Hey everyone, sorry that I haven't updated in a few days. I've been working all these crazy hours and then I've been going to a lot of haunted attractions that have been causing me to get home very late. I'm actually off from work today and I'm not going to anything as of now, Eastern State Penitentiary this weekend but for now here's the latest chapter. Enjoy and don't forget to R&R..thanks.

That evening, Erik awoke from a nap and stumbled to the mirror to have a look at himself. Everything was quiet except for the sound of his music box that was sitting on his night stand. Usually the soft melody of masquerade playing over and over again woke him from the deepest of sleeps when ever it wished to awake him. As he stood in front of the mirror, Erik noticed that the spots on his flesh had started to fade but were still visible to the human eye. After yelling at Christine earlier that morning, the wine had kicked in as he said and lied down to take nap to recuperate before the night's show. He knew that it wasn't such a great idea going to work while he was ill but it was something that had to be done. After yawning, Erik walked over to his closet and took out his best suit and lied it down on the bed before walking over to the bath tub to take a well needed bath. After pouring a few hot basin's of water into the empty tub, Erik unchanged and slid his naked body into it and relaxed as the warm water soaked into his flesh.

As he began to wash himself with the wash cloth, he noticed Christine walking towards him. He was still very angry with her and had no intensions of continuing the conversation that they had began earlier that day. She knelt down at the side of the tub with such calmness, and placed her small pale fingers into the warm water. Erik turned away from her sight and placed his head down with such disgust.

"Can a man have some privacy?"

"You would rather me leave?"

That is one thing he wished she would have done. He didn't like being alone to often but he did like to have his privacy while getting washed or at least while urinating. He would never even dare disturb her privacy even when he noticed that she was getting changed let alone when she was taking a bath.

"Is there something you want from me?"

"you're not thinking about working tonight are you?"

Of course that is what he was going to do, why on earth would he be getting a bath this early in the evening? Erik thought that maybe she had seen the suit sitting upon the bed, yes that is how she must have figured it out. Sometimes he just didn't understand Christine's ways of approaching such subjects.

"Why else would I be sitting here? I'm fine and the show must go on."

"You don't look so well Erik, I don't think that it's such a great idea."

God how he hated when Christine protested such things. Before her, he always took great care of himself, sick or when healthy it didn't matter. Then he thought about the time when Christine protested his care for her when she had become ill. No one had ever told him what to do and it wasn't going to start now.

"I'll be perfectly fine."

"There's something that I want to talk to you about."

Erik looked up at Christine with such concern. He hated when she used the worried voice when telling him something. Her worried tone of voice always made him nervous as to what she was going say. Usually when she used such tone it only meant bad news and problems seconds away. Maybe she was mad at him and wanted to leave for good? Maybe she wanted to never see him again? What? What was bothering her little heart now?

"Erik, I know that I came willingly here with you but I don't want to lie."

"Lie about what?"

He watched as Christine turned away from him before covering her eyes with her hands. She was hiding, hiding her true feelings from him which he hated. He then figured that she wanted to leave him for good. She didn't want to be with him anymore, that had to be the problem.

"You want to leave me?"

Christine turned back toward him with such concern in her eyes.

"No Erik, never! I would never say that to you."

"then what?"

"I'm not happy here Erik, I find myself miserable every time I look at my surroundings."

Not happy? She wasn't happy? Never had she ever said something like that to him. He thought that she was always happy when around him. What? What had made her so unhappy? Erik wondered if it were him? Or maybe even Clorinda?

"Is it me Christine?"

"No, I just miss my friends and the opera. I miss singing in front of an audience and having you there at my side, but most off all I miss Paris."

Paris? Her friends? Singing? And Opera? That is what has made her so unhappy. Yes he could admit that he missed Madam Giry and the Opera house but Paris? No he could not miss Paris nor could he miss such things as friends. How could he fix such things? How could he make her happy again? He couldn't return to Paris and he couldn't take her there to visit. He hated to see her upset though, he would sacrifice all the happiness in his soul just to see her happy again.

