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After the Angel	By : kharkcom Category: M through R > Phantom of the Opera Views: 5808 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera, and I do not make any money from these writings

Chapter List
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“Bye Lizzy! I will come visit you in a few days!” Cat called as she walked out the door. Erique followed, his arm laden with various bags.

Together, they began to walk down the street, her mood bright, and his pensive. After several minutes of silence, he looked at her.

“Catalina?”

She looked up. “Yes.”

“We must talk.”

“About?” Apprehensively she replied.

“You. Me.” He paused. “Us.”

She stopped walking and stared at him. “Is there an us?”

He stopped as well and looked down at the beautiful girl standing in front of him. “Not yet.”

“Could there be an us?” A note of hope showed in her voice.

“I-” Erique took a deep breath. “I don’t know.”

“Oh.” Cat began to walk again.

“Do you still want to go back with me?” He asked, catching up to her.

“Yes. Of course I do.” She replied with a laugh. “Why would I not?”

“There are far better men in the world than me. Ones better suited to you. Nice ones. Handsome ones. Gentle ones. Kind ones. Sane ones.” His voice dropped. “Whole ones.”

“Boring ones.” She interjected.

“I doubt they’re all boring. And they are the type of men you belong with. Not a temperamental, disfigured recluse like myself.”

“I like you. You are a handsome and mysterious genius. And you ought to know I do not want a gentle and kind man.”

He flushed as he remembered giving away that he had read her diary. “I do not think you want dark and brooding either. You may come to regret your decision.”

“I do not believe I will. I rarely regret anything.” She said with a grin.

“Enough.” He commanded as they entered the catacombs. “We will speak no more of this.” Why doesn't she understand? I'll bring her nothing but pain.

The rest of their walk was spent in silence. When they entered the lair he walked back to her room and unceremoniously dropped her things on the bed before stalking out and slamming the door. He then proceeded down the hall and shut the mirror door that led to his bed after him.

Mildly unnerved by Erique’s odd behavior, Cat began to put away her things. The dresses went back in to their wardrobe, the shoes underneath. She then set her violin by the bed. When she got to her toiletries, she debated if she should try to take them to the bathroom. She wasn’t entirely certain she was supposed to leave the room.

Finally, she decided to risk it. Before she could even open the door, Cat began to hear music. Loud, angry music crashed throughout the lair. Dropping her bag, she crept out of the room and down the hall. Carefully, she opened the mirror door just a few inches before sitting on the floor to observe.

***

A chaotic muddle of arbitrary emotion swirled through Erique as he sat down at his organ bench.

Why am I such a fool? Prattling on to her like some infatuated adolescent. Why is she even here? Why do I do this to myself? I want to hate her for making me feel this awkward and confused but I can’t. I can’t resist her. His fingers brushed the keys of the instrument tenderly, almost lovingly before slamming down. Fool. I am an idiotic cupid struck fool.

Harsh, discordant notes twisted themselves around him before spreading throughout the room. Erique began to pour his feelings in to the music. First went the rage, the fury he felt at himself and his faults. His worry soon followed; a deep, almost subconscious concern about getting his heart broken yet again. The frustration was next. Frustration at the child that had ensnared him so completely.

The music was rough with raw emotion. Soon, however, he had nothing left. The anger was gone. Erique paused and looked down at his hands. He was lost. The anger was gone. What is left? I know there is something. I can feel something. But what is it? What is left?

***

Cat watched as Erique tentatively touched the keys again. Confused, she continued to observe as he shut his eyes and slowly began to play again. The music was soft now, gentle and hauntingly beautiful. Soon she felt compelled to close her eyes as well. She could almost feel the music tenderly caressing her senses. As she continued to listen to the ghostly tune however she began to feel discontent, unsatisfied with it. There was something missing. She could feel it in every note.

The music had no emotion to it, no passion at all. It was empty. Totally and completely empty. After what seemed like both no time at all and forever, the song ended. Simultaneously, Erique and Cat began to sob, though neither had any idea why.

***

Erique rapidly attempted to compose himself before glancing over to the door. He noted that Cat was in the same state he had been. She soon stood and made an effort to sneak away.

