Phantom's Fate 《Phantom of the Opera Fanfiction》

29

A/N: This is it! The final chapter/epilogue of Phantom's Fate. Thank you guys for enjoying the book and putting up until the end! You guys are all amazing ♡

Enjoy!

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《Alia》

"Do you have to?"

I pout my lip while pulling Erik's hand away from the mask on the dresser. I hang on begrudgingly, his eyes narrowing on me, humorless. "Yes, I do. I promised not to wear it around you, but you insisted on having them down here today."

Sheepishly, I release his arm and grip my hands behind my back. "I know...but they don't mind your face either. Meg has seen it on multiple occasions, and Ivan...well, yeah," I sigh and sit back on the bed, resting my jaw on my propped arm. My bullet wounds have been healing nicely the past month, and my arm feels foreign out of the sling. Now, at least, I can start building my strength and working around those fresh scars that are soon to form. Fortunately, I never got an infection, thanks to Erik's medical knowledge. He is a God given gift.

"Exactly," he mutters back, running his long hands over his dark, sleek hair. A lock curls upward, and I hop up quickly and tuck it back down. Through the small mirror, he gives me a soft smile. My heart melts in my chest. Without the mask, it is a million times easier to read his expression and get the most out of it. I frown, however, as he takes it up and places it back on his face, covering the beautiful imperfection.

His own wound has been healing considerably, but it will definitely leave a noticeable scar. The bullet that struck him there took out a whole chunk, so he had to stitch it up, which he resented the entire time. For days, he bickered about wanting to wear the mask to cover the new ugly mark, but I forbade it. Being only us and Ayesha, there was no reason to hide his face. Besides, keeping it covered would only promote infection and stall healing. I wanted him to be in the least pain possible, and that started with keeping the mask off at all times.

Now, his cheek has no stitches, with only a little redness surrounding the healing area. Unfortunately, now he has less of a reason to keep the mask off in his opinion, so I must bear it for tonight. I point a finger at him abruptly, my eyes like slits. "Once they leave, it comes off. Got it?"

A low chuckle rumbles from his lips. "You sure are imperious, aren't you?" His fingers fiddle with the buttons of his shirt as he turns to face me. "I can't say much, since I'm the same way. I must say, I adore that part of you." He wraps his arms around me and nudges his face into my neck, pressing sweet kisses to the sensitive skin.

I giggle and feel a hot blush crawl to my face. "Erik, save it for later. They're waiting for us." My giggles subside into soft sighs as he holds me close, trailing his sensuous kisses up to my jaw. Closing my eyes, I soak up the warmth flooding my body as he hums huskily in my ear. I shudder pleasantly.

"You should be saving those beautiful sounds for later, my love."

His words flush my skin another shade darker. "You better back up before we ignore the fact that our guests are here." My low tone sparks a flame in his eyes as he grins at me. I bite my lip and fix my hair, taking in a deep breath. "You're something else. A good something else," I add lightly, turning his hand over in mine. "I don't know what I'd be doing right now if I never met you."

"Studies?" He raises a brow. "I remember you saying you were in school before."

"Yes," I nod and pull him to the edge of the bed with me. "But none of that was really fun, save for the theater program we had. That was about it."

Erik is quiet for a moment, staring at his knees. Then, "do you miss it?"

I blink curiously at him. "My old home?" He nods once, and I shrug in response. "I do, a little. I miss my family, really, but I never saw much of them anyway due to school. But...I have a profoundly better life here. Besides, part of me is still back in that century."