A/N: I am eternally grateful for all the reviews I received. Thanks to everyone who kindly commented on my chapter. It is such a relief to know my Erik is in character. I promised drama and I hope this chapter lives up to that promise. A sliver of dark Erik in this chapter.

Special thanks to GerrysLittleMissSunshine08 for helping me with this chapter! You've done a great job so far!

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Darcy's POV

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I lay in bed that night trying to make sense of all that had happened. It was all so confusing; especially Erik's sharply uttered words which had cut right into my heart.

How had I misinterpreted his earlier behavior? Everything he did before seem to suggest he had feelings for me. I had even convinced myself that Erik had fallen in love with me.

I allowed my thoughts traveled back to when I had first become acquainted with the Opera Legend. I refused to think of him as Phantom or Opera Ghost. His small act of kindness had touched me deeply. I felt perhaps I had found a friend to share my cold lonely world. That solitary red rose seemed to confirm my feeling. I could smell its gentle fragrance now. The next day, along with gifts, there laid a short letter that sparked our friendship. We frequently exchanged letters and soon we were expressing our innermost thoughts and feelings towards one another.

His letters hinted at a man lonely and desperate for companionship. He seemed so happy to have me correspond with him; he showered me with gifts I considered luxuries. I, in return, poured my heart and soul into those letterers.

"Yet it obviously meant nothing to him." I whispered bitterly into the darkness.

There were also the moments we shared after our meeting that lead me to believe he cared. I was very much aware of his eyes following me whenever I was in his presence and also his expressions of happiness at having me near. Why just tonight he had told me I made him the happiest of men!

I tortured myself by mentally replaying those times we enjoyed together.

What had gone wrong? Why did he so suddenly turn cold and cruel?

I clung to my tear-soaked pillow as if it would somehow give me strength.

Why do I even care? In my heart I knew why. Because this was not the Erik I loved, he would not act like that without a very good reason. Yes Erik could be difficult, conceited, rude and arrogant, but just plain evil he was not.

Erik, I felt, was incapable of leading someone on just for the sake of his own vanity or pleasure. Could it be that he thought I was leading him on? But there was really no logical motive for me to do so. How much good would it do a woman to be associated with a man who people believed was a spawn of the devil?

I made a promise to myself that I would find the reason for his behavior, even if it drove us both insane. And I was sure I would succeed in at least in driving one of us crazy. Though Erik could expect to be thoroughly disappointed if he thinks I would grovel at his feet like some dog. I still maintained some dignity.

I heard Anna come in sometime later, but I pretended to be asleep. My mood was at its sourest rendering me unfit to be good company. Anna seems to understand this for she crawled into bed beside me, without saying a word, and went promptly to sleep.

I don't know how long I lay in bed tossing and turning between fits of sleep disturbed by nightmares, but finally I had enough.

I got out bed, slipping on the white and gold embroidered robe Erik had graciously provided and stepped into matching fur slippers. I walked out into main room, which was quiet and dark except for one lit candle standing on Erik's organ and the gentle sloshing of the lake against the stone shore.

Tonight the lake was disturbed and had taken on a blackish hue. The light shining down from above caste a eerie glow on its shining surface. I noted this with interest because the lake usually looks quite romantic, but now it strangely appeared to reflect the tension and discontent of the lair's occupants.

I sat down at Erik's organ picked out a simple tune that my mother had taught me. It brought memories of her back so strongly. She would often play while I sat besides her watching her in with love and admiration. Bitterness and resentment rose to the surface, threatening to overwhelm me. I was torn away from the people I loved most…my life ripped apart because others refused to accept what they thought was different! How cruel the world could be!

I consoled myself with the thought that my parents and two brothers were out there somewhere, hopefully alive.

"Mother, mother where are you when I need you most?" I sighed forcing back tears.

I sat there for a few more minutes before my stomach reminded me that I hadn't ate in hours.

Just I turned away in to search for something to eat my attention was caught by what seemed to be a cry. I froze, straining to hear. Everything was silent. I was about to dismiss it as fanciful imagining when I heard it again. It was a slight wailing sound and this time I was sure it was a cry for help.

