Chapter 6

Even though she had been frightened at first, subconsciously she felt that the Phantom would not harm her. Whether out of being a gentleman or respect for her mother, she didn't know. She had half expected him to yell at her for being in his home, but he seemed to be rather calm about the whole situation.

The scene replayed in her mind. A splash of red kissed her cheeks as she realized just how bold she had been by standing up to a murderer, she had never in her life allowed her temper to take control of her. Strangely, it had felt good to release the frustrations that had built up inside of her, given he wasn't the intended target of her wrath, but he had received it.

Her lips crept into a small smile. Even though it was him it meant one thing. Her breath fogged the reflection before her as she whispered, "I'm not alone… not anymore."

An abrupt knock dragged Meg out of her trance like state. She hurriedly tried to right her clothing "Just a moment!"

Even though modesty didn't exist with in the opera house, she still wanted herself covered properly in the presence of others Just as she tied the knot in her nightgown, the knock was heard again. Sighing with frustration at the impatient caller, "Just a moment I will there shortly."

Meg flung open the door, "Oh. I'm sorry for keeping you waiting Msr." Was her startled reply. Make it the managers calling to visit and introduce her to the Count. and carry on story line here and use rest for later.

The blonde man had deep mahogany eye ant was beaming with the biggest smile she had ever seen. The brightness of his teeth almost blinding her. "I'm sorry to disturb Mlle. Giry…but the managers sent me to inform you that a gentleman is here to see you and I was wanting to come and ask if I could visit my brother's fiance's best friend." after a brief pause he added swiftly. "On her behalf of course."

Meg looked at the man before her, "I would be honored monsieur and will be expecting you later then, however, I don not belive it would be wise for me to keep the gentleman waithing. If you could, would you please send him in while I get dressed?" she smiled politely.

"I will tell him that you will be expecting him then." He replied as and he walked down the long corridors.

She decided on one of her nicer day dresses for she wanted to look her best for she rarely ever had people come to visit her and always wanted to make a good first impression. As soon as she had her dress on and her hair tied back in a matching blue ribbon, she heard rapping on the oak door to her room. "Coming Monsieur."

When she opened the door the gentleman stood smiling. His attire and the way he carried himself reminded her greatly of the phantom. Her blue dress rustled as she stepped from the door frame "Please com in."

She gesterd to one of the chairs in her room, as she herself sat in the chair across from the man. "What is it you had wished to tell me? Msr….?"

His eyes opened as he stretched at the piano bench. He knew that he needed to srop allowing himself to fall asleep in front of the organ. His spine popped in several places. It felt good to be home again.

Even though many people would probably never enjoy a life in the damp stone hole, but Erik relished in it. The dark cavern was perfect for playing music. The notes reverberated around him when he played. The many candles illuminating the organ helped prevent him from being blinded even though the darkness that was in the cave allowed him to hone in the ability to see clearly in the dark which was extremely useful for him. Also when the operas began he could still hear it as he walked through the labyrinth under the theatre.

When he was younger, if someone would have told him he would be living in a abe he would have laughed at them. He had always thought he would be a sidewhow freak for his entire life. Now he was living in a somewhat elegant lifestyle, doing what he loved.

As he wandered through his home a strange glint caught his eye coming from one of his bedrooms. He parted the litle black lace curtain. The sleeping form of Christine flashed in front of his eyes. His heart began to tear apart again. He would have given anything for the image in front of him to be true and that the girl he loved hadn't abandoned him.

Unconsciously, his hand moved to caress the sleeping angel, his fingers ached to just be able to tough her creamy flesh. Justas he was about to make contact, Christine faded away, leaving nothing but an outstretched hand suspended above the pillow.

Slowly his fingers coiled back into his hand as he moved it back to his face. His eyes shut tight so that no tear could fall. When they finally did open he saw sitting atop the silken pillow a small silver hair comb. It was simple but still so elegant with tiny silver roses enamored to its top.

Erik knew that Christine's tastes were to extravagant for something likethis and Mme. Giry never wore combs because she preferred not worry about the baubles and decorations. The only person she ever wanted to impress she hadn't seen in over a decade.

It only left one person could have left the hair piece. He knew Meg had been down here many times. The state of the cave and especially the organ proved this, but he puzzled over the comb in his hand and tried to think how it had gotten into this room. His eyes widened at the thought, "Surely she hadn't slept down here, not when she has that wuite in the opera house. Why would she choose to sleep in this dank crevice under ground."

Even though he was slightly in shock that Meg had slept in his bed, he still felt slightly happy about it, because that would mean that she had come by choice. She came to the cave because she wanted to. "But it was probably because she thought I wasn't coming back…so there was no danger in being down here" that one phrase stripped him of his previous joy. He didn't know why it bothered him so much.

Normally, he wouldn't care what Meg thought of him, but he figured it had something to do with the fact that they were the only ones left in the opera house who had been a part of the original grandeur, before the fire. He shrugged the anxiousness from him as he regained his composure.He picked up the small come and began the journey out of the labyrinth.

After so many years, every single crack in the walls was etched into his memory. Every once in a while a rat would scurry across the tunnel, which never even phased Erik. The cool air slowly getting warmer as he reached his destination, the mirror that separated there worlds.

He smirked at the memory of his childhood. The women who would change in front of the mirror, ignorant to the fact that a young pubexcent teen could be watchiin. Although it happened only one or two times, the Persian had discovered the 13 year old on one of those occasions. This led to Robert and the Persian lecturing him on the "facts of life" and also how he should respect women and that Erik should not abuse the gift he had inside the theatre walls.

