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This chapter is from Erik's pov. Thanks for all the reviews! You guys rock!

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Too many emotions raged against me all at once. Shock at being discovered, anger at myself for being careless and Darcy for prying, fear that all was at an end. The wall I had built around myself, for protection, after Christine's betrayal threatened to crumble into nothingness and I would once again be pitched into the eternal darkness and hell I fought hard to be free of.

"I said do not move. Stop!" the little pale, wide-eyed girl's words snapped me back to cold realism. Before I had a chance to respond to the command she fired the pistol.

An earsplitting bang echoed followed by Darcy's high-pitched screams. Anna was knocked back by the force of the shot and I seized the opportunity to grab the pistol from her unsuspecting hands.

Her golden eyes, uncommonly like my own, widened in surprise and fear, yet there was a firm set to her face.

"What are you going to do now, Fantome?" she asked with a toss of her dark hair and a rustle of her skirt. "Kill us like you do everyone else who crosses your path?"

I stared at her coldly.

"Do not worry yourself, child. I am not going to harm you. Neither one of you." I replied trying to swallow the rising disgust I felt for myself.
That was all I had become. The Phantom, a most miserable and horrid creature, who would choke the life out of a person just because they dared to whisper my name wrong. I had never cared what others thought, had actually taken pleasure in striking fear and loathing in those around me. But now, after meeting Darcy, getting to know her, I no longer knew what I thought.

I was all confusion and raw emotions. I ran my hands over my face distractedly and I threw a cold glare at Darcy who now held her hands out to the quivering girl. That woman, so calm, so strong, was wrecking havoc in my life.

"I do not believe you! You were going to hurt Darcy!" Anna cried, tears spilling down her face and dripping off her chin.

Suddenly I felt compassionate toward the small girl, though I couldn't understand why. It seemed there was almost some sort of connection between us. No, this is ridiculous. I laughed inwardly at my strange notion.

"You may believe what you wish; I am in no mood to persuade you."

The girl gave me one more anxious, unbelieving glance before darting past me as if I were the devil himself, and into Darcy's waiting arms.

I turned my back on them facing the gleaming lake, yet I could feel their eyes boring into me. This served to irritate me further.

"Would the two of you stop staring at me?" I growled. "Why don't you both go to your rooms? I want to be alone."

They just stood there like two stubborn jackasses.

"I said now!"

Darcy narrowed her eyes and raised her chin defiantly. "You forget, sir, we are not on of your stage brats, nor one of those insipid managers. Perhaps your threats and orders work on them, put raising your voice to us is to no avail."

" No? then allow me remind you of where you are, five stories below in the bowels of the Opera house. Oh, and do not forget what condition you'd be in now, if not for my kindness." I hissed.

A hurt expression leaped into those soft green eyes, but was replaced almost immediately with a look of determination. She distractedly wiped her hair back from her flushed face with a 'umph!' I found myself staring at her, enchanted with the charming picture she made. Standing tall and brave, squarely facing the most dreaded thing in the opera Populaire. In that moment she could not have looked more beautiful. Not a beauty like Christine's, but something more, something internal. I tried unsuccessfully to will my eyes away from her.

Darcy cleared her throat bringing me back attention. I looked away in embarrassment.

"Now that I have your attention. You may remain obstinate if you wish, sir, but one of us must step down for the sake of peace, and so it shall be I." A small smile pulled at her full lips. "I fear the day has been a bit taxing for you" she continued. "And I recommend you rest. I shall return later to check on my patient. Perhaps we could even fix you up a nice warm bath."

Her gentleness left me feeling even more like a monster. I had to do something to shake of the horror I felt.

"How can you just...after what I did..." I gave myself a mental shake. "I -I would like to apologize-"

"There is no need to, I under-

"How can you? You-"

"It doesn't matter."

"But of course-"

"Erik-"

"Please, woman, let me finish."

Her bowed head signaled me to continue. "I want to apologize for my... appalling behavior. And I pray you accept." I looked at the child who stood cluthing Darcy's skirt. "I would… like you to forgive me too, Anna. Have I… secured your forgiveness?"

To my eternal relief, they both nodded.

"Good! Now if you ladies will excuse me, I should like some time alone."

"But of course."

I watched them leave, sighed, then stumbled toward my organ and sat wearily on the bench. A calming sensation tingled through me as I ran my fingers over the ivory and black keys. I allowed myself to be drawn into the music that had a will and life of its own. I played softly, loudly, calmly, fiercely, passionately.

