Hello readers!

What a crazy week I had and I am so very tired...and it's not even finished yet, lol. On a lighter note, for those who don't know yet, I made some Christmas decorations and they are exposed on my DeviantArt account. :D I will send a new batch later today, I finished some new ones last night and I have yet to take their pictures. :) So, if you feel like taking a look, don't be shy and click on the link to DA on my account, or you can look for kayanah on DA. :)

Okay, here we go, on with your chapter! :D

Enjoy,

Kaya

Chapter 6

Catherine slept for about two hours when she was pleasantly awakened from her nap by the softest music. She shook her head, but found she was not dreaming. She did not think it was her aunt who was playing. Such a complex melody could only be played by a great maestro. Anyway, she was sure her aunt was not back yet. Surely she would have checked on her and that would have been enough to wake Catherine up.

Painfully rising from her bed, she grabbed her cane and followed the music. Violin, her favorite instrument, guided her steps, which she kept as silent as she could as not to miss a single note. She walked down the second floor corridor and noticed the music was a bit louder behind one of the doors to her right. Opening it without sparing a thought, Catherine found a staircase, assuredly leading to the attic, where the musical poetry came from. There was no fear in her heart, no evil could come from something so beautiful, she felt it.

Erik heard noises and he stopped playing, fully knowing it could only be Catherine climbing the stairs since Madame Giry was not back from work yet. His heart was racing. He had nowhere to hide and he knew he would have to face the situation. He knew this was bound to happen, he had hoped though it would not be so soon. Turning his back to the entryway, Erik waited, anguish roaming through him. When she arrived up the attic stairs, he knew, for he heard her gasp.

-"Do not be afraid, mademoiselle." He said with all the gentleness he could muster. "I am not going to hurt you."

Catherine made a few steps more and he knew, by her breathing, that she was relatively calm. When she walked forward once more, Erik knew he had to stop her, or she would see his face and that was something he feared more than he could even admit.

-"Stay where you are." He asked. "Please, I would be grateful if you would stay by the stairs."

Catherine stopped as he asked and leaned on an old chest lying nearby, her leg pulsating with pain once more. It was as though she had not felt it since the music began… She could not quite explain it. She remained silent, waiting for the strange man to speak first.

-"Did you sleep well?" He asked kindly, doing his best not to turn to her

-"Y-yes, monsieur. Thank you." She answered nervously

-"I am happy to finally hear your voice, mademoiselle." He smiled, even though she could not see him. "Your aunt will be glad…"

-"Oh, no monsieur." She interrupted, sounding quite panicked. "I am begging you, this must remain a secret. P-please, do not say a word, please, monsieur…"

This time, Catherine had tears in her voice, she sounded more than just a little desperate. Walking back to the stairs, the young woman sat painfully on the last step and began sobbing, her face buried in her hands. Sensing everything happening behind him, Erik placed his old violin under his chin and played what he had been playing for the past hour or so. It was his new composition and, in his mind, one of his masterpiece.

Catherine calmed slightly, hiccupping the remaining of her sobs as she listened to this man's hypnotic music. She began humming in sync with the magic violin. The song ended sooner than they both would have wished though. Rising, Catherine brushed the dust off her dress and gave a deep, shaky sigh.

-"Thank you, monsieur." She said, her voice and breathing calmer than moments before

-"What for?" He asked, taken aback

-"For all you did for me since I arrived." She answered softly, taking a look around the attic. "I recognize the unique touch. Thank you very much, it is truly appreciated."

-"Y-you are welcome."

Erik swallowed hard, not believing what she was doing to him. He was blushing furiously, not used to being thanked for anything. Beside from Madame Giry, no one ever treated him with respect. He was so shocked, he did not even notice when Catherine made a few steps towards him.

-"Why won't you turn around?" She asked in a whisper, making him jump as he realized how close she was

-"Do not take it as disrespect, mademoiselle." He replied, bowing his head, ashamed. "P-please, do not insist."

-"Then I will respect your wish, monsieur. But, could I…could I ask you something?"

-"I suppose…" He frowned, not knowing what she could possibly ask

-"May I know your name?"

The Phantom was taken by surprise once more. No one ever asked what his name was, not even Elizabeth Giry, who actually discovered his name when she surprised him talking to himself. Even Christine never asked…he thought bitterly. But Catherine had…

-"M-my name is Erik." He answered after a moment

-"Enchanté, monsieur Erik." She declared brightly. "If you ever feel like playing the violin, please, do not hide. I would be honored to be your audience."

Without a word more, not wanting to risk him refusing her request, Catherine left. The Phantom felt odd… No one, besides maybe Madame Giry and Christine, ever spoke to him with such kindness. Though, with La Daaé, it always felt more like pity than actual kindness. With Catherine, he felt it was more genuine, more heartfelt…

Shaking his head hard, Erik walked over to the spot which was right above Catherine's bedroom. He thought that she would change, if she ever saw how deformed his face was… She would scream and close her eyes to make the nightmare to go away. He was a nightmare…while she was a dream…

The young woman reached her bedroom completely drained, sweat breaking on her brow. She walked a lot that day, climbed the stairs up and down more than she should have… The bandages on her leg had loosened along the way and the pain had become unbearable. Trying not to think about it, hoping to will the pain away, Catherine untied the ribbon holding her hair and went to her vanity. She shrieked as her leg unexpectedly bent under her weight and before she could get her grip on something, she fell forward, her head meeting with the mantelpiece.

