Who do you think I am, Gaston Leroux? I own nothing. Enjoy.

Chapter 4 Erik's Lair

The next morning, April woke up not feeling good. She was tired, pale, and cold. Madame Giry came to see her. After looking at her for a while and feeling her forehead she said, "I don't think we need the Opera doctor to know that you are sick." Sitting up, April said, "But what about rehearsal?" Madame Giry shook her head and replied, "You are a fine dancer, and a quick learner. You will catch up, I promise."

She slept most of the day. Around the time dance rehearsal would be over, she woke up, feeling that someone was in her room, watching her. April looked around the room to find nothing. After a while, she calmed down and tried to go back to sleep. Right when she was about to fall asleep, a gloved hand touched her cheek.

Her eyes shot open. Erik put his hand over her mouth so she wouldn't scream. He could feel her heart beat, which was pretty fast. When his hand left her mouth, April stared at him.

"What are you doing?" she breathed.

"You said you wanted to see me today. The first thing I noticed at rehearsal was that you weren't there." She watched him stand up. Holding out his hand, Erik said, "Come with me." April looked into those blue eyes. The way he looked at her gave her chills.

Taking his hand, she stood up and followed him. They walked over to her mirror. He slid it open like a door. Her eyes widened. She walked behind him still holding his hand. When they came to a stream, Erik surprisingly picked her up. He carried her while he walked through shallow water.

Tearing her gaze away from the catacomb walls and the endless labyrinth of water, April turned towards him. She watched his serious eyes and looked over his handsome features. Then her green eyes quickly glanced at the white mask.

Slowly, she leaned towards him and touched his bare cheek with her lips. When she stopped, he looked at her. Then they both lightly placed their lips on each other. When they pulled away, April still had her eyes closed.

Erik looked forward and said softly, "Here we are, love." She forced herself to look away from him. Her jaw dropped at what she saw. A steel gate had opened for them then closed once they got inside the room.

This beautiful room had crimson draperies and candles all over. The candles were the only source of light. Erik stepped onto the floor, out of the water. Once he reached an elegant couch, he gently placed April on it. She couldn't help looking around this marvelous room.

There was an organ surrounded by candles in a corner. Sheets of music were cluttered on and around it. Being so distracted by the wonderful room she was in, April didn't realize that Erik was standing right in front of her.

"Do you like it?" he knelt down and took her hands. She couldn't find any words to match how she felt about it. There were none. All she could say was, "It's beautiful." He smiled as he got up. She watched him walk over to the music-cluttered organ.

His fingers danced upon the keys, playing it as if he were letting out all of his emotions. April slowly strolled over to Erik. When his incredible masterpiece ended, she fell to her knees. Her face was in her hands and her shoulders were gently bobbing up and down.

Not knowing what to do, he just watched her for a moment. Then he sat on his knees and pulled April to him. He embraced her while she cried. Her hands were clutching his shoulders, and he held her close to his chest.

When she finally calmed down Erik asked, "What's the matter, my dear?" But when she didn't speak for a moment, it seemed as though she was looking for the right words. Breathing unevenly, April eventually said, "It was too beautiful to handle." He looked into her sad eyes and hugged her once more.

His hands were on her back. Slowly he slid them up and down, trying to relax her. Then Erik noticed that April's breathing returned to normal. Her grip o his shoulders loosened. He looked down at her as she curled up comfortably in his arms. She placed her head on his collar bone, forehead touching his neck.

Gently, Erik ran his fingers through her curly brown hair. Placing his hand on April's bare shoulder, he felt her get the chills. After a while, she felt limp in his arms. Looking at her face, he saw that her eyes were closed. He smiled to himself, and then kissed the top of her head.

Then he didn't know what to do. If he let her sleep in his bed, she might do what Christine had done. No, he wouldn't let that happen again. But he didn't want to take her back yet. He wasn't ready to let go of her. Instead, Erik just held April. After a while, he picked her up and carried her to his bed.

"I will make sure the same thing doesn't happen." he told himself. The velvety cushions caressed her skin when he laid her on them. Sitting beside her, he sang sweetly.

Unexpectedly, April's eyes slowly flickered open. Erik stopped when he saw this. She looked around then at him.

"The truth," she said softly, "about why I cried is that your song reminded me of my mother." He looked at her curiously. "Why-" he started, and then stopped from the look in her eyes.

"Sh—she died a year ago…" A single tear fell down her cheek, while she just stared into space. He didn't let her tear fall, as he captured it with a kiss. She looked at him and smiled weakly. Now sitting on the bed, Erik put his hand on her cheek. His thumb wiped away the wet trail that her tear left. April placed her hand on his, closing her eyes. Yet, closing them only made more tears fall.

"Please don't cry," Erik said, cupping her face with both of his hands now.

"I'm sorry." Then she opened her eyes. She had stopped crying, but her green eyes were still watery. He wanted to kiss her and make everything all better. But all he could do was wrap his arms around her and hug her once more. She put her arms around his neck.

"I'll do anything to make it better," he whispered into her ear. April let go of him, then leaned in and they both pressed their lips to each other. Erik put his thumb and forefinger under her chin. They kissed passionately. He slowly leaned forward, gently pushing April onto the bed. Her hands were holding his face as they kissed.

Erik had placed his hands on either side of her, making sure he didn't put al of his weight on her. As they pulled away from each other, their breathing was heavy. Then Erik leaned forward to catch her kiss swollen lips. As he did this, his strong hands caressed April's bare arms and shoulders.

She pulled away right when he was about to deepen the kiss. Then she placed her finger on his lips to stop him as he began to lean forward again. Breathing heavily, she whispered, "I think we're going a bit too fast." He nodded and rolled over, lying next to her. April took his hand. Erik looked over at her, surprised.

Then she gave him a light and feathery kiss on the lips. His other hand snaked across her stomach to her waist. She laid her head on his shoulder. Gently, Erik slid his hand up and down April's side. She closed her eyes. After a while she gave him a soft kiss on his neck.

Then his hand didn't stop at her waist. It slid down to her thigh and stopped. She opened her eyes to look at him. Erik smiled at her. She smiled back and scooted closer to him. April could now feel his lean chest and stomach against her own. He loved being this close to her. His hand that was on her thigh slowly drifted to the small of her back.

She looked into his beautiful blue eyes. Feeling his warm breath on her face, made April feel like melting. They gently kissed each other again Feeling her luscious lips upon his again made Erik want to kiss her all over.

After that, they just stayed on the bed. Erik was holding April. Around fifteen minutes later, he told her, "I think it's best I take you back now. Someone might check up on you." She agreed and he carried her back to her room. He actually carried her to her bed!

"Erik, you didn't have to do that."

"I know," he said after laying her on the bed. "I wanted to." April smiled and he kissed her on the forehead like a child. Then he left through her mirror.

Shortly after Erik left, Madame Giry cam to check up on her. "You seem to be fine now. Rest is always the trick!" April smirked to herself knowing that she really didn't sleep as much as it seemed.

"Now get dressed!" she said happily. April looked at her.

"Why?"

"We're going out tonight!"

"Who's we?"

"You, Meg, a couple of your friends, and me," Madame Giry replied.

Smiling, she picked out a new dress and they left. They went to a nice little restaurant not too far from the Opera House.

Yay! I'm so happy with this chapter! It was a bunch longer than the rest! Please review and tell me what you think!

MoonieB: lol, I am too. glad you like it!

StarletOfTheForest (aka Skittles): thanks! don't worry, I have plenty more coming!