In this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure you're a young ballet dancer who becomes the obsession of a mysterious musical genius living beneath the Paris Opera House.
🔗 READ/PLAY HERE
🎮 interactive fanfic "Masquerade" by ArtistT22
📖 Episode 1 of 2?
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>This has evolved into its own story, if its not something you're interested in, feel free to skip this one and check out some other fics on my page! °v°
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A gentle song played on the organ, loud enough to echo through the water-filled cave but soft enough to preserve the delicate nature of the song.
The cave was decorated with golden accents and hundreds of candles, tho only a select few candles were lit. Just enough to illuminate the shimmering lake below.
Y/n slept in a shell shaped bed with a bird at the foot of it. A black mesh curtain hung over her, obscuring ber view from what lay ahead.
Y/n's eyes opened slowly as her mind registered the events that transpired. After a second her body jolted upright and she's aware of her surroundings.
The organ still played slowly as her chest heaved rapidly. She's quick to jump out of the bed, keeping from making too much noise.
After untangling herself from the black curtain she looks around unsure of where she was.
To her side was a tall, golden, candle stand that came up to her shoulders. She blew out the candles on top and then took hold of the stand as if it were a baseball bat.
Not realizing its weight, she lifted it with too much ease. Wax from the still hot candles, splashed onto her bare shoulders and onto the costume she still wore after the Opera.
Her breathing hitched and she clenches her teeth, keeping a painful yelp from escaping.
After the wax droplets cooled on her skin, her thoughts returned to the problem at hand.
With delicate dancer's feet, she walks across the path towards the direction of the music.
Making her way up some stairs she peeked over to see the organ, more importantly the man playing it. His hair in perfect shape and the same clothing, without the cloak.
As she walked, she passed scattered fabrics and sewing equipment. Materials matching her costume. One red thread in particular, stood out, not matching the color of the material.
Y/n glances down at the seam of the costume going up her torso, to see a rushed seam, threaded into her dress with the same red thread.
"He tailored it to fit me..?" she whispers as her brain worked out what happened.
She continues towards the organ, only to see her target had vanished.
"It was an urgent fix." he replies to her muttered observation.
She jumps at his voice, startled by how close he'd gotten without her noticing. Her stance turns defensive with her head low and shoulders braced.
"I needed the costume to fit you perfectly."
He stood in front of her, eyes focused on her movements.
She swings the candle stand and keeps distance between them.
How did he know her measurements? Unless he had some piece of her clothing.
"Stay back! Or I swear I'll hurt you!"
Phantom didn't react. Only watched her defensive stance. He knew she'd have questions. What he didn't expect was her hateful gaze.
"Where are we? Why did you bring me here?" she yells as her eyes make quick glances for an exit.
She spots a large open gate on the other side of the water, but that observation took her attention off the Phantom.
He quickly grabs the candle stand making her gasp from fright.
"We're safe. That's all that matters." he says in a calm tone.
Not willing to tempt fate, she drops the candle stand and bolted.
Barefoot she runs down the stairs and straight into the knee deep water.
She trudged through the water as fast as she could, almost swimming. But Phantom was faster.
He pulled the lever down causing the drop gate to descend. Not fast, but fast enough for Y/n to miss her exit.
"NO!" She yells grabbing onto the iron bars that kept her from escape.
"Let me out!" she growls putting her back to the gate with one hand holding her dress up.
Phantom walked towards her, slow enough for her to know she could run if she needed to.
"If you go that way, all you'll find is rubble, and you'll get stuck in the Maze of hallways."
He makes it to right infront of her, before he stops looking down at her frightened face.
"Then I'll ask you again, Phantom!" her words hard and to the point.
"Where are we?" she barked.
Phantom calculated his response for a moment. Then he gave in and sighed in defeat. He knew what he had to do.
"I'll show you. On the condition, you listen to what I have to say, and at the very least, put on something warm."
His words caught Y/n off gaurd. Her face goes from pure anger, to softened confusion. He cared for her? Why?
She looked back at the long stretching hallway behind her, many different ways she could get lost and starve to death trying to find her way back out.
Without thinking, she bit onto her thumb nail. A stressed habit.
She looked back into his eyes. Those pleading eyes eyes that were begging for her to give him one chance.
This made a thought pop into her head. To 'Read the words that come from your partners eyes.' Something Erik said to do.
She looks directly at the man infront of her, finding the meaning behind his words. Her head slowly nods up and down, after a long pause of silence.
Phantom's gaze softened and his lips almost turned to a smile. He turned away from her and trudged through the water back to the stairs.
A little stumble made him suddenly stop and wince, grabbing his leg.
Y/n's subconscious reaction was to jump forward and help. But then she remembered who she was with and quickly retracted her hand.
Instead, she opted to only ask. "Are you alright?"
Phantom steadied himself with a deep breath, then continued walking.
"Just an old wound, my dear."
Another thought pops into Y/n's head. Or rather, a twinge of familiarity. But she couldn't place it. His worded mannerisms, movements. Simply the way he walked? It was so familiar.
Shaking the thought off, she walks back to solid ground where phantom gave her some clothes of his.
She wore a white shirt and black trousers along with a thick heavy coat to keep warm. A familiar smell came from them, mixed in with the dust accumulated over some time. But again, she couldn't place it.
After she was semi-fitted for the cold Paris air. Phantom lead her through many halls, twisted paths and up a large almost infinite staircase.
Slowly, the walls turned to greyed lime stone and extravagant statues came to view. Y/n's heart burned with denial watching the familiar red velvet seats come to view.
A fallen chandelier in the center of the large room, and ashes painted over any and all nearby objects. Heavy statues on the verge of giving way and debris risking a dangerous fall. They stood on the stage looking over a burnt Palais Garnier.
Her hands clasped over her mouth, and her heartache turned to long awaited tears. Her home, reduced to debris and ashes. Doomed never to shine with golden musical theater, again. Memories burnt to nothing.
She sobs into her hands and finally her knees buckle in on themselves.
Erik stood behind her. All he wanted was to hold her close, hold her until her tears ran dry and her sadness faded, never to return.
"W-why did you bring me here!? To see what your distraction caused! Does seeing me cry bring you joy?"
Her breathing rapid once again and she clenched onto the cloak. Panic, Stress, anxiety! All of the sudden, her trauma came flooding back.
Triggers all around her. The burnt beam's on the stage. The crushed glass pieces of the chandelier. Even the thought of going backstage to their rooms made her shudder.
This is where she spent days training with her father, where he spent years slamming her child body into walls if she danced incorrectly.
This is where she, Christine, Meg, as young girls, snuck out to watch the rich ladies in sparkling dresses come in, to see the adult performers.
All because one person couldn't wait! One person couldn't let go of a girl he loved and didn't love him in return. A deformed face, a beautiful singing voice, experienced in all things theater!
She stood up suddenly and spun around to look at him. Her glittering tears flying through the air.
Her thoughts crashed together and aimed to one person.
"Why ERIK! Why!"
Her words echoed powerfully through the Opera house. His name repeating over and over until they faded out.
At first, Y/n was taken aback at her own words. An undermined thought she'd never thought to explore or question. But it all lined up too perfectly.
Perhaps she knew from the start. When she pulled him from the fire. When he avoided the question of his past. Violent tendencies. His love for Christine. But in Y/n's love for all things, how could she just leave him.
Phantom only watched her, both of their hearts pounding in sync. His head drops down, not looking at her.
"Y/n.." he barely whispers.
"Don't! Don't say anything!" she hushed him immediately. Making everything silent so she could hear her own speeding thoughts.
She walks closer to him. A creaking from her footsteps on stage, and hesitation in her movements.
Suddenly she was face to face with him, the monster? The man she grew to love?
Her hands move to his and mask. A slowly lift from the bottom. Time moved slow, as the air shifted. Finally, Erik appears before her again.
"Look at me Erik." her voice cracks at her demand.
Erik is slowly to meet her eyes. His guilt burnt so bright. But his need for her forgiveness simmered in a sliver of tears.
Y/n was angry, so incredibly angry. The man infront of her was both a deceiver, and a liar! But he was also her roommate, her colleague, her love.
" 'Read the words that come from your partners eyes', that's what you told me, remember?" She repeats a bit of advice she got from none other than Erik.
She takes his jaw, nor harshly, but enough to emphasize her anger.
"So read my eyes now."
Erik Stood strong for a moment, looking at her. Reading her every emotion and thought with clear understanding. Wet eyes, opposing to the fire burning within them.
"You want an explanation." he says plainly, his large cloak waving heavily in the wind behind him, engulfing her.
"If I'd told you, the day of the fire. You'd have reacted worse than you are now. I was so very ready to leave the inn that night. Prepared to leave everything and go search for my angel of music."
He finally touches her cheek. A black leather glove brushing over her now frosted tears.
"Then my savior stood at the windowsill. Crying for a love who should've been in my place. And I couldn't leave."
He chuckles deeply as his other hand joins the one on her cheek.
"If you know how easily you can command me, just by looking at me with those tearful eyes, I'd be at your mercy. An eternal slave."
He held her face delicately, making sure her attention was on nothing but him. A little furious hamster in the palms of his hands.
"Christine was my angel of music. But you're the goddess of every beat from my heart."
A slow kiss onto her head as he beacons her ever closer with the smooth voice she'd become addicted to.
