II

"Is something wrong, Erik? Should I pace myself?"

My mind came back to my protégé as she gazed at the mirror which separated us. "Apologies, dear. I was lost in thought." Knowing she wouldn't be able to see, I still granted her a polite smile. "Let us stop for now and we can continue tomorrow from the beginning. Is that alright, Christine."

Christine sighed in disappointment as she cocked her head. "Are you cross with me? You have been gone for two months and this past week you have been distracted during our lessons. Have I displeased you in any way?"

"Ah, Christine, you have done no wrong." I assured her. "It is I who should beg for forgiveness. Here you are ready to learn and I'm distant with my thoughts. Forgive me, my dear." Christine, in return, smiled sweetly at me through the mirror.

We decided to have her lessons above ground on the condition I stay behind the mirror in case of any pestering annoyance from the company. She had no plans to return to my home down in the catacombs and I did not blame her, for she was used to the brightness the world above had to offer. All I wanted was for her to be accepting of my everything including the way I lived. However, for her I was willing to take my place above ground and live the life she wanted for us. The mask making me seem human was coming along nicely and soon she would not be embarrassed of me.

I was willing to part with what I had known to be a life and yet, I wondered if Elizabeth would scream at my cursed face just like Christine had. Would she finally be afraid of the Phantom who she thought was the nicest man she had met? What an odd creature she was. Beautiful, but odd.

"Erik? Are you alright?"

I looked up and shook my head, trying to eradicate my thoughts of Elizabeth. Here I was thinking of another woman while in Christine's presence. "Chris – "

"Excuse me, Christine?" A soft knock followed the small voice.

Christine glanced at the mirror and gave me a wary look. "Yes?"

I held my breath as the door slowly opened. It seemed too long of a time had passed since our first meeting, but there she was. Elizabeth. Just as radiant as the day I met her.

"Oh, Lizzy." Christine rose from her seat in front of her vanity, and gracefully started collecting her belongings. "I'm sorry, I must have kept you waiting long. Let me gather my things and we'll be off."

Elizabeth eyes roamed Christine's dressing room as she clutched, what seemed like, parchment paper in her hands. "It's quite alright. I was in Box 5 and lost track of time myself." Elizabeth smiled beamed. "Have I disturbed your vocal exercises?"

Christine placed her hand on Elizabeth's petite shoulder. "Don't be silly. I will always spare a moment for you. Oh," Christine halted and stepped back, taking Elizabeth's appearance in, "Did you say Box 5? Lizzy, that box – "

Elizabeth nodded. "Monsieur Phantom said I could use it from time to time."

Christine gave a quick glance at the mirror and then back at her ward. "Monsieur Phantom? Has Meg not grown tired of her imaginative stories? Pay no mind to them, Lizzy, there is not phantom."

Elizabeth dismissed Christine's words with a wave of her hand. "Oh, but there is. He's tall, wears elegant robes, smells like teakwood and oak, and is a gentleman for letting me use his box from time to time."

Did really not notice my mask if that was the only characteristics she wished to name? Had she forgotten how I pointed it out?

Christine's response halted as another knock was heard and Madame Giry welcomed herself inside. "Christine, I have been looking for you. Carlotta refused to rehearse her part and Monsieur Andre request you to come and take her place. Only for rehearsals today."

"Of course, Madame." Christine helped Elizabeth to her vanity. "I'll be a while unless you wish to go home by yourself?"

Elizabeth exhaled loudly. "I can't by myself Christine, I can't! Please…I can't…I will wait…yes…I will wait even if it takes you all night…" she rambled.

Gone was the composed girl I met a week ago and was replaced by this trembling, incoherent young child.

Christine held Elizabeth's hands in her own. "Madame, I will be there in a minute." Madame Giry nodded and gave Elizabeth an assuring looked before she stepped out of the room. "You are safe here, Elizabeth. I will not permit wickedness to happen upon you. Now," Christine sat Elizabeth in front of her vanity, "I will be back and, in the meantime, pretend you're a prima donna."

Christine quickly pinned Elizabeth's midnight hair in an updo and placed a sterling hairpin in her bun. "I disklike my hair up." Elizabeth pouted. "Makes me look like –"

"A lady." Christine smiled and made for the door. "I leave you in great care, Lizzy." She winked my way.

The room felt silent while Elizabeth pondered at her own reflection. Not five minutes had gone by that she unpinned her hair and shook her head. Her silked like hair cascaded down her back and she began to comb through it with her fingers. "I'm not a lady." She spoke softly.

