Hikari: Ah, my third chapter….

Erik: so surprised it lasted this long.

Hikari: Hey! Peacho told you to be nicer to me!

Erik: so?

Hikari: Be nice!

Erik: ……

Hikari: oh you're terrible. I'm starting the chapter now.

Chapter 3

"Who's there?" Clarity yelled, she heard a man's voice and it seemed to be coming from nowhere. Her voice became a whisper; "Is that you, Monsieur le Fantôme?" she looked around the room, the voice didn't come from the walls…it seemed to be…right behind her.

The Mirror!

Her back had been turned to it, she whirled around, only to have two black gloved hands shoot out from the glass and grab her, dragging her into the passage. The black figure released her, only to grab her shoulders and turn her around to face him. "Who are you? And what are you doing in this room?" Clarity was too shocked to speak, it was him! The Phantom! He shot her an angry glare and shook her, "Well? Answer me!" when the girl didn't speak he grumbled and roughly grabbed her hand. "Very well, Mademoiselle! If you will not speak to me here, I have no choice but to bring you to my home and have you speak."

"You can't be serious! Why?" Clarity sighed heavily as she tried to pull the gloved hand off of her wrist.

"So you do speak…well mademoiselle, if Firmin and Andre were to find me…lets just say things wouldn't look good for both of us." He turned and grinned, dull humor in his eyes.

Silence filled the air. Not a word was exchanged between the two, Erik looked the girl
over. No doubt she was nobility, she stood straight was a great dignity. She didn't slouch like the ballet rats at the opera. She wasn't French either; her pronunciation was a bit off…maybe half? ….Why was he concerning himself with her nationality? He shook his head slightly and saw the look in her eyes.

"You're not afraid of me, are you?"

"Why should I be?" she shrugged, "You're just a man…"

Just a man? He thought, that's doubtful…

Down in the Cellars…

"Well, Mademoiselle…welcome to my home" Erik stood in front of his organ and watched as the girl, in awe, wondered her way around his domain. He couldn't help but smile, if the girl was nobility, she sure didn't act like it. He sat down at the organ and began to play some of Mozart's works. Clarity jumped a bit when music suddenly filled the cavern. She walked over to the phantom and stood behind him.

"You're very good, and your house is simply beautiful."

he scoffed, "A House? I could hardly call this a house"

Clarity frowned, "it's where you live, is it not?"

"Yes"

"Then it's your house"

Erik sighed, "Fair enough, mademoiselle" He turned around to face her. "Tell me, who are you and why are you in my opera house?"

"Oh!" she gasped, "So sorry, Monsieur…my name is Clarity Elaine Smith."

"Elaine…that's French for light, but your name is English. You must be that nobleman's daughter who's wife is staying in France, her homeland." He said simply, a bored look on his features.

"Yes…how did you…?" she started, but Erik finished for her.

"You'd be surprised what I know, Mademoiselle Smith" he shifted his position on the bench, "Now answer my other question, what are you doing here?"

"My mother was a dancer here and I heard it was reopened so I wanted to come here….and I heard about…you and…"

"Me….and?" He kicked back and grinned, "What did you hear about me, Mam'selle?" Erik had to admit, he liked having his ego stroked. (egotistic)

She gave him a dull stare, "whatever happened to, "you'd be surprised what I know"?"

He glared, "Don't get sarcastic with me, you'll regret it"

"Fair enough, Monsieur…mind telling me the time?"

"5:00 pm" Erik said dully.

"Oh, Monsieur…I need to return to my family." Clarity panicked, she began pacing the room back and forth playing with a piece of fabric which decorated her light blue gown. She looked over at the Phantom who was now seated at his desk writing a note of some sort, "What's that?"

"A note to your mother"

"Whatever for?"

"That you will be staying in the opera house for some time"

" What?"

Erik smirked, "Well, you said you wanted to see the opera house and learn about the phantom, correct?"

hesitant, Clarity answered, "Yes…."

"Good", Erik sealed the note with his famous red skull and began another one addressed to the managers, "You will be recommended in the note that I'm writing. Welcome to the opera populaire, Clarity Elaine."

Hikari: so…..?

Erik: 'so' what?

Hikari: Comments, suggestions…snide remarks?

Erik: I would have killed her from the start

Hikari: nah uh.

Erik: yeah huh.

Hikari: nah uh

Erik:…why am I arguing with a teenager?

Hikari: donno, smarty-pants. –To the readers- message and review! AIM: Hikariangel426 and my e-mail in on my user page!