Disclaimer: I do not own Phantom of the Opera (the musical, the movie, or the book) or any of the characters. I only own Sylvia.

Foreword: I am so so so so so so so sorry for the really late update! I've been so busy with my musical and school and homework and I'm so run down… uhg… but, I have this written! And I will update faster, I promise! Okay, just a reminder, anything that is italicized is someone singing, something in a different language, someone thinking or something emphasized- I think you can tell them apart when you come to them XD Thanks! Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Three

Raoul gently knocked against the large wooden doors, slowly opening them. He stood in the doorway for a moment, staring at Christine sitting at the vanity, gently playing with the rose in her hands.

" Little Lottie." Raoul said smiling, stepping inside and shutting the door. " Let her mind wander." A smile slowly spread across Christine's face as she set the rose down, turning to look at her old friend. " Little Lottie thought, 'Am I fonder of dolls? Or of goblins or shoes?'" Raoul smiled back at the now grinning Christine, walking towards her with the vase of flowers. His reflection was clearly seen in the large mirror at the end of the room, which was seemingly built into the wall.

" Raoul." Christine said smiling.

" 'Or of riddles or frocks?'" Raoul continued, setting the flowers down. Looking at her old friend, Christine remembered all of the memories she held dear.

" Those picnics in the attic?" She asked, remembering how she, Raoul and Sylvia would all grab a few snacks and run to the attic of the house to have small picnics.

" 'Or of chocolates?'" Raoul finished, smiling, walking over to her.

" Father playing the violin…"

" As we read to each other dark stories of the north?" Raoul asked, kneeling in front of Christine, her pale complexion glowing in the candlelight.

" 'No, what I love best,' Little Lottie said, 'Is when I'm asleep in my bed, and the angel of music sings songs in my head…'" Christine softly sang smiling at Raoul.

" The angel of music sings song in my head…" Raoul sang with her, slowly nodding. He leaned forward, hugging her.

" You sang like an angel tonight." Raoul told her as she shut her eyes, hugging him back. As he sat back on his heels again, Christine said,

" My father said to Sylvia and I, 'When I'm in heaven, children, I will send the Angel of Music to you.' Our father is dead, Raoul. And we have been visited by the Angel of Music." Christine whispered to Raoul, as if telling him a life or death secret.

" Oh, no doubt of it! And now, we go to supper." Raoul said standing. He began to walk towards the pinkish orange doors.

" No, Raoul. The Angel of Music is very strict!" Christine said. Raoul stopped and turned back to her.

" Well, I shant keep you up late." Raoul said smiling as he turned back towards the doors.

" Raoul, no!" Christine said with all the seriousness in her voice. Raoul let out a short laugh, and turned back to face her.

" You must change! I'll order my carriage. Two minutes, Little Lottie." Raoul said opening the door.

" No! Raoul, wait!" Christine called, standing, but it was too late. Raoul had already exited and shut the door. Did he honestly not believe her? Did he think she was joking? Christine looked around for a moment. One night away from the Angel couldn't be bad… could it?

Outside the room, after the door was shut and Raoul had disappeared from the hall, a black glove clad hand inserted a key to the lock in the door. Slowly, the hand turned the key around a few times, the lock finally clicking softly. Drawing the key back, the person who held the key turned and swiftly, and silently, walked off, Madame Giry watching the entire scene. She looked at the floor for a fleeting moment before turning away and walking into the darkness of the next hallway.

All of the lights in the theatre dimmed, candles were blown out, and the stage was slowly dropped into darkness. André and Firmin had left, both turning in for the night.

Sylvia was sitting in her small room, brushing out her hair when the candles in her room suddenly went out, the smoke curling and dancing up into the darkness. She paused, setting down her brush. She stood and opened the door. The halls were dark and empty, and the only light came from far down the hall, where all the other dancers had their beds. She felt… odd. Like something was going to happen, she just wasn't sure what. Slowly stepping out into the hall, a thought hit her. The Angel of Music… he hadn't spoken at all that night. What if he was upset in some way? There was one thing she knew she needed to do- go talk to Christine.

In the dressing room, Christine was stepped from behind the ornately designed dressing screen, tying a white sash around her waist as she went. Her hair was let down, the curls cascading around her shoulders and down her back. The dress she wore was white and lacey, and very elegant. Suddenly, there seemed to be a breeze that went through the room, blowing out all of the candles, the smoke rising then dissipating. Christine paused as she was plunged into darkness. Something was wrong… She quickly turned towards the door, reaching for the handle. Maybe she could make it out in time and the Angel wouldn't notice…

" Insolent boy, this slave of fashion, basking your glory! Ignorant fool, this brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!" The voice of the Phantom, the Angel, rang out angrily. Christine slowly turned back around, looking around.

