Hello everybody! And welcome back to New Beginnings!

Ok so I had a writer's block going on and I was able to finally get past it. But anyway… I have the next chapter here for all you readers out there.

I do not own POTO or any of the content in it. I only own original characters such as Amelia, Julia, Johann, Phoebe, and such.

Chapter 11 Moving Forward

Amelia woke to the sound of rage inside her room. She bolted upright in bed, seeing with blurred vision, Omar shouting and raging and destroying everything in sight. She watched in fear as he raged through close to her bed as well, never noticing her presence. Amelia flinched and shrunk back from his rage as he drew the closest yet to throw a chair against the wall to her left. She gasped in fear and curled in her arms around her as Omar cursed in Persian and several other languages. He screamed as he threw and destroyed several more items before screaming in rage as he fell to his knees, crying. Amelia watched in fear and silent horror as he hit the floor, ragged crying as he did so.

During the several minutes of watching him cry, Amelia sat there in fear that he could rage again if she moved an inch or even made a sound. Amelia continued to watch in silence as Omar slowly calmed down and quiet himself. He sat there on the floor in a prostrate position, eyes closed, Amelia watching.

Omar pushed against the ground, calmed now that he had time to rage. He knelt back onto his feet, looking around the destroyed room. What man him freeze in horror was Amelia's fearful eyes staring right at him. Amelia shrunk back as he watched her. Omar looked away and said a string of colorful words in different languages. He stood, Amelia gasped in fearful fright. He stopped going towards her when she whispered, "Stop… please… I don't…Don't… please stay… stay away… from me."

Omar's heart fell, he knew instantly he had blown it with Amelia. That spark they had in the opera house was gone. At his chance of asking her out. At giving her a chance to see the man he knew he should be. He had become the one thing his great grandfather warned him from becoming: an man filled with rage. He wanted to become the man of integrity his great grandfather always wanted him. And he had. But this one time, he blew it and showed Amelia the beast underneath. He should have listened to Amelia's advice last night. He should not have called his parents about Phoebe. Even though his mother was hopeful Phoebe would be back, he had seen the fear in her eyes that Phoebe was a changeling. His father was beyond rage. He should have taken care at reintroducing Phoebe back to their parents. Now he may have blown that as well.

Omar groan in sadness, yet at Amelia's whimper, sighed in defeat. He dropped to her knees and in a whispering, pleading voice, "Amelia, I am sorry… I didn't know what came over me. I… I didn't know you were here… Can you forgive me?"

Amelia cowered in her bed She realized Omar had much to deal with. Much she personally could not help with. As a girlfriend or something more than a friend, she could help him defeat his personal demons of his past and present. Only advise him and guide him. He would have to realize how to settle the past on his own with advice. She scrambled up and backed away towards her bathroom door when Omar stood to try to follow. He stopped when she held up a hand, "I… don't know what to say… I…" She didn't finish her sentence when she turned and ran. She disappeared behind a locked door, leaving Omar in deafening silence.

Deafening, depressing silence. Omar closed his eyes and slumped down. He truly ha blown it.

~ 2000 miles away in the Middle East

Omar's parents, Ahnad and Ola, sat there arguing about Phoebe and Omar.

Ahnad raged, "How can that woman claim to be our daughter?! She looks nothing like what our daughter, Phoebe looked like years ago!"

Ola sat there, calm as a lark, watching her husband with an unreadable expression. That was Phoebe! She is. Just because she looks different, doesn't mean she isn't. She had the exact same eyes. Perhaps she had that birthmark! Ola watched as Ahnad rage around the room once more before she interrupted his rant with, "Naddie my sweet husband, sit down before you have an aneurism. Besides, Omar wouldn't have taken this so lightly if he truly found Phoebe. He truly believes that woman is Phoebe. And that woman does resemble Phoebe greatly. I… I believe the woman is Phoebe."

Ahand scowled and hmphed, "You're just saying that to be on his side Ola. Especially after the incident with that Omar had with that woman in England. How can we know… how can we trust him and… that woman… and their words that she is Phoebe? She's been gone for over a decade now."

