Note: I'm sorry it tooki so long to update but I lost my flow and then my computer stopped working. I know this chapter's short but it's something, ne? () Anyway, I hope you like it.

She stared at him as he descended the staircase regally. She had to concentrate so her mouth didn't drop open. She had to be careful not to let on her feelings toward him. Despite the fact that her mask covered a great portion of her reaction, she had to keep her body language in accordance with fear and surprise. She backed up slowly to avoid his path which was right where she had been standing while she was dancing. Then she realized he was still speaking.

"...finished score, Don Juan Triumphant!" He threw down the leather-bound stack of parchment and drew his rapier. She gasped loudly and, thankfully, so did the people around her. It was the music she'd heard that Christmas night when she snuck down to give him the gift she'd made. He had been writing an opera for the company! She was almost giddy with a combination of knowing she'd been the first to hear his music and anxiety to hear it in full form with vocals and dance. Then the realization that she would be performing in his opera. She was sure she was going to faint from excitement.

"Fondest greeting to you all, a few instruction just before rehearsal starts. Carlotta must be taught to act, not her normal trick of strutting 'round the stage." He'd approached and stuck the tip if his rapier in Carlotta's too-big headdress and ruffled it harshly. She squeaked indignantly and looked as though she was either going to finally topple over or faint from embarrassment. Serves her right, Janice thought. Then Piangi stepped forward in some sad attempt to protect his huffy accomplice. The pantom took this opportunity to turn his sights on him.

"Our 'Don Juan' must loose some weight, it's not healthy in a man of Piangi's age." He poked his rapier in Piangi's stomach to make his point. Pigani took on the same look that Carlotta had had..Janice thought he'd been too lenient on them, considering he was fully capable of murder. All the same, she watched, keeping her spine perfectly straight in accordance with her extensive training to conceal her true reactions.

He turned on Andre and Fermin. "And my managers must learn that their place is in an office, not the arts." He swung his rapier menacingly making them both jump back in fear of being sliced. Janice tried with all her might but a small giggle still escaped and she covered it up as a choking gasp.

Then he turned to Christine who was standing at the foot of the staircase staring up at him in awe. Damnable Christine, where's your precious prince? Janice thought, noticing that Raoul had disappeared.

"As for our star, Miss Christine Daae...No doubt she'll do her best, it's true her voice is good, she knows, though should she wish to excel, she has much still to learn, if pride will let her return to me, her teacher...her teacher." He had advanced on her and was now mere inches from her face. Janice's shoulders slumped slightly. He'd been her teacher all this time? All these years and now that Raoul had showed up he was simply of no use to her any longer? What a wretched female. It was then that Janice lost all respect she'd ever had for Miss Christine.

She then saw him reach out for the small chain that held a ring between Christine's breasts. "Your chains are still mine, you belong to me." He then wrenched it from her neck and disappeared into the floor in a puff of smoke. Then everything happened in a flash. Raoul flew out of nowhere and jumped into the trapdoor mere seconds before it snapped closed. Out of the corner of her eye, Janice saw Madame Giry run from the ballroom and without a second thought, Janice followed her into the bowels of the opera house.

I'll write more as soon as I can ()