Erik didn't speak for what seemed like an eternity. He looked into Kendra's eyes. "Yes." Kendra looked into Erik's eyes, then quickly looked away. She didn't know what to say, so she just sat and looked at the floor. Why had she tried to love someone who loved another? She was still crying, but she was to deep in thought to wipe the tears away. Erik wasn't so sure he should have said that. 'But I have that love for you too...' he tried to get the words out, but they wouldn't come.
Summoning up his courage, Erik leaned over and pulled Kendra up unto her feet. Then, taking her beautiful face in his hands, he kissed her. Kendra was surprised by his actions. She kissed him back, not knowing what else to do. Does he truely love me? Or is he just toying with me? she asked herself. She couldn't come to an answer, so she decided to let the events unfold, wether he loved her or not. "I will always love you," she managed to say after she caught her breath.
Erik put a finger to her lips. "Your mother was... amazing." he paused and sighed. "And I loved her." Erik got a faraway look in his eyes, but it vanished quickly. "But she never loved me back. Maybe at one time she did... but then she met your father." Erik's face darkened. "Raul. From then on I knew it was hopeless... but I kept trying." Erik's voce cracked. "You- you still look at me... even after the mask is gone." Erik couldn't go on. Tears sliding down his cheeks, he turned away. Kendra put a hand on his shoulder and turned to Sorelli, who had been watching quietly from a darkened corner.
"Sorelli, my sweet girl, will you please excuse us foor a few minutes? I think Erik and I should talk," she still had her hand on his shoulder. Sorelli left the room and Kendra sighed. "Erik, what's wrong? Aren't you happy I'm here?" she was confused. Erik began to shake. His mind was a swirling mess of confused emotion. "Yes..." his voice trembled. Erik, having little or no contact with the real human being couldn't cope with this sudden onslaught. "I... aghh..." Erik pulled at his hair and began to pace.
Kendra did not know what to do. She had no idea what Erik was thinking, but she looked at his frantic movements. What can I do that will calm him? she asked herself. Something clicked in her mind and she ran up to him and started to sing something she had never heard before.
"Angel I hear you, speak: I listen...
Erik stopped dead in his tracks. The music...
Kendra was still watching him, but she continued to sing as well.
Stay by my side, guide me. Angel my heart was weak, forgive me. Enter at last...master..."
Erik's heart was beating wildly in his chest... her voice...taking a deep breath, Erik closed his eyes and let the music take control.
"Flattering child you shall know me, see why in shadow I hide! Look at your face in the mirror- I am there inside!"
His thoughts were running wild... 'She's not Christine... she's not... it's Kendra...'
Kendra walked slowly up to him, singing as she moved her feet.
"Angel of Music, guide and guardian, grant to me your glory. Angel of Music, hide no longer. Come to me, strange Angel..."
Erik didn't open his mouth, but he could hear the words in his mind. 'I am your Angel of music...
Come to me Angel of Music..' He didn't want to do what he had done to Christine to Kendra as well... forcing someone to love you. "I- can't." Erik clenched his fists then faced Kendra again. "I need some time alone. To- think. There's food over there." he gestured to a side tunnel. "Do not disturb me or there will be... conciquences. I shall be in that room." he pointed to another chamber, this one with a large door. "I will live off music alone." Erik let his words sink in, then waited to see if Kendra had understood.
Kendra's heart disagreed, but she nodded. Just as she was about to say something, she stopped. She ran into the side tunnel crying, for she did not
understand why he had not wanted her to stay. Now alone in the side tunnel she sat in the middle of the floor and wept. "Does he hate me? Is that why he wants me to leave?" she asked, aware no one was in the room to hear her. She took a deep breath and tried to stop crying. She failed miseralbly.
Erik saw Kendra leave and he felt as if what he was doing was wrong. But he needed a moment to think... to reflect, like he had always done before. But there are more living here now, more than before. Things have changed. Erik gazed after Kendra, then decided. Whirling around, he made for his room, his sanctuary.
A few moments after the door closed, complicated and beautiful organ music filled the cave, echoing off the walls. Then Erik's voice, as if from far away, sounded.
"No one would listen
No one but her
Heard as the outcast hears."
Shamed into solitude,
Shunned by the multitude,
I learned to listen
In my dark, my heart heard music."
Kendra's face had been in her hands. She lifted her head as she heard Erik's voice. She smiled inwardly and took calm, steady breaths. She put her hands
over her ears and tried to ignore Erik's words. She tried to spare herself the heartache which she knew would come.
