Okay, yens, this is the sequel to Someone Like Me. I hope you all enjoy this one as much as you liked the other. If you have not read the first one...you will not understand this one fully until you have read it. Read and Review!

Kiera

Blood...blood is everywhere...in my hair, on my face, my clothes, the walls, and floor...gushing in turrents from the bullet hole in his chest. All is silent...the guests have ceased their gossiping and dancing. They stand in awe...staring at the body on the floor that is now twitching slightly. The only sound is the ringing in my ear from the shot.

I begin to shake as I stare at the crimson substance speckling my skin. A bead slides down my cheek from just below my eye; I appear to be crying tears of blood. I wipe it away with a trembling finger. The hole in the wall merely inches from where I stood against the wall doesn't help calm me. My legs are shaking horribly, making me crumble to the ground.

"Are you all right?" A gendarme appears in front of me, a smoking rifle in hand. "Miss? You're not hurt, are you?" He stoops down next to me.

"I...I'm fine."

"Good. I'm Captain Gaston Maurette."

"But why are you here?" I ask.

"We've been after him for a while now. He's a maniac."

A groan draws my attention to my left. Erik is leaning against the wall, his hand clamped over his right forearm. After a moment, he slides to the floor. "Erik!" I exclaim, crawling over to him. "How bad is it?" I try to pry his hand away from his arm.

"I don't think it's serious," he replies, removing his hand.

I lift the shredded pieces of cloth that were his jacket and shirt; however, I cannot see the extent of the damage due to the amount of blood covering the exposed flesh. I tear off a piece the tattered cloth and wipe away the blood until I can see the scratch spanning the width of his forearm. "No, it isn't bad at all...just a scratch."

"There is a doctor nearby, Monsieur; perhaps you should pay him a visit...all of you. The two of you..." He nods to me and Madam. "May not be aware of any wounds at the moment, but the adrenaline numbs you to any pain you should feel. I think you should go to be on the safe side."

"Kiera, what about Anna?" Erik looks towards the stairs.

"I'll get her." I stand and start towards the stairs. "Madam, will you help Erik?"

"Child, I will tend to Anna. Erik will soon be your husband; you are each other's responsibility." Madam hurries up the stairs and returns holding Anna's hand as I retake my place at Erik's side.

"Pardon me, but I really should be getting you to the doctor," Captain interjects.

"Very well, Captain."

"My men are waiting outside; we'll have to wait for the mortition to remove the body and file a report on what the scene looks like. I'll escort you to the doctor personally."

"Merci, Monsieur." I move to Erik's other side and help him up. "Come, mon chere."

Erik walks at my side into the streets. "You realize I'll be asked to remove my mask?" he asks quietly. The Phantom has been erased from memory almost entirely in the police records. They aren't searching for him anymore, but still, it's better to be safe than sorry.

"I'll discuss the matter with the doctor and then, after you've been patched up, I'll go get us all some clean clothes and your mask," I answer. "Madam, Anna, you must not mention that he's the Phantom," I whisper.

"Of course, Kiera." She nods and puts her hand on Erik's shoulder.

"Not to worry, Kiera," Anna adds, holding on to my arm.

"Here we are," Captain Maurette says as we arrive at a small house about a block away from the inn. He knocks on the door.

"What is the meaning of this?" An elderly man opens the door in his night cap and robe. "Oh, Captain Maurette. I'm sorry about that. I don't normally have guests so late. How can I help you?"

"These four are in need of your help, Doctor Crenoix. He's been grazed by a bullet and the others just need to be examined."

"Very well. Come inside and I'll be with you in a moment." He steps aside and leads us into a pleasent den with a small fire in the fireplace. "Have a seat on the sofa, Monsieur."

Erik nods and lowers himself onto the soft cushions of the sofa. "I cannot believe this. The night I propose and get one step closer to what I had always thought impossible, Nadir goes on a maniacal rampage. I never would have thought that he'd be the one to go completely insane."

"Erik, I think we should drop the subject for the night."

