anastasia
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Post by anastasia on Oct 15, 2012 22:12:44 GMT -5
It all felt like some odd dream that she might have had in her youth. But it was not a dream, it was really happening! Nothing was a blur nor was it a blank moment that she would not remember. Her will kept a decent hold nevertheless to ensure she would not be taken advantage of and yet she was at his mercy. The touch of his hands drove home in her mind how real this was even as she continued to doubt that he was the Phantom. Following with silent curiosity to where ever she was led.
His arm about her and the close proximity of his body made her more aware of his presence though his singing kept her mellow. Nearly coming out of that trance as the song came to an end but once he repeated the song, she continued to remain at his mercy. She had followed him without hesitation up until they left the lift. In the depths below, her fears began to slowly grip her. Now she hesitated to follow him. What if there were corpses and skeletons all about? What if there was something that existed down here that would terrify her? Following him still even with some hesitation to where ever he would lead her.
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 17, 2012 20:36:17 GMT -5
Erik and Ana had reached the huge wooden doors to where the mansion ended and his lair began. It was an exact replica of his home under the Opéra Populaire. After picking up the lantern, he lit it and carried it, slowly leading Ana over the hanging bridges and down to the black lake below. Continuing to sing, he held her hands in his cold ones as they walked over the bridges which swayed with their every step. Lower and lower they came until they reached the lake where the gondola was pulled up onto the shore.
Erik guided Ana into the boat and motioned for her to sit in the prow. He hung the lantern onto the boat and reached for the long oar, stepped into the boat himself and then moved the boat away from the shore and onto the lake. It normally was immensely quiet on this underground lake, white wisps of mist rising from it. The only sound now was the water gently slapping against the sides of the gondola and of coure Erik's angelic voice echoing as he continued to sing.
Erik was quite wrapped up in his music. He oft became quite lost in his music. Now it was focused on Ana. There was also the element of manipulation, to hold sway over someone else. It was a rush. It had not, of course worked on Christine and he had used it to try to make her leave her life and to come and live with him in his realm in which music would surround them. Christine had of course fallen for it in the beginning, but when coming out of it, she had recognized his scheme and had turned against him.
But this was different. He was not out to make Ana love him or anything close to that. It had been quite a spontansous act, bringing her here and he did indeed like the effect his music had on women. He wanted to prove to her who he was and also thought she would be more amenable to him if he saw his lair, since she claimed that she knew his story.
As he moved the boat across the water and around the bend, Erik still sang. The many coloured candles that Erik placed everywhere started to shine out of the darkness. Soon the strange candlabara began to be visible. Reaching the shore, Erik stepped out and pulled the boat onto the shore. He offered a hand to Ana as she took her first step out of his boat and into his lair.
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Oct 17, 2012 23:13:37 GMT -5
Always curious but cautious, she continued to follow Lenoir as he led her now into the darkness. A sense of anxiety floated around her as her eyes darted about. Something was not right about this place. Something... spiritual. Perhaps in the Phantom's presence she could be safe. Would she? It was difficult to tell. So long as there was nothing along the way that would frighten her completely, she was calm and content.
His voice, the bridges, that gondola ride, and an eerie glow of the candelabras made this feel so much like a dream. One she was not sure of how to react to. However the look upon her face was not one of awe but of anxiety. Once reaching the destination and getting out of the boat after taking his offered hand. Her eyes did not look around in innocent wonder but locked upon him in haunting questioning. Though she adored his voice, her will was taking back it's power and she jerked her hand away and moved back from him. Her brown eyes almost wide with a silent demand that bore into his soul. She was no girl, no innocent, and most definitely NOT Christine! In her mind, she heard the distant music of why the Phantom took Christine below from that particular scene in the musical. He took Christine to his Lair for his own purposes and obsession. So why did he bring her here to his Lair? What was her purpose and reason to him? Silently she demanded those reasons until she finally spoke- "What have you done?!?"
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 18, 2012 18:51:49 GMT -5
Erik was enjoying his musical travel with Ana so much that he didn't perceive her feelings. He was beginning to relive the scene the way it should have been with Christine....the way he had wanted it to be...she would have yielded to his will and agreed to marriage to live with him forever in his musical realm. Erik didn't truly fall into the delusion that Ana was Christine, it was just a reliving of his dream. And it grew more intense as they neared the lair. As he drew her out from the boat with his hand, he continued singing. He walked backward gracefully, her hand in his. The candles flickered and their soft glow lit his home just enough to see.
