AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Over 100 reviews! PARTY! wow guys, thanks, couldn't have done it without ya!

Sadly though, this brings me to another note. Apparently you can not post review replies anymore. If you guys get an email about it, sign the petition! So, sadly, I can't do review replies at the moment, but if you guys sign the petition, then I will be able to.

Also, I decided to be extra nice to you guys. Since this chapter is short and, well, not very good, I have decided to do a double update. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own POTO.

11. Chamber of Secrets

I stirred from the pile of cushions but I found that Erik was not there. A soft sound caught my attention and I peeked around the corner. Erik was seated at the organ, apparently composing. I liked what he was playing. It was a simple melody, soft and sweet, almost like a lullaby. He stopped after a few measures, pausing to write something down and looking up as he did so. Immediately his gaze locked with mine. I walked over, knowing that I had been caught.

"Good morning my love, " Erik said, taking me into his arms and kissing me chastely.

"Mmm, mornin' Erik," I whispered sleepily. "Why did you stop playing?"

"Because... it's a surprise."

"For who?"

"For you of course!"

I laughed, enjoying his reactions as I teased him. "When will I hear all of it?"

"Must you be so inquisitive?"

"Yes. So when will I find out what this surprise is?"

"Soon... if things work out right," he said, muttering the last bit under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

I smiled wryly at him, getting an idea in my head. "Perhaps I can persuade you otherwise," I said before kissing him soundly.

"Well my sweet Meg, you do sorely tempt me, but I'm afraid you won't get me to tell."

I could see that no matter what I did, Erik was not going to budge, so I gave up on the subject. For the first time this morning, I realized that Erik had put his mask back on.

"Erik, must you always insist on wearing that stupid thing. Every time I talk to you I feelike I'm talking to it and not you. Besides, you know I love you just the way you are."

"I do know that, it's just that I feel more comfortable when I'm wearing the mask."

"Could you at least leave it off around me?"

"But that would be all the time!"

"Ugh, you are so stubborn," I pouted.

"Well you're so curious," he retorted.

"Could you at least leave it off at night?"

"Fine," he sighed. Well, I couldn't get Erik to tell me what he was hiding, but at least I was able to convince him not to wear that damned mask. It was a start.

However, just because Erik wouldn't tell me about the surprise didn't stop me from trying to find out about it myself. I had always been too curious for my own good and I was always up for a bit of a challenge. In the earliest hours of the morning I could hear him composing, yet the sound was barely more than the quietest whisper. I would tiptoe down the stairs and hide by the bend without a sound. But after a minute or two Erik's uncanny ability to detect someone always managed to pick up on my prescence. He would stop playing and tell me to go back to bed. I still waited for him to start again, but I always lost the battle to stay awake and I would not hear another sound for the rest of the night.

I was really starting to like life with Erik now. There were no secrets and nothing to hide, except for maybe that surprise, or so I thought. There was still something about Erik that led me to believe that there was something else that he was keeping from me. Every time when he kissed me deeply there was always a fire in his eyes and a certain restlessness about him that was starting to make me nervous. He would always look down and look at my hand before looking into my eyes, almost pleading to me but I wasn't sure why. I just hoped that he would cease to tantalize me with these secrets.

Yes, I know, sucky, short chapter, but I'm making up for it with the next chapter which I am sure you guys will like. Though I would still appreciate it very much if you still left a review for me anyway!