"Monsieur, I'll need you to remove your jacket and anything under it." Doctor Crenoix appears with a bowl of water, a wrag, and bandages. "For privacy, I'll need you ladies to leave the room."

"Of course." Madam, Anna, and I start to leave the room.

"Kiera!" Erik calls, reaching out and taking my hand. "Please, she's my fiance."

I smile and kiss his hand. "Yes."

"It's true, Doctor," Madam says, closing the door to the adjoining room that her and Anna have gone into.

"Very well. Monsieur...please."

Erik pulls his arms out of his jacket, wincing as he uses his left arm, and drops the jacket on the ground.

"I'll help you, dear." I move to where I can unbutton his vest; he smiles at me, though he appears a bit nervous about having my hands so near to his chest and manhood. "Not to worry, chere." I remove his vest, followed by his shirt.

"Merci, ma cherie."

Doctor Crenoix examines Erik's arm for a moment before reaching for the water and wrag. "It's not serious, Monsieur. Just keep it clean and you should be fine." He begins to cleanse the wound, before trying to strike up a conversation to lift the deathly silence. "So, Mademoiselle, you are his fiance?"

"Yes, Doctor," I return.

"How long have you been engaged?" he questions.

"About thirty minutes," I laugh, looking down at the engagement ring on my finger.

"Congratulations. I wish you both nothing but happiness."

"Merci."

Doctor Crenoix finishes wrapping Erik's arm and begins to wash his hands. "Well, there you are, Monsieur. Now, will you be needing a place to stay for the night or have you somewhere to go?"

Erik's eyes move to me; I know he's thinking Le Opera Populaire.

"We have a residence near the Opera."

"Good heavens! That's a long walk...and at this time of night...I must insist that you all stay here for the night. I have two guest rooms; either the engaged couple can share a room and Madam and the little girl have the other room, or the ladies stay in one and you, Monsieur, in the other. I leave the decision to you."

"Thank you for your generosity, Doctor Crenoix," I say, shaking his hand.

Doctor Crenoix examines me, finding no injuries; the same goes for Anna and Madam. We all decide that, as Erik and I are engaged, we will share a room...so long as we promise to keep our clothes on...and Anna and Madam Mardon will share the other. Doctor Crenoix has given me and Madam each one of his deceased wife's night gowns to wear; Anna was given of his shirt, and Erik recieved a blue pair of pajamas. He looks quite abnormal in them.

"Now, you two behave. I'd rather have to wait for grandchildren until after you're married," Madam teases as she enters the room she and Anna will stay the night in.

"Not to worry, Madam," I laugh.

"Very well. Bon nuit, my dears." She closes the door.

Erik chuckles and putting his hands around my waist, pulls me against him. "Come, my dear."

I smile and start towards the room we will be staying in. Before I reach the door, however, Erik scoops me up and carries me to the bed. He then lies me down on the mattress as carefully as if I am the delicate violin that he plays so passionately. "Mon chere, you realize that I am quite capable of walking, but I thank you for the convenient transportation." I kiss his cheek as he leans over me where I lay. "But what about your arm?"

"The morphine Doctor Crenoix administered deadened it." He presses his lips to mine, one hand holding him up and the other on my cheek.

My hands find their way up his arms, stopping momentariely to grip his firm biceps and then continue on their chosen path up to his neck. They clamp on to the back of his neck, pulling him down. He shows no rejections and simply lies atop me, savoring every moment that my lips are in his possession.

Erik's hands also take to a path...one that leads them down my side, following every curve, to my thighs. "Kiera..." He pulls away a moment to take a breath. "Had I told you of my love for you while we were both in Persia, would you have accepted it as you did nearly four months ago?"

"Yes. I loved you then as I do now and always will," I reply. "However, we both know you were too shy, as was I, to confess such."

"Oui."

Again I smile, blushing as his lips find my collarbone. "Erik, we both need our rest." I somehow manage to roll him onto his back. "I know what you are feeling and the desire swelling inside you, but it will wait until the night after our marriage. Bon nuit, mon chere." I relocate to the other side of the bed.

"As you wish." He slips under the covers beside me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Bon nuit, cherie."