Dear Readers,

I Hope you are enjoying everything. Reviews (as usual) are much appreciated and it makes me very happy to hear you like my writing. So, without any further ado, happy reading!

Your Faithful Servant,

L.V.

Chapter 6

Even though Lisette had improved within so many steps it was obvious to see that she was weak and that she really depended on Erik's help of guiding her. Erik liked that she depended and trusted him. No one ever did that. They'd only take one look at him, scream of terror and were haunted from his image for the rest of their lives. Who could trust a monster? Apparently, Lisette could. She had naïve innocence, even at the age of fifteen.

She had grown up in a life where you could trust no one. Her mother was frequently beaten by her customers and yet Lisette was still able to look past appearances. She knew she had to get to know the person inside. For many of the men her mother engaged with looked kind and respectable, yet were the evilest of all. Erik was amazed that someone, growing up without being able to trust anyone, could still trust. In a way they were kindred spirits, yet Lisette was more forgiving than Erik.

Lisette had walked a few more steps and stopped when she arrived at a mirror. She gazed at her appearance. Her hair was stringy and hung dirtily at her shoulders. Her skin was sticking to her nightgown and her nightgown has damp from sweating out the fever. She grimaced as she realized how she must appear to Erik. For an odd reason she cared how she looked and at that moment her look was not too peachy.

"Erik, is there a way for me to wash up?" Lisette asked, trying to conceal that fact of bathing with a more appropriate way.

Erik thought for a moment and realized that he had picked out that dress for her. "Why, yes there is. I suppose I can put the bath tub in the curtained room." He remembered what that room was once used for, Christine's mannequin and her wedding dress.

"Just sit right here and I'll ready it for you." Erik said, pointing to a small stool.

Lisette sat down and took a deep breath. She watched as Erik hustled about his lair, finding everything that was needed for her to clean herself up. She smiled and chuckled softly at Erik. He was so funny; he worried over her so much. But why? She had only known him for a couple of days. For moments she sat, contemplating and dazing off into her own world, no longer noticing Erik in his frantic mess.

"Lisette," Erik said, slightly questioning.

Lisette shook her head, breaking her daze and realizing Erik was calling her name.

"Ugh, yes?" She asked.

"Everything's ready now." He informed.

"Oh good," Lisette said as he took her arm and led her to the curtained room.

Erik stood at the entrance, while Lisette was in the middle of the room admiring the way he had quickly put it together. She glanced at the corner and saw a mannequien, with a dark red dress on. Lisette looked at it in awe.

"Is-is it for me?" She said, stuttering a little.

Erik laughed and replied, "Why yes, I suppose it is."

Lisette stared at it, admiring the detail but after a moment she realized her purpose of being in the curtained room.

"Oh, ugh Erik, would you mind leaving in order for me to…" Lisette's voice trailed off as she became embarrassed that she had asked him to leave. It wasn't at all polite.

Lisette's question caught him by surprise and his cheeks turned bright red. "I'm very sorry, please forgive me."

Lisette smiled and spoke softly, "You did not know, Erik."

Erik pulled at the tassel that separated the curtains and made a doorway to close off the room, in order for Lisette to bathe. He returned to his organ and the piece he was working on. Never in his life had he really wrote a song about love, even when he loved Christine. Most of his works were sad, mournful songs about his life and how no one in the world, not even his own mother, could love him. But now Lisette had given him hope, hope he was not willing to let go of.

Lisette had finally stopped admiring the dress Erik had given her moments after he left. She looked over at the tub, it was already filled with water and the steam was rising off of it. She admired everything around her, he had taken so much care (in so little time) to make Lisette a wash room. Beneath her feet was a Persian rug and because the curtains were red velvet, they set a deep red glow about the room.

Lisette walked over to the tub and dipped two fingers into the hot water. Feeling that the water was just the right temperature, Lisette peeled off her nightgown and began unlacing her corset. Fully nude, Lisette put one foot into he tub and sank in. The hot water soothed every one of her aching muscles and she laid back, letting the warm feeling wash over her.

She thought about everything that had happened in the last few days and even reviewed what had happened when she was little. Lisette was thankful that Erik had found her. Who knows, if he hadn't she probably would have died of hypothermia. After all, she did not have a coat or a shawl to keep out the cold. She liked being there with Erik. He was far better than any of the men at the casinos. Lisette knew he was different from them, not only because of his mask but the way he spoke. His voice was kind, never harsh or demanding. In her mind she recalled the mean voices of the many men her mother "engaged" with.

After Lisette's time of thinking she began to scrub at her dirty hair with the bar of soap. Once she was finished scrubbing and rinsing she stepped out of the tub and onto the Persian rug. She rubbed the towel that was out for her all around her body and then wrapped it around her torso. She padded towards the mannequin that displayed her dress and carefully began unbuttoning the small buttons in the back of the dress. In no time at all Lisette had slipped on the dress, but not before her corset, which she laced more tightly than usual.

She stood in front of the mirror, examining herself. She felt beautiful, something she had never felt in her life! She was so happy, more than happy actually; words could not describe how she felt. Her long auburn hair cascaded in waves and the dress hugged her every curve.

Feeling more confident than ever, Lisette stepped out of the curtained room and revealed herself to Erik. He turned around, somewhat surprised and then even more shocked when his eyes set on Lisette. He could feel his words clog up in his throat.

"Lisette, ugh…well…you look beaut-…I mean nice. Yes you look very nice." Erik complimented, trying to conceal his mistake.

Lisette smiled broadly and let out a small laugh. She liked how he tried to cover up the fact that he was going to say she was beautiful. "Well, thank you Erik." She replied.