Hey, readers! I'm back with another update. As I said, sorry if this story seems to be moving too slowly. Erik does appear in this chapter.

Chapter 11

Revisiting an Enemy

Through the mass of people wandering through the opera house, Meg and Alethea were tugging themselves away, moving towards the chapel, where they could most likely converse alone. However, it wasn't a stroll in the park. Members everywhere were randomly standing and gossiping and some were just standing in the way.

"Why can't we just get through?" Alethea whispered to Meg.

Meg shrugged. "Because people can't tell when they have to move."

But before they could even be within one inch from the hallway to the chapel, they had the unfortunate luck of running into Mme. Giry with her stern look that seemed to restrict the wrinkles that should have been etching her face in her years.

"Meg, shouldn't you be practicing your ballet right now?" she questioned with the eyes of vulture. "You know that talent doesn't come without practice. How do you ever expect to be a principle here if you can't dedicate your time to study?"

The shame glistening in Meg's eyes intensified, but she bravely looked at her mother. "I'm sorry, Mama, but Alethea and I were just heading somewhere to talk."

"Well, I'm sorry, Meg, but you two may converse later," Mme. Giry didn't even give Meg a chance to speak, before she grabbed her daughter's arm and basically dragged her daughter toward the ballet studio.

"Please, excuse us, Alethea," Mme. Giry pardoned herself and Meg. "You and Meg may speak with each other later. And may I inquire, why don't you practice your piano then? We do have music rooms where I am sure you will find a piano."

Alethea nodded as she watched a miserable Meg get dragged down to the ballet studio. But before the two friends were out of eye contact with each other, Alethea caught Meg mouthing to her to wait for her in the chapel. Understanding what she was asked to do, Alethea rushed on towards the chapel. It had been so beautiful last time that she didn't hesitate to get going.

Sure enough, she found the very archway where the word 'Chapel' had been engraved at the top. Cautiously, she descended the stairs which would lead her to the little church. And indeed, she did find it again. It was still as beautiful as ever, with the rose window and the fresco of angels. The pews and benches and the candles. It was as beautiful as ever.

She decided to take a seat on one of the benches and quietly wait with her thoughts. This place was beautiful enough to distract her, but she should be practicing her piano instead. Also she should have been practicing her sword fighting and combat more often. Too many distractions were surrounding her.

Erik knew he was being reckless and an idiot for doing this, but he felt he had no choice. No, he was being more than reckless, he was asking for a death wish. This would be the greatest risk of his life to resurface and resurrect the phantom from the catacombs, but he felt he had no choice. Not since he heard that girl.

The very same girl who defeated him on the roof, the same girl who saw the monster's face. She didn't scream, but she did indeed look startled. And yet, even though his rage and anger was fueled by this defeat at the hands of a mere girl, he was enchanted just by hearing the sound her voice. The way she could sing. It was enough to reach the catacombs, enough to reach his heart and soul, enough to resurface and awaken the phantom yet again. And yet, the tragedy behind it all was the fact that her voice very much reminded him of Christine.

.Oh...Christine.....

He had written the note, he had been the one to send it down from the rafters. He had been the one to spike fear and terror in the managers' eyes again. And yet, they couldn't chase him down, the catacombs were closed and sealed off....or so they thought.....

And yet, it was all for that girl.

When he had heard her voice, everything else didn't matter. It reminded him why he roamed the cellars, why he lingered in the opera house living like a recluse. It was all for his love of music, the passion that he lived for. It didn't seem to matter if Christine were here or not, he still had one job and one job only, to keep the beauty in the music.

And he would find that girl despite the fact that he despised her, she had one feature to redeem herself which was her voice. He knew she would be the stubborn or at least most headstrong person he would most likely have to face up to. It would have been easier if he could manipulate her as easy as he had Christine, but then again, she was a child when he had first converse with her and therefore grew up with her innocence.

He saw her, he saw that girl, with the copper-brown hair and the violet or lavender eyes. She was wandering with little Giry, at least before her mother dragged her away to her studies, leaving the girl alone. He didn't even know her name and yet he was so fascinated by her.

She ran in the direction of the chapel.

'Perfect' he thought to himself maniacally, rubbing his gloved hands together. He wasn't planning on exacting any revenge, but he did need somewhere where he could speak with her alone. Where no one else from the company could spy on them. She would be alone in the chapel, so it would be the perfect time to meet an old enemy.

He followed her and hid where he wouldn't be seen, but could still be heard.

"Good Morning" a ghostly chuckle reverberated throughout the chapel, startling Alethea. Her thoughts shot out of her own world and her eyes wandered frantically around her to find the source of the voice. There was no one, but it sounded like someone was right next to her.

"Who's there?" she cried out, panicked, but she calmed herself. Damn, where was her sword when she needed it?

