Evangeline's POV:

Two days had passed and I settled back against my bed and flipped to my favorite part of Jane Eyre. I loved that book. It was wonderful. I liked its dark side. It certainly had one. The rest of the ballerinas were laying around and chattering about nothing in particular. Suddenly Jemma ran into the dorm with a horrified look on her face. I looked up and sighed. She was the most flighty of the ballet rats and most susceptible to fear. She was a pretty thing with blond hair and blue eyes. Her dancing was better than me but not Prima Ballerina quality.

I raised my eyebrows at her than looked back to my book. But when she exclaimed,

“Its the ghost! Its the ghost! He is here! I saw him!” The ballerinas crowded around her and I looked up again. Erik must have been bored. I smiled at the thought of Erik scaring the poor Jemma. I walked over and listened to her tell her whole tale. She described him as having Death's head. I wasn't sure about that. I hadn't ever seen what was under the cowl. I wanted to but Erik hadn't made that move yet so I wasn't going to ask. Our relationship was iffy. I might walk to his home and be murdered before I could say a word or I might be welcomed. I never knew. So far, my visits hadn't be rewarded with death. I stood in the back and watched several of the ballerinas touch certain objects to ward off evil. I smiled and decided to go find this “evil.” I wanted to talk to Erik. Maybe he would let me stay there until the drama was gone. I hated drama. I crept to the door and crept out. No one of the ballerinas even noticed that I was gone. I walked down into the cellars and landed in the mirror room again. I still wondered what it was for. I mean, how many people kept a circular room covered in mirrors. It was confusing. I gripped my book closer to me and walked over to the door. I tested it and found that it was locked. I carefully rapped my knuckles on the glass and a moment later it opened. I smiled up at Erik as I felt his glare. He stepped back and I walked by him and into his house. He closed the door and walked behind me. I walked over to the chair I had previously occupied and sat down in it. He walked over to his piano bench and sat down. I looked him over and smiled. He wasn't wearing his cowl. Instead he was dressed in a fancy suit with a black wide-brimmed fedora on his head. Underneath I could see a mask. It covered his whole face excluding his eyes. Or should I say eye holes. It was two black holes with nothing behind them. His eyes were so deep-set that I couldn't see them. I looked closely and saw two gold circles inside the holes. Somewhere in the darkness his eyes were glowing. Okay, it was a little creepy but I didn't mind too much. I crossed my legs and smiled.

“Well, what did you do to Jemma?” I had no clue what expression his face held so I tried to imagine it. It didn't help.

“I scared her.” I rolled my eyes.

“I know that. She came into the dorm, terrified. Really, Erik, don't you have other things to do?” He shook his head.

“No, there is nothing happening. I love doing it.” I sighed.

“Well, I guess. Just don't hurt any of them. I hope you don't mind if I stay down here until the drama wears off. They are acting like idiots. If I say up there much longer I will go insane.” He didn't say anything so I took it as a yes. I opened up Jane Eyre again and settled back to read. He watched me for about an hour before saying,

“What are you reading?” I looked up at him and said,

“Well, that is an improvement. You actually started a conversation of your own accord. Its called Jane Eyre and is the fictional biography of a young girl's life. A really dark tale but has a sweet ending.” Erik growled. I smiled and continued, “If you want I could read some to you...” He rose from his seat on the piano bench and walked over to another chair. He leaned back and propped his feet up on a stool. He crossed his legs at the ankles and then crossed his arms.

“Read, Ballet Rat.” I smiled and after turning to the beginning I started to read,

THERE was no possibility of taking a walk that day... And I read continued for several hours. I would sometimes think that Erik had fallen asleep but than he would move and I knew he wasn't. Several times he actually got up and got us some tea. I had to admit he could be quite a gentleman when he wanted to be. After a while though, my voice started to go and I was pretty tired. I laid down the book and closed my eyes. Erik started to play the piano and I drifted off to sleep.

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Author's Note:

Dear Readers,

The scene with Jemma and the rest of the ballerinas actually happened in the book. I hope to have many more of those scenes. I didn't copy the whole of the conversation between Jemma and the ballerinas because I didn't want to and besides there might have been copyright issues. I like writing about Erik more. Hope it passes!!!!

sarahlet2999

P.S. In case you haven't noticed I really like the term "Ballet Rat." I don't know why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!