I want to thank all my loyal readers for sticking with this story…even though it has often taken me awhile to update. My last Beta did not respond…So I'm looking for a new one. But I really need a Beta who is going to stick with me no matter what…even if I take a bit of time between updates.

I hope you enjoy this chapter!

I do not own the Phantom of the Opera, though I wish I did.

Erik's POV

I stared mortified as the object of my affections first paled and then fell to the floor in a heap of gray material.

The poor girl had fainted because I insisted on behaving like a monster or, as Darcy so easily put it, a beast! Knowing that I had frightened her to that point hurt me more than I could bear.

I bent down and picked Darcy up the carried her over to the work bench where I gently placed her.

Her peaceful face gave no indication of what she just had to deal with though I did notice a small red lump on her left temple. It was no doubt caused by that stubborn head of hers coming into contact with the stone floor.

"Serves her right!" I growled while pacing the room like a caged lion.

I stopped and messaged my throbbing temple. My day and progressed from bad to worse. It started with me paying a long overdue visit to the upper world. I knew without my supervision or, at times, intervention the whole opera house would run to rubbish. Those fool managers would be paying more attention to those little silly ballet rats than to managing my opera house. And not to mention the entire crew would be freely indulging in unacceptable behavior.

Once above ground I found things exactly has I had predicted though all that was required was a few tricks to show them that the Phantom of the Opera was still in charge. After I had set everything right I made back to my lair.

My desire to see Darcy and to make amends with her quickened my steps. I repeatedly told myself that all I wanted was to be sure that we remained friends and nothing more. That was me trying to convince myself of a lie.

The truth was I wanted far more than her friendship. I wanted her love, though hoping that could ever be possible would only lead to greater pain and disappointed. But all thoughts ceased the moment I stepped on shore and heard voices engaged in a friendly conversation. That had stopped me dead in my tracks and the familiar feeling of rejection and anger darkened my soul once again.

Over and over again I told myself that this could not be happening.

But my eyes and ears, which have never failed me, told me it was true. After that I lost all reason. All remembrance of what followed escapes me except that stinging slap Darcy delivered to my face. No doubt it was to bring me to my senses but it had quite the opposite affect. It only served heightened my anger.

The only thing that drugged me out of my blinding rage was the sight of her laying helpless and vulnerable on the floor. Then my thoughts turned to that handsome boy sitting in the other room and all my fury came rushing back like a deadly tidal wave.
That fool girl had no right to bring him here! Did she not know it would anger me? Of course she did! But obviously did not care enough about my feelings to restrain herself.

Frustrated, I grabbed the nearest object to me which happened to be a chair and sent it hurling towards a wall. A satisfying crash resulted but it did little to calm me. I reached for another item and then another.

"Curse Women!" I growled while eying the mess I had just made. "Curse them all!"

My experience with women had taught me one thing: That they were all nothing more than heartless selfish creatures who only served as a source of distraction and pain.
My own poor mother could not find enough courage in her heart to feel some sort of affection for her own deformed child. And then Christine, my beloved angel, who had seem so pure and innocent, had found a way to betray me for another man. Even the woman I trusted the most, Antoinette Giry, turned against me. And now I was on the verge of losing Darcy.

I sat down on the bench beside Darcy and buried my face in my hands. Tears for what I had lost flowed like small streams down my cheek. I felt myself being pulled into a chasm of misery from which I would not be able to escape.

Eventually I became aware of a soft voice gently calling my name. I turned to see Darcy's large exotic green eyes staring up at me with uncertainty and fear shining in them. Her parted lips quivered slightly.

Knowing she was still frightened and mistrustful of me caused a dull aching in my chest.

"I am here. How are you feeling?" I asked cautiously unsure of where I stood with her.

Darcy struggled to sit up but collapsed back onto the bench with groan. "Dizzy." she whispered.

I nodded. "That is to be expected. Do you feel any pain?"

"My head…" Darcy's exploring fingers came into contact with the lump and a surprised "Ouch!" escaped her lips.

"You've hit it." I explained. I'll get an ice pack for your head." I stood to leave but hesitated when I thought of that unwanted person sitting in the other room. I wracked my mind for an excuse to stay because I was afraid that upon seeing that boy my temper may get the best of me and I would be tempted to do something less than pleasant to him.

