Sarah stared at the mirror that the Phantom- no, Erik- had disappeared through. "Perhaps he really is a ghost," she remarked quietly.

Richard, completely oblivious to what had happened before, quickly embraced Sarah protectively. "Sarah, I am so sorry I lifted your veil like that… no matter what, I love you."

Sarah returned the embrace, words failing her. "I…thank you…Richard…I…" she swallowed, holding back tears of joy. "I love you too."

Erik watched it all from his mirror. So, it is happening again. He thought bitterly. Every girl is the same. How could she do this? I gave her my trust, and she falls in love. Glancing at his waxen Christine, he dropped to his knees in anger.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm afraid the dress won't come…"

But Sarah had finished the dress, and it lay now on her bed, the stark whiteness of it contrasting the dark room. "Monsieur Erik?" she called, her small voice echoing in the room. She didn't know if he had heard her. So she placed the dress onto her desk and fell asleep.

When Erik returned that night to check on the dress, sure it would never be done, he was mildly surprised to find it finished. Carefully picking it up, he left in its place a note, with a death's head for a seal, and a single rose with a black satin ribbon.

He then returned to his lair, placing the dress onto his Christine. She was so beautiful, so pure and innocent. The dress fit her perfectly, and each pearl held the light from the candelabras so fully that it seemed to make her an angel.

Oh yes, that's what she was: an angel, but only by proxy. How he missed his real Christine; or, as he reminded himself sadistically, Raoul's Christine now.

Tearing his gaze longingly away from Christine, he tightened his fists. He had let one person fall away from his life. He would not let this gifted young seamstress be taken away from him. She would stay here until her twenty-first birthday, and that was far away.

Of course, Erik also thought Monsieur Andre wouldn't do everything in his power to rescue Sarah.

Erik was hardly ever wrong, but for once, he was.

Guiles Andre had a plan.

Author's Note

So… Monsieur Andre returns, to attempt to save Sarah!

Speaking of Andre, he'll be getting a character tag soon, along with Firmin. We need more Andre and Firmin in the fanfics. MOOOORE MONSIEURS MOOOOOORE

Send Oreos and reviews, my dear Friendly Friends!

-ATLK