Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera does not belong to me (though I think if it were up to him, he wouldn't belong to anyone), only my own characters do.

Author's Note:

Merry Christmas everyone! Here's your gift, the next chapter of the story.

To ladymoonsoar: Thanks for reading, I'm glad you're enjoying the story. I hope you approve of the song choice in this chapter as well.

To MorganaCraven: Thank you for reading, glad you find this story unique and entertaining. How can any story not be humorous when you have a Pixie and two Brownies in it? I'll see what I can do about some Tavlyn and Luniana smut at the end of this arc, though for the next few chapters there won't really be any smut.

To phantommistress: Ah yes, troublesome little Brownies, will they ever learn? Probably, but little people have a notoriously short attention span. And as to the Draconic gas, well they eat a lot of meat, hence a lot of gas, nothing worse than a carnivore with gas. Erik also wants to know why you doubt his sexual prowess. Only two? He assures you he's quite capable of more than two per chapter, I just don't have the time to document every time.

To LittleMargarita: Brownies and their hair-brained schemes, always good for a few laughs as long as the property destruction is kept to a minimum. The next few chapters will be pretty serious, so I wanted to lighten the mood before the darkness descends. Yeah, poor Christine she doesn't know what she threw away when she chose Raoul over Erik and S'ray is not about to relinquish him to her. And your praise is really giving Erik a big head, but he can't understand why men aren't smart enough to do the poetry and music for the ladies when it works. Oh well, hope you enjoy this chapter.

To foxgodess07: Yes, don't you just love Brownie high-jinks? And that was just a sample of the trouble they get into. Wait until S'ray's relatives start showing up, there are some that just bring out the worst in the little guys.

And as soon as this arc is over, I'll be doing the chapter with the review contest winner in it.

Thanks to all who have read and reviewed; the more you review, the faster I write the next chapter. Now, on to the next chapter.

Phantom of the Glen

Chapter 25

To Paris

"Is she awake?" Erik asked.

"No, looks like she slept through the whole thing last night," S'ray replied looking through the open door.

"Including us?" he asked.

"You mean you," she replied.

"Me? As I recall you were a very willing participant," he smiled pulling her hair back and kissing her neck.

"You started it," she answered, watching her rival sleep. "And I even wore a nightgown."

Christine sighed and rolled over in her sleep. S'ray smiled as she saw the young woman start to drool in her sleep.

"You were wriggling and rubbing up against me," he whispered seductively. "How could a mere half-goblin ever hope to resist such temptation from such a beautiful woman?"

"Well, he could jump in the coldest part of the stream or look at the picture in front of him," she smiled ruffling his hair.

Erik raised his eyes and looked at Christine. "I wonder if she's doing that again because of the pregnancy," he chuckled quietly.

"Again?" she asked closing the door once more.

"She did that all the time when she first came to the opera," he explained as they walked to the kitchen. "I thought she had outgrown that."

"Well love, you thought she'd outgrown you as well when she married the Vicomte," S'ray teased.

"And as I said the other night, I'm keeping a large piece of furniture between her and I from now on," he growled and playfully smacked her backside. "That was for being so tempting last night."

"Erik!" she exclaimed.

"Yes love?" he purred.

"You are a wicked man," she replied.

"Again, all your fault," he replied silkily.

"How is that my fault?" S'ray demanded turning around to face him.

"Because your seductive Elven ways have broken down my natural inhibitions," Erik replied, backing her up against the wall.

"Need I remind you, that it was you who had me against the tree," she said looking up at him.

"And as I recall you were very willing," he smirked, pressing up against her.

"And relieved that you had finally decided to do something after lusting after me for so many weeks, "she smiled putting her arms around his neck.

"Mmm, I still lust for you," he murmured nuzzling her neck.

"Keep the lust upstairs, we have work to do today," Daklu said as he went past the couple and into the kitchen.

"Tavlyn!" the Pixie called.

