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A/N: I am SO EXTREMELY sorry I couldn't get this out sooner…school and all. I hope you like it! Please R&R!!

Christine: My God, am I EVER gonna be in this??

PA: Oh…Just YOU wait…*soft maniacal laughter, reflective of Erik's*

Christine: Just get this over with. I'm tired of being left out.

PA: Shut up.

Christine: YOU!

PA: I said it first!

Christine: ::throws punch at PA::

Raoul: *Steps in front of the brawl* Um…hope you like it…*turns to Christine and PA, separating them*

Christine and PA: Shut up, bastard!

Raoul: Wha- I…? *scratches head in the fashion of a monkey*

Erik: ::walks in and PhantomsAngel and Christine both swoon::

Erik: *rolls eyes and casts a murderous glance at Raoul, who smiles at him. he rolls his eyes again*

ANYWHOOZLES…on with the show…J

CHAPTER 7

Aaralyn lay on her bed, softly sobbing into the pillow in front of her. Why? Why did I have to ask him about his music? Why couldn't I just keep to myself? He's right…I am just an annoying little brat…I never should have gone to his house…It's all my fault…He'll never forgive me…

She turned over with a loud sniffle and hugged the pillow to her chest. Shutting her eyes, she imagined the many fates that awaited her. Would he tell her to leave? Would he…No…she stopped thinking about it and turned back over, once again crying, face down, onto her pillow. 

A soft hand caressed her cheek and tucked her hair behind her ear. She nearly jumped, but only flinched. Turning her head, she saw none other than Erik. Closing her eyes, she said through tears, "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…"

"No child. It is I who need to apologize."

"No."

"Aaralyn, I…"

The next few moments of silence passed uncomfortably. Aaralyn finally took initiative and said, "I should have never played your music. It is yours, not mine…I'm so sorry, I didn't know it meant that much to you…"

"You wouldn't know how much, now would you?" he asked…unintentionally almost inviting her next statement.

"I would if you…would tell me…" she said carefully. Erik was starting to become slightly exasperated with her curiosity, but reminded himself that he was here to put everything right again. If she wanted to hear his story, so be it. He sighed deeply.

"This will be painful but I…suppose I can tell you…because I…" he stopped, cutting his sentence short. He cleared his throat and began.

He told her everything; his mother never letting him kiss her, always wearing the mask in the presence of others, and all about Christine.

He remembered the day he had first heard her sing…He had been wandering the catacombs of the Paris Opera House when a sound as though from heaven reached his ears…He told Aaralyn of how Christine used to think him an angel, the Angel of Music. He told her of when he played Resurrection of Lazarus in the graveyard for Christine, who longed for her father deeply…And finally, he came to Don Juan.

"I wrote this Opera for Christine," he said, and he sat on the edge of the bed with Aaralyn next to him, who was listening so very intently.  "Because I loved her…The main male rôle, Passarino, was played by Piangi. I…killed him on opening night and took his place beside Christine, who played the lead female rôle. I sang to her as if it had been only she and I, no stage, no lights…just life in it's purest form. Then, things went horribly wrong. What would have been a night of triumph turned into one of horror. She tore my mask from my face," Aaralyn gasped at this statement, "in front of the entirety of Paris…" He stopped, unwilling to continue. Aaralyn understood, and didn't speak. Erik ran his fingers through his dark hair and let his forehead rest on his palms. "I shouldn't have told you that…"

"I'm sorry I asked…I didn't know…"

"Now you do."

Aaralyn sighed and leaned her head on Erik's shoulder, wanting to know the rest of the story, but not daring to ask.

"I suppose you wish me to finish," He asked slowly, after a considerable amount of time.

"Not if you don't want to."

"It's alright," he sighed and continued, "I took her down here that night and that sick-puppy of a Chagny followed us. I gave her a choice: live with me, or see the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny die before her eyes. That night was like any other…she kissed me…and I let her go…she loved that boy…" He looked up to the ceiling, a wistful sigh escaping his lips.

"That's so awful…"

"I suppose so…" he replied, "But I still miss her."

"I knew that from the way you glared at me when I played your music."

"I-I'm sorry about that…I mean…you didn't know…By the way, where did you learn to play?"

"My father taught me when I was young. It's really nothing…"

He didn't reply. The two of them just sat there: Erik reliving his horrible past and Aaralyn painting pictures in her mind of what he had been through.

Neither of them noticed that the other wasn't talking…

Finally, Erik slowly stood up and turned to face Aaralyn, still sitting on the bed. "I suppose I should just leave you be…" he said. After taking her hand and lightly brushing his lips across it, he disappeared from the room.

Aaralyn sat-still mesmerized.  How could such a powerful man be so…intimidating and yet so…gentle? These thoughts soothed her mind into sleep as she let the darkness consume her.

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Hope you liked it! PLEASE for Erik's sake R&R!! Thank you SO MUCH to all of my reviewers and ESPECIALLY to Phantomgurl33, who has kicked me in the butt and helped me stay on track!! LOL, hugs and kisses from Erik, phantomgurl!!! J