A/N: Sorry took a few days to update, but hey, I said about once a week right? Anywho, here's the long awaited Chapter Two. I've got a Fourth reviewer! You know who you are...And Angel of Mystery you rock for keeping on reading my series! Thanks and please enjoy the story. ( And for those of you who've read my Haunted Mansion series, I'll update that soon too...)

peace, love and lipgloss,

Mlle.Fox

The next two weeks were pleasant enought for Erik and Antoinette. They even found moments to be alone while on the ship. Of course Erik, being a former Phantom, knew all about hiding in the shadows and dissappeaing. And when the ship docked first in the New York Harbor on route to the South, Erik saw a great mass a immigrants from all over the world speaking in their native tongues with all their worldly belongings in hand and young children in tow. It dawned on Erik that America was a place for outcasts...a place where even the lowest and most neglected soul could find a home. Upon leaving New York, they sailed the coastline for a few days going around the state of Florida and entering the Gulf of Mexico. Finally, on the last day of the voyage, Erik stood by Antoinette's side as the ship came closer and closer to the mouth of the Mississippi. Erik pointing to a vessel powered by a paddlewheel and asked Antoinette,

"What type of ship is that?"

"A steamboat! They're quite enjoyable Erik! They go up and down the Mississippi like fish. They certainly will never go out of fashion!" said Antoinette with certainty. Finally, the ship docked at one of the largest and bustling ports Erik had ever seen. Large cranes lifted cargo out of the holds of ships, passengers of the upper and immigrant classes alike walked about on the docks and fishermen drug in their latest (and most odioust) catches of the day. Their ship docked and Erik, Antoinette and Firmin followed M. Andre who practically ran of the boat to get on solid land.

"So where is this cousin of yours Mam'selle?" asked Firmin looking across the crowd. Giving Erik's hand a comforting squeeze, for she knew he hated crowds, Antoinette said standing on her tip-toes,

"She said she'd try to meet us around here someplace!"

"Let's get our bags, shall we?" asked Andre pointing to the waiting porter. Eyeing some passing debutants, Firmin smiled,

"Let's indeed!" They walked on, but not before Erik bumped into the shoulder of a tall, muscular gentleman with long flowing blonde hair and cold steel eyes and permanant scowl.

"I beg your pardon Mousier." Erik apoligized barely noting the man.

"You don't have it, Sir!" said the stranger with no hint on respect in his voice. Now Erik stopped and scurtinized the man, causing Antoinette to nearly be yanked backwards. He was in his late thirties and handsome, but a cold, and dangerous arrogance leaking from his every pore. Knowing Erik's tempermant and getting a chill from the man before them, Antoinette pulled on Erik's arm and said,

"Come on! I believe M. Firmin and M. Andre have spotted my cousin!" Erik allowed himself to be pulled away, trying to overcome his arouzed suspicious nature. They reached a small buggy with an old black driver and a young woman with auburn hair and bright bule eyes in tasteful, but more worn clothing. Antoinette ran toward the young woman who jumped down from her carriage and yelled,

"Toni!"

"Mandy!" cried Antoinette as the two embraced while laughing with joy and tearing with happiness. Antoinette pulled back and said,

"Mandy, you look beautiful! Every inch the blushing bride!"

"Oh Toni, you look wonderful as well! And your eyes are so alive with life! Whatever did you find to make you so?" asked Mandy. Antoinette smiled pulling her cousin towards Erik and the partners,

"I'll tell you later...meanwhile...I wish you to meet my employers, M. Michael Firmin and M. Giles Andre..." Andre bowed and Firmin tipped his hat saying,

"Mademoiselle!"

"And this...is Erik DuL'Soir...their assistant..." said Antoinette blushing suddenly when she gazed into Erik's eyes. Knowingly, Mandy eyed her cousin while saying to Erik with a smug grin,

"Oh...the famous M. DuL'Soir, eh? At last we meet!"

"Has Mlle. Carone been writing about me?" asked Erik with a wink to Antoinette.

"Yes, but the tease left out all the juicy details which I'm sure you will oblige me with, M. DuL'Soir!" smiled Mandy. Andre chuckled,

"Now we know Mlle. Carone's nature is herditary!" As the men laughed, Antoinette said,

"Gentleman, may I formally introduce Miss Amanda Carone, my father's brother's daughter. But everyone calls her Mandy or Miss Mandy!"

"Now come everyone! We have dinner waiting for us and Aunt Ginny will surely have our heads if we're late!" said Mandy turning toward the buggy. The short, round black driver jumped down from his post and said,

"Well Lord have Mercy I declare! Is dat you Miss Toni?" Antoinette's face lit up with joy as she ran to give the black man a hug,

"Mr. Gerald! Handsome as ever! Though I hardly recognized you without hair!"

"Lord's will for a body to get old Miss Toni!" said Gerald.

"Everyone, this is Mr. Gerald Freedman. He's been with our family since before we were born!" said Antoinette introducing everyone.

"Since before your Daddy was born, Miss Toni! Shoo girl! Yous shore did gets pretty!" said Gerald smiling at Antoinette.

"Well thank you Mr. Gerald!" said Antoinette.

