Here's a cutesy little filler chapter for you guys. I feel like I'm trying to stretch this out as long as I can...it's almost over :(

I don't know if when I'll update again, I may be too busy dying of a head cold.

I don't own- okay you know what? Who cares? You all know what is and isn't mine by now, so there.

Stupid copyright laws...

Kat's POV

        "You have brought me

        to that moment when words run dr-"

        "No, no, no. You're not pronouncing the words properly." Erik cut off my singing once again.

        I was in his lair, practicing for Don Juan. So far, I haven't been able to get past the first two verses without interruption.

        "Ugh! I'm pretty sure I've pronounced every one of those damn words in every was possible!" I said in frustration..

        We'd been doing this since early this morning, and now it's almost three in the afternoon and he still won't let me take a break.

        "Yes, every way but the right way." He smirked.

        I balled my hands up into fists. "This stupid play is in a week and you haven't helped me with anything. All you've done is nag, and tell me what I'm not doing right. I'm tired, grumpy, and in serious need of some water."

        His dark eyes lightened as he nodded. "You are absolutely right. I've been rude and discouraging. For that I apologize."

        "Fine, but I'm done singing for today." I un-clenched my hands, deciding to cross my arms instead.

        "Hmm, how about I get you a glass of water then we run through the song once more together." He countered.

        "Only, once?" I raised an eyebrow.

        This wouldn't be the first time he's tried this.

        "Once." He repeated then walked off.

        He came back with my water and took his seat next to me at the organ. I still haven't figured out where he gets it from, but at the moment, I didn't care. I took a large gulp of it, trying to sooth my sore throat.

        "Ready?" Erik asked when I sat the glass down.

        I nodded and the music began.

        "You have come here

         In pursuit of your deepest urge

         In pursuit of that wish which till now

         Has been silent

         Silent"

        Erik began, his voice rich and seductive.

         "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"

        I was having a hard not time not succumbing to his voice. It's power was fierce and dominated my very soul.

        "Past the point of no return

         No backward glances

         Our games of make-believe are at an end. 

        Past all thought of “if” or “when”

         No use resisting

         Abandon thought and let the dream descend"

        My eyes followed his hands as they raced along the keys.  

        "What raging fire shall flood the soul

         What rich desire unlocks it's door 

        What sweet seduction lies before us?"

        I closed my eyes and listened to the melody as his voice sunk deeper and deeper into me.

        "Past the point of no return

         The final threshold

         What warm unspoken secrets

         Will we learn

         Beyond the point of no return?"

        My eyes flew open and a light blush tinted my cheeks when I realized it was my turn and I wasn't singing. 

        "You have brought me

         To that moment when words run dry

         To that moment when speech disappears

         Into silence

         Silence"

        Literally, I thought. 

        "I have come here,

        Hardly knowing the reason why

         In my mind I've already imagined

         Our bodies entwining

         Defenseless and silent,

         Now I am here with you

         No second thoughts

         I've decided

         Decided"

        I couldn't help but blush a little at the words. They were slightly inappropriate. 

        "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

         How long should we two wait before we're one?"

        What on earth was he thinking when he wrote this? My blushing raged as my mind went over the possibilities. I noticed Erik snickering at the look on my face.

        "When will the blood begin to race

         The sleeping bud burst into bloom

         When will the flames at last consume us?"

        I dropped my voice low on the last line and received an approving look from Erik before we both began to sing. 

        "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"

        Our voices intertwined perfectly as we sang the last verse.

        "Perfect." Erik smiled.

         I started to thank him for not criticizing me, but was interrupted my someone clapping hysterically behind us.

        "Bravo! The lust, the romance! I love it. You know you two have great chemistry." Damien hollered from the stairs.

        "What are you doing here?" I asked, my cheeks growing red again at his comment.

        He shrugged his shoulders. "I was bored. Ezra was being all depressing and drunk, so I thought I'd come here and see if Raoul might want some company."

