A/N Oh my goodness. I have not updated in such a long time. I hope that I still have readers out there who will be willing to review. I promise that updates will start coming more regularly. I really enjoyed writing this chapter and I hope you enjoy it. Please, please review.

Love,

Stephanie Lynn

Ch. 6

Return of the Ghost

Christine felt her cheeks go red. She felt like she had a big mark on her forehead showing she was a traitor. A traitor? Technically she had done nothing wrong, but she felt scared. She was scared that Raoul would see her hidden desire. Her desire for Erik! She took a deep breath and quietly walked into her room. She saw Raoul sitting on their bed reading a book.

He looked happy.

He smiled when he saw her walk in. He hadn't seen her since this morning and he had really missed seeing her smiling face. "How was rehearsal?" He asked merrily.

"Hello darling. It was fine, nothing out of the ordinary. I am just happy to be home." She told him as she sat down at her vanity to remove her jewelry.

"Nothing out of the ordinary?" He asked raising his eyebrows. He knew she was worried that because she was back that he would assume that she was again in danger, but he couldn't help himself. He needed to make sure she would be alright when he was not around. He could see the look of annoyance that crossed her face when he asked her. He realized that he was starting to upset her.

"No Raoul. Nothing other than singing, dancing, and yelling went on." She lied. She was surprised at how easily it all came out.

"Who yelled?" He asked chuckling, hoping to keep the conversation light.

"Does it really matter?" She hissed at him. "All you care about is making sure Erik leaves me alone. Be honest, you know you don't care about what I did at rehearsals. You just want to know if he tried talking to me or worse, if he tried to convince me to love him again."

Christine felt her cheeks go deep red. She hadn't meant to snap at Raoul, but she did. He had no reason to suspect anything. Erik had told her that she was free and if anything, Erik was a man of his word. At least when it came to her he was a man of his word. Christine felt the blood in her veins begin to sizzle when her eyes looked at Raoul's horrified face. She would have loved nothing more than to tell him she had talked to Erik, but she couldn't do that.

Raoul felt his chest tighten when he heard those words come out of her mouth. He wondered why her reaction had been so hostile. That place changes her, a little voice told him. He could tell that she was different from when she left home this morning. Something about being at the opera house made Christine more…dark. He got up from where he was sitting on their bed and went over a kneeled down to level with her. He cupped one of her cheeks and gently caressed her.

"Of Course it matters. I wouldn't ask if none of it mattered." He explained. "Christ Christine, I care too much not to ask."

Christine looked at him with confused eyes. "If you care you would forget about him. Why can't you just forget him? If anyone is keeping him alive in this marriage it is you." She told him as a tear escaped his eyes. She didn't want Erik to be apart of Raoul anymore. Erik had only been apart of Raoul's life for a short time, but he had been apart of Christine's for as long as she could remember. They were two entirely different people and she loved them both for entirely different reasons.

Raoul nodded knowing she wouldn't just accept his answer. She was going to fight with him. He ran a hand through his hair and for a split second wanted to pull it out.

"How do you expect me to forget a man who kidnapped you, who practically killed me? Tell me Christine! How do I forget about everything that happened to us? Everything that happened to you!" He exclaimed.

Christine took his hand in hers and moved it away from her face. She stood up and turned to go to the restroom.

"Christine!" Raoul called after her surprised that she was being so difficult and rude.

Christine turned to face him. "I don't know how you should forget Erik, but I suggest that you do so. Fast."

With that said, she turned and walked away from him.

Phillip looked at his brother's grim expression. Something was bothering him. "You look down, brother."

Raoul heard Phillip's voice, but he couldn't say exactly what had been said. He looked over at his brother in confusion. "Did you say something Phillip?" Raoul asked not really caring if ignoring him had been rude.

"Yes, I was just saying that you looked down. Is something the matter?" He asked his brother.

"Everything is the matter! I am a bloody patron for the bloody Opera Populair again! Christine is the damn Prima Donna and I know it is only a matter of time before Erik is once again in our lives! Yes, Phillip, everything is the matter!" Raoul cried out. His face was red from all the pent up anger he had held onto for the past few days. He wasn't angry at Christine and he knew he wasn't angry at Erik, although he wanted to be. He didn't really know who he was angry at, he was just angry.

Phillip couldn't help but chuckle at his younger brother's dramatics. "I told you she was trouble. Great for a mistress, but she is not noble wife material." Phillip said hoping his point was finally made.

"Would you get off Christine not being suitable?! There is nothing you can do about the two of us! We are already married!" Raoul practically shouted at his brother.

