Hello Guys so here you have a new chapter! So just you know. I continue unable to read any of the Phantom books so I'm going to take big liberties here… forgive me and I hope you like what I've done here, even if it's the continuation of the sad last chapter.

As I told you before, I love to know what you guys think and until now I've had some pretty awesome people reviewing. Thank you all for reviewing, following, favouring, and reading. Let me know what you think, even if it is Fop bashing. I don't mind and probably will agree with you.

Hope you enjoy and good Easter

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Erik looked intensely at the paper and grabbed it then he stepped away from Raoul and started reading the small letters.

"Monsieur Le Vicomte

I did as you asked and inquired close to some of Madame Giry's friends about this Nadir Khan we've talked about. The truth is that they don't know the man, never have seen him before not at her house, nor at the opera. I remembered that Khan is a Persian name so I went to the embassy and asked about the said man. Imagine my wonder when they gave me a description of a man called Nadir Khan that not only fitted exactly with the man you pointed out to me but was also a wanted man for desertion after helping a boy called Darius Shirazi. I believe this was the second man you told me to inquire about.

Darius Shirazi is a slave wanted for murderer. Apparently and as far as the Persian authorities told me, he has killed his owner when he was 15 and was freed from prison the night before execution by this Nadir Khan how was a… Daroga, a captain of the guard so to speak.

Both men left Persian and so much time as gone by that they were almost forgotten, but I believe this information to be precious for you and a card down your sleeve. One never knows what the Shah my do with this information."

Raoul could see his victory on the horizon, he could taste it as he looked to this broken man. The Phantom had told him himself that he would lose Christine if he raised his hand to smite him and make off with him.

Erik wanted to ring the Vicomte's neck, make him suffer for trying to intimidate and threaten him. He had known this would be one of the probable outcomes, but never in his nightmares had he imagined that Raoul would be able to trap him like this.

"May I keep this?" Erik asked keeping his eyes low.

"Do with it as you wish." Raoul answered rubbing his hands with satisfaction.

"How much time do I have to leave?" Erik asked folding the paper in two and putting it inside the inner pocket of his jacket.

"I'm glad you took the wisest decision, Monsieur Phantom. I shall give you one week to leave France and to prove my good will I'm willing to say to the authorities that this, the letter and this meeting, was some impostor's doing, that the Phantom is good and dead beneath the opera house." Raoul informed brushing the top of his hat.

"And I imagine you will want something in return of so much good will." Erik's voice was poisoned with bitter sarcasm. Surely the Vicomte's demand had not ended just yet and he would want to see him bend like and old iron beneath burning coal. Raoul looked at Erik and started rounding him like a wolf ready to jump on his prey at any second.

"Well, since you asked, Christine mustn't know about our little... arrangement" Erik almost laughed at the twist of fate. This conceited young man had been the same that right there, on that exactly same spot, had screamed at him that he would never win Christine's love by keeping her prisoner.

"Why not make things interesting? Why not let Christine make her own choices?" Erik inquired crossing his arms over his chest.

"To what purpose?" Raoul asked utterly confused. "If you are well recalled, I've already beaten you."

Erik almost smiled. The man was so convinced that victory was already his that he would not see the stupidity he was committing. He could already see a way out of this little problem and hopefully, just with any luck he could have the best hand out of it.

"Well that isn't exactly what I recall but if you have beaten me than you shouldn't be so concerned if she knows or not if I'm leaving." Erik drifted way trying to sound as meek as possible.

"I'm not. As long as she doesn't know of my involvement in this and as long as you don't take her with you, you shall have my word that the French authorities will leave you alone. In one month or so I should be able to go to the papers and let them know the truth about the Phantom of the Opera." Raoul informed in the smuggest manner possible. There... Finally an opening, but still he had to leave and even if he knew were to go and what to do he didn't know how. Erik had no idea where to look for his sister or if she was able to help him nor if Christine would ever forgive him. The best thing he could do was to write two letters, leave the money he owed Nadir taking with him some pocket money and ask Darius to look for the first freighter to leave arbour and see if they need help on board. The rest he would have to leave to luck and he hated to have no control, even more when it came to control over his own life.

After his meeting with Raoul, Erik found Darius and instructed him to take a coach later at night and find him the first freighter to leave the harbour in Calais that would need able man. Darius asked no questions even if he found rather strange that his master had asked him to not tell anything to Mademoiselle Christine, but surely she knew of his plans did she not?

Soon they arrived at Nadir's apartment. Erik run to his room and as he closed the door he began one of his tantrums. Nadir was quite surprised by this. His friends outbursts had started to diminished since his relation with Christine started to get surer, but now this…

Nadir got up from his armchair and went to see if Erik was alright. The guest's room door was lock and he could hear Erik crying and screaming, provoking loud crashes and bangs. The Persian was getting worried. He could imagine that Erik's meeting with Raoul had gone far from what he had imagined and that he was lucky to be alive and free, but this was a really bad sign.

"Erik open the door." Nadir asked knocking at the door once again.

"Leave me alone." Erik sobbed from the other side of the door.

