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Chapter 7: The Phantom of the Opera

I was out of bed in a flash. Louis had already set out the nice dress I purchased a few days back. It was a midnight blue with some ruffles and lace. She helped me into the corset and then into the dress. I was more nervous than I'd ever been in my life. So, the Phantom, for that was the only name I knew for him at the moment, had heard me that night. I wasn't too surprised. After all, wasn't he the Phantom of the Opera?

Louise hurried me out the door with comments on how the Master didn't like to be kept waiting. I wasn't surprised about that either. It seemed to fit with his character. She walked me up the stairs. She had ceased her chatter and was very quiet. The butterflies in my stomach fluttered. Louise led me to the second door on the right. So, I was to meet my benefactor in the room where I had spied on him the night before. I wanted to laugh.

"Go on in, dear. He's waiting for you. No need to fear. He may yell, but he certainly won't bite. Be patient. Don't rush things. And smile. There you go." With a half-hearted pat on my shoulder, she withdrew and went downstairs. I was left alone.

I opened the door to the room. It looked exactly as it had the previous night. A couch against one wall, some high backed chairs against another. The piano was still in between the two windows. The sun was shining through one window, illuminating the door and the space immediately to the left of the door. The other window's blinds were pulled closed. In the darkest corner of the room, a shadow stood. The master of the house: the Phantom. He beckoned me into the room and indicated to me that I was to stand in light. I felt like I was in Beauty and the Beast.

"You did not loose time in exploring once Louise was gone, did you, child?" He asked slowly. I couldn't see his face or expression so I did not know if he was angry, annoyed, or simply teasing me.

"I'm sorry, sir." I said as I shifted my weight from foot to foot. I was nervous. Can't you tell? "I didn't know I was breaking a rule. Forgive me?" He laughed and I saw he was just picking on me. Afterwards, I found he liked to do that quite often. Believe it or not, I always got him back.

"You are forgiven, child. And it wasn't a rule, merely my preference. What is you name, child?" He demanded. "Your full name."

"Elizabeth Ray Jacobson, sir." I replied. I thought a curtsey necessary, so I tried one. It didn't turn out too well considering I'd never done one before in my life. Though I didn't see it, I knew he smiled. I was making a fool of myself.

"Elizabeth. A beautiful name; very much appropriate. Tell me, Elizabeth, where do you come from?" I wasn't sure what to tell him. The truth was not believable at the moment. He would have scoffed at hearing of my being from the future and possible alternate dimension. So, I decided to twist it. Really twist it.

"I come from Virginia in the United States. I fled here due to the civil war and I became separated from my companions. I found my way to Paris and that is all there is to tell." I thought it pretty good for a spare of the moment thing. I could see him nod his head.

"A believable story, but not the full truth." My head snapped up and my jaw probably dropped a few inches. He continued. "A girl like you would not loose her companions. You are not telling me the full truth. But, after a while, maybe you will tell me it in full. For now, I trust you." I still don't know why I asked it. I already knew the answer. Maybe it was the nerves or the fact that he was hiding. Maybe I was suffering still from time travel lag. Or maybe I just wanted to see his response. Or maybe his ability to see through my lie had scared me out of my wits. For, without thinking, I blurted out.

"What is your name?" I wanted to slap myself. He stepped away from the corner. I could see him slightly better, at least enough to see the white mask. He also wore a cloak of black which covered the rest of his clothing.

"My name? What do you think my name would be, child? Master, as you hear Louise call me? It is just a title. I have no name, at least not one a normal person such as your self could use. I was never good enough for one. So, what would you name me?" I hadn't expected that. But I knew the perfect name, thanks to the book.

"Erik." He looked at me. Though I couldn't completely see his face, I could have sworn (and still swear) he lifted his eyebrow.

"Erik? I like it. It has a certain sound to it; a sadness to it. Just like my life. Yes, you may call me that." He stood for a second, thinking. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back. "Any more questions, mademoiselle?" He asked.