I could not help but chuckle at her childish behavior. An odd creature she was. I watched her with such devotion as she combed out her hair. My leather gloves squeaked as I made a fist. I wanted – I wanted to go to her. Help her with that tangled mess, take her in my arms, and asked her why she refused to leave by herself. What was that display? Had she been mugged…or worse?

Elizabeth began to hum while writing, no doubt, the melody on her paper. Her body swayed slowly to her own melody. I closed my eyes and imagined what it would be like to make music with her. My hands on my piano whilst her petite frame loomed behind me, humming the melody we made together. She would then place her hands on my relaxed shoulders and the joy would radiant from both of us. My face bare and yet, she would not mind it so.

What was I thinking? How dare I envision such beauty with a horrible being like myself? She would most likely scream and run away in horror just like Christine had done. I grunted in annoyance and opened my eyes to see Elizabeth slumped on the vanity; she had fallen asleep.

An inner fight within me started to form but in the end, my impulse won. With caution, I opened the mirror and finally stepped out of my hiding place. My steps were feather like and I hoped I did not stir her awake. I kneeled beside her and gently tucked some lose strands of her hair behind her ear. As if I did not have enough fill the day I met her, I admired her face. Elizabeth's lips were a delicious shade of pink, her lashes were long, and the scent of lavender came from her like a garden. She was breathtaking.

I found myself smiling and it was a while before I realized she would wake to see my dreadful face staring back at her. I took the pen away from her hand and gently carried her to Christine's chaise. She felt so warm against my cold body and the sensation of having her once again in my arms secretly drove me to contentment. As I placed her down, her eyes suddenly fluttered opened.

"Monsieur Phantom." She whispered with a smile. "What brings you here without your box?"

"I don't take the box with me, petite. It's too big to carry in my pocket." This earned a giggle from the girl, and I found myself wooed even more. "You should sleep. I shall take my leave. Christine will be back soon."

"Ah," Elizabeth smirked, "Christine said there was no such thing as the Phantom and yet, it seems her and the Phantom are great friends."

"Once again, petite, you're too observant."

Elizabeth sat up and patted the empty space next to her. "Did I interrupt your music lessons, monsieur Phantom?"

"Erik" I felt the need to tell her the secret of my name. I wanted her to know just as she had revealed the intimacy of her name. "My name is Erik."

"Erik? That is insufficiently phantom like. I thought it would be something more clandestine like Damien or Etienne."

"Do you know a lot of phantoms for you to be saying so?" I chortled.

She inched closer to me and patted my thigh. "Not many per say." She teased.

Our eyes met and my body simply leaned into her. Elizabeth had an air to her that made me lose myself within it. I did not know where I was, nor did I care. I wanted to take her in my arms and discover all her secrets. I wanted to kiss her. Have her all to myself. My mind was finally losing grip on reality.

"Have –" I cleared my throat, slowly backing away from her " – you fared well? Are you liking the opera? If something is not to your liking, do not hesitate to inform me. I will see to it you are taken care of."

"Oh, um…thank you. I adore the opera. The instruments, the canvasses portraying a story, the sound of melodies being played. I do wish Carlotta was not too fond of the stage."

"I have tried to fix that infraction for quite some time now. She's a plague."

"Everyone has been kind to me, too kind, especially Christine."

"I am glad to hear it." I beamed. "Christine is most –" It suddenly dawned on me. Was my heart being dishonest to the one I have come to love? I was – I was getting lost in a woman I barely knew and yet, I did not find it too much of a sin. Elizabeth made me feel at ease and something in me knew, she was different than Christine. Something unlike no other person I had come to know.

"Erik?" Elizabeth asked quietly, making me glance her way again.

My madness was showing as I pulled her gently into my arms and held her tight, my chin on her head. I felt her arms encircle around my waist. "Forgive me." I breathed. "This is unlike me."

We backed away from each other as we could hear footsteps approach the dressing room. Reluctantly, I pushed Elizabeth away. She stood up and I grabbed hold of her hand when she made her way to the door.

The stillness was all too real as our eyes met yet again. Soon, the door opened.

"That was longer than expected." Christine chimed in. "Lizzy? Are you okay?"

"Yes. It's just- "Elizabeth turned towards me and found herself alone in the room once more.

"What is it, Lizzy?"

Elizabeth seemed perplexed by my disappearance and shook her head. "Phantoms are interesting." She smiled at Christine.