AN: So, I'm feeling generous and have decided I'm going to post this early. Just to clarify, the italic section between the x's is a flashback giving more information about Jessica's background. There will be a few sections like that spread throughout this story. I'm glad everyone is loving this so far. Please continue to review; I love reading them out loud to Erik. Ha ha. So here's the next chapter for you lucky people!

THREE: The Meal

I tossed and turned, reliving the deal in my mind...

xXx

I sighed, placing my fingers on the ivory keys and playing the tune of my dreams a second time. This time I added embellishments with my left hand. I was suddenly aware of a presence behind me and stopped playing immediately.

"Where did you hear that?"

I swallowed, unable to find my voice for a minute. The voice asking was like liquid silk and sent shivers down my spine.

"In my dreams."

"In your dreams?" the liquid-silk voice inquired.

I nodded slowly, not trusting my own voice to answer. The presence moved closer until I could feel warm breath on the back of my neck. I continued to stare at the straight rows of black and white on the pianoforte.

"That's impossible," the voice whispered in my ear.

I wet my lips, connecting the voice and the presence together.

"Jessica!"

Liz's voice came from the stairs. Still unwilling to turn, I continued to stare at the piano while the presence moved to face my guardian.

"Elizabeth?"

"Hello," my guardian replied.

"What are you doing down here?"

"Looking for her."

That's when I chose to turn around. A man dressed in a suit stood behind me and Liz stood on the stairs leading out of the fourth cellar. Just then, the man turned and my breath caught in my throat. Everything about him was perfect from his slicked back hair to his shiny shoes; nothing was out of place. What really got my attention was his face. The left side was uncovered, perfect just like everything else, but the right side was hidden by a white porcelain mask.

"It's rude to stare," he said in the same liquid-silk voice from before.

I quickly looked away, but not before he moved closer, his warm breath on my neck again.

"Wait!" Liz shouted.

The man backed up slightly, but I could still feel his breath on my neck.

"Take me instead."

We both looked over at my guardian.

"What did you say?"

"Take me instead."

"You'd take her place?"

Here he turned back to me, his amber gaze boring into mine.

"Yes, just..."

"What?"

"Promise me you won't hurt her."

"I promise."

"Liz!"

He turned away from me, advancing towards my guardian...

My eyes were scrunched tightly closed, my knuckles white as I clutched the edge of the piano bench I sat on. I felt something on my neck and looked down. The man... Vampire... was finishing putting a necklace around my neck. The pendant was a miniature of his mask in silver, set with dozens of tiny diamonds...

xXx

"Jessica! Jesse, it's clair de lune!"

I opened my eyes as Marie shook me. As I listened, I could make out the main melody of clair de lune being played on a violin.

"My father used to play in for me when I was younger," Marie whispered.

"Stay here," I told her.

I stood as she nodded and sat on my bed. I made my way over to the entrance of the passageway. I ventured down, coming out in the dining room. Looking over, I recognized the ballet rat as Sarah Andre, the daughter of the manager of the Opera House, who was now shackled to the far wall. Erik stood holding his violin in the middle of the room. I glared at him until he stopped playing.

"Leave us alone and tend to your meal," I snapped.

"I still need my appetizer," he replied.

"It won't be Marie."

When I got back, I calmed Marie down enough to get her to fall back asleep. As I drifted off myself, I was plunged once more into the memory. Just as Liz shouted "Wait!", a familiar tune took over. I opened my eyes, listening to the flute. Marie was still asleep and I didn't bother waking her. I followed the sound of the flute down the passage into the dining room. The second set of shackles was gone, replaced by a bed. The flute stopped playing and I snapped out of the trance. I looked over at the weakened putting his flute away, the Vampire made his way over to me, humming my lullaby as he led me over to the bed. I opened my mouth to protest, but he began to sing in his liquid-silk voice.

"Hush-a-bye my angel, just hold me tight. I'll guard, protect you all through the night. Hush-a-bye my angel, you've no need to fear. Hush-a-bye my angel, your angel is here."

I forgot everything as he sang my lullaby, helping me onto the bed. Continuing to sing softly, he slowly undid the buttons on my top. We lay for a little while, his hands on my bare skin as my top stayed on by just the sleeves. The singing stopped briefly, replaced by muffled screams as he continued to take care of his meal. Joining me once more, he resumed the lullaby, bringing me around so I was laying on my stomach on top of him. Continuing to hum, he lowered his face down to my exposed neck, gently breaking my skin with his fangs. He broke the contact quickly, licking the wound and resuming my lullaby. A minute later, the music was replaced once more by muffled screams.

We continued the pattern will into the night until I finally fell asleep in his arms.