Note: Alrighty y'all...here's the next chapter! As always, read and review! Thanks!


Chapter 24

Ana had not seen or heard from Erik nor Simon for a week. She had kept up her voice training and her diction and Monsieur Reyer had been helping her. Madame LeBrana insisted that Ana take her role for she was not feeling well. The rumor was Madame LeBrana might be with child. Ana didn't like the fact that all the dancers and some of the chorus members gossiped like chattering birds in a tree. Sure, she gossiped with her aunt, but that was not all the time. Not only were they gossiping about Madame LeBrana possibly being pregnant but about her and her apparent lover. Madame Giry and Meg had squelched those rumors quite quickly, yet they still seemed to follow her where ever she went in the Opera Populaire. That was all thanks to Jammes and Sorelli. The two of those combined spread the rumor of her lover faster than one would spread a disease. Ana was so busy thinking about the rumors that were going on, that she failed to notice the set scene and ran directly into it. Monsieur Reyer stopped the orchestra as Ana picked herself up.

"Mademoiselle Knoll, you are supposed to be paying attention to your dancing. That is the third time this afternoon that you have ran into either a set piece, a dancer, or your partner. You seem quite distracted today." With that said, the dancers and chorus girls were sent twittering away until Madame Giry sent them hardening glares.

"I will try to do better, M. Reyer." Ana said softly.

"See that you do!" Monsieur Reyer said rather huffily. He signaled the orchestra to pick up at the next scene. Ana, who was thankful that she wasn't in that particular scene, scampered off the stage. She was standing in the wings when someone tapped her softly on the shoulder.

Thinking it was Erik, for she was semi-hidden in the black curtains, she turned around quickly only to see that it was a small girl no older than fourteen.

"Excuse me mademoiselle, but are you Ana Knoll?" the young girl questioned her.

"Yes I am. Why do you inquire?" Ana asked.

"I have a letter here from Monsieur Suffret." the girl said, handing Ana the note. Ana thanked the girl and tucked it into her bloomers for her costume before anyone else spotted it. She quickly adjusted herself and got ready to head back onstage for her entrance. Had she been listening quite carefully, she would have heard the low growl coming from above her.


"I expect all of you to be backstage no later than six tomorrow evening. We will open the curtains immediately at 7:30. Tomorrow, there will be no rehearsal and we will allow you to rest for the evening. Now, everyone is to report to your rooms and get some sleep!" Andre said, making sure everyone heard him above the whispered conversations. Ana quickly ducked into a changing room and quickly changed. She grabbed the letter that had been tucked into the waistline of her bloomers, and tucked it into the waistline of her skirt. She gave the dress to one of the young girls and made her way back to her room.

The letter dug into her skin, making her wonder what it was all about. Why would she care about Simon? She loved Erik with all her heart, even though Erik denied loving her. She mentally told herself that Simon was only a friend, but a nagging thought kept bouncing around in her mind. As she neared her door, she pulled out her room key and stuck it into the lock. Giving it a quick twist, she felt the door open and let herself in. She turned around and made sure she locked the door, just in case Alex decided to pay her a "visit". As she locked the door, she felt a presence behind her.

"What did Monsieur Suffret send you?"

"It is none of your concern, Monsieur Erik." Ana said, not daring to turn around and look at him lest she began to cry.

"It is too my damn concern!" Erik nearly shouted, coming closer and pinning the front of Ana's body to the door. He breathed into her ear. "Everything you do concerns me because your mine."

Ana was shocked beyond belief. She turned around in a flash and found herself staring into Erik's gold-green eyes.

"I'm yours? Your whore? You are one that keeps a mistress for their own until you grow tired of me! I, monsieur, will not..."But Ana's words were cut off by Erik's insistent mouth upon hers. She didn't want to give into the feelings that were coursing through her blood, turning it hot and heavy. She tried to push him away, tried to beat him on the chest, until Erik's tongue gained entrance into her mouth. Ana immediately forgot her anger at him and let herself fall into his kiss. Her arms wrapped around his neck as her tongue tangoed with his.

