Erik: I am a badass and you all know it.

Natalie: Who the hell would disagree.

Madam Oakheart: Not me

Natalie (Jumps on Erik) He's mine so back off

Madam Oakheart: (Holds hands up in surrender) Can i barrow him for a day

Natalie: (Hands me Erik) I want him back in perfect condition

Erik: DO I GET A SAY IN THIS (Tries to run away)

Madam Oakheart: (Catches him) Come on Erik (Walks away dragging him)

Chapter 11: Erik

I ran my hand down Natalie's midnight black hair. She was asleep peacefully against me. I fingered the spot where BEAST was written. Something inside me snarled. I knew if I ever met the man he would pay for what he did to her and Taylor. Easily I pictured how he would be now. He would have been 13 years old.

Just picturing his black hair and green eyes. Putting together with my mind a perfect image of us. He would be a composer and amazing one at that. A mad genius just like his parents. I felt myself missing him even though I never knew him. I wanted what I couldn't have, doesn't everyone. Kissing the top of Natalie's head I pushed away Taylor thinking only of my savior, my Natalie.

My savior from the light. She accepted me for what I was. That could never be thanked enough. Now I couldn't think of one way more to bond the most other than marriage. True it was near impossible. Though the dream tantalized me so. It laughed at the helplessly in love phantom. Taunted us.

I laughed softly at my predicament. We were in love and that's all that mattered. I fell asleep leaning protectively over her. That thought swaying me into a comforting and restful sleep that I only seem to get when holding Natalie

I felt someone shift from under me. Automatically I stretched and felt the dull ache in my muscles from sleeping like I did. Moaning I stood. Blinking I took in Natalie's form then angelic face. Stumbling over a table leg I collapsed on the ground. If I didn't know any better I would have said I drank last night.

Knowing I didn't though I was confused. I felt like I didn't sleep at all. Pinning it on staying awake to long and pushing my body too much as the causes I shoved away the tired feeling in my bones.

It also seemed the signs of extreme blood lose; it just didn't make any sense. Looking myself up and down I noticed red on white. Examining it closer I realized it wasn't just sore muscles. Natalie too noticed. Thinking back I had blamed the pain on sore muscles when really it was a slice from a knife. Had I really not noticed it?

Must have been at the cemetery I wasn't really in a self-caring mood then. Finally the pain hit me. My mouth opened in a soundless gasp. Looking over I noticed the red water beside where I had fallen asleep. Striping off my shirt I went to bandage it but Natalie beat me there. Gently rubbing the dried blood away with a warm cloth. She beamed at me. Kneeling as to be nearly level with the cut she set at cleaning it.

Careful to show that it didn't hurt even though it burned. Her lips pressed softly against the top of the cut. Standing she handed me a loose black silk shirt. Pulling it over my chest Natalie winked at me. "I love you, Erik."

"If it is even half of how much I love you then I'm the luckiest man alive."

"No you're the most dashing angel alive."

"Are you sure you don't mean demon."

"Perhaps to you, you see a demon all I see is my lover Erik."

"What a foolish girl you are and lover?"

"Foolishly in love and perfectly fine with it and yes lover." She smiled coyly.

"And I'm so thankful for that."

"Anything to make you happy Erik. Anything at all. For you I'd fight god and win." A smile slid over my face at her words. The most beautiful angel in his domain had chosen Hell over heaven, how perfect and strange. For if she was from Hell I would have picked her over heaven without a thought. My thoughts changed from the subject when Natalie spoke.

"Today they go back to the surface." Yes indeed. It pained me that Natalie must go but it was for her safety so I could manage.

"Alright. Shall we go?" Nodding she gave the signal to the others and we all crammed back into the gondola. Natalie looked put down at the fact they were returning to the surface. Kissing her I showed them up to the trap door and they stumbled out coming onto the stage. In the least it was hilarious.

Meg has sobbing and clinging to Madam Giry who had a look of shock printed on her face. Raoul was stumbling around and had a fake makeup bruise on his face. Though Natalie scared me she wore a picture of utter hate. People rushed up asking what had happened and rambled on. This is where I have my fun.

"Hello monsieur's and madams. I have returned to you your precious opera stars. Treat them well. If you do not follow my regular rules these people will pay, let us say dearly." I walked back into the shadows but stopped in surprise.

"These people are innocent and only wish to help but I myself am not. I have not been honest with you; I am indeed in league with the phantom. It happens to be that I am in love with him. So I say good day as I follow my lover home." She stepped on the stages trap door and disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Turning away I rushed to my underground home. Part of me was in a rage for not consulting me first and for giving up everything. Though most of me was over joyed that I wouldn't be alone so much anymore.

Rushing down the tunnel I found her leaning against the wall next to my gondola. With a huge smile I hugged her and spun here around and around. Her soft lips pressed against mine. My spinning ceased and I pushed her up against the wall. Kissing her roughly I slid my hands to both sides of her hips.

Grinning I pulled away muttering, "Sorry love got a little carried away."

"Trust me I don't mind, at all."

"Shall we go?"

"Yes I want to go home." I took her hand in mine and we traveled to what I used to call my Hell. Now it is my heaven…

"Angel of darkness the world is in your hands." Natalie whispered. I looked at her in confusion. "Just one of my many random statements."

I watched her lean back an odd look in her eyes. It reminded me of a cat surveying its options. "Tell me what you are thinking." I said taking both her hands in mine, "Let me in your head. Let me see the glorious place, please let me see what is hidden underneath."

"You are beautiful." She sat back letting go of my hands after saying it as if the explained everything.

"Do you care to elaborate?"

"Everything is perfect. I could go on forever. Your beautiful voice masked in perfection, your sparkling eyes, the shape of your boy, the way you caress me as if I'll break, how you move like you own the world, and so much more…" She drowned on about all my greatness. I couldn't see any of these as perfection. How could she look at me and see all that but as I think I know she's so much like me. She refuses compliments just like I do. Neither of us could accept each other's good qualities. We doubted ourselves but that self-doubt made us who we were that day.

"When I look at you my Natalie you walk with the grace of a succubus. That crazy glint in your eyes when you think something mischievous. How you feel, your courage, you goddess formed body, and all that love that I don't deserve." Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears at what I had said. Her hand extended and I took it again. I saw ink written on her hand. It spelled out I love you in her elegant script. Kissing her hand I pulled her against me. This love could never fade.

What we had was everlasting. It was something I never thought I would find nor deserve. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't just let go of my fears. They stayed with me just like my revenge. My revenge was something I wished to fulfill. The revenge I sought was upon Philbert De Cagney. I would kill him for what he did to my family, which I can assure you…Yes he would pay, dearly.