"You've captured my soul, my darling Y/n. And you've enslaved me to your every tear. I love you."
He confesses in a small ice covered whisper.
She knew, more than anything she couldn't forgive him so easily. She stood there, holding that haunting mask in her hand, knowing how much pain and desire such a mask bought.
His hands on her cheeks, carefully holding her like the most precious rose.
She felt her lip quiver before quickly biting down on it, trying to keep her heart contained for a little longer.
"And if I don't love you? If I still love Aloïs?" she lied though her teeth. Selfishly testing his answer. Searching for any reason to leave her yearning heart behind in the snow.
"Then I'll simply have to use every ounce of my power to convince you to spend an eternity of this, before your eyes. A haunted face that holds horror, and a soul where distortion lies."
All she needed to hear was that. That he'd fight for her and not simply let her go again. She clenched her teeth, there was one last thing she had to be sure of.
"And.. Christine?"
Erik paused for another second, carefully lifting his hands away to scuffle in his pocket. Two rings. Aloïs's and Christine's layed in his palm.
As if it was the easiest decision he made, he simply twisted his wrist diagonally. Dropping the two jewels into the dust and snow.
"She may have had my heart once. But you carry it now."
Y/n glanced down at the rings. Perhaps selfishly, she laughed, and quickly pushed her palm over her eyes, wiping the tears off her eyelashes.
"You're such a fool, such a horrid lier, quick to anger, quick to fight! Quick to capture my heart."
She took a small breath, not being able to stop the smile that forced itself onto her lips.
🖊️ by ArtistT22
💗 Phantom of the Opera
🏷️ Choose-Your-Own-Adventure
In this Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, you're a young ballet dancer who becomes the obsession of a mysterious musical genius living beneath the Paris Opera House.
Dancers are stretching, practicing thier moves, and dipping thier ballet shoes into a powder that helps them spin faster. You are amoung them, sitting on the floor as you perform stretches on your legs.
The reherasal for Hannibal continues as animals are lead off stage and performers follow after the Prima Donna, Carlotta, to continue to where they left off before the annoucement of the new managers.
Madam Giry, the ballet instructor, quickly signals for the dancers to join in with the singers with a tap of her cane on the stage ground. The new managers watch the rehearsal scene from behind her.
You scramble to get up from the floor like some of the other dancers but get into position gracefully. You start the section of moves you were taught, relying on the music to keep yourself centered.
READ/PLAY HERE to make your choice and see what happens next! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
This is a story following the events after the Phantom of the Opera (2004) and only follows the movie and not any other adaptations!
Started with this fic a few years ago and finally continued bc I couldn't find any new fic's to read! 🥺
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Y/n stood with her feet planted infront of the burning Palais Garnier opera house, the ashes of a once red stage curtain falling on her bare shoulders. The only bit of warmth was the costume she was wearing.
A red fire dancer, her hair still in perfect shape. Tho it seems that the other staff of the Opera house weren't as lucky.
Her home was burning down infront of her eyes, and snow did nothing but usher on the burning flames of rage.
This was the doing of one Phantom of the opera. The damned demon took it all from them, their home, their jobs and even Christine Daaé.
The lead singer and great musician that made Y/n dance like never before, Christine's sweet melody made her feet float inches from the ground as her soul danced in sync with her body.
One shiver crawled up Y/n's spine when she heard an unghastly scream. Her feet simply lept to it, only to find a man crawling out of the burning opera house.
"Monsieur!" she cried out to him.
His face seemed to have already been caught by the fire and he barely wore anything but a shirt and his trousers. Y/n fell to her knees beside his weak body.
"Don't worry, Monsieur, you are out of the fire! Please, be still! You are injured. "
She trembled watching blood force its way through the thin gaps between the snowflakes. Blood still warm enough to melt and merge with ice to water.
In a desperate attempt, Y/n pulls off the bottom part of her dancing grown and desperately looked for the point of injury when she finally found the wound on the calve on his leg.
Tieing it tightly before Y/n hoisted him up to his feet.
"Please lean on me, we need to get further from the flames!"
He didn't speak, only grunted in pain. His voice was deep, without effort as if he was willing to Perish without hesitation.
Y/n took a moment to gently touch his burnt skin on his face, he didn't seem to whine. It was as she thought, the wound was not from the fire that had engulfed many others in its treacherous flames.
She shakes herself awake and quickly focuses on the problem at hand.
"I have strength to carry you, but you'll need to carry your consciousness for a little while longer!" she shutted, her voice swelling with pity for him.
'What happened to this poor soul?' She wondered and dragged his feet though the snow.
Y/n didn't know his name, nor his origin from the opera house. Perhaps a operator for the theater special effects? Or perhaps a member of the audience, sitting among the red velvet seats and nearly getting crushed by the chandelier falling loose from its hinges.
It wasn't long after when Y/n and the other performers were taken to a nearby inn. Perhaps it was the will of a greater power that the Opera managers didn't leave them to rot on the streets. Rather to reclaim insurance funds or come around a lone?
At least, she hoped that was the case. But for the moment, she was afraid of what might happen.
The opera house had been home for the last eighteen years of Y/n's life. No, certainly more!
Her father was a dancer, and her mother's legacy had been lost among the chatter and rumors of the opera.
Y/n's father had passed when she was only ten. Now, she was eighteen years older and she promised to follow in his dancing steps to fame.
Still engulfed in her thoughts Y/n stared into the small oil lamp flames while she sat on the bed of the inn. The figure of a woman danced in the red and orange colors.
This seemed to distract her from the man waking up from his exhausted slumber behind her.
He winced with a grumble when Y/n's head turned to face him. His palm covering the burn on his face that she saw before.
"Monsieur?" she whispered in an effort not to frighten him.
His gaze slowly trailed to Y/n's worried expression, but his palm never left his face.
Y/n took this opportunity to explain their predicament.
"Please, do not be frightened. We're in an inn, the managers have sent us to wait until they can reclaim funds."
She stood up to take the bowl of water and cloth to dampen the burnt flesh on the man's face.
She knelt down beside the bed and lightly lifted the damp cloth to his face. His eyes met hers, but Y/n only stared in silence hoping he'd understand her efforts.
Tho he was hesitant, his palm lightly lifted from his face. She feared the wound was still hissing with pain. Lightly the cloth is placed onto his eye and he gave a simple sigh of relief.
Silence filled the room, it would've seemed like only the stars were their witness if it weren't for the drunken cheers from the bar below.
Finally the man took a breath and spoke.
"What of Christine Daaé? Has she been found?"
Y/n's breathing seemed to betray her when her body couldn't fathom the gentle voice the man muttered. She tried to form words, creating a stutter.
"Y-yes, it um, It seems she has been retrieved by the Viscount Raoul de Chagny. She has offered many services to those who did not escape the flames unscathed." she whispered and willed herself to not look into his captivating eyes.
He looks to the side and gives a simple smile, seeming satisfied with his thought.
As soon as his skin was dampened once more he tried to stand with a gasply hiss of pain.
"Monsieur, please be patient! Your wound is still open and fresh!"
He grits his teeth before taking his seat again but looking back at the fireplace.
The rest of the night remained quiet, like he didn't have need to ask her anymore questions.
An awkward night spent sharing a room with a stranger. He fell asleep quickly with exhaustion.
Y/n couldn't sleep. Things ended so abruptly! How could she? Her love died in the fire, her home, belongings. She had nothing to her name anymore.
Y/n quietly stood up from the bed trying to keep noises to a minimum. Avoiding the creeking floor boards and opening the window to look outside.
The smoke from the Opera house covered the sky, no moon in sight. This quiet moment with her thoughts caused her throat to close up and her eyes to push tears.
As quietly as she could, she tried crying everything out, to no avail. Morning her loss took more than just a moment of soft tears.
"I'm sorry my love, Aloïs, I couldn't save you!"
She whispered. Her lover in the theater house had been burnt in the flames because he pushed her away from falling beams.
"Aloïs?"
She gasped when the voice lurks from behind her caught her off guard. The man stood up from the bed and had walked to right behind her without her hearing him.
"Monsieur! I'm so sorry, did I wake you?"
He shakes his head before spotting Y/n's shivers. Looking back at the blanket on the bed, he grabs it with one hand and swings it across her shoulders.
A gentleman! Y/n wasn't sure many workers from the Opera were quite so kind.
"You knew my Aloïs?"
He nods before leaning on the wall next to the window.
"Indeed, he helped me with costumes, more specifically Masks." The man mumbled folding his arms across his chest.
Y/n quickly realized what he meant when the dim light shone on his burnt face. Aloïs was the lead costume designer for all actors, singers and dancers in the opera. He'd certainly be willing to help a gentleman like the man stood next to her.
With a small giggle she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Of course, Aloïs would do something like that. I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable without a mask."
He looks at me confused almost relieved that he wasn't the one in trouble for once. That someone genuinely asked if he was uncomfortable instead of rushing him away and out of sight.
"You're apologizing? Mademoiselle-"
"Y/n, please."
He seems to smile before leaning closer and wiping a lingering tear off Y/n's cheek.
"Y/n, my name is Erik."
Small talk lasted for a few more hours until the sun started to rise.
All members of the Opera house were called to the outside of the Inn where Monsieur André and Firmin would enlighten them of the situation.
Monsieur André took the lead standing ontop of the inn balcony.