        "Well Raoul isn't down here...I don't think." I raised and eyebrow and Erik rolled his eyes.

        "I'm aware. You see, he was busy so I went to find Christine, but she was rehearsing. Then, when I thought all hope was lost, I remembered you two must be around somewhere. So, here I am." He said grinning like a fool.

        Erik looked at him quizzically. "So you came here because you were bored, correct?"

        "Yep." Damien said simply as he took a seat in a chair next to the organ.

        "So, what has mother been up too?" I asked after a few moments of awkward silence.

        He looked up, tossing the balled up sheet music he'd been reading back on the floor. "I haven't spoken to her since the ball, though I think it's safe to say that she's been plotting our deaths."

        "That's lovely." Erik muttered.

        He went back to tinkering with some music he'd been writing as Damien and I conversed for the next hour or so.

        "Well, I need to go back upstairs. I promised Christine and Meg that I would join them after rehearsals, which should be over by now." I stood and fixed my dress.

        "I suppose I should be getting back before Ezra gives himself alcohol poisoning." Damien said as he got to his feet and stretched his arms. "I'll walk with you, Kat."

        I turned to Erik before walking to the nearest passage. "I'll see you tomorrow, around the same time?"

        "Yes, I'll come get you." He smiled and kissed my hand.

        I blushed a little then rushed off to follow Damien.

        "I hope we all make it through this." Damien said once we were alone.

        "Besides the obvious, why?" I asked.

        He grinned. "Because I am so going to be there when he proposes."

        "Shut up." I scrunched my nose and punched his arm.

        He laughed and soon we were back in the opera house. We said our goodbyes and I made it to the theatre just in time see the last bit of rehearsals.

        I watched Christine and Meg twirl around the stage with the rest of the ballet rats. Madame Giry caught my eye and motioned for me to join her.

        "Yes, Madame?" I asked the women once I was at her side.

        "Why does he want this?" She asked in a low whisper.

        I gave her a confused look. "Who wants what?"

        "Don't play stupid with me child." Her stick thumped the floor causing all the ballerinas to stop immediately.

        Once she realized what she'd done, she motioned for the girls to continue and turned back to me.

        "I can't say, Madame." I said honestly.

        She would have to wait for the show because I wasn't about to jeopardize this plan.

        "You can't or you won't?" Her voice was low and frightening.

        "Both." I said simply.

        Her thin frame relaxed with a defeated sigh. She looked at me, her hard eyes filled with concern. "Listen to me Kat, this is not a game."

        "I know Madame and I am not treating it as one." I said honestly.

        "No, the managers are planning to kill him. The night of the his opera, they wish him dead. It will not be safe." She said with sudden seriousness.

        I let out a small gasp. "No, they can't do that. Can they?"

        "He is considered a menace, a murderer. They can do with him as they please." She frowned.

        My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach. How could they?

        "Thank you Madame." I said to the women before racing off stage.

        I had to tell Erik. My feet took me as fast as they could through the halls and passage ways.

        "They're going to kill you." I said breathlessly as I burst into Erik's lair.

        He was still at the organ writing music.

        "What?" He turned to look at me, his eyes filled with confusion.

        "The managers, they're going to have you killed the night of the performance." My words came out in short sputters as I tried to regain my breathe.

        He stood and walked over to me. "I know."

        I was speaking again before my mind could comprehend what he had said. "We have to do someth- wait, you knew?"

        "Yes, for some time now. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry." He said as if it were nothing.

        "You knew you may die, yet you still want to go along with this? Are you crazy?" I half yelled at him.

        He didn't seem to be affected at all by my sudden outburst. "Yes, I'm willing to die for you."

        "Oh, well that's..." My voice trailed off as my heart melted.

        He was willing to die, for me?

        "I love you Kat, I would do anything for you." He lifted my chin with his hand.

        My eyes found his as I whispered. "I love you too."