A/N: Thank you to all my awesome reviewers - I hope you enjoy the bits of much needed fluff I've added ;) I hope it doesn't disappoint. Please let me know what you think and I'll see you next time! PS - a big thanks to my humble critic M.B.

Chapter Twelve – The Masks We Wear

Melody clutched the collar of her coat, grateful that she had had selected one of her thicker jackets before leaving the house. It seemed even the cool February night air could not be stopped and hung heavily in the obscure corridors of the catacombs. Once more, she found herself dazed by the endless labyrinth before her, even with the aid of the pictures she had taken from her previous exploration.

She swore she'd be able to see her breath if the stone walls weren't so thick, her body shivering as she pressed on, stubbornly forcing herself to continue, to find the missing pieces of the truth. "C'mon…where are you-?"

"Listen 'ere, Missy, the boss don' like it none when you's snoopin'."

A scream rushed out of her mouth as she spun around, her body tense with anxiety as her voice bounced off the walls. Her knuckles turned white as she saw the old man – "That rat-catcher!" – wincing from her scream, appearing to be more irritated than angry. "Sheesh, girly! You'll wake the whole city!" he scowled, casting her a dirty look, his face still shadowed by his cap.

"Y-You…you scared me," she answered weakly, frowning as he spat a "bah" at her.

"Ya shouldn't be pokin' around – t'ain't none o' your business."

"And what makes it yours?" she snapped, straightening her posture before glaring at him in return. "Ever since I got here, all I've heard is people telling me to forget about what happens back here. Well, you can tell me all you like, but I won't take it!"

"You'll regret it is what you'll do, Missy," he snorted contemptuously. "Anybody that tries ta find out wants ta forget it."

"And you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at him as she continued to converse with him as best as she could in her mediocre French. "You seem to know plenty and poke around in lots of the Ghost's business."

"The boss pays me well ta keep his secrets," he sniffed, fixing his cap before raising his nose at her. "But doncha go mistakin' that phony Phantom for the king o' this place…it's the Opera Ghost alone that is the true master."

Melody's brows furrowed as she listened to the old geezer, unable to believe that Erik would hire such an unsavory character to keep his secrets and make sure others would stay away…however, her disgust soon turned into suspicion as she sensed an ominous presence joining them. Her memory instantly recalled that morning what the Phantom attacked through the mirror, sending a tremor of worry through her. As she opened her mouth to warn him, a flash of moment, along with a glimmer of silver flew faster than a serpent, the two items landing mercilessly into the Rat-catcher's back.

A horrible, pain-filled gasp filled the air, the old man's eyes huge with terror as he realized what was happening. Raising her gaze, Melody felt herself stricken with fear as she made out the figure of the hooded Phantom emerged, placing the Rat-catcher in a chokehold. "A 'phony'?!" he growled, his voice booming around them like thunder. "I shall show you who the phony is around here, Monsieur Pierce!"

Thinking fast, Melody dug into her bag and pulled out the noose, clutching it to her chest as she hopped out of the way and pressed herself to the wall. The Phantom, much too distracted and overcome by rage, continued to squeeze the life out of the old man, his mismatched eyes blazing. "Dear God, I hope this works!" Stretching the noose to a decent length, she cautiously tiptoed behind the villain, moving closer only to hop back in fear as he took a step back. Holding her breath, she moved quickly, throwing the noose over his head before violently tugging the rope, pulling with all her might. She watched as his hands immediately released the old rat-catcher, groping at the rope around his neck. Twisting the rope around her hands tightly, she made sure to keep the noose taut as she kept her distance, her heart freezing as he spun around and caught sight of her.

"You!" he choked, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the rope tightly.

"Get away from him!" she shouted, yanking the rope so that he went tumbling to his knees, gasping as she jumped away from his hands. "Stop-!"

"I'll kill you!" he snarled though he gasped for air, wincing as a set of thin hands wrapped themselves around his throat. "D-amn…you!"

"Melody!"

Her hands dropped, the rope going slack in her hands as she saw the Opera Ghost's masked face appear behind the Phantom, his hands now taking control of the noose, continuing to squeeze the man's windpipe. "Erik!" her mind screamed, his name just on the tip of her tongue.

"Run!" the Opera Ghost shouted, his golden eyes blazing as he fought against his enemy. "Hurry Melody-!" His message was cut short as he caught sight of the Phantom's arm whipping towards him, the knife still in his fingers. He jumped back, his hold slackening on his enemy enough for the Phantom to yank himself free, practically foaming at the mouth. Pulling out his own Punjab lasso, the Opera Ghost prepared himself in a battle stance, throwing his arm back to toss the thin weapon.

