In the words of Linus: "Happiness is a warm puppy." To me, a warm puppy is equivalent to a review! Thank you to those who review, I appreciate it, and I use your feedback CONSTANTLY. :D Here's a new chapter for you, and please don't kill me. Because as my close friend and now-vengeful sister both pointed out (She is still upset over losing Marco. I'm sorry! Destiny's hand halts for no crush. Not even the crush of your kid Sis.): I cannot write more if I am dead, so spare my life, in turn sparing Erik's. :)

So excited because for my birthday my mom got me tickets to Phantom of the Opera on broadway! Totally freaked out and the happy-energy from that generated into another chapter! :D Happy Thanksgiving To All, because we have so much to be thankful for! 3

Chapter 10

Erik's POV

She looked so peaceful, on the outside. But in her eyes I had seen the truth. This girl had gone through hell and back! And something told me she hadn't completely returned... Her heart was still behind in whatever nightmare she had suffered. Which was natural. But it would make finding out more about her even harder. Because let's face it: if you go around wearing a mask, chances are that you wouldn't be first to volunteer information about yourself.

I turned from the bed and went to pick up the brush and soap she had throw at me. That woman had a strong arm, and I hoped never to be at the receiving end of such skill again! Especially if she ever had a weapon more substantial than a bar of soap. I smiled to myself; she was the strangest woman I had ever met or seen. Now the met part isn't very surprising, considering that I haven't met a lot of women in the first place. But I have seen plenty of strange people, most begin women. Take that Carlotta woman, she wasn't exactly the epitome of all things good and sane. (Especially after I was done with her.)

I walked into the sitting room, carefully sat down in one of the chairs, and tried to finish the book I had been reading. Note: I said TRIED. Nadir looked a me from over the top of his news paper. I glanced at him for a moment, before burying my face back in my novel, a book entitled 'The Mystery of the Yellow Room' by Monsieur Gaston Leroux. A genius of an author; I would have loved to have made his acquaintance. He seemed like the type of man I would get along with quite well.

But at the moment it didn't matter, because Nadir was staring at me so intently, I could almost hear his thoughts. He obviously wanted to know what had happened with my, ah, "little encounter". And I was determined not to satisfy his unending curiosity. But, if you have ever met that agitating man, you will realise just how persistent a man he can be.

"So Erik, what happened? I heard noises coming from in there, not all of them too positive. Mind shedding a little light on the matter for me?" I glared at him once, before returning to my page. It was getting very good, and I really was intrigued, but...

"Erik, if you don't tell me now, when our little friend wakes up I will just have to ask her." My head shot up, unfortunately he had captured my attention. Drat. I hated it when he used fact against me.

"I wonder what she'll say, and possibly what the maids will hear if she recalls how a man burst into her room and-"

"And what, Nadir? I was perfectly in line with my behaviour. I don't appreciate you jumping to such conclusions."

He gave me a very innocent look. "What conclusions? Erik, what DID you do that's making you so nervous? And what do you expect anyway? I have absolutely no premonition as to what transpired behind that door. One can only imagine..." He trailed off, leaving me right where he wanted me. I growled in my throat. Really, he was worse than an old busy-body. Sticking his nose where it darn well didn't belong.

I sighed, "Fine Nadir! But only because I don't want you or anyone else coming up with ludicrous gossip on the matter. What happened was simple:
I went in to check on her, but she was startled and so in response she hit my head with a projectile. I ducked for cover behind some furniture-"

"She what? She actually hit you Erik? With what?" That man asked too many questions.

"A bar of soap if you must know. It didn't hurt really but the next item -a silver hairbrush - would have done a little more than hurt. Thankfully I dodged it. But next she had lunged for the tea-kettle."

"The copper one? How resourceful! She wasn't grabbing at random after all..." He looked oh-so pleased with himself; he really was enjoying my dilemma. Way too much than was proper, but I continued anyway.