"Yes, one more. Would you step into the light? I want to see you." I said somewhat timidly. I wanted to be sure my guess from the previous night was right. There might have been other men who wore masks, though very doubtful. I just had to be sure. Later, I realized I had been almost quoting Beauty and the Beast by asking him to step into the light. How appropriate.

"Why would you want to see me?" He asked bitterly. "Why put yourself through it?" But, he stepped into the light anyway.

He was tall, that was the first thing I noticed. He towered over my by about six inches. Maybe more. Then, I saw the mask. It was white, like the one from the Phantom of the Opera movie. It covered the whole right side of his face save for right above his lips. The mask confirmed my suspicion. He was the Phantom of the Opera.

Apparently, he no longer cared to wear a wig of any sort. His hair was not long, but not really short. It was about to the middle of his neck and it was a dark blonde. I found him strikingly handsome, yet I still took a cautionary step back.

"Are you afraid?" He questioned, noticing my retreat. What was I to say? Part of me was slightly scared. Remember all the atrocities he had committed in the book and movie? Those were floating through my head. I didn't know he had changed his character since then. But, I squared my shoulders, looked him straight in the eye, and lied again.

"I am not afraid of you, though you are not what I had expected." He nodded, a cruel smiling developing on his face.

"I understand. You expected to wake up and find that a handsome man from some novel had rescued you. You would fall in love with him and then live happily ever after. You were not expecting a man hidden behind a mask." His voice dripped with sarcasm. He was still getting over Christine and her rejection, it seemed. I felt bad for him, but angry that he would dare try to figure out what was inside my head.

"You are wrong, sir. And I am offended you would have such a low opinion of me. I was expecting to find myself in the hands of the men who cornered me. You are definitely not what I was expecting, but I am very grateful for that. I'd rather be here than there. The mask may bother you, it doesn't bother me. But, may I ask what you are going to do with me? For that is the most dominate thought in my head at the moment."

"I can understand that. You may stay. If you wish, you can help Louise with her chores and the cooking. Or you can just reside here and do as you please. I do not care. My life is not as luxurious as some peoples' lives, but I have enough money to meet all my needs and it will meet yours as well. Only one condition I place on you." I interrupted him.

"Let me guess, you want me to promise never to go away and to stay here always?" I questioned. It was Beauty and the Beast all over again. He looked puzzled and shook his head.

"No. That is not my condition. Why would I force someone such as you to stay with a monster like me? For that is what I am. You will soon see it and realize your mistake in choosing to abide here." He held up his hand to stop me from commenting. "As I said, there is only one condition and an optional condition if you wish for it."

"What is the one condition?" I asked nervously. What could the Phantom want from me? I realized what it was about a second before he told me. I don't know how I could have completely forgotten that one little detail.

"The one condition is this: you must never, ever touch my mask or in any way try to remove it. If you do, you will find yourself in the streets. Do you understand?" I cowered back against the wall as he stepped menacingly toward me.

"I understand."

"Good. You will have no problems here if you just obey that one little command." He sighed and took a step away from me. I plucked up my courage to ask a question.

"What's the optional condition and why is it optional?"

"I make this optional because I don't know how comfortable you are or will be with me. But, it is rather lonely being here by myself with only Louise for company. She's typically nervous around me. I wonder would you join me for dinner every evening." Now it was his turn to look nervous. I noticed the way he shifted his weight as he spoke. When he asked me to join him for dinner, I could have laughed. I didn't, thank the Lord. I took a step toward him and smiled.

"I would be delighted to join you for dinner. In fact, I'd be honored. It's the least I can do after you rescued me and provided me with a home." I tentatively placed my hand on his arm. He didn't pull back. "And for all that, Erik, I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

"You are welcome, child. I would not leave one such as you in the hands of those men. Now, off with you. I have business I must see to and I'm sure Louise could use an extra pair of hands. I will see you for dinner." He stepped away, my hand falling from his arm. I nodded and left the room. I didn't notice his look of sadness as I left. Later, he told me he had pitied me being in a place where I had to rely on him. He never trusted himself with me. Always afraid he'd hurt me.

I shut the door quietly on the way out. I leaned against it for a second, composing my thoughts. It was then that I realized I was going to fall hopelessly in love with him.