Claire lay in bed tossing and turning. She felt frightened, embarrassed and childish, but most of all foolish. Who did she think she was, the next Christine Daae? Rolling over she buried her face in her pillow. Not that she wanted to be the next Christine…or did she? Claire punched her pillow in frustration.

"Why?" she asked the dark. "Why did I have to go and ruin a perfectly…" she paused trying to think of the right words. "A perfectly pleasant moment."

But even as she said it she knew it wasn't right. It had been pleasant but also fun, frightening, tense and kind, it had been a million emotions all rolled into one.

"Like him" she thought to herself. "He's always so cold and curt stalking around the house and the next moment he's still that way yet kind enough to give me a piano lesson in the middle of the night."

Sighing Claire knew she wouldn't be able to figure him out tonight. With one last punch to the pillow she flopped down onto the mattress and finally fell asleep.

Erik sat on the piano bench long after she'd gone. He didn't know why he had written a song for her. Why he had so feverishly denied it when she'd asked. Some part of him had wanted to tell her, to show her that he cared, even if it was only a little, but the other part had gained control, had suddenly barred the gates, terrified of being betrayed again.

With a sigh Erik took off his mask and rubbed the rough side of his face.

"Wonderful Erik, it only took you one hour to frighten her away. Good way to earn her trust" he accused himself.

He could still feel her warm body next to his. Erik squeezed his eyes closed, trying to push the memory away.

"You are a monster and nothing more. Why did you think that she would be any different from the rest, why did you think that she would not be frightened of you?"

Of course in the deepest parts of his mind Erik knew that he had only himself to blame, he had snapped at her, his anger had scared her, only pride would never let him admit it.

As the clock struck three he stood up and stretched his stiff muscles. There was always tomorrow, he could try again tomorrow. Even if she was always scared, at least teaching her piano was something to do, a way to pass the time.

Claire was awoken the next morning to a pair of small arms shaking her violently.

"Wake up!" Liz cried.

Claire opened her eyes and blinked against the bright sunshine that flooded her room.

"It's Saturday!"

"Oh right" Claire replied, slowly crawling out of bed.

All the servants loved Saturdays, for Erik would only make them work for half the day, giving them the rest of the afternoon to do as they pleased.

After breakfast Claire and Liz did the laundry. Once they were finished Liz went off to water the gardens and Claire was left to clean the piano room. Yawning she opened the door and looked around. It was empty. Glancing at the piano she saw that the piece she'd been practicing was still there. She gave the parchment a sad smile before turning away to wash the floors.

Sometime later Claire stood up and stretched her back. All she had left to do was clean the mirror and she was finished for the day. Excited to return to bed she hurried over to the mirror and began to scrub it vigorously. Suddenly it moved and Claire's finger got pinched in the frame.

"Ouch!" she cried, sucking on her bruised pinky.

In her sleep deprived state it took her a moment to realize that the mirror had…moved? Claire blinked at the small black slit that had appeared on the opposite side. Wrapping her fingers around it she pushed the glass aside.

Claire stared dumbfounded at the scene before her. Behind the mirror was a dark stone passageway. Candelabras were mounted on the walls, but none of the candles were lit. Had she not known that the Master was the Phantom of the Opera she would have been quite disturbed, but instead she was highly amused. Glancing behind her to make sure she was alone she tentatively stepped into the passageway. She turned around and was surprised to find that she could see through the mirror into the piano room. Grinning, Claire was about to take another step when she heard a noise outside the door. Quickly she jumped back out and silently shut the mirror. Using her rag she wiped away her fingerprints and headed towards the door.

Claude nearly ran her over as he came bursting into the room.

"What's been taking you so long?" he snapped, eying her suspiciously.

"Nothing. I just like to do my job well."

Brushing past him she gave him a smirk and walked away down the hall.

"I raise you two" Paul said.

"Fine" Claude said calmly, doing his best to keep a good poker face.

Everyone had finished their chores for the day and all the servants were sitting in the kitchen playing cards.

"I fold" Claire said getting up from the table. "I think I'm going to go for a walk."

She headed out the door before any of the others could say a word.

"Bit of an odd one she is" she heard Rachel tell the rest.

Claire simply rolled her eyes, they had no idea.

After retrieving her cloak from the clothes line Claire hurried through the entrance hall, doing it up as she went.

"Where do you think your going?" a voiced boomed.

Claire's blood froze. She spun around and looked up the stairs. Erik stood at the top, framed by the light of the setting sun. He looked beautiful yet terrifying at the same time, his cold blue eyes gazing down at her. Claire opened her mouth to speak but he beat her to it.

"Did you think that you would become a great pianist after just one lesson?" he sneered making his way down the stairs.

"Come" his tone softened. "You still have much to learn."

"But I…after…you" Claire stuttered, unable to form a sentence.

Erik silenced her with a look.

"Do you want to learn or not" he snapped.

He mentally slapped himself as he saw her shrink back once again.

Claire looked at the floor and nodded.

"Then come."

With a swish of his cloak he headed back up the stairs, a very nervous Claire following behind.

A/N: sorry for the uber long delay between posts...i promise to update again soon. Please review!...i appriciate the feedback. Thank so much.