"How Christine? How could I make you happy again? You know that I would give you all the happiness that lies in my soul just to see you smile once more."

"There isn't anything you can do angel, what's done is done."

Nothing? How on earth could that be possible? He was the opera ghost for god sakes! He could have the president of the united states at her bedside if she wished. He had learned at an early age that with him anything was possible. There had to be something he could do for her and if it were friends and fame that she desired than that is what she would get. Nothing was ever good enough for his angel of music.

"Erik promises to make you happy again mon ange."

"Nothing you could do would make me happy Erik, not while Paris and the Opera is miles and miles away."

Erik rose from the water and wrapped a towel around his waist before taking her small hand in his.

"I promise that you will smile in happiness again."

Erik walked to his chambers once more, and placed the black trousers and red cummerbund on before taking the crisp white shirt and placing it over his head. Christine helped him with his jacket and Erik placed his mask and wig on before turning to Christine.

"I have some work to do Christine, be an angel and prepare me something to eat before I have to go out."

"Anything you would like?"

"Anything that you want is fine."

Once Christine left the chambers, Erik had a seat at his desk and took out a quill and began to write on a piece of parchment.

" Fondest Greetings Madam Giry,

I know that I haven't kept in touch as much as I should have but keeping my whereabouts private is most important. I reside in an abandoned fair ground with an old fun house as my shelter. Your friend has come through after all and I know that the outside of it may look a bit shabby but the inside is indeed a sight to see. I have also acquired my own side show freaks and started a show. Don't ask me how it has been doing, because as I am writing this I count down the minutes until the first show begins. For the last few days I have been ill with a fever that has taken control of my body making it impossible to move around. I will let you know that my dearest Christine has become unhappy and misses you so much. She says she misses Paris, you all and singing. I would do anything to see her smile once again and I would just like you to know that you are all welcomed to come and stay. There is plenty of tents for all of you and I would pay you to work for me. I'm not forcing anything on you or any of my dearest of friends. This is the life I have chosen to live and so now I must live it. My time grows nearer to work and so I must say a do.

Till next time ….I remain Madam your obedient servant and acquaintance.

OG"

After reading it over, Erik placed the letter into an envelope and stamped it shut before writing the address of the Opera house on the front of it. He didn't need a return address because Madam Giry already knew where he resided.

"Monsieur Kire?"

Erik turned to see Clorinda standing at the entrance of his chambers waiting for his approval to come in. When he nodded, Clorinda sat by his side and looked at the letter that he was sticking into the lapel of his jacket.

"What's that Monsieur Kire?"

"Nothing, mind your own Clorinda."

"Yes Monsieur."

"So is there something I can do for you?"

Clorinda stared at him with such concern and touched his hand.

"Be careful tonight Monsieur Kire."

"Don't worry about me Clorinda."

Erik rose to his feet and walked out of his chambers to see Christine sitting three plates of food down on the table. Erik scooped his little girl up into his arms and sat her down at the table to eat her dinner.

"Come Christine, eat dinner with us."

Christine had a seat next to Erik, and watched him pour her a glass of wine. Clorinda held out her glass when he smiled and couldn't help but laugh.

"Not until you're sixteen young lady."

"I'll be five in a few days."

"Yes and I'll be forty."

Clorinda put her glass down on the table with disappointment and watched her mother pour her a glass of water.

"Drink your water Clorinda and mind what Monsieur Kire says."

"Yes mother."

Erik began to eat the pork and sauerkraut that Christine had prepared for them and didn't bother saying another word. Of course it couldn't have stayed quiet long with Christine sitting next to him. After taking a sip of her wine, Christine wiped her mouth and glanced over at Erik.

"I want you to make sure that you're safe tonight Erik."

"When am I not Christine? Come now I shall be perfectly fine."

"Promise me you wont cause any trouble."

"Of course my dear, I wouldn't dream of it."

