Erik's POV

"Little lost child, wipe your tears
don't think about all those years
Sing to me with your wonderful voice"

I sang softly. I watched her through the mirror.
She had her hands in her lap, looking away from me. Her cheeks were red from crying.

''Monsieur, I don't have a reason to be glad
My deformity keeps me down and sad"

She sang back to me sweetly.
Wait. Her deformity?
She looked at her face in the mirror, so I backed up a bit so she wouldn't see me.
I looked at her. Her face was fine except a black patch covering her left eye.
I thought about my eye, how the skin under it sagged. Maybe that's what she was hiding. I inhaled.

"Iris, Iris, you're wonderful in your own way
Shining smile as bright as day
I know your feelings and troubles"

I exhaled and was about to walk towards the mirror when there was a sharp knock on the door.
I growled lowly cursing whoever it was, crouched on the floor, watching Iris open the door.

Madame Giry walked in with a small package in her hands.
I widened my eyes and took back the curse. Madame Giry was the one who saved me from the gypsies, and has been nothing but kind to me. She cared about me as if I were Meg.

"I know it's late but I bought you some new ribbons. And a necklace, and a pair of earrings."

"Thank you." Iris thanked her as she left.
She set the package on the dresser, not even bothering to open it.
She walked over to the piano and touched the keys.

"Iris, when I look into your eyes,
I can see the way you think about music
The thoughts you just can't disguise."

She smiled lightly before climbing into bed.

"Thank you, dear friend for your kind words
Comforting me when it hurts
Ghost or man whichever you are
I value you like an evening star"

Iris sang sleepily. She finally let her mind drift off into a deep sleep.
I touched my mask like she touched her patch and turned around to head back to my lair.
As I walked, I pictured her soft brown hair cascading down her shoulders.
"No.." I said aloud.
What about Christine? I thought. She left me 12 years ago for that… fop…. That fool, that insolent boy!

She kissed me, my greatest dream, then left me.
"She CRUSHED my heart!" I shouted angrily as I rowed across the cold lake to my lair.
Docking my boat, I walked up the stairs to my small desk where I had a million pictures, drawings, songs, dolls, of Christine.
Anger surged over me as I ripped up papers, then wading them into little balls before throwing them into the lake.
I ripped the head off the dolls and threw them into the fireplace.

Taking off my cloak, I lifted the curtain to one of the mirrors I had stolen to replace the ones I shattered trying to find the hidden passage way.

I took off my mask and just stared.
I saw a monster, a beast. Not a man. I saw a pitiful creature, as Christine called me. Not a man, not a human, a creature.

A tear slid down my deformed cheek. It fell to the ground and rolled into a crack.
Not even my own tears want to see me..I thought.

Madame Giry came up behind me.
"Erik.." She said softly.

I jumped slightly, as I didn't even realize she was here.

"What?" I growled lowly. I turned around, covering my face with my hand.

"Erik, I've seen your face numerous times." She said pulling my hand down.
I looked down at my feet.

"I heard you singing to Iris." She said.
"So?" I hissed.
"You know about her eye, do you not?" Madame Giry questioned.
"I know about her eye patch…" I snapped

Madame Giry shook her head.
"You shall find out, soon enough, knowing you, Erik." She said turning to leave, placing my weekly supply of food on a nearby table.

"Antoinette, please." I pleaded.
"As I said, you shall find out soon." She said leaving.

I sighed and put my mask back on.

sorry for all of the singing...
For the past 2 chapters I forgot something...
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ERIK DESTLER, PARIS FRANCE, THE OPERA POPULAIRE, OR MADAME GIRY.
Erik: But I own me...