Author's Notes: Sorry for the long update. Had writer's block, but the plot bunnies are once again bitting! WOOT! Anywho, I forgot to mention, that I'm not French so if any French words come up that are wrong, please point them out to me, and I'll gladly correct it. Cheers!

Chapter Two: Deal With The Devil:

Eponine waited until the Inn grew still, and silent. When she heard the loud snore of her mother, it was time move. She got out of bed, and tiptoed to her bedroom window. As quietly as she could, she slid it open, and slid outside. Once she was on the room, Eponine had to be careful. One false move and her body would hit the ground, and she was not ready to meet her maker just yet.

As she climbed down, she was not was not afraid. She had done this many times before. Eponine used this escape route when she would meet with Marius. However, she was not going to meet with her dear friend tonight. She was going to meet with someone else.

The Phantom.

Erik had found a new home in the back ally ways of Paris. He made plans to remain here until news of the Opera Ghost died down. When they did, he would return to Madame Giry. He knew that she, along with her daughter Meg would welcome him back with open arms, and give a warm place to stay.

The streets were neither as comfortable, nor pleasing to his eyes as his old lair had been. Still, it would to. He settled down where he ran into the young lass from the previous night. As the cold air blew all around him, Erik curled up under his cape. It was the only thing he had to keep warm. Once he managed to get some what comfortable, he sang an old song to sooth him to sleep:

"...Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime, lead me, save me from my solitude..."

Eponine searched through the alleys and found nothing. She hoped that he had not run off just yet. She stopped for a moment as a beautiful melody filled the air. She recognized that voice. It was him.

"Angel!" she called out. Eponine did not want to call him Phantom. She feared that would scare him away. "Angel!"

Erik began to stir in his sleep. "Angel!" he heard. He sat up and let his eyes adjust to the darkness that surrounded him. "Christine!" he cried out.

Eponine jumped as the Phantom came out of hiding. Erik hung his head when he found that it was not his Christine, but the young girl he had ran into last night. He remembered her father had called out to her, Eponine that was this childe's name.

"It is you again," the Phantom said to her. "My dear Eponine has returned to me."

Eponine stepped back. "How do you know my name?"

"Do you not remember, for I am your Angel. Angels know and see all..."

Eponine grew angry at him. She did not like being played the fool. "You're no Angel!" she spat at him. "You're a deceiver! A lair!"

Without a warning to Erik, Eponine stepped closer to him, and removed his mask from his face. Eponine gasped at the hideous beast that stood before her. "You're the Phantom of the Opera!"

Erik did not hide his face, there was no point of it now. "Yes, I Am." he said to her. "What do you plan to do about it?" he demanded. "Is it here where I end my days, and spend the rest of my life in cage?"

Eponine drew silent as she looked into his eyes. She saw nothing but sadness. Eponine felt sorry for this poor creature that dwelled in the shadow. She would not use blackmail, as she had planned. Instead, she gave him back his mask. "Here."

Erik took his mask and quickly placed over his face once more. "You will not go to the guards?" he asked.

Eponine shook her head. "No."

"Last night, or tonight for that matter, you could have killed me, but you didn't."

"I am no longer the murder the papers claim I am." the Phantom promised her.

"I know, I can tell by your eyes." replied Eponine.

"What will become of me now?" Erik asked her.

"You will live and be safe, with Me." said Eponine. "C'mon."

The Phantom watched as she extended her hand out to him. Erik was hesitant and then took it. Eponine then began to lead him back to her home.

"Where are we going?"

"My home." Eponine answered.

Soon the two were before the Inn. "We can't go through the front door." Eponine whispered to him. "We havta go this way."

Eponine drew herself up on the side of the house, and began to climb. She looked down at Erik and asked: "You can climb, can't you?"

Eponine got her answer as Erik gracefully climbed up, and he was soon next to her. It was not long before the two were upon the room. "This way." Eponine instructed.

Erik followed her to the highest window. As she went to open it, he assisted her in doing so. Eponine claimed in first, and then Erik slid in. "I know it's not much, but it's better then the streets."

The Phantom looked around and noticed that Eponine had lead him to her attic. It was filled with scrap metal, and small nick nacs. "Things my parents have stolen over the years." Eponine told him.

"Stolen?"

