Chapter Seven:

Two weeks had passed and Erik had formed a relationship with Michelle that he hoped would keep. They talked with each other every night as much as possible. Erik often watched her in the rafters or in box five as she danced. The managers had yet to respond but they had shifted Michelle to co-prima ballerina. Which meant she had to share her position with Marie, who was rather much like Carlotta. He despised her and knew that she was jealous of Michelle. Another letter would have to be written.

Michelle stretched at the bar. Her legs bent gracefully in a plie. She heard Madame Giry tell her, "Michelle, please perform the beginning to Giselle."

As she began to leap and spin gracefully across the stage, she felt someone's foot stick in front of hers then she spun out of control and landed on the wooden floor of the stage. Her ankle twisted as she hit the floor and pain shot up in her ankle. "Marie! What did you do that for?" Madame Giry shouted. Before she could respond Madame Giry continued, "There will be no rough play here. Michelle is the prima ballerina for Giselle as you were the prima ballerina for our last opera. Now go back to the dormitories before the Opera Ghost gets you."

Indeed, the Opera Ghost would get her, for Erik saw the entire stunt and now was in an entire rage. He watched as a stage hand named Henry, helped Michelle on her feet. "Michelle, go rest your ankle. We will practice while your ankle heals." Madame Giry said to the injured ballerina.

"Yes madame." Michelle replied then hobbled, with the help of Henry, back to her room.

xxxx

Michelle tried to lift her foot from the floor but it seemed impossible. The swelling was now too painful to bear. Too much, that she didn't hear Erik enter through the mirror. "Angel. How are you feeling? Can I do anything?"

"Maestro," her newfound name for him escaped from her lips, "i'm doing okay. I can't lift my foot up." He gently cupped her heel with his hand and lifted the foot onto her bed. "Thank you Erik."

"I am so sorry angel. I am going to do something about the girl."

"Erik. You can't hurt her. She's jealous. That's all." She whispered as his hands gently worked to untie the laces on her pointe shoes. He then gently pulled the shoes off. She gasped softly.

"I'm sorry Michelle." He whispered.

She reached out for his hands and held them between her own small hands. "Take me down to your home."

"Angel, I would do anything for you." Erik said as he smiled at her then gently picked her up as not to disturb her foot. He took her deep into the tunnels and walked quickly so she would not be too cold.

"We've never been this way before." She paused slightly. "I mean I've never been this way before."

He laughed softly as she lay her head against his hard chest. "I know what you mean Michelle. There is more than one way to get to my home." He was fast and in no time they reached the lair and Erik immediately took her up to the bedroom, placing her gently on the bed. "Let's see if I can make your ankle feel better." He told her then sat at the end and gently placed her swollen right foot in his lap.

"Oh Erik. It hurts." Michelle mumbled as she placed her right arm over her eyes to prevent herself from seeing what he was doing. He gently rubbed the swollen ankle with his fingers as she moaned in pain.

"I know angel. Everything will be okay." He whispered in a comforting voice.

"The pain is starting to subside." She said after a few minutes.

His fingers tickled her instep gently as he continued rubbing her ankle softly. She laughed quietly. "Stop Erik. You're being mean."

He put her foot down slowly, then pulled himself next to her so he could look in her eyes. "But I like tickling you." He smiled at her and then gently ran his thumb along her lips. He marveled in the silkiness of her pink lips. She smiled at him then took his hand between hers and placed it over her heart.

Erik's eyes widened as he realized where his hand was. "No, angel." He stopped her as he pulled his hand away from her chest.

"Erik? Don't you trust me?"

"Yes angel. Of course I do. I..I do not trust myself." He whispered as he stepped away from her. She sat up slowly.

"I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable." She replied as she tried to get out of the bed.

"No. It's not that."

"Then what is it? I want to help Erik."

"Michelle," He said as he took her hand, "you wouldn't want to be with me."

"Why not? I love talking with you Erik. I love being with you. You're intelligent, sweet, handsome..everything that I want in a man. I can talk with you for hours on end and never feel that what I say means little importance to you. You're my soul mate Erik. I've never felt so strongly about anything before than this." Michelle told him as she gently placed her other hand over his.

Erik softly kissed her hand as she smiled at him. "Angel. It's not that simple. You've never seen my face and you wouldn't want to see it."

"Why not?"

"Because I am ugly and cannot show my face to you." He whispered in her ear.

"Let me decide for myself." She replied then looked at his face and smiled. Her fingers reached up and gently caressed the right side of face before peeling away his mask.

A/N: I want at least 1 review before I continue. I need a review to know how I am doing. Thanks!