Suddenly he perceived a questioning look cross her face. It was odd. She wasn't completely in a walking swoon as Christine had been. He had thought that his voice would have entranced any woman, and indeed it usually did, until now... He continued to sing, some anxiety clawing at his heart.
Then she spoke. What have you done??? That broke the spell. He stopped singing, his voice trailing off, the words left hanging in space. He dropped her hand and put it to his left temple almost in shock. Then he looked at her, blinking a bit, for he could not believe that she would interrupt his music and ... not succumb to his voice.
His speaking voice was hesitant and soft as he spoke. "Done? What ...have I done? What do you mean?" He looked upset and puzzled and angry all at the same time. Then the anger took over. "I've done nothing wrong, young woman. I simply thought you would like to see my home, my realm where music rules the heart."
He turned away from her, his shoulders slumping a bit. What had he done? Given out his secrets to one who was not worthy of knowing them? He had invited several to see his lair. Christine, of course, and Emilie and Roselin and the little blonde Christine were all visitors who had been here. Adina had come awake in his gondola, having been placed there by one of the ghosts. Several of the men had been here. But he had given a special tour to Ana. Of course he got a bit of a rush from the singing and putting Ana under his power, or at least attempting to. Now he was angry with himself that things were not turning out the way he had wished. But he was more angry with Ana.
He turned back to her, his eyes livid. He walked slowly toward her like a stalking cat. His voice turned biting and harsh. "Who do you think you are to defy the Phantom?"
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anastasia
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Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
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Post by anastasia on Oct 18, 2012 21:55:57 GMT -5
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of times, she dreamed of such a fantasy when she was younger. But, again, that was long ago when she was an innocent teenage girl. Her own emotions began to roil within as her breathing began to pick up once he stopped singing. The echoes of his voice trailing off allowing her own powerful will to take it's grip upon her. Wide eyed and taking another step back before she straightened and held her ground. Why was she here? Why did he bring her here? Just to show her his Lair was a poor excuse in her own words and began to believe she was in the presence of a mad man; a killer or rapist. Many poor woman lost their life to the hands of men like him! And now, she was about to be one of them!
NO!
Her own words seemed to echo in her ears just as his voice once did. That voice she loved so much and now was starting to fear. Lord, she was stupid to have fallen prey to a predator! She will fight! Lord, she will fight him until the end! Take him with her to Hell if that's how it must be.
To see his home? His realm? She blinked and was so confused. Fighting her thoughts of what was happening, what was suppose to happen, and the guessing, the emotions. She was a anxious as an alert doe ready to run away in utter fright. Until he returned upon her and the look in his blue eyes turned her from a frightened doe into a cornered tiger. Her eyes darted about swiftly to search for something while she shrank and stepped back swiftly. In an effort she sought to keep her sights locked upon him for if he was going to strike, his eyes would tell her. Stopping she took a sort of martial arts stance and braced herself. Her hands close to her but her eyes were bold and alert and on fire as she locked upon him. "Anastasia Grace Goodwin-Hart!" booming her reply. "And I'll damn well fight like Hell to stay alive!" Her breathing was heavy while glaring at him, unmoved and unwavering. If he grabbed hold of her, she'd give him a taste of her medicine! She'll not fall victim to the sick desires and whims of a man! Blinking as her sights remained locked upon him. This was not how she envisioned her youthful fantasies and it darn near hurt but terribly disturbed her. Why was this man destroying one of her favorite fantasy characters? Oh, why?!?
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 18, 2012 23:26:05 GMT -5
Erik was so infuriated with this woman. How dare she act like this? He, the Phantom, was doing her a great favour that not many would ever see...being brought down to the lair and being sung to by the Phantom. What an honour that should be...especially after her explanation that she had loved the Phantom since she was a child. She must have been lying! All that nonsense about storybooks and movies and such things!
As he moved slowly toward her, she backed up a bit, then stopped. She was going to be confrontational. If he hadn't been so angry, this would have been a good time to just back off, laugh, insult her and let her go. But he was so angry now, so angry he couldn't think straight. And he definitely was not about to back off.
She reminded him of Christine who had cruelly betrayed him. But this wasn't about love...he could never love a woman with such a personality... such a fighter... a person whose emotions rush by at breakneck speed...He was quite close to her now. Close enough to touch her. He took off his hat and cape and threw them to a nearby chair.
