A/N: Thanks for the quick reviews. I will reward you with another chapter tonight. Read and enjoy. I thank each and every reader and expecially my reviewers for keeping me on track.

Chapter Twenty-five

Masked Demons

Anna had been reluctant to return to work the next morning in fear of encountering Harry once more. She did not know of Erik's visit to Harry the night before.

Trailing along beside Erik she felt trepidation in every step she took. She longed to cling to Erik as she felt safest with his arms wrapped around her. He acted rather peculiar this morning. He kept a goodly distance from her. Perhaps she had in some way let him know of her feelings and he wished to make sure she knew he did not care to become close in that way. He had after all only recently been madly in love with...with that...that woman.

Thinking back on Erik's reactions to her at times Anna thought she might take things into her own hands for once. If she let Erik make a move, if he had been so inclined, they may well both be dead before he roused enough courage to make his advance toward her. When they reached the top of the last flight of stairs and Anna stood before the door she quickly turned back to Erik to wrap her arms around his thin waist as she buried her face in his chest.

"Come find me during the day. Let me know you are there. Please come find me. I need to know you are near." Anna felt childish begging Erik to watch over her like a child that had woken from a nightmare. Well had her life only recently not been a waking nightmare? Shamefully she clung to him. Did not men like to feel they could slay every dragon for their women?

Erik could only stand in stunned silence as his brain slowly sifted through and examined each of Anna's words. Here a woman clung to him begging to hear his ghostly voice coming from the walls, while others would faint or run screaming if such a thing was to happen in their presence.

Erik could not help feeling Anna's words bolster his pride more than any accomplishment in his entire life. To have a woman's trust and respect gave a man pride in himself as provider and protector. Erik had never really been either of those things. Now he found he longed for that more than anything, well perhaps he longed for a couple of other things more but Anna's request and response to him thus far gave him hope for the future.

Erik had reluctantly released Anna promising he would indeed find her throughout the day. He wished he dare ask what she thought would be an overly done surveillance. He would be free all day and could with clear conscience follow her all day. Thinking that might smack of stalking as he had Christine, Erik would limit himself to only four visits, short visits. He knew all too well his penchant for allowing things to escalate beyond control.

Harry had sought out Desiree. He enlisted her in his plans. That damn demonic cloaked figure from last night had made it clear he would not tolerate any continued pursuit of Anna by Harry so plans needed to change.

Desiree had jumped at the chance to get a little revenge upon Anna although if someone were to ask she could not give one specific incident where Anna had done anything against Desiree or even spoken out against her in a derogatory manner. Desiree hated Anna on principal. Or her own shallow principals at least.

Anna had been a little stunned when Desiree had traded shifts with Theresa, letting Theresa have her Friday shift in exchange for Desiree getting the Saturday shift. Desiree did not seem the type to work overly hard for anything. Perhaps Anna had misjudged her. If all Anna had heard about Desiree had been true Anna would have expected the woman to be staying in bed all day in order to carouse all night as the gossip mill claimed she did.

Anna herself would rather have her weekend free but could not trade with anyone as that would give Madame Dubois one more reason to dislike her.

As Erik had promised he had come to her during the day. He would wait until he would find Anna alone then make his presence known to her. Anna could not help the hero worship she began to develop for Erik nor the niggling feeling of what she could only describe as love or at least what she thought love would feel like. Not having any experience she could not say with any degree of certainty.

She did seem to find herself daydreaming about him quite often. More often than a mere friendship warranted. If they had compared notes they would both have learned that their thoughts had been directed toward one another throughout the day.

During the lunch break Anna joined Kate and Rafe at a table. Anna hid her annoyance when Desiree sat down beside Anna drawing her into a conversation Anna could well have done without. Anna had wanted to speak more with Kate and Rafe.

Desiree issued an invitation for Anna to accompany her to dinner Saturday evening after work. She even offered to treat Anna to dinner. As much as Anna wished to refuse how could she without seeming churlish? Against her better judgment Anna accepted the invitation. It had been decided that Anna would meet Desiree out front. She would have a carriage waiting. Desiree told Anna to go ahead and wait in the carriage if she were a few minutes late that she would join her as soon as she could.

Anna missed the sly smile crossing Desiree's face. If she had seen it she might have had second thoughts about going anywhere with Desiree.

