A/N: Thanks heaps for your reviews! They really mean a lot to me. Honestly it really helps me to continue. I can't write without an audience, I rapidly lose heart and just leave a story half done. So thanks a lot. Please do keep reviewing. And YOU! Yes those people who read and don't review… please, I've written so much, please leave a few words… that's all I ask of you.

Just quickly…

Amaruk Wolfheart: Thankyou so much for your encouraging reviews! I like hearing from you, brings a smile to my face and joy to my cramped fingers. I'm glad you said you would stick with me! Oh and thanks heaps for recommending this to a friend! (hug hug kiss kiss) - Others please note – recommending this story is very favourably looked upon. : )

Rio: Thankyou for your nice reviews too – it meant a lot to me that you reviewed every chapter even as you read it all in one sitting. You rock!

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Chapter 8:

THEATRE OF NO SECRETS

"You did it again, you lifted your shoulders again on the last note."
"I didn't!" Kari protested.
Erik looked hard at her, he didn't need to say a word. He wanted no argument.

"Sorry, I just…. I had it better the time before." She mumbled.

Erik nodded, "You are tired, we must stop now, before we do your vocal chords some damage."

Kari nodded, "Thankyou… you've shown me so many things in just a short space of time. Seriously, thankyou so much – I'm desperate to get to sing this aria." Kari smiled up at Erik, shifting her weight uncomfortably, she thought he deserved a hug, but didn't know how he'd react, so she stayed where she was.

"You have shown vast improvement in a short space of time, though part of this, is you have much resource to work with," he gestured at her throat.

It was then Monique decided she could stomach it no longer, and came out of the shadows and into the light, she saw Monique smiling shyly, her face half turned down – coy embarrassment… perhaps flirtatious? embarrassment at Eriks comments. Monique walked towards the elevation that housed the piano, and stopped before one of the shattered mirrors.

"Have you got anything to eat?" Monique enquired, looking at Kari.
Kari shook her head, "Nope, only some chewing gum."

Monique sighed, and ran a hand over her stomach, "I'm hungry." She pouted, then looked into her distorted reflection, leaning closer she saw the slight material burn mark around her neck from Eriks cloak. She turned back to look towards them, and caught Erik quickly turning his head away from her. That gave her a small sense of satisfaction, when he thought she couldn't see him, he had been looking at her.
"Do you think we should go?" Monique directed to Kari.
Eriks face turned towards her once more.
Monique lifted an eyebrow at him, "Of course, with your permission we will return tomorrow." she gazed hard into his eyes.

'Unbelievable.' Kari thought to herself, mentally shaking her head.

Erik pondered on that for a moment. He had been alone for so many years. In fact, mostly his whole life. Only a few people had been allowed down here – in fact, only Antoinette Giry, and Christine had really only been allowed to his lair – however a few others had taken the liberty of invading his sanctum, but he had never had much 'company' before. But here, two young girls had arrived of their own volition, caused a big fuss and now wanted to return to him on their own will. They were taking away his peace, already they were affecting him in strange ways.

Despite his rational mind insisting that he deny them access to his slice of hell – a part of him, that he couldn't quite pinpoint wanted them back. Part of him liked the way his lair felt when occupied by other beings, the echo of voices from the cavernous ceilings, faces alit by soft candlelight. So he found himself saying what he'd hardly expected to, "You are welcome to my humble abode." He bowed his head a moment.
A grin took over Moniques face, she turned to Kari, and balled up one of her fist, discreetly celebrating their small victory. Kari covered a laugh.
"Okay, well, Erik, thankyou again for my lesson, we had better go, but we'll see you tomorrow." Kari announced.
"We can bring you breakfast tomorrow if you want?" Monique offered.
Erik looked toward her. He still didn't understand how these two strange, but beautiful creatures had failed to notice the mask on his face. Why they hadn't said anything? Why weren't they afraid of him, or revolted by his loathsome appearance. But, no, they didn't turn away, nor draw back from him – in fact, they extended to him a kindness that he was so foreign to him, he was afraid of it. But nevertheless he indulged the offer.
"Thankyou for your consideration mademoiselle." He replied.

Monique smiled with a hint of satisfaction, "You can call me Monique."

Erik had carried the flat bottomed boat from it's hiding place in the room where they had found him sleeping, along with the long pole he used to push the punt smoothly through the water. They travelled mostly in silence, while Erik guided the boat easily, Monique stared at him, daring not to move, for fear she was upset the balance of the boat. Erik noticed the girl noticing him, but didn't look down at her. Why must she stare? Was she starting to notice the monster he really was? But her stare showed no revulsion. Kari stared out the front of the boat, the two guiding lamps had been lit, and now they were afforded a better view of their surroundings. The immense stone walls the seemed to go upwards forever were interspersed with gargoyle faces, it really was quite creepy.

After they left the boat, Erik guided them along a much easier path to get to the outside world, then the way from which they'd come. He got them out on the first floor of box and circle seating – down the hallway which led to Box 5. He remained in the shadows. "You will come for us tomorrow wont you?" Monique implored.
Erik felt a very odd sensation well up in him, he couldn't find a name for it, nor a reason. He squashed the emotion, and remained ever impassive, "I will wait for you at this side of the lake."
"When?" Monique asked.
"When you arrive." He replied.

