PagesofAngels

Chapter 4: Morning Tea For another week Erika was bedridden, plagued by nausea and splitting headaches. She lost track of day and night, sleeping more than she had in several years. Without a sunset or sunrise, such a thing was easy to do. The parasite feeding on her blood was draining her body of everything, energy especially. As per their contract, Nadir was at her beck and call. He arrived every day to perform the role of servant and left for home only when she dismissed him. Erika gave him funds to run errands, at least on the days he caught her in a somewhat good mood. On the many, many times he walked in during the mornings, when the

Chapter 3: A Deal is Made Yes, you bastard, I am. Her words echoed in Nadir's mind. The slap burned the side of his face, certain to leave bruises. It failed to send him backing away. He neither startled nor gasped, for it brought no surprise. Honestly, in such a situation, he might have expected far worse than a mere strike. Instead, his strong hands gripped her shoulders, holding the Mirage in place as his gaze pierced her eyes. He did not move. He did not speak. Erika tensed as his hands held her still. What was he going to do? Strike her? Throw her to the ground in a rush of rage? Put his hands around her throat and repay the favor she

Chapter 2: The Aftermath of Alcohol Nadir came around to the smell of candle smoke and the musk of stagnant water. He woke not knowing where he was or how he came to be there. All he knew was that he was not in the bedroom of his flat. Instead, he was laid on tender silk. Even with his eyes still closed, he could feel the material under his bare skin. Bare skin? Was he…why was he naked? There was warmth pressed against his torso, and Nadir realized he was holding another person in his arms. Startled, he blinked his eyes open and held back a gasp. He must…he must have been dreaming. The soft silks were cushions on Erika's gondol

Chapter 17: The Christmas holiday had come and gone, and New Year's Day was soon to be upon them. The welcoming of a new year was of little importance to Erika, only serving as a cue to date her papers ahead. It brought no significant change, the beginning of another twelve months. Yet, as she had greeted Christian at the eastern entrance that afternoon, a very startling change had met her eyes. Christian's hair had been cut, cut and styled in a manner to suit a dignified gentleman. Erika had nearly mistaken him for a stranger, but as soon as she realized this gentleman was her pupil she ushered him inside. Her student's sudden change in ap

Chapter 16: The meal she had provided may not have been extravagant, but it was as suitable as she could manage. Bresaola and weisslacker cheese from the delicatessen, paired with ripe produce from the market she had found the confidence to enter. After the day's session, she had set the basket containing the mediocre feast on her writing desk and invited her student to help himself to whatever he pleased. With the season closed early, his savings were likely strained. She would see to it herself that he had at least one good meal that week. Erika observed from the distance of her bench as Christian performed the queer action of rolling the

Chapter 15: No unnecessary words had been spoken between master and student during their first lesson in the flesh. Professionalism was all the master could maintain at that point. What more could she do? All other facades had been lifted by her student's hands, both literally and figuratively. Erika contemplated the dull ivory keys of her instrument as Christian prepared to depart. They would be rendered mute the instant he left her presence, silence returning to asphyxiate her. She needed a voice to hear that wasn't coming from the abyss inside her skull. She needed to be answered in a voice that wasn't her own. Erika observed Christian'

Chapter 14: Whatever scrutiny there was of the scene shifter's death, it came to a close rather quickly. The paper boys were hawking the headlines just two days after the incident: Tragedy at the Opera Populaire, and Performance Cancelled Due to Backstage Suicide. Erika observed the news boys standing atop their crates on the corner. The headline print was large enough to read from a distance, and she found herself concealing a grin behind her scarf as she crossed the icy street. The sheer incompetence of it all both amused and relieved her. She was unsure if Florence and Andrée truly believed this story; or even if they had invented i

Summary: Erik and Christine are blessed by the arrival of a healthy daughter soon after their marriage. However, when Erik realizes that his child bears a disturbing resemblance to his mother…his mind can't help but see a ghost. His painful memories are now before him, wrapped in flesh and blood. His flesh and blood. *One-shot* ~~~~ His mother had been dead for at least a solid decade, yet he saw her every day within his own household. Hair the color of Turkish coffee, that she had always gone to great lengths to either keep neatly brushed or braided over her shoulder. Eyes of hazel, which had once held as many flecks of green as tear