Disclaimer: I do not own POTO. This may be up a little later than I expected, but here it is!

Chapter 10: The rising son

Shortly after Christine and Erik went back to sleep, Meg left the lair to meet Christoph. They met at his large estate nearby Paris. As she entered the gates, she noticed a lot of morbid gargoyles. To Meg, he seemed to be a very morbid person, probably due to his mother's death. He knocked at the door and a butler answered the door.

"Good morning Meg." the butler said.

"Hello Pierre." Meg replied.

Pierre was carrying a candelabra and ascended the staircase. She took notice of the statues of men holding the railing of the stairs. They looked tortured, battle-scared and deformed. Everything was dusty and covered in spider-webs. However, everything had a clean look when she entered the top potion of the ball room, which was an observatory. She heard beautiful violins playing some familiar tunes. Christoph greeted Meg warmly.

"Good morning my love." Christoph then gently kissed her hand. Meg blushed.

"Oh Christoph." Meg said.

"Let us eat some breakfast." Christoph then led Meg to his dining room, which again in contrast to the rest of the home's morbid look. Everything in the room was shining with silver and gold. The tables and cabinets were made fro cherry wood. For breakfast, they had scrambled eggs with some ham, toast, and a variety of muffins.

"Christoph, your spoiling me." Meg remarked.

"I'm not spoiling you enough Meg." Christoph replied. "Would you care to dance?"

"I'd love to."

The two lovers excited the kitchen and went into the ballroom. They danced for about a half-hour. The two of them sat on his back deck, which was a beautiful sight.

"Christoph, I have to go, my mother will be worried." Meg said as she turned to Christoph, taking his hand.

Christoph looked down, almost how Erik often looked down to make a decision. "Alright then, may come with you to return you home?"

"No, thank you, but no. Just have Pierre drop me off by the opera house."

"Alright then, I hope to see you soon."

"Bye then."

As the carriage left the house, she noticed that Christoph went to his observatory without waving goodbye to her.

At the lair, Madame Giry woke up Christine and Erik.

"Where's Meg?" she yelled.

"Isn't she here?" Christine added.

Erik then looked into the lake. "Where could she have gone?" Madame Giry added.

"Wait, I may have some idea of where she is. You know that man she was talking about?" Erik asked.

"Yeah, go on." Christine responded.

"Well maybe she is with the Riscarri boy."

"So stupid, she could have revealed the location of the lair." Madame Giry yelled out.

Meg then rowed on her boat towards the dock. She expected to get back before anyone was awake, but she met a different response.

"Young lady, where have you been? Madame Giry said in a violent tone.

"I was at Christoph's mansion." Meg replied.

"You could have been killed! Meg, one of the Night-crawlers could have killed you!"

"I'm sorry mother, but I have a right to be happy."

"True, but as your mother, I also have a right to know that my daughter is not running around getting killed or worse out there."

Meg looked at Christine and Erik. Christine gave an apologetic look while Erik looked down as he usually did. Meg went to Christine's room with her to cry about her problems.

"Erik, do you think I overreacted?" Madame Giry asked Erik.

"You made a valid point. You are her mother, and you do have a right to know she is safe" Erik replied.

Christine and Meg were in the bedroom discussing things about Christoph.

"Why can;t I be happy like you and Erik are?" Meg cried.

"I wish there was something I could do, but until this crisis is solved, we are going to have to deal with the cards that have been dealt to us." Christine replied.

Erik went to his organ to compose the rest of his opera. He changed the title to Lonesome Angel. He found it a more, fitting title than Redeeming Angel. The last scene was meant to be both sad, and happy at the same time, and it was a piece of music that could make a person cry. Erik had that effect. Christine then touched Erik on the shoulder. He sighed, and closed his eyes while touching her hand.

"Erik, I feel so lucky right now." Christine said, almost about to tear up. "Meg isn't able to be with the one she treasures without sneaking out."

"Oh Christine, I feel lucky as well." Erik stated.

Christine gave Erik a massage, Erik never had one or heard of one, but it was getting him aroused. He looked up, and they kissed each other, slowly. They were not concentrating, but when Madame Giry entered the room...

"Monsieur! Madame Giry exclaimed.

"I apologize Madame. Me and Christine weren't concentrating and..." Erik said

"It is of no matter, anyway, I just came to tell you that me and Meg will be leaving for a while." Madame Giry told them. "Do you want me to bring anything back?"

"No, we're fine, thank you." Christine said.

Madame Giry and Meg walked away and Erik and Christine looked into each others eyes.

"Erik, can we just talk for now?" Christine asked. "I kinda got out of the mood with Madame Giry walking into the room and stuff."

"Its perfectly alright. I also wanted to be alone to talk with you." Erik replied. "I did enjoy Madame Giry and Meg's company but..."

Christine then put her finger on his mouth. "Hush. I understand." She put her hand on his chest. "You know, I would have expected a bigger heart. She the went up to his ear and whispered: "Especially from someone like yourself."

"My angel, where are your wings?"

"You give me too much credit Erik. I am only an angel because of your kindness."

Erik and Christine then went on their bed and cuddled up.

In Belgium, a hooded man riding on a horse was heading towards an extravagant palace. It was also known as "Heaven's Castle". A guard then told him to stop.

"Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked.

"Tell Mastermind that Mr. C is here to see him.

In Mastermind's office, he was holding a picture of a young lady. He smiled as Mr. C approached him. Mastermind differed from Mr. C because he wore a mask that was half black/half white. On the white side, there was a smile, while the black mask that had a frown.

"Ah, Mr. C, what brings you this far?" Mastermind asked.

"I the hoods have brought over more women." Mr. C replied.

"Excellent. So there has not been any "angels" to ruin my problems?"

"Not since that one night."

"Good, now I want you to look at this plan, only use this when I tell you understand?"

"Got it."

"Good, now leave me."

Mr. C left, and Mastermind laughed with delight.