AN: Sorry that the chap came out later than I said I would. When I tried to upload the chap the site didn't show it and I didn't have the time to fix it till now. Rar. But here's the new chap. Hope you guys enjoy it!

The heartaches were familiar to Erik by now, but that didn't make enduring them any easier. When he finally "regained his senses" (as he would call it) he would feel nothing for a while; he'd be numb…and numb was good. It meant that he couldn't feel anything…no pain…

But it also meant no compositions. Or rather, no outstanding compositions; no pieces written of his caliber, and he wouldn't accept anything less. It drove him into further madness sometimes...

But at least after the whole ordeal he had finally decided what to do with little Meg Giry. He wouldn't do anything too cruel to her, since she was Mme. Giry's daughter; but she still had to be punished for her crime.

He would keep her down here for a week or two, have her believe that she would never go back to the world above again. He would fill her heart with hopelessness.

Then he would return her to where she belonged. It would be his warning of what would happen if she dared to displease him again. She would fear him, respect him.

Deciding that it was time to check upon the ballet dancer to see how she was adjusting in her new living quarters, Erik quietly unlocked the door and slowly opened it.

He was surprised to find her curled up on the floor, her golden hair flowing around her like a sort of halo.

Meg didn't move when she heard the door creak open. After the initial shock of being confronted by the phantom had faded away, despair turned into defiance. She knew she wasn't entirely innocent, but she knew didn't deserve to be trapped in a room underground either. However, she was too tired to face her captor now, so she let her eyes stay closed to feign sleep.

She assumed that once he saw her sleeping he would leave her alone, so when she heard his footsteps approach her, Meg's heart skipped a beat. Now silence. What was he doing? Meg could feel her heart beating wildly in her chest, her skin prickled in fear.

Erik walked towards Meg, and glanced towards the large bed with satin covers. Did she mean to fall asleep here on the floor? He was about to turn and leave - where she chose to sleep was none of his business - until he noticed the tear streaks on her face. Had she been crying?

He wasn't sorry for his harsh behavior; but something tugged at him that refused to let him leave her lying on the floor like that.

Erik slowly knelt down and gingerly picked her up and walked towards the bed. He felt her goose bumps underneath his hands. Was she cold? When he set her down gently onto the soft bed, he pulled the sheets over her.

He jerked his hands back.

He had never expected to do this for someone other than Christine. And now here he was, treating this ballet rat as a guest rather than a prisoner.

Narrowing his icy blue eyes, Erik walked out of the room and shut the door.

The second she heard the door close Meg's eyes flew open and she breathed a sigh of relief . Her heart was still racing and her entire body had been so tensed up; she had been so afraid...

But here she was, lying in a large, billowy, and luxurious bed.

Meg sunk deeper into her pillow.

She really didn't know what to make of him, this Phantom of the opera.