"Of course there is something you can do. You can leave her. Just get off it, let her go off with that disfigured monster." Phillip said causally. He couldn't help but smile at his brother's naivety "I think you know what is happening."

"Stop Phillip!"

"Why deny it anymore? She loves him and you know it." Phillip kept on not really caring if he was hurting his brothers feelings. Raoul needed to hear the truth. "Her heart lies with him, brother. As much as you would like to believe otherwise, I think she really does love him."

Raoul could feel the tears well up in his eyes. Over the past months, parts of him had truly wondered whether Christine loved him or…that monster. There were times when he believed the latter, but he could never face the reality of it. What would he do if it were true? He always pushed those thought away. Christine loved him. Raoul was sure of it.

"Christine's heart lies with me and no one else. I am certain." Raoul spat out at his brother.

Phillip nodded knowing he needed to stop pushing. His face was set with a heartsore expression and he suddenly felt a lump form in his throat. "I do hope that you are right, Raoul. I really do."

OOO

"So, the newlyweds are fighting? That can not be a good sign, Christine." Meg teased Christine as they sat onstage watching as the others rehearsed.

Christine looked around her carefully and motioned for Meg to come closer. "We were arguing about Erik." She whispered.

Christine glanced around once again, hoping to make sure that she had not been overheard. Her problems were not something she needed projected to everyone. She was also being extra careful because she had a strange feeling in her stomach, one she had not received in a few months. She could feel him. Erik's presence was something Christine had always been able to sense and she also knew that his hearing was unparallel to any others. The fact that her husband and she were having issues about him was something she didn't want him knowing about.

"Why, Christine? You have not seen or spoken to Erik since Don Juan." Meg told her seriously.

Christine couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Meg, my talking to him should have nothing to do with my working here. It is not the point of the matter. I just wish Raoul could understand that. He is more concerned with my speaking to Erik than my actually being happy back up onstage." Christine said gloomily. "I hate that."

"I do see your point Christine, but can you really blame Raoul's paranoia?" Meg reasoned. "I think he is only asking because he loves you so much."

"I suppose you are right. I just wish that he would focus on us. Not things that don't matter anymore." She replied knowing that everything she was saying was an utter lie. Erik mattered, now more than ever.

The two continued with thinking as they sat in silence watching the other members of the opera run through their act. Christine noted how well the younger ballerinas were improving under Madam Giry's guidance. She would be sure to mention that to her adopted mother later in the day. The entire cast was taken by surprise when the two managers rushed onstage yelling at one another. They looked completely frightened by something. Christine felt her breathe catch in her throat as she stared at what Firmin was holding in his hand. She would recognize that stationary for the rest of her life. Especially the skull that was Erik's seal.

"The Opera Ghost is back!" Firmin yelled aloud to everyone. "We just received a letter from him."

It was as if everyone in the theater had the same reaction, gasping from the shock. Though there had been a few muffled screams. It was when Madam Giry appeared that everyone silenced themselves. Christine tired to ignore the sudden looks she was now receiving. That could not be good. Madam Giry's expression matched the rest of the cast; she was just as afraid as everyone else.

"What does it say?" She asked the managers as she walked over to stand beside them.

Both Firmin and Andre looked down at the envelope in horror. Andre looked as if he was about to start crying. Christine thought about how Erik must be enjoying this. Firmin opened it and pulled out the red ink stained letter.

Clearing his throat he began. "To my dear managers and the members of the opera…I realize that it had been quite a long time since I've made my presence known. Some misfortunes in my personal life arose and had me a bit put out."

Christine tired to ignore the looks that were sent her way. "Now, all is good. My dignity is back. My state of mind is back. My health is superb and the music I create is just as amazing as it always has been. But the most important thing to me is the fact that the love of my life is back. I would like to personally extend a warm welcome to Madam de Changy.

"It is truly wonderful to have you back. A voice as gorgeous as yours would be a shame to waste. Considering the fact that I am back, I would like to remind you two gentlemen that my previous demands still stand and I will have you know that I will take drastic measure should my instructions not be followed.

The expressions that filled the room were ones of freight. No one was prepared. Firmin took a deep breath before finishing. "I understand that I demand a great deal, but you must come to realize that greatness comes with a price. Your obedient servant, O.G."

Christine could feel the air in her lungs restrict. She was suddenly reliving a nightmare. Her eyes widened in surprise when she heard a soft chuckle in her ear. "I am back for good!" Erik told her and only her. His voice was filled with amusement.

You want to know what I would do next? I would make the author really happy by reviewing!!!!!!!!!