"Yes, well apparently not. But it hardly mattered because I got to her just before she was able to grasp hold of it. I didn't want to hurt her, but it was very necessary to restrain her. So I grabbed her -gently- by the wrists and held them up. She thrashed around but she was obviously running on borrowed strength. I did my best to calm her - reassuring her that she was safe and unharmed, and that no harm was intended towards her -"

"Was that particularly easy, considering your, ah, presence?" I was a little barbed by that comment. I knew he was talking about my mask. I decided to just continue as if he'd never spoken.

"Something I said must have gotten through, because finally she looked up at me. Her eyes looked unfocused and hazy, but her gaze was so intense! She has been through great trouble, and is suffering from a staggering amount of sorrow. It was etched all over her face."

I stopped for a moment to think back to them. They were green, with little flecks of gold that stood out in her wide-eyed stare. It was interesting, the way her eyes spoke clearly how she was feeling. Her gaze was filled with a tangible pain, and some other emotion that shadowed everything not only in her eyes, but in her whole presence. It could have been anger, confusion, or just fear. (That I would not blame her for.) But I think it was grief, and intriguing how much was to be found in eyes so young. Her gaze had not been locked onto anything - she must have still been bleary from being ill so long - but if it had been, it would have been difficult to be under, with emotion that sharp cutting away at your soul...

"Erik?" I awoke from my mild repose, and saw Nadir grinning like a persian cat. He had some thought on his mind I probably would not agree with if I knew what it was. "If you don't mind, I would prefer if you continued with the account, rather than relive or think about it." I scowled with all my being in his direction, and this time he seemed to get the message. He finally realised he had overstepped himself, more than he could even hope to backtrack at this point.

I didn't have a single emotion on my face. It was just blank. But I saw him freeze under my stare, and that was enough to convince me that he was VERY concerned about his well being. As he should be. "Persian, I have been quite patient up until this point. I hate to cut the fun short, but the joke is wearing THIN." I put emphasis on the last word, and like an obedient child he sat still and straight. So I resumed where I left off.

"Then she collapsed. I caught her, placed her back in the bed, pulled the blanket up, and told her about what happened. I offered to bring her with us to Spain; until she is able to be on her own again. She readily agreed, but I will ask her again when she is better recovered, so she may make the choice in a more clear state of mind. Though I do believe that her decision will remain the same. Unless..."

Nadir looked at me, expecting me to finish my statement. Though I suspect he already knew what was coming.

"Nadir, I don't think she saw my mask. And even if she did, she is still unaware of what lies beneath it. Who knows? She may not want to travel with an outcast such as myself. I was a fool to think that she would understand my cause. Of course, that was before her mask came off. But still, it doesn't matter. I wouldn't blame her if she changed her mind. A stranger, offering to take her out of the country, who wears a mask and restrains her with physical force. Ha! No, I think she will change her mind in the morning." For some reason I felt a bit dejected at the thought. Heaven knows why! It's not like I knew her, or even needed her acceptance. I told myself this firmly. After a bit of though, I stated to Nadir:

"If she is well enough in the morning, I would like it if you had breakfast with her. She needs more than tea, broth and milk to sustain her. And I have ulterior motives to this..." The Persian leaned forward, his face rapt with attention. I leaned forward as well so I could speak at a lower volume, with less chance of being heard. I shared my plan, and after Nadir agreed to it, I returned to my book. Though by now my thoughts were quite far from murders and much closer to mysteries. Particularly, the mystery of the girl in the room only a few paces away...

Ta-Dah! De End! Fin! It's ova! Done! Finis! **dodges flying tea-kettles** Not the end of the story, Sheesh! The chapter, I meant the chapter. :) I love doing this. Sorry, but I do! I was always mad at chapters with cliffhangers, but now I see why everyone writes them, they are so darn fun! :p Next chapter will be up soon! Until then,

May Angels (of music) dance in your head,
And death only come if in masquerade clothes of red,
As you dream of Phantoms safe in your bed.

(Wait, Phantoms in your bed? Would they be safe there? According to the knives I keep BY my bed, not for me. But if that's your wish, I'm hoping for you best of luck. You're gonna need it with a wish like that. :P)