A/N: Hehehe. How many of you were surprised? Let me know if you like this story. If so please make sure to leave a review and favorite/follow if you'd like. I appreciated the feedback on my first fanfiction, Imperfectly Perfect. If you haven't read that one yet, I would love it if you would and let me know what you thought. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Three:

Names

"You're a girl?" the Phantom asked incredulous. Now that he knew, it was quite obvious and he wondered why he hadn't seen it before. Darcey blushed. If that was even her name. "What's your name?"

"Darcey Bois," she answered, her voice trembling. He stared at her with an unwavering gaze. She was fidgeting with her vest.

"You're lying to me," he snarled before grabbing her arm and practically dragging her along. She stumbled forward, having trouble keeping up. He didn't bother to slow down to accommodate for her shorter stride. After several turns and twists, they came out to find themselves in his lair. He let her go and she stumbled to fall to her knees. She wiped at her face and he froze for a second. Was she... crying?

"What are you going to do with me?" she asked, emotion evident in her voice. She wrapped her arms around herself and he could tell she was shaking. Was she really so scared of him? She hadn't even seen his face. "Please don't hurt me. Just let me go," she continued. He looked at her, really looked at her. She wasn't even looking at him anymore. Her eyes seemed clouded over as if she was reliving a memory. A bad one from what he could tell. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder and she jerked away, her watery eyes coming to lock on his. He watched as her eyes cleared and she visibly relaxed.

"Are you alright?" he asked gently, trying not to upset her. He may not be happy with her and sure he wanted answers, but he never intended to make her cry. Her tears were making him feel weak. The Phantom of the Opera was anything but weak.

She wiped tears off her cheeks and cleared her throat as she straightened her spine. "Sorry, I'm fine. Where are we?" She looked around at her surroundings.

He noticed the change of subject but chose to go with it. If she did not want to talk about it, he wouldn't force her despite his curiosity. "This is my lair," he said, spreading his arms to indicate all that she could see.

She took in her surroundings, impressed with the organ and the lake that looked like a sheet of glass. She stood up from her position, kneeling on the ground, and looked at him with a question in her eyes. He gave a slight nod, indicating that she could look around. She stepped past him to examine the organ more closely. There were many pieces of paper, most with some music notes and lyrics scribbled onto them. She let her fingers brush the worn keys before gently pressing down a note to send out a clear pleasant sound out into the air. She glanced at the floor and noticed a violin. She had always wished to learn how to play one but her parents had never found a teacher for her. She continued, slowly making her way around the room, noting the stage, the covered and uncovered mirrors, and a bedchamber with a swan bed. His realm was exquisite. She found her breath taken away and was completely awestruck. There were candelabras everywhere, casting everything in a warm yellow light. It was absolutely beautiful.

She finally made it back to where she had started and found that he was standing in the same place and that he had been watching her as she explored. She couldn't find her voice but she guessed her expression was words enough. "Impressed?" he asked, amusement evident in his tone and in the smirk on his face. She nodded as she was still struck by her surroundings. He chuckled lightly. "Now then. What is your name?"

"Darcey Bois."

Rage filled his eyes. "You're still lying to me! What is your real name?"

She crossed her arms. "That is the name I am going by now. I might ask what your name is." She smirked at his expression.

She was refusing to answer him, the notorious Phantom of the Opera? Was she not afraid of him? "The only name you need to know is the Phantom."

"And the only name you need to know is Darcey Bois," she said, rebellion evident in her stance. At his glare, she smirked. "At least my first name is correct. It is my nickname and the name I used to go by even before I started pretending to be a boy."

He picked up something off of a table, something she quickly recognized as a Punjab lasso. He stepped around her until he was behind her. "You do realize I could kill you. It would be easy," he whispered in her ear. He heard her swallow but her back remained straight.

"I know very well how easy it is to extinguish a human life. You could, but then you would never get your answers. I would remain Darcey Bois. A girl who pretends to be a boy and came to the Opera Populaire as a poor street rat. I'm not afraid of death. It would be heaven compared to what I've faced." She knew she had little to bargain with. She had to hope that maybe his curiosity or maybe even pity, would cause him to let her live. It was a slim chance but it was all she had and despite her words, though it would be easier to face than what she had been forced to experience, she did not wish to die.

He thought about her words. He was more curious than before. He wondered what she had gone through that could be worst than the thought of dying. He didn't want to appear weak but he had no desire to let her believe she had won to him, the Phantom. "Do you like my world? My realm?"

She hesitated before answering the question that seemed to come from out of the blue. "Y-yes," she replied, confusion evident in her voice.

He chuckled sending chills down her spine. "Good," he said walking away to place the rope back. "You will be staying here for a while. Would be a pity if you hated it here."

A/N: *Sigh* I just love Erik's lair! I wouldn't mind being taken down there...