Oh wow, we are nearly in double figures with the chapters. Your follows and favorites are much appreciated, so are all the lovely reviews. Im sorry to any Raoul lovers out there sorry hes a bit of a monster in this story.

But Im glad to see your enjoying it!

I again dont own anything. Wish I did.

Chapter 9-Christine POV.

I had wished to ask my Maestro so many questions, but something told me to wait and let him tell me. The fact whenever I went to touch him he would jump or jerk away, told me something haunted this man, something big and scary. When I went to touch his hands, he had pulled them away, his skin was so pale, white even, his hands were so extraordinarily long and thin, and on his left finger he wore a beautiful gold ring with a round black stone set in the middle. As he had jerked away something caught my eye, on his delicate wrist was a deep purple lines, they looked like scars, maybe my eyes were teasing me in the candle light.

I had fallen asleep at my Maestros feet, his song was so beautiful so sad, his voice was so soft it cushioned me in a bubble of beautiful sound, I soon found my eyes heavy and I let them slip shut. I fell asleep my mind, full of beautiful images of my Maestros song and his kingdom. I felt myself be moved slightly. I opened my eyes, I was in my Maestros arms he was carrying me to my room. He saw my eyes were open and nearly dropped me.

'Christine, Im sorry, you fell asleep. I would of touched you otherwise!' He looked away from my eyes quickly.

I felt safe in his arms, his light touch. I snuggled closer to his chest, he smelt of candles, that warm melting wax smell.

'Maestro dont worry, thank you.' I yawned, sleep was taking me again. I could feel his hands shaking beneath me.

He all but glided to my rooms door, taking long elegant strides. He placed me down gently outside my door. He looked at his patent shoes. His mis allied eyes looking at the floor.

'Goodnight Christine.' He said with a small stiff bow.

'Goodnight Maestro.' I smiled, slightly hurt how he didnt return it.

I went to my bed and snuggled up. The smell of my Maestro and his light touch in my mind, I quickly fell asleep.

I awoke to the soft knocking at my door. I pushed the covers off and opened it, my Maestro was standing there, tall and well dressed in a white poets shirt and black waist jacket.

'Good morning Christine, Im sorry to wake you so early, but I must return you up top. For now you must still keep that job.' He said this with disgust. 'But I thought we could train once more before I return you.'

I grinned at the thought of a lesson.

'I shall get changed and then Ill be with you.'

I went to the stacked closet and decided on a light purple dress, it was beautiful, I adored it. I giggled and skipped to the vanity, were I attacked my hair with the beautiful brush. Then rushed to the door.

The corners of my Maestros mask lifted when he saw me, in his hands he had a tray filled with pastry and a cup of steaming tea.

'I made you breakfast Christine, I dont recommend ever singing on an empty stomach.' I walked over and sat down, he placed the piled tray before me.

'Oh Maestro, this is perfect, thank you!' I sipped at my tea, it was perfectly sweet, I was ravenous and attacked the chocolate pastry in seconds. Then I realised my Maestro wasnt eating, just watching me. I pushed the tray towards him.

'Please Maestro, I shant eat all of this!' he raised a long gloved hand at me.

'Thank you Christine, but I do not have much of a taste for food.' I looked at him concerned, I could see his ribs through his tight waist jacket. I ate nearly all of the pastrys and drained the cup of tea. The whole time I ate my Maestro watched me, I was slightly unnerved by his gaze, but the silence wasnt uncomfortable. He cleared my tray when I had finished. I thanked him time and time again. He returned them with a number courteous nods.

'Come Christine we shall sing now' I skipped behind him to the glorious music room, he turned and looked at me, his eyes glittering and the corners of his mask lifting.

'My child that was beautiful. Your voice, is glorious. I will tell you a secret, the Opera Populaire has new managers coming soon and there will be auditions no doubt. And you, you my dear, will be auditioning for the lead.' My Maestros voice echoed all around as we walked up the black corridors to the surface of the Opera house, I didnt want to leave my Maestros kingdom, to leave this glorious place or his side.

'Oh Maestro, do you really think so!' I doubted him slightly, 'the lead?' Me the lead, surely he was joking or lying. Me the lead! I wouldnt ever be good enough.

'Yes my dear, the lead. Then all shall hear you. Even your Papa.' I grinned wildly, as we reached the pivoting wall of the chapel.

'I must leave you now my child. But meet me here again tonight and we shall train again. And Christine, I shall always be with you.'

He pushed the wall open

'My child, please promise me something. You do not tell anyone about me. I dont want others wanting umm lessons, you are my song bird.'

I smiled at this.

'Of course Maestro. I promise.' I turned to thank him but he was already gone into the darkness.

