Author's note- Alas, I've been bitten by the writing block bug. This may be the last chapter for a bit, depending if my muse decides to come back anytime soon. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter. You get to see more of Melody's sassy side.

Chapter 6

Something Sweet

Erik bolted upright, gasping and drenched in a cold sweat. He frantically looked about him, heart pounding as the dream replayed vividly in his head. For one terrifying moment he felt as though he'd been transported back all those years to his old childhood bedroom, back to that horrific morning. A few minutes of glancing at the familiar surroundings of his underground home told him he was mistaken and that it had all, indeed, been a dream.

Taking a few deep breaths to relax, Erik ran a shaky hand through his hair and looked over at the clock on the wall. It was only a quarter past six but he knew there was absolutely no way he would be able to return to sleep. Resigning himself to his fate, Erik rose and stretched, adjusting his mask as it had shifted during the night.

As he left the alcove, his gaze immediately drifted towards the couch where he had left his companion. To his amazement, she was still there, Labyrinth gripped in her hands as she read. He wondered if she had been up all night reading and whether or not he should disturb her long enough to ask. He decided against it and made his way quietly to the kitchen area where he began brewing some tea.

A few minutes later The Phantom was leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping thoughtfully from a steaming cup of tea. He thought to go and offer some to Melody but changed his mind. He needed a few moments too himself. His thoughts were dark and scattered. The dream still fresh in his mind.

He'd had that dream often through the years but it still shook him to his very core. He tried not to think about it, he really did, but it was impossible. Especially because of what had happened to Evie.

Oh Evie. A pang went through Erik's chest whenever he thought of his beloved little sister. True they were twins but Evelyn had always been smaller than him and she had been born second.

I'm only the youngest by two minutes, she would say.

And I'll never let you forget it, Erik would reply.

Erik closed his eyes and sighed. He missed her. He missed the way she would pull on his arm and bat her little eyelashes when she wanted him to play with her. He missed her laughter, tinkling and sweet. But most of all, he missed her smile and the way it could light up a room. God what he wouldn't do to get her back? Losing her had cut him deeper and brought him lower than any injury incurred from Christine ever could.

"Don't get lost in thought," came a trilling voice.

Erik jumped and spun around quickly, tensed and prepared to attack whomever had snuck up on him. He was greeted by the sight of Melody, standing in the doorway with a hand on her hip. She was wearing a dark green tunic and brown trousers along with a pair of riding boots, hair up in a pony-tail. Her lips quirked upwards when she realized she'd startled him. The Phantom glared at her before sitting his tea on the counter, grateful he hadn't spilt it everywhere.

"I wasn't lost in thought," he snapped. Melody snorted as she swaggered into the kitchen and joined him by the counter.

"Lots of people get lost in thought," she told him, "but probably because it's such unfamiliar territory."

Erik rolled his eyes and reached for his tea cup. He took a drink before offering to get some for Melody.

"No, thank you," she replied. "I'll stick to water."

"Very well," Erik said, sitting his cup back down and fetching a glass of water for his guest. She took it and sipped at it slowly, her eyes thoughtful as she watched Erik. Her gaze was calculating and Erik could practically hear the gears turning in her head. It unnerved him a little to be under such scrutiny and he quickly busied himself with tidying up around the kitchen even though it wasn't even really dirty.

"I still have many questions," he began, giving up any hopes at busying himself. Melody raised an eyebrow at him.

"I think it's my turn to play Spanish Inquisition," she told him. "Fair is fair."

"Life doesn't play fair, and nor do I," Erik stated.

Melody chuckled.

"An interesting philosophy," she said. "Alright then, ask away."

Erik pondered for a moment before he started with the most obvious of his queries.

"Last night you said you had been staying on the roof," he began. "As an owl?"

Melody smiled at his confusion.

"Yes," she said. "It's very convenient and less conspicuous than living up there in this form. Not all Fae can do it. It takes a very rare kind of magic. My friend taught me how to do it. I can change into a few other types of animals but the owl is the first form I mastered and the one I am most comfortable with."

"I see," Erik nodded although he really didn't. "Could you do it now?"

"Not unless you want feathers all over your kitchen." Erik grimaced. He certainly didn't want to have to clean that up. "I thought not. What else?"

"Do all children who remain in the Underground become Fae?"

"Not always, no," Melody replied. "It depends on a number of variables. What a wished away child becomes is decided by the Labyrinth and relies on the condition they are in and their inner nature."

