Chapter One

"You promised me" Raoul whispered, leaning forward to kiss me. I pulled myself away, placing my fingers delicately against his lips.

"No Raoul please don't they'll see-"

"Well, let them see!" He snapped, pulling my hand away from his face, the frustration building in his eyes. "It's an engagement…not a crime" he seethed, interlacing his fingers with mine, caressing where his ring should have occupied my hand.

He didn't understand. I was only trying to protect him, to protect us. I knew that look, Raoul was angry with me again. I understood his frustration but we couldn't go public about our engagement. Not yet. He gathered both my hands up in his and pulled me closer to him.

"Christine what are you afraid of?" I knew exactly what I was afraid of. My Angel of Music finding out about our relationship and harming Raoul…or worse. I couldn't stand to think about the consequences. I averted my gaze, realising our argument had drawn too much unwanted attention to us. As far as anyone else was aware, Raoul and I were still becoming acquainted with each other since our reunion a few months ago. I hadn't told anyone of our growing relationship, not even Meg. I had to reassure him.

"Let's not argue. Please pretend just a little longer for me. You will understand in time, I promise."

"I can only hope for your sake, that I will understand in time, Miss Daae" he said loudly with a bow before turning away from me and heading for the bar at the far end of the room. I let out a pent-up sigh, fondling my engagement ring that hung on a chain around my neck, I gave it a kiss and buried it inside my corset. I understood his frustration, I knew that declaring our engagement would prove to the world that I couldn't be touched, that I belonged to him and only him. Raoul had always been this possessive, even when we were children; but since the fall of the chandelier, he had taken the term to the extreme.

The memory of the night the chandelier fell made my heart race with anxiety, the scars on my arms and hands feeling even more predominant despite my best efforts to cover them with my face powder. I shook my head as if to erase the memory...the hurt. I wasn't going to let it - or my argument with Raoul - spoil my evening.

The "Bal Masque" had been announced immediately after the night of Il Muto, clearly our Managers way of attempting to distract us from the terrible events and prevent members of the company from leaving the Opera Populaire. The Masquerade was all the other ballet girls could take about, discussing their dresses and masks, explaining to one another how they were planning to style their hair and makeup weeks before the evening, and even before I had even begun to think about attending myself. It was Raoul who surprised me with my dress, mask and hair accessories a few days before the ball - I was so grateful to him. "I want everyone to see you looking beautiful on my arm that night" he told me. I was so overcome with joy, I threw my arms around his neck and planted kiss after kiss on his lips. He gladly took them and reciprocated them, before looking me in the eye and whispering "the whole world will know you are mine".

Snapping back to reality and eyeing those around me, I now understood what he had meant. I felt completely overdressed, and realised that everyone would know that my attire would only be affordable to the likes of a Vicomte. I understood why he had dressed me up so extravagantly; Raoul could have his hold over me, even when we weren't together. I wasn't going to let his intensions upset me.

I didn't like to think of him in this way. I loved him, even as a child I planned my marriage to him. If I knew he wouldn't have come to any harm, I would have declared my love for him that night right there and then to anyone. But I couldn't risk it, knowing my Angel could at any time despite his absence.

Angel. I had thought of him every day in the time that had passed, despite all that he had done. I still believed he had been sent by my father. He had done so much for me since I had been brought to the Opera Populaire by Madame Giry. Losing my trail of thought for a moment, I overheard a conversation between the two Managers.

"Six months of relief!" Monsieur Andre exclaimed. Could it be I had not heard my Angel's voice, nor sensed his presence in that time? What's more, the moment the chandelier was replaced, life at the Opera Populaire soon returned to normal. Monsieur Firman and Monsieur Andre no longer received notes from my Angel and Carlotta's return to stardom was not interrupted. I let myself fade into the background, returning to dance alongside the other girls. I locked my voice away, knowing only one man in this world had the key. I wondered for a moment where he could have gone and hoping that he was okay before abandoning the thought completely.

I looked towards Raoul, watching him down a glass of brandy with ease and asking impatiently for another. I closed my eyes and turned away from the sight, and walked towards the dance floor, smiling and greeting everyone I came across. Noticing Meg, I began to make my way towards her when an unfamiliar man blocked my path, making me gasp in surprise. I did not recognise him, his mask hiding any recognisable features.

