Authors note: As before, I don't own anything to do with phantom of the opera apart from a copy of the amazing soundtrack that doesn't seem to want to leave my CD player…I hope you enjoy this chapter so read and review!

Elizabeth put the fire out and followed the stranger back to the river. Floating on its surface was a Small boat with a lantern sitting at the front. It was a beautiful boat that was a plain black colour with a gold rim around the top. Elizabeth wondered if it was real gold or paint, but then she noticed the man holding his hand out to help her into the boat. Elizabeth took his bony hand and stepped into the boat, then the stranger draped a thin cloak around her,

"You must be cold with those wet clothes at this time of day, have you been swimming?"

Elizabeth quietly said "Thank you"

As they entered a dark cave in the boat, and the stranger suddenly lit up their surroundings with a wave of his hand, making the thousands of candles situated around them light up to reveal a large cave with an organ and several mirrors around the room.

Elizabeth gasped about how beautiful such a simple place could be.

The boat bumped into the banks of the river and the figure cursed himself for being so stupid with the gold plated boat.

Suddenly the figure started answering the unasked questions she was thinking about on the way to the cave.

"I am Erik, the opera ghost, your angel of music. And Elizabeth, I'm sorry to say that your brother didn't survive the fire."

"H…how do you know my name?" She stuttered, not realising what he had just said until after she had asked that question, and she burst into tears.

"Calm down child, in answer to your question, I lived at the opera house long after you arrived here to live here when you were a child. I have lived here since my childhood, cursing the people around me for discriminating me for my face…now I have paid them back for the depression they caused me."

Elizabeth looked up into the stranger's face and saw that he was wearing a mask, she gasped and wondered what was behind it, but she stopped herself and thought she shouldn't be nosey.

"I understand your story monsieur, but I will never be able to feel what you felt…I don't care what you look like, because you have given me a home. I don't want to know what looks are behind your mask, I want to know the person you really are."

Erik seemed touched by this, and smiled, "I admire your depth Madame, now I know you have passed the test to becoming my student, and I can take you in to teach you to perfect your voice."

Elizabeth dried her tears and Erik helped her out of the boat.

"Now sing for me"

So Elizabeth started to sing her best but she started to cough and she asked for a drink politely.

"Certainly, I suspect you must be thirsty after sitting in front of that fire."

He handed her a drink of expensive grape wine, and she took it from him gratefully, and drank it up slowly for she hadn't had alcohol in a long time so she feared it might go straight to her head. She finished the drink and gave Erik the glass back and he put it down on a table.

He looked at her and said "You'll get a cold with those wet clothes on, let me get you some other clothes."

He went away into a store cupboard and came back with an expensive dress that was used for operas.

"I trust you'll take care of it." He said, smiling at her and handing it to her, "Now go and get changed in there." He said, pointing at the door of a dressing room.

She walked over to the door, turned and thanked Erik and continued on to get changed.

She got into the dress but had a little trouble doing up the corset, so she called to Erik for assistance, then he came in and help fasten it for her.

"It's beautiful" She said, "thank you very much"

"You are very welcome Madame, I should show you where your room is, before it gets too late."

He showed her to a room on the opposite side of the cave.

"Now we shall start your lessons, so sing for me!"

Elizabeth started to sing at the top of her voice, and Erik joined in. She suddenly realised how good they sounded together.

After a few minutes of singing, they stopped and Elizabeth began to yawn.

"I see you are tired, child, please get some sleep so you're not tired tomorrow."

Elizabeth went to her room and undressed, finding a nightgown on the bed so she changed into that. When she was changed, she peeked out of the door to say goodnight, and she then got into bed.

She lay for a few minutes and she suddenly remembered her brother-Erik said he hadn't survived…She burst into tears and Erik hear her crying, so he came into the room.

"I know why you cry, child but we must put the past behind us. Everyone will experience this in their lives."

Elizabeth slowly calmed down and dried her tears. Erik started singing a short lullaby to help her sleep.

" Put the day behind you,

Forget all of your worries,

Savour your precious peace of mind,

Drift off into your dreamland,

Where reality is nothing,

Leave all of your problems behind…"

He trailed off sensing she was asleep.