" Angel, I hear you, speak, I listen, stay by my side, guide me. Angel, my soul was weak… forgive me. Enter at last, master." Christine sang, looking around with hope.

" Flattering child you shall know me, see why in shadow I hide. Look at your face in the mirror," He sang from somewhere beyond the room. Christine slowly looked at the large mirror, seeing only herself for a moment. " I am there inside!" Slowly, a face and the beginning of the shoulders of a man appeared in the mirror. Christine was amazed- it was him. It was her Angel. She slowly began to step forward towards the mirror.

" Angel of Music, guide and guardian, grant to me your glory! Angel of Music, hide no longer! Come to me, strange Angel!" Christine sang, wonder in her eyes as she walked even nearer to the mirror as mist began to leak from underneath it. She saw the Phantom's face even clearer as she neared him. Half of the right side of his face was covered in a white mask, his black hair was slicked back, and the rest of him was still covered in shadow.

" I am your Angel of Music! Come to me, Angel of Music!" The Phantom sang.

Outside the room, Raoul grabbed the handle of the door, rattling it when it didn't open. He had become worried when Christine hadn't showed up outside, and he had run inside to get her. He rattled the handle again. He then heard the Phantom's voice.

" Whose is that voice?" He asked to himself. " Who is that in there!" He called.

Inside, the mirror had slid open, revealing the Phantom standing inside a passageway, watching Christine intently. He was dressed almost completely in black, with a cape draped over his shoulders, a neck scarf tied neatly under the collar of his shirt, and his burgundy vest was made of fine fabric. His hands were clad in black leather gloves, and he was probably without a doubt, one of the most handsome men Christine had ever seen.

" I am your Angel of Music…"

" Christine! Christine!" Raoul kept calling, knocking on the door.

" Come to me, Angel of Music…" The Phantom sang again. Christine stepped up to the now mirror less mirror frame, and stood there a moment, watching the man in front of her. He reached out a gloved hand, waiting for her to take it, his light blue eyes watching her. Slowly she placed her hand into his, feeling the smooth leather of his gloves. He carefully pulled her into the well-lit passage, and she willingly went. The passage was lined with candelabras, and what held them looked like gold arms. As the two began to pass them, they would move to allow them by, and then after they passed, they'd move back.

Christine didn't stop looking at the Phantom once during the whole time he had her hand. He kept glancing behind himself to look at her, a small smirk gracing his lips, lighting his handsome face. He was older than her, but it didn't seem that he was too much older than her- maybe mid twenties. The light hit all the right places on his face; his well-sculpted cheekbones and jaw and forehead, and even the mask appeared to be contoured to the shape of his face.

" In sleep he sang to me, in dreams he came… that voice that called to me, and speaks my name," Christine sang, watching the Phantom look back at her. " And do I dream again? For now I find, the Phantom of the Opera is there… inside my mind." The Phantom had grabbed a lit torch, and was now leading her down a spiraling stone staircase. He then led her to a large archway where water slowly dripped down from the ceiling. They must be more than a hundred feet below the Opera House. A black horse waited for them at the bottom of a small set of steps.

" Sing once again with me, our strange duet… My power over you grows stronger yet!" He helped her onto the horse before taking the reigns to lead her further downwards. Christine slowly looked behind her for a brief second before turning back, holding onto the saddle. " And though you turn from me, to glance behind, the Phantom of the Opera is there… inside your mind!" He then helped her off the horse once they stopped at what looked like an underground river system. The water flowed down long stone made channels, and waiting at the edge was a black gondola that was detailed with silver and gold colored metal, and had lanterns hanging off the front and back to help light the dark waterways. He helped her into it before he grabbed a long pole and began to push the boat along.

" Those who have seen your face, draw back in fear, I am the mask you wear…" Christine sang as she looked ahead.

" It's me they hear!"

" Your/My and my/your voice, in one combined, the Phantom of the Opera is there, inside your/my mind." Both sang together. As they neared their destination, they passed stone carvings of almost mythical looking faces. They entered a larger area where massive stone statues seemed to be holding up the roof. There was a gate in front of them, and curtains pulled back from behind it and it slowly began to rise, dripping water and mist and water flowed freely around them.

" He's there, the Phantom of the Opera…" Christine sang. As she began to vocalize, the Phantom pushed the gondola further towards the gate. They began to enter a well-lit cavern like room.

" Sing, my Angel…" Sang the Phantom. Slowly, large candelabras began to rise from the water, lighting as they appeared. " Sing for me!" The gondola drifted towards a set of stone steps that led to a large rock like formation that led up to a large organ, and many other things scattered around. It was where the Phantom lived. " Sing, my Angel! Sing for me!" The Phantom jumped off the gondola as Christine hit her highest note. He leaned the pole against the wall and then backed away from it. She was watching him with a smile on her lips.

