Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she dried the dishes in the kitchens. She and Maureen now dried while a new girl, Brietta, washed.

"The Phantom has yellow parchment as skin and a great hole for the nose that never grew. He dropped a chandelier five years ago, nearly burned the Opera House to the ground! Mad as a hatter, that one is. It was all because he was lusting after the pretty chorus girl-turned Prima Donna." Maureen said.

"Who was the girl?" Brietta asked, hanging on her every word.

"Christine Daae. There was a huge scandal with it. Supposedly Christine was being tutored by the Phantom and he took her to his lair where he used black magic on her. Christine was in love with the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, though, and she was freed from his witchcraft long enough to make plans to betray the Phantom. He appeared at a masquerade as the Red Death and scared everyone, but the Vicomte heroically charged after him, but was rescued later on…The Phantom demanded his opera be performed and they agreed. It was a trap set with gendarmes at every entrance so he could not escape if he attended. Christine was his bait and he appeared at the end of the opera. He knocked Piangi out, taking the role of Don Juan. No one expected that and he tried to seduce Christine while on stage…" Maureen trailed off when she saw the look of horror on Elizabeth's face.

"Go on!" Elizabeth urged.

"Christine pulled his mask off and it disgusted the entire crowd. It was yellow skin stretched over his skull with ugly veins…It was disgusting. The Phantom cut down the chandelier and in the chaos he took Christine to his lair. He fought the Vicomte because he had rope burns on his wrists and around his neck, but the Vicomte managed to get Christine away from the Phantom. And that is the true story of the Phantom." Maureen finished, causing both Brietta and Elizabeth to gasp.

"That's horrible, Maura. Why would she betray him like that?" Elizabeth asked.

"He was a monster! God, Elizabeth, you're so dense." Maureen said, distaste filling her tone.

"Maybe he's suffered, maybe he just wanted someone, some company, a friend…" Elizabeth trailed off.

"No excuse. He should hang, but he's dead anyways so good riddance." Maureen replied scathingly.

Brietta watched their exchange with wide eyes, finally turning to Elizabeth when Maureen left.

"I agree with you, Lissie." Brietta said.

"How old are you?" Elizabeth asked.

"Thirteen." Brietta replied.

"I'm Elizabeth Collins. You can just call me Lissie if you like, everyone called me that back home."

"Okay Lissie." She asked.

Elizabeth let her mind wander to the man she had shared her first kiss with; a man she had left because of a slip of the tongue.

Meanwhile, Erik refused to go anywhere near Elizabeth's room. He was easily irritated and annoyed with everything and he took to stalking the passageways. He came home one day to find Nadir looking for him. In Elizabeth's room.

"Daroga is there a reason for your presence here?" Erik snapped.

"What have you done now?" Nadir asked wearily and Erik saw he had been reading a letter.

"Where…"

"It smells of roses and was on the dresser. I see you've moved on." Nadir said, smiling slightly.

"I am destined to be alone, Daroga." Erik said wearily, sitting on the bed.

"Let me read it out loud, Erik." Nadir said, unfolding the note.

(Erik's thoughts are in Italics)

"Erik you have been very kind to me and I regret I must leave…"

'She regrets it?'

"You may or may not recall when you played the organ you called for someone…"

'I sang and then I kissed her, I never said anything when I played the organ…'

"I don't presume to know what happened between you two, but I know she must have had something special to have captured your interest…"

'Of course she was special…Christine was my life and my music…'

"It's obvious you love her still, I've met her briefly because she and Raoul are friends of Gustave's..."

'Elizabeth has met her…'

"I will remember the time spent here forever and with fondness…"

'Forever? With fondness?'

"It was wonderful to stay in this luxurious world, and I felt as if I had a friend for the first time in many years…"

'Elizabeth must have friends…she's beautiful and compassionate…of course she has other friends…'

"Remember what I told you, though. True beauty lies within and everything else is superficial…"

'So she believes what she told me…'

"You could change the world with your art and music. I am forever in your debt. Elizabeth Lisette Collins." Nadir finished.

'I could change the world…Oh, Elizabeth…'

"What happened while I was away?" Nadir asked, intrigued by the letter.

"I brought her here. I don't know why, Daroga, but I did. She stayed here for a day and then left, but she promised to come back and she did. She says in her note that I played the organ, but I never said anything when I was playing. I sang to her and then ki-I said her name. I called for Christine!" Erik exclaimed, looking rather shocked with himself.

"You sang to her and then you kissed her and called for Christine while doing so…" Nadir said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Fix this quickly du stæm. I shall ask around for her wherabouts if you wish." Nadir offered.

(Du stæm= my friend (Persian))

"No. I'll speak to her later." Erik said, leaving Nadir to wonder what he was planning.