Hey everyone! Here is Chapter 8, Enjoy! I do not own anything except for Jeanne and the story line. Thank you!


The corridors were crowded after Hannibal came to a close. Patrons, countesses, and other audience members of noble stature were crowding around the managers asking all sorts of questions. Meg had a hard time trying to find Christine through the crowd until she finally realized that she wasn't among them. She knew exactly where she was; the chapel. She pushed herself through the crowd until she found the door to the hallway to the chapel. She slammed the door behind her and sighed. She could finally straighten out her white Ballerina dress and the blue bow in her blonde hair. It was so quiet in that hallway that she wanted to sit there for a while and relax, but she knew she had to congratulate Christine on her successful performance.

Jeanne saw Meg run off, and she wanted to follow her. She wanted to congratulate Christine as well, even though she was still mad. She realized however, that it wasn't Christine's fault at all; it was all Erik's doing. Maybe she shouldn't go quite yet and let Meg and Christine have their alone time. The crowd of people also overwhelmed her. She saw Madame Giry congratulated for the performance of the ballerina's, but Madame brought Jeanne over and explained that is was all Jeanne's doing. This was the first Opera that she had ever taught and the attention was mind boggling. She couldn't help but blush and soak in everything around her. This is the first time she had been praised for anything in a while. She was distracted then by a man's voice behind her.

"Ah, Miss Cayette, there you are!"

She turned to find Monsieur Leroux walking up to her, pushing through the crowd. He looked stunning, wearing a dark blue, three-piece suit and a white shirt tucked in.

She straightened out and bowed. "Oh, Monsieur Leroux, you came!" Madame Giry slowly had the crowd follow her away, leaving Jeanne and Leroux alone.

"Yes, I managed to get a nice seat in Box 5 with The Count De Changy. You mean you didn't see me? I was sitting right across the theatre from you. I am sure you saw me." Leroux looked down at his hands. This is the first time Jeanne saw any vulnerability in Leroux.

She felt bad that she tried to play the naïve and ignorant card. "Oh yes! I did, I'm sorry. The performance was so breathtaking that I must have forgotten."

Leroux stood up straight and looked into her eyes, his puppy brown eyes, turning cold once again. "Oh, well…I guess I am that forgettable."

Jeanne panicked, "Oh, I didn't mean…"

"Never mind then," Leroux interrupted her, with a hint of coldness back in his voice, "Have you seen Christine Daae? I would like to have a word with her."

"Oh, her…" Jeanne muttered under her breath. Leroux raised an eyebrow, just like Erik used to do when he would initiate bedding. That stole her heart. Monsieur Leroux was so handsome, but she had to stay away from him because she knew it would never work.

"Well she should be in her dressing room; I hope you find what you are looking for. Goodbye Monsieur." She turned away when he called after her.

"Where are you off to, Miss Cayette? Would you not like to present me?"

She turned back to him as a crowd started to form again, "Madame Giry knows you are here, please see her. She will present you. I…I have to meet someone." The crowd then consumed her and Leroux couldn't see her any longer.

Leroux sighed to himself. "Something is very strange about that woman."


Meanwhile, Meg and Christine were chatting about the performance. There was a new light in Christine's eyes, Meg could tell. A new life awakened within her.

"Where in the world have you been hiding, really you were perfect!" Meg grabbed her hand. "Is it…Is it the Angel you speak of? Oh, I wish he could teach me!"

Christine looked at Meg with eyes of hope. "Meg, you know it's my father that sent this Angel to me! There for he is mine and mine alone," she giggled, "Here in this room, he calls me softly…somewhere inside hiding. Somehow I know he's always with me, he the unseen genius!"

Meg was worried now, but kept a smile on her face. She knew that Christine might be more insane that usual.

"Christine, you must have been dreaming. Stories like this can't come true," she took Christine's hand, and raised her up to leave the chapel, "Christine, you're speaking in riddles and it's not like you!"

Christine put her head down; Meg noticed and tried to make her feel better.

"But," Meg started again, "I watched your face from the shadows, distant from all the applause. I hear your voice in the darkness, but the words aren't yours."

Christine smiled lightly. "Let us go up to my room, we can talk more up there."

"Of course, dear," Meg followed Christine up the Chapel steps.

They entered Christine's Room, avoiding all the crowds by taking a back way. Meg always thought Christine could be so much more than just a dancer. She knew that there was an inner strength in her that would make her become something, but she never thought it would be some sort of an illusion. This Angel of hers scared Meg but she also knew that Christine was not completely comfortable with the fact of an Angel as well.

Christine sat on her bed, Meg followed.

"Who is this Angel, Christine?"

Christine looked up with sorrow filled eyes. "I…I don't know his name, he never revealed it to me. All I know is that here in this room he teaches me to sing and I have never been able to sing the way that I did tonight." She collapsed on her back on top of the bed.

Meg reached for Christine's hand. "If I can be truthful, Meg," Christine murmured, more to herself than to Meg, "It frightens me."

"Don't be frightened."

There was a loud knock on the door. Meg's mother, Antoinette Giry, barged into the room trying to push off all of the press that wanted to get a glimpse of Christine. "No! Get Away!"

She slammed the door behind her. "These men! I wish they flaunted for me!" The three of them laughed.

"Meg, are you a dancer?" Her mother asked, back in her stern manner.

"Well, yes mother, but…" Meg stood up quickly and straightened out her dress.

"Then go and practice! We still have two more performances next weekend!"

Meg quickly left the room, not knowing that her mother new all along whom the Angel really was.


