Hey everyone, thanks again for the reviews…. Here's another sweet chapter! You've all been so helpful to me…thanks a lot!

The next morning I awoke in the empty bed I had sat in with Erik. When I opened my eyes, I noticed Erik standing shirtless in front of the mirror within the room. He was holding a basin with one hand, and reaching for his exposed skull with his other. I had never seen his back before, and it looked worse than his front. His back had more horrible scars than I had ever seen before, and he was so thin that the ridges of his spinal cord stuck out. I sat up, and rubbed my eyes as the sun shun in through the window.

"Are you ok?" I asked in a groggy tone.

I saw Erik pause in the mirror, and glance my way without turning to face me.

"I'm trying to use the wash Nadir has given me." he replied. "But as you can probably see, it's impossible with how much pain my arms are in."

Erik was right, his skin still looked very irritated and red. Deciding to help him, I got out of bed, and approached the mirror. I took the basin out of his hand, and sat it down on the top of the bureau.

"You're doing it wrong." I laughed softly.

Erik's face turned a shade of dark red, instantly telling me that my laughter had angered him.

"What's so funny?" he asked.

I immediately wiped the smile off my face, and shook my head.

"Nothing…anyway let me help you."

I reached up for Erik's neck, when he backed away.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm going to help you wash out your scar." I said. I could tell he thought I wanted to pull off his mask.

After a few seconds, he approached me again, and let me continue. Once again I reached up for his neck, and gently pulled his head down towards me.

"Lean your head over the basin." I instructed.

Erik did as he was told, and I tilt his head to the left. Afterwards, I slowly pushed his exposed skull inside the basin, before beginning to splash the medical was on it with my hand. I ran my fingers gently through each crevice, being careful around his purple and blue veins. Afterwards, I grabbed a towel from inside the bureau to dry him off.

"Thank you." he replied, rubbing the towel over his skull.

"How do you feel today?" I asked.

"Tired, I didn't have a goodnight's rest."

"Where did you sleep?" I asked.

Surely it wasn't beside me….I had fallen asleep alone, and I woke up the same way.

"On the couch…out near the kitchen."

Oh why did he force himself to sleep on the couch? He was sick…and in no condition to be sleeping on something so hard.

"I have somewhere I want to take you." he said, putting on a shirt.

"Where?" I asked.

I saw a small smile escape his lips.

"You'll see, now come along."

I followed Erik out to the kitchen, where Esmeralda was cooking breakfast. She was about to fill up a plate for me, when Erik stopped her.

"That won't be necessary, we'll be eating else where today."

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Into town." he replied. "We shall be back shortly, and when I return, I want to gather everyone up for a meeting."

I wasn't sure what Erik had on his mind, but decided to wait and see. After standing in front of another mirror to adjust his dark wig, and throw on his jacket, we were off. When I stepped outside, the cool air went straight through me. Our camp was hidden in a wooded area, making it hard to tell where town was. Erik began walking down a dark path, and I followed him. We only walked a small distance, before the woods ended, and a cobble stone road began. Erik was right, we were right in town…or close to it anyway. There was a street full of vendors and little shops, and I followed Erik to where ever he was taking me. When we came across a small café, he opened the door, and motioned for me to go first. Inside was dark, but warmer than the cold winter air that was outside. It seemed empty due to the fact that no one else was sitting at the tables. Erik seemed to know the place like the back of his hand, and led me to the back corner which was darker than the rest of the entire place. There was a booth, with a small dim candle sitting on the table, giving off a little light, but not much. When I took a seat, Erik did as well, and placed his folded hands on the table top. The corner we were in was so dark, that it hid his mask, leaving the normal side of his face glowing in the candle light. Moments later a young waitress with dark hair approached our table and whipped out a small note pad.

"What can I get you?" she asked in a strong French accent.

Erik motioned me to go first, but I wasn't sure what to order. When I didn't say anything, I felt Erik's hand touch mine, causing me to make eye contact with him.

"You know they have very good oatmeal here." he replied in a soft yet kind tone.

I nodded, and told the waitress what I wanted. When it was Erik's turn to order, he asked for a small stack of apple pancakes, and a glass of water. When the waitress was gone, I glanced back at Erik and smiled.

"Have you been here before?" I asked. "I mean, how else do you know about their oatmeal?"

Seriousness over took Erik's face, as his blue eyes connected with mine.

"Yes, Lauralye I have been here before. It was actually with Christine….the final time I saw her."

This interested me…I wanted to know…

"I'd like to hear about it, if you're willing to tell me that is."

Erik nodded, and glanced into the candle light, avoiding eye contact with me.

