NEW CHAPTER

I DONT OWN PHANTOM OF THE OPERA OR IL MUTO OR THE MAGIC FLUTE

IM SO GLAD YOU ARE ALL LIKING ELIZABETH, SHE'S BECOMMING A FUN CHARATER FO ME TO WRITE

I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS CHAPTER

CHAPTER NINE

Erik was, for the first time since beginning these lessons, late.

It was inconceivable, but it was apparent.

But in the opera house they were casting for their new production Belladonna and none of the actor's or singers who auditioned were of proper quality.

The fool of a caster may be content, but not her. This had become his domain, the music world was his kingdom, it did not matter from which opera house he ruled from. Whether the Opera Populaire of the Golden Theatre.

He sent a note to the man who was watching over the house while the real owner was out of the country, but the fool man was just as bad as to two idiots who ran his last theatre. He of course ignored the notes.

The phantom may not be on perfect terms with the owner of this opera house, but at least they had an understanding. Erik gave orders and the man would either obey them or give a reasonable reason why he could not. Erik was pleased to see that the man in charge, named Mr Phillias, was no idiot and the majority of the time, his reasons always held merit to listen to and consider.

However, he had gone to Cornwall for the month for personal reasons, leaving this buffoon in charge.

The phantom had decided to remind the idiot who exactly was in charge. And thought a string of 'accidents' the interviews and auditions were cancelled until the manager was to return.

Accidents that included numerous backdrops falling, bags of sand falling short of some of the actresses and many more. He thought it best not to use a Rope lasso this time.

No, that should be kept for special purposes, why reveal his all his weapons at once?

But though these unfortunate events, he found himself late for his meeting with Elizabeth.

Thoughts of Elizabeth almost made him smile.

The girl was progressing well, much better than he had ever dreamed. Perhaps it was her sheer determination, coupled with her instinctive talent. In only three weeks time she had mastered the song he wrote for her.

It had been two months and a half since beginning this and already she was singing as if she had been practicing for two years or so.

It was possible for some opera singers to have a natural gift for it, to be prodigy in a way. After all Christine was one, and now, so was Elizabeth.

There was no other explanation.

Although, his teaching made a huge impact also. He thought her in a practical way that actually enhanced her already natural voice rather than taught her many fancy rules that were of no use to anyone. Then again, she made a marvellous student.

So patient and ready to learn. Anything he taught her she took it in with almost no questions; she obviously loved music with all her heart. And her soul was on the way also. Her voice had progressed so now it was crisp, fresh but still had that delicious quality to it that made it appealing.

Yes, perhaps in a few years she would be ready.

Of course, she still had much to learn, it would take years for her to reach the level where she would no longer need him anymore, however she was almost at a stage where she would be sufficient to his plans.

Almost two months, and still all he knew of her was her name and that she had a sister. And that was all.

Erik truly did not see the point in needing to know of such things, but it had become a curiosity to him.

His student was different from the snobbish and selfish nobility he was used to, the ladies who were so caught up in their fantasy world of endless parties and whimsical nonsense that they failed to notice the world around them. Any normal lady would find it a disgrace to mix with the likes of him.

But Elizabeth was strangely innocent to such things, it wasn't that she lacked in nobility. No, Elizabeth was pure English lady. But she had a honest to her that was refreshing. She saw the world differently from others and had a need to escape. Not many frail ladies could return constantly to the side of a man who had previously tried to kill them, all for the same of music. So why did she need it so badly.

Erik somewhat knee why Elizabeth appealed to him so much. It was one of many reasons.

Because he saw some of him in her, his own need for music, that burning desire to escape into its sweet embrace, it was the same with both of them. That devotion and pure bliss when in the presence of music was a concept they both understood, he could see it clearly in her crystal blue eyes every time she sang.

He approached the back entrance to the tunnels that lead though the underground. It lead to outside the music room.

As he entered he heard something softly echoing thorough the room, An organ.

Silently, without making even the slightest sound he approached the door to the room and too his great surprise found Elizabeth sat that the organ as her fingers skimmed over the ivory keys

Erik watched with fascination, he had forgotten that she had mentioned she could play.

But then, he thought, eh should have known. Elizabeth was noble born, of course she would know how to play at least one instrument, the rich had the money for such things. It was considered a good thing if a woman was well equipped to cope with at least one artistic tendency.

She had her brow scrunched up as she concentrated. She was attempting to play the Aria from The Magic Flute. It wasn't that it was bad; in fact it was rather pleasant. It was well recited with all the notes in the right place; however it didn't flow as it should.

