Author's Note: And the next one. I promise there'll be slash coming soon! Oh, and does anyone know if we're allowed to respond to our reviewers separately in the chapters? I remember reading somewhere that we weren't...
Chapter 11: The Answer
It was unnerving. After three days of being ignored, Raoul was now the center of very unwanted attention. The phantom had been watching him like a hawk; unreadable thoughts flitting across eyes until they were overshadowed by a predatory gleam. The process had repeated quite a few times, so it was only natural that Raoul took a step-or five- back when the phantom finally came forward.
"Monsieur, I'm afraid I can no longer allow you to read my play."
WHAT! That was his only source of entertainment in this godforsaken cave. How dare he try to take it away! Occupied with his thoughts, an aghast Raoul missed the evil grin flashed in his direction for barely a second before it was hidden once again beneath the phantom's schooled features.
"I don't understand."
Damn right he didn't understand. And the phantom better explain before he took a leaf out of his book and hung the bastard. A small part of Raoul's mind said he was being irrational, that it was just a play. But the rest of his brain prevailed, not wanting to loose it's only stimulant in this cage.
"I never was one to give previews of my work, and you deChagny, are no exception. Unlike Christine you make no contributions..."
"Well what can I do!"
The reminder of Christine stung, but he tried not to let any emotions escape onto his smooth face. If there was one thing he had learned from the phantom, it was to never let your feelings show. As he battled with his features, he watched the phantom think. Or rather, pretend to think.
"I suppose I could use another voice to work out the duets..."
"I'll do it."
It registered dimly in his brain that this was probably a trick, or at the very least a way to humiliate him, but he was far too concerned about losing the only thing that kept him sane.
The phantom raised an eyebrow.
"Then I guess you'll have to do."
It really was a shame Raoul could not see the future, or at the very least read minds, or he might have heard the unspoken part of that sentence. 'You have no idea what you're getting yourself into.'