"Here Luniana," he called to her.

"Hi Sugar Lips," she trilled landing on his chest. "What are you doing?"

"Taking a nap," he yawned. "It's going to be a long night."

"Want some company?" she asked.

"Sure," he smiled closing his eye again.

Luniana curled up on his chest. "Sleep well Tavlyn," she cooed kissing his adam's apple.

The Alve sighed and drifted off to sleep.

"Where are you going?" S'ray asked Erik as she caught him at the foot of the stairs.

"To take a nap like we agreed last night," he replied.

"I thought we could nap outside, less temptation for you," she smiled.

"You do have a point there," Erik answered. "Where did you have in mind?"

"Walk with me Erik," she said taking his hands.

"Do we need a blanket or anything?" he asked as she lead him outside.

"No, everything is already there," she smiled as they walked to the stream.

"So you knew I'd agree to this?" he chuckled pulling her closer and putting his arm around her shoulders.

"Well you said yourself that you couldn't resist temptation when it came to me," she laughed.

"Very true love," he smiled as they walked together.

"And I though you'd enjoy some time away from everyone," she sighed putting her arm around his waist.

"That will be nice, I've never been comfortable with a lot of people around me," he replied.

After a while they came to a secluded spot by the creek. He saw that S'ray had spread out a blanket and put several large cushions down on it as well. There was also a basket with food and a jug of cider. "Make yourself comfortable," she invited leading him over to the blanket.

Erik sat down on the blanket and relaxed against the cushions after re-arranging them a bit. "Are you going to join me or leave me by myself?" he asked gazing up at her.

"If you can control yourself," she smiled.

"If you can not tempt me so much," he replied.

"I'll try," S'ray said and lay down next to him.

"So will I," he smiled and pulled her into his embrace. "I wish I didn't have to do what I must tonight."

"I know Erik, I know," she sighed snuggling closer to him. "Just try to relax and get some sleep."

"I will," he said closing his amber eyes. "Will you sing for me S'ray?"

"What would you like me to sing?" she asked caressing his bare cheek.

"Something soft and relaxing," Erik said settling further into the cushions.

"I think I know just the thing," she smiled sitting up and began to sing.

"Come little children, I'll take thee away
Into a land of enchantment
Come little children, the time's come to play
Here in my garden of magic."

Erik closed his eyes again, her soft, clear voice relaxing him.

"Follow sweet children, I'll show thee the way
Through all the pain and the sorrows
Weep not poor children for life is this way
Murdering beauty and passions," she continued and smiled as she watched the tension of the last two days leave him. The song was originally meant to draw children to her people, but it worked just as well to relax her lover.

"Hush now dear children, it must be this way
Too weary of life and deceptions
Rest now my children for soon we'll away
Into the calm and the quiet."

The words she sang were so familiar to him; he would ask her about them after tonight. He felt her lay her hand on his chest and caress him. His hand slid up and covered hers, keeping it over his heart.

"Come little children, I'll take thee away,

Into a land of enchantment
Come little children, the time's come to play
Here In my garden of shadows," she continued and brushed his unruly hair from his forehead.

"Come little children, the times drawing near
Halloween night is waning
Come little children, right with me tonight
Its not a night for abstaining."

He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her fingers.

"Come little children, now follow me home
Not a one of you need worry
Come little children, the times come to roam
Come follow me now please hurry," she sang and removed his mask.

"Come little children, there's magic to see
Here in my garden of mystery
Come little children into my abode
Tomorrow you all will be history," S'ray finished and leaning over, kissed his parted lips. "I love you Erik."

"Love you," he murmured turning his head toward her.

She smiled and lay down in his arms again. Erik automatically wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to his side. "Sleep well love," she whispered resting her head on his shoulder.

Christine cautiously approached the dragon; she had until recently believed that such creatures only existed in fairy tales. "Um . . . hel . . . hello Monsieur," she stammered when his eyes opened and he looked at her.

