The next morning, Antoinette grabbed the chance to visit the lonely Ghost before her lessons start. She knew he would be awake this early and if he wasn't, she would wake him up by pulling that ear of his.

To say that she wasn't upset; would be a big lie. She was a lot. After finding out or better saying witnessing the secret bond between her ballerina and Erik was enough to give her a restless sleep.

She was happy that the tortured boy she saved all those years ago had found someone to love but that didn't mean she wouldn't have a saying in this and give a fair warning. Juliette had no idea who Erik truly was and she had to protect her from him.

She used the secret paths and after some walking and passing by rats and puddles, she came to the opening of his cave/lair/home. She stood next to the lake and into the main room that was connected to it.

It had an organ at one side and a piano at the other, red couches and an armchair and steps that lead to his desk where dozens of drawings of Juliette were hanged, taped and placed. Dozens and dozens of candles were all over her but they had almost died by being burning all night long.

Music sheets were on the floor, on the small table among the couches and on the piano. Mirrors were covered by red velvet curtains and were placed against the rocky walls of the cave. On the lake, was a small boat with two lanterns at the front and a skull as well.

"Antoinette? What are you doing here?", A voice came and she stopped looking over the many drawings of her ballerina. She turned her body and looked at Erik who stood at the other side of the room and also the door that led to the kitchen and bathroom.

He wore a pair of simple black pants and a white shirt that exposed much of his toned chest while its sleeves were rolled up to an elbow length. His black wig was on his head with the silk black hair smoothed back and so was his white mask that hid the deformity he was born with.

"I came here to talk to you, Erik… about Juliette", at the mention of the girl's name, his muscled stiffened but he held his face neutral. He leaned on the nearby wall of the cave and folded his arms in front of his chest.

"What could possibly have you to tell me about one of your ballet rats?"

"That you stay away from her Erik or knowing you I know you won't; so simply be careful. The game you are playing is, indeed, dangerous"

His eyes widen as she emphasized the word, the same words of the song they sang last night. It was obvious now, she was there and she had seen it. His small act wouldn't work on her.

Damn you, Ann, he thought and took a deep breath as he closed his eyes.

"I do not need your warnings, Ann. I know what I am doing"

"Do you know? Because singing in the middle of the stage for anyone awake to see and even actually be seen by another ballerina doesn't show me that you do", she said, her voice strict in a motherly tone as she hit her cane on the ground.

"Spare me the trouble. It happened once and the matter is taken care of", Erik said and opened his eyes before start walking towards his piano, ignoring the ballet mistress. "I am finally loved by a person and you have to barge in like I committed a murder"

"I do it to protect you Erik; both of you"

"Fine *sits on the stool in front of the piano* Next time I will bring her here and deliver her back in the morning. Happy now?", he said, irritation hearable by his tone as he slammed some keys of the piano.

"I will be once you both realize where you are heading. Love is not a game Erik, it not like the books and much different from how we imagine it. Do not go around and play with it"

There was a loud haunting nose as Erik slammed both fists on the keys and took a deep breath to calm himself down.

"Why can't you just be happy about me Ann?! Why can't you just let us be? I am not a child anymore and neither is she!"

"This *motions for the slamming of the keys* is the behaviour of a child. Just make sure to control it around her. If you hurt her in any way possible"

"I won't! I would never hurt her and I would take my own life if I ever did it!", he shouted as he stood and looked at her.

His voice boomed across the room, powerful and angry while his chest was rising up and down.

Antoinette wasn't slightly shocked by his outburst, now used to them. He looked on his face and into his eyes and could see the honesty and love. However, it wasn't that he would ever hurt her intentionally, she knew that.

It was the unintentional possibility of his lashing out on the albino girl that had made her confront the masked man.

"We will see about that", was all she said and walked out of the cave, not giving the man a second glance and let him alone.

She was not even 5 steps before hearing the slamming of his fists on the keys of the piano.


"Man, I need more sleep", Juliette said and yawned as they finished their lesson.

Meg who was next to her and was stretching her muscles after the exercise let out a chuckle and earned a smile from the white-haired girl.

"You will soon enough"

"I know"

"Hey Juliette"

"Yes, Meg?"

"Can I… can I talk to you? In private?", Meg asked as she played with the hem of her tutu skirt.

"Uhm yeah sure", the albino said unsurely as they both made their way to the roof for some privacy and isolation from the rest.

Once there, Juliette let go of her hand and turned to face her blond friend who was still nervously playing with the hem of her skirt.

