Author's Note:

Chapter 1. 'Tis Better To Have Loved And Lost

"God give me courage to show you – you are not alone!"

Her voice was filled with such passion. And as these last few words left her mouth, Christine Daae slid the beautiful ring on her finger and brought her lips to her Angel's.

Her kiss was soft and gentle, and he could smell her lovely fragrance. She could feel her Angel inhale sharply, clearly shocked. Her left hand caressed the right side of his face, which was burned. Her thumb ran over some of the wounds. She pulled away, staring into her Angel's deep amber eyes for a few heated seconds before she pulled him close again in another kiss.

When she pulled away for the last time, she lifted her eyes to her Angel's. Tears were flowing down his cheeks, and he let out a strangled cry of anguish. His gaze moved to Christine's. who looked appalled at what she had just done.

Her Angel cried harder at seeing her face. Dear God, what had he done? He had her love, and now… destroyed it.

"Take him. Forget me, forget all of this." Her Angel mustered; his voice was cracked and broken. "Go now. Don't let them find you. Take the boat; swear to me never to tell. The secret you know, of the Angel in Hell!"

Christine ran to her lover, The Viscount, Raoul de Chagny. She pulled the ropes over his head, and pulled him close to her in a hurried embrace.

"GO NOW! GO NOW AND LEAVE ME!" Christine's Angel screamed at them, he felt anger bubble inside him as the two broke apart. He ran, as fast as he could, to the hidden part of his lair. He looked down at his music box, the statue of a monkey dressed in scarlet Persian robes. The monkey clapped its cymbals, starching out a feeble melody. Angel sat in front of it, and his hand moved to his scarred face. He sang along to the tune, his voice breaking, "Masquerade, paper faces on parade. Masquerade, hide your face and the world will never find you."

He heard a footstep in front of him, and he lifted his gaze to see Christine. Her cheeks were glimmering with tears, hair tumbling down her back in a mess of dark brown curls, and the expression on her face… it was more than pity. More than sorrow. More than… anything. She took a small step towards him, her eyes casting down on him began to blur with tears.

"Christine I love you." Her Angel said simply. Christine reached down and took her Angel's hand in hers. She slid the diamond ring off her finger and placed it in his hand, closing his hand around it. Her tear dripped onto his hand, and slid down until it fell off. Angel looked up at her, and with a small voice whispered, "Erik."

Christine gave a small nod. She turned slowly, and walked away towards the lake where Raoul awaited her in the boat.

Erik could hear them singing to one another, their love. He felt tears cling to his face, unwilling to fall down. He stood and watched the two, Christine clinging to Raoul's back as he pulled the boat along. Christine turned her head and looked at her Angel one last time.

Erik felt a lump form in his throat. Even crying, she was so beautiful. The way the tears made her eyes shimmer, as though it showed her glimmering soul. She was loveliness itself.

And he had just lost her.

She watched him, as if silently pleading his forgiveness with those dark brown eyes. Those heavenly beautiful eyes. Slowly, she turned back around.

Erik felt his heart wrench. How he longed to go to her, to take her in his arms and never let her fall. To feel her skin against his, as he had so long ago. But now it was impossible. Now his own Angel had flown away, rising, soaring up towards the heavens – and leaving him to his Hell.

Erik watched them vanish into the mist, "You alone can make my song take flight. It's over now – the music of the night!" Erik picked up a candlestick and began to smash in his mirrors. He saw his own reflection briefly. A reflection of Satan. Ugliness. A monster. He finally came to the last mirror, and when he smashed it in, it was revealed to be hollow. Leading down a long, dark corridor. Erik went inside, and threw a red cover over the entrance way. And he went back into the shadows. Back into the darkness.

Where he belonged.