"Forgive me for startling you Mademoiselle, but I have watched you since you arrived this evening and cannot bear the thought of you remaining a wall flower for the whole night" he declared, taking my hand in his and planting a dainty kiss on my knuckles. "Would you do me the honour of dancing with me?" Before I could answer him, a familiar pair of arms pulled me into an embrace from behind.

"This Mademoiselle is spoken for" Raoul threatened, pulling me away from the gentlemen who quickly took his leave. "Kiss me" he demanded, the smell of alcohol present on his breath. In spite of his drunken state, I could not deny Raoul any longer. Hoping we did not have many prying eyes, I slid my arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, but briefly. The taste of his drink passed from his mouth to mine, the unpleasant taste lingered on my lips. "There you are Lotte" he whispered, a sly smile spreading across his face "and now we dance!" he exclaimed, making Monsieur Reyer start up the orchestra immediately.

Raoul guided me ever so gently around the room, complimenting me every chance he could; it made me happy to know I had please him. One by one couples joined us, Raoul and I lost in a sea of smiles and laughter.

The dance came to an end, and while the remainder of the room stopped to applaud the orchestra, Raoul kept a tight grip on my hands. "Kiss me again" he commanded.

"But Raoul, we're-"

"Kiss...me...Christine" he instructed, his grip tightening. I knew and understood his intention - we were completely surrounded, we wouldn't go unnoticed. I thought that I had already proven my commitment to him, to us. I looked around for even the smallest glimpse of my Angel; unable to see him, I took our lives into my hands and submitted myself to Raoul. He cupped my face with his hands and pulled my mouth to his. A wave of gasps flooded the room as Raoul delved his tongue into my mouth and encouraged mine into his, occasionally biting my bottom lip.

Relief flooded me when everyone's attention was turned away from us, a glimpse of red in the corner of my eye pulling me away from Raoul's lips. The room gasped again in realisation, the Phantom had returned to the Opera Populaire. I stood frozen, Raoul's hold on me still dominant.

"Finally" he whispered, leaving my side. Anxiety hit me as my Angel addressed the room, looking at each individual intently as he cascaded slowly down the staircase.

"Here I bring the finished score: Don Juan Triumphant!" he declared, handing it over to Monsieur Firman before fixing his gaze on me. I couldn't help but feel drawn to him, the distance between us shortening as we walked towards each other. I saw no malice in his face, and wondered if he knew the full extent of mine and Raoul's relationship over the past six months. His eyes fell to the chain around my neck and he slowly pulled my engagement ring from my cleavage. His eyes turned fiery, ripping the chain from my neck.

"Your chains are still mine!" he declared "you belong to me" he whispered, a note of hurt in his voice. Before I could protest he grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his embrace. The room shrieked in surprise as Raoul ran towards me, his sword extended in front of him.

"Let my fiancée go!" He commanded.

Hope filled me as he made his way over to us, but in my complacency, I failed to observe my Angel retrieve a dagger from his waistcoat and pelt it towards Raoul as he pulled me to the top of the staircase. I screamed louder than I thought possible as I saw it hit his chest before I fell into darkness. I looked up towards the trap door we had just fallen through and heard Raoul cry out for me, his voice laced with pain.

"Raoul! Raoul, my love I'm down here!" I managed to scream before the opening above us closed.

"Hush my darling" my Angel began to coo in my ear, holding me to his chest "I am here now". I knew he was trying to pacify me, but it wouldn't work, he couldn't blind me from what had just happened. I struggled, wanting to free myself from his grasp.

"What?! I am not your darling! Let me go!" I fought against him to try to escape, but he was far too strong. "No, no please Angel let me go! Raoul! Raoul I'm-" His gloved had clasped over my mouth as he whispered sweet nothings into my ear, but it wouldn't suppress my hurt. I felt my heart die as he took me further and further into the deep recesses of the catacombs and further away from my fiancé. Tears fell from my eyes as I feared for his life, and mine.