"Hello," he rumbled lifting his head on his serpentine neck. "What can I do for you Christine?"

"Are . . . are you real?" she asked.

"Am I real?" Cyd asked with a chuckle. "Of course I'm real child."

"Then I'm not dreaming," she said quietly and sat down on the grass before him.

"And why do you think you'd be dreaming?" he asked cocking his head to one side.

"Because you and the Elves and the Pixie and Brownies aren't supposed to exist," she replied. "The angel of music wasn't real, so you shouldn't be real either."

"And why do you say that?" Cyd asked. "He's right here, you've talked to him."

"But he's not really an angel," Christine said looking up at the dragon. "He's only a man who deceived me."

"How would you have reacted if he'd revealed himself to be a man in a mask instead of the angel you were praying for?" he countered.

"I would have probably run away," she honestly replied.

"Do you think you were better off believing an angel and not a man, watched over you when you were a child?"

She was quiet for a while, remembering how she had felt right after her father had died. She had been so alone and so sad; her only friends had been Meg and Aunt Nettie. Then the Angel or rather Erik, as she knew him now, had come into her life and she no longer felt so alone or sad anymore. It had felt good to know that someone was always watching over her like her father had.

"Did he ever allow any harm to come to you?" the dragon asked when she failed to answer his previous question.

"No, never," Christine answered looking up at steel-colored reptilian eyes.

"So you were better off with your angel than without?"

"I was better off with him, yes," she nodded.

"So did his deception truly hurt you then?"

"Well, not when I was a child," she replied. "But last spring, after he showed himself to me finally, I've never been so frightened in my life."

"How did he frighten you?" Cyd asked.

"I woke up after he took me to his home under the opera and he was sitting at his organ. I walked over to him and touched his chin. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Then my fingers went up to the edge of his mask. I just had to know what my angel really looked like, so I pulled off his mask," she explained.

"It was awful, his face wasn't a face under the mask. I screamed and he threw me to the floor. He was so angry, he yelled obsceneties at me and called me horrid names. I thought he was going to kill me and I started to cry," she finished.

"Did you ask to remove his mask or just do it?" the dragon asked.

"I just took it off," she said with a small shrug.

"Then you should be able to understand his anger. When you removed his mask, you bared his greatest secret without his permission. Naturally he felt betrayed and hurt by you and that made him angry. It had taken him years to trust you enough to reveal himself to you and then you did what you did," the dragon explained. "And when you saw his true face, you screamed and fulfilled his greatest fear. You were frightened of the way he looked, the one thing that has always kept him separate from other mortals. It is a shame how humans are so obsessed with appearances and judge by them. Erik has been forced to live apart from your society in a cave under the Opera House for that reason only."

"Tell me," he continued. "What would have been your reaction to seeing me in this form or bumping into Tavlyn at the Inn in the village?"

"I . . . I . . . probably would have screamed and run," she stammered not able to meet his reptilian eyes any longer.

The dragon was silent, letting the young mortal think about her past actions and how they affected others. "Cyd," she finally said looking back up at him.

"Yes?"

"He would have never let me remove his mask or removed it for me, would he?" she asked.

"If you had not done it like you did, he may have shown you eventually," the dragon rumbled. "You see, Erik's only wish in life has been to be loved and accepted by someone in spite of his looks."

"But why does he let her remove his mask?" Christine asked.

"Simple really," he answered. "Erik trusts S'ray."

"But why?" she asked.

"First of all, she asked to remove his mask," Cyd said. "Secondly, Faye don't judge someone based on how they may outwardly appear."

"But how did he know I didn't mean the kiss?" she asked.

"If you had been waiting that long to be kissed by someone you loved, you would know the difference as well," he explained. "He knew you didn't want him because until he met S'ray, no woman wanted him; not even his own mother. Erik knew that you didn't love him, that's why he let you both leave."

"I think I'm starting to understand," she said from where she sat before the dragon.