After finishing his dinner, Erik wiped his mouth and rose from the table.

"now I must say goodnight to the both of you. Promise me Christine that you wont wait up for me tonight?"

"Don't worry about me Erik."

Christine rose from her seat and gave the love of her life a quick kiss before watching him turn and leave the room. After walking down the hall of mirrors, Erik approached the grounds of his freak show to spot his performers getting ready for the nights show. Erik walked down to the entrance to meet up with Curtis. He was preparing to open the gates and setting the ticket booth up.

"Good evening Curtis."

Curtis looked up at Erik and kept working.

"Good evening master."

"Please don't call me that Curtis. I simply asked to be called Monsieur and not by any other name."

"you are my master Monsieur."

"No, I am not your master. I may be your boss but I shall never be your master. You are free to come and go as you please."

"Curtis has been under an evil master's care his whole life. Beated and bruised my master liked doing it to me. Curtis had to leave him Monsieur, I just had to."

"I understand Curtis, I once did the same."

Erik watched Curtis's head turn towards him interested in such poppy cock.

"But why Monsieur? Why would someone do such a thing to Monsieur?"

Erik touched his white mask and closed his eyes bringing back horrible memories from the past.

"I myself was once abused Curtis. Kept in a cage and called the Devil's Child only to be hurt every night of my childhood."

"But why? Why was Monsieur abused?"

"Something's I don't wish to talk about my friend. I must go check on the others now so just do your job and keep watch tonight."

With that, Erik returned to the fair grounds and found himself an area where he could stand and watch over all his performers. Once the people began to enter, Erik stood in place, paying close attention to the paying customers. He was going to make sure that his performers were safe tonight no matter what it took. He came to realize that some of the customers only came to get a glance at the freaks and to throw stones. As the gypsies were beginning to dance on the stage that he had built, Erik turned to watch them. How beautifully they danced within the light of the moon. It made him think of the old days when he would watch them dance from his cage. He had always fantasized about what it would be like making love to a gypsy but after meeting Christine those thoughts burned in his mind. Not that one would have him anyway, they would probably be too scared to even touch him. Years ago when he lived in Persia his job was entertaining the king with magic tricks. As a gift he had a beautiful girl brought to Erik's room so that he could have his way with her. Of course Erik thought of doing no such thing unless the girl was willing to do it as well. The girl of course told him that she would rather have the king behead her rather than to lie with the likes of him. Erik told the servants to return the girl to the king and to tell him that he couldn't use such a gift. He had made sure that what ever was said to the king was kind enough to let the girl go free without being harmed. Erik had remained a virgin up until the night he made love to Christine those few years ago. Never had he thought the girl of his dreams would be able to look at his face and still make love to the likes of him. The sound of screams stopped his train of thought and slapped him back into reality. He looked over at the stage and saw that someone had began to throw rocks at the gypsies. Erik noticed that it was a man dressed in a black shirt and watched as he continuously picked up stones from off of the ground. Before another stone was thrown, Erik rushed into the crowd and grabbed his hand before the stone was released from his fingers. The crowd got silent, and turned to look at Erik who was tightly holding onto the man's hand.

"There will be none of this! Not while I'm in charge."

The man and the crowd stood silent, watching Erik who was still holding onto the man's hand.

"I want to know the reason for you throwing the stones! I demand and answer!"

The man shook in such nervousness before opening his disgusting lips to make a sound.

"Why do you care? They're just ugly freaks."

This made Erik so angry. Ugly freaks? That is why people feel that they must throw stones? By hell or high water he was going to have a stop put to it at once!

"There will be no more throwing stones, or hurting my performers. Let it be known that the first person who decides to harm my performers will pay a horrible price. Would you like to be stoned? They are just like human beings too, they feel, they love, they live. No one is to be harmed, this is your final warning!"

Erik let the man go, and turned to walk away. The gypsies began to dance again, and the show went on. From out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Clorinda playing with Petri the gypsy boy. How dare she step out into such danger and at such a late hour. In anger, Erik approached the gypsy caravan and stood in front of the both of them. Clorinda looked up from where she was sitting and gulped.

