my-echo: don't worry about it. I believe criticism is good. It tells the author what they are doing wrong. And having him read Kay was wasn't? Every one always have him read THE Phantom of the Opera.

Twinkle22: She is good for him. She has more backbone then Christine. And she's not afraid to tell her opinion. As for her singing...well, read and find out.

Chapter 9

She frowned then thought. (Well, maybe part of a chorus. But which one?) She then smiled and nodded. "Ok. But no laughing." She took a deep breath and begin singing the beginning of the first song that came to mind.

Under the lovers sky
Gonna be with you
And no one's gonna be around
If you think that you won't fall
Well just wait until
'Til the sun goes down

Underneath the starlight, starlight
There's a magical feeling so right
It will steal your heart tonight

You can try to resist
Try to hide from my kiss
but you know, but you know
That you, can't fight the moonlight
Deep in the dark, you'll surrender your heart
BUT you know, BUT you know that you
Can't fight the moonlight..No
You can't fight it...
It's gonna get to your heart

Her lovely voice rang out with enthusiasm, and Erik closed his eyes as he enjoyed the sound. When she stopped he looked at her. "What song was that?"

"Can't Fight the Moonlight'. It was the first one that came to mind."

"It was good, and you were great," Erik told her.

"No mistakes?"

"There were a few. Your breathing could be better, and one shouldn't sing while sitting, but all in all it was not bad," he said truthfully.

She nodded. "Thought so. But I'm not a singer. So my voice sound good, so what? I don't care, it don't bother me so I don't worry about it."

Erik didn't answer. He was deep in thought. She was good. Maybe...

"Do you dance?" He questioned.

"Yes, but not the kind you'll know. But I've been trained in formal ball dances, and a little ballet." She answered.

"Let us dance then" He smiled as he led her to the center of the room, and they moved together with precision and grace. She fit his body perfectly, slightly smaller and able to rest her head on his shoulder. He tried to hide his growing desire, but with every turn and move her body would excite him. He held her loosely, not wanting her to feel his ravenous passion.

He notice it becoming late. "I believe that is enough dancing for tonight my dear" He told her.

"Erik, is there anything you can not do?" She teased.

He smiled as he led her to a corner of his living room where he kept his painting supplies. " I paint as well, but I'm a mediocre painter, and my handwriting looks like a drunk five year old" He confessed.

She looked down at the landscapes he'd done. "These are amazing, how can you say your mediocre?" She chided. "Who is the Indian lady? Is it...?" She had noticed his painting of the Kaunum.

"Yes. She was a very disturbed and troubled woman. I entertained her court in Persia."

Cat looked at him. "You were a political assassin, right ?" She said.

"I was many things, I dug myself a hole so deep I couldn't crawl out." He looked down and sighed.

"Yet here you are, so you were able to crawl out somehow." She took his hand and he stepped back.

He traced her fingers with his thumb and told her, "Nadir helped me out, at the risk of his own life. I often wonder if it would have been best if he have didn't saved me."

"Erik!"

Erik jumped, and looked at her in amassment. Her voice held warning.

"Well, Erik you did it."

"Did what?"

"You beat me. At times I got so damned depressing that most people want to strangle me. So snap out of it.

When I got depressed I looked at the good things about me."

"There are no 'good' things about me!" Erik snarled.

"See! There you go! Sometimes it feels good to complain." her eyes got a mischievous look, " But too much of a good thing can give to you a stomachache. Besides there are good things about you."

"Like what?" He asked harshly.

She laughed, not put off by his temper. "Fishing for complements Erik? How about this? I give you one a day."
Erik couldn't think of anything to say. He started at her. She was getting tired, but she was trying to hide it. She held his cold hand in her warm one. He led her back to the chair and she sat beside him on the floor. He told her a story, and she began to drift off. Erik led her to her room and said goodnight. He looked at her soft blue eyes and kissed her cheek. That small token of affection meant more than anything in his miserable life, and he went to bed content.