Search for the Opera Ghost: Rewrite

XII.

Zuri awoke hours later feeling dazed and not knowing the time. She wondered if it was night or still daylight. She rubbed her eyes and yawned as she stood from the bed and wandered into the main part of his domain where a grand organ sat. He sat on the bench writing furiously.

"Erik...i'm sorry for what I said." Someone had to be civilized and if he wasn't she was going to try to be.

"Come here Zuri." He commanded her and for some funny reason she found her feet obeying him. Once she stood before him she shockingly felt him take hold of her waist and pull her forward. His face was so close to her breasts, she trembled at their closeness.

"What is this?"

"This is me...wanting and needing you."

"It is a lie Erik. You and I both know it. You hate me."

He rose to his full height and gently took her face between his hands as she stared at him, her eyes fixed on his in a confused manner. Why was he doing this? What was the point in it? His hands slid down her shoulders as his lips caught hers in a soft kiss. Zuri gasped from his kiss, giving Erik the advantage to plunge his tongue into her mouth. She grasped his forearms as his tongue caressed hers.

Erik pulled away and asked, "Does that seem as if I hate you?"

"You only want to sate your needs with me."

He shook his head at her statement, "No Zuri. I need you." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Let me show you another side of me. I can be gentle...if you will let me be."

He held his hand out to her and watched her carefully. Zuri knew she shouldn't give him another chance...but she so wanted to understand him. She pressed her smaller hand in his and watched as he kissed the top of her hand. He smiled then took her hand and led her to the bedroom. "You will not be sorry Zuri."

xxxx

Zuri woke up in a sweat. She shook her head as if to shake away the remnants of her dream. Why was she having such dreams? Erik never had acted like that towards her. She sighed and remembered that her dream was different from real life. She felt a warmth in her body as she thought of how passionate he was when he was angry and when they had fought previously. If only he had approached things differently.

Grasping the crimson sheets in her fists, she squeezed her eyes shut and tried to forget the dream. She had been a fool to think that Erik would welcome her as company of any sorts. She was a fool to even think that he would like her. She should not have expected him to change because she came. Zuri sighed and waited for him to appear.

xxxx

"What have you done with her Erik?" Antoinette questioned him as she handed Erik a basket of food that she had bought for him.

"She is down in my home sleeping as we speak."

"So you have not done anything to her?"

"Not yet."

"Why are you keeping her here? You have no use for her Erik. Didn't you want her gone?"

"Yes, however, I have questions to ask her."

"Then ask them and let her go."

"I will release her when I wish!" Erik growled at Antoinette.

"Erik. Don't you dare hurt her." Antoinette snapped at him.

Erik whirled past Antoinette and disappeared in the shadows. He growled again and realized that he would have to release Zuri soon...but not without getting answers and maybe more than that.

xxxx

"Can you cook?" Erik questioned Zuri as she flashed him a confused look.

"Yes...why?"

"I have some food. I also brought down your clothes. You cannot be in that robe forever." Zuri nodded in agreement. "Well. Do you wish to make dinner?"

"Yes." 'It will give me something else to focus on.' Zuri thought to herself.

After changing into one of her plainer dresses and brushing her hair back, she carefully made her way into the main part of his home. She saw him sitting at his organ writing furiously as if in her dream. "I'm ready Erik."

Erik stopped writing and looked up at her. "Good. The kitchen is through that doorway over there. Make whatever you wish."

"Very well." Zuri replied then walked to the kitchen and looked at a basket filled with all sorts of vegetables, meat, and bread. She worked quickly, not really knowing what to fix for supper. She felt alone and truth be told...she was. Erik didn't know what she was feeling nor did he feel truly bad for what had happened to her.

While Zuri worked to finish supper she heard soft yet sad notes come from the organ in the other room. Her breath caught in her throat. Erik truly was a talented genius when it came to music and art. She breathed softly as he continued his music. The music he played was so beautiful yet so devestatingly heartwrenching. She wanted to comfort him, but knew she could not. Both he and her heart would not let her. She sighed and stirred the vegetable soup she had made.

A while later, Zuri walked into the main part of his home and announced, "Supper is ready."

"I am not joining you." Erik replied. He wrote furiously as she fisted her hands.

"You can take the time and join me in supper. I spent a lot of time making supper for you."

Erik waved her off. "Go prattle to someone else about your problems Zuri. I am writing and I cannot be disturbed."

Zuri gritted her teeth in anger while stomping up to him and shouting, "The only 'problem' I have is you, Erik!"

Erik rose up from his stool and grabbed her around the waist, all within five seconds. Zuri felt shock and an inappropriate feeling come over her. "I can swear that you were born stupid. Don't you know how to act or do what you are told?"

"I would like to eat supper with you. That is not a crime is it?"

"And I do not, so leave me alone."

"No."

"Zuri, I swear if you do not get out of my sight then I will take you to the bedroom, tie you up, and take liberties with you. Now go." He released her then shoved her back towards the kitchen.

Zuri bit back a sob as she walked slowly into the kitchen and sat at a small table where she had laid out their food. She wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her arm then sighed as she spooned some soup into her mouth.

xxxx

Zuri felt a hand shake her out of her teary slumber. "I did not necessarily mean you could not go back to the bedroom."

She wiped her eyes then looked at him. His golden eyes were unreadable. She couldn't tell what emotion, if any, that he was trying to display. "I did not want to bother you." He remained silent then watched as she stood up and began to leave him.