I walked to my room, it was only early still, so only a few people were up and about. I had a mind full of feelings. I had met my Maestro. Been to his glorious kingdom, but there was something odd about my Maestro, he was amazingly talented, kind, gracious, but he had a certain air about him, a certain mystery, the fact he trembled under my touch, panicked when he did touch me, and the mask. Something haunted this man. This fallen angel, something that prevented him from showing his talents, that kept him in the darkness. I reached my room,and pushed open the door. Were I was met by a very worried Meg.

'Christine! Oh my goodness! Were have you been, Ive been so worried.' Meg held me at arms length, her face filled with worry.

'Im fine Meg, I umm fell asleep in the Chapel. I came back here after supper got changed then just fell asleep in there. Im sorry to have worried you.' I blushed, I hated lying to her.

'Oh you silly dit! Well as long as your okay. I was worried sick! I must go to dance now, or mumma will murder me!' She skipped out the room giving me a wave.

I felt so bad. But I promised my Maestro I wouldnt tell anyone. I walked to the stage, to collect the costumes. When everyone was huddled around, the man I knew was the mananger Reyner and two others I did not recognise.

'My good ladies and gentleman, Iam aware that there have been rumours of my retirement, I can now tell you these rumors are all true.' there was a giant gasp and frantic whispering through the crowds of people on the stage.

'May I introduce your new managers Monsiuer Andre and Monsiuer Firmin.'

Raouls POV

We arrived at the Opera house, I didnt care for artiechture, but I knew this building was regarded as beautiful. I didnt see what was beautiful about bricks and stone. They were just hard and cold, no love could be given to them. We entered through the doors. I was tense, I needed to make a good impression.

'Relax baby brother. They will adore you. Remember what I said.' My brother grinned at me, flashing his beautiful teeth.

'Ahh Monsiuer le Vicomte!' said a voice we both turned, there was the old manager Reyner walking towards us.

'I cannot tell you how grateful Iam to know the Opera House will have good patrons.' he said to my brother.

'No no, monsieur. I shall not be a patron, but my brother Raoul.' He pointed at me, Reyner smiled.

'Sorry monsiuer.' he bowed to me. 'I shall show you round.'

I felt like I had power already, as we walked through the Opera house, everyone stopped to look at us. The whispered, the gasped. The young girls were beautiful. Gosh so many beautiful girls, all elegant and young. My throat went dry at the thought of the young, pure, ballerinas. We watched from the patrons box.

'God, gosh, youve been lucky Raoul. These girls are delightful.' I grinned, finally I had something that wasnt my brothers.

'Come, I will introduce you to the cast.' Reyner sighed at my brothers comment.

We walked down the stairs, to the stage, were the cast were now assembled. We walked through the parting corwds, the girls squealed and gasped as we walked past them. I could hardly suppress my grin. All the attention.

'My good ladies and gentleman, I welcome our new patron Raoul Vicomte de Chagny.' The girlish mutterings got louder and they began to clap. I took a bow, I could do this. I really could. All eyes were on me, not on my brother who hung back slightly in the wing of the stage. After had been introduced we were led through the whispering crowds and around to further rooms. I didnt care, I wasnt listening to this waffling old man. I didnt care about the arts, or about the creator of the Opera House. I cared about being better then my brother. I signed some pages of parchment, that were placed before me. We were leaving the office, when I heard girlish screeching.

'Oh look its the filthy slave.' it screeched and was followed by cackling laughs, my brother and I rounded the corner to see a group of ballerinas surrounding a young girl who was kneeling on the floor frantically, trying to pick up pieces of dropped material. The noticed us, and stooped their cackling, the girl kneeling on the floor, was beautiful. My breath was taking away, her long hair was brown, her small face was pale and splattered with tears and her large blue eyes were big and sad. She was stunning. Totally breath taking, she reminded me of someone. That was the girl I wanted. I wanted her. She had a look of innocence about her, she needed protecting, she needed a man. I would be that man.

'You must be the vicomte.' One of the ballerinas purred in my ear. I didnt listen my eyes were fixed on the girl on the floor. She rubbed the tears from her eyes. I went to reach for a piece of material and return it to her, but she quickly snatched it away before I could reach it. She jumped up and ran away before I could say something to her. But she was familiar. I was sure I had seen her before, a remeberance of the beach hit me and something about a scarf.

By the look on my brothers paling face, so did he.

'Phillipe what ever is the matter?' I asked, as he leant up against the wall panting.

Sorry it was so short.

I hope you enjoyed it.

Please let me know wha you think!

Thanks so much.

*a song written by Erik for reviewers/followers/favoriters*