Hello there!

Just wanted to upload the first two chapters this evening. I'll have the third chapter up in a day or so. I plan on actually writing a chapter-by-chapter synopsis in order to keep this going strong. So what do we think about the gorgeous masked man? Should he be trusted, or is he a threat? Really hope you guys are liking the revisions I've been making!

Ever yours,

The Soprano in Shadow

"Why was there another agent there, Andre?" Christine stormed into the hotel room, flinging off her long coat onto the back of an armchair. Andre, one of her contacts and undercover boss, lounged on the sofa sorting through various paperwork while waiting up for her to return. Confused, Andre put down the papers he had been skimming, his interest piqued.

"Cat, I didn't know of anyone joining you tonight, and neither did Firmin. So don't go running to him. I just tucked him in, and he's finally asleep. Go to headquarters tomorrow morning while we pack up. Figure out what happened and then go train for a bit. Just make sure you get to New York by tomorrow evening." The man in his forties pointed to the page he had just signed. "On the upside, the tickets for Don Juan Triumphant are being sold like mad." Christine grinned. She loved her two lives.

Then she frowned, fingering a rebellious lock of hair. "Now to get the dye out of my hair..."

...

The next morning, Christine found herself striding furiously through Headquarters as she made her way to "Madame", the leader of the Organization. Barely sleeping the night before, her mind had been churning as she had tried to determine the exact reason why someone else had been sent to "second" her target.

The only good thing about the previous evening was the return over her curly mass of dark auburn hair, her now cold hazel eyes holding nothing but anger as she punched in her identification number on the panel. In response, the bulletproof glass door slid open as Madame looked up from signing paperwork.

Antoinette Giry was the best of the best. Fearless and trained from when she could walk, the leader of the Organization held love for no one, save for her blood daughter, Meg, and her adopted daughter Christine. Normally in contact with the Contacts of each member of the Organization, only the most elite assassins ever dared to speak with her face to face.

"Christine. You're supposed to be on a plane. Can you ever listen to orders?" Antoinette sighed as Christine scowled at her. While the young Daae may have been the only daughter of one of her closest friends, it didn't mean that she had to test the elder woman's patience.

"I need to know if you trust me, Madame Giry. I need to know that you don't think that I'll turn against the Organization, and that you can trust me to get my job done!" Christine said, crossing her arms as her cheeks began to warm in anger.

Antoinette was taken aback. Had something gone wrong last night? "Did your client escape? Did someone try to kill you?" Antoinette whispered, suddenly worrying about why Christine would suddenly have such an outburst.

"Why was someone sent to second me last night? I said I would get the job done, and I did! The client has been taken care of, and then someone from the Organization tried to bring him in." Christine pouted. "And on top of that, he took my other blade!"

"Who was he? Are you sure he was one of our?" Antoinette asked. She hadn't sent anyone out after Christine. So why did someone else show up?

"He had the dark red tattoo. Said his name was Erik." Christine grumbled as she pulled her tank up showing the wound that the masked menace had left her.

Antoinette's eyes grew wide. "You saw Erik last night? But- but- You're not supposed to meet…" She trailed off as she noticed that Christine wasn't paying attention, and instead flipping through some of the upcoming client files that Antoinette had already assigned. Apparently the hyped up brunette forgot the reason she had interrupted her in the first place.

The elder Giry rolled her eyes. Christine was never one to continuously pay attention.

"Christine!" The brunette jumped at her name being shouted.

"I'm sorry, Madame. Got distracted…" Christine said, rubbing her hand on the back of her neck, embarrassed.

"So I noticed. Well, I never sent Erik out last night. Maybe there was some miscommunication. I'll... well, I'll check with his contact and see what she knows." Christine sighed and nodded, expecting this to happen.

"Just tell his contact to keep him away from me from now on—I might mistake him as a client, the way he went after me." Christine said, as she walked out of the greatly feared Madame's office. Antoinette frowned as she guiltily watched the brunette leave her office. Now was not the time to tell Christine the truth about Erik...

Still somewhat annoyed by the whole situation, Christine went to the women's locker room, and glancing in the mirror as she put her hair up into a scruffy low ponytail.

Leaving her feet bare, she changed out of her jeans, instead going for a pair of cotton leggings that would allow her to benefit from more flexibility. A few of the other girls stared at her odd appearance, but she ignored them as she walked to the training field.

"Cat!" Meg ran over to Christine after she had finished her warm- ups. Christine smiled and returned the hug. "Andre called me last night about your encounter with Erik. What was he like?" Meg asked curious about the mysterious man.

Christine shook her head in a confused manner as she began to move through her series of daily stretches. "Hey Meg, I'm going to go train for a bit. I'll catch you later, okay? We'll talk more about the jerk later" Christine said, as she jogged over to the private rooms.

Unsheathing her now single blade, she stared at it annoyed. She would find that masked annoyance if it was the last thing she did.

"Looking for this, Angel?" She whirled around to find the rather annoying man from last night's encounter, lazily swinging the blade by the hilt. He was now dressed in a grey T-shirt and black shorts but his black mask was still in place.