Clearly her pure talents lay in singing only, and she was simply good at piano. And from the expression on her face, she thought so too. Elizabeth had a keen ear for music, it was one of the reasons she was able to improve so much. She only needed to hear the song sung correctly once before she was able to do it perfectly because she retained the information in her subconscious and every time she sang she sang according to how her memory expected her to sing without even noticing.

So she was probably thinking of how the song should be played now, and realising that her version was nothing like it.

Eventually she stopped and sighed "Well that sounded delightful" she said out loud sarcastically.

He smirked; she also had a habit of speaking to herself.

Erik hated to admit it, but Elizabeth was slowly growing on him. It wasn't hard to become used to such a person.

"If Verity were here she would be saying something like 'Oh Elizabeth dear'" she recited in a higher more gentler voice "'you needn't worry, I'm sure with a little practice you will eventually get it, perhaps two years from now we can play together?'" Elizabeth smiled strangely "I don't know why I bother? I'm terrible at the piano"

Erik heard enough and came up behind her as his hand reached out and replaced her hand at the beginning chords "It is not so much that you are bad at it, but you are too slow."

He felt her stiffen at first at his sudden arrival, which did not surprise him. What surprised him was how quickly she relaxed into his hold and allowed him to position her fingers the way he wished on the organ. Had she come to trust his influence this much already?

He had not known.

Erik froze for a moment before withdrawing. He did not know how to react to this, this kind of trust. No one had ever come to trust him this fast. Not even Madam Giry, not even Christine.

"Master" she turned round to look at him with a worried frown.

Dammit, she was so much like a child, the trust practically radiated in her eyes. Didn't she have any self-preservation, any common sense? She should fear him; he could kill her at any moment. He had planned to kill her at any moment, at first...

It was then he realised, to his shock, that he really did not want to kill her. Not anymore. There were no feelings towards her that way.

In fact, he did not think he could kill her. Because although he would never admit it, he did not want to betray this childlike trust. There were too many scarred and tainted people in this world. Was it so bad he wanted to keep this strange innocence safe a little longer?

"Master?" she asked again.

He blinked and returned to adjust her fingers on the keys, immediately they became limp and allowed him to do as he pleased. What a strange person his student was.

"I will tell you this now, you have no hidden talent in the piano, but you are quite good. You are simply stiff, you need to relax and practice it a bit at a time. You're not flowing properly."

He watched as she took in his advice and tried to play the beginning of the song again. It was a little bit better, but only a little.

"If you wish" he said, interrupting her "I can teach you to play better?"

She paused for a moment before smiling, almost apologetically "I'd like that, but then I would not have enough time to sing."

He nodded with approval at her answer; it showed that she knew how to prioritise things.

Sitting down in a seat beside the piano he decided to test her faith in him a little further "Where did you learn to play?"

She hesitated for a moment before saying "My mother believes it is important for a young lady to be well versed in the arts as it makes her a more appealing wife. So up until a certain age I was taught piano and other instruments. The songs he taught me I can play quite well"

"Why up until a certain age?" he asked "what stopped you from continuing your lessons?"

She smiled, a little sadly "he met my younger sister and like everyone else gravitated towards her. My sister is a piano prodigy, if you heard her..." she trailed off uncomfortably. "Any way, he requested to switch students and when mother heard the difference in our playing agreed to it, so I have been self teaching myself for the past few years."

Nodding he ventured further "is you sister your only sibling."

She smiled "no, actually I'm the eldest out of five sisters, but my youngest sister is none but still a babe. The other three however are only younger than me by so many years."

She blinked and frowned, a strange expression in her eyes. this was troubling her, Erik decided he had pushed far enough. If he pushed too much he would not get any further, Erik was a master at the manipulation of the mind. he had done it so many times it was not hard.

He stood and motioned for her to stand.

"Since you have already mastered the song I gave you, I thought we would try something to better hone your voice. So this is a song from a previous opera called Il Muto. The song s a solo by the countess."

It had been hard for him to bring up this song; it was a song from the musical that Christine was supposed to sing in. But this song was perfect for challenging Elizabeth's voice and he had to think of his student. Now that he had decided to use her in his further plans he would except nothing other than perfection.

"From the top"

I THINK I WILL STOP THERE.

WOW, I CAN'T BELIEVE I ALREADY HAVE OVER 50 REVEIWS AND IM NOT EVEN TO ANY OF THE REALLY GOOD BITS YET!

IM SO HAPPY, KEEP REVIEWING, IT'S YOUR REVEIWS THAT MAKE ME WANT TO WRITE FASTER; OTHERWISE I'D JUST GET BORED OF A STORY

REVIEW