"Listen all! I'm afraid we have terrible news you will all now be let go from the Opera house!"
A sudden uproar of voices filled the street and Y/n felt my body wobble a little from shock. Erik stood beside her with his hand on the small of my back trying to stabilize her.
Monsieur Firmin then took the lead and explained:
"This was a terrible tragedy! And with the business in shambles we have no hope of reviving it, thanks to our generous sponsor, Viscount Raoul de Chagny, we will be giving out warm clothes to help with your resignation."
They both quickly scurry out of view back into the inn, likely out the back door leaving the crowd in shock and anger.
Y/n bit her lip feeling another wave of sadness overcome her. Quick breathing and a pounding heart for the unknown future that lied before her.
"Fools!" She hears Erik mumble under his breath.
"We must go quickly!" he said grabbing her hand and pulling her through the crowd to the front.
They got their clothes, thanks to Erik for getting them there early enough to take a few extra pieces of clothes.
Even with a wounded leg, Erik managed to take them to a proper alleyway to get dressed in the clothing.
He dressed first, then stood at the front of the ally to let Y/n get dressed keeping a look out.
A gentleman walked by peeping into the alleyway, but Erik growled loudly and with his burnt face scared the gentleman away.
"I'm done!"
Y/n smiled walking out with the costume she wore neatly folded in her arms.
Erik seemed to smile at her for a very small second then it quickly fell away, he brought his palm to cover his face.
"May I?"
He looked at Y/n confused until she gently took his hand and pulled it away.
"This might not be as good as Aloïs's handy work."
She looked down at her costume before quickly ripping off a piece of the skirt. She used the edges to tie it delicately around the side of his face tracing over it.
"You shouldn't have to hide! People are children! Gasping at the first strange thing they see." Y/n declared.
Erik chuckles but only for a second before going back into a smile.
"Perhaps."
He offers his arm which Y/n gladly took. They walked out into the crowded streets.
The sights were great and all the small shops and children seemed so foreign to her. In the Opera house they only had wooden or stone walls with the occasional windows high up in the building. The space of an open sky and streets going as far as the eye could see was a breath of fresh air.
A few hours later, Y/n suddenly realized that neither Erik or herself currently had a place to live, she have no living family to rely on.
Walking around the city for the first time in years distracted her from the dormant thoughts about the trouble we were in.
She looked back at Erik ready to ask him if he has a plan, but his eyes were sparkling. He was bewildered and intrigued by buildings, people, sounds and other sights. Y/n was starting to wonder if he'd ever been outside the Opera.
She felt a smile spread across her face from the warmth radiating off Erik.
"Erik, have you never-"
"Hello little mis!" a voice from behind her.
Three men quickly surrounded them and Y/n felt her body shrink into fear. Her lack of outside experience made her forget about the rats lurking around the city.
"Well, well! Give us a smile! How much?"
Y/n felt one of the bigger men behind her run his hand down her back.
She jump forward from his touch ready defend herself however, Erik pinched her arm tightly between his bicep and torso.
Y/n looked up at him and noticed the grimace clenching of his teeth.
"Now, this is unfortunate, just as I was starting to enjoy the outside." Erik fumed.
The man reaches for Y/n's behind again but this time Erik uses a closed fist to swing right into the man's nose.
He pushed Y/n off to the side, just hard enough for her to delicately hit the wall. She watched while this night old acquaintance fights off three large men with a bit of wood he swooped off the ground.
Using it to jab into the first mans forearm and then kneeing him in the groin.
Erik kicks the second man in the side, and to their luck, the third starts running. Finally all three run at the first sight of blood.
Erik breathes heavily before dropping to a knee with a loud grunt,clutching his injured leg from the fire.
"Erik!" Y/n ran to his side and wormed her arm underneath his arm and around his torso.
"We have to leave before they bring friends." Y/n stammered.
Her eyes dart around to land on a Inn with a tavern at the ground floor. The sun was setting again so soon and the candles of the tavern were lit.
She walked with Erik and quickly made their way inside to set Erik down in the corner of the tavern by a table.
"Oi!" The barkeep yells at us.
"Out!! You don't have no money!"
Looking at their clothes Y/n understood exactly how he knew we had no money to spend.
"Please! This man is injured, we need-"
He interrupts Y/n again.
"No money, no service! Out!"
Y/n bit her lip hard, thinking of anything to pay this man until she got a small shred of an idea.
"I dance!"
This makes the barkeep stop and look back at them. He leaned against the bar and waited.
Y/n realized he wanted an example before she swallowed the lump of pride in her throat.
She slowly pulled her coat off revealing a very inexpensive dress they received from the Managers.
Low cut to account for all bust sizes and too long skirt for all heights of woman in the Opera house. Throwing the coat over Erik she leaned close to his ear to whisper.
"Hold on, I'll get more help and medicine for that leg."
He groans grabbing Y/n's arm, objecting to what he knew she'd do. She felt her heart want to cry at his genuine worry for her pride. She gently lifts his hand off before turning back to the bar keep.
She looked down at her skirt before lifting it and tieing it into a knot showing just above her knees.
The musician with a pocket fiddle in the corner starts playing a rhythmic song and patrons start coming in.
Y/n puts on the best smile she could muster before starting to move her legs and hips.
Y/n felt the gazes of every drunken basted, but worst of all, she felt Erik watching her. Intrigued or Disgusted? She wasn't sure. She hoped for the latter. It was the better of the two.
Moving her hand over a rich looking patrons shoulders before spinning to the bar and smiling at another gentleman.
For what felt like forever, Y/n danced following each rhythm of each song played.
Getting a small tip from some patrons before she stopped and leaned against the bar.
Out of breath with her chest moving up and down rapidly. Another song had ended. She wasn't sure how much longer she could continue, her legs burnt from no warm up before hand like she knew she had to.
The barkeep, more likely the owner of the inn, pushed a glass of water toward her.
"Well done girl! We haven't had this many patrons in a while."
He praised but Y/n growled and reached out to him with an open palm.
"I did my part, I need payment."
The barkeep looks disgusted and Y/n was afraid for a moment he would refuse her payment. Thankfully he reached into his apron pocket and gave her a good hand full of coins.
Before she could pull her hand back he grabbed her wrist and smirked.
"Come back, with a better attitude, and you can make twice as much."
Y/n gritted her teeth looking away knowing its a large possibility she'd need to come back for more payment.
She pulled her wrist back then ran to where she'd left Erik only to spot him with an angry expression.
"Erik?"
She knew it, he was disgusted! She hesitated in front of him. He only managed to lean forward and pull the knot out of her skirt letting it cover her legs again.
He looks away but patted on the seat beside him. Y/n felt her body once again shrink in on itself as she sat beside him.
She took this opportunity to count the coins and realized they had enough to rent a room for the night and for her to go buy bandages and medicine.
Once they were in the room she felt a very strange hole in her heart, she felt like she'd betrayed him. She was sure he'd leave the next chance he got. She basically did what he'd tried to prevent in the first place.
She sat on the bed facing away while Erik used this time to wash up in the wash room and apply the medicine and bandages himself.
"Y/n."
His voice stood out from the muffled cheers downstairs.
His hand traveled to Y/n's and he sat beside her on the bed.
"I'm sorry."
Those small words made Y/n breath a sigh of relief before she felt his arms wrap her into a hug.
She'd never cried in front of anyone or at least she tried to avoid it as much she could, so how is it possible for this man to have seen her cry twice.
His chin rested on her head as she sobbed. It felt like she would never stop. Until Erik started humming. A soft but familiar tune. A song from the Opera house used in one of the famous plays.
It was beautiful, an angel of music. A voice she didn't know she longed to hear. In sleep he sang to her, and in dreams he he came.
Y/n slowly calmed her sobs before her body fell into a limp sleep and exhaustion.
Erik smiled before slowly laying her onto the bed, however she was clenched onto his shirt so tightly, Erik gave in and layed with her on the bed.
He looked at her calm face wondering how she was able to remain so strong though everything, even taking care of him aswell as herself.
Feeling his heartbeat similarly to the first time it did when he saw Christine. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and slowly pulled her into his chest, keeping her covered from all the worldly wrongs.
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>This has evolved into its own story, if its not something you're interested in, feel free to skip this one and check out some other fics on my page! °v°
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"UGH!" His voice rattles the windows, papers and books flung across the study.
Aloïs. Former lover to Y/n, Opera house costume designer, nobleman who was presumed dead. All titles he was ready to use to his will.
"Sir! We've searched the tavern, every room that isn't burnt in the theater-" the officer pleads.
"Then you didn't look HARD enough!" Aloïs scolds, taking a shaky breath while leaning over the desk.
Y/n's blue ballgown clutched in his hand.
Y/n.
His Y/n was taken like he feared so long ago.
His vest and tie ripped off with aggression. Hair that was once pulled back, now a rough state of frustration.
"Monsieur, we don't know where they are." the officer repeats calmly.
Aloïs's breaths heavy as he thinks, holding the dress to his temple as if it would help him think. His teeth grind together before he forces words though them.
"I know where they are! Just not how to get there!"
His fist hits the desk with heavy impact.
"The tunnels are intricate! Hard to follow! The only way to know how to get there is a we'd already been-" his voice stops when realization hits him.
"Already been there." he continues quietly.
It starts small, a maddening chuckle to some realization he had.