Ola smiled, a knowing look in her gaze, "I have a feeling she is who she says she is. I have a feeling she is Phoebe. Just like we agreed with Omar, lets get a DNA test. Scientists have the ability to check if a person is related to others." She gestured to the phone, "Besides we have the means to pay for such an endeaver, my dear."

Ahnad looked deep into Ola's eyes and found a steadfast defiance and finally slumped in defeat, "Very well. I will get in contact with Philip Chagney tomorrow and speak with him on the matter. He may have a good reputable doctor we can speak to about the matter of getting our DNA tested with Omar and the Phoebe lady."

Ola stood and sauntered over to her husband. She had a seductive look plastered on her face, a teasing smile graced her lips, "Good. Now how about we go back to what we were doing before our son called so late last night." She sat on his lap and kissed him passionately. Ahnad responded in kind and with a growing desire for his wife, pressed her ever closer. Soon he stood as he lifted her with his arms, and the two disappeared behind their bedroom door. A click could be heard and soon thereafter, there could be things heard behind the door that indicated the two lovers were having a beautiful time together.

~ Back in the countryside of Reims, France… ~

Amelia sat in the shower, sobbing silently at what just happened out in her bedroom. Omar has a hurting heart truly. What do I do to help? Amelia sat there staring at the shower wall sobbing as she thought.

She sat there for several more minutes before finishing her shower and getting dressed. She brushed out her hair and dried it. After being in the bathroom for several minutes longer, Amelia cautiously opened her bathroom door and looked out into her room. Omar was nowhere to be found, her room still in shambles. Yet a maid was frantically trying to clean up the mess when another maid entered to help.

Amelia complemented them, saying they didn't have to, yet they said they enjoyed working for Sir Omar. They waved her out of the room so they could get her room back in order. The other maid, Antoinette, said she and her daughter Meg, there younger maid, would have her room and belongings back in order and cleaned by the end of the day. Amelia thanked them profusely before making her way down to the kitchen.

Julia and Johann were sitting at the table with Erik and Christine. Christine and Julia were trying their best to sooth a crying Phoebe when she entered. Charles was making breakfast for them all. When Amelia did enter, all eyes went to her, before going back to business. Amelia felt close to tears when she noticed Omar wasn't in the room. Julia and Christine looked at each other before Christine stood and placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. She led Amelia over to sit next to Erik. Charles finished up making breakfast and loaded the table with the food as Julia and Christine, along with Johann and Erik, did their best to sooth Amelia and Phoebe of their tears. However, moments after Charles sat, Omar appeared in the doorway, causing all eyes to turn to him.

~ Earlier that morning~

Christine woke up curled on her side, head on the warm, breathing chest of Erik. She had wrapped her left arm around his torso as she slept last night. Erik, she noted, was still asleep. Never had she witnessed him asleep before. Ever. To see him so calm and relaxed surprised her greatly. Yet at the same time it did not. She relaxed back down on his chest and closed her eyes, listening to him breathing. She felt safe and protected in his arms. Trusting him completely to keep her from harm, from others and himself.

Christine laid there thinking over everything they had spoken about last night, absentmindedly playing out a song with her fingers on Erik's chest. She thought through the topics they spoke about. Them. Raoul. The witch. Their time in their respective prisons and what they did. They had come to completely understand each other. Both of them had come to make a promise to each other. A promise that involved Erik ridding himself of his past life and his past behaviors, promising to be a new man, morally and upright. It would not happen overnight, but he truly wanted to live the moral way for her. And secondly for all the new friends and comrades they had gain literally overnight. Both had come to terms with their pasts in the 130 years of imprisonment. She had promised, to the best of her abilities as she was mute, to love unconditionally and reach for the stars in the business world.

Christine was so lost in thought in her private musings of silence, she failed to notice that her fingers had awoken Erik. He stared down at Christine. His beloved Christine. She had given him the world. She loved him. However, with much chastising and rebuking, she gave him a mouthful, despite being mute, on those pages and pages of paper. He continued to stare and muse like Christine. He would do whatever it takes to redeem his past mistakes and live a moral, upright life. Even if it means he had to be placed behind bars.