"I lived at the Paris opera house for most of my life….I won't go into detail…it hurts too much. Anyway I stayed within the shadows, never showing myself to a single soul…except Christine. She came to the opera house as a young girl…grieving her father's death. I was a voice, an angel that she begged for, teaching her how to sing behind dark walls. I begged her to love me, but when she saw my face….."

Erik stopped, and placed a hand at the good side of his face, feeling his cheek, and closing his eye….I knew I was causing him pain, something I didn't want to do.

"Erik you can stop if you want."

"No, it's fine…" he replied. "I just needed a moment."

After a few seconds he continued.

"Anyway, when she denied my love, I went a bit crazy. Especially after I found her kissing another man one evening. So one night I kidnapped her off the stage during an opera and gave her a choice. I told her that she either had to spend her days with me, or I would kill her lover. Time was running short, a mob was coming after me…..I had her lover in a noose…"

"What happened?" I asked, begging him to go on.

"She…she kissed me."

All I could think about at that moment was why someone like Christine could play games with Erik, the man who truly loved her, taught her to sing, and would give his own very soul to her.

"I let her go…after she kissed me, I let her go."

"Why?" I asked. "She made her choice."

"No, she was kissing me out of pity, pity for her lover. I would have done anything to see her smile…seeing Christine Daae smile was everything to my heart and soul. I knew if I kept her, she would never smile again, and it would have killed me. I granted her freedom, and her happiness."

"So how did the two of you end up here?" I asked.

"After she left me, I left the opera house and started to build my freak show. Six months into it I received an anonymous letter telling me to come to the darkest corner of this very café. When I arrived, Christine was here waiting for me. I thought she was meeting me to tell me things between her and her lover were going bad….but she only met with me to see how I was doing."

"Did you tell her how much you loved her?" I asked.

"Ten times over and over, but she didn't feel the same way. I regret saying it to her, because when she once again denied my love, I became angry and said some things I didn't mean. She ran out of the café in tears, and a few days later she died with her lover in a carriage accident. My last words to her was something so cruel…something I can never take back, something I can never apologize about because she's dead…."

I could see tears trying to escape Erik's eye, but he wouldn't allow it to fall. he needed comfort, and I was the person who needed to give it to him. I slowly rose from my seat, and placed myself beside him. I then took my hand, and placed it on his lap, causing him to glance down at me.

"Erik, it's not your fault. Christine…she didn't deserve you or your love. Yes you said mean things to her, but you shouldn't beat yourself up over it."

Erik wiped his eye, and place his pale hand at the side of the candle.

"I'm sorry, it's just very hard for me to bring up such subjects."

Erik was scarred on the inside from such events, and I was going to do what ever possible to heal those scars….day by day even if it took an eternity to do.

"So, let me get down to why I brought you here." he began. "Retake your seat on the other side."

I got up, and sat down across from him once again. He then went inside the lapel of his jacket, and took out a magazine.

"While I was up and about last night, I took part in reading some of Esmeralda's newspapers and such. I've been thinking about the future of this show, and that's when I found this."

Erik then opened to a page, and slipped it in front of me. I glanced down to see an add for someplace called "Coney Island." there was a hand drawn picture of a large boardwalk with a Ferris wheel and tents set up all around.

"Coney Island?" I questioned.

"Why yes." he replied. "It's become the worlds newest and successful playground. People come from all over to gaze upon acrobats and freaks."

"Where is Coney Island?" I asked.

Erik snatched the magazine from under me, and placed it back inside his jacket.

"That's what I wanted to ask you."

"Ask me what?"

"Coney Island is very far away from here….we would have to take a ship to get to it….I wanted to ask you first to get your reaction."

"Reaction?" I questioned.

Erik smiled.

"Yes, I wanted to know if you think the others will join me?"

I thought for a moment. They were his workers, but would they actually accompany him in such a long journey…and would it be worth it? But Erik was such a kind boss, and everyone that worked for him did like him.

"Yes, I think they would."

"Great, because that's what my meeting is about. I plan on getting to the ship yard by tomorrow morning."

My mind began to wander….was Erik going to take me as well?

"There is something I've been wanting to ask you, and your answer is very crucial to me."

"What?" I asked.

Erik took both my hands in his, and squeezed them lightly.

"Would you like to join me?"

My heart leapt at the sudden question….I paused, thinking of what to say, but my silence worried him, for he spoke again in such a nervous tone.

"Oh please say you will, please! I know we might have to live in the slums for a while until I make enough money for something better but I promise to be there for you."

I had to calm him down, before he caused his heart such pain.

