Disclaimer: I own nothing. However I do own my soul, which rather comes as a surprise to me, since I believed I was doomed for hell a looong time ago.

A/N: I've been trying to decide how to play out Erik's reaction, so I'm terribly sorry if this took forever to post. I'm missing a few of my guinea pigs, I mean friends that I usually try out my new ideas on. They got to go to the Tetons while I'm stuck here…(grumbles something about deserving to go but not getting to because of 'depression issues' apparently.) Anyway, to my reviewers, thanks bunches! I really need the feed back, or I won't know what to do next! I was afraid that if I didn't get any reviews, I would take this story off, so be glad you reviewed! So, let's see if I can keep this up…

…Chapter 8…

I awoke to find myself lying on my back with my eyes closed. I tried to turn to my side, but found that my hands and feet were both bound tightly with a coarse, thick rope. I opened my eyes. I stared up at a cold, dark ceiling that I had never seen before. I blinked and turned my head. To my left, I saw a pool of water with the gate I had swam under at the end. I suddenly began to remember what I had done and instantly regretted ever finding that bloody mirror. As I turned to my right, I noticed a soft, sweet sound of the most beautiful music in the world drifting towards my ears. For a moment I forgot my problematic predicament and focused only on that sound which seemed to say that I was being silly worrying and should instead dream of beautiful and wondrous things, I was about to drift into a peaceful slumber when it stopped and I jarred back to cold reality. I looked to the right and found the man from before stand up from the organ that I mentioned, and turn around. He saw that I was awake and gave me a malicious smirk and sauntered gracefully towards me. As he came into sharper relief, I noticed that he was still wearing the white mask I had seen before. 'Why does he wear it? What's he hiding for?' I wondered, but whatever other thoughts that came to me were banished as he began to speak.

"So…the little spy is awake, is she?" He drew even nearer and bent down to look me in the eye. His voice had been smooth, but the he had spat the words at me and his tone gave me the underlying sense that he had powers beyond any I'd ever seen. However, if I'd thought his voice was chilling, his eyes would have frozen me to the soul. Those eyes…I remember them clearly, the were a cold, dark gray and seemed to glow with that hidden power. Now, they clearly expressed to me his utter, hatred, rage, and once again, I thought fear was there, but I wasn't sure.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" he whispered the inquiries, but it felt like he was shouting at me for all the fear he inspired. I gulped and bit my lip, willing myself to be strong and not start crying again. He grabbed the back of my hair and pulled my head back so that I couldn't look away, "Who are you!" This time he really did shout, and I just couldn't bear to look at him anymore, but I had no choice, so I the tears began to fall. He let go of me, seemingly disgusted. I shook violently through the sobs that raked my body. I wanted to run away and hide; I wanted to be back with Francis and Mary. Thinking of them, I sobbed even harder. This man was cruel, he had stolen from me the privilege of the shadows, for it was in the shadows that I felt most at home, it was there that I could be myself. I hated this man, but I knew I could do nothing to help my situation except to answer the questions. I began to choke and my body contorted violently, but he did nothing. When the tears had finally subsided, I had little energy left, but as loudly as I could, I answered him.

"My name is Deirdre," I rasped. "What?" I swallowed and said again, "My name is Deirdre." This time I managed to look up defiantly at him. I found that his eyes no longer glowed and that his malice had softened, but he was just as bitter and unfeeling towards me as ever. "How did you get down here?" he whispered, he was still less than kind, but not quite as harsh as before and I was thankful for that small favor I received. I took a deep breath and tried to speak, "I was wandering down some hallways and found a mirror". My voice was hardly louder than the air around us, but I suppose he heard me because for a brief moment, his uncovered eyebrow shot up in surprise. I continued, "It was sort-a open so I pushed it farther open and I went through it. Then I went down this long hall and…" He held up a hand to make me stop. I swallowed and took a deep breath, "Don't you know that it isn't safe to go through mirrors?" He seemed to be in some kind of shock. I frowned, "No, I didn't. Why?" He sighed, "You mean to tell me you don't know about the Opera Ghost?" I shook my head. "No, not a clue. Who's the Opera Ghost? What does he have to do with the moving mirror?" His eyes bulged and he seemed ready to faint when he composed himself. "I am the Opera Ghost." I blinked, "Okay…is that supposed to mean something?" He glared at me, "Don't be insubordinate child". "I wasn't!" I protested, even if I didn't know what the word meant, I knew I wasn't being that. He sighed again and turned from me. "I am a phantom of this Opera House. It is mine and I take care of it, manage it, haunt it. I make sure that everything that happens is exactly what should happen." He turned to me with a feral, almost sad grin on his face, "I am also a murderer."

Now it was my turn to be in shock. 'He's a murderer! See? I told you you shouldn't have come down here, but did you listen to me? No…' My mind started squawking at me, but I paid it no heed, I was too concentrated on the Opera Ghost. I watched as his face changed when mine did, he didn't look over-bearing or deadly now, he looked like a sad, crippled man with a terrible life. Despite what he had done, not only to me, but to others, I felt a great surge of pity and concern for him. I bit my lip. "Sir?" I whispered, he looked away. "Sir?" I persisted softly. Finally he turned to me with a both sad and fearful look on his face. Gathering my courage, I gave him what I hoped was a reassuring smile, "Sir, for whatever happened I'm sorry." I always apologized if I thought it would help, despite everything, I really did try to be a kind person. "If you like sir, I'd be happy to stay here with you." Well, actually, I sot-of wanted to stay here. He sounded like he needed some help, and it appeared that he hadn't had a friend in ages, so I figured, why not? He needs someone and so do you. He looked at me skeptically. "Child, did you not hear me clearly? I'm murderer." I smiled again, "I know, but you didn't kill me when you easily could have, so there must be some good in you." He seemed to think this over for a bit. "Do you already live in the opera?" I nodded. He frowned, "This is going to have to take a good explanation, but I'm sure that she can do it…" He said this more to himself than me, finally he looked up from his pondering. "Do you swear you won't run away when I untie you?" "Why would I do that? Of course I won't." "Very well then."

He got up from the chair he had been sitting in since I started crying and walked over to me. He pulled out a knife and cut my hands and feet loose. I rubbed my wrists and ankles, there were painful, red rope burns there. "Surry about that," he mumbled, tossing the rope aside. I smiled up at him gratefully. Getting to my feet, I bit my lip, "Sir?" "Yes?" He turned to me, as I had hoped. I leapt on him, in a ferocious hug. It must have been totally unexpected because it took him a moment to hug me back, but when he finally did I felt happier than I ever had in my life. I finally let go and he set me on the ground. "Um… I have to do something right now, so uh…just wait here until I get back, okay?" I nodded happily. He snatched up a black cloak and admired himself in a mirror for a moment before turning back to me. "And…uh…try not to touch anything." I was afraid he'd say that, but I nodded all the same. He gave me a genuine smile at my disappointment. "Don't worry, there'll be lots to do when I get back." With that and a swirl of his cloak, he left. I smiled to myself and sat down on the floor. Pulling my knees up to my face, I waited until my new companion, and eventual brother, to return.