"Very well! I will play your game. You'll be certain to attend." Aloïs mutters, but his words weren't directed to the officer.
The officer somewhat follows Aloïs's insane ramblings before adding his own plans.
"We are certain the police is there, We are certain that they are armed."
"The curtain falls. His rain will end."
Aloïs gives the dress in his palm one final squeeze before swiftly tossing it to the side and walking toward the exit.
"Ready my carriage! To the De Chagny Estate. Hurry!"
Fury rising and his anger restless as he made his way. However, Across the city of Paris, warmth spread though the cave walls.
Her fingertips ran across the small stage, crafted with dolls, chairs and a fire pit at the center. A deliberate and detailed play by the name of 'Don Juan Triumphant'.
A trap set to capture the beautiful Opera singer Christine Daaé and bring her to the lair that Y/n now stood in.
"So... This is where... everything happened?" she asks more carefully than she'd admit.
Eyes darting between the dreaded Phantom and the model stage.
She wasn't afraid of him. Not anymore. But she was still getting used to it, the feeling of knowing it was him. The man she feared had snaked into her heart under the mask of Erik. Ironic.
His arms crossed, his back leaning against the wall and studying eyes following her every movement.
"Yes. When I wasn't hidden in the tunnels of the Theater. I was here. Planning, crafting, writing."
Y/n felt an estranged giggle bubble though her stomach.
He was a gentleman of many talents. She almost wondered how someone like him would get shunned by society, for what was only skin deep. Shunned for a distorted face.
Well...
Besides the murders.
"Is that all you did? Scheme and write?" she finally could tease him a bit. Tension leaving her with every glance.
"Opposed to sleeping and eating..." he starts his reply.
Pushing off the wall, he uncrosses his arms only to wrap them back around her waist. Her baggy trousers and shirt folding beneath his strong back hug.
"But I can't say that the years of boredom weren't worth it. As a result, I have you here, in my arms."
Her eyes roll from his cheesy words, glancing back at him with her hands on his.
"I'm still angry with you. I see though your cuddly tricks, Monsieur."
Erik looked like a pouty puppy, but just for a second before he effortlessly lifts her up, swinging her in a few circles.
"Perhaps this will persuade you!" he toys with her.
And again, the butterflies in her stomach forced a laugh to escape her, her eyes closed and she holds on for dear life.
"Erik! Stop! Stop! Your leg!" Her voice objects, laughs echoing though the cave.
A small, elegant, spin turned her back to face him and her feet back on the ground.
"My darling Y/n, My pain is easily snuffed out by your beautiful symphony of laughter." he confesses, adding a small kiss to sweeten his words.
Y/n melts only a little at the gentleness of his kiss. Her heart pounding and sending a small flush to her cheeks. He had a way of so easily normalizing their kisses after just recently having their first.
She was about to continue this little banter when something catches her eye.
A dark hallway behind a broken mirror, red curtains almost made it completely hidden.
"What... is that?" she hesitates to ask, again, but this time from curiosity.
Erik sighs quietly. Only stepping away from her for a moment to drop the red curtain completely. Hushing the doorway into the past. Where it belonged.
"It was my escape once."
Y/n could tell, it wasn't a subject he'd like to discuss, it was a day of pain for most residents of the theater. Her included.
She only cups his cheek, pulling his eyes back to hers and placing the smallest kiss on his eyelid.
"Well, we best not make a fuss about it then. After all! You promised me a meal, Monsieur."
His smile returns as soon as the words leave her mouth.
A foot crossing behind the other, a gentle bow of his head and a offered hand make Y/n smile all the more.
"Very well, Mademoiselle. Dinner is served."
She took his hand without hesitation, eyes soft as she watched his eyes.
He'd changed so much from the man he once was all those months ago.
~~~
"Masquerade! Every face a different shade! Masquerade! Look around there's another mask behind you." the singers sung their part.
Y/n smiled, even tho it was behind the face of a weeping mask. Her dance moves following her fellow dancers at her side with elegance and joy.
The floors covered in golden confetti while elegant dancers filled the marble steps of the theater.
Christine was Secretly engaged at this point in time. The managers were giving higher pay and their moods had never been so brilliant. Even Aloïs seemed to be filled with joy for once.
The masquerade was going so well. Y/n had never been happier to dance on thw golden steps while others enjoyed a nightly drink.
Her unbreathable corset was the only problem then, until someone pushed past Y/n, and took its place.
A large man, wrapped in a red coat that burnt like fire among the plain white and black's of the dancers clothing. An elegant mask covered the most of his face. A skull design to frighten onlookers. Blade at his side and a cape following him like a trail of blood.
His steps quiet as he found his way to the center of the grand steps.
The Phantom had returned.
Y/n opened her mouth to call out! To warn someone! But suddenly, a hand wrapped around her mouth.
"Don't interfere, Y/n." Aloïs growled quietly behind her, his eyes narrow while watching the masked man.
He was shushing her? Why! Did he not want her to catch the attention of the Phantom?
"Why so Silent, good messieurs? Did you think that I have left you for good?" The phantom sings, his footsteps heavy on the stairs and upon each person's ears.
Y/n watched in simple silence as he suddenly threw his masterpiece, 'Don Juan Triumphant', onto the floor.
He approached each of the lead cast members. Charlotta, Piangi and even the managers got instructed by him.
With each of his demands, Aloïs's grip on Y/n's mouth grew stronger. Perhaps he could feel the adrenaline build in her blood. Her anger and want to cut this criminal down.
"As for our star, Christine Daaé..."
Y/n felt her eyes narrow as he approached their lead singer. Christine's body frozen in fear and curiosity.
"Let me go, Aloïs!" Y/n growls quietly, shoving and pushing at him.
"No! Let him have her!" Aloïs holds her waist with his arms, yanking her further and further back.
"... Or he might have you instead!"
His words suddenly stunned Y/n. 'Have her instead?' Whats that supposed to mean? Why would the Phantom at all try to take her instead of Christine.
Confusion takes her gaze back to the masked killer.
A red suit, and skull defining mask, purposefully made to show the angry monster he wanted everyone to see. But there was something beneath it. His eyes longed for her, for Christine.
When Christine stepped closer to him. All eyes were on her, all but Y/n's.
Y/n's eyes were lured towards The Phantom.
His body language, the look of surprise when Christine showed little fear, captivated Y/n. Her throat tightened when sadness filled her body.
He... He was terrified. Scared of Christine, not the other way around. Y/n could tell just by watching those darkened eyes. He loved her so much, even going to far as to fear her gentle eyes.
But just as suddenly as his vulnerability showed, so did it dissappear again. His hand aggressively plucking the ring, hanging from Christine's neck, off.
"You're chains are still mine! You belong to me!" he snapped at her and suddenly vanished into the hole ground.
~~~
Y/n's body jerks awake, her eyes open wide for just a moment before she grumbles.
The cave echoing around her and the heavy structure creaking above.
She closes her eyes and touching her surroundings to find her bearings. Palm gently pressed onto a firm surface.
"A nightmare?" The gentlest voice reaches her ears. Heavy and deep.
She smiles before her eyes open again. Her firm little pillow ended up being his shoulder.
"No, just a memory."
Y/n reaches to cup his burnt cheek, giving it a soothing stroke.
His hand around her torso, keeping her close to his side.
"It was about you actually." She whispers, matching his soft tone.
Their meal had lead to a comfortable sleep in his shell shaped bed. And she'd been in his arms for hours since. Simply curling into each other's silent grasp.
"Oh? About me."
"Yes. The night of the masquerade. You scared Aloïs to death. He wouldn't let me get near you."
"Scared." the words leave his tongue like a dragging blade.
"He should've been. That day I was furious." Erik confesses, his fingers rubbing soothing circles onto her hip.
"And you? Were you scared, Ma chanson?"
The nickname caught her off guard. 'My Song' How he could make her smile so easily, she'd never know.
"No. At least, not completely scared."
Her arms push her body up. At least enough to meet his eyes at his level.
"I was curious. You seemed so angry. But I saw the sadness you tried to hide. It broke a bit of my heart."
She pouts only a bit, carefully nuzzling her nose against his before whispering her little Confession.
"I never want to see it again."
Her little pout made Erik chuckle, but her whisper was his tipping point. Compelling him to kiss her lips in the most gentle way.
"My Darling. If you'll allow me see those beautiful eyes every day, I will never have another reason to feel despair again."
Y/n watched him for a moment before giggling into his shirt, hiding the blush on her face.
Erik was fully prepared to tease her with loving words for the rest of the day. Until a sound in the distance echoed into the cave.
His eyes switch suddenly, narrow and agitated.
"What was that?"
Y/n asks, sitting up and watching him easily leap from the bed.
"Someone's here."
Y/n leaps from the bedding aswell, her bare feet against the stone floor as she follows behind him.
Erik is quick to take his mask and sword out of instinct, except this time, he's not fighting for his own safety. He's fighting for Y/n's aswell.
Y/n takes the candle stand she used before. Hands gripping onto the golden metal, eyes narrow as the footsteps approached.
Y/n felt her nerves build more and more, until finally, a black boot caught her attention from behind the open sewer gate.
Erik growls, leaping forward and though the water, his fist clenched around the gate lever, refusing to let Y/n be taken again.
Except a voice stops him. A sweet melodic song, echoing peacefully through the cave.
"Angel of music, Guide and Guardian."
