Hey, hey, hey! Here's a new chapter. Should prove to be interesting...

XxXxX

Erik was melancholy at the rehearsal the next day. No one noticed, or cared, as usual. He delivered his lines mechanically, his thoughts possessed bywhat Madame Giry had told him the day before. Yet his voice soundedso passionate... No one could have guessed what exactly he was thinking as he sang his life's work for Monsieur Lachappelle.

"Your young guest believes I'm you – I, the master, you, the man…"

"Very good, Monsieur," Lachappelle said. "Now Miguel… Blast it! Where is that man!"

"He quit!" someone from the chorus shouted.

"What! But he's our Don Juan! Opening night is a month from now!"

"Thank Heavens," Erik thought to himself. "The man couldn't be more tone-deaf!"

"This is terrible!" Lachappelle raged. "We need a new Don Juan! We can't have the opera without Don Juan! It's bloody named for him for goodness' sake!"

Amarie, who happened to have the role of Aminta, sat on the edge of the stage. "You could always cancel, Papa…"

"No. No! That's completely out of the question! This theatre needs the money!"

"What about Monsieur Erik?" another chorus member suggested. "His voice is strong."

Erik froze where he stood. Although he could not see, he could feel all eyes fixed upon him.

"Uh…" Erik gulped. "Monsieur, I don't think that is wise…"

"No, wait!" Lachappelle jumped up. "It just might work!"

"Monsieur… really…"

"Oh, come now!" Lachappelle clapped his hands together. "Don't tell me you are nervous because you are blind? You can pull this off, Monsieur! I know you can!"

That wasn't the real reason why Erik wanted to decline this role. No… Erik was more worried about the attention that would be drawn to him… the blind star. There were more rumours of noblemen and counts from Paris who were eagerly awaiting the opening night of Don Juan at La Soleil Rouge. What if someone recognized him?

"Come now!" Lachappelle said, taking Erik by the arm and leading him to centre-stage. "We'll start from Point of No Return. Amarie! Come here!"

Amarie obediently came to her father's side. "Yes, Papa?"

"We'll start from your line… 'You have brought me…' Erik? Don't be shy! Put your arms around her!"

Erik sighed and slowly put one arm around Amarie's waist, pulling her up against him. The other hand crawled up to her neck. He felt Amarie stiffen against him. Odd. She was normally very… relaxed.This was very out of character for her. He wondered what was wrong?

Perhaps singing for the first time with a new partner was bringing out a little stage fright...

Amarie began to sing. Erik observed that, other than himself, she seemed to be the only person in the theatre with any notable talent.

"You have brought me to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence… silence… I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why… In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies…" Amarie seemed to be choking on the words. Erik notice she was shuddering in his arms. "I've already imagined our bodies… en… entwin… our bodies…"

"Amarie?" Erik whispered. "What is wrong?"

"Amarie!" Lachappelle shouted. "Concentrate, girl!"

Amarie was practically convulsing in Erik's grasp. "I… I… I'm sorry, I can't!" Erik could hear in her voice that she was on the verge of tears.

Lachappelle sighed. "Monsieur Erik? Please take her to my office and practice with her there… don't bring her back until she sings perfectly!"

Amarie struggled from Erik's arms and leapt off the stage ahead of him. Sighing, Erik picked up his cane and made his way after her… He hoped that when they were alone she would tell him what was wrong…

XxXxX

Amarie was waiting for him in the cramped office. He closed the door as he entered and waited expectantly… Waited for her to tell him what was wrong… why she was so upset… why she wasn't herself!

But instead, she addressed him coldly. "Shall we get to it, then?"

"Is there anything you wish to tell me?" There. Erik had left an open door. Surely she would open up to him now.

"No. Let's just get this over with!"

Erik was disappointed, but she had a point. The sooner she mastered the song, the better. Though he remembered that she had no trouble singing it before with Miguel.

Erik stepped behind her and pulled her up against himself as he had on the stage. Amarie grunted. "Must you hold me so close?"

"It's my character," Erik replied, callously. "However, if it makes you uncomfortable–"

"No! Never mind! Let's just do this."