The Phantom gripped the shoulders of his cape and pulled it off, swirling it around his body with a flourish before dropping it on the ground beside him. He wore a black coat that fit him well, and he turned to face her.

" I have brought you, to this sweet seat of music's throne" The Phantom sang, gesturing around himself and stepping to his left, walking past piles of paper and sheet music and books as well as props and paintings. " To this kingdom where all must pay homage to music, music…" He walked over to his organ and faced it, his back to Christine. " You have come here, for one purpose and one alone," He turned to look at her once more. " Since the moment I first heard you sing, I have needed you with me, to serve me, to sing for my music…" Christine was watching him with all of her attention, still amazed. " My music…" Keeping his eyes on her, he slowly began to walk back towards the gondola.

" Nighttime sharpens, heightens each sensation, darkness stirs, and wakes imagination. Silently the senses abandon their defenses…" He sang in a magnificent voice as he walked over to Christine. She eagerly scooched forward and stood, taking his extended hand. She stood, and used his hand to steady herself as she stepped out onto the stairs. They made eye contact and the Phantom didn't break it as he continued to sing. " Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor, grasp it, sense it," He beckoned her to follow him with a finger as he began to slowly yet gracefully walk backwards. " Tremulous and tender," Christine turned to look at the glowing light of the candles, but turned her attention back to him when she felt his glove clad fingers gently touch her jaw, turning her face to look at him again.

" Turn your face away from the garish light of day, turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light," He sang, looking down to a small mock-up of the Opera House's stage, where a small figurine of Christine stood in what looked to be a similar dress to what she had worn in the performance. Resting against the stage was a small watercolor painting of not only Christine, but also Sylvia. The painting was small and almost doodle like, but the detail was amazing. " and listen to the music of the night!" He smiled at her, and she smiled back, still holding his hand and following him. He then suddenly let go of her hand and bounded up the six stone stairs that led up to the organ.

" Close your eyes and surrender to your darkest dreams, purge your thoughts from the life you knew before!" He sang strongly, turning to look at Christine, his face filled with emotion. " Close your eyes, let your spirit start to soar!" Christine shut her eyes, listening to him sing, cherishing the sound of his velvety voice. She let her eyes open again, a smile on her face. He took a few steps to the top of the stairs. " And you'll live as you've never lived before." He held out his hand and she slowly stepped forward, beginning to walk up the steps, holding out her hand to take his again.

" Softly, deftly, music shall caress you," The Phantom led Christine towards the organ, pausing briefly in front of it. " Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you…" He had drawn her closer, her face mere inches from his own. He was taller than her, the top of her head coming up maybe to the middle half of his face. He began to walk around her, watching her the whole time. " Open up your mind! Let your fantasies unwind in this darkness that you know you cannot fight, the darkness of the music of the night! Let your mind start to journey through a strange new world, leave all thoughts of the life you knew before," He sang, passing behind a row of candles, the light shinning of the white mask and making shadows on the exposed half of his face. " Let your soul take you where you long to be!" He was now in front of her again, walking back towards her. " Only then can you belong" He gently touched her jaw, hands slowly moving to her shoulders " to me…"

He watched his own hands a moment before slowly moving Christine around so her back was lightly touching his chest.

" Floating, falling," He sang softly as he gently ran a hand along Christine's waist, the other moving slowly down her side and hip. " Sweet intoxication…" She shut her eyes, leaning back against him, her eyes shut and head resting gently against his mask-covered cheek. " Touch me…" He basically whispered, taking her left hand and bringing it up to touch his bare cheek. " Trust me… Savor each sensation," Christine slowly turned, and as the Phantom pulled her hand from his cheek, he took it in both of his as she faced him, longing apparent in his eyes. " Savor each sensation, let the dream begin! Let your darker side give in to the power of the music that I write," He said grinning and gesturing to the space around them and leading her further along. " The power of the music of the night!" He smiled down at her, and she smiled back up at him as he wrapped an arm around her back, placing a hand on her left arm. He stood behind her, looking into a small room in front of her. She looked in as well and her smile went slightly slack, shocked at the sight in front of her.

Before her was a mannequin that looked almost like an exact replica of her. It was her facial features but the hair was like a mix of hers and Sylvia's- still tightly curled but a lighter brown. But to add to the shock, the mannequin was wearing a veil and wedding dress. Christine's head became light and she felt dizzy. She collapsed and the Phantom caught her, hoisting her into his arms and holding her protectively to his chest. He carried her over to a large bed that was in the shape of a bird- it looked like it could be a swan or a peacock- with its tail feathers spread out and the wings extended. The fabric on the inside was red velvet and he gently began to set her in it.