"Erik, please calm down. I'll go."

Erik smiled, and took a deep breath.

"I'd go anywhere with you."

Before Erik could say another word, our breakfast was sat down in front of us. I began to eat the oatmeal I had ordered, when I looked over at Erik to notice that he was chewing in agony.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

Erik placed his fork down, and sighed.

"It's very hard to eat in comfort with my mask on. This is the only mask I own, because my meal mask was left back in Paris."

Once again my fault….I had left Erik's other mask he wore when eating back where Crawly and Lonnie were. Erik couldn't eat because of me….Without thinking, I switched our meals. I placed my bowl of oatmeal in front of him, and took his pancakes for myself. He wouldn't have to chew the oatmeal, only swallow it.

"There." I said. "eat mine."

Erik's hand gently snatched the plate of pancakes, and refused.

"No, I couldn't possibly expect you to eat that." he said. "That's not what you wanted, why should I force you to eat what you didn't want."

"Erik it's fine." I said, pulling the plate closer to me.

"You really don't have to do that." he argued.

"But I want to, now eat your breakfast." I said, taking a forkful of the pancakes.

As we began to eat, his eyes met with mine for the first time in a way I could only think of being thankful, thankful for my friendship. When our meal was over, we walked outside to get back to camp. When we returned, everyone was standing around waiting for Erik to begin the meeting. He started it just like he had with me, by whipping out the magazine to show everyone.

"That." he replied, pointing to the ad. "Is where I'm going. It's America's new playground, and I believe we can be successful there. I would like everyone to join me, we leave tomorrow for the docks. Does anyone not want to come?"

Erik waited for a raise of hands, a raise of hands that never came. Each and everyone of his workers wanted to join him, everyone including me. I would follow him to the ends of the earth, just to be in his company. We camped out for the remainder of the day, I had gone back into Esmeralda's caravan to rest. I had begged Erik to rest as well, but he denied my plea and stayed outside. Later that evening I was lying in bed, reading a book I had found in one of Esmeralda's piles of reading material. It was a story about a girl running away from her parents so she wouldn't have to be married. The story made me feel like it was about my life, only it didn't have Erik in it. When I heard the privacy drapes being pulled back, I glanced over to see Erik entering.

"I see that this room is taken." he said in a friendly tone. "I shall see myself to the couch then."

I argued before he could go away.

"No, join me."

Erik popped his head out towards the kitchen to see if anyone was around, before coming in and pulling the drapes shut.

"Alright then, but I must get changed into my night clothes."

I placed the book down.

"Do you want me to leave?" I asked.

Erik unfolded his black slacks and shirt before answering.

"No, just shield your eyes."

I picked my book back up, and glanced down at the pages.

"I said close your eyes, not burry them within a book."

I smiled.

"I won't look, you can trust me."

"I do." he said. "but it's not about trust, it's about having a little privacy."

I didn't want to anger him, and I had to admit that he was right….So once again I shut my book, and placed a pillow over my face. I lied there listening to buttons coming loose, and articles coming off his body. After a few minutes, I felt someone taking a seat beside me, and soon the pillow was taken off my face. He placed it aside, and smiled.

"There, that wasn't so hard was it?"

I shrugged my shoulders, and opened the book again to continue reading.

"Anything interesting?" he asked.

"Not really." I said shutting the book. "pretty boring actually."

I was underneath the warm blankets, but Erik was sitting atop of them. He had to be cold, but I couldn't tell.

"Aren't you cold?" I asked.

"No." was his reply.

I glanced down to see his pale, boney feet placed at the end of the bed. Before he could stop me, I reached down and touched them with my hand. The cold coming them immediately sent a shock through my body, and for me to argue with him.

"You're freezing." I said.

Erik snatched my hand gently, and pulled me closer to his face.

"What did I tell you last night?"

"About what?" I asked.

"About touching any other part of me besides my lips. You promised me, remember?"

I did promise him, but did I want to obey it….no.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"Well you should be…"

Without saying another word, I tore the blankets out from under him and covered his lap up. He was now sitting on the mattress with me, and I could tell he was nervous about it.

"Erik, what's wrong?" I asked.

"I can't be sitting here like this with you."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not worthy."

This broke my heart…how could he think that? How could Erik think that he didn't deserve to be able to sit next to me.

"Don't ever say that." I said.

"Why not?" he asked. "It's true."

"No, it's not."