"But how will you know?" she ventured.
He looked quietly confident, "This theatre has no secrets." He replied ambiguously. Kari sighed happily, he seemed so unflappable even when faced with their annoying questions.

Monique raised her eyebrows, "Well I guess you know a lot of things your probably shouldn't then…"
He gazed at her for a second, feeling all kinds of strange emotions he could barely make sense of. Without his permission he felt his face, his posture and tone change, "Indeed…. More then you think." And totally against his rational intentions, a half smile moved his mouth.

Moniques skin burned beneath his gaze, her heart racing. 'Did he just use a flirtatious tone with me?' she wondered, practically a squeal in her mind.
Kari looked on, unimpressed. "Well, we must go, but we will meet you tomorrow."
Erik nodded, "Adieu." He disappeared, seemingly into thin air.
"Bye." Monique called after him.

They walked through to the stage area to see had been done since they had been there last. The lighting bars were down, hanging close over the stage so the lighting techs could change some of the hard to reach lights without going up into the gods. They jumped up and walked across the stage. "Oh my god, can you believe we met him?" Monique asked excitedly.
"It's crazy… it's like… it's something out a dream. Well.. at first it was kinda scary though."
Monique nodded "Yeah."
"When he caught you like that, I freaked out. I started wishing we'd bought some kind of weapon!" Kari laughed now at the silliness of her thoughts.
Monique joined her in laughter, "Oh yeah, one of the many guns and knives that we just happen to have lying around, gee, don't know how we forgot about bringing those."

"It was such a shock to see him… " Kari began.
"I KNOW! I thought I was going to die from fright. But then I thought HE was dead! God, I was so freaked out!" she babbled.
"Well, not only that… but the way he… y'know…" she lowered her voice "looked."

"I know! He's so…" she paused to think of the correct term, it wasn't 'cute' nor would the modern 'hot' do, so she settled on "Handsome! The parts you can see are perfect gentleman, the cool clothes and slicked hair, smooth skin, good looking features." She sighed dreamily and Kari joined her for a moment of daydream.
"Oh god, when he taught me… I thought I was gonna die from just… being so amazed or something. He is so observant. He sees every little thing, picks up on any little thing, even if you try and hide it, he pulls it out so you can't hide from it anymore. And then he helps you to fix it. He's given me a whole lot of ways to improve my song – I feel more confident already, but I can't wait for another lesson."
"He's gonna give you another lesson?" Monique inquired, it was obvious from her tone she felt left out.
Kari picked up on it instantly, "Yeah, but you should so bring your Moulin Rouge stuff, ask him to listen to you and give you some pointers." She suggested.
Monique nodded, "Okay, I will. Tomorrow." she smiled, a singing lesson with Erik would definitely not go astray.

Erik paced around his lair. He was confused. A feeling he didn't quite appreciate. He liked to be fully aware and fully in charge. He liked to know all things. Knowledge was power, and that, was his security. He liked to know all, and he felt he could operate more smoothly when he knew exactly what was happening around him. But the two visitors had suddenly taken away his sense of security. They had invaded his sleep, awoke in from a supposed 100 year slumber, spoken to him in strange ways and now vowed to return, even asking his permission… to return. They had awoken thoughts, feelings in him that he thought were long dead. Even awoken feelings he hadn't quite come to grips with and wasn't sure he really knew how to feel properly. He had started react to them in automatic ways that he couldn't seem to control or understand in the moment, his body seemed to functioning all on it's own, his words and tones, his posture, betraying his rational, sceptical mind. It was almost frightening and Erik hated feeling fear. It tended to make him mad. But it wasn't completely frightening, there was another element to it. An element he couldn't put his finger on, something that stirred his insides. Something that felt very different to the despair he was usually resigned to wallowing in. But what madness had taken place in his lair this very day? The strangest creatures had descended upon him, moving, talking, dressing, acting in strange ways. And they willingly wanted to return to his dungeon… to be in his company. Surely they were mad. 'Indeed they are mad.' He thought to himself. He had overheard their rambling conversation as they had begun to leave the theatre. Voices so similar to the over-excited ballet rats he was used to hearing chirping from the sides of the stage. Oh, but the lunacy of their words, some barely recognisable from their true English form… and the subject matter… Himself! They flattered him without knowing he was able to hear them. Was this some cruel form of trickery? Or true sincerity?
But how could it be sincerity? Unless, perhaps, one or both of them were delusional… their minds possessed by demons. He had heard the more boyishly dressed girl, Monique speaking of him being handsome! Ludicrous! She was clearly hallucinating. But the other girl, of strange name, Kari; had agreed. He was cursed with a hideous deformity that he kept hidden from the world beneath his mask – that still made him a frightening appearance to look upon… and they had spoken of words such as handsome! His curse was right before them. And they didn't see it. Perhaps… it were they themselves who were cursed, unable to see the monster… until it was too late.

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