Erik crushed her against him even more when he felt her respond to him. He needed her beneath him...now. She was the only one for him, she had poisoned him and now he wanted her despite the horrible lies that he had written in that letter. He didn't want to take her in her room for the fear that everyone would hear them and the rumors would fly even more.

Breaking the heated kiss, he took her hand and led her to the mirror. He fumbled for the hidden mechanism and swore as his hand shook. Ana, on the other hand, took Simon's letter from out of her skirt and placed it on the bed. She had just covered it when Erik gave a strangled cry of triumph. He took her hand and led her through the mirror and down to his lair.

The way back to Erik's lair was way too long. Every so often, Erik would pull Ana towards him and kissed her until either was both breathless or they were both too near the breaking point. The would then move on and when Erik helped Ana into the boat, she showed her wanton feelings, kissing his neck and chest through his open lawn shirt. Erik poled the gondola furiously and both nearly toppled over when the boat slammed into the shore. Erik knew that he wouldn't make it to his bedchamber, and to take her on the kitchen table or the organ bench seemed quite unquixotic , the next possible thing was his soft velvet chair. He pulled her towards it, Ana barely noticing where they were heading until they were a few feet from it.

"Erik, what are you doing? The bedchamber is over there." she pointed to where they had spent their first precious night together.

Erik didn't answer her but pulled her towards the chair. He sat down and pulled onto his lap.

"Surely Erik, we can't do this...like this." Ana said, some embarrassment hinting in her voice.

"Believe me darling, it can be done." he said, while turning her head so she faced him. He pulled her into a deep kiss and she responded with equal heat.

Erik coaxed her mouth open and Ana was hesitant to open it. As he continued to coax Ana, she began to moan in pleasure. She ran her hands up and down his well-sculpted chest and somehow managed to pull his lawn shirt out of his trousers. They broke apart so Ana could drag his shirt over his head. Erik made quick work of Ana's bodice and chemise.

Ana felt Erik's straining erection against her thigh. She let her hand wander down to stroke him through his trousers. Erik's body tensed immediately and he grabbed her wandering hand.

"Do not torture me...it will not end the way you want it to." Erik said through gritted teeth.

"Show me what to do Erik, I need you." Ana said licking her dry lips.

"Sit astride, facing me." Erik told her. Ana followed his instructions. She gasped as this position caused her to open wider than she thought was possible.

Erik tried to fumble with his clasp to his trousers, but Ana ground her hips against his erection.

"Let me." she whispered into his ear. Erik could only nod as Ana's hands made soft trails down his chest to the waistline of his pants. The clasp came undone and Ana was stroking his length. She was surprising herself with her boldness. Erik had turned her into a wanton.

"Now what do I do?" Ana breathed. Erik said nothing but grasped her hips and pulled her up some before slamming her back down onto his length. Ana immediately felt his whole length inside of her. Her mind to her what to do and she slowly raised herself and came back down as Erik's hips thrust forward, helping her out.

Together they climbed the peak of ecstasy. Both stiffened and Ana's orgasm ripped through her, both of them shouting, their screams mingling as one. Ana came off that wild plateau panting, her hair clinging to her face in tendrils.

"Erik...that was amazing."

"I know much more tactics. Let's go somewhere more comfortable." Erik stood with Ana still straddling him. She instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms wound around his neck and her mouth fastened onto his. They both spent themselves into the early morning. As they fell asleep together, they were both whispering their love to one another but neither of them heard each other.


The plan that Jammes and Alex had concocted was utterly flawless. Well, almost flawless. Jammes had to make sure she was in the right place at the right time.

"My friend will be there to whisk Ana away when she sees you with him." Alex said, as they went over the plan once more.

"Your friend takes Ana away and then what?" Jammes asked, taking a drag of the cigarette that Alex had given her.

"I give you your reward and me, Ana, and my friend make our way to New York."

"And Ana's lover?" Jammes nearly whispered, putting the cigarette down.

Alex made a slicing motion across his throat and both of them laughed as they collapsed into a heap on Alex's bed.


REVIEW PLEASE! I LOVE FEEDBACK! Oh and for those of you who have the special edition...have you found the cast and crew sing-a-long? It is HILARIOUS!