Chapter 4

Erick changed after the night he kissed me. He wouldn't let me get near him. He seems to have returned to his phantom nature, not allowing me to touch him, it's like he took down his wall of security for just a brief moment to torment my heart, to let me get a taste of heaven, but never let me in. I know he cares for me, I can see it in his eyes, but he won't act on his feelings.

In spite of his cold behavior, I have spent most of my time perfecting my dance. Little Meg hurt her ankle during practice just the other day, and Madame Giry gave me her part. Me! The lead ballerina! I thought only miracles such as this could happen in my dreams, but God seems to be kind to me, now if only he would work on Erik.

Tonights the night, the night I let the world see the true leader that has been locked up inside my blanket of insecurities, hidden by my modesty. If only I had told Erik to come, but I never got to tell him about my role. Madame Giry has not let me out of her sight lately, I know she is trying to keep me from him, but why? What does she know about him I don't?

"Get out there!" Madame Giry pushed me out onto the stage. Fright over took my body as I hesitated, I can't do this, I am not ready. All my doubt was washed away when my eyes looked up at the ceiling.

Erik. He was there, watching me. Just his presence was enough to fill my small figure with unmatched confidence. I began to dance, And oh did I dance. Never before has my body moved so perfectly with the music, so graceful and poised. It was like it was a part of me, and took me along with it, life a leaf blowing in the wind, I was at the music's will. That night I danced for Erik.

After the performance, I finally got my chance to slip away, to him. Madame Giry was needed in the dormitory, something to do with two of the ballet rats fighting, but I didn't stay to inquire. I was on the fourth cellar when I noticed someone up ahead. No one ever came this far down, but yet here they were, a stocky dark figure, slumped to one side. The hall wreaked of that wretched poison men fill themselves with to take there pain away. That vial alcohol that causes them to carry one in such disrespectful manners, it's the reason half of the opera bastards were brought into this cursed life.

I moved to the other side of the hall to let it pass, but it just walked closer. It was when he was almost on top of me did I recognize his repulsive face. He was one of those nasty stagehands, the one that took over Joseph Bouquet's job, after Erik...Well, that day Carlotta lost her singing voice.

"Hello there poppet." He slurred out.

"Maybe you should lay of the whiskey." I suggested, trying me best to be nice to the drunken fool.

He snickered at the comment. He lost his balance, and fell forward, I caught his large body with my arm, keeping him standing upright.

"You should lie down." He stood up as straight as he could.

"Only if you come with me." He spoke sinfully, as he reached for my chest, but I shoved his filthy self to the ground.

"I would never lay with a filthy rat." My words set of a fiery spark within him. He pulled a large, shimmering knife from his belt. Slowly I began to back away from him in fear, till my back hit the cold stone, he had me trapped. He stepped closer, brandishing his knife.

"Do you refuse me, Ballet girl?" He spoke the words with the most belittling tone my ears have ever heard.

"You must be the only one of them still a virgin." He slashed his knife across my shoulders, cutting the simple costume in two. It fell helplessly to the floor, leaving me only in my undergarments. His massive hands found there way against my soft skin, as he pushed me to the floor. I grabbed at the knife, focusing all my strength to separate it from him. The rough skin of his hands made contact with my throat, cutting off my air, till I let go off the knife, I was helpless against him. He slashed my remaining garments off, and stood over my naked body in triumph.

I can't let him win. While he was basking in his glory, I took advantage of his boasting, and mustered up all my strength to kick his groin. He screamed out like a banshee in pain, while I tried to run. Surprisingly he recovered from what I thought to be the winning blow quickly, he reached for me, and pinned me again the wall.

"Feisty one, you are. All the more fun for me." He whispered, as he began to lick the side of my face mockingly.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something move in the shadows. It's him. Returning my attention back to my attacker, I ginned at his soon to be misfortune, and spit into his face.

