It has taken me an incredibly long time to add this chapter, but I'll save you guys from all of the reasons why..And this is rather short, but I am not abandoning this fic..And alot of action stuff is going to happen with the next few chapters..just wait and see:)I'll be updating more often now, so please R&R.

Erik looked taken aback and then, to my surprise, he smirked. Closest thing to a smile I've seen yet.

"Of course, little girl, you wantErik to teach you to sing so that you can become the next diva of the opera", he said with a derisive snort,"well, I do not see

any benefit in that for me, and I doubt that you have true talent anyway."

"First of all," I began, putting on a bold front, "I am not a little girl, I'm seventeen! And I think I could help you

too. Just by companionship, your always all alone down here. You need something to do before you go

completely crazy", he opened his mouth furiously but I cut him off and kept going.

"And how do you know that I am talentless before you have even heard me! Please Erik, you don't do anything else down here." I couldn't

believe that I was practically begging the infamous opera ghost to give me lessons!

Is this surreal or what?

I'm sure that I am blushing furiously.

His eyes flashed with anger, "You have some nerve.I am very busy", he said defiantly.

I ignored his statement and continued.

"Teaching me might get your mind off of Christine, and perhaps will help you to move on."

As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I instantly regretted them. I was frightened, for I knew that I had overstepped my boundaries.

However, he did not lay a hand on me, he just stood there,arms folded, staring down at me as though I was a mildly interesting specimen.

"Interesting, little girl, how you seem to have all of the answers. Just remember, that only a fool talks blindly," then he added in a low and threatening tone,"for you know nothing of my feelings for Christine."

I was scared of him, yet at the same time I did not think he was going to kill me.

I suddenly realized again how utterly exhausted and cold and tired I was. I feel like I'm going to pass out, I thought, shivering. But I willed myself not to. That would look really weak of me, and I vaguely thought of how heroines in old-fashioned stories faint alot.

I thought of my father and if I would ever see him again, or be forever stuck in this strange,dark world.

Tears came to my eyes as I thought of all the times he tried to tell me about the angel of music and how I brushed him off, not believing him.

Crazy as my situation is, it is my only chance to do the one thing I truly love and become the person I want to be.

I looked at Erik.

"Take me...teach me," I said softly. It was all I could muster for I was hit with another wave of fatigue.

And unexpected tears.

I tried to stop, unnoticed, but the tears started running down my cheeks.

Erik's look of anger slowly faded from his face and his green,glowing eyes widened.

They were the kind of tears that also brought sobbing and gasping and no matter how hard I tried to stop, I just couldn't.

Erik watched me in horror for a moment.

Then, regaining his composure, he put his hand awkwardly on my shoulder.

"You don't have to cry. It is alright.Erik isnot going to hurt you."

I could tell he was frustrated by my present immaturity, but his voice had become gentle at least. It was beautiful, soft as velvet, and very soothing.

He sighed.

"Look, I can see that you are not in a state to talk reasonably right now--"

I let out an involuntary hiccup and Erik stopped talking and stared at me for a second, clearly torn between being amused and exasperated with me.

He continued.

"But tommorrow, you will explain everything."

I nodded.

My tears had somewhat subsided, mostly due to his soothing voice.

"Right then, well come on."

And with a swish of his cape, he led me into his extraordinary, gothic looking home.

The inside of his house was as beautiful as the outside.

I walked to the room at the end of the very long hallway and put my hand on the doorknob.

Erik quickly grabbed my wrist.

"Do not go in there", he hissed.

Then, as if fearful that I would start crying again, he quickly dropped my wrist and his tone swiftly changed.

"I mean, you will be staying in this other room", he said in a somewhat gentler tone and he gestured to another door.

I wondered vaguely why I couldn't go in that room but was too tired to ponder it any further.

Erik opened the door and lightly put his hand on the small of my back as I drearily walked in ahead of him.

It was a fairly small room and I noticed there were no mirrors or windows anywhere.

I felt like I was going to be kept prisoner.

That sudden thought alarmed me, and I turned around quickly and noticed that Erik had been watching me.

He swiftly shifted his gaze away from me.

"Erik, what--"

He cut me off.

"Goodnight, mademoiselle."

And with that, he slammed the door shut...and locked it.

I was appalled. He locked the door on me!

I pounded on the door to try to get him to come back.

I pounded and pounded but to no avail.

For I heard the organ again.

Of all the nerve!

He was playing the organ, no doubt, to drown out the sound of my pounding.

He was certainly irritating.

I looked at the bed. It looked so very inviting for my weary body.

I might as well get some rest, I thought.

Oh swell, I have nothing to wear, and I really don't want to get in bed with my still damp clothes on.

Well, I thought naughtily, its not like Erik is going to come in here, I'll just sleep in the nude!

I laughed a little as I stripped off my dingy clothes and crawled into the warm bed.

"Aah, such bliss", I said aloud, and instantly my eyelids drooped.

He was still playing the organ into the night.

Sleep waited behind my door like an all-encompassing fog.

But there was Erik's music, that strange and beautiful music.

As I lay there on the bed, I let it sweep me away and with its increasing power, it took over the edges of my mind and crept relentlessly toward its core.

And then I thought no more.

Yea yea, this was a boring chapter, but I promise it is going to get more excitng with the next few...It may get a little violent in later chapters , so just a forewarning to everyone who doesn't like that kind of stuff. thanx for reading, please review :)