If he would have thought about it, he was really angry because he couldn't bend her to his will. Her will was as strong as his. He came close enough to touch her. He wasn't sure what he wanted to do to her. He felt like shoving her in the gondola and dragging her up to where he had found her and leaving her there.
That was it. That's what he would do. His eyes never leaving her, he approached her and reached out his hand to grab her wrist....
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anastasia
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Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
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Post by anastasia on Oct 19, 2012 0:15:39 GMT -5
Fictional or not, a man who approaches a woman in such a manner usually has the intention to do harm of some sort and this spurred in her an instinct of survival! There was no way this man, Phantom or not, was going to do whatever it was he wanted to do to her!
Locking her eyes upon him as he stalked towards her and not taking them away from his furious blue eyes. All the while her breathing increased to almost heavy panting as the adrenaline rushed through her almost making her tremble. He was so close. So close! Not sure what exactly to do that is until he reached for her and it was in that blurred instant she reacted! Her hand shot up swiftly to knock his hand away from her in a well rehearsed move. Her hand became the wrist that moved his arm away quickly as the other hand moved towards him, the target his throat but instead in a second of hesitation, her eyes locked upon his blue mismatched eyes, her hand came up to his jaw and fingers took his face into the palm of her hand while glaring back at him like a wild animal. After a split second she let go of him only to grab hold of that mask and remove it from his face and fling it aside as she stepped back. Panting as she stared at him for a while waiting for the next retaliation as so many words raced through her mind to bombard him with but instead she remained silent. The next move... was his!
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 19, 2012 19:53:25 GMT -5
Erik had badly underestimated Ana. He was too locked into the "Christine" persona, in which he thought that Ana would be as malleable in his hands as Christine.. But no. Ana wasn't like that.
He put his hand toward hers, intending to shove her back into the boat and back to where he found her. Instead, in the smallest part of an instant, Ana pushed his hand away, and ripped away the mask from his face. It didn't matter than she had just seen his face a short time before, with his voluntary unmasking. No, this was an act of trying to humiliate him. He always felt naked and embarrassed in front of others without the mask, and somehow she knew that.
Complete surprise came over his face in the particle of a second that followed the unmasking. His right hand flew to his face to cover it. Then anger took over again. She had already seen his face, so what did it matter? She had touched it and commented that it was not makeup. But now she was trying to shame him. Enraged, he leaped toward her and was really considering throwing her in the black waters of the lake. His hands came down to push her by the shoulders backward into the lake. No one would miss her except Billie Christoferson and Billie seemed to have a good opinion of Erik. Billie would never suspect anything, for he seemed to be amenable to Lenoir. And he didn't even know that Lenoir knew Ana. No one ever had to know how he had drowned Ana in the lake. He could pull her out and leave her somewhere and blame it on one of the ghosts.
But just as quickly as he resolved to do away with her, he stopped himself. His hands froze in mid-air. He pulled his arms back and turned away from her, his shoulders slumped a bit and his head down. What was he thinking? He had resolved not to kill again! This would be another useless murder, for his own convenience, just because he was angry. He held his head in his hands and walked away from her. He picked up the mask from the ground, but didn't replace it on his face. He was utterly embarrassed and shamed by his own behaviour. Why had he brought her down here? Certainly it hadn't been to try to make her love him... No, it was to prove something. His inflated ego again, getting him in trouble. But of course he would never even admit that to himself.
Erik didn't even want to look at Ana again. He walked over to his bed chambre which had a thick curtain over the door of it. He went inside and sat on the bed, pulling the curtain over so he couldn't be seen. He held his head in his hands.
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Oct 19, 2012 20:29:20 GMT -5
After she had ripped off the mask and tossed it away then stepped back, she stood there in a stance slightly bent at the waist. Breathing heavily and trembling as the adrenaline coursed through her like a powerful flood. Her brown eyes refused to blink or move, remaining locked upon him. Waiting for his next move.
Gasping audibly when he finally made his move and ready to defend or run, stepping back while bringing her arms up in a defensive gesture ready to block his offense. Stunned though when he stopped and turned away. Finally she blinked but kept her eyes upon him. That long ago fantasy dream had turned into a nightmare.
