Page 36 of Bewitched By the Phantom
“Isn’t what? A man?” I narrow my eyes. “I would say I don’t understand what you mean. I know you’re not about to launch into that not human bullshit again.”
“You’ve seen the weird shit,” he points out. “You’ve seen him do really weird shit. Things you can’t explain. He never removes the mask. He practically stalks you. The way he sings?—”
“You’ve lost your goddamned mind,” I grumble. “He’s weird, sure, but we all are?—”
“No, he’s beyond that and you know it!” He grabs my hands again. “Please listen to me, Chris. You don’t want to be with me? Fine. But at least don’t go running into that asshole’s arms.”
“I’m a grown ass woman,” I spit. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“I’m not trying to tell you what to do?—”
“Then what are you asking!” I spit. “I don’t get it!”
“Loveme!” he growls. “Loveme!”
My lips clamp shut as I stare up at him. We were so close as childhood friends, but now, I’m not sure I even know who this man is. I’m not sure I can be what he wants. I don’t feel like I belong in the sunshine anymore. It doesn’t feel like home.Raouldoesn’t feel like home.
But Erik?
I pull my hands from his. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, taking a step back. “I don’t . . . I don’t have an answer for you.”
And then I turn on my heel and flee.
Chapter
Nineteen
Idon’t go back to the apartment. I don’t think I can face Claudia right then. Instead, I disappear into the maze of the abandoned power plant and find a small room that feels small enough that I won’t be overwhelmed. I can’t face people right now, not when my mind is so chaotic. Who knows what I’d say if given the opportunity?
I curl up in the corner and run my hand down my face, trying to gather my senses. Things are getting out of hand. We came to this competition for a chance at the record deal, but now it feels like so much more is at stake. I don’t understand how my life went to shit so fast. I also don’t understand how I’m still keeping my sanity in check with the ever-changing rules of this battle. Another duet? I’d rather not be doing that. Our ability to make good music shouldn’t hinge on how well I sing with my rival, but here we are, forced to sing with them yet again. I’m not looking forward to seeing Erik later after I took off on him. I’m still not sure how I feel about him being my Phantom. I’m not sure how I feel about him in general.
As if thinking about him conjures him up, I feel his presence long before I hear him.
“If you’re here to convince me to love you, I’ve reached my quota for the day,” I mumble into my hands before peeking between my fingers.
Erik is leaning against the doorjamb, all smooth swagger and mystery. Today, he’s dressed in a plain grey t-shirt and ripped, black jeans. His combat boots are laced up right, and the pretty golden necklaces he usually wears hang across his chest. His golden mask is still firmly in place, as per usual.
“First,” he says, his lips curling up, “I don’t need to convince you of anything. You’re your own woman, Angel.” He tilts his head. “Second, I suspect it was Raoul who declared his undying love and wanted you to do the same?”
I roll my eyes and cover them again. “Apparently, I’m popular.”
“Not surprising,” he muses. “I can’t really blame him. I, too, am enamored with your presence.”
“I still don’t know if I’m mad at you or not,” I admit, not daring to look at him. “Finding out you’re my Phantom feels a little bit like a betrayal.”
“Does it really?” he hums. “Or are you just conditioned that it should feel like that by society?”
I think about his words, and then think about his actions, and I realize he’s correct. I don’t actually feel betrayed. Surprised, yes. But betrayed? I think part of me knew he was something special before I ever gave into the draw of him. Part of me knew he was important from the first time we met in person. So what if he kept it a secret for a while? It’s kind of a strange thing to announce, I guess.
“You’re right,” I admit. “I just . . . it’s a lot.”
“Of course it is,” he murmurs. “I’m your Phantom, and I haven’t exactly hidden how I feel about you. Any sane human would react the way you have.” I peek through my fingers again and he smiles. “For what it’s worth, I apologize for waiting solong to tell you. I was deep in my obsession with you, and didn’t want to scare you away.”
I drop my hands. “Revealing you’re my anonymous mentor is what you thought would scare me away? Not any of the other things?”
He flashes his teeth at me in a grin. “Priorities. I can’t reveal all my tactics at once, can I?”
The chuckle that slips out is comfortable, amused. Being around Erik feels normal. It feels right. It’s so strange that it can be like this despite us knowing each other for a short while. Realistically, I don’t know much about Erik at all. So much of him is a mystery, but I don’t think it’s because he doesn’t want to tell me. I think so much of him is just fact. Heisweird. Heismysterious. But he’d tell me anything I ask. I just haven’t been asking the right questions.
