I'm back! But this time, I bring you an actual chapter. Not some dumb update about writer's block. I hope you don't hate me for the long wait! Well, a little over two months is very bad. I've just been feeling lazy. But I've been active, reading and reviewing. I like reading good phics for POTO, so if you have any that aren't on my alert list, PM me! Well, for some reason the link in my last update didn't show up. But if you want to see the cover manip then PM me and I'll try and send you the link. Erik missed you guys too, didn't you?

Erik: Whatever... I'm trying to make something...

Let's just leave him alone...

Erik's POV

I hesitated before taking a small step towards Iris.

"Iris, you must sleep." I said seriously.

She looked up and raised an eyebrow, and put the monkey on the sidetable.

"I am not a bit tired, monsieur. I would actually like to stand up and walk a bit. My legs feel cramped." She exclaimed.

Before I could stop her, she had swung her legs over the side of the bed and begun to stand up. Her legs gave out and she collapsed to the hard ground. I was at her aid in seconds. I could hear her moans of pain as she locked her arms around my neck. I shuddered at her touch and remembered my duty. I lifted her up and placed her back in the bed. She breathed heavily as I guessed pain overtook her.

"Please, dear. You must rest. You are not well enough to stand, much less walk." I said urgently. She nodded and pulled the covers over her crippled body and turned away from me. Madame Giry... I thought. I must get her. She'll know what to do. I tugged the pully that released the black curtain around the swan bed and silently walked away. I knew she wasn't asleep yet. And even worse, I could hear her shuffling in the bed trying to get comfortable. Foolish girl. I thought. She'll hurt her leg even worse with all of that tossing and turning. I shook my head and walked towards my wardrobe. I picked out a dressy shirt, with a black waitcoat, and a black coat to go over it. Picking up a pair of black pants, I changed out of my wet clothing, tossing them aside. After I was fully dressed, with my mask, and cape, I crept back to the bed to see if Iris was sleeping. She breathed softly, sound asleep. I hurried towards my gondala and began rowing away with slow, but powerful strokes. I docked it and hurried up the stairs past Caesar, through the maze of catacombs and finally to Madame Giry's room. Kneeling down to the small door, which was maybe 3 feet tall, I pressed my ear against the hard wood. Inside, I could hear the shuffling of feet and someone humming. I knocked softly.

"Mother, I believe someone is at the door." I heard Meg say.

Madame Giry narrowed her eyes. She pulled her daughter close to her by the arm and whispered in her ear.

"Meg, Erik is here..." She said ever so softly. Meg nodded and hurried to the door. She locked the 3 locks on the door and tiptoed towards the dresser. Madame Giry nodded in approval. Meg scooted the dresser away from the wall and took a small key from her dress pocket. She crouched down and put the key in the lock, twisting it around three times. She took the key out and pulled the door open for me, standing back to allow my entry. I glared at her for a moment.

Meg had slipped my secret once. It was during a preformace. She was about fourteen when it happened. She was standing off to the side with 2 other ballerinas, waiting for their cue to go on stage. The other two girls pestered and begged her to tell her secret. I, myself was beginning to walk towards them when my cape caught onto one of the stupid nails sticking out from the rafters. But I heard the conversation alright.

"Fine, fine!" Meg whispered. She looked around, before learning real close to the other girls.

"My mother knows the ghost. I've met him before..." She whispered softly.

I stomped very hard on the platform I was standing on. Some of the ballerinas on stage looked around in confusion before going back to dancing. Meg turned pale in the face.

"Go on! Go on!" The girls pestered. Meg suddenly began trembling. Her green eyes darted the area, suddenly landing on me. I gave her the worst scowl ever. She suddenly looked at the other girls.

"I ought to have held my tongue, if mother ever came to know!" She said in a frightening tone. After that, Meg never spoke to anyone about the opera ghost.

Meg looked down. She began fumbling with a loose thread on her dress as I walked past her. Madame Giry was on her feet the minute I stepped into the room.

"Erik!" She exclaimed. "I have something to tell you! Sit down!" She said motioning my towards a chair

"Yes, Giry, and I have something to tell you too!" I said pushing her into the chair. She sat down obediently.

"Erik Destler, Iris Devereux has gone missing from this opera house for two, almost three days! Knowing that you have a sort of connection with her... do you have any information on where she could be?" Madame Giry said, while staring at me with intense eyes.

My cheeks grew hot with guilt as I gulped and entwined my fingers.

"Well..." I said nervously. I didn't really know how to tell her that our poor Iris was badly injured. Instead, I grabbed Madame Giry's hand and pulled her towards the little door. Crawling through, I motioned for her to follow. Meg shut the door, locked it, and scooted the dresser back in front of it just as a harsh knock on the bedroom door was heard.

I stopped. Madame Giry stopped.

"Giry! Get out here!" a familiar voice boomed. Monsieur Firmin was pounding on the door. "Where is that new girl? I haven't seen her in two days, and she's missed every practice since! Giry! Giry! Do you hear me?" He shouted as he continued to bang on the door. Meg was silent as a cat. If I could see her now, her eyes would be large and evey hair on her neck would be standing up.

"Come on!" I whispered urgently. Madame Giry wrinkled her brow and followed me. We arrived at my lair, where Iris was sound asleep. For she was not making any noise, and the black curtain had no been disrupted. I held an index finger to my lips signalling for her to be quiet.

Sorry that it was SO short, but I promise I'll attempt to make it longer. School has already started and I probably won't be able to post new chapters right after each other.