Author's Note: Thank you to my wonderful, beautiful reviewers! Reviewers for this chapter gets a piggy back ride from Erik :.: stuffs a sock in Erik's mouth as he tries to protest:.:

This chapter is dedicated to my lovely beta, Random Battlecry! Go read her stuff! It's hilarious!

XXXXX

"Where am I?" was the dominant thought in my head once I had awakened. For a few moments I was filled with panic. Then the events of the night before flooded back. I leaned back into the pillows, relief flooding through me. Though it wasn't exactly an ideal situation I was in, it was better than having no idea where I was.

I rolled out of bed, even though I was not keen to do so. I had never been exposed to such a luxury as the bed offered. In fact, every inch of my room screamed of luxury. It was a bit disconcerting to a girl who couldn't even use electric lights because of the cost.

After making my bed, out of habit, I looked around the room again. I noticed several things that my tired brain hadn't even begun to process the night before. The walls all contained nooks, one of which held a half-filled bookcase and chair, another a magnificent sculpture of an angel. When I came to the fountain I noticed a door just beyond it.

Inside the door was a magnificent bathroom. There was an enormous bathtub, which probably could have held three of me quite comfortably, sunk right into the floor. On the far side there was a shelf filled to bursting with all manner of bath oils and hair products. And on a rack next to a magnificent sink were several large towels.

I filled the bathtub considerably— it wasn't me paying the bills, after all— and gratefully stripped and entered. I felt grimy after last night; the dressing room at the bar wasn't the cleanest of places. And I didn't exactly have a chance to shower last night.

I added a generous portion of the nearest oil into the water. I could feel my skin softening as it entered the water. This was high quality stuff. I should thank Erik.

Erik. Despite my restless hours last night, I was no less confused than the night before. He used me for five years. But he said he loved me. What would my father think? What did I think? How could something as innocent as my music lessons become such a complicated, dangerous thing?

Of course I didn't think Erik would hurt me, or at least not intentionally. But from what I had seen last night and learned over the past five years of being his student, Erik was a man taken to many passions and mood swings. How would I live with him? Would he ever let me go? Did I even want to go back?

My life above ground was a harsh reality, one in which I was unimportant and unwanted. I worked in a bar, for crying out loud. No one cared about me. Down here I had a purpose, to sing with a man with a voice likened to an angel's. There was nothing for me up there.

But what of Robert? What will he think happened to me? Will anyone miss me once it is discovered that I am missing?

In my mind's eye I saw the day which I left for my new home, away from the Sumptner's. I gave Robert a scrap of paper that listed my new address and phone number, instructing him to call me. I never received the call.

Did Robert care about me? Had he ever cared about me?

Erik cared about me. I could see it in his eyes, even in the depths of his madness. If no one else in my life cared about me, at least he did.

Could I live with a man whose face stuck me with intense horror every time I saw it? Could I overcome my shallow soul's pleas to leave and at least attempt to learn who this man was?

Why should I even try to learn who he is? He lied to me for five years, using my father's memory as a tool to help him do so. What do I owe him?

I owe Erik my voice. I never would have been able to go onto that stage and see such a look of awe from everyone who listened if not for Erik. He truly was an incredible musician and tutor.

I wonder what my father would tell me to do right now. I can see him in my mind's eye, even now, eleven years after his death.

I can see him in his favorite shirt, from the time he went to the symphony and bought the cheapest shirt he could find. I could hear him say, in a voice from memory, "Don't be hasty now. Get your bearings before you chose anything." He had been talking about choosing what classes I wanted to take for school, but the words rang true to the situation.

I would stay with Erik for now. Just until I could get my bearings. I didn't really know anything about Erik the man; yet. I had thought I knew plenty about the Angel of Music. I suppose, truthfully, I didn't know the one most important thing about him till last night.

No one aboveground would miss me, except maybe Robert. But I doubt even he would; and if he did, he would recover soon enough from my being gone.

But just because I had resigned myself to being underground with Erik doesn't mean he has to know it. He did deceive me for five years of my life. I mustn't allow myself to forget that. I had to watch my footing where he was concerned.

I hope I won't regret this later in life.

XXXXX

Review Responses:

:.:Erik goes around to all the reviewers and give the promised forehead kisses. And Ahomelesspirate gets three, as she reviewed three different chapters between last update and this one.:.:

Tink: Us authors do have a tendency to use evil ways to get people to keep on reading. But it's because we luff you all. And our inner attention whores demand it. :.:Grin:.: Please continue reviewing!

Ahomelesspirate: Whoo! Thank you for giving each chapter separate reviews! I'm sorry about the song. I always get annoyed with that…and yet I put it in my own phic. But I'm glad I made up for it! I'm trying to mainly base Erik around LeRoux. I'm very flattered that you think it is brilliant! I greatly appreciate your flattery! Alright, the reason that she didn't react was because before she had time to, Erik started to scare the crap out of her. If you thought someone was going to kill you, you'd forget that the person was deformed and start worrying for your life. And Christine has a lot of pent-up anger that she suddenly unleashed at him when he made it sound like it was all her fault. Christine isn't a kind-hearted soul, at least not in this phic!

Monj: It may seem like Christine is resigning to her fate, but watch out for the next chapter! She'll be doing some serious Erik bashing... :.:facepalm:.: There I go, giving teasers out!

Sandra: Ah! Someone with a vocabulary much greater than mine! Or a heck of a lot less lazy than I, who actually looked it up! Thank you for the review!

MMJ: So it turns out penultimate really IS a word! Who would have thought? But, I guess Erik's face isn't penultimate… Oh well! I'm glad the face made your day.