Note Sadly i dont own Erik, or anything phantom stuff. Thanks to all my reviewers. I found out that inorder to get my chapters back from my editor, I need to give her a dead line. But she did a wonderful job helping me with this chapter. And just to let ya'll know, I had a lot of fun writing it. And the 5 days things will be coming up shortly.

Sorry it's been2.5 weeks since last updating. Spring break came and went, and i thought i was gonna be in town more, but wasnt. But I did get a lot writen. I'm up to chapter 7, maybe 8, depends on where i stop them.(which will be coming soon) ((this is chapter 6, incase you forgot)). This past week has been busy too, many softball games, watching my school's production of Guys and Dolls, and much more.

And here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy!

Erik was in his room playing the violin and was intoxicated by the sweet sound surrounding him. He was unsure were these songs came from and what emotion filled it. He thought of Aslynn, how easily she got frustrated, and her deep blue eyes, eyes that never seemed happy. Maybe she really wasn't happy here. But that sadness seemed deeper than these past days. When she sang, she sang from the heart. It wasn't the best singing, but it was sung with emotion. She was extremely embarrassed when I came in, Erik thought.

Erik's thoughts were interrupted by a scream. He stopped playing and listened. He heard another scream.

"She's having another nightmare," he chuckled to himself, "lets hope they're not about me. Maybe she has a fever."

With that Erik set his violin down and left his funeral-draped room. When he reached the door to her room he rested his head on it to listen. He could hear her thrashing around. He remembered again what he told her, about not entering. Grumbling to himself he cracked the door. Thought the dim light he could see Aslynn thrashing around, and he heard her muttering something. He opened the door a bit more and could see that the woman was drenched in sweat.

If she had a fever, its broken now, Erik concluded and shut the door. He wondered back to his room.

After several hours, he silently left his room. The phantom got in his boat, and rowed away.

Aslynn awoke the next morning covered in sweat. She remembered the nightmare; it was the same as the night before. She lay in bed and tried to think of something else. Her thoughts drifted to Erik.

Why was he so unwilling to share his past? What horrors has he seen or done for that matter? He's kind to me, why? Aren't I his prisoner? He's got the most enchanting voice, very talented.

After laying in the soft bed for a bit, slowly waking up, she decided to wash up. As she washed, she undid her bandages around her waist. Underneath was a closed cut.

When she was done she walked out of her room and down the hall. The young woman entered an empty room. Aslynn looked around the room and expected to see Erik sitting at the organ, but he wasn't anywhere in sight. Curious, the brunette walked to his room and listened. She didn't hear him, so she shyly knocked. She didn't hear anyone walking to the door or a call saying to come in.

After waiting a bit, she walked to the kitchen. He wasn't in there either.

Almost certain she was alone in the house, Aslynn walked back into the room on the lake. When she surveyed the room again, looking for Erik, she noticed that the boat was gone.

I wonder where he went? She thought to herself. She walked down to the dock and sat on the edge. Delicately, she took off her socks and dangled her feet in the cold water. She watched her reflection dance in the ripples her feet made. Seeing herself, Aslynn noticed how bad she looked. Her face had several bruises and cuts across her cheeks.

The young woman longed to be in the ocean again. She longed to feel the cool water surround her body.

Looking up at the black curtain that hid the gate Aslynn decided to go for a swim. Standing up, she gently pulled her shirt off. She was wearing her bikini as underwear. She gently pulled off the black pants. Feeling uneasy, she looked around the room again to make sure Erik wasn't there. Satisfied, she took of her bathing suit.

She quickly found the lever that raised the curtain and the iron gate and pulled. As the gate lifted she folded her clothes and slid into the water. The water was colder than she thought, but she still wanted to swim. She walked in waist deep water until she was out of the gated part. The water got deeper, and she dove in.

The cold, black water flowed over her body making her shiver.

She shortly came up for a gasp of air, and tried to adjust to the cold water.

With her feet numb, she started to slowly swim across the lake. Aslynn's arms gracefully went over her head and her feet were pumping steadily. As she swam the water was all around her.

Erik came back form across the lake and docked the boat. He jumped out and started to walk across the dock to the stairs.

I wonder where Aslynn is. It's almost two in the afternoon, he thought. Erik suddenly stopped and turned around. Next to the docked boat was a neatly folded pile of clothes.

"Damn her! She'll die in that cold water." Erik cursed, "What the hell does she think she's doing, the last thing I need is to find her dead body floating up on shore. Why the bloody hell would she kill herself? This place isn't that bad."

Erik thought that Aslynn had jumped in the water and drowned herself. He was worried about her. Jumping back into the boat, Erik set out to find her.

