Chapter 3

Sunlight spilled into the dormitories from the small window beside my bed. The voices of the other baller girls jolted me out of my dream about him. I stretched my arms and yawned, pushing the remands of my sleep away.

Today we have a shortened rehearsal thank God, I will be able to spend more time with him, if Meg doesn't force me to stay with her, she's been pushing me to spend more time with her and the other ballet rats.

I got up of my simple lumpy bed, and stepped onto the cold stone floor. My light nightgown clung to my body, but didn't keep the cold chill of an autumn morning from invading me, as I leaned out the small window that sat between mine and one of the other girl's beds. Beyond the crowded streets, stores and homes, laid a perfect scenery of trees in crimsons, oranges, golds, and the slight speckles of green. The array of colours tempted my heart, making it long to become a tree, so that it would forever be apart of such beauty.

Most of the other girls had already dresses and headed down to the stage, leaving me mostly alone, only the young ones still remained. Quickly I dressed, while humming the melody of a song he was trying to teach me, then headed down to the stage, to join the others.

How nice it was to have someone who is just mine, I don't have to share him with anyone if I wish. He is my angel, and mine alone. Never before have I had something that I can call purely my own, not possessions, nor people, till he came into my bland life.

"Hey, were have you been?" Little Meg's voice asked behind me, as we got into formation.

"You rush of after rehearsal." She spoke quietly, so that the others wouldn't hear our conversation. Something inside of me wanted to tell her about him, how perfect he is, how my heart longs to be with him, but she wouldn't understand, she was the closest friend of Christine, she wouldn't understand who he was, but then again, I don't know who he is.

"Oh, just around." I forced a fake grin, then casually tried to change the subject. "Have you heard the latest gossip about Carlotta?" Meg's eyes widened with curiosity. She was normally the first to here the most recent lie being passed around the opera house, but this time I was able to get the information first, from him.

"Don't tell me, she tried to have the managers bring her back, but they said no, again." She smiled, then imitated Carlotta's voice in a cracked version of 'Thing OF Me'. I couldn't help but laugh as Meg gave a short bow, careful not to catch the eye of Madame Giry, who would surely have scolded us if she saw us making fun of the once Prima Donna.

"Apparently, Carlotta is engaged to marry a blacksmith in some small town on the outskirts of the city."

"Splendid ending for such a well known singer!" She commented sarcastically, "A blacksmith, thats hilarious! Miss-has-my-managers-drink-wine-from-my-horrendously-expensive-shoes!" We couldn't help but giggle ridiculously, you could have mistaken us for the young ones. Madame Giry came up from behind up, shooting on of her dictating glares, before it was are turn to go up on the stage.

After rehearsal was over, I snuck away from the others, careful not to catch the eye of Little Meg. I know she is just trying to be a good friend and all, but I can't have her get in the way with him. He means to much to me. As I passed through the the hallway, that lead to the stair cases to his realm, a dark figure stepped out of the shadows, catching me by surprise. Before me stood Madame Giry, her arms crossed and her face the usual stern stone.

"I know were you're going." She clasped her hand on my shoulder firmly.

"Your going to see him" Fear flashed in her eyes, as she glanced around, making sure we were alone.

"Listen child, I can not stop you, but remember ha has not the morals of an average man. Do not play your silly games with him, he has been through more than you could imagine. Don't break him." She sighed heavily, and locked her dark eyes, with my own.

"I don't plan on hurting him, I never could." She nodded slightly, and disappeared into a near by room.

How is it she knows about him? I have been visiting him for months, and he has never spoken of himself, or Christine, how is it she knows about his life?

He was waiting for me at the edge of the lake, his pole in hand and gondola waiting. In all the time I have been coming down for the most part daily, he has never waited for me, I have always had to row myself to him home.

"Well, this is a surprise." I said playfully, which caused him to smile. OH his simile! The angel's themselves must have carved something as perfect as his lips. How much my heart longs to fell the soft touch of them on mine. He took my hand in his, and drew me closer to him, as he lowered his head to eye level, so that his nose almost toughed mine.

