A/N: Hi everyone! For those of you returning that have read "Behind the Trapdoors" and "Of Phantoms and Men", welcome to the final installment! I hope you'll enjoy this and please let me know what you think of it! Happy reading, and thank you for your continued support! (PS- I own nothing except the OCs - Phantom of the Opera is owned by Gaston Leroux).

Punjabbed

Chapter One – The Unexpected

Paris, France

January 1, 2010

The Catacombs of the Palais Garnier

The mist lazily rolled off of the lake towards him, curling around his body as he gripped the pristine white mask in his left hand. He gazed out across the dark, quiet waters, the docks on the far side empty and cold, just like the passages which led to the tombs of his ancestors on the Rue Scribe road. Just how many times had his great-great-grandfather stood there, as he did now, staring into the darkness and wondering what the future held for him, while his secret, lavish abode bid him to return to the safety that it offered just behind him…?

Looking down at his right hand, he gazed affectionately at the old locket that he recently found in his father's study, along with the hidden briefcase that contained an assortment of documents that the world had never seen. Raising his open palm towards his face, he could see the two faces of the unusual couple inside the antique piece of jewelry, forever facing one another. Curling his fingers together, he clasped it shut, whispering, "I won't let you down…any of you." Slipping the item into his pant pocket, he glanced once more at the old mask, a strange, calm sensation washing over him as he bright it to his barren face. Placing the mask upon his skin, glared out into the darkness, his eyes glowing like fiery coals.

"The Phantom of the Opera has returned at last."

~OG~

January 5, 2015

Manhattan, New York, USA

"Grandma!"

The middle-aged woman beamed as she knelt down to catch her grandson in her arms. "Hey, you!" she grinned, kissing the red-headed boy. "Have you been good?"

"Duh," he rolled his eyes, earning a laugh from the woman.

"Girls! Guess who's back?" the woman called out, hearing the footsteps of her two youngest children as they rushed to greet their guests.

"Aunt Melody!" young Riley cried, his blue eyes sparkling as he saw his beloved aunts. "Auntie Rose!"

The two girls rushed in, both of them grinning at the sight of their ever-growing nephew. "Hi, Riley!" Rose exclaimed, a heartwarming smile gracing her face as her soft honey-blonde curls swayed around her seraphic face, her bangs bobbing gently over her large milk chocolate eyes. She kissed him sweetly upon his brow, earning a grin from the nine-year-old boy before he embraced her. "We've missed you!"

"I missed you, too," he responded cheerily. Turning his head, he winked at the elder sister. "I saw your pictures online, Aunt Mel."

"And I see you can't stop growing," grinned the young woman, tossing her wavy dark brown hair over her shoulder as her own bright brown eyes glistened at the boy. "You're going to be bigger than me soon!"

"That's what Dad says," Riley laughed, spinning around to face his father. "Right, Dad?"

Benjamin Bolton stepped forth as he chuckled, running his fingers through his dirty blonde hair before slipping his jacket off of his frame. "That's right, Riles." He, too, shared his sisters' brown eyes, full of excitement and hope at the news he held back on the tip of his tongue.

Proud mother and grandmother, Hailey Bolton, arose to her feet and embraced her eldest child, kissing his forehead. "Come on in, Ben. I can tell you didn't just drop by to say hello…what have you been up to?"

"You won't believe me, but I'll tell you anyways," he winked impishly, motioning for them to gather in the recently refurbished living room. Plopping down comfortably on the pristine white couch, he leaned back and stretched his arms over the back of the seat. "So, Mom…your new clothing line's doing great. I keep seeing advertisements for it on every bus, even in Europe-"

"Spit it out, you tease!" Melody demanded, tossing a cushion at his head, which he skillfully blocked. "The last we heard of you was that you planned to go to Paris!"

"Well, I am," he smiled smugly, fixing his collar before ruffling his son's hair. "Remember I mentioned that there's a gentleman in Paris who's an instructor and manager of the Palais Garnier?"

"Chevalier, I think," Rose nodded, glancing over at her mother and sister to see what they thought of all this mystery.

"He's been an acquaintance for a few years now," Ben continued, his smile becoming broader as he began to unravel the good news. "He's an amazing man – great teacher, phenomenal composer and musician. His sister helps him run the Garnier along with their – she's the dance instructor there."

"Dad!" Riley pouted, poking his father in the ribs. "Just tell 'em!"

The man laughed as he leaned forth, sitting on the edge of his seat. "Erik Chevalier reviewed a new piece of mine around Christmastime and asked me to collaborate with him on a new production to perform in the Opera House!"

Melody squealed in delight at the news while Rose gasped in awe. Hailey laughed and cried all at once, rubbing her knuckles against her eyes as the tears poured down her face.