Christine looked up at Madame and quickly rose from the bed. Madame Giry came over to her night stand and picked up a rose that Christine didn't notice before.

"He is pleased with you, Christine. You did well tonight." Christine took the rose with the black ribbon around it and just stared at it.

"Thank you, Madame, I hope he will always be pleased with me."

Madame Giry smiled, knowing the truth and keeping things to herself all these years took a toll on her. She was always very tired. Instead of sinking in to these feelings, she then remembered that she had to tell Christine about the Author.

"Christine, there is a gentleman here who would like to speak to you."

Christine looked up, a bit horrified. "Who…who is it Madame?"

"No need to fear, my dear, it's just an Author. He just wants to ask you a few questions; he is waiting for you outside. Shall I let him in?"

Christine walked over to her mirror and gussied herself up to try and look somewhat presentable. "Yes, yes you may."

Madame sighed, and brought the man in.


Meanwhile, down to Erik's home, Jeanne made her way. She walked past the cobwebs and the five levels under the Opera's main cellars. She knew where all the booby traps were and avoided them. She finally reached Erik's home and saw him taking off his cloak.

"Erik…" Jeanne said, in a weak but semi-loud voice.

Erik stood with his back towards her, still for a few moments. "Jeanne, you came back." He turned to find her face in a very serious manner. Her eyes pierced his soul, this was not the old Jeanne, this was a stronger and more stable Jeanne.

"Yes, I did, I said that I would Erik." Her voice didn't soften one bit. Jeanne knew she had to be strong because if she showed one bit on vulnerability, Erik would catch it and use it against her.

"Did you enjoy Christine's performance?" Erik took a step or two forward, but didn't dare anymore. He was actually quite taken back by her attitude.

"Yes, I did. Were you satisfied with it?" Jeanne stood her ground.

"Of course I did," Erik paused, not sure if he should say the next thing that was on his mind, "You look different, Jeanne."

Good. Jeanne thought. "I do not know what you mean."

They stood there, ten feet between them. Erik just gazing over Jeanne with wanting eyes, he wanted this new Jeanne, and he wanted to fight with her, in bed, take out all the rage that they both had between each other. He wanted to strip off everything and take her; he wanted her to put up a fight.

Jeanne on the other hand didn't even want to be in his presence. She knew the look that he was giving her and she knew that he wanted her. Even though she wanted so much to please him, she couldn't. When a man is aroused there mind isn't clear and there body thinks for them. She knew if she did give in to him that he would cast her aside again after it was all over. She wanted him to only want her, all the time. Jeanne stood her ground.

"You look stronger and more beautiful than ever." Erik snuck another few steps towards her, but was careful.

Jeanne just stared at him, trying so hard to scare him away, but all it was doing was making him advance towards her.

"You look so upset as well, Jeanne, shouldn't you be happy to see your husband?" Another few steps, they were about two feet apart now. She could smell his familiar smell now. The smell she fell in love with.

"You mean a secret husband." He voice wasn't as strong as before. Sadness filled her heart taking over the anger. She tried so hard to keep her poker face on. He was right in front of her now. He brought her chin up so he could stare into her eyes once more.

"Why do you torture me in this way, Jeanne? You know I cannot be seen," he leaned in to try and kiss her.

She moved her face away so he kissed her cheek. He brought her face back to him. "I missed you so much, Jeanne. Please come to bed with me. I need you."

Jeanne pushed him off and quickly backed away from him. "No, I will not." She remembered herself.

A look of frustration spread across his face like wildfire. "If you don't come to me, I will come to you!"

Panic spread all over Jeanne's body as he walked faster towards Jeanne as she tried to back away, but she hit a wall and couldn't go any further. He pushed her shoulders back into the wall and put his lips on hers. He pressed his body against hers to try and feel every inch of her. Jeanne struggled at first but he was too strong. She melted in his arms.

He then stopped the kiss and they stared at each other for a moment, until Jeanne made the mistake of leaning back in for more. He picked her up as they kissed and brought her over to the bed and laid her down a top of the satin sheets that she missed so much.

"Oh, Jeanne," Erik said, in between kisses, "I've missed you so much." He started to undress her and she started to undress him. The passion was boiling up in both of them.

All of a sudden, Erik stopped and looked at her, tears started to swell drop from his eyes onto her face.

"Jeanne, I…I…," he started to rise from her, "I can't do this to you!" He bolted from the bed and started putting his clothing back on.

Jeanne sat up from the bed, confused. "Why? What did you do?"

He just cried and moaned in grief. Jeanne had no idea what was going on. She put her dress back on and ran to him, she didn't know how to stop him from trembling the way he was.

He hit her hand away from him. "Jeanne, please! I need…I need you to leave. I…I need to be alone."

Jeanne not understanding what was happening, asked again, "Erik! What did you do!?"

"Please," Erik turned to her, his face red and wet with tears, "You must go! It is almost time!"

"Erik, PLEASE!"

"I love you Jeanne, but please, you must go now! I will come for you." He quickly disappeared to the other side of his house.

He left Jeanne there alone, to wonder back up to the dormitories, knowing deep in her soul he stopped everything because of Christine…


Thanks for everyone who has been following my story! It means so much to me that you are all sticking with it! Also shout out to the awesome people who found this story through my YouTube Channel "Deviltakesdahindmost9" you guys are so awesome! I appreciate every single review and every new person I meet here, so please, keep the reviews coming and make sure to follow this story and fave to get updates on when I upload!

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