Once Erik knew Catherine was back to her bedroom, he began pacing the length of the attic, deep in thoughts. He was fighting with himself as to know if he should reveal himself to her or if he should keep hiding, speaking to her only with his back turned or through the walls as the ghost he once was.

As his thoughts made less and less sense, he suddenly heard a loud thud, coming from bellow. His heart began beating faster as he realized it could only come from the young woman's bedchamber. Running towards the corner of the attic above her room, he laid flat on his stomach and listened. He could hear nothing and that did nothing to reassure him.

-"Catherine?" He yelled through the floor

There was no answer… Fearing the worse, Erik jumped on his feet and flew down the attic stairs. He crossed the corridor as fast as his heart was beating. Opening the door to her bedroom, Erik saw Catherine lying before the fireplace in an awkward position, unconscious. He saw there was a bleeding cut on her forehead, but it did not seem really deep. Without even thinking, he lifted her light form from the floor, more delicately than one would carry a basket of eggs. Carefully, he put her in the middle of the bed. Once he was absolutely sure she would not fall again, he ran to retrieve a basin of cold water and rags.

Coming back as quickly as he could, Erik immediately began cleaning her wound. It did not take him long to understand it was the pain in her leg that caused her to faint. He had let the doctor do his thing, but now it was obvious the charlatan had done nothing to really help Catherine. No more, he thought as he began making her a splint with whatever he could find. It would keep her leg still and the bone would heal more easily.

He bandaged her leg carefully and when he was done, he checked the cut on her forehead one last time. More fear than harm… A lot of blood for a very small cut. He cleaned it again, just to make sure it would not get infected, when Catherine groaned as a warning to him that she was slowly waking up.

Quickly, he placed a wet cloth over her eyes, so she would not see him first thing, hoping she was not curious enough to remove it. He thought that she would probably leave it there since he was about sure she would have a terrible headache. Catherine groaned again, a little bit louder this time.

-"Do not move." He ordered gently

-"M-monsieur Erik…?" She whimpered. "W-what happened?"

-"You fell and knocked your head. Do not worry, it is not too serious."

-"It hurts though…" She said, trying to smirk

-"I do not have a doubt." He sighed. "You strained your leg today. I did not give you this cane to exert yourself…"

-"So it was you who gave it to me?" She gasped and he nodded, though she could not see him

-"I thought it would help you. I had the idea when I saw you struggling in the garden. It was when the doctor came I knew it was urgent for you to have it."

As she was about to thank him, they both heard the front door being opened, then the call from Madame Giry to her niece telling her she was home. Erik gave Catherine's hand a squeeze.

-"I will leave you to rest a while." He said softly. "I must tell your aunt what just happened."

-"D-don't tell her I speak, I'm begging you…"

It was the second time that day she begged him to keep her secret. There was fear in her voice. He felt the shear distress in her words. He understood he would have to do as she asked, he would not lose her trust.

-"I will not betray your secret, mademoiselle, you have my word."

-"Can I ask for one more thing?" She questioned shyly

-"Of course." He smiled

-"Will you…will you play music for me, later?" She asked, biting her lip as she blushed slightly

-"I will and with great pleasure."

Rising from the bed, Erik covered Catherine with her blankets and left her side to join Madame Giry. He found her in the kitchen, preparing dinner. When he emptied the small basin he was carrying from the bloodied water in the sink, the questions began on Elizabeth's part.

After endless explanations on what happened that day, purposely omitting the fact Catherine was not mute anymore, Erik had been right to think Madame Giry would not be very happy… She was furious her niece discovered the Phantom, but was grateful she had at the same time. If he had not been there, the poor girl could still be unconscious on her bedroom floor…

A little before sunset, the Phantom retrieved his precious violin and went to Catherine's bedroom, remembering his promise to play for her. He knew she was awake for he heard her clear her throat from the other side of the door. He knocked three times and, with a low voice, assured Catherine her aunt was busy fixing dinner.

Before he entered though, he asked the young woman to turn her back to the door. He waited some thirty seconds, then entered. She was not exactly having her back to him, but she did sit with her left side facing the entryway and her head was turned towards the window across from where he was.

-"Why all those mysteries?" She asked in a whisper. "Why do you keep hiding?"

-"I could ask you the same thing."

Catherine smiled sadly and bowed her head. He had a point…and they fell into an awkward silence. Not knowing what else to do, Erik began playing one of his compositions. He was trying to take her spirit to far away lands, to make her imagination soar to unexplored heights, where pain and sorrow were but a memory, where dreams and joy prevailed.

The music lulled Catherine's tired senses and she was slowly leaning forward, her head almost touching her knees. It was not hard to understand she was falling asleep, the day had been quite hard on her. Erik stopped playing the violin but kept the song going with his deep, warm voice. Gently, he helped the young woman under the covers and once he knew she was comfortable, he left soundlessly.