Happy Thanksgiving to any American/Canadian reader, Im from the UK so we dont celebrate it, but hope you have a good day!

Aww newbornphanatic thank you so much! Sorry for teasing you into thinking they were going to meet! Im so glad you are enjoying it :)

Thanks to all of you who reviewed. .

Thanks again :)

Chapter 7-Erik POV

When I built my lair, I had built a spare room. I had no idea why at the time. I just built it, my mind told me too. It was fully furnished, very beautiful, I surrounded myself, my kingdom with beautiful things. I was proud of this room, compared to the other rooms it was fresh and light, whereas the rest of the rooms were very dark, having lived under the opera house for so long I was used to the lack of light. The room was forever locked, all it served as was a constant reminder of my solitude, I knew in my heart that no other would see the room. But now there was a glimmer of hope. I was going to show myself to Christine this evening. I had decided that I needed to. The bullying from the ballerina, the tormenting from Carlotta and the fact that she was to work in the costume department enraged me. I needed to take her away from all that, so I could teach her properly. She was already making such great progress, in the short time I had been teaching her. Maybe she would like the room?

I knew the new managers were coming soon, they would be holding rehearsals without a doubt, I was determined for Christine to be ready. No longer would she be in the shadows, but gracing the stage. I didnt care if it killed me, which I was sure it eventually would. My heart wasnt used to feeling, I knew this couldnt end well. But I didnt care anymore. This young girl needed my help. I couldnt have her living in fear of other people. She seemed so much happier already. But I still saw the loneliness in her, her dear of people's opinions, that constant putting herself down. I couldnt have it. I knew what it was like to be young, scared, alone, desperate for acceptance.

I would make her great. Greater then any other. Id always be there for her.

I walked to the chapel. I wondered what she tought of my gift. I had carved the stone myself. I let my old passions pour through my fingers and my old loves returned to me. I crept through the blanket of darkness that quilted the corridors. I walked silently, my heart racing. Was I doing the right thing? Was I just being selfish? I continued walking, I felt the air change I was near the chapel, all my doubts disappeared, when I saw her from behind the wall.

Clad in a simple white dress, and draped over her shoulders was a beautiful blue cloak, she had obviously been running her cheeks were slightly blushed. She was pacing up and down, she had something clutched behind her back, and was biting her bottom lip. I had to lean against the cold wall, the sight took my breath away.

'Christine, my child, why are you pacing?' she stopped at this point, turned to were she thought my voice was and beamed.

'Thank you for my gift Maestro, I cannot explain how grateful Iam!' Her eyes showed this gratefulness, my heart skipped a beat.

'My child. I have decided I can no longer teach you-' Before I could finished, she took a step back from the wall, her eyes bright with hurt.

'But, but Maestro! I knew this would happen, I knew I wasnt worthy!' Her bottom lip was trembling.

'Christine' I tried to but in but she continued.

'Im sorry, I didnt mean to disappoint you, I didnt mean to-'

'Christine! Enough of this my child!' I said it firmly, my voice vibrated against the walls, her sobbing stopped immediately, she looked up at the wall.

'I have decided I can no longer teach you from behind the wall. I need to take you with me to further your progress.'

What sadness that was in her before quickly left, she squealed with what I presumed was joy, she spun around, clapping her hands together. I had never seen like this before. I was amused to see this brought her such joy, no one had ever acted this way when I told them I was coming to visit them, theyd usually cry or pick up something to beat me with.

'Oh Maestro thank you!'

I could see she trembling as she looked about the room trying to see me. I began to sing, I was shaking myself, I reached for the leaver that would reavel me to her. Was I doing the right thing? If I wasnt it was too late now. She joined in, the wall moved I was now in her sight, I reached my hand out to her. With her hand out stretched she walked towards me like a sleep walker in a trance, I jumped when her hand gripped mine. She looked me up and down. If she noticed my mask, she didnt show it, she sung beautifully. I was breathing fast and my heart was racing, she was touching my gloved hand, holding it. I was so shocked I nearly forgot my line.

