Disclaimer: I do not own The Phantom of the Opera or The Little Mermaid. They belong to their respective owners. I own some of the minor characters.

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Chapter 11: Getting Answers

xXx Poseidon

"Yes, sir, we found her. You are not going to like it though." Robert said in a stern voice. His voice sounded confidant, but his face showed fear. He was afraid of what I would do. I think he feared for his life.

I got up from my throne and came closer to Robert and Carrie. "Where is she? Is she alright?" I asked in a panicked voice. The first thing I thought when he said I wouldn't like it was that she was dead. I was worried, I couldn't think of living without my Christine.

"She is… how do I say this… different." He said in an uncomfortable, knowing voice.

I was confused and demanded Robert to explain what he saw.

"We went up to the surface" He said as he gestured to Carrie and himself, "because Miss Carrie claimed we should check it out just in case. I agreed and when we got up there we saw her."

I was shocked. "Doesn't she realize that if a human see's her all mermen and mermaids are in grave danger? Why didn't you bring her back here?" I commanded with an angry expression.

"We couldn't bring her back because… she was… indisposed." He said a little awkwardly.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Robert was avoiding telling me out of fear of my reaction. I looked to Carrie for an answer. All I knew is Christine was at the surface and not able to return.

Carrie quickly answered as if she was tired of this dodging game. "Christine is a human. Somehow she got legs and she is living as a human being. We saw her in the water with a human man. They were kissing." Her face became red in discomfort at telling me such an intimate detail. They must have been doing more than kissing from the look on Carrie's face.

I was frozen, I tried processing all the information I heard in the last five seconds. My head was spinning and I was dumbfounded. I didn't know how to react to this piece of information. 'How can she have legs?' I went from astonishment to anger. 'How could she do this to her family? If she is human for life what am I going to do with Raoul and Jonathon? I am going to end up fighting against them.' Carrie brought me out of my thoughts.

"I know why she ran away." She said.

"What? Why?" I asked quickly ready to throttle Carrie for answers.

"Think about it. You were about to give her away to a selfish, hateful merman that she has always despised. She didn't want to get married and live an unhappy life with him. She has always believed in marrying because of love not because it is the right thing to do. When I saw her a week ago staring at a man sitting on the land she looked happy and content. She found a man that she could possibly love. From what I saw they do love each other." She said out of breath.

I softly said to Carrie as if she was a little girl again, "Darling, you don't know this but your mother and I were brought together by an arranged marriage. I hadn't met her until the marriage ceremony. We came to love each other over time and we made two beautiful daughters with that love. Christine needs to understand that love doesn't happen automatically, it takes time."

Carrie was about to say something, but I dismissed her. I gave her the look that said if she didn't leave now something bad would happen. She left in a rush fuming, but I didn't care, all I cared about was getting Christine back.

I turned to Robert and gave my last order. "Robert, go back up there and watch for her. The second you see her again come and get me." As Robert went off to fulfill my request I headed to the Giry household. If anyone knew how Christine became human her best friend would.

xXx Erik

Keith told me that my father had something important to tell me, it was urgent. After retrieving my mask, shirt and shoes from the cliff I went straight to the castle to hear what my father had to say.

The whole way I couldn't think of anything but Christine. The look she gave me when I showed her my face, she didn't look shocked or scared. She then started to tell me about her family. She seemed to really miss them, but she can't return to them because of her fiancé, Raoul. He seems like an evil human being that doesn't deserve the beauty and love that Christine offers. When she asked me what I do to get away and feel free I gave her two answers. One was more of a look, which she understood, somehow. The next thing I knew she was removing her shoes. She insisted on us going through with it. I couldn't stop her so I made to undress myself.

We jumped into the water holding hands but the impact of hitting the water loosened our grasp. I can hold my breath for a long time and by the time I got up for air Christine was looking around for me. I decided to be playful and come up behind her. She jumped at my touch, but her gasp of fear became a moan of pleasure as I started kissing her neck. The taste of her skin and the feel of her soft hair on my face were overpowering. I backed her up against the rocks, held her and made love to her mouth. I became so unbearably hard I started to rub against her to get some kind of relief, which just made Christine sigh harder. We were so heated and aroused with each other that I didn't hear Keith calling my name. Christine had to push me away so I could clear my senses.

As I was thinking of our passionate embrace it became harder to walk. I looked down to see my erection poking at my breeches calling to be set free. I had to think of something to make it go away, I couldn't walk into my father's study with a raging hard on, that would be too embarrassing to discuss.

I started to think of anything that wasn't arousing, Grandmother, haggis, cold bath, mother, and father. It started to disappear quickly, thank god, just as I was heading down the hallway to my father's study.

I politely knocked on the door before entering and saw my father sitting at his desk writing on documents. He looked up to see me and stood up quickly. I wasn't sure what was so important, it could be future king duties or party planning.

"Son, I have something for you." He said as he went over to a drawer and opened it.

"Shouldn't you wait till Saturday night to give me my present?" I asked in a bantering manner.

