Hello everyone, I noticed a particular review made by someone who doesn't have an account, but goes by the name 'fluffiness'...I would just like to say a few things to you. First off, I am very sorry if you are offended by Isabelle's reaction, it is never my intention to be offensive to anyone- but you should know that her reaction was not purely based on the fact that she was adopted. Later in the story, you will find out that Isabelle had a bit more of a darker childhood than I have let on so far. So, her reaction was more like all of of her pent up feelings finally being released. Secondly, you say Isabelle is a total Mary Sue? In my opinion all OCs come across as Mary Sues, unless they are intentionally described with bad characteristics- but, like I said, this is only the seventh chapter. There is a lot more to Isabelle that you don't know yet.

With that being said, here is chapter seven...


Erik tapped the keys on his piano, Isabelle hadn't broken the instrument- not that he thought she did. If he was being honest with himself, Isabelle had actually played quite well. It made some sense to Erik, if she was indeed the blood child of his parents, and not adopted, then perhaps she possessed the same musical gifts.

He wondered why he really didn't just kill her, what was stopping him? He had kept her down here for almost a month now, maybe it was time he just got rid of her. Word would make it back to his birth parents that their daughter was dead and they would be crushed.

Erik rose from the piano bench and crept towards the closet where Isabelle had been locked in for two days. He slammed open the door to see Isabelle curled up in a ball in the middle of the floor. As soon as she heard his arrival she shot up off the ground.

"Knock, much?" She questioned sarcastically. Erik watched as her eyes fell to the punjab lasso he was twirling in his left hand. The sneer died on her lips and Isabelle looked up at him, her brown eyes wide with fear.

Erik took a moment to enjoy that pleading look in her eyes as he cornered her. He found himself wishing his parents were here to watch him choke the life out of their precious little girl.

"Don't do this" she breathed. Erik ignored Isabelle, determined to make her suffer like he promised.

Isabelle, who had been cowering in the corner a second earlier marched right up to him. For a moment she looked like she was going to scream, but instead she composed herself, "tell me what my parents did to you"

Erik was taken aback by this, "How do you know...?" Isabelle worried her lip between her teeth, "the first time you left me here alone, I-I well went into one of your drawers...and there was a drawing of my parents. You say you hate the Destlers, enough to kidnap and murder their daughter. So I'm asking you to tell me what happened that made you hate them so much."

Erik took a sharp breath in, "You went through my drawers?"

Isabelle swallowed, not saying anything, the next thing Erik knew his hand connected with her face in a slap so hard she went flying backwards. "How dare you!" He screamed, coming at her again, but Isabelle put her arm up in front of her face, in an attempt to block him.

"Just tell me!" she screamed. "For christs sake no matter what the reason you hate them so much why in the world do you have to take it out on me? Do you think it will upset them? Do you think they will mourn? Well guess what! They won't!" Isabelle was breathing heavily, eyes blazing with defiance."Just answer me!" She screamed.


The phantom began to pace around her, in a manner that unsettled Isabelle. "If you must know, the Destlers were my mother and father"

What?! Isabelle felt her jaw drop, of all the things that man could have said, that might have just been the last thing she expected.

"Surprised are you? I suspected they never told you" he spat.

"What did they do to make you hate them?" she stated firmly.

He took a deep breath, deciding to tell her, "when I was six years old, a gypsy fair came to town. They sold me to them"

Isabelle was frozen in shock, "why...how...?" she trailed off.

The phantom's stare hardened, "For years I was whipped! Beaten! Tortured!" he roared, "All because my parents sold my life away for a few measly francs!"

"Why would they sell you, and why would the gypsies want you?" Isabelle's mind was racing, she could barely form words but she had to. For the first time he was actually answering her questions.

The phantom yanked the rope in his hand, tight around Isabelle's neck, pulling her so there faces almost touched, "This is why!" he roared suddenly ripping off his mask.

Isabelle gasped. "Oh my" she breathed.

"You're the replacement! The child they always wanted but could never have with me, You are their pride and joy, you spoiled pompous brat! You got all their love they would never give to me, their own child, the monster!"

"You know nothing!" Isabelle screamed, "I'm not even their real child, they adopted me!"

"It doesn't matter! They raised you, and you are just as shallow, and undeserving" He hissed.

"You don't know a thing about me! I am not shallow nor undeserving, and I am most definitely not their pride and joy! My parents were absolutely ashamed of me! You think they'll cry if you kill me? You think it will hurt them? Sorry to break it to you but they'll be happy! Happy their messed up daughter is off of their hands for good!"

"Messed up? What problem could they have possibly had with you!?" Erik demanded.

"You think all problems are as easily seen as yours?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm. "I heard them! I was only eleven years old!" Isabelle began to cry.

"Heard what?"

Isabelle looked back up into his eyes, "My parents never let me forget how much of a disgrace I was, they cared more about how the public saw them, then they did about their own child. There was this one day, when I was eleven, I heard my parents talking when they thought I was asleep. By that point they were losing hope that my 'internal deformities' could ever be corrected". To make a long conversation, short, they were considering sending me away- and this time not to another finishing school. They were going to send me somewhere I couldn't shame them. Somewhere that I would never be able to burden them again."

"Where?" He was using the most gentle tone he ever had with Isabelle.

"I don't really want to talk about it, maybe eventually but not now" Isabelle shook her head with tears in her eyes. To her surprise, the phantom did not press her, instead he removed the rope from her neck. A small gesture that spoke volumes to Isabelle. She looked up at him in confusion, not once until now did he ever show her one act of gentleness, kindness, or sympathy.


Erik was shocked, Isabelle wouldn't tell him where her parents wanted to send her, but he could see the pain in her eyes. A pain he knew all too well. Releasing Isabelle from the hold of his rope, he turned to leave her.

"Wait" she called out. He paused, his back still to her.

"I am sorry"

"For what?" He wondered.

"For everything. For everything you went through, I understand what you suffered through- to be rejected and dehumanized. I can only imagine what you endured"

Erik was taken off guard, but he quickly steeled his look, closing his eyes he took a few more steps towards the door.

"I don't need you pity" he whispered.


Thanks for reading! Please review/alert c: