Chapter 4

A/N: Sorry this took so darn long. I had a terrible case of writer's block and was very busy with college work and so forth. Christmas vacation finally gave me an opportunity to dust this off and start writing again. I've begun to deviate a little from the sequence of events, but I hope it's not too big of a deal. I also hope that none of you guys gave up on me! There's nothing worse than an unfinished story!  Please read and review, as usual!

The entire Opera House stopped what they were doing when an unearthly shriek pierced through the noise of rehearsals. A frightened Regine went tearing out of the box she'd been sitting in and she was ghostly white.

"A rat! In my box!" she wailed.

Rolling his eyes, one of the managers went up to the box to check.

"This was what frightened you?"

He held a single rat by its tail. It was squealing piteously and squirming. Regine backed away, trembling.

"Well, don't just stand there! Get it out of here!"

He sighed and walked away.

"Regine, are you all right? I heard screaming," Erik said, bounding gracefully off of the stage. She ran to him and hugged him tightly. Her arms tightened around Erik's waist and she buried her face in his shirt.

"It was awful, Erik, there was a dreadful rat in my box!"

Up above, Christine's laughter immediately went to a low growl. No one heard her, of course, but they could sense her presence.

"Regine, calm down," Erik pleaded, "it didn't bite you, did it?"

Regine acted as though she would faint.

"No, but it could have. It was in my chair. I almost sat on it!"

The chorus people and the ballet girls were chuckling behind them. Regine sent them an irritated stare with her bright blue eyes.

"It's not funny," she said flatly, "those dreadful things carry disease. One bite could kill you."

The chuckling only seemed to get worse. Regine's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Will you be all right now?" Erik asked cautiously. She sighed.

"I suppose so, but I am going to see to it that our rat-catcher doesn't let it happen again. Come with me."

Erik didn't budge from his spot.

"Regine, I need to stay here," he told her, "we've got a long way to go before we're prepared for the next opera and I have one of the biggest parts-"

"That's wonderful! I always knew you could do it!" she squealed, pouncing on him with a fierce hug.

Erik tried to squirm out of her grasp.

"The Opera Ghost is watching," he hissed in her ear, "she'll be angry if I leave. She demands only my best and fullest effort."

Regine batted her eyelashes at him.

"Erik, you can't expect me to believe a silly ghost story. I'm sure that your creepy little angel won't begrudge you a small break."

She moved to drag him away again, but Erik wormed his way out of her grasp and got back onto the stage. Up above, Christine nodded in approval, although she was still shaking with anger at Regine having touched Erik.

"That's right, little one, run away before your pretty little dress gets ruined," she growled.

She was proud of Erik, however, and reminded herself to compliment him on it later. Erik, of course, was flawless, but many of the other chorus members needed work. A few of the woodwind instruments had been off and the stagehands were drunk again. She quickly scribbled a note to the managers and dropped it to them before going off to make preparations of her own.

The night of the new opera did not go as she expected.

"Erik Destler will play the silent role," the managers decided, "and Piangi will have the lead."

They also put other customers into Box 5. When Christine appeared above everyone else, she was furious.

"I will show them not to fool with me!"

The first thing she did was put a mild poison in Piangi's throat-spray. It wouldn't make his health suffer too much, but it would make him croak like the fat toad he was.

Piangi was singing loud and terribly when his voice suddenly went "CROAK!" The crowd burst into peals of laughter. He cleared his throat and tried again. After having it happen a second time, he ran off the stage. Christine had an amused smile. The managers came onto the stage and asked the crowd to please wait a moment and that Erik would be coming back on as the lead. The ballet girls rushed onto the stage to fill the time.

"That's better," she mumbled to herself.

Then, she went back up into the rafters. It was time to clear out her spot. In the biggest, most intimidating voice, she said "I told you that Box Five was to be kept empty! You have been warned!"

The crowd gasped and looked around, but they couldn't see her. Gathering the skirts of her black dress, Christine went back towards the stage. One of the stage-hands had been following her and she'd had enough of it. She ran back towards him and he started to run away. Joseph Bouquet was the biggest pain in the butt she'd ever met. She decided it was time to get rid of him. Grabbing hold of his shirt, she pushed him off the rafters. He fell down onto the stage amidst all the twirling white skirts.

Suddenly, all Hell broke loose. The ballet girls screamed and ran off the stage. The crowd surged out of the opera house. The managers begged them to stay still, but they wouldn't. Christine's oddly musical laughter filled the air.

"See what happens when you don't obey me?" she called.

Erik grabbed Regine's hand.

"We have to get out of here," he panted, "she'll never stop this madness. She has eyes everywhere. The very walls quiver with her dark presence."

For once, Regine was oddly calm. She took the red rose with the black ribbon out of his hand. It was, she knew, the Phantom's way of telling Erik she was there.

"Erik, dear, why don't you move out of this horrid place? You seem to have not known a moment's peace since you've come here."

Erik found it odd that she was the one trying to comfort him. Out here on the roof, the cold air slowly calmed his nerves.

"She's everywhere," he breathed heavily, "she'll be very angry with me if she finds me up here with you."

"You said yourself she was only a woman," Regine reminded him. Her delicate fingers traced his features. His golden eyes closed for a moment, taking in her touch.