"Do you think you'll be alright alone?" I asked hoping to delay my departure.

A narrowed pair of eyes answered my question and promptly dashed my hope to pieces. I turned on my heels and left without giving her another look.

I had to pass directly in front of the boy to reach the kitchen where I kept most of my medical supplies.

I avoided looking at him and he remained silent as I passed, though I could feel is dark eyes following my every move. I seriously considered turning around and making sure that he never stared at me or anything else for that matter.

Once in the kitchen I quickly retrieved the necessary things and hurried back to Darcy. I entered to find her sitting up and looking slightly better.

"Here." I held out the ice pack. Darcy's finger lightly brushed against mine as she took the ice pack from my hand. Her eyes flickered to mine and I found myself drawn into their depths.

The expression shining in them was one of sweet innocence. Christine had often gazed at me with that same look, even as she betrayed me by giving her heart to another man.

I stiffened. I would not play the fool twice.

I took a deep breath to steady myself. "I think it is best if I take you to your room." I said through clenched teeth.

"Yes of course." Darcy rose slowly. "Erik?"

"What?" I asked harshly.

Darcy took a small step forward. "Are you very angry with me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

I remained silent and instead fixed her with a withering glare.

Darcy flinched but kept her searching eyes focused on my face. "Erik, I am so sorry. I know how it must have looked to you but it's not what you think. He was hurt, Erik! What was I supposed to do? Leave him there to suffer whatever fate had in store for him?"

"Yes."

Now it was her turn to give me a disapproving look. "Well I am not that sort of person. And I don't understand how you could justify leaving an innocent person to there to suffer and die!" she shouted.

My hands balled into fists at my side. "Then perhaps I should clarify some things for you, my dear. First, I am not as naïve as you to believe that person is innocent. Second, I do to others as they have done to me. Do you think anyone cared that I was once an innocent person suffering?"

Darcy eyes started to fill with tears and she blinked to keep them at bay.

Ignoring her tears I continued. "No they didn't! Not one bloody person cared!" I walked closer to her until our faces where only inches apart. "And I don't care about any of them!"

Darcy reached out and gently placed one hand on my cheek. "That isn't true Erik." She whispered. "Someone does care."

I reached out and pulled Darcy into my embrace crushing her against me
.There is no way to describe the feelings that arose in me at that moment. All I knew is that I wanted to hold her in my arms forever.

"Oh Darcy!" I whispered into her hair. "Tell me you mean it."

She half laughed and half cried into my shirt. "Yes! I mean it, Erik! I care very much!"

I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I think you should rest. I'll tend to, uh, the boy."

At that moment I was willing to do anything to make her happy.

Darcy gave me a quick squeeze. "Thank you. Will you walk me to my room?"

"Sure."

I left Darcy at her door and went to tend to the boy just as I promised.
I stopped a few feet away from him and took a few minutes to study him. He did seem fairly banged up but that was his own fault.
When I thought back on it I did remember him following me above ground a few hours before and that I had purposely led him in the direction of the trap door to be rid of him. What I hadn't counted on was this happening!

I quietly approached him from the side. "What is your name?"

The boy visibly jumped at the sound of my voice and he kept his eyes averted when he answered. "Roland Delmas, Sir. May I be so bold as to inquire of your name, Sir?"

I came and stood in front of him. "I am Erik."

He looked up at me with dark somber eyes. "I am so sorry for intruding upon your hospitality.

I shook my head. "It matters not…You are here now. Well we better have a look at your ankle."

I knelt down to examine it though at a glance it appeared broken. My suspicion was confirmed; it was broken.
I cursed under my breath for that meant he would be here longer than I cared for.

I rose up and wiped my hands on my cape. "It is broken." I informed him.

Roland let out a low groan and threw his hands up in exasperation. "I always managed to get myself into a scrape."

"Yes I'm sure." I agreed. "Well I shall get a stint for you ankle."

Once again I made a trip to the kitchen. All of the day's commotion was starting to wear on me. My steps were slower and I felt tiredness spread to every part of my body. It served as a reminder of why I choose solitude. The less people, the less confusion and chaos.

I quickly finished with Roland and led him to the library where there was a sofa for him to sleep on.

Roland thanked me again for my help and bade me goodnight.

After that I retired to my room where I could carefully think things through and plan how to best be rid of my unwanted guest.

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. iF

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