Author's Note:

You Are Not Alone is still a working title, and I still don't really like it. So if you have a good suggestion, it would be WONDERFUL if you could put it into a PM or review or something. Thanks in advance! As ever, read and review! ~Forest

Chapter Two

A few months passed, and I kept Erik a secret. He now sang to me every night, his beautiful voice becoming something I looked forward to hearing. I would lie quietly in bed while he sang soft lullabies with strange, haunting melodies. He wrote some of the songs himself and dedicated them to me. I loved them all, and tried to remember the melodies and words so I could sing them to myself during the day.

But, as much as I loved his singing and the songs he wrote, I didn't understand why. Why did he write me all these beautiful songs? Why did he sing me to sleep every night? Why did he choose me over some of the other girls?

I still wanted to know what he looked like, too. Even after a couple of months, he hadn't revealed himself to me.

That evening, I decided I would meet him.

I waited for him to come and sing for me. It was hard not to fall asleep after such a long day of rehearsals, but unanswered questions lurked in my mind, keeping me awake until, finally, I sensed his presence.

"Meg," he whispered. "I wrote this for you." He began to sing a beautiful song. Its melody was slow and soothing, and it pulled at my consciousness.

I refused to let myself sleep. I wanted to meet Erik tonight.

When his song was over, he whispered, "Goodnight, Meg."

"Erik?" I called softly.

For a moment, he said nothing.

"You know my name."

"Yes. And you know mine. But I do not know your face."

Erik did not respond.

"I wish to meet the one who sings me to sleep and writes me such beautiful songs."

Again, Erik said nothing.

I licked my lips and tried again. "I've heard that you know all the passages, and that you live in the depths of the opera house."

"Both are true," he replied shortly.

"Will you show me?" I asked.

He paused. "If that is what you wish, I suppose I can."

I smiled. Finally, I would meet him! I stood, sliding my feet into my slippers, and pulled on a robe. It was bound to be cold in the passages.

Unexpectedly, a part of my wall slid away. I gasped and spun around to face it. There, in the place where the wall had been, stood the Phantom. He stood a head taller than me, and appeared a few years my senior. He was, as my mother told me, wearing a mask to conceal the deformed side of his face. The other half was just as beautiful as my mother had said. His eyes were ice blue, his skin as smooth and clear. His hair was raven black, and was slicked back.

"Meg," he said softly, reaching towards me with a gloved hand. I took his hand, and he led me down a passageway. The walls were wet with moisture, and a few lit torches sat in holders on the walls.

Erik looked back at me, and I realized my mouth was hanging open. I closed it quickly. Turning back, he said, "I can see the questions in your eyes. Do not be afraid to ask."

I tried to organize my thoughts and pick the question that had been haunting me the most.

"What lies beneath the mask?" I asked.

He glanced back at me, and I could see a look of sadness and anger pass through his eyes. I could tell that this was the one question he had hoped I would not ask. "A deformity I hope the world will never see again," he replied, turning away from me.

I paused, coming up with another question. "Why do you sing to me?"

"Because I know you'll listen when no one else will."

I thought about this for a moment. It's true. I listen. Other people rush around, not paying attention to the little things around them. I was not one of those people.

Soon after that, we reached an underground lake. A beautiful boat floated on it, and Erik helped me into it. It was filled with soft pillows that I settled onto, getting into a comfortable position so I could see Erik as well as the passing walls and where we were going. Using a long pole, he guided the boat through the labyrinth of passages. Erik hummed as he pressed the boat further into the tunnels and I stayed silent, listening. His song reminded me of my drowsiness, and my eyes closed for a moment.

No! I would not sleep! I opened my eyes again, and saw Erik smiling down at me. His blue eyes shone with some emotion. Happiness, maybe.

"Meg," he said softly, "You may sleep if you wish. Though it is not far now."

But I did not want to sleep. Not yet. I wanted to stay awake. I wanted to see when we arrived. I pushed myself into a more upright position, hoping it would help me stay awake.

It wasn't long before Erik said, "We are here." Turning the final corner, I saw it.

The Phantom's lair had three levels, each filled with objects, both odd and ordinary. Candelabras stood on every flat surface. A few tall ones sat in the water, lighting our way. The first level had a pipe organ whose stand and bench were littered with sheet music. The second level held a chair and a long table covered in papers, writing tools, a series of odd measuring devices, and a box with a figure of a monkey. On the third level, a magnificent bed in the shape of a swan rested. Red curtains were draped all around the room concealing some of the corners. Mirrors were everywhere: leaning against the walls, resting in any empty space. I wondered why a man with a deformed face would have so many mirrors.

Erik docked the boat and offered me his hand. I took it and stepped out, still marveling at the many things he had in his hidden refuge. He led me up to his organ, and I ran my hand lightly over the keys. Some of them were stained with ink from when he had been writing music and his pen had dripped. I looked at the titles on the music. 'Lullaby for Meg' one read, 'Dancer's Lullaby' said another. "My lullabies," I whispered.

"Yes," Erik replied, standing beside me. I could feel his fingertips resting lightly on my back.

I moved to the next level, observing the objects on the table. Many of the papers had drawings on them. Most sketches were of mechanical things and complex machines that I assumed he had designed, but a few caught my eye. They were of people. My mother was featured in two of the drawings. I admired these, and how he had captured her perfectly. I could see another paper hiding underneath these two drawings, and I gently moved them, revealing one more drawing.

I picked the paper up off of the table. "You drew me?" I said, turning to look at Erik.

Erik smiled and nodded. "Yes," he said once more.

I looked back down at the drawing. My face smiled back at me, a perfect imitation.

"The eyes aren't quite right," Erik said, slight frustration showing in his voice. He pointed to the eyes of the drawing, then raised his hand to my cheek and gently turned my face towards him. He met my gaze, staring into my eyes. "No," he decided finally. He let his hand fall and he moved away, not looking at me. "Your eyes are brighter."

My gaze drifted from him back to the drawing. "I think it's wonderful," I said softly, setting it back on the table. My hand moved over to the box with the figure of a monkey attached to the top. I quickly took in it's red and purple Persian robes and golden cymbals before turning away.

I couldn't help myself now. I yawned, long and deep, lifting my hand to cover my gaping mouth.

Erik saw this. "Come. You are tired." He stepped close to me and put a hand gently around my shoulders. "You can sleep here for the night, and I will return you to your room in the morning." He guided me up to the third level of his domain and over to the swan bed. I got into the bed and arranged myself comfortably. He took my slippers off and set them beside the bed. I watched him step away and pull a tasseled chord that hung from above. Slowly, a slightly transparent black curtain descended around the bed, giving me a bit of privacy.

"Goodnight, Meg," Erik whispered to me.

Within minutes, I was asleep.