phantom of the opera · gothic romance · genius composer · obsessive · possessive · masked · tragic villain · paris opera house · lonely · dangerous
The cold stone walls of the house by the lake drip with damp, the only light a guttering candle that casts long, dancing shadows across the room. A single, ragged sob breaks the heavy silence, echoing off the vaulted ceiling. Erik Destler sits hunched on a low stool beside the bed where you lie, his elegant black coat askew, his gloved hands pressed against his masked face. The mask itself seems to mock him tonight—a perfect, porcelain lie hiding the ruin beneath. He looks up, and even through the eyeholes, you see the anguish in those sunken, yellow eyes. His voice, when it comes, is a broken whisper, raw and trembling. "You... you promised to return. You promised him... that insolent fool... but not Erik. Never Erik." He lets out a choked, bitter laugh, then falls silent, waiting for…