Okay so here we are at chapter nine. Sorry for the really long delay, I wrote this chapter many times and it just didn't seem right.

That and I've been busy.

On holiday.

thegeyerguesthoouse, I can understand why it may have weirded you out. Thanks for the review.

Let's move on then.

Cynthia stirred, she felt so strange. There was a strange taste in her mouth and she just felt... different. Her head pulsed with a dull pain, as her senses came back into her she realised just how cold it was. Everything was so confusing.

Usually, she was able to recognise the place by certain sounds or smells, the feel of the air or sometimes even gut instinct. So she could immediately tell that she was someplace air was moist, damp and cold - yet a little warmth radiated from in front and behind.

On shaky legs she stood, realising suddenly that she was wearing different clothes! She shrieked and scanned her hands over her body, it felt clean, covered in silken frills and a velvet ribbon tied with such care and skill around her neck. But who had changed her, who had been so bold as to lay their filthy hands upon her?!

"My angel, you're awake. I was so worried..." Erik's voice called out from behind her, she spun. "I'm sorry if I gave you a fright," This time his voice came from far off in the distance, like an echo in a cave. "I don't mean to scare you." That time he purred seductively into her ear and then she heard music start playing from all around.

It was no orchestra, it was played on a gramophone of some sorts, no- several gramophones all in perfect sync. There must have been a few, for the soft melody that played flowed through every last inch of this cold and echoing place.

That's when she felt a hand on her back, it radiated warmth; It was soft to the touch. She gasped and ran forwards, loosing her footing and nearly tripping over the beautiful dress. Yet, just in the nick of time, two big arms caught her.

The arms turned her over and she sensed someone staring right into her eyes, feeling their hot breath on warm cheek. "It's okay mon ange, it's only me." Cynthia's lip quaked and she was cold with fear.

Fear was not a feeling one who always stands up for themself and their family received on many an occasion. So she panicked. She rolled out of his arms and landed on the cold floor with a slap, she practically jolted up at its icy touch and pointed a finger at Erik accusingly.

"Y-You! Y-you! You changed me!" She screamed, her legs shaking slightly beneath the dress. She heard the masked man sigh and step closer, each time he stepped closer she stepped back. Why was she here, why had he brought her? And worse, what were his intentions?

Erik had to admit, seeing her in her sleeping form, how innocent and helpless she looked stirred those darker corners of his mind that went wild with lust and hunger for flesh. Feelings that all men had locked away inside them. When he changed her into those close, he couldn't deny that he took much pleasure in it.

He never looked, dear God she'd never forgive him. During the entirety of the delicate operation he had a blindfold on and started with a pair of gloves. However, with the gloves it was difficult to feel the different material so... well...

Now he felt guilty, for sometimes when his hand brushed her skin- he'd let it linger longer than it really should have. Sometimes, he'd make small caresses over her thinking it was to test her breathing or her heart rate. He was only lying to himself.

"I can assure you Cynthia, I did not look. I am skilled with my hands." Soon, her back met a wall, rocky like a cave and freezing to the touch.

"Th-that's what you would say! You fiend! You monstrosity!" She yelled, amazed by the sound of her voice in this cave like structure. Fear quaked her voice and lent it strength. The Phantom was a little abacked by her behaviour and walked over to her slowly, as she squirmed against the wall, trying to see if she could get any further away. To no avail.

When he reached her, he tugged her delicate wrist and wrapped his arm around her waist. "E-Erik, let me go!" She struggled in his grasp, squirming.

"Shh," He cooed in her ear, "don't struggle my angel, I'd never hurt you..." Voice as soft as velvet, angelic and soothing on the body like a hot scented bath."Be calm Mon Ange." Almost immediately, her shoulders stopped tensing, her stance became more relaxed and her gaze settled to his eyes. She could sense them, burning into hers.

"Erik, why have you brought me here?" She asked now with no fear in her voice, feeling safe in his arms and reassured by his voice tuned by the heavens.

"I have a question to ask you..." He began but then proceeded to trail off and begin another point, "But not right now my love." The music seemed to grow and grow louder until it filled the entire room, emerging from the background. She felt him holding her hand in his, giving it a chaste kiss that lingered longer than usual.

"May I have this dance Mademoiselle?" There was a flirtatious tone in his velvet voice as he guided her to a more open space. She wasn't sure quite why she was following him, letting him lead her wherever he wished- it was as if she was in a trance. She only snapped out of it when he firmly placed his hand on her waist, gripping a little too tight for comfort.

"Ouch! Erik! Stop! Stop this!" She yelled, he went white as a sheet, wondering what he had done wrong. He did everything that was in those romance novels, he was polite and dark and mysterious, he'd practiced dancing for hours on his own with mannequin and even listened to the bumbling rambles of the chattier girls in the orchestra. Why was she resisting him?