"Monster," spat the Phantom, jeering cruelly at him. "You'll never be rid of me!"

A gunshot sounded off, the sound echoing relentlessly off the walls of the catacombs, making the two men and young woman wince. "We'll see about that!" a young voice called out, the sound of approaching footsteps taking the place of the ringing bullet.

Melody felt her jaw drop as she saw the outline of the Indian rushing towards them, the smoking gun clutched in his hand, while a youthful, familiar face came closer alongside the mysterious man. "Tom?!"

The young man was armed with his own gun as he skidded to a halt with the Indian, the two of them fanning out to surround the Phantom with the Opera Ghost. The Phantom glared daggers at them, snarling as he watched the Indian cautiously move to help the fallen rat-catcher. "Give up now, you fool. It will spare you plenty of grief."

"The only one here who will be wallowing in grief is yourself," the Opera Ghost snapped, poised to toss his lasso. Never taking his eyes off of the enemy, he stated coolly, "Mademoiselle Melody, I suggest you take your leave now."

Melody said nothing, moving carefully towards Tom, who motioned with his hand to join him, the two young people walking carefully side by side until they remained behind the Opera Ghost. Every fiber in her being wanted to reach out and touch the Ghost, to tell him she knew all, to trust her…seeing the Phantom's malicious, mismatched eyes stalled her though, a frown growing on her lips as she felt Tom tug persistently at her arm. Slowly, she took a step, ready to face forward when she noticed the Phantom's free hand, touching the floor, grasp a loose stone. "What is he-?" Her eyes grew large once more as he moved faster than a serpent, throwing his knife at Erik's head as he rose to his feet. "LOOK OUT!" Melody screamed, lunging forth and yanking the Opera Ghost's cloak so fiercely that he immediately came crashing down with her.

"Holy crap!" Tom yelped, ducking down as the knife whizzed over their heads, flying into the darkness behind them. "Chetan-!"

"Be careful!" the Indian shouted back, his main concern being to stop the bleeding that the rat-catcher was suffering. His own eyes seem to widen in fear as he watched the Phantom fly towards them, the loose stone from the pavement clutching in his gloved hand. "NO!"

The Opera Ghost braced himself as he threw his thin lasso at his opponent, bracing himself for the impact as the fiend released the rock that was aimed for his head-

"NO-uh!"

His golden orbs became large as he was shoved away, realizing what had happened. Everything seemed to move slowly as he turned his head and saw the stone smack against Melody's forehead, her eyelids closing as she fell back, her brows furrowing in pain for an instant before relaxing as she passed out. He felt horror grip his heart, his stomach churning in worry before stretching out his arms, catching her before she hit the pavement.

"Mel!" he heard Tom cry, his voice full of panic and shock.

Anger bubbled within him, his head whipping forth to see the Phantom's eyes also large in shock at what had happened. With a sudden movement of his arm, he yanked the lasso, sending the man falling forth. "Now Chetan!"

The Indian reached above his head, pulling hard on the extinguished torch that lined the stone walls. At once, a squared portion of the floor vanished beneath the Phantom, sending him falling, screaming, into the dark abyss before the door shut once more leaving them all in silence.

"…whoa," Tom gasped, running his fingers through his short, spiky black hair before scurrying up to his guardian and placing his hand on Melody's shoulder. "Is she-?"

"She'll be all right," the Opera Ghost sighed in relief as he tenderly probed her skull with his gloved fingertips. "Some ice and rest ought to do the trick."

"Erik, I must attend to Gaston's wounds," Chetan, the Indian, insisted, helping Gaston Pierce up as he continued to hack and wheeze.

"Tom, go with them," Erik said firmly, nodding his head at the injured man. "Chetan needs your help more than I do right now."

"Ok…I'm sorry, Erik," Tom apologized sincerely, receiving a pat on his head from the man.

"Stop apologizing. There's nothing you could have done to prevent Martin's actions, nor Melody's stubbornness," Erik said wryly, gathering the unconscious young woman in his arms before rising to his feet. "Go, quickly. Call Monique if you must." Without another word, he took off down into the corridor, his unusual vision unaffected by the darkness. He could almost hear his sister and Chetan warning him against what he was about to do, to just drop her off at home and have her believe that this was all just a nightmare…

Seeing her head resting against his shoulder, the girl unaware of what was happening, he remembered how she had brazenly saved him. The Phantom had deadly accuracy with it came to throwing projectiles and weapons (he was all too aware of that from their pasts), and the fact that this crazy girl dared to get in the way just to protect him made his heart thump madly and inexplicably within his breast.