"I thought maybe you would enjoy singing outside today." He whispered sweetly, "After all, it will be too cold out soon to enjoy the scenery."

"I would love that." I responded, a hint of confusion hung in my voice, since when did he go out into the world above?

He placed the pole lightly in the gondola, and lead my down a different path, at the end of which a handsome white stallion stood. He helped me up onto it's back, then climbed up behind me. He reached around my torso to grab the reins.

Being so close to his body, having his arms brushing against my sides, his hot breath gliding over my neck, the sweet smell of him intoxication my nose, I surely must be in heaven. There was no other way to explain the euphoria I felt in those long minutes we rode together, completely at peace.

"We're here." His lips skimmed my ear. I never wanted our journey to end, but alas, it must. After helping my off the stallion, he head me away from it, through the serene world that surround us. He had taken us to the edge of a small meadow, a large ageing forest sat to our north, while a small town sat to the south. A large oak tree sat awkwardly in the middle of the meadow, were he slowly lead me. We sat beneath it's outreaching limbs, and began the lesson. He had asked me to sing a simple song, one of the first ones he taught me.

Masquerade, paper faces on parade, masquerade

"Chin higher." He pushed my chin to the proper position.

Hide your face so the world will never find you

"Shoulders straight." He placed his soft hands on my shoulders to correct me, I was half tempted to slump my body again, so that he would have to correct me again, but thought against it. Despite my longing for his tough, I don't want him to get aggravated with me lack of improvements.

Masquerade, every face a different shade, Masquerade!

Look around there's another mask behind you

"Good, good, your getting better." His brilliant eyes looked twisted with emotion. They showed the ecstasy of a small child, and the harsh burden of an old pauper. He let me finish the song with out his comments, then seemed pleased with my progress.

"This is such a beautiful place, how did you find it? You don't seem to get out too often." He laughed at this comment. It was the first time I ever heard him laugh, really laugh. He would give a slight chuckle occasionally, or a snicker, but never a laugh. It was deep, like the growl of a wolf, yet soft like his song.

"I found myself here many years ago, when I was in dire need of some sanctuary." He hesitated, not wanting to tell me, but something inside him made him finished anyway. "I thought I was in love, so many years ago, to a beautiful women, who though she loved me, but we were young, and foolish. She told no one about us, as I am obviously not someone you would want to brag about. Her family found out she was to have a child, and quickly married her off to another man, despite her pleas. I found myself here on their wedding day." A single tear fell down his cheek.

Instinctively, I wiped the tear away, and threw my arms around him in a comforting manner.

"I'm so sorry." I could feel is gaze burn into the top of my head, but I didn't look up, fearful he would see in my eyes the heart break.

He had a child, my angel, with a child? I know there was something between him and Christine Daae, but something in his tone pointed to another women. He was so experienced, while I am just a lowly young girl, having not even experienced a simple kiss yet.

A small chuckle escaped his lips, causing me to look up in confusion.

Was he laughing at me?

"What are you laughing at?" I tried to conceal it, but my crushed feelings appeared in my voice. He smiled at me tenderly, letting me know he wasn't laughing at me.

"How long have you been coming to me? two months? I have never told that to any one before, and your here, trying to comfort me, yet, you know not who I am." He turned away briefly. "In those months you have never asked about me, not even my name, how is it you can care so? Surely you must have heard the stories."

"The stories mean nothing to me, I started a few of them" I joked, then turned his face back to mine,

"If you wanted me to know, you would tell me." He nodded his head, and moved it closer to mine.

"My name is Erik"

"Erik? What a beautiful name, Erik." He moved his face even closer, till his lips touched mine. They were soft, and tasted like sweet honey. The moment lasted forever in my mind, but only a few seconds in reality. He pulls away, and turned from me, trying to hide it's redness.

"Come we should return, the sun is setting."