"Don't fret, dear Erik. I'm here."

Despite his raw nerves from the disaster on the stage, Erik felt little butterflies rising up in his stomach. Why had he never realized just how beautiful Regine was? The moonlight shone on her features, making her look like an angel. Her blue eyes seemed to reflect the silvery light and her curls seemed so much softer.

"No more talk of darkness,

forget these wide-eyed fears...

I'm here, right here beside you

my words will warm and calm you...

let me be your freedom...

let daylight dry your tears...

you're safe, no one will find you

your fears are far behind you..."

Erik's pounding heartbeat slowed to a gentle flutter. His hand slipped into his pocket. It hadn't been easy to get a ring without the Phantom finding out, but he had. He had intended it simply as a gift for Regine, but now, he realized it could mean more.

"Say you'll love me every waking moment,

turn my head with talk of summertime...

say you'll need me with you now and always...

promise me that all you say is true...

love me, that's all I ask of you...

He slid the ring onto her finger and she leaned in for a kiss. Little did they know, Christine was there on the roof with them. Regine tossed the rose aside carelessly and the kiss deepened.

"Anywhere you go, let me go too...(Erik sang)

Love me, that's all I ask of you...

"We should go back," he said uneasily, "the others will be looking for us. And the Phantom will notice surely that I have gone."

"Erik, listen to me," Regine begged, "you have to move out. Come and stay with me. She's too dangerous for me to let you stay here."

"Regine, I would love to, but I can't," Erik said, "she's been with me since I was a child, watching over me and protecting me. She's almost like the mother I never had."

"Her feelings for you are unhealthy, Erik," Regine reminded him, "and I won't stand for it any longer. She's been trying to frighten me out of my wits, but I've had enough. I would strangle that Opera Ghost myself if I could get my hands on her."

Christine stepped out from behind the statue.

"By all means," she said, her voice shaking with anger and tears, "don't let me stop you!"

Regine started to step forward, but Erik caught her by the arm.

"Regine, don't!"

Regine pulled out of his grip.

"What's the matter, Madame Opera Ghost? Have you run out of parlor tricks and games to capture Erik's heart? Step aside! Face your fate, woman! You will never have his heart the way I will!"

Christine's anger overcame her sadness.

"Not with you in the way, certainly not."

She reached around and grabbed Regine's hand. She pulled the ring off and tossed it into the snow. Regine lunged at her, but Christine was too quick. Erik tried to get between them, but he was knocked out of the way.

"Stop your games, little one! I have twice as much money as you'll ever have and I have music. You could never give him what I could! I made him the star of Paris and you? You're just a pretty face."

A sharp slap made Erik cringe. Regine had not put enough force behind it to hurt Christine, but Christine's mask had flown off. Regine immediately went pale and had to swallow the bile rising in her throat.

"Good God!" she gasped.

Christine grabbed the front of Regine's dress and pulled her closer.

"Take a good look, my girl, it will be the last face you shall ever see!" she hissed in a low, sinister voice. Erik was horrified to see that Christine's firm grip was all that held Regine on the edge of the building.

Regine's heart was pounding very hard. She stared into Christine's dark eyes. The side of her face that was injured was either stretched so thin that it was almost transparent or raised in deep, ridged scars. The coloring ranged anywhere from gray to dark red. No wonder she wore the mask.

"Have you no mercy?!" she cried.

"Life has shown no mercy for me," Christine growled.

"Please, wait!" Erik pleaded.

"Why?" Christine demanded.

Erik swallowed hard, knowing full well he was condemning himself.

"If you truly love me the way you say you do," he choked out, "you will let her leave unharmed."

"Why should I spare her when she constantly makes a nuisance of herself?" Christine snarled.

"Because," Erik said, venturing closer, "I am asking you to."

Christine dragged Regine away from the edge. Regine was pale and trembling, looking as though she would faint any second.

"Do not take my favors lightly, Erik," she said icily, "you have tried my patience with your little tryst."

Erik bowed his head. He felt like a child being scolded for running away from home.

"And you!" Christine turned to Regine, who was trembling like a leaf in the wind.

"If you speak of this to anyone, I will find you and cut your heart out! Is that clear?"

Regine nodded, swallowing hard. Christine released her, letting her fall into the snow.

"Escort her out if you wish, but I expect you in your room in no more than twenty minutes," Christine snapped to Erik. With a rustle of skirts and a swish of her cape, she was gone. They did not see where she went.

"What a horrid woman!" Regine gasped. Erik quietly took her hand.

"I love you, Regine, but I think it's best if we do not see each other for a while," he whispered, "her temper is too great. If she says she'll do something, she always does."

"I won't give up, Erik," Regine said in a sudden show of courage, "she cannot stop me from loving you. I would do anything for you."

Erik's heart began to swell with love for this woman. Apparently, there was much more to her than any of them could ever guess.

"And I, for you, my lady," Erik said, embracing her, "that's why I cannot allow you to be hurt by a misguided love."

He helped her into her carriage.

"Come on," Regine begged, "get in! She cannot stop us with so many watching!"

Erik shook his head.

"I cannot. It's much too much of a risk. I'll see you soon."

He gave her a last kiss goodbye and wondered vaguely if it would be the last he ever saw of the Vicomtess de Chagny.