"Clorinda, what on earth are you doing out here?"

"I was playing with Petri."

"It is way past your bedtime young lady! Does your mother know that you're out here?"

"No, I snuck away. If I stay here can I please have until the show is over? Please?"

Erik hated when she wined in such a childish tone. He knew that she would be safe with the young gypsy boy though. He was small, thin and slightly handsome at his early age. He had his father's dark scruffy hair and his mother's light blue eyes. He would have liked to have a son but was happy with what God has given him. Erik thought that maybe Christine would one day conceive again but wasn't wishing for it. It was possible that next time he wouldn't be so lucky when it came to the look of the child. Clorinda already had his mark but next time his child could come out looking exactly like him. Which is why Erik became more cautious when it came to making love to Christine. Usually he ignored what was happening to him while making love to her, but now paid closer attention to what he did especially when it came to him finishing.

"You better not move young lady."

"I promise that I won't"

Erik hadn't checked on Curtis since the show had started so decided to take a walk to the entrance to check on him. He pushed through the crowds standing at another area watching another one of his performers swallow swords. As he made it to the ticket booth, Erik looked inside it, and saw that Curtis was no where to be found. He looked all around but couldn't spot the man anywhere. He then heard a whimpering sound coming from the woods. With a swoop of his cloak, Erik was off to find his ticket man. As he walked through the dark forest, Erik was lucky to see his hand in front of his face. The forest was foggy and very hard to see one tree from the next. That was when he saw it, from a short distance stood two men surrounding Curtis's scared body. They had a lasso around his neck and were speaking to him as they pulled the end of the lasso tightly around a tree branch.

"You better give us the franks freak or God help you."

"If Curtis gives you the franks you set him free?"

"Of course you short ugly headed Fuck."

Erik watched Curtis throw out the bag of franks that he had made from ticket sales and hand it over to the two men.

"Curtis is free now?"

As Erik kept watching, he saw one of the men pocket the bag of franks and the other take the end of the lasso and pull Curtis's body upward so that he was hanging by his neck, only to die by strangulation. Once the two men took off into the forest, Erik came out from hiding, and threw out his knife to cut down the lasso. Once Curtis was on the ground, Erik watched as he gasped for air. Once he knew that he was going to be alright, Erik flew off into the night to catch up to the two men who had done such cruelties. He found them still walking in the forest, arguing over which way led to town. He had sworn to Christine that he wouldn't do any harm to anyone but he had to, the two bastards had almost killed one of his workers. After jumping down in front of their paths, the two men stood still.

"What's going on here gentlemen?"

"Do you know the way to town?"

"I suggest that you give me back my franks this instant gentlemen."

When the men didn't move, Erik took out his knife and held it in front of them.

"I shall give you one last chance. All I want is the franks and you may go home."

One of the men stepped forward, and handed Erik the bag of franks.

"May we go now?"

Erik smiled ever so devilishly.

"I wish I could say yes but you hurt one of my workers."

With the flick of his knife, Erik slit the first man's throat and ran after the second one. He was going to catch him, going to kill the bastards who hurt Curtis. As he ran with his knife welding towards the man, Erik tripped and fell onto the blade of his knife, causing such pain to enter his body. The man had gotten away, the man had gotten away and there he lay with a knife torn deeply into his side. All he could think about at the moment was what organs resided where the blade was sticking from. Liver? No, appendix? No, gallbladder?…..yea. Quickly, Erik pulled out the knife and pressed his hand up against his bleeding wound. He had to get back to the fairgrounds and treat himself before he lost too much blood. As he began to walk back, Curtis approached his side.

"Monsieur, are you ok?"

"Fine…..you?"

"I'm hurted Monsieur, hurted but not badly."

Erik needed to get to a place where Christine wouldn't be around. If he went back to his chambers she would surely notice that he was hurt.

"Curtis, I need to use your tent for a while."

