Well here is what I call a chapter of filler. It gives some information on Talia and Raoul but not everything so be prepared for more later. But I'll definatly say its not my favorite chapter it just gets you from point a to point b and set stuff up for the next section.


"It's not fair Alex." Talia petted the dapple gray colt that had been born two nights ago. She sniffled but tried to act brave. "You should be my horse. Papa promised, but he died and Philip says you're Raoul's. Papa shouldn't have died."

"That is my horse!" Raoul yelled seeing Talia petting the colt.

Talia got up and walked out of the stall careful to close it behind her. "I was just saying goodbye."

"You're mad because if papa had lived he'd be yours instead of mine."

"You've got Darius, why can't I have Alexander." Talia objected.

"Because I'm tired of papa's pet getting everything. I didn't even get to say goodbye." Raoul turned quickly and walked out of the stable door.

The vibrations from him slamming the door broke loose an oil lamp from it's holder near the rafters. The burning oil and shards of glass came down on top of Talia. She screamed while her hair and skin caught on fire.

Trivan heard her screams and came running. He shoved her over to a long watering tough and pushed her into it dousing the fire. "Dad get help!" He yelled to his father the stable master.

Talia yanked her hand to her face and half expected to feel bandages still wrapping it. She hadn't dreamed of that night in years and had thought she had been over the accident. It hadn't really been Raoul's fault; anything could have caused the lamp to fall. But he did slam that door. And she could have easily been standing someplace else to avoid the collision with the burning oil.

She got out of bed and wrapped a robe over her nightgown. Forgetting about the scarf she walked out of her room and towards the kitchen. When she arrived there she was surprised to see Raoul standing there.

"When did you get back?" She moved her hair to cover the right side of her face.

"A few minutes ago. Hungry?" He asked offering half of a sandwich he had made.

Talia took it and leaned against the counter. "Thanks."

"I remember many a time when we would sneak here at night and get food." Raoul smiled at her. "Back then things were different."

"Very."

"Talia you know I'm sorry about what happened that night, and I would do anything to change it." Raoul looked to the ground.

"It wasn't your fault." Talia told him.

"While I was in London I saw an old friend, he's a doctor now. He's done some amazing things with surgery maybe…"

Talia raised her hand to stop him. "No, I am not going to let somebody carve my face up and make it worse than what it is. I'll continue to live they way I have for the past eight years."

"As a hermit?"

"Your words not mine." You should have given me more than Alexander for what you put me through. She turned and walked away.

"Talia, I love you sis."

She didn't reply she just continued on her way.

Talia slipped out of her chambers hoping to make it to the stables unnoticed and spend the day with Alexander driving away demons from her past, but she soon found the entire manor was up and moving about. She had barely gotten two feet from the door when she was swooped up into a hug from behind.

"Hello my little ghost."

Talia smiled which surprised Christine and Raoul who had just entered the hall. She turned once her feet touched the ground and threw her arms around Philip's neck. "Your home!"

Philip eagerly returned his little sister's embrace. "You would think I've been gone for a decade."

"You might as well have." Talia said studying Philip. His sand brown hair was still long like Raoul's and he still had dark blue eyes that compared to the night sky, but he looked older. He really took being the Count De Chagny seriously and it showed.

"Raoul this enchanting creature must be the famous Christine." Philip said moving away from Talia. He raised Christine's hand to his lips and kissed it lightly. "I am sorry I haven't been around to properly welcome you to the family, I hope Talia has made good in my stead."

"I have felt very welcomed." Christine said partially lying not wanting an argument between Talia and Philip or Talia and herself.

"Good, good. Now to make this even better we are going to a concert this evening." Philip said. "And you my dear Talia should love it, its Beethoven. And how could Christine not love it." He said.

My god what is my brother on. Talia smiled at him. "What time should I be ready by."

"Eight. The carriage leaves at eight. Now Raoul and I have things to discus so we will leave you ladies to your primping." Philip led Raoul away towards his office.

Talia turned but then stopped to look at Christine. She could tell the former opera singer was scared. She walked up to her. "Are you afraid he'll be there?"

Christine only nodded.

"He won't hurt you I promise. He'd have to get through Raoul, Philip and me and I'm pretty good with a sword." Talia said trying to cheer the girl up.

