Hi Everyone! I am back! Here's the next chpt! Hope you like!

She sat there, knowing her performance was brilliant. It always was. Pretending she was something she was not was easy for her and this was just what she needed to get away from her thoughts. She had just performed some composer's work and made it soar, more, she assumed, that the composer himself thought it could. Singing was always a way that Rose could really keep the guilty thoughts out of her head. All those years ago, what she had done, she will never forget. She stared into a squared mirror that stood on top of a make shift vanity. She saw her turquoise eyes stare back at her. Correction, those eyes weren't hers…not really. These masks that laid on top of her real eyes kept all of her secrets inside. One time, she had beautiful greenish-blue eyes that she adored; she got them from her lowly mother, but she still adored them. Her black, raven hair, she got from her abusive father. As she felt tears prick her eyes, Rose heard a knock at her dressing room door and quickly wiped any tears that may have broken through away and ran for her garnet – colored robe. She always loved this shade of red….it reminded her so much of home.

Rose turned to see the door opening and that wretched woman, Cecil, walked in followed by a tall man in a black mask, covering his entire face. She looked closer and realized it wasn't his entire face, his mouth was the only part of him that was visible.

"Rose, this is the composer I wanted you to meet," the woman said as she smiled excitedly. This did not phase Rose whatsoever, it was rare for her to smile anymore.

"Mademoiselle," the tall, masked man announced as he walked over, picked up her hand with his black glove and kissed it with his naked mouth.

His lips were cold she noticed, but did not flinch. She was used to the cold.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, I am Erik Destler." The man said his name like it was a privilege that Rose was able to hear it come out of his mouth. Before she would deem him worthy of her answer, she trailed her eyes to take a good look at the man that obviously wanted acknowledgment. He was taller than her, that was for sure, and he wore all black. She could slightly see his body shape, lean but muscular. It sadly reminded her of…him. Then looking up to meet his gaze with hers she saw intense, golden eyes, staring back at her.

"Rose…Rose Serena, pleasure is all mine." Rose kept her voice low. Her natural voice had been a more feminine one, but after the years, it had grown weary.

"Cecil, thank you for bringing me to her," The masked man called Erik nodded to his companion, "But if you could give us a few minutes." Cecil tried to protest, but Rose could see Erik eyed her and that was apparently the sign for her to leave.

As the woman left the two alone, Erik then turned back to her and gestured for her to sit on the couch of her dressing room with him. Being the woman that she was, Rose declined and sat in her dressing room chair, but turned it to give Erik her attention.

"Now," Rose started, "How may I be of service to you?"

The man cleared his voice, Rose saw him bring his leathered hands together. Nerves.

"My dear, I would like to know, who is your teacher?"

"Oh," Rose sighed, "I have no teacher. I am self-taught."

"Your voice," Erik's voice was like velvet and so very musical to Rose's ears. I was interesting for her to hear a voice like that. Not even HIS voice was like that. "Your voice sounds like it was sent from the heaven's to earth. Did your mother sing?"

Her mother. Her mother was a stern old lady that never let the children sing or play outside the nursery.

"No," Rose answered, not explaining anymore. I wasn't any of this man's business.

"You are different." The man said. Rose smiled in her mind, but there were no reactions in her features. Of course she was different; she wasn't even here, at least not how she wished to be.

"How so?" Rose was curious to see if this man could see through her, none of them were ever smart enough.

"I have never met a woman such as you, there is something about you, Rose Serena, that isn't entirely truthful."

Rose's eyes widened a bit, but she knew she couldn't widen them too much, or her really eyes would be exposed.

"You humor me, Mr. Destler. But I won this contest fair and square."

"I know this, but I don't believe you are just a young girl of 21 that has not had extensive training for a voice that I heard tonight on that stage."

"Can't a woman just be naturally talented, Mr. Destler?" At that, Rose turned back to her mirror, picked up her wooden brush and started brushing her hair so she could take out all that hairspray she wore and to put it up in a braid.

"Yes, but usually there is some sort of purity with an untrained voice, and yours, well, it sounds very trained that's all."

Rose did not answer, she did find this man interesting, but she must keep her distance. She never gotten too close to any man, after the one man that she loved more than anything betrayed her.

The masked man spoke again, "I would like to take you to dinner, as a thank you for singing my song tonight and possibly discuss further business?"

Rose finished her braid and secured it with a black elastic band. Standing up, she took her coat from the coat hanger and put it on. Once done she looked back down to the man sitting on the couch with the black mask and golden eyes.

"To tell the truth, you intrigue me Mr. Destler and I shall grant you some time with me tomorrow evening. Will that be a working time for you to meet me as well?" Rose kept it light, her voice at a low vibration, but as light as the wind.

"I would like that, why don't we meet here? I will retrieve you at 8:00pm. Do you like French Food, Mademoiselle Serena?"

"Yes, very much so."

Erik offered his arm to Rose and she accepted. She knew, however, that she had to be weary of him for she couldn't lose her guard. If he ever found out what she did and who she really was, he would find her a devil in disguise.

So what do we think? Please R and R! Would love to hear your thoughts xo