What he did next stunned her as she watched him leave her be and disappear into another chamber. Gasping and panting, trembling and finally sobbed softly as a result of what happened finally catching up. Standing there even though she was weak in the knees and felt that if she moved she would collapse to the floor in a loss of strength. Slightly hunched over as one hand moved to her chest and abdomen while she put the back of her hand to her mouth while trying to stifle her gasping sob. What an incredible fright! It only left her mind numb for a while before her eyes shifted to where Lenoir disappeared into. Slowly thoughts and song ebbed into her mind. Recalling the musical then shook her head while closing her eyes, gritting her teeth and softly muttered through her teeth to stop. They were obsolete in the here and now, especially after what had happened. This was not the Musical. This was Reality! Yes, it really happened and he really was here! This understanding snapped her out of her deep fright.
Her eyes shifted to the chamber entrance to gaze upon it a moment before she took a step forward. Then after another moment, she took a step. Slowly now she moved towards that chamber and came to the entrance. She wiped away a tear but another one was soon enough in it's place. Damn! A fully grown woman crying over this?!? How absurd! And yet, she began to understand why. It was one of those little innocent parts of her youth that she buried deep in hopes that it would remain untouched by the horrors of reality. And now.. it was a reality. It was no longer untouched. It hurt. It truly hurt. The Fates and God or whoever was very evil to have done this! The purity and innocence of this story was now broken. Or so it felt to her.
Standing there at the entrance for a while then drew back the heavy curtain watching him before she slowly entered the room. Most would think it rather scandalous for a woman to enter a man's room, or vice versa. She didn't care at the moment. Each had done damage to the other and now she felt it was time to make amends.
No longer that tough-as-nails, callused exterior of a modern American woman. She was more a modern woman ready to take responsibility for her actions. What's done is done. Time to move on. "I'm sorry," she said in a gentle tone as she stood there before him now. But said nothing more even though her mind raced with so many reasons why, what more to say, overflowing with words and explanations and excuses. Perhaps those two words would be enough.
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 19, 2012 21:07:59 GMT -5
Truly wrenching were the emotions that Erik was experiencing now. Ana...what a strange woman. Apparently a product of a strange culture and a strange future time. He could not expect to understand her. And yet, he had been willing to end her life just to satisfy his anger. He had not felt any remorse after the murders of Buquet or Piangi or a few that he had offed some years before for various reasons. Why would he feel remorse now? He hadn't even done the deed. No, but he could have.
He was still sitting on the bed, his face covered only by his hands. He had placed the mask on his dressing table next to the bed. He could feel the hot wetness in his eyes. What was he upset about? He wasn't even sure.
Then he heard the sound of the curtain opening. He looked up and Ana was there, standing partially occluded by the heavy curtain. Thinking she would have jumped in the gondola and rowed for dear life, he was surprised to see her. And it was strange for a woman and a man to be in a bedroom at the same time unless they were married...but this was a woman he had nearly killed. Surely she would be frightened to be so near to him in small space. He stood hesitantly, a tear falling from his right eye. He hurriedly brushed it away.
"What...what do you want?" he asked in a hesitant voice. Then she apologised to him! He frowned. He was the one who tried to kill her. Or was she totally unaware of his intentions? She must have known what his ugly thoughts had been those few minutes ago...
Erik felt utterly shamed and self-conscious now. He had let his ugly side out. And he didn't mean his face. "I should take you back to the mansion...." he said, in a quiet voice, his eyes cast down. After coming to the mansion, and meeting so many people, Erik had started to think of himself as rather a good person, rather a white knight fighting for the good side, as he felt when he fought Destler for Teressa. He had felt that really he had changed. He was no murderer any more. He was not selfish and egotistic any more. But then in one instant, he saw himself in a the light of reality. He still was a murderer and he was still selfish, egotistic and ugly, inside and out.
"I had better take you back," he repeated, no emotion showing in his voice. He picked up his mask from the dressing table and put it on. He pushed the curtains open further and exited the bed chambre. Erik picked up his hat and cape from the chair on which he had tossed them earlier. He walked ot the gondola uncermoniously and then looked back to see if Ana were coming.
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Oct 19, 2012 21:48:50 GMT -5
Various lines and parts from the musical flowed through her head during this time as she watched the Phantom before her. Stunned that such a reality existed and she was now a part of it. Honestly she didn't know what to think any more.