"Erik, come on. What happened?" He asked calmly trying to sooth his friend.

"Nadir Khan, in the name of God leave me be." Erik's voice was sounding more like a threat this time but Nadir wouldn't quite.

"Erik Chevalier, be reasonable." Nadir begged. "Things want be solved if you won't talk about them."

"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Erik screamed punching the door.

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Christine was helping Madame Giry in the kitchen as her mind was troubled. Erik looked so frightened the last time she had seen him and he was the bravest man she knew next to her father… She looked at the clock, her hands shaking as she held the wooden spoon with which she was stirring the soup for lunch and then she started to stir the soup once again.

Roxanne looked at Christine worried. She could see the dark bags under her eyes, rudely masked by powder and the red in them from sleepless nights. Poor girl. She cared so much for Erik and now things seemed to finally go smoothly. Surely this time things with Raoul would be settled for good and they could leave… Hopefully now these lovebirds could have some peace.

"Dear child, go have some rest." Roxanne advised holding Christine's hands. "Fussing will do you no good." She was answered with silence and a weary look in her daughter's eyes. How could she rest? She had no news if the man she loved was alive or dead. She knew not what the two men had decided, not even if Raoul would let them leave. How could she even think about resting when Erik was fighting to set them both free?

"Christine, do as I say." Roxanne begged taking the younger woman to her room.

"I cannot. I dare not. I should have gone with him. If I was there I would be sure that Raoul wouldn't do anything to harm my beloved." Christine protested escaping from her grasp.

"Christine Louise Daae, listen to me." The older woman demanded shaking Christine's shoulders. "I will go to you the moment we have some news. Erik wouldn't want you needlessly worrying yourself over him."

"Needlessly?" Christine almost laughed, but she knew she wouldn't have Roxanne off her hair until she agreed to take a breather. "Alright mother. If me trying to rest will bring you some peace of mind, then that is what I shall do." Needless is to say that Christine couldn't get a wink before lunch or after it.

Just a little after lunch they heard someone banging at the door and Christine went to see what was going on. What she saw surprised her. Nadir looked dreadful. His suit looked like had been running all the way from his house, he had no cane or hat or cravat. Christine invited him to come in and sit, then she went to get him a cup of water. When she returned she knew that there had to be something wrong going on for Nadir, whom she knew to be a perfect gentleman, to appear in a friend's house in such fashion.

Nadir was shaking with worry and as he tried to calm himself he looked at the woman before him. Her eyes were wider in expectation and she looked so dreadfully tired. Christine could swear that if Nadir took any longer telling her what he had come to tell her heart would explode inside her chest. Wasn't he able to see how desperate she was for news? Were the news so bad that he felt unable to say them?

Unable withstand anymore silence, Christine held Nadir's hand and asked him for news. He told her about Erik arriving home like he had the devil inside her body, pounding his room's door and causing only God knows what kind of destruction inside. He had asked relentlessly for him to open the door, but Erik would not, screaming more than once for Nadir to leave him alone. Nadir decided to leave a plate with some food for Erik at the door, but, as if his behaviour wasn't worrying enough, he refused to eat.

"I don't know what happened between Erik and the Vicomte, but whatever it was it wasn't good." Nadir explained look away from the younger woman. "Christine, I need you to come with me. I trust that you will able to calm him down." Without thinking twice, Christine went to the door and warned Roxanne and Meg that she would return later and that they should not wait for her to dine.

Far from Christine's expectations, there was a cab waiting for them. Nadir opened the door for her and entered after closing the door behind him. Christine's heart was pounding as loudly as her head. It wasn't hard for Raoul to annoy Erik, his mere presence in the same room was quite enough, but the rage Nadir had described to her… it was like the Phantom was back again. Perhaps, hopefully she was wrong.

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Erik was sitting in the corner of his room, bent over himself, hugging his knees to his chest and crying. Yes, he had been furious before. Furious at himself for not letting those thugs take care of his dirty work, for letting his love for Christine cloud his judgement and most definitely furious at Raoul for proving him right. He had hoped that after having saved his worthless life, the Vicomte would see some humanity in him, and he did but like so many before him he had used this realisation to wound him and try to use him like a puppet, and Erik's luck was that he had learned to see through people. Now the only thing he could feel was sorrow, pure agonising sorrow that one never wants to feel twice. It felt like someone was ripping his soul from his body only to leave hollow carcass behind. It felt like dying and not behind lucky enough to be really dead.

Erik heard a gentle knock at the door quite different from Nadir usual way to knock, then someone knocked again and in his pain he looked at the door and shouted:

"Why won't you leave me alone?"

"Erik. Honey it's me, your Christine."

Erik felt another rush of painful sobs arriving to his chest. He dared not to face Christine, but she was on the other side of the door hearing his cries and trying her best to convince him to open the door so they would talk.

Christine tried to listen in to him, but he gave her no answer. Insted of hearing his voice she heard something fall on the other side of the door. He was clearly trying to frighten her away and she almost turned her back, but her heart talked louder than her reason.

"Erik, darling be reasonable. We do need to talk." Her voice was so tender, so caring, and almost mother like.