"This is a different kind of gift." He said as he came over to me holding something in his hand. He held out a small black box waiting for me to take it. I took it into my hands and for a minute I just looked at it knowing what was lying inside.

I held the box in my hand and opened it slowly. Inside was a beautiful diamond encrusted on a silver band. There were many diamonds of different shapes and sizes around the band. It was old, but still glistened like a chandelier.

"That was the ring my father bought for my mother for their engagement. I thought we could use it again in the family to pass it down. I want you to ask Christine for her hand." Cian said to me.

I looked into his eyes in shock. I knew he wanted me to propose to Christine but, giving me his mother's ring really brought this to life. Before it was just a fantasy, but now it is reality. I closed the box and put the ring in my pocket to keep it safe. I couldn't do anything but give my father a hug. He seemed surprised but quickly hugged me back. Before it could get uncomfortable we pulled away from each other and for the first time in my life I saw tears coming down my father's cheeks.

"What's wrong?" I asked overpowered with emotion.

"Nothing, I am just so happy for you. I want you to be happy and I believe Christine can make that happen." He said as he wiped the tears from his eyes and cheeks with a handkerchief. He seemed to be just as emotional as me.

"She has made me happy. She is perfect. This is all going so fast; we only met four days ago." I said in amazement. I feel like I have known her for years. 'I love her more than music. Wait, I love her? Yes, I do love her.' That realization surprised me, but I knew that it was real love and it couldn't be denied.

"There are husbands and wives that become engaged on their first meeting. There are even people that meet at their own wedding. I'm surprised you haven't gotten married already." He said in a joking tone, laughing.

I laughed as well. He had a point; a lot of people I know have gotten married quicker than Christine and I becoming engaged. At least with this relationship I love her. I don't know how she feels for me, but I will find out. I thanked my father for the talk and the ring and left his study.

I started walking towards the music room, I had a song planned to sing for Christine of my feelings for her. Now I think I will make it a proposal song.

There is still a few more hours until dinner time so I can get a lot of work done. I entered the music room and went straight to the piano. I pulled out the sheet music I had just started and ran through what I had so far. I thought about all the moments Christine and I had together in the last few days.

The first day started off serious and soon became awkward. I honestly thought she was poor because she had no clothes and didn't seem to have a home or family. I even had to teach her how to walk and stand. She's in her early twenties and she doesn't know how to walk. Even during the tour I gave her she seemed to lose herself in the surroundings. A fireplace was interesting to her. At one point I thought she was from another world.

There were many awkward moments in that first day, her sitting naked on the beach without a care in the world being one of them. I had to tell myself not to stare, which turned out to be very difficult. Her shapely body and pale complexion looked gorgeous in the sunlight. Another awkward moment was when I came into the bathroom to give her a dress and she stood up. Her body was covered in bubbles from the soap, but it still didn't hide her perfect breasts and cluster of brown curls in the triangle of her thighs. That picture has stuck with me since it happened. It was uncomfortable to be in that situation but it was also a pretty site. I remember after I left to get her food and came back she was asleep on my bed. She looked so peaceful and content I just wanted to hold her, which is exactly what I did. Holding her the next morning and seeing her face smiling up at me was the most amazing thing I have ever seen in my twenty-five years.

All those awkward moments brought us closer in a way. We ended up spending a whole day together in town and did a lot of fun things. I got my first experience in many things that day. It was the first time a woman made me feel safe. Christine squeezed my arm to let me know everything would be alright when I was nervous being around so many people. I also got the first touch of a woman's hand in mine that wasn't out of politeness. I would hold a woman's hand to bring them to their seat or get them on the dance floor during a party or dinner, but never because I wanted to. Christine's hand was soft and warm that day I never felt more content. I also got my first passionate dance. Christine and I moved like we were made for each other. We fit so perfectly, like a puzzle piece and moved so graciously. It was all so wonderful that I ended up getting my first kiss. I have been kissed by my mother or friends on the cheek, but I have never gotten a kiss on the lips by a woman. Christine was my first for many things, holding hands, intoxicating dancing and passionate kissing. That day was so perfect; I wouldn't give it up for the world.

As I finished my thoughts I started to compose.

By dinner time I got most of the score done and just had to put the right words into it. The words were never hard for me to put together, it just comes from the heart. As I got off the piano bench the dinner bell went off. I hurriedly put the score in a hidden place behind books so no one would find it and made my way to the dining room.

xXx Meg Giry

I'm not going to lie, but I miss Christine. Growing up she was always there and we would spend time together every day. I don't remember a day when I didn't see her or talk to her. Now it has been four days and I feel I will go crazy from not talking to anyone, but my mother.

It will be interesting to see what would happen if she never comes back. What if this Prince Charming says 'I love you' to her? She will be gone forever and I will most likely never see her again. I don't want to think about that, it hurts too much to process.

A knock on the door brought me out of my thoughts and I went to answer it. As I opened the door, dread and nervousness came over me as I looked into the eyes of King Poseidon.

