-1Note: Thanks for all the reviews. I just love my readers and reviewers. sighs
Hope everyone enjoys this chapter.
In addition, I really need someone to beta my story. If you can, then PM me. Thanks.
I have included Erik's pov in this chapter.

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Joseph's large form hovered in the doorway.

I felt a flash of alarm at being here in the attic, alone, with Joseph.
It was possible that he could have been sent up here to find something for the new opera play, Darkest Night, a tragic love story written by the Phantom.
Though from the look on his face, I doubt that is why he was in the attic.

"What your doing up here?" I ask, trying to sound calm, I did not want him to know how afraid I was of him.

Joseph smiled and walked into the room, closing the door behind him.

"What do you think? To rummage through this old junk?" he shook his head, "No, I came to talk to you."

"You've had plenty of opportunities to speak to me, so why have you chosen today? Why are you up here?" I asked suspiciously. Joseph had not said a word to me since the day I was accused of stealing the locket. Therefore, his wanting to see me now frightened me.

Joseph walked over and stood right before me, his handsome face staring down into mine. I was suddenly aware of how large he was, how easily he could overpower me. I felt afraid, more afraid than I have ever felt, even when I was a child abandoned by my father in those dark woods. For I knew what Joseph could do to me.

"You never gave me a chance", he whispered, "Why?"
He threw his hands up. "I know that day in the park, I was a bit brash, but I didn't mean any harm. Please say you will forgive me and give me another chance.," he pleaded, taking my hands in his and running my fingers through his thick blonde hair.

I stood there, my fingers entwined in his hair, looking up at that strong handsome face. And just for a moment, I experienced conflicting emotions. I wanted to give him a second chance, yet at the same time, I knew I did not love him. However, my desire to be loved was as strong as ever.
Then my thoughts flashed back to that little scene in the park, when he had touched me and I angrily rejected his advances. His threat echoed through my mind. I'll get you for this, for humiliating me in public. I felt uneasy. Perhaps this was some trick; if it was I would not fall for it. I would be courteous, so as not to anger him, but would escape as soon as I could.

I looked up into his rueful face.

He did appear to be truly sorry, but it could be a pretense. I would have to be careful and not let myself be deceived. I withdrew my hands.

"I will forgive you Joseph. But as for us being together, I don't think it would work.
But I do know you would be wonderful for some sweet young girl who will adore you." I said smiling up into those blue eyes.

His mouth tightened and he swallowed hard. "But not for you, eh?"

I shook my head. "I am afraid not, Joseph. But there are plenty of women who will find you quite attractive and interesting", I said soothingly. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go down and check on Anna."

I started to move off, but he grabbed my wrist.

"You are in love with someone else, aren't you?"

"Why, n-no," I stuttered, "There is…no one else." Which was true, but as for me not being in love, well that was another matter.

"Are you sure there could never be anything between us?" he asked slowly.

I nodded my head. "Yes, I am quite sure."

"Then you are a fool!" Joseph shouted, the vehemence in his voice startled me.
He pulled me against him; one hand held my arms behind my back, the other encircled my waist.

"I was going to let you get away with what you did to me and my sister, when you caused her to lose her job, I was willing to forget it all," he growled in my ear, "But I can see you don't want that."

"What are you talking about? I didn't cause anyone loose their job. Now let me go this instant!" I cried, struggling to free myself from his grip, but it was like iron.

I felt hopelessly trapped.

"Oh, but you did my dear. My sister, Claudette, had to leave the Opera House, because of you and that Phantom."

I stared at him in surprise. "Claudette is your sister? I had know idea…no one ever mentioned it."

He nodded his head. "She is, and you, you little beast, destroyed her dream. This was all she ever wanted, to work here, dancing on stage." He looked around the room, then back at me, his eyes wild and threatening. "But you, you took it all away from her.
He grabbed my shoulders and pinned me against the cold brick wall.

"The poor girl was so frightened of that Phantom and of what he threatened to do. She has nightmares about him, about his ugly masked face. She wakes up crying and screaming at night, because she is afraid. It is all your fault! You will pay dearly for that. I will make your life living hell!"

"No! I will not let you do this to me! Leave me alone!" I pounded my fists against his chest and clawed at his face, trying anything to free myself from him.

He twisted my arms cruelly behind my back. Pain shot up from my arms and through my shoulders and I screamed as loud as I could, hoping someone would hear me.

Joseph laughed. "Go ahead; scream as loud as you want. They are having a party downstairs, so they cannot hear you. No one can hear you. Go on, scream! Scream!" he taunted.

I closed my eyes in despair, with tears streaming down my face. There was no way out of this horrible situation. I was trapped up here, alone with a lunatic, who was capable of doing anything.

