The following story is a sequel to Looking Through the Mirror. I highly encourage you to read it before reading this one.

It has been ten long years since Erika Destler left the Palais Garnier. Although life had treated her surprisingly well, including a very successful theater in Coney Island called the Fantôme Theater, the wonderful support from Madame Giry, Meg and Nadir, and even a beautiful daughter named Diana, she felt something was missing in her life: Christopher. Although, she left so that he could have the life he deserved with a woman who would provide for him, it had crossed her mind whether she should come out of hiding and try to find him, but she always told herself not to. She did this for a reason and she'll stick to it, no matter how much it hurt her.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on her office door and a male voice saying, "Fantôme, can I come in?"

"Who is it," she asked as she shuffled through countless papers. As a manager of a theater, her workload was high and she has found new respect for the two foolish managers who ran the Palais Garnier back in France all those years ago.

"It's me, Nadir." At the sound of his name, she got up from her desk and opened the door. She saw a wealthy Persian man with a pearly white smile on his face. He smelled of spices from his shop by the Fantôme Theater and he had a bouquet of roses in his hand. After work, he would always come to Erika and spend some time with her, despite her unreturned feelings for him. She always said her heart still belonged to Christopher, but it didn't stop him from trying to win her heart. "How are you, my love," he said as he gave her a hug. A kiss would have gone too far, even if it was on the cheek.

"Busy, as usual, but I've told you many times that you don't have to call me Fantôme. I only want my coworkers to call me that. Would you like anything to drink," she said with a sweet tone.

"Do you have wine?"

"Of course."

"Then I'll have some of that," he said as he handed her the bouquet. She smiled as she put them in a recently emptied vase. He always gave her flowers every week, whether they were daisies, chrysanthemums, or tulips, but once in a while, he would give her roses, which only meant one thing.

"So, you want to take me out to dinner tonight," she asked as she gave him a glass of red wine.

"Yes I would. Is that all right with you?"

"Well, of course, but I wanted to spend some time with Diana today. It's been a while since the two of us had any alone time since I've been extremely busy lately."

"Well, would you like to take her with us?"

"Would that be okay with you? I know you meant for it to be a date-,"

"Of course it would be fine. You know I love Diana like if she were my own child and would be more than happy to take her with us. After all, the restaurant I have in mind is by Phantasma."

"Phantasma? Why there," she asked with curiosity. Ever since she met Erik about seven years ago, she has become good friends with the masked man, who, unfortunately, shared her tale of love and loss. She offered him a job at her theater and just this year, he decided to make his "world" with attractions and concert halls galore. She has taken Diana to the wonderful place and she has always loved it. Even the Girys work there sometimes since they too knew Erik. After the Palais Garnier burned down, they decided to work at the new and improved Opera Populaire, but they had to endure the same tragedy all over again with another disfigured soul.

"Well, I can't tell you, my dear," he said as he took a sip of the wine.

"Why? What are you hiding," she teased.

He chuckled. "You'll figure it out when we get there."

Soon, they heard a knock and the door opened. Inside came in a beautiful little girl who was ten years old. She had dark brown hair, fair skin and blue and green eyes that were so hard to resist. She could have been like any other child, but what makes her unique was a slight scar running across her face. This scar, which Erika feared would give her daughter trouble, was given to her at birth, but Diana viewed it as a birthmark and embraced it. "Mother, are you in here?"

"Yes I am, darling," Erika said as she hugged her dear daughter. "Nadir is taking us out for dinner. How does that sound?"

"Where are we going," she asked with a smile.

"We are going to Phantasma, little one."

Diana jumped with excitement when she heard where they were headed. "Mother, can we go on all the rides and see some shows?"

"We'll see, Diana," she said as gave her daughter a kiss on her forehead. She turned to Nadir and said, "What are we waiting for?" With those words, Nadir held out his arm and she put her arm around it while her other hand held her daughter's.

As they arrived to Phantasma, Diana's eyes lit up as she saw everything that she could ever want in this one place. There were rides that sent chills and excitement through her spine. The people that worked there were very interesting people, especially with dwarves, bearded ladies, freaks, human oddities, and people with unusual talents. The buildings within were very extravagant, including one concert hall that could have been mistaken for an opera house. This place was marvelous and Diana was trying to get out of her mother's grasp to look at all the sights, but Erika said, "Not now. Once we have dinner, you are allowed to look around." They finally arrived to a restaurant by the enormous concert hall and Nadir showed her into a room far away from the other customers.