"That's fantastic news-!" Rose began.

"There's more," he grinned wickedly. "The Chevalier family has decided to sponsor a new event – it's going to be a showcase from the best performers found around the globe. They'll be placed into teams and will each get a chance to display their hard work and talent, and there'll be talent scouts, and food, and fireworks – the whole shebang! It'll take place, hopefully, by April or May, and I'll be helping – I'm one of the co-managers for the troops!"

The females all felt their jaws drop at the sensational news at Ben's good fortune. Recently, things seemed to be heading for the skies in the past four years for the whole family, but this seemed to take the cake.

"C'mon, Dad, tell them the good stuff!" Riley pestered on, his smile growing with each passing minute.

"Don't tell me there's more?!" Hailey asked, her blue eyes large at the thought of anything more marvelous than what was already being told.

"The best for last!" He stuck his hands out and gave a pompous grin. "Drumroll, please."

"Oh, come off of it!" Melody laughed. "What is it?!"

Taking each of his sister's hands in his, he looked them in the eye, happiness bursting from every pore of his being as he finally told them the news they had been waiting for. "I spoke with Erik Chevalier and showed him your records…I played that recording we made on Christmas Eve – the one where we did a quartet on 'Silent Night', remember? – and he loved it! He wants you girls to come to Paris to participate in the showcase in the Garnier under the condition that you are his new pupils and he will be training you to improve your singing while you're enjoying yourselves."

Rose gave a cry of surprise, her beautiful eyes filling with tears as she leapt from her seat and kissed her brother, thanking him profusely. "Oh, Ben! To think, I'm only just halfway into my freshman year in college, and to be able to participate in this…! I have to contact my professors-!"

"Already done," he winked, earning another kiss. His eyes wandered to his other sister and instantly he felt a sense of dread emancipate from her being. Her eyes stared at him in horror and fury as she sat perfectly still in her seat, her hands clenched over her knees. "…Mel? You'll come, won't you?"

Melody Bolton stared accusingly at her big brother, unsure of just what to feel. The moment she realized she, too, would be displayed for the world to see, having to share her voice with others, she felt as though her brother had agreed to ship her off to some foreign land with no say in the matter. "No." She shook her head, rising from her seat. "I won't do it…I can't." Without another word, she stormed off to her room, ignoring the cries of her family members as she shut the door and sat on her bed, listening to the wind brush against her window. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to block out those mocking faces, that horrible feeling…

"Mel?"

"Go away!" she shouted, tossing her pillow at her door. She whipped her head into the opposite direction as her brother entered nevertheless, picking up the abused pillow and walking towards her. Sitting down on the bed beside her, he glanced over as she muttered, "I'm not singing."

Ben sighed, running his fingers through his shaggy hair. "Melody-"

"You don't understand what it felt like, being humiliated on purpose…realizing too late that everyone's against you," she whispered, feeling her skin flared up in shame. "I won't let that happen again-"

"It won't happen again," he insisted, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her temple. "Those judges were corrupt assholes, Mel. And Dolores was just that – a 'dolores en el cuello'."

"It's 'un dolor en el cuello'," she rolled her eyes, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards.

"C'mon…I know you still take lessons. You don't want to give up singing, I know it." When she didn't answer, he continued on, "Erik's a way better teacher – he can blow Professor Collins out of the water! Believe me, Mel, this'll be good for you!" She continued to avoid his gaze, causing him to sigh in defeat. "Look, Mel, I'm heading over there in February. They're having tryouts first and sending the not-so-great performers home early. At least consider auditioning, and if it doesn't work out, then you can focus on taking photos to advertise the event. Ok?"

Melody pressed her lips together in defiance, still hesitant to answer right away.

Ben slipped off the bed and knelt before her, taking her hands into his. "Please, Melody, at least think about it…for me?"

Locking her stubborn gaze with his own pleading eyes, she bit her tongue for a moment, then quietly answered, "…I'll think about it."

Three Weeks Later…

"Have you got everything you need?" Hailey asked, checking over her daughters' suitcases.

"Mom, you've done this twice today," Rose chastised her gently. Kissing her cheek, she smiled brightly. "Don't worry – we'll be fine."

"Ok, ok…Melody, honey, are you sure you'll be ok?"

Melody glanced at her suitcase, still considering backing out last minute. In two days, they would be leaving for Paris, France, to face a new challenge placed in their path…a challenge she wasn't sure she wanted to face. "Yeah, Mom. I'll be fine," she lied, putting on her best smile.

Her mother gave her a look but said nothing, kissing her forehead. "You're twenty-four, Melody, I won't go bossing you around and telling you not to do something you're uncomfortable with, but please, if you change your mind, just come home."

"I will, Mom…I promise."