"Talia how can you be so brave?" Christine asked.

"Because nothing can be worse than what I face."

"I heard the servants talking one night, is," she pointed to the scarf, "is it as bad as they say."

You have to learn to trust Talia. Her father had told her that when she was afraid to take a jump on her pony. You have to learn to trust or you will hide yourself away in fear.

Talia took Christine's hand and led her into the north wing. When they got into her room she unwrapped the scarf and pulled away her hair. She waited for a scream or gasp but neither came. She finally looked into Christine's eyes and saw such a look of pity.

"What happened?"

"A fire in the stable."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be you didn't do it." Talia wrapped the scarf back on.

"Talia I could be stepping out of my boundaries again, but wouldn't it clip some rumors if you revealed your face?" Christine said.

"What happened to your phantom when somebody saw his face? It may stop rumors but it doesn't stop stares and gasps. I've had women hide their children afraid my face would give them nightmares."

"My god." Christine sat down on a chair near the vanity.

"What hurt the most is those children were my friends." Talia said walking to a closet and starting to look for a dress.

Christine looked even more shocked. "How old were you?"

"Twelve." She pulled a deep burgundy dress out of the closet that was decorated in black beads.

Christine choked. Twelve years old! Why not Erik had to live with his all his life, but my god!

Talia laid the dress on the bed and then went to the dresser. She opened a drawer and removed a black shear scarf, and a pair of long black gloves. "I know you're curious but shouldn't you be getting ready for the concert?"

"Can I admit to you I don't know what to wear? I don't have many formal dresses yet."

Talia then smiled. My god I feel almost human again. I wish Anna was back from Germany to see this. She walked over to the closet and pulled a bright blue dress out. "This should do." She walked to Christine. "I love it but…" She held it up and Christine could see that the hem line was clearly inches above her ankles. "So it should fit you."

Christine stood up and took the offered dress. "Talia, I can't."

"Please, take it as an apology for the rotten way I've treated you. Now I think you should start to get ready. If you'd like I could call Lira to do your hair. She's very good."

"The dress is enough."

"No it isn't." Talia pulled a pair of off white gloves out of the dresser that matched the pearls that adorned the dress. "These go with it too."

Talia shifted in the carriage trying to be comfortable. She found Raoul, Christine, and Philip's incessant chatter about the opera de popular boring. However, the boring conversation would be worth it to hear Beethoven's music being played in the concert hall.

"Did you attend the theater the night of the fire Talia?" Philip asked.

"No, I was with Anna that evening. We had planned to go but her mare had a foal that night." I should have gone just to spite Raoul with his warning to stay away from the opera.

"Oh, it was probably best that you weren't there." Philip said patting her hand.

Why? Afraid I might have run off with the Phantom?

Talia sat in the chair the farthest back from the opening. She quietly arranged her skirts and waited for the concert to begin.

"Don't you want to sit up here and see the orchestra?" Christine asked.

"No, I only wish to hear them." Talia leaned back into the overstuffed chair. She twitched slightly when a violin hit a sharp note while he was doing his last minute tuning. Then there was applause as the conductor walked onto the stage.

The orchestra is in good form tonight. Few could appreciate such beauty. Erik was saddened when they stopped for intermission. He glanced across the theater and spotted the Chagnys sitting in their private box.

Christine looked beautiful in the bright blue dress with pearls adoring her hair. He felt the old pain of jealousy when Raoul leaned over and kissed her. He looked behind them to ignore it and saw Talia almost completely hidden in the shadows.

Surprisingly he was interested in why she was there. Of course she loves Beethoven. He looked at her and like her dressed in deep burgundy with black trim. It set her golden hair off beautifully. She also wore a sheer scarf on her face to hide the scars. If a man would look past her face and to her soul they would find no imperfections.

Talia looked up to the area that was suppose to hold more private boxes, but they had decided nobody would want a box so high up so they had only the front railing and curtains. But she felt like somebody was up there watching her.

Erik moved back away from the curtain he could have sworn Talia had just looked straight at him.

Erik watched the Chagnys walk to their carriage from the shadows. Once again she looked towards him. He turned quickly, pulling the brim of the hat her wore down over his face as he walked towards where Caesar was tied. He swung up on the black horse and charged into the night.