Hey Everyone! Sorry about that! I have pneumonia and was working on school so I didn't have a chance until today. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Things are really heating up! I own nada!

Chapter 9:

Ghost

Emma's POV

I was home before I remembered the painting I had promised to paint for Eric…I cursed myself silently and went up to my room to change. I took a long bath and changed into a simple dress before coming from my room to face Sam "Oh good you are home."He hugged me tightly.

I chuckled softly "Hello Sam." I said hugging him back "How have you been?"I asked in my normal cheery way.

"Very well, Damien and I have been out drinking most nights." He told me following me to my paint room.

"Hmm." I said making a face.

"He's been asking for you Em… you should go see him." He said watching me closely. I knocked over my easel feeling fear shoot through me; I never wanted to see Damien ever again! If I did I would kill him…or die of fright, I was not sure which… "No!"

Sam looked at her shocked by the venom "Em I know you don't like him but there's no reason for anger, besides he has been very worried about you."

"I'm sure." I said dryly "Sam did I get any calls from patients while I was gone?"

"No, sorry."

"Ugh, ok, ok. Thanks, I need to paint anyway."

"Really, a muse hit you while you were gone?"he asked sitting beside her.

"In a way, yes."

I started on a new canvas painting the simple and majestic lines of the organ my heart fluttered shamelessly as I remembered his music…the way he looked so beautiful…so broken…How was he doing? Emma he does not want you around, remember?

Sam left her too it, when she got like this nothing he said or did would get her attention. Emma spent hours laboring over her painting making sure the simple lines of the majestic instrument was absolutely perfect…

Eric POV

I once more sat down at my desk to work on my Journal. "Ah Christine…if you could but see the man I long to be…" I whispered.

"Dearest Christine…Once more I sit at this table where I have shed so many tears and try to continue with my story. I was driven from the only home where I knew love. I had to leave or they would kill the man that showed me another way to live a way to love…unfortunately this face makes it impossible for me to do as he asked so often for me to do. I try to honor him in every way that I can. Before I ran he gave me my most treasured position. It might seem strange or even stupid to you, he gave me a candle. Our last conversation was when he gave it to me, and told me this.

'as long as this candles flame burns bright and strong I will be watching over you as will God. Keep it close to you and never burry yourself so far in darkness that you forget it's light.' I have never forgotten those words. I still have this candle; I only light it when I need it most, to remember the light of living. It is what gave me my strange obsession with candles and the light it gives off. It is comforting to me in a way that no one else understands. This particular candle I keep by my bedside, I'm sure you saw it and looked it over. It is pure white and gives off such a perfect light…but I get ahead of myself.

After I left my father for the first and last time I went roaming once more. I visited Germany, Russia, and Persia…Persia is a place I will never forget. Deadly and yet so full of majesty and life…This is the Country I truly grew up in. I learned how to perfect the art of killing and learned how to play the games that men play to gain power…Power. How often I tried to use it as a substitute for love…it only worked for a short time. I made a good friend in Persia, he was to honest in my opinion…a widower with one son. His son by the name of Jessie brought me so much joy. I do not think you know how much I love children. Yes they scream at the sight of me and do not trust me, but there is so much innocence… so much life in a child's smile. Jessie adored me and I adored him. I am afraid that I spoiled him whenever I was there…I am sorry I cannot think of little Jessie now. I will try again tomorrow."

I knew it was short but the memories were still too painful for me to recall, Jessie had trusted me so much…but I had betrayed him. A sob escaped my tight chest "Forgive me Jessie…forgive me…please…"

Emma's POV

I woke at my easel and smiled at the work I had gotten done yesterday. I felt much more rested and happy after a good night's sleep and working on such a beautiful piece. That gorgeous organ of Eric's had really taken shape. As had the cave like wall behind it…I wanted to go check on Eric…

No Emma, It is time to move forward, he does not want you there and you should be focusing on your practice. Well…I did have to tell him his painting was on the way…Emma that is exactly what Christine is doing to him! No. finish it then say permanent goodbyes. Don't keep reopening the wound…but what if he needed her? Was just waiting for her to prove she was not going to leave him alone like Christine had? A slow grin spread over her face and she headed upstairs to change quickly. He might not appreciate it right away, but it was what he needed, even if he didn't know it was. I piled my hair up and headed for the door. "I'm going for a walk Sam, I will be back later!"

With that I left and headed secretly down through the catacombs to Eric's home. She did not know how he would react to her coming back, but she could not keep him off her mind. He needed a friend so desperately, whether he knew he did was another story entirely.

I was able to dodge all his traps this time and saw him sitting at his desk writing…or trying to; his shoulders were shaking slightly with sobs that he seemed to be trying to stop. I hesitated; maybe I should let him mourn in peace…No. I couldn't leave him alone to deal with such crushing pain. I walked over to him and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder "Eric."

He jumped and turned to face me quickly "Emma…what are you doing here?"he asked turning his back to me once more and wiping his eyes from tears.

Gently I turned him back toward me and wiped a tear from his cheek "Eric no one should feel such pain alone." I said softly.

Eric POV

I looked down at the woman I had missed so much without knowing why and had also caused so much anger inside me. I shook my head and walked away from her "I am always alone Emma. Why did you come back?"