" You alone can make my song take flight…" He sang softly. " Help me make the music of… the… night…" He gently caressed her jaw before straightening up and pulling a long grey tassel. A lacey black curtain slowly descended around the bed, and the mask that the Phantom wore was one of the only things on him that could still be seen through it.

He silently walked back to his organ, sitting on the bench. He looked back over his shoulder to where Christine now slept. A smile pulled at the side of his mouth. Looking back over at the mock-up Opera House stage and the painting of the sisters, he fell into deep thought. Sylvia was the younger of the two sisters, and yet she seemed to follow more of his instructions than Christine- she was beginning to show signs of possible rebellion, as first seen that very night when she tried to leave with that… boy.

The Phantom looked at his sheet music, continuing to think of the two talented and beautiful sisters, and what joy they had suddenly brought to this dismal life.

OOOOOO

Sylvia had snuck her way carefully downstairs, and towards the dressing room Christine had been in, seeing as she was not in her bedroom. She had found Madame Giry's keys and brought them down with her, unlocking the door. She slipped inside, shutting the creaky door behind her. She looked around the dark room, wondering where her sister was.

" Christine?" She whispered. There was no answer. She walked towards the vanity, finding the abandoned red rose sitting there. Christine's costume was draped over the chair and gently sitting down, Sylvia picked up the flower. She softly stroked the delicate petals, but then shivered as she felt a chilly breeze trail its fingers down the exposed part of her back, seeing as she was still wearing her white ballet dress that had a shallow v shaped cut on the back.

She turned and saw something odd- a space between the mirror frame and the mirror itself. She stood, setting the keys down, walking over to the mirror. She peered through the space and saw light she gently pushed the mirror and it slid open. She dropped the flower in shock and looked around the empty room before stepping inside. She looked at the back of the mirror only to notice that from that side, you could see the room, but from the room, you could not see inside. Sylvia turned and slowly walked down the lit passage. She was cautious and careful, trying to be as silent as she could.

She came upon a passageway that was damp and covered in cobwebs. She slowly walked down the passage, looking around as she went. Could Christine have found the passages and gone inside to see where they lead? Could she have gotten lost? Sylvia hoped to maybe find her sister and ask what happened, and if she felt the off-ness to the feeling of the evening, but at the moment, that didn't seem like it was going to happen. She heard squeaking and looked at the floor, seeing a few rats she stepped back a bit, surprised at their presence, but she never minded the small creatures as opposed to most women who would scream at the sight. She continued forward, rubbing her arms in attempt to keep off the chill.

Suddenly something grabbed her shoulder. She gasped, spinning around. Madame Giry stood behind her. She grabbed Sylvia's hand and began to pull her back the way she came.

" Madame Giry! How did you find me?" Sylvia asked.

" No time for questions." She replied.

" But Madame-" Sylvia began as they exited the mirror, which Madame Giry shut. She spun to face the young singer and dancer.

" No time for questions, Miss Daaé. Come, you must get some rest." She said, pulling her out of the room, taking her keys. Sylvia unwillingly let Madame Giry pull her along, but she knew she was not about to stop asking questions- not when her sister was missing, when she had just discovered hidden passages in the Opera House, and certainly not when she hadn't heard from the Phantom at all that day.

Afterword: Oh my God! Again, I'm so sorry about the really late delay! My musical did five performances, and we finally finished the last tomorrow! I'm going to try and get another chapter in this story up later today! I really hope I can! And, I'll probably have to stick with updating on weekends or open days in the middle of the week because I just got cast in Romeo and Juliet and I have to study a whole bunch of lines. What can I say? I'm an actress XD

So, now I shall thank my reviewers! Thank you to: grapejuice101, PhantomPrussia, Xxnikkigirl123xX, funnygirl00, krupa360, and RedDeathLvr. Thank you so much for reviewing guys! And I believe one of you asked what show I was in, and the musical my school did was 'A Little Night Music' (it was so much fun to be in! Gotta love waltzing!) And I would also like to thank those who favorited this story or added this story to their story alert- I'm glad you all like it! I'm really having fun writing this!

Also, I know I haven't called Erik by his name yet, and that I keep calling him 'the Phantom' but I'm trying to think of a creative way to bring his name into it, so I shall be pondering that! So, bare with me as I think of that XD And if you have suggestions for it, do feel free to let me know… I tried to capture Erik's awesomeness and gracefulness and all of that goodness and I hope I did it okay DX

Anyway, I hope you guys liked the chapter! Reviews would make my exhausted day better! They're also loved and quite honestly always cherished! Thanks!

~Mary