Chapter 2:

Christine's Prospective….

I guess I must have fainted during my performance, because I woke up with three people standing over me. There was Mrs. Giry, Meg's mother and my adoptive mother. The Opera Doctor was there too, and then there was a boy. A blonde hair, blue eyed boy who I hadn't a clue to who he was. The way he looked at me, a mix of adoration and lust, startled me. "Miss Daee…" The boy trailed off, as if I were to know who this kid was…"Maybe you remember me" he paused, taking off his hat (how old fashioned), his accent was thick. Maybe it was French? "But we met long ago...I saved your scarf from been blown away." He continued, his voice soft and calm. I started at him, dumbfounded. "Oh sir, I think you have me mistaken for some other girl." I couldn't help but laugh, I didn't know this boy.

His expression was a mix of severe pain and frustration….Then, it hit me. I recognized him. My mind suddenly was rushed back to the time Mrs. Giry had taken Meg and me to Paris, for a summer trip.

Mrs. Giry had saved up so much to take us on that trip, to show us where she grew up learning. I was young, maybe ten at the oldest. I wasn't quiet sure. I was wearing a scarf my father had given me, it was old and used, but it was her favorite. The wind was blowing so strong that it blew away, and a young boy went running after it, right into a lake. Smiling triumphantly, the boy returned the scarf, both of them were soaking went. I smiled delighted and kissed the young boy on his cheek, giggling as he blushed.

The boy and I started seeing each other often and eventually became very much fond of each other, as much as two children can be. He was older by a few years, but it was hardly noticeable. We played as young children do….It was the only happy summer I had had since my father's death…Until it was time to leave, to go back to my small house in Texas.

"I shall never forget you, Mademoiselle!" He declared as he kissed my hand. "Nor will I." I had recited softly, tears filling my eyes…..

"Christine, you must remember me!" Raoul insisted, his eyes pleading. Though, I had loved this boy once, I had no feelings for him now. I felt terrible as I thought of this, but it was the truth. "Christine…." I heard a faint whisper.

My skin grew cold and I was sure the fear was plain in my eyes because Raoul grew silent. "Christine." I heard it again, it was the voice. It was HIM. "I'm sorry sir." I started, putting on my most Southern Bell act that I could "I do not know you, and I would very much like it if you'd leave." I insisted, sitting up a little from the sofa that I laid on.

Raoul's mouth hung open, surprised by my blunt answer. "In fact…" I continued, sitting all the way up, "I'd like to be alone, -no no, I'm fine- just please, leave me be." I said, staring at all the faces. "You heard Ms, Daee, she wants to be alone, now go!" Mrs. Giry said, her voice mixed with frustration and her French accent.

"But…But" Raoul stuttered, but Mrs. Giry had already had him out of the room, along with the doctor, before he could get another word in. "And besides, Raoul De Chagny…it would be wise for you to leave her alone, for good." She added in a low and serious voice, before shutting the door.

"Christine, is there anything you'd like before I go?" Asked Mrs. Giry, gathering her purse and coat. I shook head quietly, afraid to speak. She kissed my forehead and left without another word, Mrs. Giry knew about my Angel, so she understood why I acted to strange.

A sorrow filled sigh filled my ears along with another whisper "Christine…Oh, my Christine…"

Raoul's Perspective….

I was in total disbelief as to what just happened. My child hood love just had to remember me! And I knew she did, I saw it in those perfect green eyes of hers. Those eyes never lied. She remembered me, but she was scared…yes, fear was certainly present on her face. But, why had she lied to me? Why did she insist on not remembering me? Why? I paced anxiously in the hall way for the second time that night. Suddenly, an idea came to me. I'd reason with Christine, I must get a chance to be alone with her!

Rushing down the hall with my new hope, I made way for her room. I was just about to knock when I heard a sorrow stricken voice from the other side, the voice made my heart ache…but it was not Christine's, it was a man.

"Christine…You promised me…" The man whispered, he sounded as if he had been stabbed through the chest. "And I have kept that promise! Raoul is no one, he's just a boy from a past…a past that no longer belongs to me! HE IS NOTHING TO ME! My heart belongs entirely to music, and to nothing else!" Christine pleaded her voice breaking as it reached a high octave. It was hard to understand it all, her southern accent made it hard to understand her some times.