She noticed the tear he wiped away and felt a pang. Of pity? Perhaps. It usually goes with the territory. But there was some other feelings there, too. She didn't know what they was. She sighed and glanced down when he mentioned taking her back. Yes, take me back. Cover and hide just like you did in the story, she thought. Closing her eyes as she kept her head hung. Wrapping her arms around her as she opened her eyes to follow him after he put on the mask and left his chambers but looked up instead with a hefty sigh and stood there for a moment. She invaded his private space and he continued to be defensive. Or so it felt to her. She could only stand there and try to get through this oddity. In her youthful dreams, it was never supposed to have gone like this. She thought many times when she was younger how she'd approach the situation, how she'd handle him. It had been pure fantasy but now she had been proven wrong.
Tilting and rolling her head as her arms remained wrapped around her a moment. The songs finally ebbed their way out of her mind and all that there was... was silence. No thoughts. No music. Nothing.
She inhaled deeply and turned around, slowly exiting his chamber, glancing about as she now saw his lair. She saw it because she accepted it. Her face was almost drawn with no curiosity, no awe or disbelief but that of understanding. Those brown eyes shifted to look at Lenoir as he awaited at the gondola. She stopped near his organ as she stared at him. Arms still wrapped around her torso and then stared off into nothing and slightly pursing her lips. After another moment, glancing down and a heavy sigh, she shook her head while moving to the 'throne' where he made his last appearance in the musical. "Not yet." She was not Christine and shouldn't have to be treated like her. Spirited down to the lair only to be rushed above? All as though without question or understanding?!? Her eyes now gazed back at him with that mature understanding and need to understand him. Girls obey, but women understand.
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 19, 2012 22:19:26 GMT -5
Erik was left with no emotion whatsoever. He wasn't angry any more. He didn't feel the flow of music from inside his soul which brought ecstacy. He thought he felt nothing, but in reality, he was in the beginning throes of despair. When Ana left to go back to the mansion, he would be alone again and would start that downward spiral of despair and self pity. But for now, he felt zero, nada, nil, ne rien.
He saw Ana seem to melt into herself as she wrapped her arms about herself in a gesture of self comfort. The thought of saying a comforting word or offering a hand of friendship or even saying, "I'm sorry," never entered his mind, so wrapped up was Erik in himself.
Erik waited for her next to the gondola. He picked up the long oar and idly played with it in the water, moving it in the water just enough to make a few tiny waves on the black water. He glanced at Ana as she stopped and stared at him. He turned his head away from her eyes and focused instead on the little waves on the water.
What the hell was she waiting for? He was getting annoyed now. Finally, he was feeling something. But if he let it get out of hand, it would lead to anger again. He took a deep breath. Finally he spoke, "Damnit, woman, I thought you wanted to leave here. Or did you wish me to sing to you and make a bloody fool of myself again?"
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
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Post by anastasia on Oct 19, 2012 23:06:18 GMT -5
She watched him 'play in the water' as she stood by the throne and he awaited her by the gondola. But she really did not wish to leave yet until things were at least accepted or dealt with. And it sure did not feel like there was peace between them.
In a flash her brows rose with just a flicker of amusement and a throaty noise as though she were desperately trying to stifle a chuckle or snicker. Now she crossed her arms as she gazed back at him. Thought? Oh, this was good! Just typical of a man! Assuming what she wants and needs, thinks, etc. It's things like this about men that she abhored! " You ... assume... I want to leave," she replied in a stern tone of voice - but not yelling - as she gazed back at him with a matching stern look. Eventually she would like to leave but not right now on a sour note with the Phantom. Yes, admitting to herself silently, she would love to hear his voice again but not now. Amends needed to be made.
Nodding while her arms were still crossed, then looking around before returning her sights to him. "Alright. You made your point. I believe you." She admitted to believing he was the Phantom. So... now what? She wasn't a little teenage fan girl any more but a woman almost of middle age who was beyond her girlish fantasies. Or so she told herself. "But that's not the only reason you brought me here, is it?" she inquired further, watching him and awaiting his answer.
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Erik Lenoir
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Post by Erik Lenoir on Oct 20, 2012 12:56:25 GMT -5
When Ana said that he assumed that she wanted to leave, Erik raised his visible eyebrow. His voice was still harsh and biting. "You don't? Aren't you afraid that I will do something ghastly to you?" He laughed bitterly. "You don't know the half of it." Moments before he almost had done something ghastly to her. She was quite fortunate that she had met him after he had come to the mansion. He had, indeed, changed for the better since coming here. In reality, the change had started to take place in his heart when he understood Christine's amazing self-sacrifice back in that terrifyiing scene in the lair. It had started there and then, little by little, in the mansion, meeting other people, he had lost some of his fear of people, that fear that caused him to place a wall about himself to make others fear him. Coming face to face with peoplewho accepted him was quite a revelation. Of course he didn't think about these things at the moment, but it was truly what had happened inside his heart.