Zuri felt Erik catch her arm and keep a firm grip on it. "When I said I was sorry...I meant it. Believe me or not, that is your choice."

"If you were truly sorry you would not have done what you did."

"I have more questions to ask you."

"I have more to ask you as well."

"Who do you think you are Zuri? You have interrupted my solitude and intruded on my property."

"Who do you think you are Erik, Monsieur Opera Ghost? You raped me. All because I wanted to know about you."

"I could have done worse."

"How?"

"I could have killed you."

"Then why don't you? What's keeping you from doing so? I'm not stopping you." Zuri said in an outraged voice. She felt angry as he responded in a voice to match her own anger.

"There are better uses for you. What use would I have of a dead woman?"

Zuri gasped loudly, "You are not sorry Erik. You still see me as a way to sate your need."

Erik grabbed her other arm, flipped her around and pressed her against the stone wall. Zuri gasped in pain as the stone scraped her cheek. Erik pressed himself against her while moving his hands down her sides and along her hips. Zuri bit her lip while pain flooded her body. "Is that an invitation?"

"N...No." Zuri replied, tears fell down her cheeks while he continued his pressure upon her back.

Erik brushed back a stray hair with one hand while the other came up to cup her right breast. She bit back a sigh then shrieked when he pinched her nipple harshly. "Are you sure?" He questioned her, a smirk played on his lips. "You seem pretty responsive to the idea Zuri."

"Please Erik..."

"Please what? Please more? Or please stop?" Erik questioned her, his smirk grew even wider as she squirmed against him.

"Stop! It hurts. Please stop!"

Erik whirled her away from the wall to face him and watched as she nearly collapsed. Zuri felt her head spin, one minute she was against the wall, the other she was trying to catch her balance, and the next she was in Erik's arms. He carried her out of the kitchen, into the main part of his home, and into the bedroom. Zuri cried out as he dumped her on the bed then stepped back to look at her.

Zuri cried out as she realized that her skirts were up around her waist and Erik had full view of her undergarments. She reached to pull them back over her legs but was stopped by Erik. His eyes were full of lust and pure masculinity, the likes she had never witnessed. "No." She whispered. She repeated herself louder, however, he chose to ignore her. "No Erik!"

"Tell me Zuri," He said while sitting on the edge of the bed and looking intently in her frightened eyes, "What did you imagine before you came here?"

"What are you talking about?" Zuri questioned him in a confused manner.

"What did you imagine about me?" He paused, "Surely there were inappropriate things."

Zuri gasped loudly, "No there certainly were not."

"You lie my dear. Even I can tell it." She turned her face away from his, a blush spread across her cheeks. "Tell me Zuri." She closed her eyes then felt his soft fingers brush across her cheek. "You must have had some inappropriate thoughts, otherwise you wouldn't have come."

"Please Erik...I do not want to talk about it." Zuri replied, she was starting to feel terribly uncomfortable with their conversation. Erik smiled while winding his left hand in her long silky hair and pulling her head back. His grip was only strong enough to keep her head still. Zuri gasped as she felt his lips graze her neck softly. He parted her legs and maneuvered between them then looked looked at her.

"Tell me Zuri or I shall continue." He laughed softly. "Maybe you would like that."

"I can't...it's shameful."

"No more shameful then what you are doing now." Erik commented, a smirk was plastered on his face.

She shrieked as he began to unbutton the front of her dress. "What are you doing?!"

"You haven't told me yet. Therefore, I am continuing." Erik replied, his golden eyes reflecting a look of mischieviousness.

"No. Erik you cannot do this."

He was ever so slow in unbuttoning the front of her dress. "Oh? I think I can."

"Please do not make me shame myself even further!" Tears fell down her cheeks as she looked up at him. "Please Erik."

"Tell me."

"I came here to learn about you Erik, not to have sex." She watched as he snuck a hand into her dress and beneath her camisole. Zuri bit her lip as he kissed her lips passionately, his lips pressing against hers while his hand moved further upwards, bringing her camisole with him. Zuri caught his hand and stopped him. "Please stop Erik. I don't want you to do this."

Erik leaned over, his lips close to her ear. "Zuri, you and I both know you do."

She forced him off her, a look of rage coming over her face. "I despise you Erik. I despise you for trying to make me give into you. Why are you doing this?"

"I wanted to know if you ever imagined anything inappropriate and you haven't answered."

Zuri glared at him and finally gave in, "Yes, alright! For God's sake are you happy now Erik?!" She turned away from him and sighed deeply as he stared at her.

"You despise me Zuri? Certainly I know that and I apologized for what I did...you don't seem to be getting that."

"You don't seem to be wanting to quit your actions."

"It is hard when you are a seductress."

A slap echoed in the room. Erik stared into Zuri's angry eyes. "Seductress! Are you implying that I intended to have you rape me and that right now I want you to have me all because of what I admitted? You want to know what I think of you?! I think you are a bitter, manipulating man. I think that you are not sorry and that you only want me here to sate your needs and not to question me as you say!"

Erik growled then suddenly slapped her back. Zuri's hand flew to her cheek. "You can't hit a woman!"

"I just did!" Erik replied as he pushed himself from the bed and walked toward the main part of his home leaving her as he raged. Zuri shivered as she thought of what her future would hold.