"You also have to understand that Erik is by no means an angel either," the dragon went on. "Because of his appearance, your society expected the worst from him and he gave them his worst."

"What did he do?" she asked, almost breathless.

"You'll have to ask him yourself if you want to know," he replied.

"Don't you know?"

"No, but S'ray does and that knowledge does not bother her, so it does not bother me," he answered. "If Erik wishes to tell me, then he will and until it causes a problem for my rider I will consider it a closed subject."

"This just seems wrong," Tavlyn grumbled as he cinched up a strap on Cyd's riding harness.

"Having doubts with Erik's plan?" the dragon rumbled.

"No, it's not that," he sighed.

"Then what is it?" Cyd asked.

"You're bigger than Syk'nolt," he replied working the double buckle on another strap. "And I feel like a traitor riding you and not him."

"Trust me, he won't mind," Cyd chuckled.

"Besides unlike you, he'd fit in the alley," Tavlyn grinned and patted the dragon's haunch.

"Hmph," he snorted and turned away from the Elf.

"Erik."

"Yes S'ray," he replied buckling on his sword.

"I want you to take this with you tonight," she said offering him her Colt Dragoon wrapped in its holster and belt.

"Are you sure?" he asked looking at her. "Won't you need it?"

"I'll be fine, besides I can use magic if I need to," she replied. "And I would feel better knowing you had it. You do know how to use a pistol right?"

"Of course," he replied taking the offered weapon. The Phantom pulled the pistol from it's holster and checked it's weight. ".45 caliber?"

"Right and try to save the brass if you can," she smiled.

"Your talents never cease to amaze me," he smiled back while rolling the cylinder.

"Same goes for you love," S'ray said leaning against the desk. "Be careful tonight Erik."

"I will be," he said strapping the pistol belt over his sword belt. "Be careful as well S'ray," he said going over to her. "Now that I've found you I don't want to loose you."

"I feel the same way about you," she smiled, reaching up and caressing his bare cheek.

"This will end tonight," he said covering her hand with his. "I will not tolerate being pursued by men again nor have those I love used against me."

"I will stay here till you need me," Cyd rumbled as he concealed himself in the thicker cover of the wilder part of the park.

"What if we're not back before dawn?" Tavlyn asked.

"Then I shall assume my human form and keep waiting," he replied as he settled down to wait.

"Ready?" Erik asked.

"We are ready for battle," Brandji crowed popping out of S'ray's shoulder bag.

"Dork," Luniana scolded from Erik's shoulder.

"Hush," S'ray commanded the little people. "We're ready."

"Then follow me," he said setting off through the park.

He kept them to the shadows, especially after leaving the shelter of the tree-filled park. Finally they came to the Rue Scribe which ran behind the Opera Populaire. The Phantom stopped in front of a non-descript door at the back of the building.

"Why are we stopping here?" Tavlyn asked.

"This is where you'll bring the Giry's when you have them free," he explained taking a key from a hidden pocket and opening the door. "I'll be right back."

The Phantom shut the door and they heard him quietly descending a flight of stone stairs. The Alve stayed in the deep shadows of the alleyway. Twenty minutes later the door opened again and Erik re-emerged into the alley.

"This is a back entrance to my home under the Populaire," he explained and handed them each a key. "These keys will open this door and this door only. You'll go down the steps and take the left tunnel. Keep to the right-hand wall and it will lead you to a doorway in my work area. Just walk through the curtain and you'll be there. If anything happens contrary to the plan, come back here and we'll re-group."

"Luniana and I will now head underground from here," he said re-adjusting his cloak. "You both know your routes?"

"I'll watch for you both at the edge of the cemetery as planned," Tavlyn said and set off with Brule on his shoulder.

"Be careful," he said after the other Alve left.

"I will be and the same goes for you," S'ray said stepping close to him.

"I love you S'ray," Erik said before wrapping his arms around her and kissing her.