They arrived to a door which Nadir opened and they could hear multiple voices saying, "Surprise!" Inside the room were three very special people: Madame Giry, Meg, and even Erik. She and Diana gave hugs to the three of them while Nadir shook hands with them.

"What is all this about," Erika asked with surprise.

"Don't you know? It's been ten years since we first met," Nadir said with a smile. Although he, Diana, and Erik had smiles on their face, Madame Giry, Meg, and Erika had fake smiles on theirs. It was also the tenth year anniversary of her leaving France and, most of all, Christopher. "Please, have a seat," he said as he pulled out a chair for her. She sat in the chair and he did the same for Diana.

"Nadir invited us for the special night and we were fortunate enough to not be busy today," Meg said. "Thank you, Mister Y."

Erik smiled. "You're welcome, Meg. After all, you performed so lovely at your last show that I decided to give you a break just for tonight."

"Fantôme, I made sure that you were caught up with paperwork so you could enjoy dinner and maybe even more and not worry about it," Madame Giry said.

"Thank you," she said with a smile, but it soon faded.

"How about we get some drink for all of us," Nadir said as he flagged a waiter.

Throughout dinner, a feeling of uneasiness filled the air, but Diana and Nadir were oblivious to it. Erika didn't eat much of her meal and instead let Diana and Nadir eat off her plate. The Girys and Erik started to notice her behavior and they knew exactly what the matter was. "I can't believe it has been ten years already," she finally said as dessert arrived. Each person received a fruit-filled crepe with lines of melted chocolate on top. Erika ate the crepe with haste while the others took their time.

"I can't believe it either, but I wouldn't trade these years for anything. I've met some interesting friends, reunited with an old one, and even met the love of my life and her beautiful daughter," he said as he placed his arm around her, but she shook it off. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing; I just have a lot on my mind," she said before she took the last bite of her crepe. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to show Diana around. Erik, would you mind accompanying me?"

"Of course; I've added a few more attractions that I'm sure Diana would love to see," he said as he got up from his seat and walked to them.

"I'll come too," Nadir said as he got up, but was stopped by Madame Giry.

"Can we talk to you for a bit," she said. When he sat back down, she asked, "Were you aware of her uneasiness throughout dinner?"

"Uneasiness? Why, what's the matter?"

"You realize that it is also been ten years since she left France and her love, Chris-."

"I don't want to hear his name tonight, please. If he truly cared for her, he would have left his wife a long time ago and looked for her."

"She told him to stay with his wife," Meg explained. "She thought that it was best for him and he did try to find her before he married, but he did as she wished and got married."

"He hurt her once, so why would she want was best for him?"

"They didn't tell each other how they felt. It was just one big misunderstanding that led into a huge fiasco. I'm just glad that she has finally found happiness," Madame Giry said.

"Happiness? You just said she wasn't. Christopher brings her painful memories and I won't allow him to hurt her again or even Diana."

"Don't worry, he won't find them unless he knew she was here, but you know how she feels for him. They are married, after all."

"No they're not. They were not in front of a priest, a sheik, or anybody with that power to unite them in matrimony. She is still a free woman and I would like to be her other half."

"It's been ten years, Nadir. If her love hasn't faded for this long, what makes you think that it will anytime soon," Meg asked.

"I'll just have to try harder. Eventually, she'll learn to love me," he said as he got up and headed out.

When he exited the building, he checked to see if the three of them were around, but they must have traveled deep within Phantasma. He was about to walk forward, but he heard a voice say, "Psst." He turned around and saw a woman with brown hair and green eyes hiding behind the building, but signaling him to come to her.

He walked up to the woman and said, "Annabel Lee, what are you doing here? You know I have a dinner date with Fantôme and we both know how much she despises you."

"I know, but I finally got tomorrow's paper with the article you wanted," she said as she handed him a newspaper.

"You finally got someone to write the story," he asked as he grabbed it out of her hands and hid it in his jacket.

"I gave him a good shave and he was willing to do whatever I wanted. So much can be done with just a razor," she said with a wicked smile. "Show her that tomorrow and I assure you that she will be putty in your hands."

"Thank you, Annabel," he said as he gave her a hug and left her side to find Erika.

"You looked uneasy at dinner. Are you all right," Erik asked. They were sitting at the back row of a magic show while Diana and other children watched from the front row.

"It's just . . . it has been ten years since I left Christopher. I can't believe I've endured ten long years without giving up and going back to him," she said. "I mean, how have you managed all these years without Christine?"