"Yes, you will 'earn that I don't come from an honest family." she replied.

"Are you sure your parents will not find me?" Erik asked.

"Yes, c'mon, there is still more to see."

Erik continued Eponine to the far wall. He watched as she pulled a few boards of wood away, and secret room was revealed. Erik was impressed with this.

"When I was little, I came up here, and found this room." explained Eponine as she went in. "When I couldn't go play with Marius, I would come here. My parents don't know it's here."

Erik looked around. It was a lot neater then the attic. Eponine had cleaned it and tried to make it as house warming as she could. A couple of blankets were on the floor, along with a few pillows. "It's a good place to hide."

"Thank you, you are too kind." Erik told her.

"I should thank you..." Eponine paused. She had got caught so much in this adventure that she had failed to ask for his name. She would ask him now. "What is your name?"

Erik was taken aback by her question. "Pardon?"

"I asked you for your name." repeated Eponine. "Don't you have one?"

The Phantom was human, yes, he had a name. It had been years since he had spoken of it. Christine never knew his name. Madame Giry and her daughter were the only ones who knew of it.

"Erik."

Eponine smiled. "Well, it's nice to meet you then Erik." she said. "I would much rather call you that then Phantom. Phantom sounds insulting, doesn't that bother you?"

"It did, but no longer."

"Mind if I ask why you were called that?"

Erik hesitated. Could he bare to spill his soul to this girl? He pondered. He had a feeling she would not leave him alone until he did so. He sighed, then replied. "Listen carefully childe, for I am only going to tell you this once."

The Phantom told her everything she wished to know. He told her the life he had with the gypsies as The Devil's Childe, the night that Madame Giry rescued him. Then he informed her of his new life in Populair, his singing, and Christine.

Eponine hung on every word of his story. She could feel tears forming in her eyes. It seemed that Erik had a dark life just as she had. When the story was finished, the room grew silent.

"I'm sorry." Eponine apologized.

Erik did not cry for the past. It was done. He knew he could do nothing to change it. However, he knew he could change the future, and he was. All ready, he was throwing away his life as a murder, and opening his heart to a stranger to seem to understand him.

"Now, Eponine, is time to ask you a question." said Erik, hoping he could learn more of the girl who took him.

"What?"

"Who is this Marius you speak of?"

Eponine blushed. She had a feeling the matter of him would come about shortly. However, she was glad it was Erik whom brought it up first. Now, she could weave her plan in, and just leave out the blackmail. If he did not help her when this was through, she would still help him as much as she could. After all, she knew all too well what it was like to be lonely.

"A friend." she answered him.

"Was he the young man that you sang of last night?"

"You heard me?" Eponine asked.

"Forgive me but yes." answered Erik. "Why do you not tell him how you feel?"

"I can't." Eponine replied. "He is all ready spoken for."

"I see. I am sorry for that."

"But, I wish to change his mind about me." said Eponine. "I was wondering if you could help me."

"Help you? Help you how?"

"To win Marius!" Eponine cried out, a little too loud for her taste. She cursed at herself. She just prayed she did not wake her parents or there would be Hell to pay.

Erik sighed. "Did you not listen to my story?" he asked. "You can not force someone to love you."

"I know!" she replied.

The tears that had formed early for Erik were starting to fall from her eyes. She was not crying for him, she was crying for herself, and for her situation. "But I can at least try! You tried!"

"And I lost!"

"No, listen." Eponine pleaded. "I know he cares for me. I know he does! The rose you gave me, you should have seen him!"

Erik sighed once again. He was in a corner. He knew she was not going to give up on this. He just didn't know how he was going to help her.

"How am I going to help you?" the Phantom asked her. "I can not go out in the daylight."

"I have already thought of that." said Eponine as she wiped away her tears. "You can do this without bein' seen. All you would have to do is write me love notes."

"I do not have the tools to do so."

"I know where I can get some."

"My dear childe, you can not take was does not belong to you." Erik said.

"I'm not my parents!" she cried. "I have some parchment and some quills that Marius gave me as a gift." Eponine informed. "Please, please help me!"

"All right. All right, as long as you know what you are getting yourself into."

"I do."

Erik felt as though he had just made a deal with the Devil himself. He had no idea what sort of trouble he was getting himself into. He would have to wait and see.

TBC...