He hadn't realized it was wrong because of the gypsy women who were so open with their bodies and the little tents set up aroung the carnival grounds where men would enter in droves to see these women. But one look into Roberts's isappointed eyes and he felt ashamed because he never wanted to make the man he came to love as a father disappointed in him. Even if he was used to being a failure to everyone else, he could bear making this man upset. Not out of fear of being beaten, but because he didn't want to drive away the only man who had ever shown him true kindness, he didn't want to be left alone in the darkness again.

After that day, whenever Erik went to the mirror, if he say any women in an unpresentable situation, he would quickly avert his eyes and begin his way to another exit to the main opera house. As he grew older, he started playing pranks on the prima donna, prima ballerina or whoever happened to be staying in the suit, and then expanding his domain to the entire opera house. Finally, using his skills to get money to fund his lifestyle below the theatre.

This triggered his thought process to come back to the here and now. Even thout he had invested some of the money from his salary, he still needed more money and soon. "I'll start sending in my request for salary soon… hopefully Meg will pass them on for me." He mumbled to the empty air.

His senses went on alert as he spotted Meg in her chair with another person sitting in a high back chair so that the majority of their bodies were hidden from Erik's keen eyesight. The periwinkle dress was extremely complemantory to Meg, he noticed her eyes sparkled eventhough her gaze remained unwavering while talking to the perso. Smiling and nodding in what appeared to be agreement every once in a while.

He was surprised he couldn't hear the conversation like he should have been able to. 'I wonder if someone tampered with all my "ghostly" abilities while I was away' he smirked inwardly.

He felt his chest tighten as he became slightly jealous at the person who was talking to the prima ballerina. He stood up cofused as to why he would feel jealous about the girl he didn't consider important to him. The thoughts were quickly forgotten as the figure stood.

Erik saw a man's form draped under an ebony cloak. He had jet black hair and appeared to have an elegant and dignified air to him, though Erik still felt something was wrong with the man. He knew why as soon s the man looked into the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place.

The hairs on the back of Erik's neck stood on end as he stared in shock. "No…it can't be…" was all he could say. A mixture between fear and absolute rage filled him. Every muscle in his ody tensed as he continued to hold himself back crom making himself and this entry way known.

As soon as Meg shut the door, Erik silently stepped from behind the mirror, trying to his best to hide his emotions. She jumped when she saw him appear when she turned around. Her anxiety soon diminished slightly as she looked at the man in front of her. "May I ask why you have come here Msr. Phantom?"

He held out his hand revealing the little comb, which had been imprinted to his flesh when he had tightened his grip around it. His emerald gaze searched her face, his mind reeling as to why the man had called upon her. "Mlle. Giry…" he finally began.

"Please call me Meg. Mlle. Giry even if for younger women still makes me feel old." She smiled politely as she looked back up into his face.

"Mlle… I mean Meg… what did that man wish to speak to you about?"

She stepped back, "I'm sorry monsieur but I'm not entirely sure it was any of your business to be attempting to eavesdrop on a private conversation."

His gaze narrowed as he placed a strong hand on her shoulder, as he tried his best not to alarm her when he felt her tense up under the contact. "Answer the question, Meg."

Meg's gaze flickered between fear and anger when the phantom continued to press her for an answer on her recent guest. "He is apparently an old acquaintance of my family and after Seeing the my last performance, he wanted to pay me a visit to offer me a position teaching his neice ballet." She stated in a frustrated huff. The phantom continued to look confused and demanded to know more about this job offer.

"Msr. is this truly any of your business what I do with my life? Would it truly matter to you that I am leaving the opera for a mere 8 hours a week? I do not think so from what I experienced yesterday evening."

The phantom released her shoulder as he paced the room trying to word the answer correctly so as not to have the blonde angry at him again. "Meg. You have the obligation to the theatre you should focus more on the dancers here than to give in to some aristocrats bratty relatives desires."

"This will not effect the girls performance here. I told him that my girls are of a higher priority and that I would only be able to work on certain times when there is no rehearsal." she took a deep breath knowing this would hurt the man in front of her but couldn't think of any way to make him realize that she was not some manipulated girl. "I already gave my word Msr. Phantom you will just have to deal with that fact and realize you can't control me like you did with her. We may have been friends but I am in no way like her."

Erik stiffened at the reference. 'The little brat, is she trying to cause me to loose my temper? Why must she insist on putting salt into the wound!' His hardened gaze fell to her, "No, you aren't Christine and I don't care what happens to you I am only concerned with the well being of my opera house and if the performance is anything but brilliant I shall hold you responsible."

They stood in silence glaring at the each other. The anger intertwined with the hurt they both felt from the others words and even tho meg's eye's were filled with tears she refused to let her emotions show. Her hopes that maybe they could find some common ground and become at least allies like he and her mother had been smashed against the hardened walls of her heart. She knew she deserved it for saying what she said when the hurt was so fresh. But that was her weakness, speaking before her brain could even process what was on her tongue.

Erik's emerald eyes burned with frustration at the girl before him. He knew what would happen if she went to that man's house to teach the girl… if there was even a girl to teach. Delancluer was very capable of anything now that he has come to money. Even if his current attention to meg was because of her father, he couldn't let that man get his hands on her or he wouldn't be able to live with himself.