"Eyes of the Undead"

By Nabira

Do you know how much trouble I had in bringing you all this next chapter. My giddy aunt. FFN wouldn't let me upload it, but I've finally managed now.

For those that don't know, there is a new forum for POTO fans after everyone got mad at PFN... er, MFN or Muffins as we're dubbing it now. Go to: h t t p / p h a n s o n l i ne . n e t and take out all the spaces (often FFN won't let me put in URLs).

Once again, a million thanks to my beta, Brigitta.

Chapter 3

The Hunted

Selena really wasn't a person that liked losing. And a little slip of a girl was not going to stop her from getting the information she needed. So when Selena left the Garnier, she fell into one of her usual tricks of hiding in the shadows.

She had known that Christine Daaé would soon have to leave the building, and when she did, Selena was ready for her. Still hiding in the shadows, Selena followed her down the street and into Rue Scribe.

The girl came to a gate that had a pathway leading from it, disappearing out of sight. As she passed through it, Selena rushed through with her, moving quickly yet soundlessly with all of her supernatural skill. Christine did not hear nor see her, but tightened her cloak around herself as though a chill had just swept over her.

Selena smiled. She was pretty sure she had touched Christine, and it had been a while since she had drank from that man in the park. She was pretty sureconfident she had lost most of that unnatural warmth that the feeding had given her.

Christine walked down the path and into the underground passages, Selena following just close enough to still see her. She stillStill she hid in the shadows, but she was becoming a little bolder now. She knew that she could see much better in the dark than any mortal ever could and she delighted in that fact.

When they reached the water however, Selena lost all of the cockiness she had gained. There was a small boat moored at the side of the lake and Selena saw the man, Erik, waiting for Christine. Selena knew that there was no way she could get in that boat and not be seen by Erik or Christine – it was far too small. There was also no way she could get across the water without a boat.

Selena looked around the subterranean lake and noticed, for the first time, that the cavern that surrounded the water was rock. Not smoothed out architectural rock, but the type of rock that was found in caves. Placing a hand to it, Selena had an idea.

Erik and Christine were in the boat. Selena sat down and removed her slippers then gripped the rock. Breathing in deeply, she pulled herself up the wall, careful not to think about what would happen if she fell into the icy water below her. She had not climbed like this since she went to Cachtice with Vlad and that had been nearly two hundred and seventy years ago!

Selena breathed a huge sigh of relief as she made it to the other side, thankful that her bizarre vampire traits outweighed the laws of gravity.

Erik and Christine reached the other side of the lake not long after Selena did. Still hiding in the shadows, she watched Erik open the hidden door, her luminous eyes picking up every detail of how to open it. Erik and Christine went in and Selena decided to wait a while until she joined them.

It was a half hour when Selena finally worked up the courage to venture into Erik's home. It felt like she was breaking in – she really hadn't been invited. Christine didn't even know she had been followed.

Selena opened the secret door silently, careful not to make any noise. She really sincerely didn't wantwish the pair to know she was there until she wanted them toto be known.

There were very few shadows within the well illuminated home and Selena felt slightly uneasy. It would have been much easier to have the darkness to hide in because then, at least, she wouldn't be so wary of being caught.

Selena heard a door shut and moved to peeak through the open door into the room where she knew the humans had been.

It was at that moment, however, that Selena realised that Erik knew she was there. She could feel his presence moving slowly around her and she could hear him coiling the rope, getting ready to strangle her if need be.

One, two, three, Selena counted in her head, ready to step backwards on the count of ten. Eight, nine, ten! Selena stepped backwards and the rope fell in front of her, much to Erik's disbelief.

Selena looked up into Erik's glowing eyes, her own almost challenging. "It's not that easy to kill me, Erik," she said, her eyes locked on his. "Did Christine tell you I said hello?"

Erik started and said quickly, "How do you know Christine?" Then as he thought for a bit, he realised that was not the most pressing thing. "How did you get in here?" he asked exasperatedly. "How did you get across the lake?"

Selena smiled, letting Erik see the full glory of her pointed canines. "Some things are better left unsaid, Erik," she replied mysteriously. Looking at the couch in the middle of the room, she said, "Aren't you going to offer me a seat?"

Erik sighed and gestured for her to take a seat. When they were settled, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Selena smiled, careful not to show her teeth once again. "You interest me," she said, half telling the truth. "You're different, unusual, dangerous – like me."

Erik looked at her and for the first time Selena realised that he wore a mask. She had been so caught up with his undead eyes that she hadn't even noticed the rest of his face. "I don't enjoy being toyed with, girl," he said warningly, his voice a low growl.

"I can understand that, young man," she said, stressing the fact that she was much older than she looked. "But And I expect you to understand that while since you do interest me, I am going to be seeing you quite a bit."

Erik looked glared at her and Selena could see the anger and barely constrained temper in his eyes.

Selena smiled. "Good evening then, Erik. I need to get home before the sun fries me alive. Don't worry, I can find my way out."

With that, Selena turned and left, leaving a very confused Erik to be alone.