There was candle light, coming from a small burning candle that was sitting on the nightstand. I leaned over and blew it out, causing the room to be in complete darkness. I could see Erik's dark figure, but not any of his features. I needed to show him that he was worthy of lying beside me…..he needed love, and I was going to give it to him. I gently pushed him back against the pillows, and crawled onto him gently without applying any pressure to his chest. He seemed nervous, but let me continue. I then placed my hand on his mask, and began to pull it off when he stopped me.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"It's dark." I said. "I can't see you…"

Erik then finished the removal of his mask without my help, and placed it on the night stand. My hands explored his flesh, both good side and bad. My fingers traced along the grooves and crevices in his distorted flesh, like a mouse lost within a maze.

"Does it not revolt you?" he asked softly.

I gently placed my lips down onto his bottom lip, giving him a quick peck.

"No, not at all."

"If you've seen it, you'd say otherwise."

I loved this man with my whole heart, and I couldn't let him think that. I wanted his hiding to stop, I wanted to love him as the way he was born.

"Erik light the candle and let me see you." I begged. "I promise I won't scream."

His hands grabbed onto mine, and he flipped me over onto my back. He was now hovering over me, breathing heavily down my neck.

"What did I tell you before?" he growled.

"Erik, you're not a monster, please try to understand that."

"I won't understand that because it's not true! If Christine couldn't love me for what I truly look like, then neither can you. No one can, my own mother couldn't even look upon me and love."

My hands had a mind of their own, and found the back of Erik's neck. His head lifted from my neck, and my lips caught his. My kiss weakened his knees, and within seconds his legs were entangled with mine. I felt his cold hand place itself on the right side of my neck, while his other one held my side. Our tongues danced a tango within each other's mouths, hot breath meeting with ice cold, ice cold breath meeting with hot, everything about it turned me on…Soon Erik stopped, and lied there on me, running his fingers through my hair.

"Could I ask you something?" he questioned.

"Of course, anything."

"What did it feel like?"

This had gotten my attention. What did it feel like? What did what feel like? His kiss? Was that what he was asking?

"What does what feel like?" I asked.

"My lips against yours."

I smiled, but it was too dark for him to notice.

"Leather…tough, dry, leather."

"And that doesn't bother you?" he asked.

"How could that bother me?" I asked. "I've only ever know one pair of lips, and that's yours."

His lips came down over mine once again, and I found myself asking the same thing.

"What did hers feel like?" I asked. "Christine's I mean."

There came a long pause, before he answered.

"There was only one time where I ever had the privilege of touching them, and they were soaked with tears….I felt terrible."

"I'm sorry about that." I said.

"Your kiss makes up for it."

I didn't know what to say…what could I say to that? It was then Erik asked me something I had never expected him to.

"I want you to forget about what Lonnie did to you. I find myself curious in knowing what it felt like for you."

"What what felt like?" I asked.

"Sex."

My breath was taken away at the thought of such question. What did it feel like? I was so frightened that I didn't even think about what was happening to me. When I didn't answer, Erik began to apologize.

"Please, forgive me. I'm dreadfully sorry for asking you that."

"No, it's fine." I said. "I just don't remember what it felt like."

"It's been so many years since I was forced to make love to that corpse….I was so frightened and embarrassed that I guess I immediately threw it out of my mind. I myself have never made love to a living being….I'm sorry I asked you that question…I'm just…"

I cut in.

"I know Erik, you don't have to apologize."

"You're still young. You have your whole life to find someone to do that with….me, I'm hideous, so it makes things difficult for me, and I'm not young anymore. I guess monsters were never meant to make love…"

"Erik, don't call yourself a monster…please."

"I shall never find a woman willing to look upon me and love. I could easily find someone wearing my mask….but without it, I'm helpless."

My body screamed for him! I wanted to tell him how much I loved him, but I didn't want to do it…not this way. I had something special in mind, something I would do to confess my love to him once we reached Coney Island.

"It's getting late, we should get some rest." he replied, getting up from the bed.

"Erik, stay with me tonight?"

I had expected him to crawl back in bed with me, but instead he just covered me up.

"You must never ask me of that, for I never will do such a thing. Monsters don't share beds with angels…"

"Erik…"

"NO!" he growled.

Silence over took the room once more, before I saw him grab his mask and head towards the drapes.

"Goodnight, mademoiselle."

I knew I had angered him, for he called me by mademoiselle instead of my name. It had been a while since he called me that, and from now on I would know his anger just by him calling me by something other than my name. I not only hoped that tomorrow would be pleasant, but also our long journey to Coney Island….

Ok…hope you liked it….Just read the review and plot lines from Love Never Dies…I like it..can't wait to see it in a few months! Let me know what you think everyone, hope to have the next chapter up soon. Thanks!