Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera. If I did, trust me, I wouldn't be here writing about it, he and I'd be far too busy. . .er, playing checkers. Right! That's it, playing checkers. -shifty eyes-

Chapter 13: A Little Kay Never Hurt Anyone, Right?

"Erik!" C.C. Screeched.

It was the middle of the night as the Authoress streamed through the lair and into Erik's bedroom. "Erik! Rat! KillitKillitKillit! Rat!" she shrieked

Launching herself into his coffin, she started shaking him violently. In the back of her mind she registered the fact that his hair seemed a light auburn and the white mask lying on the bedside table, but her mind was far too preoccupied with the brown, skinny, soulless creature crawling on her bed. Heck, she was to hysteric to even notice the fact that he wasn't wearing a shirt. Erik, however, seemed to mind the missing mask significantly more.

"Damn you!" He swore violently. "Is this what you wanted? You wanted to see. . ."

C.C. could practically hear the angsty orchestra music start up in the background, but she didn't have time for it at the moment. "Don't Care! Rat! Bed! Kill it! NOW!"

She grabbed his hand and practically dragged him down the hall. She stopped just long enough to work the lights Allison had installed before dragging the protesting Erik over to her bed and into the light.

C.C. gave another little shriek and Erik instinctively backed away, his hand flying to his face, but the girl's gaze had fallen on something she found far more terrifying. Evil in the form of yellowed teeth, cold black eyes, and a skinny pink tail sitting nonchalantly on her bed. The rat stared up at her, not seeming to care in the least that the room was suddenly lit and people occupied what it appeared to deem its domain. Letting out one more shriek for good measure, she darted behind Erik, both hiding herself and pushing him towards the vile little creature. "Go! Be Phantomy and drop something heavy on it or something!" she ordered.

Having firmly sent the hunter after its quarry, C.C. dashed off to the relative safety of the organ bench. Huddling against the instrument, she listened intently for some sign that would indicate a score of Erik:1. Rat:0.

A few minutes later a hand fell on her shoulder. C.C. jumped and shrieked again, only registering that something very much rat sized had landed on her. Behind her she heard Erik growl furiously. The Authoress realized her mistake even as Erik's grip tightened and he spun her around on the bench, her back pressing painfully against the organ.

"Look at me." he sneered. "You wanted to see, so look. Or will you run screaming for my death as you did the rat?" He pressed closer to her. "Am I no less repulsive then the rat, Authoress?"

I wonder if he's been reading Kay? Her mental voice inserted idly.

Ignoring the voice, C.C. tried to formulate something at least resembling a plan. Erik grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her again. "Answer me!" he shouted.

She knew there was very little she could do while they were still in their current positions. Then she remembered a move she had learned while playing a vamp on stage the year before. She met Erik's eyes and held them. Bringing her arms down between his, she slowly ran her hands up his bare chest. Erik's intake of breath was sharp and audible and his grip on her arms loosened significantly, that was what she had been waiting for. When her hands reached his shoulders she moved suddenly.

Wrapping a leg around his and grasping hard on his shoulders, she pulled his leg out from under him and turned her body in one fluid motion. The end result was that Erik sat with his back pressed against the organ while C.C. stood above him with her hands of his shoulders. Their positions had effectively been switched. The Authoress smirked pointedly for a moment before moving a few feet off, crossing her arms over her chest.

"First off," she snapped at him, " I said I. Don't. Care! Seriously, a little aloe vera and a good base. . .never mind! Secondly, since you neither have a skinny pick tail or, last I checked, carried plague, I'd say you're significantly less repulsive then a rat! Third, if I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead all ready. Or have you forgotten who's been cooking your meals the past few day? Any more questions?" She glared intently at hin, daring him to continue his earlier line of questioning.. Erik for his part, just stared and blinked dumbly at her.

"Good." she snapped. Less then a second later her demeanour slipped into that of the sleepy university student that she was. Moving towards the swan bed, she vaguely noticed Ayesha dragging off the body of a rat with a clearly broken neck. "Tomorrow we're getting a cat!" C.C. called around the natural stone wall.

"I already have a cat." he called back perplexedly.

C.C. rolled her eyes. "A cat that: A) attacks the rat before it's dead, and B) isn't secretly plotting my untimely demise."

"Ayesha isn't plotting anything." he defended.

"Yeah, right. And I'm the Empress of France in disguise." She paused for a moment. "Tomorrow we're getting a cat, I have spoken, thus it shall be! Now, goodnight, Erik."

C.C. curled up under the duvet and closed her eyes before he could respond. She hadn't thought that she could have fallen back asleep after the events that had transpired that night, but apparently an adrenaline rush, running around shrieking like a broken windshield wiper, and a near throttling from and irate Phantom were quite tiring. She was asleep mere moments after her head touched the pillow.

Having left his seat at the organ, Erik watched the sleeping girl, his head cocked perplexedly like an inquisitive puppy. Yet while his expression may have been comical, his thoughts were anything but. Who was this girl? He had seen her do the improbable. Heard her claim the impossible. Who was she? She had seen his face. Why hadn't she run? Here she was curled up, sleeping soundly even when she knew all she knew. Why had she stayed? And more importantly, where was he going to get a cat in the next twenty-four hours?

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A/N: A short chapter I know, but I felt the first of the two unmasking scenes I'll have to write had to be done at this stage for the sake of furthering the there-is-no-plot line. In other news, I think I've finally managed to settle into a regular update schedule, (once every 5-7 days,) but a large number of reviews might persuade me to update faster. (wink-wink, nudge-nudge.) As always, I hope y'all enjoyed.

You humble and obedient servant,

SP

PhantomMiddleEarthLover: You armed my Erik? This can't end well. Well, actually it could end in lots of semi kinky fun, but I'm betting it won't.

Muse!Erik: You'd be betting right.

C.C.: Meep!

Affirmed Hope: Oops! Erik, we made her melt. I forgot what happens if we have your alter ego smirk and be otherwise sexy. Anyway, she sent you more brownies.

Muse!Erik: -munches happily- Mmm. . .these are good. I mean, I loathe when phangirls melt, they get all sticky and impossible to remove from one's person.

Cassiopeia Lily: I think this review is for you, Erik!

Muse!Erik: First, congratulations to your Erik for being smart enough to run away while he had the chance. You may continue to kowtow before me, I find it rather amusing. And I believe I could abuse my power as muse on your behalf. Many thanks for the brownies, one can never indulge enough in one's guilty pleasures. Don't you agree? -winks-

C.C.: -facepalm-