"Damn her. Why did she have to do this?" Erik cursed again, now becoming angry. He was angry with her, and also with himself for letting her be alone.

As he rowed down the lake he frantically searched for her floating body in the water.

Suddenly he heard splashing. He turned the boat to the area in which the splashing noise was coming from. As he neared the noise, he saw a body, not floating or trying to say up, but swimming.

Aslynn didn't hear the silent strokes of Erik rowing until he was about ten feet away. When her ear was underwater it sounded like he was right next to her.

She stopped swimming and treaded water, so only her head was visible.

As Erik saw Aslynn stop swimming and show her head, he started to yell at her.

"What the hell do you think your doing? You could catch a fever, or drown. No note or anything! Hell, you could have caught hyperthermia. You stupid girl!" He cursed at her. His voice was powerful and rough.

Aslynn was startled by the Phantom's screaming, his voice was very eerie and echoed around her.

Since she didn't reply Erik went on, "Your getting out of that water now, so I wont have to care for you when you get sick. You stupid woman. Damn you. What the hell do you think you were doing?"

"Dude, I'm sorry, I was just going for a swim. I thought you left for the day. I needed to move. You don't need to be that cross with me." She replied, her voice shaking with fear.

"Just a swim! Do you have any idea how cold this water is? Damnable woman, get in the boat!" Erik shouted, fire roaring in his eyes.

"I know how cold the water is, I'm in it, ain't I? And I am not getting in your damned boat." Aslynn said with a bit of courage. Though she was speaking French a bit of her Southern accent spilled into her speech.

"Witch of a woman, your getting in this boat, even if I have to pull you in myself," Erik said fiercely, taking off his cloak. He then took off his black opera jacket, and his shoes, so all he was wearing was a white shirt and black pants.

Aslynn's eyes grew wide was she realized that he was jumping in.

Erik jumped in the water and approached Aslynn. He could see that her eyes were wide in shock.

"Didn't think I would actually get in?" he asked, his voice still full of anger but not as loud.

"Don't touch me," Aslynn quickly said crossing her arms over her chest, "Maybe it didn't occur to you that I'm not wearing anything and that's why I didn't want to get in your damn boat."

Erik stopped and just looked at Aslynn in disbelief.

"Fine, get in the boat first and put on my cloak." He gruffly said.

With that he turned around. Aslynn swam to the boat, and she gracefully climbed in and wrapped up in his warm cloak.

"I'm in," she said coldly.

Erik turned around and swam to the boat. Aslynn could see the angry fire in his eyes. The boat rocked slightly as he pulled himself in.

Once in the boat, Erik sat down behind Aslynn and silently rowed back to the dock. Once they docked, Erik jumped out and offered his hand to Aslynn.

The young woman took it. With the new light of the room she looked up at Erik. His white shirt was now opaque and clung to him. It outlined his chest and stomach, making his tight muscles very visible. His black hair was wet and plastered to his face and mask.

"Damn" she said softly, hoping Erik didn't hear. He looks good.

As Erik helped Aslynn out of the boat he noticed how her brown hair clung to her face and shoulders. Her blue eyes briefly met his but quickly turned away. He saw a bit of color come to her tan cheeks. He was still angry with her.

Once she was soundly on the dock, he turned and went up the stairs.

Watching Erik leave her, she turned around to her pile of clothes. Before she took the cloak off she inhaled the sent of cinnamon and mulled spices form Erik's cloak. When she dropped the cloak from her body she quickly pulled on the top and bottom parts of her bikini. As she pulled on her pants she called out to Erik.

"Erik, you don't need to be angry with me, I was just going for a swim."

Automatically Erik turned to the call of his name, since he was still unused to being called by it.

"No need to be…" Erik started but stopped because he saw Aslynn was not dressed/ She was wearing the black trousers and a garment that tied in the back. On her back he saw a tattoo of a moon with a red rose in the opening. He then saw three long red scars across her back. Her shirt soon covered it.

"No need to what?" Aslynn asked, turning around.

"I mean there is a reason to be angry with you. You could have killed yourself." Erik replied, anger still in his voice, but it was calmer. The fir in his eyes was gone.

"Oh, so your angry with me because I could have hurt myself. I see how it is," Aslynn started egging Erik on.

"See how what is?" Erik coldly replied, now turning and making a fire in the large fireplace.

Please Review! oh and something funny i saw on the side of a truck going up to DC on spring break: Basketville Casket Company- Dedicated to the dignity of life. I know its random, but i thought it kind of went with Erik, how he sleeps in a coffen and all.