Chapter Thirteen

She had not expected to stumble upon Erik in the portrait gallery.

Despite their regular interactions during their lessons and meals, they were cautiously formal with one another. Neither trusted the other particularly, but she trusted her father's judgment.

This man with no past or title was held in esteem by her father. Her father would not trust him without just cause; therefore she was willing to extend some trust, albeit with some reluctance.

To be fair, she struggled in extending trust to any person; however Erik's enigmatic personality only served to justify her reluctance. Still, in spite of her weariness of the man, she had come to respect his keen intelligence. Their lessons had allowed her to see a man who was eager to learn, and desperate to move forward with his life. She knew little of his person, even less of his past, yet it was evident he was eager to leave it all behind.

Then there was the issue of the mask. Out of respect she had never inquired about it, however her curiosity was increasing. It was not difficult to ascertain the mask was concealing an injury. It would be inconsiderate and rude to breech the subject with anyone. Therefore she did her best to keep her curiosity at bay, mostly by keeping herself occupied.

It wasn't difficult. Whereas Erik has surprised her with his astuteness, Meg was the opposite. Meg was making progress, all things considered. Meg required extra attentions which helped keep her occupied. The extra effort did not detour her, in fact, it only made her more determined to help Meg. Meg was everything she wished she could be. Carefree, open and with an infectious glee, everyone simply gravitated to her.

Nearly everyone, she thought as she observed Erik. He only engaged her father and Madame Giry in any meaningful conversation. To her knowledge he had yet to cross a word with Meg. A small smile escaped her as she imagined poor little Meg's reaction if Erik were to approach her. She was terrified of the man, even if she claimed to know he would never harm her.

Erik's solitary nature was something she understood very well. She also understood loneliness was not always the only companion one sought. Gathering her courage she had approached him. Receptive to her tentative attempt at a conversation, she noted how his expression changed from questioning to one of detachment. Then when she pointed to her grandmother's portrait his usual cool reserve slipped as a pained expression briefly came over his features. Her brows came together in confusion as she observed his momentarily lapse of composure. It was startling to see a man usually in rigid control of his emotions have a lapse before her very eyes.

'Erik has suffered much…' her father's words suddenly came back to her as Erik attempted a haste withdraw.

"What happened to you, Erik?" She could not resist asking against her better judgement as she stared at the back of the emotionally constrained man.

He stopped at the sound of her voice. For a moment he almost laughed out load.

"What hasn't happened to me?" He said with a light mock laugh. He started to move once more but felt her soft hand on his arm.

"If I'm willing to allow you a glimpse into my past, my history, why can't you?"

"I do not talk about my past, and perhaps neither should you." He had not meant to be cruel, but it came so naturally to him. For a moment he could have sworn he saw hurt in her gaze but then it disappeared behind those gloriously cold eyes.

"Very well. See if I ever attempt to befriend you again. You may leave." she declared with a wave of her hand. A surge of humiliating rage overcame him.

"I will tell you Madame I will leave when I choose to leave! Not when some capricious creature presumes to orders me to!"

"How dare you!" Her eyes darkened with anger.

"I dare because it is the truth," he hissed.

"You sir are no gentleman despite your bravado."

"I have never claimed a title that was not earned." He snapped. "Can you say the same?"

"If you had any decency you would hold your tongue and show gratitude!"

"Gratitude! I owe you nothing! You twisted Lorelei!"

"You are here only because of my father's compassion."

"I could say the same thing about you." He hissed as he hovered closer to her.

"You are nothing than a social outcast who will never be accepted no matter how desperate your attempts! You can feign manners but a pauper in fine clothes is still a pauper."

"You heartless emmerdeuse! Whatever your husband did to you I'm sure you had it well deserved!"

In an instant he felt the sting of her slap. His head had jerked to the side from the impact. He was sure there was an imprint on his cheek. Slowly he turned his head to look at her and was certain her eyes were a mirroring his own boiling anger. Without hesitation he slapped her. To his surprise she stumbled slightly only to recover her footing. He noted her clenched fists and before he could react, she threw back her arm and laid a blow directly on his mouth. His gloved hand instantly came up to cradle his wounded flesh.

"Do not ever lay a finger on me again!" she cried. "Never again!"

"Tatiana! Erik!"

Both turned to see Madame Giry rushing towards them. Meg was right behind her and rushed to Tatiana's side.

"What is the matter with you two?" she asked as she looked at the red imprints on each of their faces.

"Madame Giry. I have no desire to remain under the same roof as this beast! I refuse!" she shouted as she stormed out of the room. A bewildered Meg rushed after her, her anxious voice echoing down the hall as she called after Tatiana.

"Erik, what is wrong with you? What happened?" she asked. She took out a small hanker shift and applied it to his bleeding lip.

