Chapter 3: Crafty Vengeance

Anna smiled softly as she looked around Erik's home and admired some of the books on his bookshelf,

"I thought you might be hungry" Erik said making her look up and he smiled brightly before tossing her a green apple with a chuckle as she giggled and smiled at him brightly,

"You remembered" she said happily and he nodded,

"Of course I did. It was the first kind gesture I ever received... Although I do wonder if you would still have shown me such kindness had you seen my face" he admitted awkwardly causing Anna to frown as he gestured for her to sit down and she did so, watching as he sat next to her,

"I... I was born here in France. My father was a composer and my mother was a singer. Music has always been a big part of me because of this but... When I was born... My face was... Distorted" he murmured, gesturing to the half masked part of his face with a sad expression,

"My parents kept me locked away in the home of my childhood but... When I turned 7. I ran away... Never looked back" he explained and Anna placed a comforting hand over his own,

"I'm so sorry" she whispered and Erik offered her a sad smile, patting her hand with gentle reassurance,

"Thank you... Well, we should get started" he told her, standing with a new found energy and Anna looked at him confused,

"Get started?" she pressed,

"With your lessons" he provided and chuckled at Anna's even more confused expression,

"Singing lessons. You have to be at your full potential if you are to replace Miss Daae as opera diva" he told her simply, heading to his organ but Anna hurried after him,

"Erik I... I don't want to be opera diva" she told him and he turned back to her with a frown,

"But... Your voice; It's extraordinary. The world deserves to hear it" he encouraged and Anna smiled with a slight blush,

"I was a singer for The Shah during my years in Persia and even when I escaped I ended up being captured and sold to the highest bidder only to be locked up once again and forced to sing... Music... Music is a chain to me" she explained, seeing the sad expression on Erik's face and she sighed,

"I'm sorry..." she tried but he took her hand,

"No, no, no. It's ok" he assured quickly,

"I understand. Music is the one thing in my life that gives me freedom but... For you it is the opposite and I don't wish to be another jailer for you" he told her gently and he watched her smile at him softly,

"What?" he pressed,

"Thank you" she whispered leaning up and pressed a kiss to his masked cheek before going to get some rest, pulling her hand away from his slowly.

Erik stood in the same spot for at least an hour,

"Erik...? You ok?" Nadir asked when he saw him, having emerged from his room to get a glass of water and Erik turned to him slowly,

"Anna... She... She kissed my mask" he murmured and Nadir was stunned,

"She did?" he asked and watched Erik nod slowly,

"She accepts me, Nadir... She accepts me" he told him as a smile grew on his face.

Erik stirred when he felt someone shaking his shoulder gently,

"M... Minor cord" he murmured as he opened his eyes and Anna giggled quietly,

"Erik... Can I ask you something?" she asked and he sat up before nodding,

"Of course" he assured,

"I... I want to go outside" she told him,

"I... I know it's the middle of the night but... I need to feel fresh air on my face" she explained and he smiled, standing from his bed and offered her his hand,

"Come with me" he told her and Anna took his hand gently.

Erik lead Anna through a series of passageways before finally exiting the tunnels and he lead her up a winding staircase; Smiling as he opened a door for her and he frowned at the rainfall,

"Merde. It's raining" he cursed, going to remove his cloak from his shoulders but Anna slowly moved past him, walking onto the roof of the opera house, feeling the water against her bare feet and she let her head fall back slowly as the rain hit her face and Erik smiled warmly,

"How do you feel?" he called out to her and watched her turn back to him with a bright smile as an entirely different liquid fell down her cheeks from her eyes,

"Free" she whispered and Erik watched as her tears of happiness became tears of overwhelmed emotion and she fell to her knees slowly and sobbed; Erik came to her side, wrapping his cloak around her and held her close, rocking her back and forth,

"Yes... Yes, Anna. You are free" he whispered, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

The next day, Erik brought Anna to the balcony that sat over the auditorium as rehearsals were in session,

"Why are we up here?" she asked curiously and watched her friend wink,

"You'll see" he assured and it was then that they saw the opera managers walk onto the stage,

"Sorry to interrupt but we need to hear Miss Daae sing the aria from Hannible" they explained and Christine's uncle tried to sneak away,

"With yourself present, Architect" they added firmly and he winced inwardly,

"What's this all about?" Gustave asked,

"It has been brought to our attention from an anonymous source that your daughter has been lip syncing, Mr Daae" they explained,

"This is outrageous! I demand an apology" Gustave exclaimed,

"Do you deny these allegations, Miss Daae?" the managers asked, looking towards Christine,

"... No. No it is true. I have been lip syncing under the instruction of my uncle and father" she admitted sadly, looking down.

Erik smiled at Anna but was confused when he saw her frown,

"What's the matter?" he asked,

"Well... I know it was wrong but... Garnier and his step brother only wanted to preserve Christine's mothers' memory" she defended gently, looking at Erik,

"She just wants to sing in memory of her mother" she told him gently and he sighed,

"You want me to go back to teaching her, don't you?" he asked and Anna nodded gently,

"She's not great yet but she could be with your help" she encouraged,

"... Nope can't do it" he answered quickly after a quick moment of thought and went to leave the balcony and Anna smirked,

"Very well then, I guess the managers will just bring back that Italian diva you're oh so fond of" she teased,

"Fine! I'll teach her!" he yelled from the passageway and Anna rolled her eyes with a giggle before following after him.

I'm trying to add little bits of humor into the story to get little giggles or smiles out of my readers haha who wants a too serious story? NAH!

Kind Regards,

TheAuthor1996