"Course, you way too skinny! Aunt Ginny's gonna say yous needs fattenin' up the minute yous walk in the door! Mark my words!" said Gerald starting to put their bags in the back.

"And knowing Ginny she'll do just that with all her cooking!" laughed Antoinette. Mandy chuckled,

"Come on everyone! Let's get settled!" As Firmin and Andre helped Antoinette and Mandy in the buggy, Erik began to help Gerald with the bags.

"Oh no sir! I's gets paid to do this! Yous just gets on in the front!" protested Gerald.

"Trust me Mr. Freedman, Mlle. Carone's trunks are quite heavy!" said Erik with a smile to the old man.

"Shoo Boy! I've been lifting trunks since befores yous was born!" said Gerald going to lift Antoinette's trunk. But when he couldn't even budge it off the ground, Gerald stood straight and pointed to the trunks saying,

"Yous gets the trunks, I'll get's to the driver's seat!" Erik smiled and chuckled lightly at the man who went around to the front while Erik loaded the trunks. Soon Erik joined Gerald in the driver's seat and they set off in the streets of the French Quarter. Erik was instantly charmed by the iron balconies and the French shutter doors of the townhouses, and if not for the Spanish influence of the archways, Erik would have sworn he was back in Paris. They passes a large gathering of people and stands and Erik looked on curiously as Gerald explained,

"Dat's the French Market. Everybody goes there to trade and buy things. This your first time to Naw'lines, Mister Erik?"

"To what?" asked Erik confused by his accent.

"New Orleans! 'Course us Creoles and Cajuns calls it 'Naw'lines!" said Gerald.

"Oh...Yes this is my first time to New Orleans...First time to America as a matter of fact!" explained Erik.

"Really? Is dat a fact?"

"It's only my second time out of France..." said Erik.

"Gets out of here! For real? Yous been sheltered!" exclaimed Gerald. Erik smiled,

"You have no idea!"

"Now me, when Mister Carone, Miss Mandy's Daddy was livin', he took me alls over the world! I's been to Canada, France, England, China, South America, Jamaica! I's even beens to Africa...saw the tribe my great-grand Daddy came from 'fore he was a slave!" said Gerald.

"Slave?" asked Erik curiously. Gerald turned his eyes from the road to read Erik's face before he said,

"Son...don't tells me yous full grown and yous never heard of a man being slave to another man? Erik gulped and stared out straight ahead,

"I was a slave..."

"Say what?" asked Gerald.

"For seven years of my childhood...I was enslaved by gypsies..." said Erik not sure why he was telling a perfect stranger this. Gerald nodded,

"Never mets a white slave 'fore...now when me and my wife Aunt Ginny was freed by Miss Mandy's Great -Granddaddy, we said, "No sir! We's ain't leavin'! Southern Manor is our home, we was born here!' An' yous know what Master Carone did? He kept us on, even giving us salaries same as a white man. I's know, I's checked! And then Miss Mandy's daddy paid for our son Jacob to go to medical school an' be a doctor! The Lord has been good to us an' so have the Carone's!" said Gerald smiling. Erik smiled,

"I've gotten a hint of that from Mlle. Carone myself..."

"Now Son, I'm only gonna tells yous this once. If ever yous needs some help, I'll helps ya. One former slave for another, right?" offered Gerald. Erik nodded,

"Right!" Meanwhile, in the back of the buggy, Mandy smiled at Erik's back,

"Well if Mr. Gerald approves of Erik, then he must have a good soul Cousin!"

"I told you!" said Antoinette fanning herself and becoming quickly reminded on how hot the American South could be. Andre said,

"Yes, he's taken onto Erik hasn't he M. Firmin? Firmin?" But Firmin was distracted at the passenger of a passing carridge. In the window he saw a dark haired, brown eyed woman with a high cheekbones and lovely features for one even of a mature age like she. She had an impish grin on her red lips and then she was gone.

"Stop the carriage! Turn it around!" ordered Firmin as Gerald pulled the carriage to a stop.

"What's gotten into you Old Boy?" asked Andre.

"Mousier, what's wrong?" asked Antoinette. Firmin kept looking to the carraige that pulled away,

"That carriage! Whose is it?"

"I don't..." said Mandy shaking her head.

"Dat's a bad carriage Sir! The lady whose owns dat's carriage is goin' straight to Hell!" Gerald told him.

"Gerald!" said Mandy disapprovingly.

"Well she is! She's the owner of the local brothel! I's saved but we hear tell at church of lot of mens gettin' leads by the Devil to that place to sin! I's pray for her though! I's saved!" said Gerald. Firmin looked away,

"Guess it wasn't who I thought it was..."

"Who's that, M. Firmin?" asked Antoinette.

"No one, My Dear. No one." said Firmin. But Erik wasn't fooled. Firmin had seen someone he'd known. But who? Nothing else of incident occured as they drove to the county just a few minutes outside of town. That is until they got to the drive of the house. And while Southern Manor was a sprawling manor with large white columns and iron balconies with wrap around porches and acres of lawn and farmland around it, everyone only say the great cloud of black smoke coming from the back of the house.