Note: Thanks for all the reviews. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. Special thanks to Pyrite for helping with this chapter.
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I rose stiffly, using the nearest chest as support; my body ached all over from the cruel beating Joseph gave me.
My astonishment at discovering that the Phantom intervened and probably saved me from experiencing a more devastating fate was immense. A thousand questions ran through my mind as I watched him standing behind Joseph, that infamous lasso around the fiend's neck.
How did he know I was up here and in trouble? Why did he care? Would he kill Joseph?

That bothered me more than anything did. How would I feel if he was murdered because of me? Guilty perhaps. No, I did not want Joseph to die, no matter how evil and wicked I thought him. I felt very dizzy; I closed my eyes to shut out the spinning room. All that happened today was getting to me. The figures before me blurred and contorted into unrecognized shapes.

A sudden cry snapped me out of my daze. The Phantom stumbled back, as if he had been struck, but he did not release the rope. Joseph's face was twisted into a triumphant smirk. "You dirty bastard!" The Phantom growled. He grabbed Joseph's upraised arm and squeezed it cruelly. My gaze took in the small-bloodied dagger he held and I bit my lips to stop my exclamation of horror. Joseph dropped the dagger, and it fell to the floor with a loud 'thump.' "Do you think it as simple and easy as that to be rid of me?" the Phantom hissed, his voice rough.

"Let me go, you beast!" Joseph screamed wildly. "I know what you are! You are a monstrous freak! The devil!"

I watched the Phantom's face darken with intense anger and those golden eyes glittered dangerously as he twisted the lasso tighter. While the Phantom was very tall and lean, Joseph was the larger of the two, but he was no match for that dangerous wrath that made the Phantom more powerful, more potent in his furry. Joseph dropped to his knees panting and squirming, his face turning a livid shade of blue. I knew he would die; the Phantom has never hesitated to kill in the past. Why should he spare a man who insulted him? I closed my eyes and covered my ears, trying to block out those horrible gasping sound. I wanted to run from this room, to put as much distance between the two men and myself as possible, yet at the same time I wanted to know what would happen. Curiosity prevailed and I stayed. I uncovered my ears and heard the Phantom say what I never expected.

"You are absolutely right; I am all of those things. This is why you had better pay attention to what I say. I do not ever, ever want to see you in this Opera House again. If I do, well I am sure you can imagine what your fate will be. Have I made myself clear?" Joseph nodded timorously. "Good. Now get out. Now!"

I could not believe what I heard. He was truly going to let Joseph go. For some reason I felt ridiculously giddy. Joseph got up slowly, rubbing his bruised neck. He gave the Phantom one last menacing glance before running out of the room. I watched him go, and then turned my attention to the Phantom.
He was leaning against the wall, his breathing was ragged and shallow, and his eyes tightly shut. A puddle of blood was on the floor. I was at his side in an instant.

"You're hurt!"

He looked at me with pain-filled eyes. "I am already aware of that."

"Let me help you".

"No! I do not need your help. If..." A loud scream and the sound of someone falling interrupted him. I knew it was Joseph; he had fallen down the stairs.
The Phantom grabbed my arm. "Someone will have heard that. Go, before they find you up here!"

"No, I..."

"I said go! I don't need or want your help, you stubborn wench. Can't you understand?" His voice was desperate and insistent.

I took few steps, then stopped and faced him. He was leaning over now, his left hand tightly gripping his side, blood oozed from between his fingers.
I knew I could not leave him like this. He had saved my life, twice. If I left, I would like the people I so despised. Ungrateful and cowardly. No, I would stay and help him, no matter what.

"Darcy?" a small uncertain voice called out.

I spun around and saw Anna standing, pale-faced, in the corner. I stared at her in surprise. How long had she been there? No time to think about that now. "Anna, come here and help me."

She rushed over to me, staring apprehensively at Phantom. "Isn't he the Phantom?"

"Yes."

"Well shouldn't we get the police or something? There is a large reward for turning him in. We could leave the Opera Populaire for good, with that money."

"Anna! He saved my life. We're going to help him. Understand?"

Anna nodded. "Yes, but think of the mon..."

"We need to get him from here, before someone comes up. But how do we..."

"I said leave! Why don't you listen?" The phantom said roughly.

I faced him stoutly "Listen, Monsieur, I have made up my mind, so you might as well cooperate."

He must have seen the determination in my face and known I meant it, for he nodded weakly. I first had to stop the heavy bleeding, so I reached down, tore off a long section of my underskirt, and wrapped it tightly around his stomach, causing him to wince. I apologized and asked if he knew another way out. "There", he said, pointing towards the opposite wall, "we can go through there."

There was a small opening in the wooden, paneled wall, the way he had obviously gotten in. The secret entrance to a hidden passageway.
I slipped my arms under his cape and around his stomach, careful not to touch the wound. Anna did the same. We reached the entrance and I pushed the panel opened with my free hand, exposing a long, narrow passageway.

It was dark, cold and drafty inside. A few candle-lit, webbed covered, sconces lined the stonewalls, casting an eerie glow through the tunnel. They only provided enough light too see a few feet in front. I felt a shiver run up my spine, and prayed I wasn't getting into more than I could handle.
If the rumors where true, his lair was five-stories below the main floor. And we were at least that much higher. He would have to take frequent breaks, and I would too for that matter. My shoulders throbbed painfully, where he gripped them tightly.