"Decided by the Labyrinth?" Erik asked confused. "I thought the Labyrinth was just a maze that guarded the Goblin Kingdom."

"It does that too," Melody answered," but it's much more than a maze. The Labyrinth is a sentient being with its own magic. If a child is irreparably damaged or near death, they usually become goblins. Hearty little creatures and near indestructible. If a child is healthy, the magic of the Labyrinth slowly changes them into one of the other races, usually Fae or Elvin. We had an ogre once, but that's extremely rare."

Erik shook his head.

"You do realize this sounds completely insane," he told her.

"You wanted to know," she reminded him. "Doubt all you want. You'll see for yourself when we get there."

"That is assuming you figure out a way to get us there," Erik said and Melody glared at him.

"I thought about that," Melody said. "I spent all night reading that book, looking for clues, and I think I have an idea."

Draining her glass of water, Melody left the room only to return a moment later, book in hand. She sat at the dining table and flipped the book open. Erik came to stand next to her, waiting for the girl to elaborate. She turned the pages quickly before looking up at him.

"This book was written thousands of years ago," she explained, "by the very first King of the Goblins. In those days the Labyrinth was wild and untamed and un-ruled by any. The goblins who lived there were riley and troublesome but were virtually harmless. Other creatures lived there too. Low Fae and those who were looked down by the High Fae. It became a refuge of sorts. Then an awful creature known as Tyrn came and with his army he tried to take over the Labyrinth and its people. Tyrn punished all who disobeyed him and slaughtered any who stood in his way. Many who tried to flee were caught and tortured before they were killed. Some were lucky enough to escape to the Aboveground and hide.

Some of the inhabitants who escaped went seeking help in the nearby kingdoms. They found it from Oberon and Tatiana, the High King and Queen of the Underground. Their youngest son, Lais, took an army and together with the help of the Labyrinth and its people, was able to defeat Tyrn. In return, the goblins made Lais their king."

Erik's brow furrowed in confusion and he placed his hands on the table, leaning over Melody and glancing at the book.

"Thank you for the history lesson," he said, and Melody rolled her eyes at the sarcasm, "but what does that have to do with this book?"

"Remember I said some of the inhabitants came to your world to escape from Tyrn and the war?" she asked him. He nodded. "None of them knew the war was over. Additionally, many of them got lost and couldn't find their way back home. Lais realized this but couldn't leave the Underground because he was needed by the Labyrinth and his people. So, he wrote this story and used his magic to send it to all those who were lost in the Aboveground so they would know it was safe to return and how to get back."

Erik sat down at the table and reached for the book. He studied it for a moment before reading quietly to himself. His brow furrowed. He had no idea what she was talking about. It was just a story about a princess who wished away her baby brother.

"I wish the goblins would come and…"

Erik was interrupted by a sharp slap to his arm. He jerked and glared at Melody.

"I wouldn't finish that line if I were you," she warned him. "Not unless you want to become a permanent resident of the Underground."

"They're just words," he scoffed, dropping the book.

"Words hold power," she replied, giving him a dark look. She picked up the book and flipped through it again. "The magic that created this book is as strong today as it was then."

"I thought only children could be wished away," he stated.

"Do you want to test that theory?" she asked him seriously.

Erik blinked and then sighed. He supposed not. True he wasn't certain about all this Underground and goblin nonsense, but still…It was best not to tempt fate.

"Fine," Erik sighed. "I still don't see how this book helps us. I've read that book a dozen times and I've never seen anything about an entrance to the Underground."

"That's because you don't have the sight," Melody informed him, expression smug. "Only a magical being can read the messages that reveal the locations of the entrances. Lais did that to protect our world from intruders."

"I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover," Erik said.

"Things aren't always what they seem. Especially when the Labyrinth is concerned."

"So are there any entrances nearby?" the Phantom asked.

Melody laid the book down and sighed.

"I don't know," she replied honestly. "I'm not familiar with Paris, nor have I spent much time in this world. Not to mention this book was written so long ago, some of the entrances have been sealed over the years and there is no guarantee that the entrance we find will be near the Labyrinth."

"Let me ask you this," Erik said. "If you don't have enough magic to return to the Underground then how…"

"Did I get here?" she finished for him. He nodded. "The man I was waiting on brought me here." Melody's gaze fell back to the book and a sad look filled her eyes. "We were engaged to be married. We both were very interested in coming to your opera. We were here, the night of the Masquerade. He was very busy though and I wanted to explore Paris, so I convinced him to bring me here a few days before and promised to meet him at the opera."

