I almost choked when I saw Erik's lair. He had had quite some time to arrange the area. The left corner of the cavern was hidden behind a thin black gauze curtain, and I could see his swan bed alongside a small sliver table and brown armoire. Piled in the corner beside the make-shift bedroom was an odd assortment of paints, papers, bottles, and other utensils.

The entire facade of the cavern had been swathed in black, white, and gold fabric, and there were candles everywhere; much more than was necessary. A nice red couch and chair situated the far right corner, and a black table I recognized from the chorus hallway was covered in papers and blueprints of the Opera. He had two side-by-side mahogany bookcases overflowing with literature of all types.

I could scarcely believe a thirteen year old boy could read all of those. I walked over to a large mahogany desk as Erik grunted and shoved the organ piano into his lair. His desk was littered with all types of pins, metal, timber, and other bits and pieces I couldn't recognize. I turned to face him as he lay exhausted on his couch. "Are you happy now?" I asked scathingly.

He ran his hands through his gray hair and sighed. "Ann, I am exceedingly pleased to be living here. It's quiet, secluded, and no one apart from you irritates me." I placed my hands on my hips. "I irritate you!" I screamed. "You're the irritating bastard who commands me around. For three years I've done your bidding, fetched you items, and hidden you from the managers. If it weren't for me monsieur you'd be dead in a gutter!"

He shot up straight and his eyes stared me down. "Antoinette, I never asked you to rescue me. You simply brought me here and expected me to leave and have a normal life. Can't you understand I can never have a normal anything! No individual will ever treat me decent. I choose to live here because I can do what I please, when I want, and NO ONE will dare contradict me, not even you!" He stood before me menacingly and I shrank. He shook my shoulders as he yelled in my face and I dared not cry.

I stood bravely up to this boy and told him. "This is the life you've chosen, and I shall not force you from it. But know one thing Erik; you could have a civilized, normal life if you make an effort. You're still young, your very intelligent, and this," I touched his face and he shrank back," will not stop you from conquering the world."

He glared at me and released my shoulders. He turned to his organ piano and sat down on a bench, attempting not to cry. I stood as he began to pound angrily on the keys. After a few moments his banging settled down and he began to play a softer tune. I came to sit beside him and reached out to stroke the right side of his face. He turned into my palm and his eyes were wet. I placed my arm around his shoulders and he leaned into my neck, finally sobbing. I let him cry until he was finished. He looked up at me and I smiled. "You'll always be here for me right?" I nodded gravely, knowing full well the consequences if I broke that promise. "Erik, I'll always take care of you." I whispered.

I'll always take care of you; I'll always take care of you. The words repeated themselves in my head as I played, For the first time in my life I had broken down, but instead of falling into a black abyss Ann had lifted me up into a lively oasis. I'll always take care of you. I played a soft tune and wrote on the paper. I didn't know what I was composing. It just poured out of me and I obeyed my energetic mind. For the past several hours after Ann had left I had been playing on my new organ piano.

It was finally down here and I could lose myself at last in precious music. I felt dreadful for treating Ann the way I had, I'd never intended to hurt her. For some reason my emotions were harder to control these days, and I frightened even myself. She was kind, gentle, and the only friend I had. I wanted her to be happy, and I knew what made her truly happy. Jason. Her husband. A lucky man. My music became harder as I thought about them together, sharing what I could never share. I pounded the keys and yelled, not bothering to keep my voice down.

I wanted them to hear me, those pestilent people above the ground. Let them know that I was here, that I would never leave. I crashed the keys as I thought about love, and happiness, and the fact that I could never experience any of those. When Ann had placed her arm around me I'd felt so vulnerable, so shocked. I'd laid my head on her collar and cried into her neck. She had not shifted or been frightened, instead she'd held me. Me! And now she was out there holding another man. Him! I banged the keys and screamed out hysterically. I slid my hands along the entire keyboard and ended at the last note.

I leaned into my arms on the keys and cried. I cried for my mother, and for the childhood I'd never experienced. I cried for Ann's friendship, and cried for my miserable life. I cried and the tears slid over my rotten, hideous face. I stayed there a few moments as my body shook, and finally dragged myself off to bed, but I didn't really sleep. It was more like a black, fuzzy haze that hung over my mind as images swirled though the murkiness. I awoke several hours later but did not look at the clock. I grabbed my cloak and gloves, and donned my mask and wig, then set out to do my business.