"She hit me, I hit her, she hit me harder." He explained in his usual aloof manner. Madame Giry shook her head.

"You two need to stop this dangerous game." she warned.

"Game?"

"Erik. I'm no fool. You are just like the little boy who pulls on the little girl's hair to get her attention. But once you get her attention, you somehow manage to hurt her feelings, because you are at a loss of how to proceed."

"I do believe you are mistaken, Madame. I can assure you, besides strained tolerance there is no other sort of emotion between us."

"What caused all this?"

"She inquired about my past."

"And?"

"She apparently did not care for my response and reciprocated with less than favorable words. It escalated from there."

"Erik! She is just a babe."

"She is married woman who believes the world revolves her ever whim."

"Honestly, Erik it feels as though we are discussing two different people. Tatiana has never given any such airs."

"Do not be fooled by her false façade." She gave a light chuckle causing him to frown in confusion.

"You are grasping for reason's to dislike her."

"I am not." He declared somewhat defensively. "Madame if you will excuse me I do believe Nicholas will be seeking an explanation and I would rather go to him, than be summoned."

"The arrogant bastard actually struck me!"

"Ana calm down!" Meg nervously urged.

"Don't you see, Meg? He hit me!" She fumed. She had initially been stunned by his slap, but her shock was quickly replaced by anger and she'd struck him with everything she had. She refused to allow another man to ever hurt her again. Never again, she'd promised herself. Never again.

"Ana, why did he hit you?" Meg inquired shyly.

"He made a rude comment, I slapped him and he slapped me in return." she said simply, attempting to calm her anger as she began to undress. Meg stared at her as though another head had sprung from her neck. "What?"

"You should not evoke his anger, Ana. He can do much harm if he wanted to."

"He is simply another man who believes he can enforce his will by physical force." She snapped angrily as attempted to remove her corset. "Meg please help me get this blasted thing off."

"He is not simply another man," Meg said behind her as she began unclasping the corset.

"Meg. What do you know about Erik?"

"I know enough not to want to make him angry. He is a musical genius, but he can also be a very dangerous man." she whispered.

"You are dancing around the question." She exhaled deeply as the corset was finally loosened.

"I'm telling you the truth."

"Why do you say he is a dangerous man?" She noted Meg's nervousness. It was apparent whatever information she was withholding was information she had been warned against sharing. "If there is just cause to be cautious of the man, should I know it?"

"Of course you should, but mama-" Meg stopped herself mid sentence.

"Please Meg tell me everything you know. I need to know what kind of man I'm dealing with." she said. She took her hands in a pleading motion. Meg bit her lip, her hesitation appearing to crumble before her very eyes. "I promise I will never mention your name should anyone ask how I came to know this information."

As if it was all the affirmation she required, Meg nodded her little blond head. She took her hand and pulled her towards the sofa so they could comfortably talk.

"He is musical genius Tatiana. This is true. Do not ever doubt it. He wrote some of the most beautiful and soulful music I have ever danced to." Meg paused briefly as she looked around the room. "He is not our family, but mama treats him as though he is."

"Why?"

"I do not know. There are certain things even I don't know about his past or how he came to be intertwined with mama's life. For years there were rumors about him, and to be honest, I was not even sure of his existence."

"I don't understand."

"He lived in the shadows of the Opera house for as long as I can remember. No one ever saw him only his letters. Incidents were dismissed as accidents, missing items as having been misplaced. Although never seen his presence was very present in the Opera house, hence the name of the Opera Ghost."

"Opera Ghost," Tatiana whispered as the name appeared to pull at her memory.

"My mother knows more about him than anyone else, but she is very loyal to him. Although I suppose to some extent he is too. I'm not sure, but a few months ago her loyalty was tested when he went mad."

"Mad?"

"He fell in love with my best friend, Christine."

"I assume this Christine did not return his affections." She said gently suddenly feeling a bit sorry for the man.

"Christine cared for him as a teacher and friend, but nothing more. Although, she claimed there never could have been anything between them, I do not think it is true. If you had seen them together on stage, there was something radiating between them. I cannot describe it but I know what I saw, and it was intense and intimate, it seemed almost shameful to watch."

"They performed together?"

"Not exactly, it is more complicated I'm afraid. Erik had remained in the shadows for years and only emerged for her. Suddenly incidents could no longer be dismissed as accidents, and requests became demands. Everything changed overnight. Christine was frightened but she would not say why. I do not know what was exchanged between them, however I know when she turned him down for another man it broke him." Tatiana continued to listen as Meg talked about Christine, Raoul, Erik, and the night he fled Paris.

A/N: Thank you for the private messages and reviews. Everyone's feedback is much welcomed and appreciated.