Chapter 12 is here! Shoutouts to Konan720, , and Flower Blossoms. For some reason, all of my FanFiction notifications went to my spam and these were the only people I could find who favorited or followed this story, so if I have missed any of you, please let me know. Now, on with the story...

Chapter 12

He jumped out of his seat. "Where…did you…get…that song?"

I took a deep breath. "Okay, so do you remember when I explained how I knew everything? How I said there were many versions of your story, including one with music?"

He nodded. "But what does it have to do with that song?"

"The song was in the musical. Your character sings it. It's called-"

"Music of the Night," he interrupted. "I should know, I wrote it."

I gawked. "You mean you actually wrote that song? I've been singing one of your actual compositions and I didn't even know it?!"

He smirked. "You've sung it, have you?"

I blushed. "Of course, I have. It's a very beautiful song, as well as one of my favorites. But that's not the point."

"Then what is the point? That maybe my work was stolen? Or perhaps the author of this story just had the song come to him?"

"Well, if you would listen, then maybe I would tell you what I think…"

He huffed and plopped down into a chair. "By all means, explain."

"Well….someone else could have gotten to your music and just passed it along in their family or something like that."

"Who on earth would…wait…"

"What is it?"

He suddenly growled. "Nadir…"

"So he is in this story line…" I muttered in amazement.

He turned to me, eyes wide. "What did you say?"

I gulped. "Well, Mr. Kahn is mentioned in several story lines."

"What makes him special enough to be mentioned in at least one of those stories?" he ground out, obviously ticked.

"In one of them, he saved you from being murdered by the Shah of Persia."

He guffawed. "Like that nincompoop could do something that miraculous. He could barely walk a straight line. No, I saved myself. He just did as I planned. I could never figure out how he acquired the position of Daroga."

"Wow." Was simply all I could say.

By the time we were finally silent, the song had ended, the last chord ringing through the box. I wondered if I should say something. Oh yeah, Mandy. What would you say? The weather is nice for this time of year?

As I was debating with myself on what to say, he stood up. "I think it is time for you to head back to your room and get some rest."

I shook myself out of my thoughts and stood up beside him. "Yes, I guess it is."

We stood there awkwardly for a moment before he offered me his hand. "Would you like me to escort you back to your quarters?"

Shocked, I could only mutter a small 'yes'. He took my hand – his hands weren't ice cold, they were super warm and soft – and led me to the wall. "Um, Erik? I'm pretty sure that this is a wall, not my room."

"Shh…" was all he said. Then he pressed his finger against the wall. As he pulled his hand away from the wall, the wall followed, revealing a tunnel.

"Oh," I said. "It's a hidden door. That makes more sense."

He laughed – he had a really nice laugh – as he led me into the path. It was pitch dark, I couldn't see a thing, but he led me down the path as if it were the brightest part of the day. I kept on tripping over rocks and such, while he just strode along, his gait unfaltering.

"Okay, how is it that you can see in this dark? I've stubbed my toes I don't know how many times just in the past three minutes and – WOAH!"

During my little rant, he had stopped and let go of my hand, only to turn around and pick me up bridal style and start back down the path again. "Is this better?"

Hmm, I don't know… being carried by the Phantom of the Opera, which has only happened in my dreams…For all I know, this could be a dream as well…But for a dream Erik, he's pretty buff… "I think it's a bit of an improvement, yes."

He laughed again – gosh darn it, his laugh was deep. The walk – or rather, for me, ride – the rest of the way to my room was silent, other than the time I was humming a little bit to pass the time. He cut me off abruptly after only a few measures into the song. "You need to rest your voice. That means no more humming."

"But-"

He pinned me with a glare. I sighed "Okay, okay, I get the hint: shut up."

He nodded affirmatively, silence ensuing once again.

Finally, we reached the mirror passage to my room. He stopped right in front of the glass door. "Well, here we are."

"Mhm." I waited a few seconds. "Um, Erik?"

"Yes?"

"You can put me down now."

"Oh!" he exclaimed, setting me down, almost dropping me like a hot potato.

"Thanks. So, I guess I'll see you at our next lesson, huh?"

"Yes. Midnight in Box 5, same as tonight. Until then…" he said, taking my hand and kissing the back of it.

That little action never seemed to fail to get me to blush. "Okay then. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." He whispered as he opened the door.

I walked into my room and turned back to the mirror to see it already shut. I went back to the mirror and knocked gently on it. "Erik? Erik, are you still there?"

There was no sign of him being there, so I figured he had left. With that little revelation, I did what any other Phangirl would do: I danced around until I couldn't move any more, therefore flopping on the bed and instantly falling into a deep, sweet sleep.