I'm sorry, I know I broke my promise. I got sick and had to miss a day of school. Now I'm trying to catch up on work. I'll try to post more frequently.

Lovest Always, Lady Merridell

Disclaimer: again, I don't own Phantom of the Opera nor do I own Love Never Dies. I wish I did, but I don't :( sadly...

Chapter 9

He's Here, the Phantom of the Opera

Breanna's POV

She stared. She gaped. She couldn't believe it. She couldn't breathe. She almost stood up, but decided against it. The visible eyebrow on the Phantom's face raised in amusement.

"Shocked, Mademoiselle? Shocked that the horror that is the Opera Ghost is more fact than fiction? That I am very much alive," he jeered, leaning over so that they were now eye level.

"Erik, stop it, the poor child has suffered enough without you scaring her," snapped Daroga. Erik glared at the Persian and straightened.

"Well then, since Nadir has so kindly taken care of you I'm sure he will attend to your other needs." Erik turned to leave when Nadir-Daroga-what is his name?-grabbed his arm.

"No, you brought her here, she's your responsibility."

Breanna watched with growing indignance as the two argued who was responsible for her. How dare they assume she was incapable of caring for herself? Of course, they had plenty of evidence that she was a walking disaster and was liable to get herself killed, but it didn't mean she was without dignity.

"Excuse me, but I am very capable of taking care of myself. If I'm such a nuisance then why don't you take me back," she demanded. The two stopped arguing. Nadir chuckled. Erik glared.

Nadir was the one to answer. "You are not a nuisance, but you have suffered quite a shock."

"Considering I almost died, yes, that is a bit of a shock," she replied with only a hint of sarcasm.

"If you wish to leave I will not keep you down here."

Breanna looked up at Erik. She almost didn't want to go, oddly enough, but when she imagined the look on Craig's face she relented.

As Erik prepared a lantern, Breanna thought to change back into her old clothes. Surely the Opera Ghost would like this expensive kimono back. When she offered to return it he shook his head.

"Keep it," he said. Then added," it looks as though it should belong to you. It compliments you very well."

At this she blushed and looked away in embarrassment. Breanna silently vowed to take very good care of it. Erik left her in what she assumed was the living room to fetch something. Whilst she waited she sat on the couch with Nadir who he introduced himself.

To her surprise and delight, a black cat strode into the room as though he owned it. Breanna instantly recognized the feline and stroked him when he settled onto her lap.

"I remember you. You left me in the dark, naughty. What's his name?" she asked absentmindedly.

"Gadelombré," came the deep, melodious reply. The brunette looked up in surprise to find Erik standing over her, holding her now clean clothes and watching the cat disapprovingly. "It means 'keeper of the shadows'."

"The name fits," she crooned, still stroking the jet black tom.

"I beg to differ. Narcissus would much better suit his nature," Erik said. At this Breanna promptly burst into laughter. Gadelombré hissed in annoyance and stalked out of the room, tail raised as though trying to mend his wounded pride.

Breanna called out an apology as if the cat could understand. Erik just shook his head.

"No, he could use the humility. He can be useful, though," he added, head tilted to the side thoughtfully.

Nadir smiled. "Yes, now I'm sure our young charge would like to return to the above world."

"Ah, yes. Of course. Follow me," said Erik. Breanna stood and followed him outside. She looked across the vast glassy lake and the deep caverns. One could easily get lost here if they were not too careful.

Someone cleared their throat and she looked up at Erik who stood waiting by a handsomely carved vessel. He helped the young manager into his gondola and pushed off.

Breanna looked into the clear emerald waters and watched fish flit about, avoiding the pole that would occasionally dip into the waters to steer. She touched a finger to the surface and observed the ripples.

"Careful," Erik said," lest the Siren comes to pull you in."

He smirked as she drew her hand away from the water and placed her hands in her lap. Thankfully he missed the part where she stuck her tongue out at him and she stared at her hands, cheeks burning. Why was she acting so childish? Shame on you, she scolded. The Phantom wasn't exactly someone you stuck your tongue out at…unless you wanted your tongue at the other end of a noose, which would be an amusing sight.

Erik tied the boat to the peg sticking out of the ground and handed her out of the vessel. He escorted her through the dark winding tunnels. Breanna was grateful for the lantern light and stuck close to her guide.

The tunnels twisted and turned at random. She soon became dizzy and gave up trying to map out their path. They would stop every once in a while so Erik could disable traps and alarms. There was an impressive amount of them and Breanna counted each one. She lost count around thirty-something traps and a lot of alarms that eventually she gave up counting.

They finally reached the manager's office. It was with a great reluctance that Breanna returned but Erik shoved her through the mirror the minute they arrived. She turned to say goodbye but the mirror had shut.

...

Erik's POV

As he guided her through the passage he would glance back at her every once in a while. Her wide brown eyes observed her surroundings thoughtfully and occasionally glanced at the ground warily as though it would vanish. He guided her gently and decided to take a different path.

Erik did not wish for her to find her way back down so he purposely chose a complicated path. Then again, he did want her to return... What? No, of course not. For her own safety, and my sanity, she should not be down her, he thought.

As they approached the mirror to the manager's quarters he thought about the little time they had spent together. It was precious little, but nonetheless somewhat pleasant. Perhaps he should take her back...yes, take her back...after all, she seemed to want to stay...there's no Vicount to stop him...no de Chagny...just the cat...and Nadir...they present to problem...no...problem...

Erik quickly shoved her through the door before he could do anything rash, tossed her clothes after her, and pulled the mirror shut. He had to get away from there. Before the madness seeped back. However he stopped and felt a strange sensation. Was it remorse? Guilt? He had treated her rather roughly. Perhaps he should apologize. A note would be safest. Yes, a note. Definitely a note. He was sure to lose his mind if he talked to her again.

Erik entered his private study and sat down at his desk. He picked up his favorite raven feather quill and dipped it into the red ink. The silence of the study was soon filled with the soft scratching from his quill on parchment. Then he set down the quill and reviewed his writing. So far no mistakes-no...that was a lie. There it was. In the left hand corner loomed big and bold an inexcusable error.

A smudge. A big ink blot. A big red ink blot. He crumpled it up and threw it. It landed with an unsatisfactory plop. He made a mental note to burn it later and started over, this time more carefully. Once he was satisfied with his work he called Gadelombré.

Erik held out a sample of the cherry wood that adorned the desk in the manager's office. The jet black cat took one sniff and walked off with the note. It had taken quite some time and patience to train such an independent creature. Patience was not something that Erik had little of, but he managed. He just hoped she received his letter and accepted his apology. She seemed forgiving enough. But now that she knows who he is, would she be so quick to dismiss his behavior? Perhaps not, he thought, after all demons are not creatures to be forgiven. Especially when their sins are as great as mine…