"Melody… what on earth were you doing here?" he murmured, knocking his elbow gently against a particular tile in the wall, waiting until a section of the wall slid away for him before stepping into the hidden passage. His fingers curled tighter around her frame, pressing her to his chest as he continued on his way down the winding staircase before coming out into the hidden dock where his ancestors rested and his private rowboat awaited him. He walked towards the old dinghy, ready to step in when she stirred, making him freeze. She moaned softly, her brows furrowing again in pain as he lips parted for a moment before her face relaxed once more.

"Just a little more," he whispered to her, cautiously stepping into the boat and setting her down upon the cushions placed at the bow. Laying her head upon the thickest pillow of all, his let his fingers linger for just a second on her neck and cheek, unable to believe how soft and yielding her skin was against his hands. He had never been this close to her, except for earlier that day when she had been crying after the audition… something inside him neared to be close to her once more, to hold her to his embrace, to have her return the gesture freely and willingly…

"Stop dreaming and wishing." He scowled at his thoughts, drawing away from her before untying the boat and taking a seat, gripping the oars fiercely before rowing slowly as so not to disturb his passenger. Setting his sights on the opposite bank, he continued to row steadily, the only sound being the consistent drip and slosh of the oars dipping into the water again and again. The journey seemed to last eons, making him wonder if he ought to have taken one of the secret passages instead, though it would have proven to be difficult with his hands full. At long last, they arrived to his home, enabling him to leap out as nimbly as a cat. Tethering the little boat to the dock, he moved quickly and carefully to get Melody out, taking her gingerly into his arms once more, his pulse racing as he carried her towards the unlocked door.

"Angelique!" the masked man cried, falling to his knees as he helped the young woman . "Angelique, let Erik look at you-" He gasped as she flung her arms around his neck, weeping and coughing uncontrollably. "A-Angel-?"

"O-Oh, Erik…thank God!" she cried, gripping onto the lapels of his coat. "Y-You…came for me…"

"I-I shall always come for you," he said, hesitantly placing his arms around her before surrendering as she clung to him. "Oh, my dear Angelique…Erik was so worried he would lose you," he whispered, resting his cheek upon her head as he stroked her hair comfortingly.

"Mon Dieu!" Erik exclaimed, shaking his head before nudging the door open. Fighting to ignore the flashback he had just received, he placed his focus upon the girl as he walked inside. Upon entering his abode, he was greeted by the comforting, muted glow of candlelight and the delicate scent of roses, the soft sounds of "The Blue Danube" floating over them in the air from the sound system he had set up. Nudging the door shut with his foot, Erik moved swiftly towards one of the unused rooms in his secret house, stepping inside before glancing down once more at his heroic damsel. A crooked smile grew onto his lips as he watched her breathe, another soft moan escaping her lips as he started to move once more. Placing her with the utmost delicacy upon the bed, he forced himself to look away, reminding himself to tend to her wound. "Focus, Erik," he chided himself, tired. "Once she's awake and well, it's back to the surface, and this will be over… it has to be."

~OG~

The first thing she remembered was the blazing eyes of the madman known as the Phantom, the malice in his gaze clear as shoved Erik away… and then all thought flew out the window she felt a horrible, sore, pounding sensation in her skull, the cold feel of ice barely helping her at all.

"Ugh… AH!" Her hands flew to her head, gripping it tightly as she felt the incessant pounding in her skull. "Oh God! What's wrong with me?!"

"That's the question of the hour."

The smooth, velvet-like voice did little to remedy her situation, tears starting to pour from her eyes as she felt the pain continue to pester her. Biting her lip, she prayed that her sobs wouldn't leave her mouth as she felt a set of hands gently lift her up until she was resting against someone's shoulder. "Why…does it hurt?" she choked, her tears never stopping.

"The Phantom has great precision, and you took the blow for me. Perhaps that will teach you a lesson, Miss Melody," the voice spoke again, pressing something to her mouth. "Open up. This will help with the pain."

She tried to shake her head, afraid of what he was trying to give her, but finally gave up as she felt any move she made only made it more painful for her. A glass of water was soon pressed to her lips, and she gulped the liquid down greedily. "W-What…did you-?"