"But he was too late," Erik sighed.

"I'm afraid so," Melody said. "I fear what his reaction must have been."

"You don't think he died in the fire," Erik began fearfully but Melody shook her head quickly.

"No,'' she told him. "He is a very powerful Fae. One of the most powerful in all the Underground. Besides, fire can't harm a Fae, at least not a full one. The most dangerous thing to him in this world is metal. Especially iron. Me, on the other hand, I'm not so indestructible. I could have very easily died in that fire. Whoever helped me, I owe my life to them."

Erik closed his eyes and stood. He didn't want to hear that. He knew he was responsible for countless deaths. He knew he was a murderer. But most of them were all faceless to him, nameless. This girl however, was not. Not anymore. She seemed very sweet and innocent. And he'd almost killed her. And for what? Unrequited love?

A gentle hand on his shoulder surprised him and he shrugged it off. He didn't need her pity. He didn't deserve it.

"Erik," she said. "I don't blame you for what happened to me."

"How can you not?" he growled.

"I don't know why you did what you did, or what your motivations were," she told him. "So I have no right to judge. Everyone deserves a second chance."

"You should leave," he snapped. "I'm a monster. A killer. Go before you get hurt."

"No offense," she said. "But I'm not going anywhere. I can't. Do you really think if I told anyone about this they would believe me? I'd be locked away in an insane asylum. Erik, don't you get it? You're my only chance. I need your help."

The Phantom took a deep breath and turned towards the girl. Her arms crossed, her face stoic but Erik could see the pleading look in her eyes. She was right. Anyone else would ignore her and think she was crazy, but crazy or not, Erik knew he had to at least try to help her. He owed her that much.

"I must be insane to even consider this," he sighed and Melody's eyes lit up in way that reminded him of his long lost Evelyn. Erik dared not think too much on that and he ran a hand through his hair. "We still don't know how to get there, though."

Melody pursed her lips for a moment.

"This would be so much easier if you could read the book," she muttered.

"I don't supposed you could give me ''the sight'' as you called it."

"Out of my range of magic," she said. Suddenly a thoughtful look came to her face and she snatched up the book. The next thing Erik knew he was being ushered back into his chair at the table and the book was laying open in front of him. Melody shoved a crystal in his hand and he stared up at her stupidly. He was very, very confused.

"Here," she said, rolling her eyes. "Hold the crystal over the words. Like a magnifying glass."

Erik did so and was immediately astounded as the words he held the crystal over shimmered and revealed line upon line of hidden messages. He scanned the first few pages quickly but nothing jumped out at him. This continued as he dutifully went through, page by page, reading the mysterious writings. It wasn't easy. Most of it consisted of riddles and Erik was almost ready to give up when a familiar name caught his eye.

Monarch Rock.

"What is it?'' she asked, seeing the look on his face. "Did you find something?"

"This mentions a place called Monarch Rock," he explained. "When I was a child, in the woods near the village where I lived, there was a large stream. It starts at this large rock formation, the water comes out from underneath the rocks but the ground behind it is completely dry. It was called Monarch Rock because the rocks formed what looks like a throne. Do you think it could be the same place?"

"There's only one way to find out," Melody said. "How far away is it?"

"Half a day," Erik told her. "I haven't been there for many years, but I'm certain I could find it."

Melody nodded and took the crystal out of his hand. It immediately disappeared and Erik blinked before closing the Labyrinth and handing it to her.

"Do you have a way to get there?" she asked him. "I'm all for trekking it, but I'd much rather get there as quickly as possible."

"I have a horse," Erik informed her. "We can leave whenever you're ready."

Suddenly Melody's stomach growled and Erik realized that neither of them had eaten yet.

"First, a bit of breakfast," Melody said, placing a hand to her stomach. "Can't go on an adventure on an empty stomach."

"Agreed," Erik nodded, standing to find some food. Melody followed him, hands behind her back. "Is there anything specific Fae eat?"

"Well, do you have something sweet?"

Author's note- Well, I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Apologies for and OCCness, well actually I'm not sorry but I'll pretend I am. Anywho, I'd like to see some reviews in the near future. They may help the muse come back and I can post another chapter sooner.