"You have brought me, to that moment when words run dry... To that moment when speech disappears into silence..." I sung as I looked down at Don Juan Triumphant.

"You have a beautiful voice." Said a deep voice behind me, and I jumped. Erik stood by my bed, holding my wrinkled gown. "I think it is time I returned this," he murmured sheepishly. I smiled slightly at him and I stood from my vanity.

"Sing," I said.

"What?" Erik asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sing this, with me," I repeated, gesturing to Don Juan. He stated at me skeptically for a moment then sighed, giving in to me.

"You have come here," he sung, his voice deep and seductive.

"In pursuit of

your deepest urge,

in pursuit of that wish,

which till now has been silent,

silent . . .

I have brought you, that our passions

may fuse and merge -

in your mind you've already

succumbed to me, dropped all defenses, completely succumbed to me -

now you are here with me:

no second thoughts, you've decided,

decided . . .

Past the point of no return -

no backward glances:

the games we've played till now are at an end . . .

Past all thought of "if" or "when" -

no use resisting:

abandon thought, and let the dream

descend . . .

What raging fire shall flood the soul?

What rich desire unlocks its door?

What sweet seduction lies before us . . .?

Past the point of no return,

the final threshold - what warm,

unspoken secrets will we learn?

Beyond the point of no return . . ." He cut off, and it took me a moment to realize he was waiting for me to continue. I had been caught up the sound of his voice. A person should not be allowed to have a voice that beautiful.

"You have brought me to that moment where words run dry,

to that moment where speech disappears

into silence, silence . . .

I have come here,

hardly knowing the reason why . . .

In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining

defenseless and silent -

and now I am here with you:

no second thoughts,

I've decided,

decided . . .

Past the point of no return -

no going back now:

our passion-play has now, at last, begun . . .

Past all thought of right or wrong -

one final question:

how long should we two wait, before we're one . . .?

When will the blood begin to race the sleeping bud burst into bloom?

When will the flames, at last, consume us . . .?"

I smiled and held my hand out to him.

"Past the point of no return," We sung, our voices combining. "The final threshold -

the bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn . . .

We've passed the point of no return..."

As the song faded I stared up at Erik, my eyes wide, chest heaving. Though it wasn't fear I felt, but awe. What a puzzle this man was.

"If I wasn't so short," I murmured. "I would kiss you." and as though Erik couldn't contain himself any longer, he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me into the air, his lips meeting mine. I was stunned for a moment, unable to believe what I had just said, what he was doing! But after a moment my body relaxed and I put my hands on his shoulders, kissing him back. Never before had I been kissed like this, with such passion or... or... Need. His heart was empty, and it was obvious he just wanted to be loved. He put me down abruptly, backing away from my. I was still shaken from the kiss that it took me a moment to realize he had let go.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I shouldn't have done that..."

"Erik!" I said, but he had already disappeared into the trap door. I sat heavily on the stool in front of my vanity and rested my forehead in my hands. We had kissed. I had kissed the Phantom of the Opera. I must be out of my mind.

I shoved my bed out of the way and yanked at the trapdoor, but it didn't budge. Of course. How else was I supposed to get down there? Perhaps there was a simpler way. I just had to go down. That worked, until I reached a lock door that led to the catacombs of the opera. I examined the door, looking into the lock. I pulled a pin out of my hair and stuck it into the lock, but when I twisted it the pin snapped. I pulled out the remainder of the pin and began to peer inside the lock again. Actually a key wouldn't fit into the key hole. Something large and rhombused shaped had to be fit into the lock. Curious I pulled the diamond I had found at the Populaire out of my belt pouch and stuck it into the lock. I turned the knob and it clicked to my surprise. I pulled the diamond out with a nod of satisfaction.

I regretted not thinking to bring a lantern as he heavy door swung shut behind me and plunged me into darkness. I couldn't hardly see a thing, even after my eyes adjusted to the dark. I blundered along in the dark, running one hand over the wall. Finally I reached that corridor where I knew where the noose was concealed. I pressed my back to the wall and edged around it, and luckily I was able to make it to the entrance to cave uneventfully. Erik jumped as he saw me enter the cave.

"How did you-"

"Erik, you kissed me." I said, stoutly cutting over him. Color was rising in his visible cheek.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that," He murmured, turning away from me.

"But you wanted to." I pointed out. "And I think," I took a deep breath, "I wanted it too."

Erik spun to look at me, incredulity painting his face. Women were normally not this forward, but in a situation like this all formality could be set aside.

"Alanna... You know what I am, correct?"

"Yes, but from what you told me, your actions were of that of a crazed and desperate man, and not the man that stands before me."

"I can't know that," Erik said earnestly. "I could just snap without warning, and become who I was. My sanity is very unstable."

"Well we should make sure that will never happen, and add some stability in your life." I said, putting a hand on his arm.

"Why do you even care so much?" Erik snapped, pulling his arm away.

"Because in your eyes I see me." I muttered, and Erik stared at me. "I see a scared frightened core, who just wants to be loved and accepted, but doesn't wish to try because they have lost so much."

"I suppose," Erik murmured gruffly, "There is a truth in that...

"But Alanna," he continued. "When I was with Christine, I didn't know when to let her go until it was too late to fix all the damage and hell I had created. I can't let that happen again."

I sighed exasperatedly. "That you can recognize these mistakes means that you can spot them in the future, and prevent them from happening. And everything is different than when Christine was here. I am here willingly." I folded my arms and waited for him to respond.

"I really don't know about this... I don't want you to get hurt."

"I'm a big girl," I said stoutly. "I can take care of myself."