I frantically searched for Erik but he was nowhere to be found, so I decided to investigate alone. It did occur to me that it could be a trap, thought if it were, I was sure it wouldn't be used against me. It would be for 'La Fantome!' They would conclude I was one of Erik's victims and would no doubt do their best to help me. On the other hand, it could be someone who was hurt and needed help.

Perhaps some would consider my actions foolish but I could not stand the thought of leaving someone to suffer in the dark alone.

I ran over to the lake since it was the only way I knew out; it was then I noticed, to my dismay, that the boat was gone. That meant Erik had left and I was alone to face whatever lay ahead.

Fortunately the lake had stone walkways running along both sides of it. To be sure I wouldn't get lost I went back to the kitchen and collected some flour in a sack. I would use it to mark my way. I grabbed a lantern and walked out, taking the left walkway.

Erik would be furious at me for wandering outside the lair alone. No doubt he will rant and rave and lecture me about the danger of getting lost, hurt or killed. I clutched the sack of flour closer. At least I took precautions. And if turned out there was no one, and then Erik need never learn about my little escapade.

Even if he did find out, I felt could rely on my own anger at him to give me courage and strength to face his wrath.

I did not venture far before another cry shattered the silence. It sounded somewhere close.

"Who's there?" I called out while still walking.

"I need help!" A man screamed. "Please can you help me?" I heard the pain and panic in his voice.

"I'm coming," I shouted back, "Keep talking so I can find you."

"Here! I'm here!"

I cautiously followed his voice until I came to a tunnel that branched off. I held the lantern higher. Delicate patterns of spider webs blockaded the entrance. Erik obviously did not use this particular tunnel.

I brushed the clinging webs aside and stepped inside. A putrid order assailed my nostrils and dripping water echoed somewhere.

"Here!" the man called out. A quivering shadow was pressed into the wall. I rushed over to the huddled figure. My stomach knotted at the sigh. Blood was everywhere. . My heart went out the poor man clasped on the floor. I knelt down beside him. The man looked up at me with eyes glazed over in pain.

"Please get me out of here!" He reached out and grabbed hold of my hand. "Before…" he paused and looked fearfully around him before leaning toward me. "Before the ghost comes!

So Erik had something to do with this man's present condition.

"It is going to be alright. No ghost will harm you, I promise." I said as calmly as possible, though I felt anything but that at the moment. I gently brushed at his dark hair from his bloodied forehead. "Do you think you can stand?"

His grip on my hand tightened. "I've…already tried. My leg…it may be…broken."

"You can't very well stay here. I'll help you. It isn't a very long walk."

He nodded and I stood, bracing myself for his weight. The first two tries were failures.

He then sank back to the ground in defeat.

The man shook his head despair. "It's…hopeless!' He wheezed, "My legs…their useless!"

"You can not give up! I won't let you. You need help and I can not properly give it here."

He looked up at me and I gave him a brave smile. "Now come on and try again."

This time he was able to stand and I wrapped my arms around his waist, steadying him.

Even when he was leaning on me I could tell he was quite tall and lean, maybe somewhere close to Erik's size. Slowly we made our way back. We stopped twice for a rest.

"That's it. Almost there." I encouraged whenever he started to go limp in my arms.

Once safely inside the lair I helped the man into the black swan bed. My bringing a stranger into Erik's home, then laying him on his bed would probably upset Erik, but I didn't have any other option.

I lit several candles and was dismayed to find my hands and robe covered in blood.

No time to think about that now. I walked over to examine my patient.

He was quite a handsome man, perhaps in his early twenties. His dark completion was set off by the white shirt and tan pants tucked into black boots that he wore. His features reminded me of a Greek statue I had seen in a book, with full lips, a wide forehead and beautiful dark deep-set eyes. His thick wavy hair gleamed black in the candlelight.

His injurious were serious but not life threatening. He had bruised on almost every visible part of his body and had a deep cut on his temple. His shirt was ripped and bloodied and his left foot was twisted at an odd angle suggesting that it was broken. A large dirty gash ran down the length of his left arm.

After gathering whatever I could find I returned. As I reached out to unbutton his shirt he caught my hand.

"I want to thank you for helping me. I don't know what would have happened to if you hadn't come."

"You are welcome."

