Rose waited backstage as the orchestra started playing. She was a little nervous because this is her first performance in front of the Managers and Erik. She wanted to make everything perfect for him. He did so much for her this was the least she could do.
As the company went on she could feel Erik's presence behind her.
"Don't be nervous my dear, you will be wonderful."
"Do you think I'm ready?"
"I know you are."
He gently put his hands on my shoulders to try and soothe me. I relaxed in his arms knowing he would protect me.
"I will see you on stage."
He said then kissed my cheek. I turned to return the favor but he was gone. I lightly touched the spot he kissed and smiled.
________________________________
"No thoughts within her head but thoughts of joy. No dreams within her heart, but dreams of love"

"Master?"

"Passarino,
go away, for the trap is set
and waits for his prey!
You have come here
In pursuit of your deepest urge
In pursuit of that wish which till now has been silent...
Silent"

Erik walked on stage with a black cloak covering his face. I sat on the bench picking a some flowers.

"I have brought you
That our passions may fuse and merge
In your mind you've already succumbed to me, dropped all defenses
Completely succumbed to me Now you are here with me
No second thoughts
You've decided
Decided."

As Erik starts to walk over to me I turn and I can feel his eyes gazing at me.

"Past the point of no return
No backward glances
The games we've played till now are at an end
Past all thought of if or when
No use resisting"

Erik walks behind me and gently touches my back. I gasp lightly as I feel his hands move up my back.

"Abandon thought and let the dream descend
What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us"

Erik sits beside me his right hand on my side.

"Past the point of no return
The final threshold?"

His hand travels up my side until it reaches my breast and I gasp.

"What warm, unspoken secrets will we learn
Beyond the point of no return?"

I get up and back away acting as my character.

"You have brought me
To that moment where words run dry
To that moment where speech disappears into silence
Silence
I have come here
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent
And now I am here with you, no second thoughts
I've decided, decided"

I look back to Erik who is sitting on the bench with his head down. I slowly start to walk over to him seductively.

"Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion play has now at last begun
Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question"

I go behind him and drag both my hands up his arms. As his hands follow I grab his hands and lock his fingers in mine. I hear his sigh at our connection.

"How long should we two wait before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race
The sleeping bud bursts into bloom?
When will the flames at last consume us?"

I remove myself from him and start to walk away but he grabs my waist and brings me to him.

"Past the point of no return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed, so stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return"
________________________________
After the performance
I was sitting in my room after my big performance in Erik's opera. I've never felt more alive. The way he touched me made me feel so alive. I never want this night to end.
Suddenly I heard a knock on my door.
"Come in."
Meg walked into my room.
"Rose you where amazing!"

"Thank you Meg."

"It must be amazing playing the lead role in an opera the day before your birthday."

"I was so focused on this I didn't even realize that." I laughed
"Have you seen Erik?"
I asked realizing that I haven't seen him since we where on stage.

"I thought I saw him go back to his lair but I think he's coming back up here to talk to you."

"Alright. You should be getting to bed before your mother finds you out ten minutes before curfew."

"Your right, goodnight Rose."

"Goodnight Meg."
I said as she waved good bye and closed my door.
I got up and changed out of my costume and into a blue and white nightgown. As I in pinned my hair I heard a soft knock on my door. I stood up and opened my door expecting to see Meg but I was greeted by beautiful brown eyes.
"Hello Erik."
I said smiling.

"You where amazing Rose."
He said as I let him in my room and locked the door. He was wearing black trousers with a white shirt.

"Well I had you with me."
I said blushing then looked down. I felt extremely embarrassed until I felt his ungloved hand gently tilt my head up. Usually Erik has gloves on his hands but tonight he didn't. I gently grabbed his hand (one of my favorite features of his) and brought it to my lips.
"You didn't wear you gloves."
I said as I kissed his palm.

"Was I supposed to?"

"No. I love your hands."
I felt his other arm wrap around my waist. I looked up at him and let his hand go.

"You are so beautiful, it stuns me."
He pulled me closer to his chest and my breath caught. My face just inches away from his, my hand slowly moves up to his masked cheek. He didn't notice until I closed my eyes, ready for his lips to touch mine, and removed the mask.

Erik quickly pulled away from me with his hand covering his cheek. I stood there in shock with the mask in my hand. I didn't see his face bust I was stunned at his reaction.
"Rose. Why?"
I couldn't speak I was so confused.
"Tell me!"
He said a little louder which made me jump.

"I'm sorry."
I said guilty and lowered my head in shame.
I looked at the mask in my hand and turned it over to see the inside. I gasped as I saw blood stains on the mask.

"Rose...O Rose."
He walked back over to me and I looked back up at him. I kissed the hand covering his face and his other cheek.

"Please let me see your face."
I begged.
Even though I was nervous I still needed to see the man that I love.

He closed his eyes and I gently moved his hand away. I gasped at the deformities. I'll admit that I was scared and frightened by his face but I would never let him see that. His soul is so fragile that if I where to deny him he would certainly die of sadness.
It broke my heart to see the long scars left by his mother and the freak show. How could people do such a horrible crime to this man?
His eyes where still closed as I looked at him. He was probably still frightened of my reaction. So I did the one thing I could think of.
I gently set down the mask on my bed side table, then carefully placed his hands on my waist. He opened his eyes in confusion as I wrapped my hands around his strong neck. He opened his mouth to speak but before he could I kissed his lips lovingly. After a few moments he pulled me flat against his chest and my hands found their way to his black hair. I heard him growl as I gently pulled on some strands and let my fingers massage his head. In his attempt to get a reaction out of me he slowly lowered his hand to my thigh. I gasped which he took advantage of. As he explored my mouth I placed my palm on his deformed cheek. He pulled away from the kiss still holding on to me and looked at me. I placed multiple kisses to his deformed cheek as he kissed my neck. As he kissed right below by ear I gasped breathlessly. I could feel him grin against my neck at his accomplishment to find my sweat spot. He continued to kiss down my neck and to my collarbone. His hands stayed on my back and I continued to move my hands in his hair.
When I felt him kiss the top of my breast I moved away.
"I'm sorry I'm just afraid."

"It's alright Rose, that's natural."

"Do you mind if we wait, I don't think I'm ready."

"Anything you want darling."
I smiled then walked back over to him. I hugged him gently then let my head rest on his chest. I felt my eyes grow heavy as he rubbed my back with care. Suddenly I felt him pick me up bridal style and I looked up at him.
"You should get going to bed, you've had a rough day today. Plus you need your strength for tomorrow."

"What's tomorrow?"
I asked as he placed me on my bed then crawled next to me. I gently put my head on his chest as he put the covers over both of us.
"Tomorrow my dear is the beginning of our vacation across Europe."