A/N: I borrowed a little from the Phantom of the Opera. Not too much, hopefully. No copyright infringement is purposeful.

Chapter 6

Elle felt a cool cloth on her face. She groaned. "Gideon?" she mumbled.

"No, sweetheart." It was that voice again.

Elle jerked her head away. The shadowy man leaned over her. "You passed out," he said quietly.

She sat up quickly. "I'm fine," she lied, her head pounding.

He moved in closer and cupped her cheek in his hand. His fingers were ice cold. Elle pulled away.

He sighed and stood up. He held out his hand to help her up. She refused and stood on her own. He sighed again and pressed a button on the remote he held in his left hand. Shall we dance? The music rang through the room softly. On a bright cloud of music, shall we fly?

He put his hand around her waist and pulled her close. Elle stiffened. "I love to dance," he said into her ear. "I know you do too."

Elle closed her eyes and tensed her body. He apparently felt it. "I wouldn't do that," he said coldly. "You'd never get out. The house is booby-trapped. Only I know how to get in and out."

Elle felt the blood drain out of her face as he pulled her even closer. She tried to relax into his arms.

"That's better," he whispered.

Elle paused.

" 'Or perchance,'" he sang softly, " 'when the last little star has left the sky…'" He looked at her. She could see his brown eyes through the shadow that was on his face. "You won't sing with me?"

Elle said nothing.

"I know how much you love this song," he said. "I heard you one day, talking about how much you loved 'The King and I'. How much you loved the scene where she danced with the King. I thought you'd enjoy hearing it."

"Why would you care?" she asked harshly.

"Because, my darling," he said, tipping her chin back with his cold finger, "I love you so much." He pulled her head into his chest. "I want to make you mine."

Elle's mind whirled. She tried to think of a way she could escape from this nightmare without getting herself killed. Please, save me! Elle prayed silently.

"One day, you'll learn how to love me," he continued.

Elle tried to keep her voice calm. "How will I love you if I've never seen your face?"

She felt him stiffen. "You've seen my face," he said matter-of-factly.

"Where?" she pressed.

"You'll figure it out," he replied. "You're so smart," he said, brushing her cheek.

Elle lifted her hand to touch his face. It felt cold, lifeless. Horrified, she drew her hand back.

The music stopped, and so did he.

"Step into the light," she said, her voice trembling.

He slowly took two steps into the light that streamed from the open door. His face was drooping on the left side. It was wrinkled and red. He had no hair on that side. His ear was fused into his head. She gasped with horror and recognition.

"Now you know," he said softly. "And now you will never leave."