Hello All! I'm back, this is my second fanfic here. This is a modern story with a new character, an American. Erik and his backround is based mostly from Susan Kay's novel, but I'm also taking bits and pieces from Leroux and ALW. I hope you enjoy it. Please let me know what you think!


Disclaimer:I don't own the Phantom of the Opera.

Jenna Marcus looked over the stage of the Opera Garnier in awe. She had never seen an auditorium so grand before. 'I wonder what it's like to perform on this stage when the house is packed' she thought to herself. Her attention was brought back to the tour guide. She sighed as the tour group moved off the stage. She glanced back once more and did a double take. She swore she saw a flash of white up in box 5. She chided herself and laughed softly at her silliness. She followed the group down the cramped, narrow passageways. She kept glancing over her shoulder, unable to shake the feeling of being watched.

As they descended lower into the cellars of the opera house Jenna pulled her sweater closer to her, trying to trap in body heat. When they arrived in the dark and damp 5th cellar she felt a chill run through her that seeped into every pore of her body. She looked over the cavernous underground lake, thinking how creepy it was. She was thankful when the tour guide announced that they were returning to the upper levels of the opera. She lingered by the shore of the lake for a moment longer.

She thought she had heard someone, a man singing. As she turned to look once more she saw a flash of white on the other bank of the lake. She gasped, turned back to return to the water's edge for a closer look, however she didn't watch where she was going and her foot slipped on the damp stones that made up the narrow walk way. She twisted and fell, she hit the ground hard. She was aware of her body throbbing all over. She looked down and saw her bloodied and scraped up palms. She paled when she looked down and saw the un-natural angle her ankle was in. She cried out in pain, though no one was around to hear her cries. Panic began to rise in her chest as she considered her options. No one would notice she was missing for at least a week or so. She was on a personal vacation….a graduation gift from her parents. She had some friends she had met up with in London, but no one came to Paris with her. She only called her parents once a week, and she called them yesterday and the day after tomorrow she was to leave for Rome.

She thought of something however as she sat there shivering. She picked up her purse from where it had fallen next to her, the contents spilling out on the muddy ground. She fished out her cell-phone from the mess and flipped it open, and felt her heart plummet to her feet. No signal 'Of course there wouldn't be a signal down here in the dungeon, you dummy' she thought angrily. She tried to remain calm, the next group would be coming shortly right? Nope, hers was the last group to tour the Opera house today. She felt the tears building up. She had to keep calm, if she freaked out she wasn't going to be able o get herself out of this mess.

The cold was seeping into her thin frame she was shivering, her teeth chattering loudly in the underground caverns that surrounded her. She tried standing only to crumble to her knees painfully once again. She flopped onto her back and began to cry. She didn't know how long she sat there crying, before she pulled herself up and dusted her hands off and looked around. She didn't notice the dark form emerge from the shadows until it was standing in front of her, golden eyes glaring at her from under a fedora that was pulled down low. She screamed a blood curteling scream, but it didn't take long for the figure to move behind he and bring a leather clad hand up to cover her mouth, silencing her scream.

"If you do not stop screaming I will be forced to gag you Mademoiselle" A voice of silk hissed in her ear.

Jenna's frame stiffened as she felt leather over her mouth and an arm around her stomach and a hard lean body behind her. She nodded in acknowledgement. The hand over her mouth moved away slowly, as if he was waiting for her to start screaming again. She was breathing raggedly, and shivering with tears streaming down her cheeks, her mascara running. She looked like quite a mess.

"I mean you no harm, I would have killed you already if I had wanted to" the voice whispered hollowly in her ear.

She nodded again, the thought of a murder lurking around here didn't calm her down. She took a few deep breaths she was calm enough to turn around and see who had come to help her. Her eyes widened when she saw the form stand once more, moving closer to the shadows. Even with the poor light she could see the old fashioned clothes he wore, tailored black pants, a crimson brocade waistcoat, and a black cravat. His long cloak hung on his majestically, with the glint of a white mask on the right side of his face.

She felt all the blood drain from her face "The Phantom of the Opera" she whispered.

"The Phantom has been dead for nearly a century, only Erik remains" he said icily.

Jenna was surprised by the iciness and anger that laced his legendary voice. "I didn't mean to offend you" she said finally.

She felt his gaze on her, and she couldn't suppress the shiver that racked her body be it from the cold or intimidation she didn't know. She pulled her thin sweater closer to her, but that didn't seem to help. She felt her cheeks burn by his piercing gaze, her mind was reeling. 'Is it really him? How can he still be alive? Is he going to help me or leave me here to die?' she thought to herself as he continued to watch her.

Erik watched as Jenna pulled her sweater closer to her, he could see her body shaking in the damp cold cellars. He thought about his options. He certainly couldn't leave her there to die. He had been called a monster, murderer, thief and many more horrible things. He was many of those things, but he couldn't leave an innocent young woman to die.

He blamed Marie Perrault for his weakness for the opposite sex, if it wasn't for the one drop of good she had instilled in him he would have never emerged from his home when he heard her cries. He knew he couldn't risk taking her up to the surface, with her ankle hurt he would have to carry her and the chances of him being caught were high. No, he couldn't risk it. But was he brave enough to allow her to return to his sanctuary? A place where no other person had been in early 100 years?

However if she didn't receive medical attention soon her condition could become very serious. He sighed, he had no other choice but to take her back to his home until he could get her to a doctor. He would have to enlist Bernard's help in that. No matter, the most important thing was to get her out of the cold before she got sick. She was shivering more now, he had to get her home quickly. He took off his cloak and draped it across her shoulders.

Jenna felt the heavy velvet folds lay on her shoulders. She looked up at him, and pulled the cloak close to her body, thankful for the warmth it provided. She had watched him as he seemingly struggled with himself. Presumably about what to do with her. He bent down and scooped her up into his arms. She was surprised, for someone who was nearly 170 years old he was strong. She wrapped her arms around his neck and let herself settle against him as he walked.