At the sound of her name, he became silent, but said, "I've pretty much feel the same as you, but I don't think she feels the same for me as Christopher does for you. He would have stopped his wedding for you."

"And you think she wouldn't, especially after everything at that manor? I mean, she . . . well, you know," she said with her cheeks blushing. "I believe she does feel the same. You are just too stubborn to realize it."

They both laughed, but he said, "So, what would you do if he just happened to show up? I mean, he's a traveling performer and has performed all over the European continent. Sooner or later, he'll find out about Phantasma or even Fantôme Theater and would want to perform there."

"I would try to avoid him as much as possible. Even though he's been married for ten years, he might still leave her to be with me. He could still perform, but I would probably make Madame Giry the manager of my theater for the time being."

"What about Diana? Should she learn the truth about her father or is she going to believe Nadir is her father?"

"She doesn't think he's her father. I've told her that her father is a performer in France. Although she has begged me countless times for us to go to France to find him, I've told her that we can't because we are both too busy. She has seen how much work I have to do and I bet he wouldn't have any time for a little girl he just met."

"Maybe he will when he learns that she's his."

"No, I can't allow that. The last thing I would want to do is trap him because we have a child and then he'll feel obligated to be with me. Besides, I'm pretty sure he would have children of his own by now. I don't need to be involved with his life," she said as she held back the tears forming in her eyes. They watched the magic show and the magician performed his final trick, leaving the children in amazement. They all clapped and once the show was over, Diana walked up to her mother, but she noticed her mother was holding back tears.

"What the matter, mother," she asked sweetly.

"Nothing's the matter. Let's go see the next attraction. Mister Y has more to show us," she said as she grabbed her daughter's soft hand and headed outside.

Nadir, Erika, and Diana headed for the Fantôme Theater where the two women lived in a secret room within the theater. Throughout their walk, Nadir and Erika didn't talk much, but Diana did. In fact, she couldn't keep her excitement to herself. "Did you see the guy who swallowed a real sword? Oh, how about that roller coaster? I was so scared when I rode on it at first, but I loved it! Oh, how about-," Diana said before she was interrupted.

"You got to see a lot today," Nadir said as he patted her head. "You can tell me all about it tomorrow." They finally arrived to the theater and it was dark since it was far past closing time. Even Monte, who ran the ticket booth, was not at his post and he was the very last person to leave. Erika took the keys out her pocket and pulled out the gold key to put in the lock, but once it was open, Nadir said, "Can we talk in private?"

"Can't we talk in the morning," she said as politely as she could.

"No, I need to talk to you now," he said.

"Diana, can you wait for me in the office. Once we're done, I'll take us home," she said. Diana nodded and she ran off inside.

"The Girys had to remind me that you left France the same day we met," he said. Her eyes looked at him with discomfort. "It was also the same day you left . . . him." He hated saying his name. He felt he didn't deserve her and the fact that she still claimed that she loved him made his blood boil.

"You can at least say his name. It's clear you have hated him for all these years, but you don't even know him at all. He's different from what you think of him," she said with anger in her voice.

"Is he? Why hasn't he come for you?"

"I've told you this maybe a million times: I told him to stay away from me so he could have a happy life and marriage. I couldn't afford to cause him misery if he were with me."

"What misery would you have given him? All he did was hurt you!"

"He hurt me once and that was because I didn't tell him how I felt!"

"Stop pretending that it was your fault that he hurt you. You sound like one of those submissive wives that make excuses for their abusive husbands! If he loved you, he wouldn't have hurt you!"

"I'm not pretending to do anything! If you met him, you would understand why I loved him and still do. I'm very grateful for everything you have done for me and Diana, but you can't persuade my heart to love you. I'm sorry," she said as she entered the theater and closed the door, locking it in the process. Nadir cursed under his breath as he headed to his shop a few blocks away. The shop, which was really a house converted into a store, had an elegant look to it. It was a double-story home with a recently well-done paint job that differed from the houses on the block. It was black with gold-trim around the doors and windows and there was a sign saying "Trading Post's Spices".

He entered the building and once he closed the door, he lied against the door and wiped his face with his hands. Tonight did not go as expected. It was dark inside since all the candles were blown out and he hasn't installed any electricity in his home yet, but who would want to buy his spices at night? "You're home earlier than expected," a voice said from upstairs. Nadir looked up and could see the only light in the entire building and holding that light was his servant, Darius. He was another Persian man, but he was noticeably shorter than Nadir and he was wearing a black robe, as if he just got out of bed when he heard him enter.

"She is still a stubborn woman. She truly thinks that she is in love with him."