"Why won't you just leave me alone?" His voice was shaking while another object fell to the ground.

"I won't leave because I love you." Christine explained leaning her head on the door. Another crack of something breaking on the floor.

"Christine, leave me be. I beg you." Erik pleaded walking to the door and pounding on it with his closed fists. Christine backed away from the door and looked at Nadir who was pale as the wall behind him. She asked him to go away and leave this up to her. If she had to face Erik's demons she would rather do it alone.

"Are you still there?" Erik asked once more close to tears.

"I am. Erik say you'll share with me one love, one life time. Let me lead you from your solitude. Say you need me with you here, beside you. Anywhere you go, let me go too." Christine said breathing heavily hoping this would sooth Erik's determination in kipping her away. Christine heard the door being unlocked. She opened the door and saw Erik maskless, eyes red, moist face and with a defeated look on his eyes. He didn't look like himself at all, but he looked like a man who had the weight of world on his shoulders. Christine walked to him never losing sight of his eyes and once they were close enough she hugged him. He hugged her back holding onto her for dear life then he kissed her hair and asked with his voice unbearably broken:

"Do you mean what you just said?" Christine looked up at him and nodded while caressing his misshapen cheek. Erik felt the warmness of her skin burn against his own and his guilt burning inside his chest, never the less instead of fleeing from her touch he brought the palm of her hand his lips and kiss it. Only God knew the next time she would touch him so willingly like this, if she would ever touch him again… Hell he didn't even know if Christine would ever forgive him for what he had to do.

"Hey, what's going on?" Christine asked making him sit on the bed. "Nadir is terribly worried about you." Erik felt like his heart was crushed inside his chest. He couldn't tell her what was truly going on, but did he dare to lie to her? How could he could he give her some peace when he found himself unable to calm himself? What could he tell her to justify wanting her away from him?

"I'm very proud of you, my Christine." He said trying his best to change the subject. "You've gained some backbone lately." Christine giggled. 'Backbone' she thought amused. He was desperately trying to distract her so obviously what he had to say was going to be bad, but she had to show him she could take it, that she had, as he put it, backbone.

"Actually I was terribly afraid that if I left you would do something crazy." Christine confessed straitening his hair. "You may be much older than I am, but you can't imagine how protective I am of you." Erik smiled wearily and held her hands only to find them as shaky as his own.

"I love you so much my darling girl. I can't possibly imagine how much." He gently traced the lines on her face and as his fingertips brushed against her lips he felt small kisses in them.

"I love you too angel." Once again the same agonising pain went to Erik chest. Would he ever hear those words again? Why the hell was he asking? By the time she realised what he had done she would probably hate him. Christine looked into his eyes and noticed a shadow glom over the two ambers she loved so much.

"Then you love an utter fool." Erik said getting up and looking at the window. "Christine I have something to ask of you."

"Anything darling." Christine got up and touching his shoulder. "I'll do anything you ask."

"Even if I was to ask you to leave and not look for me until a month has past?" he asked looking over his shoulder.

"Is that what you want?" she asked forcing him to look at her. Oh he could see she was hurt. Deep into her eyes he could see hurt and disbelief. If he could only... No. He had to follow his plan. Being hot-blooded as Christine was when it came to people she loved she would probably run and thoughtlessly face Raoul.

"No, I do not, but this is what it needs to be done." Erik explained keeping his voice as low and as calm as possible, before all control escaped him.

"Tell me at least why." She begged him. Erik looked at her and as it had happened so many times before he saw his soul in her eyes. Slowly his eyes flooded up with brand new tears and he fell to his knees.

"Oh God! I can't do this. I can't do this." He started mumbling. "This will kill me. He knew this would kill me."

Christine kneeled next to him and hugged him. He was shaking so bad, worse than before and now she could barely distinguish what he was saying. She caressed his hair and rubbed his back feeling some parts of her hair go damp with his tears as she tried her best to calm him.

"I don't need to know, but whatever this is we will go through this together." She promised him trying to reach him through his pain.

Finally the time came when Erik had cried himself to sleep and using his grogginess before he became too heavy to carry, Christine helped him onto bed, removed his boots, covered him with sheets and kissed him good bye.

Nadir was waiting for her in the living room and when he saw her passing by to get her jacket he got up and went to check on her. He couldn't help but feel sorry for Christine when he saw her.

That had been a tiring afternoon and not even for a moment she had left Erik's side and now that the night was falling and she was leaving with shadow in her eyes and on her face that Nadir could not name.

"Is our friend alright?" Nadir asked gently.

"He's far from being alright Nadir, as am I. He's sleeping now and shouldn't wake up until morning." Christine answered putting her coat on. "Promise you will look after him for me."

"Don't worry yourself. He's in good hands." Nadir assured her. "Erik asked Darius to do an errand for him this evening. I'm sure he wouldn't mind sharing a cab with you."

Darius, who was now passing the dining room door with his own jacket on, smile at the woman in the room and offered her his arm. Christine left with him but not without looking back to the old building. She couldn't wait for a month to pass by so she could see her Erik again.