"What, may I ask, is the name of my heroine?" He gave me a slight smile.

"I'm Darcy LeClerc. And you are…?"

"Roland. Roland Delmas. I work up there. Where are we? Is this where you live?" he asked his eyes wide as he took in the strangeness of an underground lair. "This is really magnificent! I've never seen anything like it!"

There was no way to explain the lair without bringing up Erik and frightening Roland to death, so I chose to ignore his question. "You work up there? What do you do?"

He gave me an odd look that I could not interpret. "I am a baritone singer."

"Really! How nice! You have not been here long?"

"For only one week. This is my first time working in an Opera house! Ouch!" He winced as I rubbed alcohol onto the cut on his arm.

"I'm sorry, but it is necessary. How did you manage to get yourself in this condition?" I asked while examining his ankle. The ballet brats, as Erik often referred to the little ballerinas had sometimes ended up with broken bones, so I knew a little something about it from observance.

Roland laughed. "By my own folly and curiosity I am afraid. They say there is a ghost, a Phantom! They say that it roams this place and creates all sorts of mischief! The very same one that burnt down this place a few years ago! But perhaps you already know about that."

"I've heard a few things about him."

"Whenever any mention of Phantom is made the men would ball up their fists and mutter angrily and the women would tremble. You could see the terror in shining in their eyes! I thought they were a pitiful superstitious lot. Or at least I thought that until I saw him myself."

I listened to him intently. "You saw him?"

"Yes. I was doing a little exploring you see, when I notice a tall figure dressed completely in black pop out of nowhere! I called to him, but received no answer. So I decided to follow him."

"What then?"

"He disappeared! Just like that!" he said with a snap of his fingers.

"But that doesn't explain how you ended hurt!"

"I'm coming to that part. I walked over to where I last saw him. Then whoosh! Down I plunged into darkness! I hit several sharp objects that protruded from the walls. That's what cut my arm." He gazed at his now bandaged arm. "Then I hit the bottom and was out! That's where you found me."

I knew he fell into one of Erik's trap doors. Had not I often heard Erik referred to as the trap door lover? Where was Erik anyway? How would Erik react to finding a strange man in his home? I thought of the situation four years ago, especially the night that cost Erik to lose his grip on sanity. It resulted in death and destruction. I prayed this would not push him over the edge again.

I glanced nervously at the lake entrance. There was no sign of Erik's return, but my resolve to remain strong was crumbling quickly. I almost wished I hadn't rescued Roland, but seeing the gratitude and admiration shining in his eyes assured me I had done the right thing.

I smiled at Roland. "At least you are alive. I'll wager you'll think twice about following strangers."

He laughed. "Especially ones in black cloaks! You know Darcy… may I call you by your name?"

"Of course. And I shall call you Roland, if it is fine with you."

"Good! You know I don't feel like we are strangers. I don't feel at all uneasy in your company though you could decide to turn against me and I would be quit helpless in preventing it.

I nodded in agreement. What he said was true. I found him easygoing and pleasant.

"I feel exactly the same. Would you like a cup of tea Roland?"

"That would be nice. Maybe it will help me relax and ease some of this pain."

I changed out of my nightgown into a simple dark grey dress, then went and prepared two cups of tea and light meal consisting of cold meats and bread. I gave Roland his cup and pulled a chair nearby to him.

Roland took a sip of tea. "So are you going to tell me what this place is?"

I waived my hand dismissively. "It isn't polite to pursue a subject that your hostess obviously wishes to avoid. A gentleman such as yourself should know better." I replied lightheartedly.

He grinned saucily. "Ah, my dear lady you may be correct, but as your guest I am entitled to a little information about my temporary residence. Do you live here alone?"

"Well actually…" Before I could finish a voice thundered behind me.

"Allow me, please, the pleasure of answering your question, sir!"

Erik!

I watched as Roland jumped in surprise and then turn pale, his dark eyes widening in horror. I stiffened, mentally trying to prepare myself for whatever I was about to face.

I rose and turned to Erik who stood near the lake. I couldn't help but notice that he looked elegant and distinguished in his completely black attire.

