This chapter will be an experiment mes chéris…this version of the events that take place once Christine wakes up in Erik's lair is in Christine's perspective. I will be additionally posting the same chapter in Erik's point of view. Now my dear readers, I need you to give me a vote on which one will stay for the final chapter in my little story. I am sorry for the wait mes chéris…I hope this makes up for such a ghastly wait. Please read and review. *gets down on knees* Please please please review for moi? *big sad puppydog eyes* Please? *gets up brushing off knees* Now enough of petty begging, on with the show! Enjoy!

PryingPandora

Layers stripped away

IV.

As she awoke, her head swam with such a strange dream. Slowly she sat up and surveyed the scene before her. The silk beneath her caressing her skin, her body lovingly cradled in a large circular bed. The front of the bed the body of a Phoenix, and the backboard a mighty shell.

Where was she?

She could sense she was not alone in this strange place. Thinking hard she began to remember pieces of the night before. They came to her cloaked in mist, shapes barely able to be recognized.

Lithely she slid her stocking clad feet from the bed, the floor cold and hard. She could hear strains of music emanating from outside of these private chambers.

Running a hand through her curls, she searched for a way to draw up the lovely black lace curtain before her. Suddenly finding one she gave it a soft tug, and the curtain began to rise.

The scene before her was enchanting, however strange and alien it was. The room was lit by multiple candelabras, and clothed in shadow. Still emerging from her deep slumber she began to sing, trying to sort out the events that transpired last night and to let whomever was with her know that she was awake.

"I remember there was mist…swirling mist upon a vast glassy lake. There were candles all around and on the lake there was a boat."

Striding uneasily forward she ventured around the bend of rock. What lay before her was rows lined with candelabras burning brightly, and below a small gondola splashed by the lake. Feeling as if she was in a dream she continued her venture, letting her voice ring out softly, hauntingly.

" And in the boat there was a man.."

Glancing around the cavern a figure caught her eye, he was situated at a gigantic organ, clad in black. Hearing her voice the man turned, the right side of his face concealed behind a mask of smooth white porcelain.

Who was this man..why did he wear such an intriguing mask to hide what was surely a handsome face?

Climbing the staircase leading to the great instrument she continued to sing, imploring the dashing figure to tell her…tell her anything.

"Who was that shape in the shadows? Who's is the face in the mask?"

Slowly she approaches the man, almost drawn to him by an unseen force. Gently she touches his back, and he in tern closes his eyes and leans his head back onto her. Surprised at his display of trust she gives into her desire to feel his skin under her fingers, gliding her fingertips across his cheek not hidden by the mask.

His skin, so warm, so..soft. Such a difference from the cold chilly air around her, his skin almost seemed to be a warm flame against her fingertips. She was close enough to smell him, his scent swirling around her.

He smelled of wine and roses…and perhaps a bit of parchment and wax?

Her mind raced, and still singing she skirted her fingers along the edge of his mask, toying with the idea to take it off.

He was so handsome, why would he hide the side of such a godly face? I must know!

Gently cupping the side of his face with one hand, running it down over his cheek, she slowly slid her other hand over the back of his head, feeling the richness of his hair, to the top edge of his mask. Moving slowly she began to pull it, feeling it pop free.

In a split of a second, the figure only seconds ago happily basking in her touch, was falling away from her, His hand plastered to the porcelain covering his face. She stumbled backward and fell in an attempt to get away from the reeling figure.

Collapsing in a heap at the base of a table behind the organ she shivered, the figure visibly agitated, His voice careening out into this vast space.

" DAMN YOU! You little PRYING PANDORA!" He screamed at her, his hand still protectively clasped over his mask, his features twisted in rage. In a fit of rage he smashed his hand across his vision, toppling over a candelabra, sending it cascading down into the water below. Stalking over to a covered mirror he ripped the covering off, violently throwing it upon the ground.

" You little Demon! You shall not see!" Throwing his hand away from his face he whirled to face her. His features twisted by rage.

"Curse you! You little lying DELIAHLA! You little viper! Now you may never be free!"

As she coward before the table, watching as he smashed his way down the stairwell, knocking things into the water. His voice steadily becoming softer and more musical as he progressed.

"Damn you...Curse you..."

Shaking she pushed herself up on her elbows, as the figure had disappeared behind a bend in the crag. Softly his voice rang out from the darkness, the tone almost chiding, but most certainly haunting.

"Stranger than you dreamt it. Could you even dare to look? This loathsome gargoyle, who burns in hell, but secretly yearns for heaven. Secretly, secretly.."

Pacing away he traversed to the opposite side of the cavern, towards the mannequin dressed in the wedding gown he had made for her. Cowering in the corner, covered by shadows she listened to his rant. Her heart hurt with the realization on what the mask truly meant to him.

That is his protection, his…security. His whole perception of himself is based upon how his mask covers what lies behind it.

"Fear can turn to love, you'll learn to see, to find the man behind the monster. This repulsive carcass, who seems a beast but secretly dreams of beauty. ,Secretly, secretly...Oh Christine..."

Crawling toward her he croons and her heart melts and softens. He holds out his hand to her, a gesture of kindness after her betrayal. Taking it sheepishly she yearns to comfort him, but he turns hard, his face set as he brushes the mask with his free hand. Blocked from his face not hidden behind the cold porcelain, unable to read his true feelings.

"Come, we must return, those two fools who run my theatre will be missing you." Swiftly he began to drag me along into the boat, leaving this place was like leaving a castle hidden from the world. Roughly he takes his cape and tucks her inside it, plopping her down in the bow of the gondola and silently begins their trek back to the surface.

Glancing behind, his face as cold as stone, his handsome jaw set in a line. Her heart feeling as if it had been branded, she felt an almost uncontrollable sense to comfort him...to ease whatever had harmed him this much. Her mind raced, her heart beat frantically.

Swiftly they arrived at the mirror, the passageway lit from the same candelabras that hastened their journey downwards. His face was unreadable and her heart burned, she felt tears stinging her eyes. She fought them back as he placed his gloved hand on the leaver, his voice echoing around her.

"I will be gone for some time. Five days to be exact, I have some business that I have been sweeping to the side that now I see has been needing to be dealt with. Once I return we shall continue your lessons, however, they shall be in the mirror room from now on. Goodnight Christine. "

Taking her hand gently, his lips softly brushing across her knuckles. She almost lost it then, as he gently opened the mirror and ushered her out. Unconsciously she gripped her hand, rubbing the knuckles that had felt her Maestro's kiss. Turning, she watched the mirror door slide shut,she could see just a glimpse of him before his world was cut off from her.

His face, so in pain, doubtedly he had wanted her to see that brief flash of emotion, however she had and it tore her resolve to pieces. Falling to the floor, her dressing room sheathed in darkness, she wept. Her face cradled in her hands, she cursed herself for her foolishness.

What have I done?