"Certainly Monsieur."

The funny walking man known as Curtis led the way, and within minutes, Erik was inside the tent that belonged to him. Inside the tent had a cot which Curtis slept on, a table for him to work at and a mirror that stood next to the bed.

"I need some medical supplies Curtis."

Curtis reached into his bag, and handed Erik a bottle of wine, some bandages and a needle. Erik stood in front of the mirror, and took off his shirt to reveal the wound.

"That not look so good Monsieur."

Without wasting time on words, Erik poured some wine over his wound, causing such agony to occur in his body. He then took the needle, and began to stitch his flesh using the mirror as a guide. After throwing a bandage over his sore flesh, Erik through his shirt back on and had a seat by the table.

"You saved Curtis's life, I am in your debt Monsieur."

"Please don't thank me Curtis."

"Curtis will do anything to thank you."

"Never speak of this night again."

He agreed, and Erik placed the bag of franks in his pocket.

"Curtis counted thirty thousand franks Monsieur."

"Thank you Curtis for doing a wonderful job tonight."

"No, Curtis thanks you Monsieur."

Erik rose to his feet, and thanked Curtis once more before exiting the tent to get his daughter. She was asleep next to Petri, as Esmeralda sat outside the caravan watching over the both of them.

"Tough night Monsieur?"

"Please, don't remind me."

"My husband thanks you for doing such greatness tonight. You stood up for us all and since then no stones were thrown at us."

"Yes but that was just tonight. Tomorrow is a new day and will bring a new crowd."

"But you will be there for us again won't you?"

"Yes, I guess so."

"I would like to read your palm, if you have time."

Erik just didn't have the patience or the time for such things at the moment. All he wanted to do was grab his daughter and go to bed. But then again he remembered about being kind and courteous when in the presence of others.

"If you insist Madam."

Esmeralda motioned him to have a seat next to her, and took one of his hands and glanced at his palm. It seemed like forever in silence before she spoke to him.

"Something wrong Madam?"

Esmeralda looked up from his palm, and ran her fingers over the lines that were indented in his flesh.

"This hand is troublesome Monsieur., you have had a rough journey."

"Yes, my life hasn't been an easy one. I don't want to dwell on the past Madam, I only wish to move forward."

Esmeralda ran her finger over a long line that was in his hand and looked up at him once more.

"You have an abnormality that has made this journey so rough on you."

"Yes, that is why I wear my mask. I was born with a hideous face Madam and life has not been easy. I spent most of my childhood in a filthy cage only to be known as the Devil's child."

"You are in love?"

"Yes, with the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I love her with all my heart and would do anything to make her happy."

"This long line in your hand indicates that your troubles have just begun. I see that you ran away from some sort of problem but the problems are going to follow you. Many other problems await that problem and will bring you down. I see tragedy and loss in the near future. But once you experience the tragedy, love will grow and for the rest of your life you will live knowing that one person truly loves you."

Erik snatched his hand away, and looked at Esmeralda.

"My whole life has been nothing but problems, when will I just be able to live happily with the love of my life?"

"When the world wants to see it that way."

Erik scooped Clorinda up into his arms, and said goodnight to Esmeralda before going back to his room for the night. After taking off Clorinda's shoes, he lied her down beneath the blankets of her bed and covered her up.

"Goodnight Clorinda."

Christine was already in bed, and Erik quietly changed into his pajamas and crawled into bed beside her. He sighed when he got comfortable enough to close his eyes and was about to fall asleep, when Christine's arms wrapped around his sore body causing him to want to scream in agony. He couldn't do it, if he did, she would awake and sense the trouble that he had been in that night. For now he was going to have to settle with the pain. Maybe Esmeralda was right, maybe his troubles were just beginning. The man that had gotten free would surly tattle, and now he only wished that he would have killed him too. But then again tomorrow was a new day and a new crowd of people. All he wondered about now was….just how many people would have to die for the safety of his workers??

More to come soon! R&R