The whole room vibrated with music, filling every inch of it and myself with ecstasy.

Some warm presence was now standing behind me. I stopped in the middle of a song. How long had she been there?

"Please, keep playing. It is so… pleasant. Do go on." Darcy murmured.

"You want to hear me play?" I asked surprised, spinning around on the bench. No one had ever shown interest in my music. Not even the managers, who only accepted it because they had no other choice.

"Yes.

"Why?" I demanded, secretly hoping she would say what I wanted to hear.

"Because I think it is beautiful and pure. I've never heard anything like It." she breathed, her face flush with pleasure, her eyes closing alluringly.

Pure. I laughed aloud at the irony. I was the last thing on earth someone would associate with purity.

"They play my opera up there." I continued.

Her eyes opened again. "Yes, but not like this. It's…it's unearthly. The way you play it I mean. It is simply fascinating!"

"Thank you. Do you sing, mademoiselle LeClerc?"

Darcy's hand flew to her throat. "Oh no! I'm afraid not." She looked at me shyly. "Perhaps you would sing for me though?"

My chest constricted. I had only sung to one person after coming to the opera Populaire. That was Christine. I closed my eyes, recalling every detail of that night. It was too painful; I couldn't repeat it.

"No! I-I can't" I panted, covering my face, feeling the hard mask. The cold reminder of why I was alone, why I was unloved. "I can't! And don't ever ask me again! Do you understand?"

"I'm sorry! I hadn't meant- I didn't mean to-" she stuttered, confused.

I ignored Darcy and just sat there staring into space, trying to clear my mind of Christine. My angel of music.

"Erik, what you need is a friend." Darcy whispered, placing her hand lightly on the back of my neck. Unaccustomed to being touched I cringed and brushed her hand away, regretting my actions instantly as she moved away.

"I don't need a friend." I replied testily. If only she new exactly how I felt, how much I had desperately wanted someone I could talk to and share my problems with. The closet person I had to a friend was Madame Giry. But even then I couldn't share my thoughts with her, she simply served as my mouthpiece and messenger. And Christine hadn't known me at all, except as her father's promised angel. But I wasn't that.

"But of course you do. Everyone does." She tilted her head to the side an odd expression on her face. "I'd like to be that friend if you would let me."

I could not believe what she had just said! Hope rose and threatened to burst from soul. But I acted quickly and crushed it before it could fully consume me. No! I told myself bitterly. She just pities you. Like Christine did. Nothing more.

"You do not know what you are talking about." I replied, closing my eyes in despair.

That bold woman rounded the bench and dropped to her knees, taking my ungloved hand in her small warm ones. I usually wore gloves, but had forgotten to put them on after I had awakened. I sat there too dumbfounded and shocked to protest, waiting for her to turn away repulsed because my hands smelled of death and were cold, like a corpse. Christine had made that painfully clear, crying out in terror whenever I tried to touch her without my gloves.
Yet this angel at my feet was holding my hand as if I were a normal man. Just like everybody else!
Any doubt of my love for Darcy vanished in that moment.

Her eyes, large and brilliant, stared into mine, searching and comforting all at once. I found I could not break contact, didn't want to.

"I know what I'm doing and what I want, Erik. And that is to be your friend, if only you would let Me." she said tenderly, her chin quivering slightly. From what unknown emotion, I could only guess.

I swallowed uncomfortably; acutely aware of her thumbs caressing circles onto the top of my hand and how pleasurable it felt to be touched so. This was the closes I had ever been to someone without them being frightened or disgusted. I wanted to vanish into to darkest part of my domain, yet remain like this, with her, forever.

I reluctantly dragged my eyes from hers and focused them on our joined hands, deriving some comfort from the fact she had willingly touched me, twice. I racked my brain for something to say.

"I-You-this" I stuttered, feeling like an utter fool. Darcy's encouraging smile was more than I could bear.

"It can never work!" I cried out, jumping up as if scalded by hot water. I turned and hurried out toward my room, glancing back only briefly. Darcy was still on her knees, eyes downcast and hands folded neatly in her lap.

I cursed myself every creature from hell for being a coward and turning down what I most desperately wanted and needed.

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Now they are getting somewhere. Darcy won't give up on the impossible Phantom that easily.

Please Review and let me know what you think of the direction this story is going in.