There was silence for a while before she answered "I wanted to tell you that your painting will be done in a few weeks."

"Oh yes." He had almost forgotten about that. "Thank you. You may go."

Silence once more, I refused to look at her. For some reason I knew that if I did I would lose control of my confused and jumbled emotions… "Eric why are you forcing me away like this? I only what to help you, you are an amazing and mysterious man. You do not need to be alone. If you would let me in neither of us will be alone anymore. I let you in, please let me in."

Slowly I turned to face her and just as I had known I would, I lost control of my barely controlled emotions. "Who are you to think you can know me? Who are you to claim you could help me?" I demanded in a soft and deadly growl. She took a half step back from me, but then her shoulders straitened and that infuriating stubbornness lit like a fire behind her green eyes "Eric stop that right now. I refuse to be intimidated by you. All I want is to be your friend Eric, and yet you seem intent on pushing me away."

I looked at her with dead blue eyes "And why should I let you in? Every time I let anyone in I am degraded and pushed to my knees like a dog."

She frowned "Do you really believe I would do something like that to you? I have felt what it is like to be treated like an animal. To be degraded and made to feel dirty and unworthy of love." Her voice chocked slightly and she shook her head as if to clear it. "Eric everyone has a past, granted I believe yours is much worse than most, but that does not mean you are completely lost to the world. Eric there is such majesty about you. You move smother and more silent than any cat, your music is to die for. Your voice is the voice of an angel and deep down you are a kind sweet man who only wants to be loved and to show how much you can love. I care for you Eric, please let me be the one you try your wants out on. I will not leave you alone to cry, I won't lash out at you or treat you like anything less than the man you are."

Man…she had called me a man. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest I didn't know what to say… "I…" I cleared my throat and tried again "Emma I am not a man."

She raised an eyebrow at me "Not a man?" She asked a coy smile on her face. She walked so she was standing inches from me and set her hands on my shoulders and ran her fingers gently along my powerful shoulders "Are these not the shoulders of a man?"her hands trailed down my arms to my hands "Are these not the skilled fingers of a talented gentleman?"She squeezed my hands then place one hand on my chest over my wildly dancing heart "Is this not a kind and sweet heart of a lonely man?" She whispered.

I don't know what came over me… One moment I was the proud Phantom of the Opera with a will of iron and the next I did not know who I was… I walked away from her trying to gather my thoughts. I could feel her eyes on me watching intently. "Emma… I have never met anyone quite like you. You won't let me mope around and you don't let me intimidate you…I just…"

She walked over to me and took my hand "Eric please let me in. I won't rush you, but please. I can see you suffering and it is breaking my heart."

I looked down at our entwined hands frowning "Why do you care so much about me?"

She cupped my face gently in her hand and made me look at her "Eric listen to me, listen and don't forget these words. If you take anything I say to heart I hope it is this. Eric you are an amazing man with amazing skills. You are obviously very lonely; I merely want to change that. It would make my day to see you happy."

I felt a small smile appear on my lips "Thank you…no one has been so kind to me before."

She beamed at me and stood on tip toes kissing my cheek "You are more than welcome. I will always be there for you Eric. When you feel ready to talk come see me or send a message."

"I will Emma…and thank you."

She grinned at me her green eyes dancing happily "Now, Eric I don't want to hear you complain about this, I am going to visit you at least once every two days."

I frowned "Emma that is going overboard."

She rose an eyebrow at me "No Eric it is not going overboard, you have been alone for way to long. I won't let you curl in on yourself again. We will move forward from now. Understood?"

I chuckled "You never give up."

She grinned innocently at me "No, never."

"Very well, I will see you soon then Emily Brooks."

She smiled "Yes you will. I'll finish your painting soon."

"Thank you Emma."

"Not a problem." She waved to me and headed for the door. I watched her go feeling lighter than I had in a very long time. There was something about this strange woman. A doctor, a stubborn and strange woman, but never in my long life had I ever met someone so full of life. She fought for causes that she truly believed in. She was kind and beautiful in so many ways. I had to hunt down that man known as Damien and I had to write a song for Emma. She deserved only kindness at my hands.

I headed outside tossing on a cloak and grinning I followed up on the information I had gotten on Damien Porticully. He lived in a very rich part of the city and from the whispering and gossip I had gathered that he was well liked for his money, but he was cruel to servants and to everyone he considered to be below him. He had women following him constantly, I could not understand why, true it was said that he was handsome, but he was particularly cruel to them. It would not surprise me if he had defiled more women than just poor Emma.

I found his home and climbed into a tree watching him as he ordered one of his maids who seemed to be crying…Soon after she ran from the room hurriedly and Damien sat down. He was grinning cruelly. I already disliked him. He reminded me of too many evil people I had met. My eyes narrowed and moved toward the window opening it silently I slipped into the room pulling out my knife. To my surprise he quickly turned around to face me gun trained at my chest.

"Well, well, well. It would seem that I caught a ghost. I must say now I understand why dear Emily is so taken with you. Too bad she won't ever know what happened to you." The last thing I heard was his pistol going off and pain ripping through my body.

So? What do you think? Sorry I had to leave you hanging. What will happen to Eric and how will Emma's new system work, if she ever gets the chance to try it out? I will update soon. Please R and R!