My heart bled with every word she said, did she mean it? I was nothing to her….Then the truth hit me, stone cold. She was devoted to this man, to the man who pled with her. There was another….This truth made me sick, I thought I was going to faint again.

"You must love me…" The voice declared, almost as if a captive talking to his prisoner. "I DO, I SING ONLY FOR YOU! I GAVE MY SOUL TO YOU!" Christine sobbed. The pain in both of the voiced was so clear, so strong, it made my pain only worse. "Your soul is a precious thing child; no emperor could receive a greater gift" the voice replied quietly.

Then, the voices stopped. The silence grew; I heard nothing but Christine's cries. Then…then there was singing, the man was singing. I wasn't sure what it was because he sang in Spanish. The voice was heavenly and haunting, and Christine's cries stopped. Suddenly, the singing was gone…and so was Christine's crying voice.

I panicked, banging on the door, crying out her name. "CHRISTINE!" "CHRISTINE!" It was no good, the door was locked and no one was answering my pleas. I decided to wait, wait for the door to open. I wanted an explanation. I waited and waited…there was no one. Finally, growing tired, I went home…heart broken and nearly mad.

Erik's Prospective…

Christine had done wonderfully at Faust, of course she did. I had taught her and she had such an angelic voice. She was gorgeous and I loved her. She was my Christine. I had hoped to never show myself, but this boy…this Raoul, he was threatening to take my beloved songbird away. I couldn't let that happen.

I watched as they brought her to the room, the poor child had fainted, and the people gathered around her. I was there, I never left her. I watched her until those perfect jade eyes of her opened. She stared at the boy, clueless at first. He muttered something about a scarf and her face went blank, as if she suddenly DID remember him.

I felt a cold stab of fear run through me; did she know the De Chagny? I called her name, to recall her attention. She grew cold, pale. Then I knew, she did remember him. My heart ached; did her heart belong to him, to this little boy? I smiled slightly as she rushed everyone away, she was mine. No matter what she thought, or this boy thought, she was mine. My Christine.

"Christine." I simply whispered, making no effort to hide my sadness. She declined to answer, but I knew she was listening. I sighed "Christine, who is he?" I asked, already know the answer. "No one, he's no one, just some silly kid." She replied hurriedly, she was terrible at lying. "Christine…You promised me…" I sighed; the pain in my chest was more than I could bear. "And I have kept that promise! Raoul is no one, he's just a boy from a past…a past that no longer belongs to me! HE IS NOTHING TO ME! My heart belongs entirely to music, and to nothing else!" Christine pleaded her voice, the sound made the pain worse. I wanted nothing more than to hold her in my arms and console her, but that was forbidden. What lamb would lie within the wolf's arms willing?

"Shhh, child, Shhh." I said softly, almost in tears. "I will not leave, as long as you're heart remains devoted to me, to your music." "It is!" She pleads in between sobs. "Remember your vow, you shall never give your heart to a man on Earth, or I will leave." I recited as I had so few months ago, to ensure that she'd never leave.

"He is nothing to me…" Christine whispered, the truth was clear in her voice. "You must love me…" I trailed off, knowing that she could never truly love ME, this evil wretched monster…but she could love her Angel of Music…Her Angel.

"I do! I sing only for you and tonight, I gave you my soul!" She said in a broken voice. "Your soul is a precious thing child; no emperor could receive a greater gift." Was that what I was? An emperor? The thought made me smirk a little, a man who was cruelly hated by the world an emperor! Oh the irony! I heard a sound from outside Christine's dressing room door and was quiet. I knew it was Raoul, he was spying. Oh that fop, how I hated him…trying to take MY Christine from me, the only light this monster had ever seen. I was out raged, I thought quickly.

I started singing a lullaby I had sung to her so many times. She was entranced at once, glad for the sound of my voice. Oh, the way I loved the peaceful look on her face when I sang, how I wished I could let her know how much joy she gave me!

I opened the mirror, acting as quickly as I could and led her down the path to my under ground home, my empire, away from Raoul…away from the world above…

******A/N: What do you think so far? Tell me pretty please! :) -jumps back down to the fifth cellar-****