Another ghostly chuckle followed her request. "Do you not remember? We did only meet a few nights ago."

All at once, Alethea recalled that night, the night that horrified yet fascinated her when she had the chance encounter with the Phantom of the Opera. She shook her head, her fear gone but she was frustrated; meeting him once was enough and she was in no mood to meet him again.

"What do you want?" she demanded settling herself. "I thought we agreed to something?"

The phantom chortled again and his voice seemed to rotate around the room. "The agreement didn't state anything about not meeting you again. However we did question the chances of meeting each other again. I did indeed warn you that when living under the same roof-oh, excuse me, it's my roof, that we would meet."

"Your roof?" Alethea's eyebrows arched in confusion.

The phantom laughed maniacally, echoing about the room and even sending shivers down the girl's spine. "Yes, may I inquire that now I have returned to the opera, rising out of the ashes finally. And it's all thanks to you."

Alethea's eyes widened in panic. What did he mean that he rose out of the grave because of her? But she startlingly realized that maybe he had been so enraged that night when they had their confrontation that it was enough to inspire him to return.

"So you're returning back to the opera all because you were defeated by a girl?" she questioned, trying to be more brave than she actually felt like she was.

"No, that's preposterous and ridiculous!" he stated like he was mocking her. "Since I had been one in construction when this place was first built, I had constructed it for the purpose that I can hear anything from anywhere. Even on that night, when you had snuck out onto the stage and I indeed heard you playing the piano, but what impressed me the most had been your singing."

Instead of being flattered, Alethea was enraged. How dare he heard her singing when she had meant that moment to be a private one. No one was around and then he eavesdropped on it all. Now she wished he were actually in her presence in real form so that she could fight him again. For the first time, she could have killed.

Shaking her head, she replied, "And why did you come back because of me?"

"I've yet to hear any talent of such vocal range coming from any of these members that have come to the opera house," he answered, his ghostly voice rotating about the room like a real ghost's. "But your voice, your voice can be the one. However that song that you sung can't qualify you yet to be a prima donna, however I can tell you are indeed a soprano. And I ask of you in the most un-hostile way, will you sing for me, sing for me a song where I can judge you to see if you can be an opera singer."

But Alethea was already on a snap decision to answer. "No," she replied folding her arms together. "As much as I love singing, my heart can only be with my piano. I thank you for your wonderful comment, but I can't betray my loyalty to the piano."

Even though she had expected him to get angry at her for her stubbornness, he laughed yet again to her puzzlement.

"You have a talent, I know you can expand upon that talent," he commented to her like a father. "If you change your mind and decide to ask for my help, just find the dressing room with the doorknob that has the rose vine engraved in it. I do not doubt for any second that you will deny my aid. Till then, I only hope you don't hesitate and waste what God gave you."

"What if someone inhabits that dressing room?" Alethea shot back, trying to confuse the phantom this time.

But he calmly sighed. "My dear, I am the Phantom of the Opera. I know all and I see all. I will gamble my life and bet you that no one lives in that dressing room just yet. Don't hesitate till the last minute before you decide you want my help."

His voice faded, leaving Alethea to ponder on her thoughts. He had actually spoke to her and and had actually complimented her. But Alethea pondered more on his offer of helping her with her singing. She loved it, singing had been one of her favorite activities when she was a child and she could remember her voice merging in harmony with her mother's when she was younger. But perhaps singing could also help her piano. After all if she could become a famous singer then, maybe it would attract people's attention to her piano skills as well. Then, again, if she didn't succeed as a pianist, she could have a career in her other favorite talent so she would be able to do something she loved and something that could hopefully secure her livings so she wouldn't ever have to worry about being on the streets begging. Besides singing was just as beautiful as piano. And she did love to sing and she loved opera as well. But could she really ask for help from her enemy, or really the ghost that had caused so much tragedy three years ago?

He had offered.

Inhaling a deep and thoughtful breath, she tried to remember what he had told her. "The dressing room.....door knob......rose vine......engraved...." She would take this chance and would request for help from the phantom. After all from all the tales she had heard of him, he was a connoisseur in music and would therefore be the best teacher for her.

She scurried out of the chapel as quick as a mouse. She would have to tell Meg that she had another errand to run, so they would have to talk later. But she could most likely tell that Meg would be in practice till she would be the one who would retire first.

Alethea hurried to find the dressing room, after all, it would be another adventure just to find another room in this place that was like a maze or rooms and statues and carvings.

She just hoped she would find the right room and she hoped that the ghost would be there as he promised.

Well, I hope that chapter was satisfying. Thank you to my readers and reviewers. I do hope you guys are still reading this. There will still be more Erik and Alethea in the next chapter and Christine and Raoul will return to the story soon enough. Till then, I hope you all are still reading and please review.