AN: So I decided I would be posting every Wednesday. It might be a little slow with finals coming up in a few weeks, but I'll try my best. Please review!

TWO: Appetizer

I made my way down the passage, coming out in what he called the "dining room". There were shackles chained to the far wall where whichever unlucky chorus girl or ballet rat hadn't cut it in rehearsals that day would be located that night. Another pair of shackles were against the opposite wall for whoever the unlucky soul he would deem his "appetizer" would go. He was standing in between the two.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

His liquid-silk voice sent shivers down my spine.

"Oh, please. Cut the act, Erik."

He turned to face me, his amber eyes searching and calculative.

"Act?"

"Yes, Erik, act. You don't have to pretend around me."

One side of his mouth turned up in a smile and he allowed a little puff of air to come out his nose in a laugh.

"I assure you, I am not pretending."

"Stay away from Marie."

"Another warning, Mademoiselle? I'm touched."

"This isn't a game."

"I'm not playing one."

We stared at each other for a minute.

"I warned her about the music," I informed him.

"Did you now?"

I nodded, unable to say anything more due to the tone in his silky voice. He smirked again, advancing on me. He pinned me against the wall,his face inches from mine, and ran one hand up my side and around to my front. He stopped with two fingers in the hollow between my collarbones, feeling my pulse. I fought to keep my breathing even. After what seemed and eternity, he removed his fingers, placing his hand instead on the wall beside me so I couldn't escape.

"Let's see, I have my meal picked out. She'll be gone at 8:00 as usual. But if I can't have your friend, who will be my appetizer?"

I closed my eyes, breathing heavily as his warm breath tickled my ear.

"Figure it out," I breathed.

He chuckled softly in my ear, still pinning me to the wall by the passageway. We locked eyes and my heart skipped a beat.

"She looks so...," he licked his lips, "tasty, though."

I swallowed, unable to look away from his intense gaze. He smirked, running his hand back up to feel my pulse again.

"Stay away from her, " I whispered, finding my voice.

"If not her, then who?"

I hesitated before answering.

"Me."

He removed his fingers, staring hard into my eyes.

"But the promise..."

"...Was that you wouldn't hurt me. Beyond that you can do whatever you want."

"Whatever I want?"

Swallowing, I nodded.

"Whatever you want."

He backed away from the wall, freeing me. I wet my lips, turning to go back through the passage.

"Oh, Jesse?"

"Yes, Erik?"

"See you tonight."

I sat on my bed, trying to concentrate on the book in my hand. After reading the passage a seventh time without taking in a word of it, I gave up and swapped it out for my journal instead.

"So, what song will play?"

I looked up at Marie.

"What do you mean?"

"You said he would play music to lure me down. What song will play?"

"It could be anything," I told her.

Marie nodded as I went back to writing. The alarm clock said 7:15.

"I thought he already had a meal. Why would he need me?"

"You would be the 'appetizer'," I accentuated the word with air quotes.

"Appetizer?"

"Something he would use to take a break from the main course. He likes to play with his food," I shrugged.

"He PLAYS with his food?!"

Marie looked ready to throw up.

"Let's talk about something else," I suggested.

Just then, the alarm clock went off. We both looked at it as I turned off the alarm. It was 8:00. The meal was gone.