"Aspirin, my dear. It's all I had available."

Forcing her eyes open, Melody squinted through her tears as she focused her vision on him, seeing the white mask and fedora that concealed most of his face. "Y-You… you're… the Opera…Ghost?" From the deep recesses of her mind, she recalled that Erik was indeed the man behind the mask, yet she didn't dare to reveal she knew the truth just yet.

"Yes," he answered quietly, cautiously moving her until she was lying back down on the bed. "Be still, my dear… just close your eyes a while…I promise, I won't harm you."

Her tears continued to pour out as she bit her lip, feeling him place an icepack onto her head. "Wh-where…where am I?"

"My home," he answered simply, pulling the covers up to her chest. "I'll get you back to your home once I'm certain you're well enough to be carried."

"Carried?" Melody hated how she sounded so dazed and stupid, wincing from her words and the pain. "Wait… are we underground?"

"Quite. I'm sure you're familiar with Gaston Leroux's novel and the description of my home under the Opera?"

"The house by the lake…"

"The very same. While we are on the subject of being underground-" He paused and cast her a significant, un-amused look. "-just what were you doing in the catacombs?"

Melody felt her face flush with color in embarrassment, averting her eyes from his masked countenance. "I was… looking for you."

"Congratulations, you found me. Why were you looking for me?" he persisted, raising an eyebrow at her.

Wiping her face clean, she inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, bracing herself for whatever reaction he would show her. "…I want to know why you and the Phantom are at odds with one another." She could feel the medicine kicking in, the throbbing pain in her head subsiding substantially, though it persisted just between her eyes. She dared to face Erik once more, mesmerized by his unusual golden eyes that stared her down, frustration shining through. "I'm tired of being left in the dark," she continued, her brows knitting together. "No one tells me anything, so of course I get into trouble. I'll find out on my own-"

"You could have been killed," he growled, crossing his arms over his chest as he lowered his head towards her. "I must insist that you keep away-"

"The more you insist, the more I'll do it anyway," she snapped, her eyes widening as he grabbed her shoulders suddenly, his voice a menacing hiss.

"I will not have you die because of me!" he fumed. "For the love of God, stay out of my affairs, you meddling girl!"

The moment those words flew out his mouth, he instantly began to regret it. A pure look of horrified hurt filled her brown eyes, tears starting to form once more. He saw her arm move, and though he could have stopped it, he let her slap him, his own hands flying to his face to make sure his mask was still intact. Her sobs broke free at last and filled the air, making his heart twist in agony. "M-Melody…I-"

"Don't!" she cried, turning away from him in an effort to hide her face, despite the pain she caused herself by moving. "Don't bother! I get it, I'm nothing to you, or to anyone! I just cause problems! Just like I did for my Dad…for Kevin…and Erik…"

Erik felt that those words were much worse than the meager slap he had just received, his very soul mourning from the despair he heard in her voice. He reached for her arm once more, touching her sleeve only to watch her jerk away from him. As she did so, her sleeve slipped down, exposing a large, brown mark on her collarbone and shoulder. "Melody…what happened to you?" he asked gently, concern filling his voice as he noticed the mark. "We you burnt-?"

She quickly yanked the coverlet up to her neck, sobbing still as she realized her had seen her mark. "Nothing. It's nothing-"

"Melody…please, forgive me," he pleaded, hesitantly reaching for her once more, stopping himself as she turned to face him, her eyes now red as she continued to cry. Withdrawing his hand, he awkwardly scratched his neck and looked away, wondering if he ought to go, when she started to speak softly.

"When I was six, my Dad and Mom were arguing in the kitchen. I was too close to the stove, and there was a pot of water that was boiling…my Dad got so mad when I tried to ask them to stop fighting, and my Mom wasn't helping any…he swung out to hit her, but he missed…the pot went flying and the next thing I knew, I was crying and being taken to the hospital…" She curled into a ball, wincing at the bad memory.

"And this Kevin character?"

"My ex-boyfriend from college…he cheated on me with Dolores and said-" She stopped, her eyes squeezing shut as she remembered the heartache she had felt when they had spilt ways.

Erik could sense the turmoil she was suffering through, daring to place his hand on her back. "You don't have to say anything, mademoiselle," he reassured her, trying to get back into the character of the Opera Ghost. He had already said her name too many times, and if she was as alert as she usually was, she would be able to make the connection between him and his alter-ego. "I'm sorry, Miss Bolton…I didn't realize I'd dredge up such memories. You don't need to go on if you don't wish it."