He only wished now that he actually was Don Juan, charming and wooing ever girl in a twenty-mile radius. But he doubted that even one with talented a tounge as Don Juan could ever woo her. She had a heart of stone that would take more than a few cheap clichés to break But it would be his.

"i'm sorry, i'm doing this all wrong. I apologise." Pulling away, he re-adjusted is mask and watched as she rubbed her waist where he'd held her.

"Not at all, you were just gripping a little too tight." For the first time he'd ever known her, she smiled sweetly. It wasn't sarcastic, mean, fake or even casual- it was a genuine sweet smile with all the beauty of the world in each and every muscle. He stared at her for a while, just her and that smile and whispered,

"Perfect..."

Cocking her head slightly, she blushed. What had he just called her, 'Perfect'? If anything, she was far from perfect, she had so many faults - her sight impairment or lack of sight one of them. But he was so perfect, blissful voice, wise, talented, so muscular- he must have been young too and handsome, she bet he was really handsome.

In fact, she was curious to how he looked - there were rumours he wore a mask but for what reason? Once again, she moved into him. She took his hand and pulled it up to her waist, holding the other and started moving to a rhythm. At first he was shocked and aghast, she had hardly ever made a move upon him...

They danced for a while, her empty eyes staring up at him, his big amber ones blazing down into her gaze that would never meet his. He could feel the warmth of her body radiating out and it made his cheeks flush. Which he noticed, was happening to her too.

Soon, the music began to slow and their bodies were gradually moving closer and closer until eventually their chests breathed and beated against each other. He made little caresses through the material of her silk dress that made her cheeks go even pinker than usual. Now, she had her eyes closed enjoying their moment together.

A moment of sweet, innocent, uninterrupted bliss. Something that many don't receive in a life time. That's when Erik decided to speak up.

"I can make every day like this mon ange." He whispered gently in her ear, she in turn quivered at his warm breath against her skin. "I can fill each day with music and beauty, love and happiness." Cynthia's heart stopped.

Would he really do all that for her, or were they just empty promises; an attempt of wooing her? But his words sounded so sincere, so truthful. She wanted to believe him, how she wis she could. There was however a catch- anyone could sense it. As she soon found out.

She felt Erik pull away from her, his body heat leaving hers- turning her heart a little cold. Alas, she wasn't sure what she wanted back, him, or the warmth. Both perhaps? As he moved away, he kept hold of her left hand, she could sense his body moving downwards, like he was kneeling. Then he said the words she could never scrape from her troubled and worn mind.

"Marry me." He said, outright and with no regret. Cynthia gasped and tried to pull away, tried to run but to where, to whom? He'd find er and bring her back, order her to marry him again. Still, there was something attractive about the offer.

She tugged her hand away, turning her back to him, her auburn hair swaying from side to side as she looked down to the floor writhing her soft hands.

"Was that a question, Mr Destler? Or an order?" Snapped the woman, as cynical and bitter as ever. Behind her, she heard him standing up once again- about to walk over. "Answer me!" She yelled, now with no regret.

"It is what you wish, an order or question. I know you will say yes. You cannot deny your feelings any longer, everyone sees, everyone knows. Most of all me. You cannot fight was is there, clear as day in that cold heart of yours Cynthia!" He grabbed her wrist from behind and spun her around to face him. "You're killing me Cynthia! I'm dying here alone in the dark, drowning and you are too! Give yourself something to grasp on to, find a way t-"

To his great shock, she pressed her lips against his, harshly, tight and rough - as one would expect such a feisty creature to kiss. He pulled her in closer and once again the warmth that she so longed for was pressed against her body. Giving her life and lighting her soul on fire. This was what she needed.

There was however, one thing that was bothering her... That mask. Whilst she was kissing him, it pressed harshly against her cheek, threatening to cut it should they carry on. She didn't even understand why he wore it.

So she slid it off.

Once again, she pressed her lips against his and noticed something strange. The right side of his lip was upturned, almost like it had been stitched to his nose- but as she moved her face, she felt no nose. He had no nose!

He screamed, furious, when she stroked her hand down his deformity, feeling the lumps and bumps on his cheek as rough as sandstone. Feeling the depth of his eye sockets, like his eye had been sunken into his skull. Bile rose in her throat as she pulled away. What kind of creature was he? No man felt like that, he wasn't a he, he was an it!

"Y-you're not human!" She screamed, pointing a finger where he stood putting his mask back on. "YOU'RE A MONSTER!"

Sorry for the slow update.

Business as usual from now on.

Please, if you can, take the time to review.

That's all I ask of you.