Disclaimer: I don't own Erik. Adrien and Isabella rock!

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FFAMasquerade2005: Thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you like it!

Utara Mikagami: I'm in French III this year, and it's amazing how much of this stuff I can translate. I'm such a dork -- I copy down the lyrics to a Phantom song in French, then use a Fr.-Eng. dictionary and translate it directly to see how close it is. (See how much of a life I don't have?)

Chapter XII: Trying to Understand

Her Story

Adrien woke the next morning to find Isabella sitting on the bed next to him. He sat up suddenly. "What are you doing in here?"

She looked at him as if he were crazy. "I wanted to see if you were awake yet, and then I decided to wait for you. Something wrong?"

"No, it's just…" he ran a hand through his hair, trying to find the right word. "It sort of… startled me, that's all. That you were right here when I woke up."

Isabella looked slightly hurt. "I'll not do that again, then."

She turned to leave. Adrien leapt out of bed and grabbed her wrist. "No, it's not that! I meant it in a good way. It was nice to see you first thing."

She sighed wistfully and he suddenly wondered what she was thinking.

"Are you alright?"

She turned to face him, and Adrien was surprised to see tears glittering in her beautiful grey eyes. "It's all so confusing for me," she said, throwing herself unexpectedly into his shoulder.

"I've never felt this way before… about anyone."

Adrien took her hand and led her back to the bed. They sat down, and she began to tell him her story.

"There's never been anyone in my life that I could love. My parents were shot and killed in a rebellion in Rome. Our family was rich, and we had been on a cruise that went to the Isle of Monte Cristo and then came back down to Rome. I was four at the time, and after their deaths I was taken back home to Salerno. The officials gathered a few of my things, and we rode down the street to a large brick building. A woman showed me a small bed in the corner of a cramped room and said it was mine. I couldn't understand why… none of the other children believed me… I tried to tell them that I was only going to be here for awhile, that my parents had a lot of money and would come to pick me up. They never did, obviously.

"When I turned sixteen, I decided to leave. Signora Severino had been giving me parts of my parents' fortune for the past twelve years, and I had few things to take along. I had learned to read and write, and I thought I'd try my talents in the real world. I desperately wanted to perform for people. So one night, I slipped away and began to follow the roads north. I was able to survive on money until I reached the city of Orbetello. When the money started running low, I would dance or sing for money and food. Not many people took me in because of my appearance, and I found it easier to travel at night most times anyway. It kept away many distractions, like the usual awkward questions…"

Isabella paused, shuddering. Adrien held her hands in his, gazing at her with anticipation and emotion in his eyes. She continued,

"There were a few times on the way to Genova when I feared for my life. I had forgotten how many drunks and… demonic people emerged at night. I remember one man…" she shuddered again, harder this time, "I didn't have enough money to make him happy, and he was drunk besides… he forced me to the ground, and I screamed… louder than I knew I could. I saw a shadow behind him and before I knew it, he was lifted up in the air… He fell back down, dead. I don't know who did it, or how. The shadow was gone when I looked up again. But it was so scary…" she sobbed, falling into Adrien's arms again. "I didn't know what to do."

He stroked her hair, eyes blazing. Someone had dared to try to rape his angel?

He could barely find his voice. "What happened after you got away?" he whispered hoarsely.

Isabella straightened slightly and allowed him to wipe the tears from her face.

"Well, it was the strangest thing. When I came into Garessio, I started hearing talk of something going on in Paris, at the Opera House. When I stopped at a café, the townspeople were full of the most outrageous tales. They said there was a ghost in the Garnier Opera that terrorized the ballet girls and made the floors run with blood."

She smiled ruefully at the memory.

"When I reached Monte Carlo, I knew I wanted to go to Paris and see this for myself. At first I had started out to dance there, and then it escalated into a desire to experience this ghost's power. Unfortunately, the people in Monte Carlo dashed my hopes. They told me that all the tales I had heard were true, but that they had happened so many years ago. I asked about the Opera House and they said it was still open to dancers. That gave me a bit of motivation, and I crossed the border into Nice. I don't know how, but the next time I checked my purse I had enough money for almost two train rides! I took the train to Lyon from Cannes, and that took me three days. I ended up staying in Lyon for awhile longer than I had planned, but it gave me time to perfect my French skills. We had been taught some basic French and German at the orphanage, but I knew I'd need more than that.

"A two-day trip brought me into Avallon, and from there I was able to walk to Paris."

Adrien stared at her in mute amazement.

"And then I went to the Opera, and from there I followed Erik, and you know the rest," she smiled.

"You came all this way on your own?" he asked, still not fully comprehending.

"I went hungry a few times, but all during the journey I never found anyone to be friends with. Even in Lyon," she said quietly, "where I stayed for so long. And now… I've found you. And that's what is so scary to me. I've never really felt love before. My parents died when I could barely remember them. I didn't have any friends in the orphanage. There were evil people on the roads…"

"Don't go through it all again," he urged. "Once was enough."

She looked at him through tears again. "I can't believe I found you," she whispered. "It still seems like a dream…"

Adrien held her to himself, comforting. "I'm here… Try to understand… I'll never leave you, Isabella."

I didn't really have any inspiration for this chapter, then it all just came to me. Like, POOF! It was odd. But hey, any excuse for a good chapter is fine with me! The name Signora Severino is a tribute to my grandmother, who died when I was four. She was Italian and her maiden name was Florence Theresa Severino.