He watched as Christine moved her head ever so slightly so to study his face, freezing in placed as she locked eyes with him. Moments later, she smiled, causing him to smile in return at her beautiful smile. He soon found his voice, "Good morning Christine." She blushed, nodding, obviously saying good morning in her silent way. She moved her hand to touch his mask. His face grew fearful as he jerked away in fear, yet… when her gentle reassuring hand turned his face back, he watched as she brought her hand to her throat. She then gestured to her throat and then to his chest.

Erik stared at her in silent comprehension. She gave up her voice. For him. Because she loved him more than singing. She nodded, seeing his silent understanding, smiling in a reassuring way. She leaned forward and kissed his masked face, showing him she loved him the way he was. Touching his mask again, Christine paused and looked at him, silently asking if she could take it off. When he didn't pull away, Christine gently untied the mask from behind his head and placed it to the side. Instinctually Erik tried to turn away to hide his face from her, but she caught his chin again gently, turning him back to her. Erik watched her face, waiting to see revulsion or pity. Neither were there. Only Christine's smile and loving eyes. She truly loved him. Even with this damnable face of his. He closed his eyes, in fear she'd disappear from fear.

When she kissed him, his eyes flew open, yet soon closed them again at the burning heat her lips were causing. They only parted when they needed to breath. She had gently felt his face, going over bone and stretched skin, giving Erik all new sensations. A raw hunger for more. He had felt the hard punched and slaps against his face, but never these gentle and loving touches that Christine was doing. These touches caused that raw hunger to burn greater and higher as she kissed him again. She then placed loving kisses along his check and all over his face, showing her love for him. She pulled back and looking loving into his eyes, smiling. Erik could hardly believe it. He pulled her down to kiss her.

Yet… just as they were about to, they heard yelling. Someone was raging down the hallway. They pulled back from each other, giving each other confused looks. When the raging went silent for a moment, a knock at the door sounded. When Erik made to place on his mask, Christine stopped him. Fearful, he watched as she quickly wrote on her board an explanation as to why she stopped him. She gave him the pad before she made her way to the door, pausing for him to read her words.

He looked down at the board and read it out loud, loud enough for the person outside the room to hear, " 'It's most likely my father at the door, Erik. The other night my father spoke, I mentioned your face. He dismissed your face as so much as an everyday occurance, saying to me "I couldn't care less what his face looks like as long as he is of goo moral and upright character who will treat you as the precious treasure you are worth. Unlike Raoul, who treated you horribly and harmed my little princess with a scar on her face. Which I might add you are as beautiful as the most precious and priceless diamond you are. You are my daughter no matter." ' " Erik paused and looked up to Christine in shocked, "He said that?"

At her nodding smile, he let out a surprised sighed, "I… am… honored." He looked to the paper and continued, " 'So you see Erik, my father doesn't care that your face is not… in the best words imaginable… handsome… But he is impressed with how you survived and learned to live the best way you could despite your circumstances and less than horrible beginning in life.' " He looked up to Christine, and he saw her silent question. Her silent question was, " 'Are you ready for me to open the door? To show my father your face?' " Erik thought for several moments, trying to decide whether it was a go or no go. Having nothing to lose, he timidly nodded, fearful at what Charles may do and/or say.

Christine opened the door to see her father standing there, tearing up. He smiled, "Morning Christine." Said person smiled an hugged him before stepping back to gesture him inside. Charles walked inside and glanced to see Erik looking at him fearfully. Charles had to hid his double take. Erik had his mask off, giving him a full view of his face. He suddenly had all these past memories flood his mind as he sighed in regret. He needed to apologize to Erik for his mistake.

Charles forgot about what he came for an instead went over to sit across from the tense man. Charles started, "I'm sorry my boy, for not being there to help you so long ago at the circus."