"I have been noticing… you missing some nights… or coming back a little late… and…"

"Yeah, I have. I have been going to the stables, I find it peaceful there or I come here to watch the stars. Why? What happened?", the white haired girl explained, partially saying the truth but leaving out the meetings with Erik

However, something at the pit of her stomach was telling her that Meg knew and she wasn't sure how she would cover it; if she did.

"Last night… I… I saw you with the… *looks around nervously and whispers* Opera Ghost"

"…Meg… I-"

"It is okay, I understand… I was kind of shocked but then I saw you guys, singing to each other and then…"

At the memories of the previous night, Juliette's cheeks rose up and she found herself smiling while looking at the side and at the other rooftops of the buildings behind them.

"Look, Meg, *takes her hands into hers* I know that you are here much longer than me and you have heard the stories, witnessed the small incidents but he is not as bad as people make him be. I had the chance to know him and I mean, I am still here; with you"

"I guess… but I am afraid, Juliette. I am afraid of you, I cannot let you get hurt; what kind of a friend would I be?"

"You are the best friend I ever had Meg. You telling me about all this, it means a lot and I promise you, I will take care of myself. Nothing will go wrong"

"You promise it?"

"I promise it"

Meg smiled and hugged the taller girl who quickly hugged back as they smiled. After a few seconds, they broke it and looked at each other.

"Okay but be careful, it won't be good for you or him if more people saw you like I did last night"

"Yeah, I think it was a little too risky. Especially with what happened with Marie"

"Yeah, so you better act smarter. I cannot have any more gossip ran about you, especially now that they will be more truth than the current ones"

"Yes Meg"

"Okay… are you coming back inside? It is freezing out here", the blond said as she rubbed her arms to keep them warm.

"I will come in a little"

The blond nodded and quickly rushed inside, slightly shivering from the cold. Juliette felt the cold too but she ignored it as she had something to do first. She turned away from the door and looked at the angel statue.

A second later, Erik walked from behind it and dressed in his usual attire. She smiled at him and walked towards him as he did the same.

"I have a feeling I am not the only one who got scolded?"

"Your feeling is once again correct mademoiselle", he said as they now stopped in front of each other and chuckled slightly.

"I am curious though how you and Madame Giry know each other"

"That is a story for another time. Another time when u will not be freezing yourself out here", he said as he wrapped his cape around her like before and rested his hand on his cheek. She leaned on it and smiled before placing her right hand on his masked face.

She observed it carefully, feeling the material beneath her freezing fingers and slowly made the move to remove it but Erik grabbed her fingers and pulled them back as gently as he could, trying to control himself from doing something in a rush that would make Giry's words true.

"Please don't", he said in a sad voice filled with pain and sorrow that Juliette felt deep within her core.

"What are you afraid of Erik?", she asked even though she knew the answer and looked at him in the eyes.

Well, part of the answer. She knew about the deformity but the true question was, was he afraid that she would be scared? That she would leave him? Or was he afraid to let himself vulnerable in front of her?

He understood the feeling of wearing a mask, figuratively or literally. She did too, made her feel powerful and confident. When she didn't, like those days she cried in her dressing room, she felt vulnerable and she was certain he did too; to a point.

"You know what I am afraid of"

The answer was vague, not helping her at all but decided to not push the subject any longer. It was obvious, not pleasant and hated seeing that look in his eyes, all this pain and sorrow. It made her feel like crying and hugging him tightly.

"Then I won't… today. One day though, I will see you without the mask. One day, when you are ready", she said in a reassuring tone as they looked into each other's eyes.

"Maybe, one day. What happened with the ballerina rat?"

"Marie? She still has her doubts but believes the whole idea of a dream. However, girls do tend to mock her now and tease her"

"Good, a taste of her own medicine. It was about time"

"Well, I feel sorry for her you know"

"You shouldn't", he said in a slightly colder tone.

"I know but I can't help it"

"She made your life hell since you first set foot in my Opera"

"She is just spoiled and no matter the person, no matter their actions, deserves any kind of bad treatment"

Erik was about to argue, he opened his mouth to say something but closed it soon after. She had a valid point. If that was the case, he should have passed through hell once again for what he did back then.

Well, technically, he did but he had Juliette now. He had his snow angel, someone too pure, especially for him.

He let the subject drop and instead looked at her beautiful face; her kindness in her purple eyes and that fire behind them that burnt powerful and dangerously. She was too kind, too gentle and caring for a human but yet here she was.

He felt the need to protect such creature, such entity from the harsh and cruel world. He wasn't surprised the way she talked about Marie and how she felt sympathy for the bully, it was Juliette after all.

He wondered if there was any person she hated, despised or simply would want to hurt or wound; make him or her, pay for something they did on her or on others.