Y/n's eyes widen as suddenly as her throat tightens. A voice that once made her dance so beautifully, now made her heart twist into fear. That voice could so easily take him from her.
"Christine..." Erik whispers, his hand drifting away from the lever, and his body turning towards the entrance.
There she was. Her gown exquisite as her beauty. Eyes innocent and glittering. The Viscount Raoul de Chagny, not far behind, simply there as Christine's guard.
Eric didn't look away. Not once. He craved her presence for months since the Opera house burnt down. She'd been his only strength, for aslong as he could remember.
The silence was thick in the cave, Y/n's pounding heart in her ears and her eyes glued to Erik.
It's true she trusted him. She knew he loved her, but deep down, Christine would always have a lingering place in his heart.
Y/n wanted to be selfish, to grab his hand and yank his attention back onto her, kiss him and never let him forget how she loved him.
But she couldn't do that. Not to him, he'd been forced to hide for long enough. He needed to see her. Atleast once more.
Aloïs took this opportunity to stalk around the center attraction. Making his way to his target. Y/n.
Erik was memorized, engulfed in the memories of Christine rushing through his mind. His eyes taut in her direction.
Christine delicately pushed Raoul's hand from her wrist, stepping closer and into the water.
"Don't do this, my angel. Don't take another innocent woman. She's not me." Christine tries to reason, only knowing what Aloïs had told her.
That the Phantom of the Opera had taken another innocent woman. And this made Christine feel responsible.
Erik seemingly comes back to is senses again. After hearing that last sentence, his eyes shift back to the water. Silent for a second.
Then his chuckle broke the silence. A chilling echo.
"You're right, Christine."
His sword is quick and precise, suddenly stopping Aloïs in his tracks with a blade to his chest. Aloïs who had stalked so close so fast, steps away from grabbing Y/n.
"She isn't you." Erik finishes his response.
Their blades strike with a echoing clang. Erik's cloak frantically fluttering though the air as he blocks Aloïs's from getting any closer.
Y/n smiled slowly, letting out a breathy laughter as her heart lowers back to a relived thump.
But it was short lived.
She watched the scene unfold, her thoughts quickly calculate everything at once.
Erik's leg was still weak, Aloïs was stuck in another one of his angry fits! How was she meant to fix this!
Aloïs roared in frustration. His hair flipping as he lunges to strike.
"You cannot take what was mine first!"
Erik blocks again, giving the frustrated man child a shove back, water splashing suddenly.
"You constantly insist that she is yours to take. Only a fool would so eagerly try to tame her."
Erik steps closer with a growing murderous glare beside a knowing smirk.
Aloïs snarls and combs his messy hair back from his face.
"You're a coward! Taking her when I'm not looking!"
He steps though the water, and their blades meet in constant swings. Never hesitating to strike at a vital spot.
"You're a fool for taking your eyes off her!"
Phantom retorts. Tho he's almost met with Another of Aloïs's strikes. His foot work weakened by an injured leg.
Y/n's body suddenly flinched itself awake at the next blade strike, this one almost reaching Erik's abdomen.
What was she doing! Just standing there and watching like a frightened little girl. She wouldn't be that woman. She never has been.
Erik cries in pain when he suddenly looses his footing in the water, his weakened leg unable to keep him up right.
"Die, Ghost!" Aloïs's spits.
Aloïs's blade lifts into the air, ready to give a fatal blow, but Y/n's feet are already gliding through the watery depths.
A small symphony playing in her head before she's overwhelmed with a painful strike and a shriek ripping though her vocals.
The blade cutting though her skin easily, and the air hangs with a sudden tension. For Erik, his body couldn't move fast enough to grab her. Nonetheless, she landed in his arms.
Maybe it was his pounding heart that muffled her pained cry, or the smell of copper mixing with cold cave water.
A view before his eyes he knew every time he looked in the mirror.
He cradles her swiftly in his cloak, his hand holding the back of her head. Her hands gripping the side of her face.
"Y/n! Y/n! Shh..."
He hushes her, while his glove and sword are quickly tossed to the side.
His fingertips sooth her cheek, blood seeping into the crevices of his fingers.
"Y-y/n.. I didn't mean to-" Aloïs stutters in shock. Christine and Raoul standing in shock behind him.
"Silence!" Erik almost screams out, tho he held himself back from ending Aloïs, for the sake of Y/n in his arms.
Y/n cried silently, every nerve in her face burning with warning and pain.
Erik knew he had to make a decision. Now more than ever while everyone was in shock. While he held Y/n in his arms. His protection.
He holds her tightly, the scaffolding creaking above their heads with a dreadful threat.
He leans closer, placing his forehead to hers and whispers in a gentle silk voice.
"Y/n, do you trust me?"
Her eyes shift from Aloïs's to Erik's. Her heart pounding so loudly that she almost missed Erik's gentle voice.
She did. She trusted him every night at the tavern. She trusted him though every hungry night. Though every tear they shared together.
"Always." her voice whimpers though the burning sensation.
Aloïs screamed in the background, watching the scaffolding loose it's final strength.
But so did Y/n. Loosing her final bits of resistance to conscious thought, and simply giving into the phantoms embrace.
Harsh dust and large boulders hit the ground with an earth rumbling crash. Flames and water scattered across the once secret lair of a bloody killer with a monstrous face.
The cave collapsed in on itself. Breaking the weakened pillars that stood for years before.
Aloïs's screams fill the cluttered cave, Christine and Raoul run from danger.
That was the last they were seen. The phantom and the dancer.
Only embracing in the candle light before a horrid fate. The whisper of a doorway hidden by a red curtain behind them.
~3 Years later~
He flicks the newspaper with the cigar fitting between his yellowed teeth.
"Mighty shame what happened to them French folk." he speaks in a heavy Texas accent.
A hat to fit his white suit and golden pocket watch.
His wife sitting beside him at the circle table, pats her cheeks with some foundation while looking into a small mirror in her palm.
"Yes, well. Can't say they didn't deserve it, darlin'. Them 2 were murderers, ya know!"
She closes the mirror and pushes it back into her purse.
"Tsk! Damn if I believe that! They were just another poor couple gettin' harassed by bunch a' rich basterds!"
He twists his large body in the silk chair, looking around at the darkened theater room. Hundreds of other well off Americans chatting at their own tables.
"Now, now hush you! The show is startin'." His wife waves him off again, glancing up at the stage.
The spotlight flicks on easily. Revealing a pianist with a familiar white mask on his face. His eyes like a snake, studying the crowd slowly to be sure of no danger.
As soon as his fingertips grace the piano keys, a dancer is revealed by a second spotlight.
A gown of pure white to match the mask covering her face. A mask hiding a deep skinned scar.
"The Masked Show, ey? Let's see what all the fuss is 'bout." The Man says in a harsh whisper.
The dancer smiles as her legs glide across the stage to the beautiful piano symphony. Her movements were ones never before seen by an American crowd. Almost like she was dancing in mid air.
A song composed with deep heartfelt notes and a story to tell in its sorrowful pages.
A bewildered crowd watches her enchanting movements closely. But another pair of eyes follow her figure.
A smile on his face while he watches his darling grace the dance floor.
This is a story following the events after the Phantom of the Opera (2004) and only follows the movie and not any other adaptations!
This has evolved into its own story, if its not something you're interested in, feel free to skip this one and check out some other fics on my page! °v°
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Morning came swift and fast. Y/n woke up on the bed with a heavy headache and a growling stomach.
She slowly looked around noticing their very small room they had only one night to stay in. Old cardboard like curtains and molding wooden floor boards.
A very large difference from what Y/n knew. The Opera house had wooden platforms, but the outer walls were made of white stone and elegant sculptures of gold or marble. Rooms shared with other dancers, but still adequate for a living environment.
She looked around realizing Erik was no where to be seen. She couldn't remember what happened after her exhausted breakdown the night before.
She sat up with hair standing in every possible direction, a telling of their troubles from the previous day.
She lifted the covers from her body but stopped just before she got up. Erik had tucked her in, keeping her warm from the Inn's little to no thermal mass.
Her ears perk when she hears a gentle singing float through the hallways of the shabby Inn coming ever closer.
The door handle rattles and Y/n smiles knowing it was Erik coming in, she stood up to welcome him.
Just as she sprung to her feet, her legs give way too the night before, when she was in too much of a rush to stretch or do the needed warm-ups.
She braced to fall into the wooden floor with every muscle in her arms and neck tensing up.
She's pleasantly greeted with warm arms and a strong chest. Erik grabs her biceps with stable hands and lifts her to her feet again. He wore the same cloth mask on his face that Y/n had created for him and was fully dressed for an outing.
"Y/n, I would suggest you keep to the bed for today."
Y/n smiled at their sudden greeting, and quickly it turned to a giggle which spread to Erik who gave a small chuckle.
When Y/n was sat back on the bed Erik put a bag of Bread in her lap, then took off his coat and tossed it onto the bed.
"Where did you get this?" Y/n said surprised before breaking a bit off the loaf and giving in to her hunger.
"I spotted one of the ogling, basterd, patrons who was in the tavern last night, walking out of the bakery."
Erik rubs his fist in thought while looking out of the window.
"He clearly didn't need the food as much as we did."
Y/n stopped chewing and only stared at Erik in shock with bread filled cheeks.