Kate and Rafe exchanged a look holding only suspicion. They well knew Desiree's usual Saturday's were spent with whichever young noble had the misfortune to be caught in her web. After every performance those privileged from the audience were encouraged to mingle among the stars of song and dance. If male patrons coming backstage would outnumber the women, the more pleasant looking staff members would be asked to dress nicely to help entertain.

Desiree being one of the more attractive of the operas employees had been encouraged to take part in tempting those men to let loose the money in their wallets. If she also bettered her own circumstances who could blame her? The opera could always use patrons. If some behind the scene bargains were struck between men and women no one cared as long as it did not interfere with opera house business.

Kate tried to get Desiree to invite her as well but no matter how she hinted Desiree seemed oblivious. Rafe had even used his considerable charm with the same results. Something they knew was definitely in the works as Desiree had been after Rafe for many months. Now she refused what had been a blatant offer for Desiree to spend an evening in Rafe's company. They could hardly forbid Anna from going wherever she wished. They would just have to hope something came up to prevent the outing. Or if all else failed Kate and Rafe thought they could perhaps end up at the same restaurant as Anna and Desiree.

All day Anna debated whether or not to tell Erik about her intended outing with Desiree. He would probably not like her going. Anna had early morning duty to prepare the boxes for the matinee then her errands for Erik.

Calculating how long all this would take she thought she might be finished by five or six o'clock. Allowing two hours for dinner Anna thought she should be finished eating by eight. Then it would take a half an hour for the carriage ride home, all in all she should return home to Erik no later than nine. That gave her about half an hour just in case something happened to delay her. Surely nothing would happen as long as she had other people around her.

Having settled that matter Anna finished her tasks with lightness in her spirit that would soon turn to dark fear when unknown events unfurled to reveal evil intentions by those who masked themselves with cloaks of civility and normalcy for public viewing only to remove the masks in private turning into monstrous demons.

Anna could not help the silly grin spreading across her face nor the leap of her heart when she saw that tall horrible countenance that was Erik.

He looked far less monstrous daily as other things about him drew her interest and admiration. Erik would never be a handsome man but for Anna he began to be handsome of spirit. Even when looking at his face without the mask she could take each individual feature and find something that did not seem quite as awful as before. Anna had never been afraid of Erik really once she met him nor had she been disgusted by his face even when she thought it a horrible face.

Erik who had been leaning against the wall in his usual stance received quite a shock when Anna held out her hand to him even before he had made a move to stand properly.

Upon placing his hand in hers she drew him forward getting up on tiptoes to place a kiss on his chin. Anna being much shorter could only reach his chin with her lips even when standing on tiptoe. If Erik had known of the possibility of her giving him a kiss he would have bent his knees willingly to receive that salutation on his cheek even while wishing it could be his lips. He would settle for the chin, hope for his cheek while praying impossibly for her lips on his next time if such an occurrence should come about.

Anna chatted companionably as they walked along. She kept his hand in hers much to Erik's delight. How much more pleasant this walk seemed than any other of the thousands of times he had come this way before.

Erik felt as if he would burst his buttons when Anna requested he play something for her after their evening meal. Often Christine would request he play but he suspected it had been as a way to distract him from her than any real wish to hear any of his compositions.

When Anna took the stool from in front of her chair and scooted it to the side of his organ Erik began to doubt his ability to concentrate with her being so near.

She sat down and waited with a patient yet expectant expression on her face. How could he disappoint her? Pushing aside his libidinous thoughts Erik turned his mind to his more romantic repertoire. Erik had often been of the opinion that romantic composers were a waste of talent. With Anna looking at him so enchanted with his playing Erik thought perhaps he might have been mistaken.

When he had finished the last piece Erik looked at the clock. Had he really been playing for over an hour? Erik chastised himself. Anna must be starving by now. Erik could admit that his own stomach had been grumbling for the last half an hour or so.

Announcing that he would have supper on the table in a few minutes Erik instructed Anna to freshen up. She naturally protested albeit halfheartedly. She liked being made a fuss of by Erik. He made her feel special whether that had been his intention or not.

During the meal Anna apprised Erik of her evening plans for tomorrow night. She had expected his displeasure but not the dark sour look on his face.