Melody swallowed her pride, knowing there was no point in trying to be tough now. He'd seen her crying multiple times, caught her being reckless…what was the point of trying to be a strong person when he was seeing her now, broken and hurt and still stinging from previous events? "…he told me I was a waste of time, that Dolores was ten times the woman I could never be…he said I couldn't sing, and never should."

The last statement sent Erik off the deep end, his eyes large with shock before narrowing in hatred. Curling his hands into fists, he glared at the wall, imagining the stranger's neck in his bare hands. "I'll kill him-!"

"Stop."

All thoughts of vengeance flew from his mind as he felt her hand come to rest over his, her fingers curling around his fist. His head turned to face her, his eyes growing large once again as he saw that she had flipped back onto her other side, her eyes still filled with tears, but they were filled with gratitude. "That happened years ago…it's taken time, but I've gotten over it."

"That…that monster should pay for what he said and did to you," he spat, his fury slowing returning until he felt her squeeze his hand again, sending his heartbeat into a frenzy.

"Thanks," she murmured, shyly looking away. "For caring."

His hand trembled under her touch, unaccustomed to having anyone – much less a young woman at that – touch him freely and not withdraw, especially while he was dressed like this. "Mel-…Miss Bolton-"

"Melody," she whispered. "My name's Melody, Mister OG. I've heard you say it just seconds ago."

"I…was being much too presumptuous," he stammered, feeling his cheeks become warm as she smiled, her eyes moving up to look at his bewildered, masked face.

"Then be presumptuous," she encouraged him kindly, setting the icepack aside as she sniffled. She gasped as his free hand moved to her cheek, pausing just inches away.

"May I…?" he asked, his fingers shaking as he waited for a response.

"Erik, don't be afraid of me…I'm not afraid of you," she wanted to say, but merely nodded her head, closing her eyes as he carefully wiped her tears away, making her blood race within her veins.

"Melody?"

"Hmm?" His voice made her want to curl up beside him and never leave, his melodic tone soothing and heart stopping all at once.

"…I must take you home. Will you be all right if I carry you back now?"

Unconsciously, she shook her head, her eyes still closed. "I want to be with you," she wanted to tell him.

"W-What?!"

"Damn!" Her eyes flew open as she realized the words had been mumbled. "I…I mean…!"

Shaking his head, the Opera Ghost sighed before scooping her into his arms and walking out of his home. "Try to rest…you're tired, I'm sure."

She said nothing, contemplating something she never dared to do before to this mysterious man. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she stretched her neck and pressed her lips to his masked cheek, hearing him gasp as he stopped suddenly. "W-…Why-?" His voice was strained as he turned to face her, his eyes starting to glisten with tears. "Why did you-?"

"Because you deserve it," she answered quietly, resting her head into the crook on his neck and shoulder.

"If…if you knew about my face-"

"I know about your face. I don't care," she insisted stubbornly.

"If you saw it-!"

"I will never ask you to take your mask off, OG," she stated firmly. "But I won't let your face stop me from trying to form a good relationship with you." She felt him hold his breath, and for a moment, she wondered if she ought to apologize…when he released a deep sigh, his hold on her tightening, she felt herself smile, her eyes drifting shut. His steps were rhythmic as he stepped out of his home and took a hidden route through the walls to avoid the boat. His quiet gait sent her drifting off into slumber, and just as she was about to fall into the dark abyss of sleep, she heard his enchanting, angelic voice sing softly to her.

"How I wandered through the darkness, wallowed in pity and shame,

Until you came and graced me, oh yes, you are to blame…

My soul awakens at your voice, my heart flies at your smile,

So let me remain here with you, if just for a little while…"

~OG~

Melody blinked her eyes open as she felt the uncaring, cold wind brush by her. Grimacing, she forced herself up, tucking her hair out of her face when she realized that she was trapped in darkness. Spinning around, she found herself staring at the vast lake that blocked her way to Erik's underground house, the water glowing eerily as it sloshed madly before her. "What am I doing here-?!" she started, screaming as she felt a hand grab her viciously from behind. Yanking herself free, she gasped as she saw the hooded form of the Phantom leering at her, his hands swiping at her as she jumped away. "You-?!"

"Come back!" he demanded cruelly, another silent figure slowly emerging from behind the hooded fiend.

