I want to thank the people that have been reading my phic, even though i only know two of them. lol!

but yes, tell me if you need me to speed up, i got the chapters.

:D

# Part Ten:

Lark spun around, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. Her eyes looked down landing on the hem of a black cloak, and slowly continued upward until she was looking straight into fiery gold eyes. It was the masked man from her room. "What are you doing?" he asked again. She shivered under his glare; you could feel the anger that vented from this masked phantom. His eyes narrowed dangerously behind the mask, "Well?" he demanded, "Better say something; I'm not a patient type."

"I-I…" she stumbled over her words; "There was a draft!" she burst out. He cocked his head to the side slightly, his eyes frowning. "And when I looked up to find it, because there aren't any windows so there couldn't be a draft, there was an opening in the really big mirror!" If the man seemed confused he hid it well, his eyes, however, still sparked with anger at her trespassing.

Lark continued after taking another deep breath, "And I did the only thing a person would do in that situation so I looked at it and it was open and so I went inside! I really like how you worked the door by the way it was very clever, and I saw the tunnel thing so I was curious of where it went so I followed it and I came in and found the house, I didn't know it was your place so I just looked around in some of the rooms. I didn't touch anything!

Then there was the organ in here, I really like it too monsieur, and so I was just looking at the music sheets on it 'cause I like music a lot and there was the music from the dressing room and so I guess this is really your work area or something and I'm really, really sorry and it won't happen again, I'll go back! I know the way so I won't get lost so I'm sorry just don't be angry!"

Lark had to breathe in deeply after her confession; she had said it in all but one gasp of air. One of the things she did quite often if she had did something bad.

"…Are you done?"

Lark nodded and looked down at her feet, she was so stupid! Curse her curiosity… The man just looked at her and rubbed his eyes irritably. She had asked him not to be angry, a strange request… Taking a deep breath to at least tame his smoldering fury he said, "You shouldn't have let your curiosity get the better of you; it's a very bad habit." Lark looked like she was about to launch into another one-breath confession so Erik interrupted her quickly; he was in no mood to listen to long apologies.

"I can take you back, but you must never, ever come back down here again. You were lucky to catch me in one of my better moods." He glared at her hatefully before snatching the papers away from her and setting it gently back in its place on the organ.

Lark looked at him; this was one of his better moods? He had looked at her with such venom… Biting her lip, she nodded then said a whispered, "I promise…" since his back was turned. He turned back to her and seemed to grow another three inches to his towering height as he offered a gloved hand. No doubt Erik was still angry, but the least he could do was to make absolutely sure that this girl got back to the surface; plus he had a certain glass door to lock.

Taking his hand Lark followed behind him obediently out of the room, out of the house, and into the dark corridor, looking at him with puzzled eyes the whole way. Why did he live under the Opera Populaire? Was he allowed? Unconsciously the girl knew he wasn't allowed but he was not harming anyone, she would keep quiet. No need to worry anyone. Erik glanced back a few times, like he was making sure she was following. Lark's thoughts turned to the man's mask; it was a very well crafted one to be sure, quite amazing but…why wear it? It's as if he was hiding something…

Somehow it reminded her of something but she couldn't put a finger on it, Lark made a face slightly, she hated it when she forgot something important. She figured that she had a question but what was it? Glancing around, she was surprised that they had already arrived where she had first come in. Checking the room before opening the mirror, Erik turned toward the girl and motioned for her to go. "I will be watching in case you try this again…" he said glaring at her. Lark gulped slightly and nodded to let him know she understood.

He was about to go back when Lark remembered her question and quickly reached out and grabbed his arm, he drew back a bit, unused to the gesture. "Wait," she asked, "so are you—are you Monsieur Erik?" He flinched at the sound of the name; gold eyes downcast and wouldn't meet her own. The dark figure drew back farther into the tunnel and the glass mirror started to close but not before he replied quietly, "Yes…"

It closed silently and Lark could hear a soft click from behind it; leaving her staring at the mirror. Still confused about what had just happened, Lark gathered her cloak and belongings and strode out of the room. "Mademoiselle, there you are!" Lark turned around, Madame Giry walked briskly over to her. "Where did you go?" The girl knew it probably wouldn't be okay if she told the woman about seeing Erik. "Um, I got a bit lost but I found my way back here so…" she shrugged casually, trying to hide the damp sleeves of her shirt. "Where is my room again?"

Updated. XD