Erik looks at her unfazed before taking the other half of bread from her hands, giving her a small pat on the head.
Y/n knew it wasn't the right thing to do at all, however she was well aware of their predicament.
Finishing a small breakfast Y/n dusted off her hands and tried to stand again only for Erik to glare at her until she sat back down.
Y/n plopped back onto the bed with her cheap dress catching the air and puffing up.
"Well I can't just sit and do nothing all day! I need to do more to help our situation!" she wined making Erik smirk again.
"Y/n my darling, you've done enough." he said sitting at the foot of the bed.
In a moment of silence Y/n suddenly was reminded of all the ugly men that watched her dance, touching her, whispering hideous things that they'd do to her.
She pulled her knees to her chest and hid her face from Erik.
"I'm sorry you had to see that. You must regret comforting me last night." she whispers feeling her breakfast want to comeback up, out of the disgust she felt for herself.
Another second of silence passes until Y/n felt Eric lift her hand and place a delicate kiss on her dry knuckles.
"The only thing I regret, my dear, is not having the strength to strangle every drunken, gibfaced, blunderbussed, Fool who dared look at you."
He moves a hand to cup Y/n's face and lightly stroke her cheek.
"Seeing you be belittled to a mere piece of meat, instead of the brilliant dancer you are, made me angry, too angry."
His teeth clench and his jaw turns into a sneer.
"What I did to the ogling basterd was well deserved."
Y/n felt her eyes widen. A comforting message may have turned into a bloody confession.
Her eyes travel to Erik's clothes, how she didn't see the very small splatter of blood on his shirt made her wonder if she'd missed anything similar in the past.
Before she could fully register what she'd just heard, Erik stood up quickly and took a coat from where he'd tossed it.
"I suggest you rest your legs and body, It's my turn to help our situation."
He turns back to a still stunned Y/n. Only offering a smile before he opened the door.
"I will return soon. Ignorant fool's will never lay eyes on you again. No longer will this barkeep share in your triumph."
With those words he closed the door.
Y/n spent the day deep in thought. Massaging her legs as she was taught to do if her legs cramped and pained.
She felt a warmth in her chest and a smile pulled at her cheeks when she thought of Erik's words, to keep her from basterds eyes.
Then she thinks of the blood splatter and the warmth is quickly frozen over when the chills run up her spine.
Would Erik hurt her if she stepped out of line? Would he teach her to behave as her father did when her dancing wasn't done to perfection.
Anxiety caused her to chew on her thumb nail, a habit she'd thought she'd grown out of. She quickly tried to keep her hands busy to avoid the habit resurfacing.
She closed her eyes and once again tried to get some rest before she fell into deep sleep.
Y/n woke up later that day when the sun was just setting with a heavy banging on the door.
Without warning, spare keys unlock the door and Y/n shoots up straight with the blanket held to her chest.
The inn keeper still wearing a apron with beer stains and a thick cigar in his mouth, walks in.
"Your rent is up! And customers are waiting for the pretty girl to dance again!"
He grabs Y/n by the wrist and drags her towards the door.
Y/n growls and uses her fist to hit his hand that held her.
"Let GO! You have no right to demand this!"
The inn keeper snorts not even looking at her until he's dragged her towards the door. His body spins back to her and he yanks her close.
"Listen girl! You will dance again tonight!"
Y/n shuts her eyes tight and she looks away from the owners disgusting breath and smoked cigar that was in her face.
"She will do no such thing!"
Y/n suddenly smiles hearing Erik's voice and looks back to see Erik had yanked the mans fingers off her wrist and swung him against the wall and onto the floor.
Erik didn't waste a moment in cupping Y/n's face, looking her up and down. He lifts her wrist up delicately and places a kiss on the bruise the Inn keeper had left.
"We're leaving." he said sternly.
Y/n agrees and grabs hold of all their belongings before the keeper could recover off the floor.
They walked down the stairs past the patrons who whistled as soon as they spotted Y/n, but one growl from Erik caused a sudden silence.
That wasn't enough for one gentlemen who managed to sneak up behind Y/n and pull her into a drunken hug.
"Hello, love!" he slurred as he lifted Y/n off her feet.
Still connected by hand, Erik punches the Drunkerd square in the nose and into the wall.
Chaos spreads across the Bar and everyone objects to the actions made. Tho before things got too out of hand the Inn keepers voice spreads through the bar, sending everyone once again into silence.
"That's ENOUGH!"
Erik had pushed Y/n against the wall behind him, shielding her. Her hand still held his and the other on his chest.
The Bar keeper looks Erik dead in the eyes and walks straight past him outside and motioned him to follow.
Once again out in the cold in the street, the Bar keeper pushes his cigar into the snow on the windowsill of the inn.
Erik and Y/n now out in the open ready to run as soon as its needed stood infront of him still on guard.
Finally the inn keeper states his business.
"Look, We both have something the other needs. I need the little lady to keep patrons coming in, and you need a living area, yeah?"
Erik glares him down.
"I will not stand for men touching her-"
The keeper interrupts.
"Let me finish! If she keeps dancing, I'll hire you to watch her. I'll include a living space and coins if you guard the bar and break up bar fights too. You're a strong lad. And you've got a scary look to ya!"
Y/n was deep in thought considering all the possibilities, then she quickly mentions.
"Add three meals a day and you've got a deal!"
Erik's hand squeezes hers as an objection but let's her finish.
"One meal!" the keeper argues.
"Two and I'll dance in the mornings too!"
The keep thinks for a moment before looking at Erik's scary face and deciding it might not be a bad trade.
He nods and extends his hand. Before Y/n took it she pulled Erik aside when he immediately objects.
"This is foolish, Y/n"
"It's a living Erik. It's a good trade, we won't get another chance like this. Just for now, just until I know we can live without worry."
He looks down still feeling unsure. Y/n delicately cups his cheek and rubs it with her thumb.
"Let's do it together, I know you'll watch over me."
Erik sighs heavily and nods in agreement.
Y/n smiles and kisses Erik's cheek then shakes the keepers hand.
The keeper smiles and turns back to the inn.
"C'mon! I owe ya a meal. The names Boris!"
Y/n Finally let's go of Erik's hand and Follows Boris into the inn once more.
Erik pauses immediately when he hears an echo down the street, a familiar voice. His eyes travel around until he finally sees another large opera house not far from the old Palais Garnier.
"Christine.."
He mumbles feeling an ache in his chest, he pulls out a ring from his pocket, the ring Christine gave him right after their final meeting.
His lips twist into a clenched growl and he takes a step forward towards the Opera house.
"Erik?"
Another voice stops him, not Christine, But Y/n from inside the Inn. Erik glances back to Christine before shaking his head and pushing the ring back into his pocket.
>Rushed chapter! (pls let me know if you spot a mistake)
>This has evolved into its own story, if its not something you're interested in, feel free to skip this one and check out some other fics on my page! °v°
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A horrible taste sat in Y/n's mouth as she stared out the window at the setting sun while sitting on the bed. She'd been in thought all day, trying to figure out what to do. She'd loved Aloïs, but this Aloïs was new to her, new personality, new possessions, new life.
She's pulled from her thoughts when a gentle hand rubs her head.
"You haven't touched your dinner, mon chéri."
Erik's adorable nickname flew right over her head.
"Oh! Yes of course."
She takes the plate and spoon from Erik only to fall back into thought after the first bite. Tapping on the plate slowly with the spoon.
Erik chuckles a little before taking her hand holding the spoon.
"Shall I feed you?" he pushes the spoon onto her lip.
Y/n takes the bite delicately with butterflies dancing in her stomach. Finally her thoughts were concentrated on Erik again and she starts eating.
Erik walks back to his bed and sat facing her. With a small wetstone he rhythmically scraped the edges of his dagger.
"I think, I should give Aloïs a chance."
Erik glances up at Y/n with a pause before resuming his sharpening.
"Oh? You didn't look so compliant this morning."
"I know, but if there's any chance My Aloïs is still there, perhaps I should take it. The riches that come after, is simply insurance for us."
"Us?"
Erik questions. Y/n realizes her words and suddenly their situation becomes clearer.
"Of course, I could never dream of abandoning you. You've saved me so many times-.."
"Then why not stay with me!" his interruption seems almost threatening this time. Eyes drilling into Y/n's.
Y/n sets down the plate and walks to Erik. She kneels down infront of him and takes his hands in hers, watching the words in his eyes.
"Erik, If I were to marry Aloïs. We'd be upper class. You could finally have a chance to see her again."
Erik quickly looks away and shakes his head.
"Who are you enquiring about?"
She delicately squeezes his hands, then also looks away, down at his hands.
"You don't have to deny it. I've seen you sing with her. Even if she is far from here, you always look out the windows as if you could see her. The sparkling in your eyes Erik. I... Could never hope to compete."
Erik didn't look back but his heart ached knowing Y/n's words were true to some extent. He still loved Christine even just a little. How could he not? He'd taught her how to find her voice, listened to her prayers night after night.
Y/n stood up and planted a kiss on Erik's head, then pulling him into a hug. His arms curled around her upper legs with his head on her stomach.
Patting his head delicately she smiled at his genuine, loving hug.
"Tomorrow, when Aloïs returns, I'll give him a chance. After that, we will decide what lays ahead."
She walks out of his grasp without another word and pulls the curtains shut. Once she couldn't see Erik anymore, he looked back at her.