But he had never met anyone like Ana. She tended to open up raw places in his being. He wondered what it was that made her act like this. Why was she so infuriating? She had put herself in danger by defying him, and yet...she wanted to stay. He threw the oar down in the wooden boat a bit harder than he meant to. It made a clatter and shattered the silence. He turned to her abruptly. She was still across the room, near the throne. "What do you want of me?" he asked, his voice softer now. He couldn't begin to comprehend her.
She had earlier said that she knew his story and when much younger, had loved his character. That is the place from which he had begun with her. He had thought she would be entranced by his voice and be interested in seeing his lair. He had thought she would begin to love and admire him all over again once she realized he was truly the Phantom. Of course he didn't understand how she could have known him when she was a teen, but he had, for some time now, started to accept the oddities and absurdities of the mansion.
Then Ana admitted that she believed him to be the Phantom now. "You believe me?" His voice was still soft and quiet now. He took a few tentative steps toward her. "I never meant to hurt you. Really..." It took a great deal for him to apologise. But her admission that he was the Phantom had defused most of his anger. "I'm sorry if I frightened you...." He drew closer to her, but still, stayed a respectable distance away.
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anastasia
Senior Member
Making a point is a matter of opinion. I'd rather make a difference
With me? Expect the unexpected!
Posts: 285
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Post by anastasia on Oct 20, 2012 14:33:29 GMT -5
A slight blank smirk as she gazed back at him and almost raised her brows. Thinking a little more of what he said and made a barely audible 'hmm' and slightly furrowed her brow. Never removing her sights from him for one moment. "If you were going to do something ghastly to me, you would have done it by now," she replied with a little confidence. Though watching a lot of crime shows like Flashpoint, CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Law and Order as well as NYPD Blue, The X Files, Magnum PI, Remington Steele, Moonlighting, and all sorts of other shows in the past, doubled with reading books and actually began college to become an Investigator, she was no idiot nor naive to how a predator works. Besides, if he really wanted to do harm, he wouldn't have been so visible. looking back at him with a bit of an intimidating gaze to prove to him she was no young girl, and definite not a naive Christine. All to put up a front hiding that she was a bit scared still. But fear never saved a life.
She didn't jump but winced at the sound of the oar. Being startled was the worst behavior around a horse so she had learned to control her actions and reactions with some cases but not all. Stifling a smirk as she came to the realization that he was irritated. This was an interesting development, she irritated the Phantom. This was rich! But she didn't expect his next question. What did she want from him? This more than confused her and the look upon her visage reflected it perfectly and unhindered. That was a question she could not answer. Not to him. Not to herself.
Standing her ground as he stepped towards her even though she wanted to step back to keep the distance. Why? Because she believed he was truly the Phantom, on of many versions. If she didn't think he was who he said he was, but believed he was just some looney toon guy with a delusion, she wouldn't even have the feeling. She had to be rid that need and reaction to stay away from him because it wouldn't help either of them in this particular situation. Be brave! Don't back down; Stand your ground, as Billie would always say. Blinking a couple times as she gazed back at him with a hesitant look that bordered a scowl. She didn't expect for him to say that he never meant to hurt her. Finally she turned her gaze away from him as she blinked swiftly. That was truly the first time a man had apologized to her in such a way. Billie comforted, but that's what a mentor does. But this man, the Phantom, his words sounded almost like it was every man who had ever done her wrong was in his voice. It stung deep to her core and she didn't want to accept it. He completely disarmed her and she felt more vulnerable than ever now. As her breathing increased her arms wrapped around her once again. He rubbed raw old aches and pains. It was obvious to her how much she had changed since she was that Phantom loving teen. Standing there a moment with her arms around her torso, not looking at him but blinked a lot to keep the tears at bay. She needed to sit and moved as though her feet were weighted down to the throne and sank into that massive seat but it was no comfort. Comfort would never come and she didn't want it other than to deal with her past aches and be rid of them. Someday, they would go. Someday she will never have to deal with them again. Someday she will never see the faces of those who hurt her. Why does the past always come back to haunt a person? She sat there, holding herself, head down and gazing distantly at the floor.
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