, Erik..."

          "DO NOT CALL ME THAT NAME!!"

          *SLAM!!!!*

Erik kicked the chair near him and it flew off to hit the stone wall with a bang. Desiree flinched as the noise elevated her headache.