'Flattering child you shall know me see why in shadow I hide'

Her eyes never left mine as I took her back through the wall, and began the descent down through the dark.

Here I was the 'Living Corpse' taking an angel down to my kingdom. I hoped I was doing the right thing. I didnt dare look at her beautiful face for too long, I worried about the mask. I didnt want her to fear me.

Her grip on my hand grew a little tighter as the corridors got darker.

'Do not fear my child. This is my kingdom. Nothing shall harm you.' She smiled in the dark, Im sure my heart melted there and then.

Christine POV

I was with my Maestro. As in properly with my Maestro, his gloved hand was loosely holding mine. I looked him up and down once more.

My Maestro was tall, towering over me and thin to a point were I thought he might break. His clothes were obviously of a great quality, each piece seemed to be finely detailed, from his cloak that was finely patterned to his long patent shoes and felt hat. But all were in the colour black, giving him the look of some beautiful creƤture of the night. In stark contrast to his mainly black attire was his white shirt, tucked neatly behind his waist jacket, and finished off with a perfectly tied cravat. He was every inch a genius I could just tell.

I was trembling with excitement, were was he taking me? I was scared at the same time. I didnt fear Maestro. But the darkness of the corridors did unnerve me, my Maestro seemed at one with the darkness, it seemed to embrace him, whereas it knew I was frightened.

'Do not fear my child. This is my kingdom. Nothing shall harm you.' This words filled me with joy, I wasnt scared any longer, I smiled at my Maestro, he walked slightly in front of me and held my hand between out between us. I heard him take a sharp intake of breath.

'Maestro are you okay?' I asked worried.

'My child, Iam more then okay you are here with me. We are nearly there now.' He replied his voice was slightly hushed.

I wanted to ask him so much, about the corridors, about his voice, about were we were going, but for know I was too over whelmed at being with him. I didnt dare.

The dark silence was soon erupted by the sound of water. I was surprised at how cold it now was. We came out the corridor and onto a small platform, it was surrounded by hundreds of candles, which cast shadows on the cave like walls. I dropped my Maestros hand trying desperately to take it all in. I turned and there in front of me was some sort of lake, it was covered in mist, and the chalky roof seemed to hang looming over it. I gasped, so much natural beauty, but not normal beauty it was all twisted, it took my breath away.

'Christine,' my Maestros voice made me jump 'my child, come, I will show you around all in good time, now for let us continue our journey.' I turned to look at my tall Maestro, as he talked his hands moved alot, I was marvelled at the way they moved, the way he moved. He walked silently and as if to a beat only he could hear. I was mesmerised. He beckoned me over to the little boat that sat in the misty water.

'My child you must be cold' before I could answer I felt the soft material of the black cape be swung over my shoulders.

'Come, I will row us across,' he helped me step lightly into the little boat, I tried to catch a glimpse of his face, but the felt hat blocked my view. He stood behind me and pushed the boat off. I wanted to say something, anything, but the movements of the boat and the soft humming coming from my Maestro made my mind go blank, I just gazed forward, through the mist, my jaw slack, simply overwhelmed by everything.

I saw through the mist the beginning of a shore line, and as we got closer, I saw among the rocky face a black door.

'Maestro is this your home?' I asked excitedly.

'Yes, my child, I suppose you could call it home.' he replied his voice slightly icy on the word 'home.'

The boat bumped to a stop, and my Maestro helped me get out of it. As we approached the large door, I began shaking with excitement, this was my Maestros world. I couldnt suppress a grin.

'This is my kingdom Christine. It will be used as a place for you to become a star.' With that he turned the large key and the door opened.

The corridor the door opened onto was large and painted a dark red, the candles illuminated it, large black drapes hung of the wall. It was very grand, the floor was made of some sort of shiny concrete, I didnt want to walk on it it seemed to shiny! The smell hit me too, it was of strange sweet spice and old books the same smell that lingered on the cloak that I wore round my shoulders.

