Once again, thanks for the reviews. Phantomluvr, thanks for your comment, it made me think a bit... hope you like this one. Suggestions are always welcome... please R&R, Atrice...

Part 8 - Swept away

Artus was really worried. Lucille let him come to see her every day the following week, but she didn't speak much. She often sat and hummed sweet melodies, in her own world. Artus didn't dare to tell her, what was on his mind – that she seemed to be in love, but not with him. Lucille herself didn't know what she was; she just didn't want the Phantom to be lonely. She wanted to be his light. But she had no idea how or why.

"Lucille, are you sure everything is alright?" he asked her the following Friday, when they had tea. She looked confused by the question. Lucille couldn't decide upon her feelings. She knew that she ought to tell Artus about her new friend, but what if he forbid her to see him? In fact she was seeing him tonight… she sighed by the thought of it. Wasn't it evening soon?

"Everything is just fine, why wouldn't it be?" she finally answered.

"I have no idea, but you seem distant still…" said Artus, a sad tone in his voice.

"Perhaps I don't get enough fresh air… should we take a walk? I would like that…" Lucille said, and Artus did as she wanted to. He was in love with her, he knew that for sure. If she didn't love him, didn't want to marry him, why didn't she tell him? But she said nothing but sweet words, that turned his head… did she even know that?

"Artus, you have to go now… I need to prepare for the evening." She said to him when they came to her home again – they had been walking for a few hours in fact.

"Prepare for what? Are you having guests?" he asked, uncertainly.

"No, I have an appointment with a friend who needs me. I'll see you soon, right?" she said and reached for his hand, and he gave it to her. "Artus… it's just a friend and nothing more. Don't be worried, please?" she said with a smile, and she moved closer to him to kiss him on the chin. Then he left, and Coretta helped Lucille dress up nicely for the meeting with the Phantom. Coretta never asked questions anymore, since her mistress met the new man. She had become so stubborn all of a sudden. The carriage picked Lucille up like last time, and soon she was left alone again, by the back entrance to the Operahouse.

'Surprise me' she thought, while standing there all alone; 'amaze me like last time, but in a good way…' she felt her way forward a bit with the umbrella she brought, and soon stood below the roof where he led her last time.

"In this night, there is beauty near my mind… and through beauty my soul begin to love…" a voice echoed, but it was outside, not below the roof. She smiled and turned in that direction.

"Yet in the night, all the lonesome of the world… in the night, they should never feel alone…" she sang back to him, and she heard him sigh by the sound her voice, and suddenly he stood beside her, and took her hand in his.

"You do have a beautiful voice, Lucille…" he said, and before she knew of it he had taken her up with one move of his arms. He carried her in them, and she put her arms around his neck. She felt he began to walk. "It's easier this way… there's a lot of steps…" he explained to her, and she just nodded. He had done what she had wanted him to do – even a blind girl could dream. And he had swept her off her feet, just like that, literally.

She felt them go down into colder and somewhat more humid places. They walked down stairs, many stairs. Lucille leaned her head against his shoulder, and she felt his chin against hers. So soft and warm, and the arms strong and powerful like his hands. She could hear his cape swish behind him, every time they took a turn, and she loved the sound of it. Lucille felt safe, like nothing would ever harm her. He carried her down the steps, and suddenly she was placed on soft pillows, to sit. Whatever it was, it wasn't steady.

"Do not lean over… it's a boat." He said as if to answer her unspoken question. While he sailed them through the dungeons, he felt sorry for her, that she couldn't see it. He hadn't bothered to lit all the candles though, since she would not see them anyway. The beauty that he had created below the Operahouse, was something she would never encounter. But he would take her to his lair, to his throne of sweet music, and there he would present her to the beauty of his music.

But although Erik could see – and feel… and she could hear, and feel… none of them had seen, heard or felt the being in the shadows near the back entrance to the Operahouse. A being that felt left out, felt betrayed. A being that was Artus.