A thin curtain keeping their bodies and souls apart, but so did a man and a woman who they both once loved.
Y/n lifts the ring that Aloïs gave her off the bed side table to look at it, quite coincidentally, so too did Erik lift Christine's ring.
○○○○
No sooner did morning come and Y/n found herself face to face with Aloïs outside the tavern.
Him dressed in a new fancy coat while she stood in the same dress she wore yesterday. Erik up in their room but with a keen ear listening to each word.
Y/n lifts her index finger up to Aloïs and stands confidently, chest out and feet steadfast in the ground.
"One outing. One chance to show me you're still the Aloïs I knew and loved."
Aloïs's eyes light up and he is quick to take Y/n's hand and kiss it catching her off gaurd. Not a good start.
"Thank you, chéri! We could go anywhere! Anywhere you'd like!"
Y/n shakes her head and pulls her hand back rubbing it.
"I think it's best if you decide."
"Alright then! Tonight we make for the new Opera house!"
The new Opera house! Where Christine sings? It wouldn't be right towards Erik. In many ways she'd feel like she was betraying him.
Y/n shakes her head trying to quickly object but once again Aloïs's excitement gets the best of him.
"Aloïs! Hold on, we can't! Um... Because, I-I have nothing to wear! "
Aloïs grabs onto the carriage as it starts moving.
"Don't worry! I shall have a dress and other essentials sent here! I will arrive shortly before 6 to pick you up."
Using his feathered hat he waves goodbye to Y/n who is already chewing on her nail with a stiff body.
Erik peaks out the window and watches Y/n rush up the stairs.
○○○
"For the 100th time, Y/n. It's fine!"
Erik stated once again watching Y/n pull the biggest fancy blue dress out of the box it was delivered in.
"Still it doesn't feel right! After what we talked about last night. I should've stopped him sooner!"
With his hands on his hips he watches Y/n struggle with all the fancy things Aloïs sent to her for their date.
"Even if I did object, darling. We can't change it now."
Y/n, trying to pull the large frilly dress off the floor and into her arms, sighs heavily. She peaks through the bundle of a dress in her arms at Erik.
"I am sorry you have to be here alone tonight. Boris was nice enough to give us the night off. Will you be ok?"
She almost stumbles into the closed curtains to get dressed. Small sparkling bits of jewelry were spread out on the bed aswell as make up and fresh shoes.
"I'll be quite fine. I'm no stranger to one night alone. Besides, you should try to enjoy tonight."
Once again Erik watches Y/n's silhouette. She drops the dress she wore onto the floor before crawling her way in though the bottom of the hooped skirt and pushing herself through the arm and head holes.
"I won't be too long hopefully. Still, it will be nice to be back in an Opera house, all be it a completely different one."
She pulls a little and straightens out the dress and puts the shoes on the ground slipping them on. She takes the corset off the bed and pulls it around her torso then pulling the strings as much she could.
"Erik! I might need some help with the corset."
She steps out of the curtains looking down while trying to clip a necklace around the back of her neck.
"Of course I'll-..."
His words drift off once Y/n comes into full view. Her dress a beautiful dark blue with small decorated flakes of gold. A beautiful off shoulder medium length sleeve top with little white frills.
"... Help."
Finishing his sentence with a paced heart and eyes glued to Y/n. She looked so beautiful, it reminded him of all the gowns he'd seen rich woman wear going to see the Opera. A warming nostalgic feeling, mixed with astonished glances to Y/n's clean completion.
He takes a few steps to behind Y/n where he took the strings of the corset and pulled them tight.
Y/n gasped softly once the corset pushed her torso into shape. Erik's hand guide itself over her aside and onto her stomach.
A roaming hand on her stomach going up, Y/n felt the same longing for Erik's touch she'd felt many times before.
"How does it feel? Can you breath?"
Erik whispered to her sending shivers up the back of her neck.
Although she really couldn't breath because of how close Erik was, she nodded.
"Let me help with your hair."
Y/n didn't know how, but Erik seemed to know exactly how to put hair up neat and tidy. This once again brought Erik's past into question. What did he do in the Opera?
Even tho he'd answered the question before, Y/n doubted he helped only moving things around and doing maintenance.
Y/n's hair was freshly washed and dried. She hasn't worn her hair up in a while, she'd always danced with loose hair and gone her days without putting it up.
This means it was the first Erik had seen her like this. Open shoulders and beautiful neckline. He was very unsure why he felt this way for someone other than Christine.
He places a delicate kiss on Y/n's neck, again causing Y/n to gasp at the unexpected moment.
She looks back at Erik connecting with his gaze. A powerful moment from both of them. Y/n wanted to kiss Erik, he wanted exactly the same.
"You're beautiful, Y/n."
He whispers to her.
She smiles a little hearing his little praise and delicately she places her hand on the side of his head.
Nervous but entranced by her, not because she wore a fancy dress or makeup, but because of her smile, because of her lasting laughs and love to all things.
Now more than ever, he needed to decide. Loose one Dimond, or continue chasing another he'd lost sight of long ago.
Within an instant Erik's lips meet hers. Suddenly fireworks spark and all moments they've shared before mix into one. Erik's hand on her stomach push her closer towards him and Y/n grips the back of his hair lightly.
Y/n felt the warmth in his lips, soft hands holding her like he'd never let go. Body language threatening to keep her captured and protected. His forever. She'd felt his embrace so many times before, but this felt warmer than sunshine on her face.
A lasting kiss mixed with uncertainty when the sound of horses come down the street.
Y/n Quickly pulls away putting her hand over her mouth and Erik grits his teeth at the interrupted kiss.
"Erik, I'm sorry, I had no right." Y/n felt the need to apologize.
"Nonsense! This was my decision."
His hands were now shaking, his decision now greatly turned to one side. To Y/n. He wanted to tell her not to go. He wanted to hold her and run to where Aloïs couldn't touch her or even look at her again.
"Y/n-..."
"Stop!" Y/n demanded pulling Erik's hand off her stomach.
"Please don't make this harder than it is! I've tried to ignore it. I'm trying not to be selfish."
She takes a deep shaky breath and rubs her eyes keeping the tears from rushing out.
"I'm trying not to love you, because I know you love her."
With a crumpled bit of her dress squeezed in her fists she clears her throat.
"I'll be back soon, then we can talk!"
She looks up at Erik with glossed eyes then lifts her dress off the ground and running out of the room.
Erik stood frozen, his thoughts rushing with uncertain desire. A longing for another.
Y/n ran downstairs with heavy breathing and tears falling onto the floor but she shook her head and plastered on a smile.
She waved goodbye to Boris who called her pretty girl before she left, giving her a little more reason to smile.
Finally coming out of the tavern. Aloïs is stunned and offers his hand.
"My lady, beautiful as always." Aloïs complimented and placed a small kiss on her hand.
A bouquet of flowers is pulled out of the carriage and given to Y/n. She looked down at the brightly colored flowers and smelled them.
"Their beautiful, Aloïs. Thank you."
Aloïs smiled but stopped for a moment.
"You're not wearing the ring?"
Y/n shakes her head and looks back at the tavern to their room.
"I must have forgotten it."
"Well then! Let's be off, mon amour. The Opera awaits! And perhaps more good news! Christine is preforming tonight. One of the Opera performances you danced for, I think."
Helping Y/n into the carriage, their off into the night air and to the Opera. The Opera house was shining bright in the dimly lit Paris night and was visible even from the tavern.
Erik was still caught in the room, his fists clenched and his jaw locked.
A sudden swing into the wall breaking the wooden plank instantly. Heavy breathing and hair hanging over his eye.
"She is not your mon amour."
His body fuming with anger, feeling once again he was too late! Once again he'd lost to a pretty rich boy. The sunshine when he was the darkness.
He pulled his bloody splintered hand out of the wooden wall still not satisfied. He wanted to bash Aloïs's skull in. He wanted to take Y/n and tell her he loved her, how it took him this long to realize was his own wrong doing.
Her teary and frightened eyes popping into his head. How could someone so beautiful look so sad. Erik felt all the signs flood back from hidden memories.
Y/n's gentle voice helping him stay awake while she carried him after the fire. Her soft hand washing his wound. Her smile not fearing his face. Never once did she shutter away from his touch. All he wanted was to see her smile so happily after a long night's dance.
He made a decision. He wasn't going to let the fool take her, he would take her first.
He once again pushed out the false bottom out of the closet floor to reveal a white mask and black cape along with clothing he wore once before.
He chuckles deeply and pulls the mask onto his face.
"I'll need you once again, old friend. Beware, the Phantom of the Opera."
With a maniacal laughter he swings his cloak on and dissappears into darkness.
○○○
The Opera house burned bright with people and chatter! Golden statues of beautiful men and woman, and a miraculous staircase upon entering.
Y/n felt so out of place when walking on the red carpet. Not even a speck of dust on the polished floors.
Her eyes dazzled with excitement and she'd never felt so far from home.
"Erik! Look at the chandelier!" she pointed with a gloved hand.
Aloïs turns away from his conversation with another older looking noble couple and runs up to her.
"Darling! It's quite beautiful isn't it!"
He quickly puts his arm around her waist and pulls her to his side.
"Don't mind her silly little mind. She gets confused who she's with sometimes."
He explains to the couple. Y/n's mind quickly corrects itself remembering Erik isn't here and her cheeks flush.