I heard the door shut.

'Come Christine, I shall show you around' I followed beind, all but skipping.

The corridor opened up into a large room, the drape covered walls were of again a strange detailed concrete, I had had the urge to run my hands all over it, the far walls were covered in shelves and shelves of books. There in the middle of the room was a small coffee table covered in neatly stacked paper, and three black large leather armchairs which were arranged around the small table, in front of the fire. There raised from the rest of the room, with three dark carpeted steps leading to a monstrosity of an organ, in front of it sat a high backed chair, that looked some what like a throne.

'I lit the fire for you, Im not one for the heat, but I know you are.' I blushed slightly, and took of the cloak from around my shoulders.

'Thank you. Maestro its beautiful here, and Ive only seen one room!' it truly was this room was hard and cold yet seemed to have a certain stunningness about it.

I hadn't realised he had taken off his large hat, I could see the back of his head, he had glossy black hair, he turned to me as if in pain.

I wanted to look upon his face, but his eyes took my breath away. They like wells. The top surface was shining brightly with emotion, then something deep within them burned wildly, and protested as if it hated being controlled. I noticed they were of two different colours, one a bright blue the other a brown. I found this endearing, a twisted sort of beauty. His chin was white and pointed, and his bottom lip small and pale. Then I noticed the mask, the tight white leather that stretched across his face. I gasped and automatically wish I hadn't.

'The mask, is there to help me Christine. Do not fear it.' he said as if in deep pain, his voice lost its beauty and now was full of emotion. The hard white leather seemed to sneer at me, but I saw those eyes from behind it and my heart steadied itself. Those pleading eyes, asked me to forget the mask,for now I would.

'I trust you Maestro' His eyes thanked me a thousand times, I heard him breath deeply.I went to reach for his hand, but he flinched away, I was slightly hurt by that.

I noticed there were doors leading of this room, I tried to guess what delights they held in them, when Maestro beckoned me to the second of the doors.

'I have another surprise for you Christine.' His voice had regained its power and beauty, I followed him, another surprise!

He opened the door, to a room that was un like the other two I had seen, but light and fresh. It had beauty blues and pinks all around it. The four poster bed was made of a cream lace, there was a vanity mirror in the corner and a large closet. I walked in my jaw slack, there from the ceiling was a small crystal chandelier, I opened he closet revealing row after row of dresses, shoes, hats for all occasions and every season.

'This room is yours now Christine, I will not be offended if you never use it! But everything in it is yours.' I turned to look at him, my own room! I had never had my own room before! How could this be!

'Like I said my child, I wont be offended if you-'

'Its perfect! Ohh Maestro I adore it! Thank you a thousand times! Ive never had my own room before! This is just perfect, so perfect.' I beamed at him. I was so grateful, tears filled my eyes. I suddenly realised I was till clutching the little wrapped pocket watch in my hand, and what a better time to give it.

'Oh Maestro I have something for you.' His eyes questioned me. I placed the small package into his skeletal like hands.

My Maestro stood there for a moment, just looking at the package, as if unsure what to do with it. He gently unwrapped it, as if unwrapping sheets of pure gold. On revealing the little pocket watch. His eyes swam with such emotion, I nearly fainted, it was so intense.

'It was my Papas, I know he would want to give you something for helping me.' I watched as his eyes lit up as he turned it over and saw the engravement of the rose. I realised then that tears were flowing down his masked cheeks.

I was shocked at first, didnt he like it? What was wrong with it? Then it hit me from the look in his eyes that this gift meant so much more to him then a 'thank you.'

So they have met...

Would love to hear what you think! I hope I did it justice!

I was ment to put Raoul in this chapter but got carried away, sorry!

He DEFITNATLY will be in the next chapter.

I hope you liked it, please feel free to review.

*Roses to every reviewer and follower*

Song from ALW. Again I sadly dont own a thing :'(