"Hello, sir. What can I do for you?" I asked nervously. Without a word he came forward and passed me as if I wasn't there. Knowing he wasn't going to leave anytime soon I closed the door and turned to face him.

"Would you like anything?" I asked offering out of politeness, he is the King after all.

"Is your mother home?" he asked without answering my original question. He turned to face me and he had an angry look on his face. I became scared.

"She went out earlier. She should be back soon. Do you want to wait for her or…?" I said but before I could finish he rushed towards me.

"I am not here to talk to your mother. I came to talk to you." He said. My fear went up a notch and I was ready to pass out under his stare. Why would he want to talk to me?

He must be curious to find out where Christine is and thinks I will be able to help him. I can't tell him anything or I risk getting my mother in trouble for using magic. Although he is a father and has lost his daughter; I couldn't imagine being a mother and not knowing where my daughter was.

"I came to ask if you have any knowledge of where Christine may be?" he asked with a blank stare. He didn't sound worried about Christine's whereabouts, which surprised me. I decided to lie, to keep my mother safe and to give Christine a chance at love.

"I don't know where she is. She just disappeared…" I started to say, but was cut off with a loud booming sound coming from the King.

"Do not lie to me. I am the King and you will obey me." He shouted. He grabbed my shoulders in a tight grip to keep me from running. "I know that Christine is human." My eyes widened at this piece of news. How did he find out? "What I don't know is how she is human. You are her best friend and you will tell me why she has legs and how she got them." His voice got louder with every word and he was now screaming in my face to the point that my ear drums were ready to explode.

I couldn't reveal my families secret. I can't tell him that my mother casted a spell and turned Christine into a human. Before I could deny the fact she is human, the King's hold was gone and he was thrown from where he was, across the room and against the wall. He was being held against the wall as if he was stuck there. No one had touched him it was as if a wave of energy lifted him and threw him across the room.

Before my eyes my mother was standing in the doorway with one hand lifted in the direction of Poseidon. She was holding him in his place without touching him.

"What are you doing?" the King yelled in a confused tone.

"It's a little trick I inherited from my ancestors. Telekinesis." My mother said calmly as she came towards me still holding her power on him. I stared at her in confusion. I didn't realize she had any physical powers. I thought she could only cast spells, this was interesting.

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" she asked with a hint of worry but still keeping her calm demeanor.

"Yes. I'm fine. He knows about Christine." I said in a soft tone to keep him from hearing.

"I know." She let go of Poseidon and stood in front of me in a protective stance as she focused on the King. Poseidon fell from the wall onto the ground. He quickly got up and gave us an angry, evil stare.

"What kind of magic is that?" he asked.

"I told you, telekinesis. It isn't the only power I possess, so if you would like to keep your tail, don't touch my daughter." She said defensively.

He still looked angry and didn't like being threatened. He looked at me and looking defeated he apologized.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you and hurting you." He said as he looked at my arms where he had a tight grip on. They looked as if they were starting to bruise. I nodded excepting his apology. He turned his gaze back to my mother and said, "I have one question."

My mother just stared back at him waiting for him to ask his question. She didn't seem at all frightened for her life. She did use magic against the King and turned his daughter into a human.

"Did you turn Christine into a human?" he asked sternly. He just wanted a true answer about his daughter he missed so much.

I thought my mother would deny it like I would but she answered, "Yes."

The King finally asked a question he needed an answer to and got a correct answer. He still wasn't happy. His deceased wife's best friend had turned his own daughter into a creature that lives in another world. With a sad look on his face he softly demanded, "Bring her back to me."

"I can't do that." My mother said. She sounded like she wished she could.

The King came forward ready to attack her, but stopped. After what just happened to him, I would have stopped too. That was not the answer he wanted. All he wanted was his daughter back.

"I made a promise to your daughter. She wanted to be with a human man not an unbearable merman such as Raoul. She didn't leave because of her family or because she was bored with her life down here. She left because she believes in love and getting married out of love and she found a man that she loves. When I helped her she told me that she would do anything to be with him." My mother said, trying to convince him that she did the right thing.

"How many mer-people must I say this to?" The king said in exasperation. "Love doesn't come automatically, there is no such thing as love at first site. Christine will learn to love Raoul in time as I learned to love my late wife." He said with a sad look on his face. It must still be hard for him to talk about the Christine and Carrie's deceased mother.

"Do you really want Christine to learn to love someone or just know the moment she meets him she is meant for him?" my mother asked him resolutely.

The king became silent. I could see his mind processing what she just asked and thinking about what his answer should be. After a few moments of deafening silence his face changed to rage.

'I really hope he doesn't try lashing out again. It was painful to watch him pinned to the wall, ten feet from the ground.' I thought with a cringe.

The king turned and went to the door letting himself out. He opened the door and looked back at us. With an unwavering look he said, "If you won't help me get my daughter back to the world she belongs in, I will just do it myself. You aren't the only one with magic on your side." With that said he closed the door behind him.

I turned to my mother for answers, but she looked just as perplexed as me.