Erik froze, turning to stare at Charles in stunned silence. Christine looked at her father confused. She quickly scribbled a few words before handing the paper to him. Charles looked at it, " 'Why? How is it that you couldn't help Erik?' "

Charles looked up to them both, "Let me explain, I… I visited the circus where you were enslaved to. They were in town and I was out and about to get some inspiration for a new piece of music and also to have a slight distraction from my troubles I had with my brother and our parents' estate. It was late in the evening, around closing time, maybe 9pm when all the shady people were going through the circus for a bit of 'fun'. I was just there, distracted by the thoughts in my head when I heard screaming. It was faint and couldn't be heard by the other revelers since there was a loud ambience. However, being a musician, I heard it.

"The screams sounds as if they were coming from one of the circus' covered wagons that was furthest away from the revelers' fun. I snuck away from the crowd, which was easy to do, and towards the wagon of interest. It was dark and I had dark clothing, thus giving me an advantage of sneaking up on the wagon without being discovered. I found out a local woman, a peasant, was in labor, the circus being the closest thing to prove privacy for her. I watched in hidden silence to witness your birth, Erik. When your mother screamed in horror at your face, I flinched, saddened because she had, otherwise from your face, had delivered a perfectly healthy baby boy. I could have saved you from a horrible life. I…" Charles choked on a sob, breaking his apology.

Erik didn't know what to say. SO many emotions ran through him, he could hardly decipher any of them. Christine sat there stunned as well, both she and Erik listened to Charles weep. After several minutes, Charles continued, "I watched as… as your mother argued with the midwife about what to do with you. She had insisted the circus take you then and there. But the midwife, who I assumed didn't care about your face, argued against it and wanted your mother, Gothel I think your mother's name was, to keep you. The midwife, like myself, didn't have the means to support you as she had three children of her own. The reason I didn't intervein was because I was already poor. I had Virginia and the soon to be born Christine to take care of. To make matters worse, I had already made my deal with the witch at that point in time in secret. I didn't want to rick putting your life in danger anymore than Christine's or Virginia's. Biut either way, you were harmed emotionally and mentally anyways. Both of you.

"I don't know how to make it up to you, Erik. I watched in tortured silence as Gothel took you home to raise you. I soon learned ten years later after you had rejoined the circus and then quickly disappear soon thereafter. I regretted to this day never helping in securing a future for you, megger as it coul have been, but a future far better than the one you lived. What I'm trying to say is can you forgive me?" Charles finally looked up to the man who was like a son to him.

Erik sat there, overwhelmed by all that he learned. He stood and walked over to the window, unused to the fact that someone was asking him to forgive them. He didn't know what to do. He never been in this position before. Christine could see the war going on in Erik's mind, even from this angle. She understood his hesitance. He never had to deal with this situation. She shook off her shock and stood. She took her board and wrote. Erik never noticed as she moved up next to him near the window. At her touch, he jumped and moved a step away from her, surprised at her touch. She simply smiled and placed a comforting hand on his arm.

She handed him her board, him reading it in his head. "Erik, accept his apology. It's hard yes to forgive. But forgiving leads to a freed soul and peace of mind. I… I have also been in your shoes. I know you are debating it. It's a new thing to you. Forgiveness is no easy thing. It can be a hard decision to make, yes, but when you make the effort to put the past behind you and forgive, it helps you mature and become a better person over all." Erik frowned, looking out of the window. He watched as a sparrow fly over to the bush beneath the window. It shared a seed with its mate. If a sparrow could share a seed in the wild and the birds could get along with each other, he could forgive.

Turning to Charles, in the best words he could muster, Erik spoke, "Charles, you're forgiven."

Charles broke out in a relived smile, tears coming to his eyes again. But suddenly, out of nowhere, another torrent of raging outside of the office sounded, causing all three to look towards the door. Much closer this time. The threesome cast aside their sadness quickly and left to see what the ruckus was about. Yet it went silent when they reached the hallway.

Charles looked over to Amelia's bedroom door and strangely it was jar with a broken hinge. Strange. When did that get broken open? I could have sworn it was closed 20 minutes ago. He approached cautiously and peered around the frame. What met his eyes spooked him, causing him to retreat suddenly into the shadows. He quietly ushered the confused Erik and Christine away down the hall and door the stairs.