"You Little..." He was cut off when he something made contact with his body, sending across the room with it's brute force. Before he had a chance to even take a breath, the blade of a sword skimmed the thick flesh of his neck. Erik stood before him, grinning at the man's situation.

"You stage hands are all alike." He applied more pressure on the sword, causing it to just break the man's skin. I picked up the tattered remains of my costume, and held it before me, to hide my bare flesh behind.

"Please don't kill him." I whispered. Erik turned his head towards me with curiosity.

"He's not worth it, Please Erik, don't soil your hands with his dirty blood." I plead with my angel. He turned his gaze from the me to man, his face looked twisted, he wanted to listen to me, but he wanted to give the bastard what he deserved. Slowly, I approached Erik, and placed my hand on his arm.

"Please, don't"

"Go back to your rat hole, do not speak a word of this to a soul. Thank god for the mercy of an angel." He withdrew the sword, and locked eyes with me. The stage hand got to his feet, his entire body shook with fright. With the reflexes I have only seen Erik possess, he slashed the sword across the man's face, leaving a deep gash, not enough to kill, but cause pain.

"That is so you remember." The stagehand grabbed his face in horror, and ran off. As soon as the sound of his heavy stepped died, Erik turning back to me. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, letting his cape drape over me, to cover me in shadow.

"Your safe now" I snuggled into his arms, once again my Angel was here to save me. He is always with me when I need him, my Erik.

"Come, your safe now." He swept me off my feet, careful not to expose me from beneath his long black cape, then carried me into his comforting world of darkness.

He placed me down in the room I had woken up in after the day I had fell, next to the large phoenix shaped bed. He turned away quickly, the tips of his ears turned crimson red.

"I am sorry, I don't have anymore dresses down here." He took a step towards the door. "I could get you a shirt, and pants if you wish."

"Thank you Erik, of everything, A shirt and pants would be perfect." He nodded his head,

"The door to your left leads to a washroom, you will probably want to..." He stopped, rather embarrassed at the situation. He exited the room. I found myself walking into the small washroom, and filling the bathtub with water, before I heard his foot steps in the other room. He paused for a moment, just out side the door, then returned to the main room.

I don't recall how long I soaked in that tube, letting the sweet fragrances of the bath salts intoxicate my nose. The memory of the stage hand pushed away, but the feel of Erik's arms around me stuck with my mind. how strong he was, to send the man across the hall like he did, and then to carry me all the way here, with out having to adjust his arms once. how I long to be in his arms again, but not as a rescued victim, but as a lover.

I finished the bath, and found the clothes he provided me sitting neatly on the bed. The shirt was extremely loose, I could probably fit Erik in it as well, but I dare not dream. It was cut rather low, and exposed most of my cleavage, something Erik should enjoy. The pants were just as over sized, but seemed to fit well just along my wide hips. After I finished dressing, and ran a brush through my soaked hair, I joined Erik out by his organ. He left it immediately, and approached me. Never before had he stopped his music so quickly, it flustered me. He ran his hands over my shoulders, and whispered tenderly in my ear.

"Are you hurt?" His voice was soft, but I knew he was hiding his concern, and anger.

"No, Not physically." The tears began to flow over my cheeks. Understanding the emotional pain I was in, he wrapped his arm around me, and pulled me into his chest. He gently stroked my hair, and my tears caught in his shirt. I cried into him, releasing all everything into his soft body, my anger, my frustration, my weakness, my insecurity, through my hot tears. He kissed my forehead gently.

"It's alright, I am here for you." His voice always calmed me, no matter what turmoil my soul was in, his words soothed it. Between my sobs, I began to yawn, the events of the day taking it's toll on me. Erik raised my chin with his hand, and wiped away my tears.

"You should get some rest." He escorted me to the bed. He pulled the sheets away, as I found myself between them, my body longing for him to join me. He bent over and kissed me softly on the lips,

"Your safe, sleep well"

"Good night, and thank you Erik." I replied as he walked to the doorway. He turned back briefly, to look one last time at me, then disappeared into the darkness.