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Erik

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I sat in a high-back chair, before a small glowing fire in my library. In my hand was the letter I had gotten this morning from Darcy's room. I read it slowly, savoring each elegantly written word.

I blushed guiltily when I got to the part that mentioned the Phantom.

I must tell you something and you must promise not to think I'm crazy ,she wrote, I have been dreaming of Him, of the Phantom, almost every night. He comes and sings to me in my sleep, his voice like that of an angel.
I cannot tell if it is just a dream or if he is really there. However, I do find that I, strangely enough, find his presence to be comforting.

So she found my being there to be comforting. I ran my hands through my hair distractedly.
Still, I knew I had no right to be in her room, singing to her as I once did Christine.

However, I could not help it. It was the only time I could be near her, feel her soft hands gently caressing my face, without frightening her. For far too long I had been denied everything I wanted, and I would not deny myself that one small pleasure of being with her, even if it was only during the night, when she couldn't see me.

Darcy ended the letter with, I love you my dear Monsieur E.

My throat tightened from emotion as I read those words. Whether she meant them or not, I couldn't help the profound effect those simple words were having on me. I closed my eyes and imagined her face. The long dark hair, those lovely green eyes, the soft full lips. Her image was as clear as if she stood before me. I wanted more than anything to be with her, but that could never be. I would be nothing more than the mysterious man who bestowed her with gifts. And that was the man she felt gratitude towards. Not me, I wasn't that man, I was a monster. Monsieur E existed only in those letters.

I opened my eyes reluctantly and rose slowly from the chair, stuffing the letter in my vest. As much as I wanted to sit here and linger over her words and daydream about her, I had business to attend.

Those two foolish managers were starting to slacken on my payments. I had been too lenient with them.
Today they are having a party downstairs, celebrating a recent investment they made. I would cause a little accident to happen during that party, to remind them that the Phantom was not pleased.
They would get the point; they always did, for they did not want another incident, like the fire, to happen.

I clasped on my black cloak, and then checked my appearance in the mirror, making sure everything was in order.

I made my way over to the gondola and stepped inside a bit hastily, causing it to rock and send waves through the lake.
I rowed myself to the other side and walked up the stairs and into a passageway that would lead me to the large room, in which they had gathered.

I was only half way there and could already here the laughing and chatting of all the frivolous people that gathered.

I stopped on the catwalks just behind a massive golden drapery, to plan exactly how I would cause the mayhem that would send everyone running in all directions, screaming, "It's the Phantom! He's here!"

I decided I would cut down a few of the ceiling to floor draperies that I knew would have the most impact.

Just as I prepared to cut the ropes that held up one of the draperies, a faint sound from above reached my ears.
It sounded like someone screaming. I tilted my head, straining to hear more.
It came again, and this time I was sure it was a scream, and it sounded like- no, it would not be her. However, I would check, just to be sure.

I went through narrow passageways that lead up through various floors. The whole way up I was listening for any sounds that might indicate trouble.

I took a passageway that ran past the attic. As I continued through it, I could hear someone shouting. Then I heard something that stopped my heart cold in my chest.

A voice that sounded like Darcy, begging and pleading with someone to stop, whatever it was they were doing.

I rushed to the hidden entrance of the attic and pushed against it. It moved only about three inches, enough for me to see inside. I put my face to the opening and was horrified and shocked by what I saw.

Darcy was leaning against a trunk, her arms raised trying to block the blows that came from a man that stood over her.

I had to get in and help her and I would kill that man who dared to hurt her. I put all my weight against the paneled walled that served, as the hidden entrance, trying to push it open, but the damn thing would not budge.

I was growing more frantic by the minute; if anything happened to her, I would not be able to stand it, I would lose every bit of my sanity.

Finally, after a great deal strenuous pushing and shoving, the paneled wall started to move. It creaked loudly as it opened, and I hoped it wouldn't draw any attention. I wanted to catch him unaware. The man didn't turn around, but continued to hit Darcy with, what looked like a whip of some sort.

I rushed forward and slipped my lasso around the man's neck. As I tightened the noose, I caught a glimpse of his face. It was that stagehand, Joseph!

"I'll kill you for this!" I growled into his ear, as I pulled tighter on the lasso, "I swear you will die, if it is last the last thing I do."

"No!" he gasped, struggling to pry the rope from around his neck, "I won't let you."

But my grip was firm. There was no way I was going to let him escape, he would die for what he did to Darcy.

Suddenly, something cold and hard plunged painfully into my side.

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Ah, a clif-hanger.
Please review and let me know what you think about this chapter.