"Yes, my dear, do come back," the slippery voice of Michel Monette chuckled sinisterly, his face hidden in shadows as he smiled wickedly, his teeth glinting in the darkness. "You may trust us…after all, we don't cover our faces like the Opera Ghost…don't trust men in masks."

"Leave me alone!" she cried, turning on her heel and scrambling for the wall of graves just ahead of her. As she reached out to touch the wall, the sense of safety seeming to emancipate from the stone structure, a hand came from the shadows and gripped hers. As she began to scream again, she felt her heart stop as she recognized the whole face mask and fedora of a certain Opera Ghost. "Erik!" she exclaimed, throwing herself into his arms as he wrapped his cloak around her body.

"Get out, now!" Erik bellowed at the enemies, his eyes appearing to become two flames as he glared at them.

"You would stay with him, a monster in a mask?!" the Phantom shouted, pointing an accusing finger at them.

"We all wear masks…masks of different sorts."

All four figures froze at the sound of the new, menacing, yet beautiful tenor that spoke. The mysterious voice seemed to bounce off the walls around them, filling them with awe and fear as a transparent figure slowly began to materialize before their very eyes.

"Is it you…?" Erik whispered, watching in wonder as the figure turned and faced them.

"No! It can't be!" Monette choked, crumbling to his feet.

"You…" the Phantom whispered, his eyes large in terror.

Melody squinted, waiting until at last the newcomer faced her, her eyes growing huge at the sight of a man who looked very similar to her hero. "Wait…you're Erik…the first one…aren't you?"

His eyes bore into her soul as he reached towards her. "Do not be deceived by masks, Melody…you must see past them, and become his angel…"

"Who's angel?!" she demanded to know.

"You must be the next Angelique…finish the story," the ghostly apparition insisted softly, as a new figure formed at his side…a beautiful young woman with red-brown locks and stormy colored eyes…

"G'MORNING!"

"GAH!" Melody screamed, jerking and kicking as she awoke violently from the sudden scream Riley had released.

"Oops," he winced sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.

"Riley!" Rose scolded him, poking her head into the room. "Melody! Are you ok?!...why are you sleeping with your clothes on?"

"Huh?" she asked, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wake up. She bit her lip as she realized that her forehead still ached. "Hey…do I have a mark on my head?"

"What?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow as she entered the room, standing by Riley as they peered at her face. "…actually, there is a pink spot forming right between your eyes. What happened?"

"I fell out of bed in the middle of the night," she lied, grumbling as she got up out of bed. "What time is it?"

"Eight on the dot," Rose answered cheerfully. "I thought we might go costume shopping today since you didn't find anything for tonight's Masquerade!"

"What? Oh, no thanks," she waved it off. "I actually need to talk to E-" She stopped, looking around the room as she remembered what had taken place at the Opera. "I was underground…but Erik brought me back…how did he manage to bring her up to the second floor, though?!"

"What were you saying?" Rose asked, cocking her head as she prompted her sister.

"I…um, I need to visit the Garnier," Melody started once more, rising to her feet. "I have to ask Erik something."

"I see," Rose smirked, making her sister's face go pale.

"Whatever you're thinking, get it out of your head!" Melody spazzed, making her little cousin laugh.

"Ok, Mel," Rose giggled. "If you change your mind, text me. What about you, Riley? Want to go costume shopping with me?"

"Well, I did want to find a cool mask…" Riley admitted, tapping his cheek in contemplation. "…ok. But if you start forcing me to try on stupid or lame outfits, I'll disappear."

"Deal," she winked, shaking hands with her cousin. "C'mon, let's give Melody a chance to change and clean up."

Melody watched them go, the two of them smiling and laughing, oblivious to what she had experienced the night before. The tips of her fingers grazed her forehead, making her wince as she felt the tender spot where the stone had collided with her skull. "Erik…thank you," she whispered, recalling how he had carried her back, singing a sweet song she had never heard before in her life. Heaving a sigh, she walked to her wardrobe and searched for a blouse, her thought straying to other people she hadn't considered since she was attacked. "I can't believe Tom would get himself involved in this stuff…then again, Erik is his guardian. I'm sure he figured it out ages ago…so why can't he trust me to help him, too?...and whatever happened to the Phantom after he threw that rock? Is he alive…or did Erik kill him…?" Pursing her lips in contemplation, she decided she would get to the bottom of it all by tonight at the Masquerade Ball. Surely, the two specters had to attend such a lavish and intriguing event.

"Trust me, Erik," she whispered, almost as if she were praying. "Trust me like I trust you…please…"