Erik continued to sing and play. Then, abruptly he stopped and changed keys.
"Say you'll share with me one
love, one lifetime . . .
Lead me, save me from my solitude-"
Erik stopped again. Does she know? Even care? Listening carefully he heard Kendra's sobs. 'What have I done?' Erik burst out of his chamber, singing loudly, his mask back on and face dry.
"Say you want me with you,
here beside you . . ."
Erik approched Kendra's huddled shape.
Anywhere you go let me go too,
Kendra, that's all I ask of you!"
Kendra heard him and turned around, her face wet with tears. Her heart was beating fast. Had she heard what she had thought she heard? Was it all just an illusion to make her feel better? She stared blankly up at Erik, who was standing over her. She said in a small voice, "Do you hate me?"Erik stared back at her. "Of course not. Why would you think that?" he gazed into her eyes then softly sang,
"Kendra, I love you"
Kendra tried to blink back the tears, but blinking didn't help. She had never before heard someone say that to her. She was shocked, but at the same
time she was happy. Erik bent down and lifted Kendra into his arms. "Don't be afraid. I would never hurt you." he carried her to the room where she would be sleeping and
set her down on the bed. "Get some sleep."
Kendra held Erik's hand tightly just as he was turning to leave. "No, please...I don't want to be alone," she said, a little embarassed. She has always been
afraid of the dark, but now she was more afraid then ever. Erik understood Kendra's fear. He had been afraid of the dark too... for a while. "I can't stay," he said gently, "but Sorelli will be in this room with you."
"Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams
purge your thoughts of the life you knew before
Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar
And you'll live as you've never lived before."
Kendra nodded and sat upright on the bed. She felt like she couldn't sleep, despite her worn out mind. She watched Erik leave and saw Sorelli huddled in the
corner. "Are you alright, Sorelli?" she asked, and Sorelli nodded. "I'll sleep over here, it's more comfertable," she said. Kendra layed back on the bed and tried to sleep. Sleep never came, though. Erik left and returned to his room. Singing softly yet resonantly as he prepared for sleep...
"Let your mind start a journey through a strange, new world
Leave all thoughts of the life you knew before
Let your soul take you where you long to be!
Only then can you belong to me"
Kendra listened to Erik's voice until he finally quieted. She then heard Sorelli fall asleep so she felt it safe to have a look around. She got up and ventured back to the tunnel that had lead her down to the underground labyrinth. She sat at the edge and felt a wave of tiredness sweep over her. She fell asleep at the base of the tunnel.
Erik awoke to a soft sweet singing coming from the dining room. He got up, stretched, then entered. There sat Sorelli, quietly singing to herself. "Good morning." Erik said pleasantly. Sorelli finally noticed he was there and jumped up, looking embarassed. "Don't be scared, I just came to eat breakfast. And then we can begin your lessons." Erik walked over to Kendra's room and knocked softly. "Kendra? Are you awake?"
Kendra woke up and was frightened. She was surrounded by darkness and had forgotten where she was. Then she remembered she was underground and it was natural for it to be dark. She sat there and closed her eyes, she was still weak for some reason.
Frowning, Erik waited a moment more before opening the door. "Kendra?" he peeked inside. Seeing no Kendra, Erik frantically searched the room. Finding no trace, he felt despair settle upon him. I knew it... it was all a ploy- a trick. She's gone... No! Erik grimaced and tore out of the room. She's here somewhere... she can't have left! But his heart and experience said differently. Finally, at the end of his patience, Erik found Kendra, sitting bewilderdly in the tunnel. He let out a huge sigh of relief, and tried to compose himself and resist the anger welling up inside him. "Why are you out here?"
Kendra looked up at Erik. She blushed, the truth was that she had no idea why she had come out here. "I...I don't know," she finally admitted. She got up and brushed herself off. She could sense that Erik was made at her, but she didn't want to make him any madder. Erik clenched his teeth then turned away. "Come. Let us eat, and then we can begin your voice lessons." He turned back around and held out his hand to her.
Kendra took Erik's hand. "I'm not hungry, I'll just stay in my room," she said. She slipped her hand out of Erik's and walked off. She surprisingly found herself in her room. She sat on the edge of the bed and cried. I'm going to mess up, I justk now it, she thought. "Why can't I be more like mother?" she asked herself, thinking of how flawless Christine was.