Aloïs takes her hand and kisses it before pulling it to his heart.
"My darling Y/n and I are celebrating our engagement! Aren't we?"
Y/n looks at Aloïs confused for a second before the nobel woman claps her hands together happily.
"That's wonderful! I'm happy that the daughter of the famous dancer, will marry my nephew, soon."
Aloïs smiles proudly.
"Yes! Quite a spectacle! Now if you'll excuse us. We have many people to meet."
Aloïs bows his head gently and pulls Y/n towards another couple giving Y/n a chance to plant her feet in the ground and stop.
Her eyes move to Aloïs's with a stern glare.
"Aloïs. We didn't agree to this! We agreed that after I'd make my decision."
Aloïs sighs then nods with a guilty sigh.
"I know, mon amor. But I'm very confident in your answer. As I've said. This is a better life. Besides, I don't want you to rot in that tavern any longer."
His fingertips delicately brush over her cheek and he smiles.
"You're my darling, Y/n. I will keep you safe, till the end of your days until you die comfortably in a silk bed with as many fur children you'd like."
Y/n looks away for a second before thinking of Erik's face, the expression he made every night listening to Christine sing in their cramped little room. She could help him as much as she could help herself.
She looks back up at Aloïs with his glittering outfit and fine polished shoes. Her hand reaches for his bicep and she smiles.
"W-who else do we need to meet? Um.. Darling?"
Aloïs once again smiles with joy and pulls her off to another noble man where she smiles carefully and nods politely.
By the time they arrived in box 5 high above the stage, Y/n was exhausted. She sunk into her seat like a tierd dad after work. She took a breath and quickly straightens herself out to sit straight.
She looks around the box because she'd always wondered why rich nobles found these seats so desirable. She could see the entire stage, tho it was a little far to make out the details.
Aloïs still with heaps of energy flips though the thin paper pamphlet and leans over to Y/n.
"Ah! This opera is the same one that Christine debuted in. I remember her white dress, it took incredibly long to sew all those little white pearls into the dress!"
Y/n smiles and nods.
"I remember, your hands had so many bandaids on for weeks, I was worried about you."
Aloïs puts the pamphlet onto his lap and lifts Y/n's hand to place a small kiss on her knuckles.
"I remember the small cuts, but I remember how you kissed each finger and held me so gently when we fell asleep. "
His thumb traces over her fingers as he stares at them thinking.
"One day, I will create a white dress for you too, mi amor."
For a very small moment, Y/n felt her heart spark. Her Aloïs was starting to shine though again.
Aloïs pulls his hand back and the light dims.
Suddenly a spotlight on stage and the play begins. Dancers fill the stage and Y/n couldn't help her excitement. She clapped watching a dance she knew off by heart. Her feet started bouncing with her urge to dance.
Aloïs smiled and placed a small kiss on her cheek then whispered into her ear.
"Your passion burns bright and beautiful, Y/n."
Another spark made Y/n giggle genuinely before she looks back at the stage.
The orchestra starts with a sudden blast of music filling the large Opera house. Up close and personal she could hear a voice start off with a strong note.
The spotlight shifts, and there she was. The famous and beautiful, Christine Daaé. Y/n's friend and inspiration to dance.
Her toes point on instinct in the very uncomfortable shoes which reminded her not to act like a child.
She presses her lips together and dims down her excitement to a gentle foot tap.
She watches the opening Opera sequence and soon the play has begun. Actors singing out their lines and an occasional cheers from the crowd.
Y/n took full advantage of moments of cheers to yell her support, knowing all the effort that goes into each play. The preparation and weeks of rehearsals.
Nearing the end of the play Y/n is fully distracted by the singing beauty, she didn't notice the quietly approaching figure behind her. A hand slowly reaching for her shoulder and suddenly grabbing it.
Y/n jumps suddenly and turns to look. An old noblmen with wine in his hand and quite drunk.
The noblmen slurs as he asks.
"Has the play started yet, Aloïs?"
Aloïs takes the mans hand off her shoulder quickly and pulls him towards him.
"Monsieur Du Beu, you're in the wrong box I'm afraid."
Y/n shakes her head and tries to focus on the Opera. After some time, Aloïs and the noblmen were still talking about business? Or something. Y/n tried to ignore it, but the chatter was too loud.
She bit her lip before deciding to slip out and closer to the stage.
"I'm going to get some fresh air." she whispers and Aloïs nods back acknowledging.
She lifts her big dress and hurries down the corridor towards the stage. The rooms were dark and very dimly lit until she saw a bright little room, calling her towards it.
She smiles once entering seeing a dressing room with many little bits of dresses and costumes.
She spots one in particular hung over a chair in the middle of the room, from the play being performed right now and smiles to herself.
She lifts the dancing dress and presses it against her body measuring.
"Perhaps they wouldn't mind if I borrowed this? Only for this dance number. No one will see me! "
She convinced herself in her excitement to dance formally again.
She quickly dresses in the dress and pulls on some dancing shoes she found with the dress. Wierd how it fit so perfectly?
She taps her toes on the ground to nuzzle her feet into each cranny comfortably.
Sneaking back out into the corridor she looks for an open space where she could preform the next dance number coming up.
It was a dance that required a partner and usually, it was only one duo dancing on center stage. No background dancers. Only the singer in the front corner.
Finally in the darkness she sees a large open room, incredibly dark but she could dance the routine there.
She smiled taking her place in the middle of the room lifting her arms and waiting for the music to echo from the stage. Something felt too perfect about this. And it turns out, she was quite right.
Suddenly, the lights go on and the curtains whoosh open to reveal the entire audience infront of her. Somehow she'd wandered right onto stage, into some kind of trap? Now she needed to preform the dance for real.
Y/n stood frozen in place, both from shock and terror from how she'd gotten herself into this mess.
The dance partner walks behind bed and moves his hand around her waist ready to start the choreography. A dance partner she had no practice time with whatsoever.
She looked up at Aloïs who looked back. He was confused, he couldn't tell if Y/n stood on stage because it was too far. So he kept watching.
The music starts and Christine is stood in the front corner, singing her musical number. Each step Y/n takes is on fire, with fear that someone would realize she's not the right dancer.
As she and this stranger dances together, she hears a deep chuckle.
"So stiff? Wondering how you possibly wandered onto stage?"
Y/n's head turns to look at the partner she'd gotten and once again she's shot with another surprise.
A white mask she'd never seen up close. But everyone knows of after the fire. The man who kidnapped Christine and set the flames ablaze.
The Phantom of the Opera was now lifting her into the air and following each step of the dance precisely.
His mask was so well blended with the costumes actors wore. No audience member would feel the need to be alert.
White mask and black sleek back hair, a thick coat and formal wear only a nobleman would wear. Y/n couldn't be sure, but she knew to some extent, it must be the Phantom.
"Phantom.."
She questioned in a whisper.
"So you do recognize me."
He confirms her suspicious and spins her round.
She stops spinning and only takes small steps on her toes. Her shock turns to anger.
"You criminal! Monster! Murderer!"
She growls and felt the need to pull away and run! But the Phantom grabs her hands and pulls her back into his chest as the dance routine commanded.
"Now, now my dear. You wouldn't want to alert anyone that you're not where you're supposed to be."
She looks at the audience and then at Aloïs before pressing her lips together into a smile.
"Are you trying to get to Christine again! Well there she is! Go get her!"
Y/n taunts with an angry glare.
She steps back throwing her body back into a dip, trusting the Phantoms arm around her wist to catch and pull her back to her feet. Following each dance step to a T.
"I'm not here for Christine."
On beat he takes her chin and moves it to look at him.
"I'm here for you."
His words deep and mysterious, but somehow Y/n believed every part of it.
She felt her body shake in fear. Her mind spun back to the fire that burnt her lover. Almost killed her, and had killed so many others that she loved. Her home burnt to ashes, causing so much pain for her to start over.
She took this oppertunity to push herself out of phantoms arms and run to the front of the stage.
"Aloïs-.."
She screamed, but she's quickly pulled back into Phantom's arms. His black gloved hand covering her mouth and nose restricting her breathing. He pulled her to the back of the stage.
Aloïs finally caught on and jumped to his feet.
"It's the Phantom of the Opera!"
His voice loud enough to echo through the quiet opera house. The music brought to a sudden halt and Christine stopped singing. Everyone starts to panic and rush to the exit.
Y/n still kicking and trying to pull Phantom's hand off her mouth, felt her vision blur and her body slowly goes limp. Knowing Y/n couldn't run, Phantom pulls Y/n against him holding her securely.
He smirks suddenly wrapping Y/n in his cloak and grabbing hold of a roap that hung at the back of the stage. Precisely placed and planned.
With a zip of a mechanism, Y/n and Phantom are pulled through the air and out of sight.
"NO! Y/N!"
Aloïs yells and suddenly runs out of the box throwing off his coat.
He rushes towards the stage with some guards following closely behind. With a slide and a turn he enters the costume room where he spotted the, big puffy blue dress Y/n wore, on the ground.
Ontop of her dress was a note and a white rose with a black bow tied around the stem.
Aloïs takes the note that read 'I remembered her. Now she is here with me, I've decided.'
Aloïs growls and crumpled the note in his hand. He turns to the soldiers and yells.
"Search the Opera house basement! Search the tavern! FIND HER! Find Y/N!"