“I know you’re there. You may as well join me.”

She whirled around and grinned at him sheepishly. “I did not mean to spy.”

“Of course you didn’t.” After baring himself to her so completely, Erique found he now did not know how to react. Should he try anger? Did he want to scare her away? Finally he sighed. “Did you know curiosity killed the cat?”

“And satisfaction brought it back.” She retorted as she sauntered in to the room.

“Clever.” He slid to one side of the bench. “Come sit.” He said gesturing to the empty space.

She sashayed up, the lace in her skirts revealing hints of what lie beneath. Taking a deep breath, Erique pulled his attention away from her skirts and looked up at her face as she sat on the bench. Boundaries. We need boundaries.

“There are a few things we must cover.” He set his hand on the keys but didn’t play.

“Such as?”

“The last room is still off limits.”

“Why?” She questioned as she studied his face. That mask really did make it look prefect.

“Because I said so.” His voice was flat and left little room for argument.

“Fine. What else?” Annoyance showed in her tone.

“You are confined to your rooms after eleven every night. I won’t have you wandering around in the dark and injuring yourself.”

“I suppose that makes sense. What if there is a fire?”

Rolling his eyes, Erique chuckled. “Then the curfew is lifted. But only then.”

“What about a flood?” She asked, feeling the need to press him further.

His patience was quickly growing thin. “If any natural or unnatural disaster occurs, you are free to leave.” He snapped.

Satisfied that she got a reaction out of him, Cat smiled. “Are questions permitted?”

“That would depend on the question I suppose.” His voice was still a bit rough around the edges.

“How old are you?”

“Why does it matter?” He asked cautiously.

“I want to know how much older you are that me.” She answered plainly while gently caressing the keys of his organ.

“I think I am thirty.” He watched her delicate hands slid up and down the key.

“You think?” She looked up. “You do not know?”

“No one has ever kept track for me.”

“Oh. I am sorry.” Her voice was earnest but he didn’t care. He wanted no sympathy.

“Don’t be. I am not.” The harshness was back in his tone.

“What was wrong with your music?" She finally blurted out after a moment of uncomfortable silence.

“What do you mean?” Apprehension filled his voice.

“It was wrong. It had no passion to it. Or anything at all.”

“I had nothing left.” His reply was almost unheard.

“That is not true. There is always something. You just need to look harder.” Deciding she had antagonized him enough for one day, Cat stood. “I am going to go find a book now.”

“I’ll bring you something to eat shortly.” He watched as she walked out.

What’s left? What is it that I feel when I think of her?

***

He stood at her door watching her lounging, sprawled across the bed, a book in hand. She looked so happy, so joyous lying there like that. He watched for a moment more as she laughed at something.

“It’s almost eleven Catalina. I am going to bed.” Erique said loudly, catching her attention.

She looked up at him and smiled. “Sweet dreams then.”

If they’re of you they will be. Smiling, he thought. “Sweet dreams to you as well.”

She had already turned back to her book before he walked out and closed the door behind him.

***

A week passed without incident. Erique and Cat spent the days apart. She would read and then, when she thought Erique wasn’t around, Cat would explore. Her most amusing discovery was that of his closet. She spent a good while exploring his array of beautiful clothes. How many pairs of black shoes does one really need? There were at least eight.

A look through his drawers yielded something even more interesting. Pajamas. Who knew the great Phantom of the Opera House wore silken pajamas? She found four different sets of silk night clothes. One in forest green, another in midnight blue, yet another in dark steely grey and the last in pure black.

Later that afternoon as Cat was coming out of the bathroom, she noticed Erique walking out of the room at the very end of the hall. The one off limits to her. Trying to look unconcerned as she strode to her room, Cat also noticed he didn’t lock the door as he stalked down the hall and through the mirror. Cat tried to quell the surge of excitement that rushed through her.

Finally. I may now get to see what is so forbidden.

Erring on the side of discretion, she waited by her door for twenty minutes to make sure Erique wasn’t coming back. Carefully, she crept out and down to the door. Trying it, Cat found the door was unlocked as she had hoped. Cat looked around once more to be safe before opening the door and slipping in.
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After the Angel