(( I'm so glad you like it Artemis:) I was very, very flattered :D This chapter this devoted to you guys who first reviewed :) ))

CHAPTER THREE The tale of the Gargoyle Dominus

'What a strange thing' Meg thought; 'How am I to start this story that doesn't even exist?' Erik's voice broke her thinking:

''You may start, Megan.'' It irritated Meg how he spoke her name. Still, she cleared her throat and watched him as he came in to the boat and took the black paddle.

''...It was the strangest thing that a sculpture had ever made, said the historian Herodot.'' Meg turned towards Erik and looked up at him.

''He had never seen such a sculpture. It wasn't the usual guardian that layed on the temple. It was a strange and rather grotesuqe creature. But the sculptour told him: 'Oh, my creature can defend Aprhodite's temple better then any other crature that surrouns it's walls.'' Erik looked down at her curiously. He was sure that he had read all of the mithology of the ancient Greeks...And it fascinated, and angered him slightly, that a small ballerina girl would know an ancient story from history that he did not.

''And what was this creature?''

''A Gargoyle, the first one. His creator was a great sculptour, actually the same one who made the beautiful Pandora.''

''It seems that sculptour kept cursing himself with grotesque creatures. First gargoyles, then women.'' Meg looked down for a moment and said nothing, pretending to be hurt by his comment. Still, she continued as he had not interfierd:

''Even though the creature had been unlike anything the people had ever seen, the priest of Aphrodite's temple found it suitable that a creature as ugly and strong should protect something as beautiful and fragile as the godess Aprhodite...But he also thought that the Gargoyle should be the sole protector of the temple because it would show that creature is that strong that it could survive without anyone...Alone. The priest did believe in spirits and he especially believed that the Gargyole had a special spirit within him, that the creature was alive. And so, the creature was placed on the top of the temple, right in the center, to frighten away all evil spirits that might hurt the godess Aprhodite or damage her temple...The priest of the temple was right. The statue truly had a soul, a unique spirit. He was grotesque and ugly, but his eyes were the orbs that showed his humanity. As time passed, the Gargyole saw that he was quite lonely. Every single human would visit the temple less and watch him with fear. He was loathed because he looked so horrid. He would hear whispers from the humans throats saying: 'He, a demon, proetcts a beauty like Aphrodite! That is not right!' The Gargyole heard the foolish priest try and explain: 'He is the proector of this temple because he has a spirit within him that can protect the godess.' The people replied that the Gargyole looked like and evil spirit and that he would indanger the beautiful godess. The Gargyole realised then...He loathed every human being...'' As Meg said this, Erik could feel the hairs on his neck stand up. Nobody had ever managed to do such a thing to him..Except Christine...Christine..

Erik...

''...Are you alright?'' Erik looked down at Meg and shook his head.

''I am fine. Continue with the story. There is still some time before we reach the lair.''

Meg took a deep breath and continued:

''The Gargyole finally decided, after five days of endless pondering, that if he was the sole protector of the temple, he would be the sole lord of the temple. He would make the temple his own and so he named himself Dominus. The first thing Dominus did was to bring his limbs to life. He freed himself from the place on the temple where he stood and went inside the temple. He saw offerings from the humans, flowers and fruits, he could smell the blood of a recently killed animal, he could see the glitter of gold and silver scattered around on the marble floor. And as he reached the altar, there he saw it...'' Meg looked up at Erik, her eyes suddenly cought in a strange glance with Erik's eyes. It took a moment of silence and Meg said:

''His equal and his adverasary, the statue of the beautiful Aphrodite, standing in all her might and pride.'' Erik was cought in her words and in that strange glance that he failed to notice as the boat was close to the shore of his music room. He finally came back to reality and brought the boat to the shore (in, what it seemed for Meg, a hast) and brought Meg out of it. He took her hand and walked over to the organ with her. He sat her down on the floor and he sat down at the organ. His fingers traced the black and white keys as he said:

''Continue Megan, I have not told you to stop...'' Megan looked up at him, his back turned to her.

''First, Dominus was mesmerized by how the scuplture had captured this beauty in to marble. He had never seen any beauty in a human girl so she could only be a godess. But then, Dominus became angry. She was more beautiful then him and she was the godess of this temple, the only adversary for his position as a lord. Dominus let out a scream only a true animal could make and screamed at Aphrodite:

You! You are not the lord of this temple! It is mine! I am the Dominus!'' for a moment, Erik glanced across his shoulder and his fingers pressed the keys. The melody that came out was of anger and fury. And Meg's eyes went wide as Erik suddenly sang in such a strong and powerful tone:

I am the lord Dominus This temple is mine to keep

Of beauty I shall no longer speak...

Meg raised herself up to her knees as she looked at Erik.

''That...That was beautiful, Erik.''

''I...I have not written anything in a long time...'' he answered quietly. He turned to her then and approached her. He knelt down on one knee infront of her and took the white mask that was in her hands. He looked up at her for a moment, then slowly started to place the mask on her face.

''Continue...'' he whispered. It almost made Meg shiver, but she remained still and continued:

''Dominus tried to make the statue fight back, to say anything back to him, but it didn't...So, he took the statue and hid it beneath the temple. He spoke to the statue:

Until you come alive, I am the master of this temple!'' Meg stared at Erik then as he pulled back his hand. Again, there were a few moments of silence between them, then he spoke:

''To hide half of your beauty, Megan...Aprhodite in the Hades of your Gargyole Dominus.'' Meg said nothing, not showing fear or any other emotion. She wasn't sure how to tell him...What to tell him? What?

''I do not mean...'' Erik laughed so cruely Meg let herself back slightly away now.

''I know what you mean by your story...But I am touched and intrigued. For a moment, I was sure it was real...But I want you to continue it...'' Meg stood silent for a moment, then spoke a firm:

''No.'' The small anger that arose in Erik's eyes made her worry, but she didn't show it.

''What?''

''Tommorow, I will continue it tommorow.'' Erik laughed, but suddenly stopped and grabbed Meg by her hair raising her up to have her face close to his.

''You dare to defy me, little Meg!''

''Let me continue it tommrow...Please..Erik...''

Erik...

Erik suddenly dragged Megan to the organ and made her sit down. He placed the Punjab lasso around her throat and tightened it. He hissed in to her ear:

''You know how easy it is to kill you little Meg, just one tight pull! Scream for me, little Meg, come! Scream for the Gargyole Dominus!'' he held the Punjab alsso tight as he heard Meg gasp for air.

''Please...Tommorow...''

''I can't hear you!''

''Tommorow!'' he suddenly let go and pulled the Punjab lasso away. Erik was still holding on to her hair as he turned her to make him face him. He looked in to her eyes for a couple of silent moments and then spoke:

''You will have your wish, Sheherazade...'' Meg could feel Erik's breath on her face, that glance piercing trough her soul. Erik slowly reached out and touched the white mask that covered half of Meg's face and stared at it as his hand dragged down it. He didn't even notice as his hand went down her neck. Meg closed her eyes at that moment, remaining frozen and still. Still, she felt the strangest sensation: she enjoyed Erik's cold touch against her skin. He suddenly then backed away and muttered:

''Tommrow...'' and walked away in the direction of his room.