Erik casually asked what young gentleman would have the honor of escorting her to supper. Anna had thought she had told him who her companion would be. Perhaps she had overlooked that little detail.

For all he had posed the question casually and calmly Erik felt his rage stirring. He gripped his knife and fork so tightly they began to bend. Dark thoughts of hiding in shadows as he wrapped his Punjab around an unsuspecting victim filled Erik's mind with malevolent intent. For all he had forswore killing anyone ever again he might make an exception if circumstances warranted it. Anna's straying affections he considered reason enough for violent actions. Why could other men not leave the women Erik sought alone? It was not as if Erik had a harem about his home. He did not even have a prospect other than Anna.

At last Erik had been forced to admit he wanted Anna for more than a mere companion. He wanted to be more to her than just her safe harbor, her protector. If he could have what he wanted they would be man and wife in every sense of the word. He did not know all the ins and outs of it but they could perhaps learn together. Erik could learn almost anything he set his mind to know.

When Anna told him that it was a woman who would be her companion during the meal Erik had been glad of the organ bench beneath him as his legs he had been certain would have collapsed beneath him otherwise.

He had closed his eyes trying to beat back the tears that wanted to fall. He cursed his tendency to cry like a woman when deeply affected by things that struck cords deeply inside him, tender feelings he had never learned to deter. Perhaps it had been for the betterment of everyone for him to have that release for who knew what might have happened if he had lost the tiny bit of humanity left to him after all the years of rejection and isolation? The things that did occur were horrible enough.

Although somewhat mollified Erik still could not say he felt any the less opposed to Anna going anywhere that he would not be able to follow so that he may offer his protection.

Erik reminded Anna of her former employers knowing where she worked. Anna countered that she doubted they would be watching her on a daily basis. They were far too self-involved for that type of commitment.

Not wishing for things to escalate into a disagreement Erik held back any further objections. Anna assured him that she should be no later than nine o'clock. She had no plans to go parading all over Paris after working since early morning.

For the rest of the meal Erik basked in Anna's comments on his cooking as well a number of other things she considered not to be things men usually took notice of or indeed would show an interest in other than what comfort or discomfort they offered.

Erik felt inner warmth spreading through him the rest of the evening. Anna continued to find things to admire about him. For the first time Erik received compliments from a woman. Scratching his head in wonder, he could think of no other person who had thought anything he did had merit. Those foreign demons of Persia he discounted as they only used his genius for death and destruction. Nothing he could be proud of had ever been created in that far off land.

Anna had even gone so far as to request they sit side by side on the settee so that Erik might finish the book he had been reading to her.

Erik had thought Anna would sit as far from his as possible. He almost swallowed his tongue when she took the cushion beside him. A hair would have trouble finding a place to land between them. Anna's thigh aligned along Erik's own disturbed him so much he doubted he could focus on any written words when his mind continued to shout out instructions as to what he should be doing now that Anna sat so close to him.

He did manage to begin reading but his voice held such a low, somewhat growling sound, Anna had to lean closer to Erik just to hear. This brought Anna even closer to Erik. He had equal amounts of delight and irritation as his mind took flight encouraging his body to want things he could not have.

Erik both enjoyed the evening and loathed it. Her closeness he enjoyed while he hated the frustration her nearness left behind.

When the clock struck eleven Erik called a halt to his self-induced torture. He declared that he felt unusually tired and would be having an early night. Sleep he knew would perhaps elude him all night.

Anna leaning over to place a kiss on his cheek almost brought him to the point of dismissing his gentlemanly code of conduct so that he might explore the possibility of Anna responding to further intimacies. The possibility of her rejection held him stiffly in place rather than reaching for her as his mind instructed him to do.

Erik bid her a calm and quiet good-night almost calling after her to lock her door. Since he would be the only person who would be entering uninvited he perhaps should not worry her with his libidinous instincts. As Erik watched the sway of her skirts his inner devil taunted him that perhaps it would be better still for him to lock his own door and nail it shut.

A/N Added Jan. 2, 2009: I have another couple of stories completed. I had hoped to finish posting this one but with the holidays reviews were slow in coming. I like to have at least four per chapter. I know that sounds greedy and arrogant to think I'll get them but a writer on this sight only has their numbers to brag about. Higher numbers of reviews bring in other readers. If I get my four I'll post as fast as I can.