I also noted that despite the calm expression Erik wore a dangerous glint in those burning golden eyes and the tension in his body. There was something dark and sinister about him that frightened me. Perhaps it was the way he looked Roland and me. We were all silent…waiting. I couldn't stand it anymore so I spoke.

"Erik! I'm glad you are back!"

Erik approached me by stopping only inches away. The affect of having him so near was dizzying. He lifted my chin until I was looking right into his eyes.

"Are you really glad?" He whispered into my ears, his hands running caressingly down my arms. I shivered from the contact.

Instinctively I leaned toward him, my eyes never leaving his. "Of course I've missed you." I whispered.

Without warning Erik jerked back as if burned. "Liar!" He screamed, "You couldn't wait till I was gone! You were counting the seconds till I left and you could be rid of me for a while!"

"That's not true!" I cried. "Please allow me to explain what happened!"

Erik laughed hysterically, his flashing eyes darting wildly from me to Roland. "I do not need you to explain anything! I can see it clearly with my own eyes! The first time I leave you alone this is what you do! You could not wait for me to leave so you could sneak your little lover down here! So you could indulge yourself in a secret rendezvous with your young man! It seems like he wasn't very successful in getting down here! That spoiled your plans, did it not?" He laughed again.

I went over to him and pulled desperately on his coat sleeve. "Please listen to me! You must!"

Erik stumbled backwards as if I were poisonous. "Do not touch me! Stay away you little lying Delilah! You disgusting wench! You whore!"

His words seared through me like a scorching fire. But I did not feel the pain, only the hot rage that consumed me. He had no right to accuse and insult me without finding out the truth!

"How dare you say such things to me?!" I screamed at him, "Everyone is right about you! You are a beast!"

Before I was aware of what I was doing, I marched over to Erik and slapped the unmasked side of his face as hard as I could.

We were both startled by what I had done. I didn't know what to say and Erik just stared in disbelief, his gloved hand instantly going to his reddened cheek.

Then suddenly, before I had time to react, Erik reached out and caught me by the elbow. He roughly hauled me in front of him and walked me into another room. I was dimly aware that I had never seen this room before, but was too disturbed too pay any real attention to my surrounding. The only thing my mind registered was that the room appeared to be a some sort of workshop and there was a bright electric chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

Erik slammed the door behind us and leaned against it as if to prevent my leaving should I try. I searched his face, trying to read his expression to see what he was thinking. But his face was blank, except for the coldness in his eyes.

"Erik please speak to me!" I cried desperately, "Say something!"

Erik pushed himself away from the door, but remained silent. He came towards me with deliberate menacing steps, his gloved hands balled into fists at his side.

I stared at him in horror and fear. What was he going to do!? My heart pounded violently in my chest and my breathing became shallow.

My eyes unwilling fixed on his white mask. I could see nothing else. It seemed to float towards me like some angry ghost bent on revenge. At that moment I was not facing Erik, but the Phantom of the Opera. For the first time I understood young Christine Daae's fear and dismay. It could be that she had loved Erik, as I do now, but was unable to deal with this frightening side of him that surfaced whenever he felt what was his was being taken from him. The Phantom, as I now called this distinct personality, had emerged when young Raoul de Chagny had arrived on the scene and ruined his plans. Now once again, the Phantom had reawakened.

Was I strong enough to handle him or would I choose to flee as Christine had? I didn't know the answerer and I was afraid to find out the truth. Afraid that knowing would devastate us both.

Erik would never hurt anyone, but the person I faced now was more than capable of terrorizing and destroying.

I felt suddenly light-headed; the room spun uncontrollably sending me into terrifying dizziness. I shaded my eyes from the light that was becoming more intense and painful. Then I was plummeted into darkness.

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And there you have a cliffhanger! So, my dear readers, what do you think? About Roland…and Erik's behavior? I think Darcy may be doubting their relationship or at least her capacity to handle it.
What is going to happen next?
This story is taking a life of its own. Even I don't know what's going to happen next! Well sort of.
Please review and let me know what you think of this little turn in events.
Feel free to offer suggestions and advice. I will do my best to listen and follow them.

I know some of you are wondering about what connection Anna and Erik have. Well I will say they are related, though You probably already guessed that. That's all I'm going to reveal right now.