All I Ask Of You

Chapter 8

As I walked through the soft, velvet red curtains I saw below a large lake and a cat sleeping silently on a seat that was in front of an organ up against the wall beside me, with music sheets scattered on top of it, some of them even being on the floor.

"That's Ayesha, she's a nuisance but also a companion," Erik told me as he walked towards the wall beside the organ.

I watched as the black cat opened its green eyes, stretching as it did.

"Ayesha, how did you think of that name?" I asked as I bent over to pet her, scratching behind her ear.

"When you travel around a lot you pick up names here and there, the name suits her, don't you think?" He asked.

I smiled, feeling her purr as she butted her head against my hand.

"Oui, it does."

"She's been around for a while, ever since I was a little kid."

It was odd to hear a man you had only heard about through stories or rumors, a man who only minutes ago had frightened me to my core suddenly seem so human.

My expression must've revealed my thoughts as I saw Erik roll his eyes, from behind his mask.

"Oui, I am human, sorry to disappoint."

He picked up Ayesha from the chair placing the cat on the floor, who immediately jumped onto his lap as soon as he sat down.

"Are you familiar with the song Willow, from the opera Otello?" The Phantom inquired as he stroked the cat's back, who was purring contently in his lap.

"Oui, Monsieur," 

"Sing it, I'll correct it as I see fit." He ordered as he folded his hands across his chest.

I felt nervous having to sing in front of him, oddly enough even more so than I ever would've felt in front of a crowd.

I took a deep breath.

"The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, sing all a green willow
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee..sing willow, willow, willow, willow! Sing willow, willow, willow, willow!"

I saw Erik observing me as I sang, making me slightly intimidated by his stare, but I continued trying my best not to let that affect my voice.

"My garland shall be; Sing all a green willow, willow, willow, willow. Sing all a green willow, my garland shall be...."

When I had stopped there was silence until he stood up walking towards me.

"Keep your head leveled," 

He gently grasped my shoulders, lifting them slightly.

"Shoulders high, and abdomen flat."

I felt his hand on my stomach, feeling slight pressure against it, and breathed in sharply at his touch, startled by it.

"Now, sing."

I sang the song again and I could hear how much clearer my voice was, feeling as if I could hit all of the high notes that I had previously been missing in performances.

I saw him smile and I couldn't help but return the expression.

"You are already improving."

I didn't know how many hours I was down there singing with Erik giving me tips on how to improve, making my voice change in ways I never knew it could.