"Where did you get that from?" Christine snapped.

"You left it last night. Want it back?" Christine nodded. "Well then you'll have to fight for it." Christine scowled. This was not helping her in the least bit.

"Anything else you want to add to the wager Erik?" Christine asked annoyed.

He thought for a moment. What would get her really ticked right now? "Yes- a kiss."

Christine's eyes widened. "Well then I better not lose then, right?" she smirked at his scowl. He tossed a longer blade at her. She looked at him confused.

"So that we fight fair."

Christine shook her head, tossing the long blade aside. "I don't fight with long swords. I have my own reasons for fighting with two."

"That's hardly fair."

"It seems fair enough, seeing as you tried to take me on last night when my energy was wasted. And I still beat you."

He growled. "You did not win. You didn't even agree to the terms, much less fight fair."

Christine smirked. "It's not about fighting fair, Erik. It's about what you win in the end, and what you do with it that counts."

Erik snorted. "Like this piece of junk?" he asked, motioning to the glistening blade.

Christine growled at his ignorance. "These pieces of junk were given to me by my father before he passed on when I was fifteen- just after my first assignment," she responded coldly, and Erik winced at his error. Of course he would be stupid enough to dig himself into a hole with this hellcat. "They mean a lot, you jerk! They're just as special to me as when I sing since-" she stopped, realizing that she had told too much.

"You sing?" Erik asked bemused.

She crossed her arms. "Do you want to fight me or no?"

"Okay, but now I'm upping the wager- you have to sing as well. I choose when and where. I'll be easy on you, and let you choose whichever karaoke bar you want, princess." Christine rolled her eyes and smirked. If only he knew.

"Deal." They shook on it.

And that was when Christine struck pushing him away and grabbing her second blade from his hand. "Now let's play." She positioned her arms as Erik drew out his sword. He struck first, and she went into attack mode, blocking his blade with one, and twisting it away from him with the other. The second blade was unsuccessful and she cursed at herself mentally to concentrate forget about the cocky man's good looks…

...

"Did you hear that Erik's going to challenge Christine?" Jacob asked Meg as she practiced kickboxing on a weighted dummy. She stopped then grinned.

"Oh he's got it in for her now. Jacob, what do you say if we do a little matchmaking?" Meg asked slyly, just as two people burst into the room, swords clanging.

Jacob grinned. "I'm beginning to like this side better and better." Meg laughed.

"Okay first stop: my mother's room. Time to do some reassigning." They hurried off, as the couple continued fighting oblivious of the just recent conversation.

...

Christine glanced at the clock on the wall before realizing that it had been half an hour since he challenged her. She had a plane to board in a couple hours! A glint of silver caught her eye, and she ducked with the Phantom's blade whistling in the air right after her.

"Why won't you just give up?" Christine said frustrated, as she formed her two swords into an X above her head as he tried to strike her again. Christine was suffering a few cuts and a long gash on her shoulder, but Erik had his shirt ripped off, and had several more cuts than her

"Because if I do, then I don't get to hear your lovely voice." Erik shot back sarcastically as he tried to attack her again. With a twist of his blade, he flipped one of her swords out of her hand and it bounced across the room. "Now this is what I call fair!" Erik said happily, as he clutched her hand behind her back, pinning her against him. "And I win." he said placing his blade against her neck.

Christine smirked. "Right." Sharply elbowing his side, she ducked beneath his blade, kicked the back of his knees with her leg, and stood there with the length of her blade at his neck. "I win!" She cried triumphantly.

"Whatever you say." Erik sighed as he tripped her from below, causing her to fall on top of him. Quickly, he rolled on top of her with his own blade against her neck. "Now I win." he said smirking. "A little hellcat, aren't you?" he said mischievously. Christine struggled again then finally gave up, pouting.

"Fine, but I want my blade back."

Erik moved his head forward, leaving it barely an inch away from her mouth. "Deal. Now about that kiss and song." Christine blushed at the word kiss, but did nothing else to amuse him. He stared at her for a few moments longer as Christine scowled in annoyance. "I think I'll save them both for later." He said cheerfully.

"Could you get off me then please? You weigh a bit more than you look."

"Nope, I'm comfy where I am." Erik said, smirking at her red face.

"I doubt you would be comfy with a sore ass." Christine lifted up her knee threateningly. He got the message and quickly got up, holding out a hand to help her up.

Glaring, Christine slapped his hand away and helped herself up, then yelped when she felt him slap her butt. "What was that for?" She asked, almost hissing like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"Just making sure it wasn't flattened." Erik said jokingly. She made as if to leave, when he shot out his arm and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back to him. Once again he was too close to her for comfort. "You never told me your name." Erik murmured as he gazed flickered down to her rosy lips. Maybe he should kiss her now instead of later…

"Christine." She said shortly, before yanking her hand away and bent down to pick up her second blade before leaving the unoccupied room. Erik grinned. He knew a challenge when he met one, and this certainly would be one that he'd win.