After what seemed like an eternity of walking along all the twists and turns, steep steps and taking frequent breaks, we stopped in front of a large stone wall, an apparent dead-end. "Pull that lever." he whispered, pointing to a barely noticeable metal lever protruding from a large stone. Anna obeyed, and as she pulled the handle, the stoned wall ascended with a loud grinding sound, revealing his large, magnificent lair. "Welcome, mademoiselles, to my lair."

A cry of pleasure escaped my lips, as well as Anna's, at the sight of such splendor, such magnificence as my eyes have never beheld. A large shining lake surrounded part of the lair. The space was bathed in the glorious, soft glow of candles. So many candles, held in equally impressive candelabras of shining gold. There were statures and beautiful paintings, drawings and scrolls of papers everywhere. Bookcases and rich velvet tapestries lined the walls and an organ occupied the center. I also noticed a lovely swan shaped bed at the far end of the lair.

"It's the most beautiful and enchanting place I have ever seen," I said in wonderment as I lead him over to the bed. Anna spoke her agreement.

"I am glad you both like it." His voice was so warm, rich and pleasant, not like it was when he was angry. I had a feeling his voice changed according to his mood. His face, with that prominent white, half mask, was very handsome; He had beautiful eyes that looked golden in some light, and green in others. Another thing that startled me was the nagging thought that he looked a lot like Anna. I found myself staring at him. With some effort, I turned my attention to the matter at hand. I had never tended to a wound this serious, and was a little uncertain if I couldn't undertake such a job, but somebody had to do it.

"Have you any medical supplies?"

"Yes. On that large table."

I fetched the stuff needed and came back. "You will have to take off the vest and shirt. I said, gesturing to the rose red vest and white shirt he wore.

He stared at me mortified. "I can treat myself. You have done your part by helping me get here. Now, if you please-" his hand was extended, reaching for the supplies.

I held them out of reach. "The shirt and vest please monsieur." I said firmly.

"Now listen here, I am perfectly..."

"Do not make this more difficult." I said flatly, "Should you refuse me again, I shall just take it off myself."

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Erik

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I could tell the girl was not going to give up and leave me alone, so I reluctantly removed the material she tied around my stomach then the vest and shirt. Anna took the items and laid them on a chair. My face grew hot and I was aware of the flush that spread up my neck and to my cheeks as Darcy carefully cleaned the stab wound. Her fingers brushed gently across my stomach, causing breathlessness that wasn't pain related. The ointment, that I often used when I got hurt, burned like hell and I wished, more than anything, I could get my hands on some morphine, to ease the pain, though I had given up that addiction long ago.

She must have seen me grimace for she stopped. "I shall try not to hurt you too much and be as gentle as possible."

I could not help but stare at her in amazement. She didn't seem to be the least afraid of me or disturbed by my mask, though she stared at it earlier. More perplexing was her helping me. I wasn't used to kindness or someone being this close, without them shivering in fear. "Why?" I asked simply.

"Why what?"

"You didn't have to help me. Why did you?"

She was still for a moment, the look in her green eyes thoughtful. "You saved me. And I am the reason this happened to you. I would have been a monst… I mean, a terrible person if I just left you. Besides, I owe a you a great deal. Thank you so very much."

She smiled brightly, showing even white teeth and I felt my breath catch. "Your, er, welcome."

"What shall I call you?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Erik."

"Erik", she repeated, smiling to herself. "Well Erik, I'm Darcy LeClerc and that's Anna."

I glanced at the little girl who was walking around wide-eyed. Darcy started to clean the cut again. I closed my eyes; the pain was intense and severe. I could not recall having ever felt this horrible. My thoughts went back to the cause of all this trouble. Joseph. God, I wished I could have killed him. If it had not been for my concerns about whether she think of me as more of a monster than I already was, I would have ended his miserable life. When have I ever cared about what other people thought? I felt weak and disgusted with myself. I killed before, with so much a second thought, burying in the darkest part of my mind, the little voice that warned against such things. I had reasoned that I only got rid of those who deserved it. Joseph was the first on my list, yet I let him go. And I knew why. It was because I did not want her to think of me as more of a monster than I already was.

She wrapped a linen bandage around my stomach. "There, all finished."

I looked up into her kindly face. "Thank you". The words sounded strange coming from me; I had so seldom needed a reason to express my gratitude.

"Your welcome."

"Where did you learn to dress wounds?" I asked incredulously as I surveyed the neat job she'd done.

She looked down at her shoes. "I read medical books when I go to the library. I can't check them out though because the librarian thinks it's inappropriate for women to read that kind of stuff." She glanced down at her bloodstained hands in dismay. "Have you any place I could wash my hands?"

"Behind the gold curtains. You'll find a bathroom to the right."

She re-emerged a few minutes later looking refreshed. "You should rest now, Erik." she said, settling into a chair.

"There's no need for you sleep in that chair. I have a spare bedroom you and Anna may use its right across from the bathroom."

"Oh, thank you. Are you sure you'll be alright?"

I nodded slightly, unable to speak because I was overwhelmed by her concern. She regarded me oddly before bidding me goodnight. "Goodnight mademoiselles ."

I caught sight of Darcy's back as she and Anna disappeared through the curtains, her dark grey dress was torn and bloodied, causing me, once again, to curse myself for not murdering the bastard.
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I know, I know. It took long enough for me to update. At least this is not a cliffhanger.
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