"Fine…" Erik replied. He was getting the impression that, for some reason, Amarie was angry with him. He wondered what he had done wrong… "I'll sing a few bars to introduce you," he told her. "Past the point of no return, the final threshold – what warm, unspoken secrets will we learn? Beyond the point of no return…"

Amarie sucked in a deep breath. "You have brought me to that moment where words run dry, to that moment where speech disappears into silence… silence… I have come here, hardly knowing the reason why… In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies… our bodies… en… en…"

"That's where you froze last time, Amarie," Erik said. "Just sing it." He pulled her closer to him, hoping it would comfort her. "Relax… Trust me…"

Amarie sighed and continued. "In my mind, I've already imagined our bodies entwining defenceless and silent – and now I am here with you. No second thoughts… I've decided… decided…" she stopped.

"Why are you stopping? You were doing well!"

"Perhaps I have no desire to continue!" Amarie snapped, attempting to free herself from his arms. Erik quickly tightened his grip and pulled her even closer. "Let me go!"

"No!" Erik hissed, making her fall silent. "You have been moody all morning! I'm not letting you go until you tell me what is wrong! I am your friend, Amarie! You can tell me what is wrong!"

"No! No, I can't! I can't trust you! You're not my friend!"

Her words stabbed into Erik's heart like a knife. But he did not loosen his grip on her. "Why do you say such things, Amarie? Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me?"

"You've lied to me! I know who you are!"

Erik spun her around to face him, but maintained his close proximity. Amarie trembled as he forced her into a corner, his face inches from hers. His blind eyes stared through her, searching for the secrets that she claimed she knew.

"And just who do you think I am?" His voice was barely a whisper. Menacing. Amarie was very afraid. She had never seen him behave like this before. No wonder the people of Paris feared him so. In his anger, a dark aura of evil surrounded him. She shivered as she looked into his eyes and saw an erupting black cloud of fury growing inside of him. One side of Erik's face was twisted in rage. The other side… an emotionless porcelain mask. Amarie wondered if it was true what they said about the Phantom. Was he really a monster? She longed to know the truth.

"Well? What is it, Amarie?" Erik's threatening growl tore through her. "You seem to think you know so much! Well then, what is it that you know?" He leaned in closer, ominously. Grabbing her shoulders, he pushed her against the wall, pinning her there. His body was mere inches away from hers. She gasped as she felt his warm breath on her face, the heat radiating off of his body. His lip was curled into a sneer. "Tell me, Amarie. Just who am I?"

"You're the Phantom of the Opera!" she shrieked, tearing the mask away from his face. She gasped at what she saw. That side of his face… it was hardly a face at all! The skin was blotchy and red… his cheek sagged downwards… his nose was a rough mess. The skin surrounding his eye was misshapen and horrible. He was missing a lot of hair on that side of his head, and in some areas shecould see his bare skull. His upper lip was twisted into a scowl that only added to the look of rage that graced his face now.

Then anger melted into horror… Amarie ducked past him as Erik desperately tried to cover his face. He sank to the floor.

"Amarie! Why? Why did you do it? Why!" He was crying now. He turned and reached out a hand, looking for her. "Amarie? Please. I'm sorry, I… I didn't want you to see me like this… Please…"

Amarie was crying now, too. She wished she hadn't taken his mask. All of the anger she held against him gave way to pity. No wonder he became such a monster! The way he must have been treated for his appearance… she couldn't even begin to comprehend the torment he had been put through. Reaching out, she took his outstretched hand… "Erik, I'm sorry…"

"How did you find out?" he whispered.

"I… I heard you talking to Madame Giry yesterday… I didn't mean to listen in, but… I heard you talk about… your past…"

"Amarie…" Erik pulled her close and wrapped her in a warm embrace. "I did terrible things… it's true what they said about me in the papers. All of it. I was a monster. But, Amarie… I was a monster. I've changed… I really have! I… I try… I really try…"

Amarie hugged him tightly. Then she handed him his mask. He slowly put it back on.

"Fear not, Erik," Amarie whispered. "I would never, and will never, tell anyone your secret."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

Little did young Amarie know the price it would cost to keep that promise.

XxXxX

Ooo... More foreboding... OK, the good stuff starts up in the next couple of chapters. Keep reading! I might not get to update until late in the afternoon tomorrow, 'cause I've got a Biology exam in the morning and then I've got to take my cat to vet. Check in around evening time... I should have it updated by then.

Oh... and thank you Lady of Mirkwood for your kind birthday wishes! Are you glad Amarie doesn't hate Erik anymore?