In the kitchen Johann and Julie were bustling around the kitchen, having started breakfast. When the three appeared, Julia and Johann gave them concerned looks, Julia asking, "What happened upstairs? Sounds like Omar was raging. Any idea what he was yelling about?"

Charles shook his head, "No, but we can ask him once he comes down. Now… here let me take over Julia, Johann. I'll make breakfast for all of you." He shooed them out of the kitchen to the dining room table just beyond the island. Julia and Johann joined Christine and Erik at the table.

~ Several miles away… ~

Arnawa was in here lair near Reims, France. She was smiling wickedly, having just found some tharmgras' younglings not too far away from her lair entrance. She had a lance in her hand, as she hid in the bushes. When one of the tharmgras calves got within several feet of her hiding place, she threw the lance. It hit its mark and took down the calf. She stood and ran towards the carcass and dragged it to her lair. She drained the blood an added a measured amount to her eternity potion.

Just two ingredients… Arnawa laughed maniacally. Dementris was perched on a nearby stand watching her. "When are you going to get the girl, witch?"

Arnawa smiled sickly at him, "Tonight, my dearest Demmy. Tonight, is the night of the full moon. By stealing her away, it'll give me leverage to get what I need from the cursed subhuman Christine calls beloved." She looked at the time, "But to give us a hand up..." She went over to a shelf and took down a box. Inside, it contained a wooden snake. She lifted it out of the box and sang an enchantment on it. The wooden snake shuddered and started to grow and move. It grew until it was at least 20 meters long and as round as a post. Arnawa sang, the snake entranced by her voice. It soon slithered to the entrance and disappeared in the underbrush.

Dementris flew to Arnawa's shouler, "What did you send Nargonin to do?"

"To spy on Christine. And her wretched lover." Arnawa smirked as she stirred her eternity potion.

From her lair the local wildlife, ran in fright as they heard the piercing laugh of a maddened woman sounded from the cave's entrance.

~Back at Dessan Mansion in Amelia's bedroom/bathroom… ~

Amelia sat in the shower of her bathroom, sobbing silently as what just happened out in her bedroom. How do I help Omar? I pray he didn't go against my advice and call his parents. If he did, then God help him! Who knows what type of damage that could do… Amelia sat there staring at the shower wall, still sobbing.

As she did, she felt a chill go through her, as if some blast of winter air was going through her. She became lightheaded all of a sudden, her eyesight blurring to the point where darkness encroached on her vision when the sound of a woman laughing maniacally coursed through her heard, shilling her further. Amelia listened as the woman's laughter turned into chanting, an evil sounding chanting. Shuddering, Amelia stifled her sobbing, going silent. The woman chanted once more before her voice disappeared and all was silent. The lightheadedness disappeared and her blurred vision went back to normal.

Amelia looked around, scared, fearful. But seeing no one, she calmed. Finishing her shower, Amelia stepped out, dried off, and dressed. Combing through her wet hair, she dried it and brushed through it before going to the door. Cautiously looked out, Amelia noticed that Omar was gone, nowhere to be found. A maid had arrived, frantically trying to clean up the mess. Amelia came out of the bathroom and greeted the maid, who smiled and introduced herself as Meg Giry. Soon another maid came in and joined them. She shooed Amelia out of the room, placating her fears that her room would be in great condition later that day. Antoinette Giry was her name, Meg's mother. Amelia thanks the mother-daughter duo for their work and headed to the kitchen.

When she arrived, Charles was making breakfast, Julia and Christine sat on either side of Phoebe trying to comfort the teary eyes woman. This brought tears to Amelia's eyes, knowing exactly what happened now with Omar's rage. Erik and Johann noticed her. It shocked her when she saw Erik without his mask, yet… it didn't matter. His face was not something to be afraid of. He was a friend. Omar's defiance against her wishes made her want to sob all the more. Erik and Johann came over an led her to the table to sit between them. She breathed deeply to try to calm down again and listened to their comforting words as well. Charles set the table in silence and when it was, joined them. Phoebe and Amelia were calm enough for the meal to start, still no sign of Omar. Just as everyone started to eat, Omar appeared in the doorway. All eyes went to him as he stood there, causing the group to so silent.

Until next time.

Au revoir!