"Even after all these years? I mean, you would think she would have grown out of those feelings by now. I can bet you that he has."

After hearing those words, Nadir looked up at Darius and smiled the biggest smile he probably has ever smiled. "Darius, you are a genius!"

"I am?"

"He is a married man and has probably given all his love to his wife and possible children. You can't be married for ten years without having a child! He has to have grown out of his feelings for her and matured! We need to show her that!"

"How do we do that," Darius asked as he walked down the stairs.

"How about we bring him here? If it involves Erika, he will certainly be here, that is, if he still cares. If he does, she can see how much he's changed and recant her love for him and if he doesn't, well, that will prove to her that he doesn't love her anymore. Get a sheet of paper and some ink! I've got some writing to do," Nadir said. Darius did as he was told and quickly found paper and ink for Nadir's use. Once they were found, he set them by the counter of the store and he put the candle close to it so his master could see. Nadir grabbed the ink pen and quickly started writing down:

Dear Monsieur Daaé and family,

My name is Fantôme and I have heard you were a traveling performer and you have a gifted voice that has entertained and amazed people from all around the European continent. I would like to invite you to my Fantôme Theater in Coney Island, America and would be very happy to meet the man that has been called a gift from the heavens, especially since I read that you were inspired by an angel. We can pay you for your visit and if you are willing, maybe you can perform for me and my fans. I hope to see you soon.

Sincerely,

Fantôme

"Please send this letter to the post office at once," Nadir said as he sealed the letter in an envelope and handed it to Darius. Luckily for them, he has found Christopher's address a long time ago if he ever needed to send something to him, but he never thought of actually inviting him to be part of Erika's life again.

"Yes sir," Darius said as he left the shop, leaving Nadir to close the door. However, when he walked outside, he noticed that his next door neighbor, an excellent barber, was exiting her building as well. She had a robe on as well, but that was just a cover. In her hand, she had a razor, but it had streaks of red on it.

"You just had a customer, I presume, Annabel," Nadir said.

She quickly turned around with the razor ready in her hand, but took a breath of relief when she saw who it was. "Nadir, don't scare me like that, but yes, I did. The poor bastard didn't even have a chance, but why did you send your friend out this late at night," she asked.

"I asked him to send a letter for me."

"A letter? To whom," she asked as she walked to him. As she got closer, he noticed her lips were a deep shade of red, but it wasn't from lipstick.

"To my rival," he said.

Her eyes widened with surprise. She also knew about his hatred for Christopher, maybe even more than Erika could know. He would come by to her shop once in a while for a shave and he would tell her about his quest for her heart and she said she would help him, but only if he could get Christopher to get a shave. Once he was there, well, Nadir wouldn't have to worry about a rival anymore. Plus, she was great at hiding evidence. It was her job and her favorite dinner. "Why would you send him a letter?"

"I asked him to come to Coney Island and meet Fantôme," he said, but was soon slapped on his cheek. "Ow, what was that for?"

"Are you a freaking idiot?! Why would you do that?"

"I was thinking that she could finally see that he isn't the man she fell in love with," he said as he cupped his red cheek.

"But what if he still is that man or maybe even better than she remembered? Once they meet, there is no chance for you to win her heart!" He finally realized his mistake and tried running after Darius, but she stopped him. "There's no point now. By now, he's probably already sent it."

"Then what do I do? Allah, I'm such an idiot," he said as he smacked his forehead.

"Yes you are, but we have to prevent them from meeting if he does decide to show up. Lucky for you, she says she wants to make sure that they never see each other so he won't leave his wife and family. That can buy us some time so I can work my wonders," she said as she put the razor up to her sight. The red shined brightly with the dim light from the lamps above them.

"Well, what are the odds of him coming anyway? I mean, he probably has a busy schedule and can't make it out here."

"Let's hope so, Nadir. Well, excuse me while I make dinner, or breakfast, or whatever meal it is now."

"You're going to eat this late?"

"Yes. I like my meals fresh and he decided to show up late," she said as she walked away and headed inside her building, locking the door as she entered. Nadir shook his head. He met quite an unusual woman with distasteful tastes. He just hoped she never craved him the same way she craved her customers.

Right now, I am writing a story that has been hinted within this story: Erik at the Phantom Manor. It will further explain how Erik and Erika met and go deeper in Erik's backstory (like you don't know it by now). Also, there is a character in this story (Annabel Lee) from another story called A Close Shave. If you want to know her backstory, go ahead and read it, but be warned that it is rated M.