"I love you Erik," she smiled when they parted.

"Would you two stop all the mushy stuff," Brandji said popping out of her bag again. "We are burning moonlight!"

"He's right," Erik said softly.

"Mark that on your calendar and celebrate next year, Erik agreed with Brandji," Luniana chirped from Erik's shoulder.

"Listen here you little winged pest," Brandji started to scold.

"Hush, both of you," Erik quietly commanded.

"I'll see you in the church," S'ray said and set off down the alley.

"You really used to live down here?" Luniana asked wrinkling up her nose.

"Not right here," Erik replied, "under the Opera Populaire."

"Show me," she prompted, hovering in front of his nose.

"After I finish with the Vicomte," he said. "There are some things of mine I want to retrieve anyway."

"It smells bad down here," the Pixie complained.

"I know, we're in a part of the sewers now," he patiently replied.

"Ewww," she grimaced and landed on his shoulder.

"We'll be leaving the sewers shortly," he said ducking under and archway. "Be careful not to fall off."

"Raoul are you insane?" Madame Giry demanded.

"Not at all," he replied.

"Then for God's sake let us go," she said gripping the bars of the cell her and Meg were confined in.

"Not until I've rid us of the Opera Ghost forever," he replied walking around the iron cage.

"He's going to kill you this time," she said looking him in the eyes.

"Wrong again," he replied.

"You underestimate him at your own peril," she said. "In all my dealings with him, I've never known him to make the same mistake twice. He let you go when he could have just as easily killed you that night; he won't show mercy a second time."

"He won't have the chance," Raoul growled and left them.

"Mother, I'm frightened," Meg softly said as Antoinette turned back toward her daughter.

"I know my dear, I know," Antoinette sighed sitting on one of the two chairs their captors has provided.

"Master," Merrick said as he approached Monsieur Phelon's desk.

"Yes Merrick," he replied looking up from the papers he was examining.

"I haven't seen Mademoiselle Giry in four days," he said. "I think something may have happened to her."

"Have you asked her mother?" the older man asked.

"Madame Giry has also been missing for the last four days, none of the cast or crew that is still here have seen them," Merrick replied as he paced in front of the desk.

"That is unusual," Phelon said leaning back in his chair. "Have Archie help you look into this matter further and give me any updates on your progress."

"Yes Master," Merrick said and left the office.

Phelon closed his eyes to think, the disappearance of the Giry's made no sense to him. He was certain that either of them would have informed either him or the managers of their absence. He couldn't fathom who would kidnap his ballet mistress and prima ballerina and not send a ransom note the same day.

His eyes flew open at the knock upon the door again. "Enter," he said sitting up once more.

"Monsieur Phelon, I brought you the production costs from 'Hannibal' as you requested," Andre said as he entered the office.

"Thank you Andre, you may leave it on my desk," he replied.

"Did you need anything else before I leave for the evening?" the manager asked.

"There is one thing Andre," Phelon said. "Have you or Firmin received any communication from Madame or Mademoiselle Giry that they would be gone while we're shut for the month?"

"Why no sir, I would have let you know if we had," Andre replied surprised. "Would you like me to contact the police about their disappearance?"

"Not yet Andre, I have two of my associates already looking into it," Phelon instructed.

"Very well, good night sir," Andre said and left.

"I don't like this place," Luniana said as she perched on Erik's shoulder.

"This is just the catacombs; there's nothing that can harm you, only old bones," Erik said as he picked his way through the old tunnels.

"Ever heard of ghouls?" she asked ducking under the hood of his cloak for warmth and protection.

"Yes, but these bones were put here when they emptied out the cemeteries many, many years ago," he replied turning down another tunnel. "Though from time to time careless explorers have become lost and died down here."

"How do you know that?" she asked cautiously peeking out from the hood of his cloak.

"I've found the bodies, how else?" he chuckled.

The Pixie shivered and then asked, "How much longer?"

"Not much, we're almost to the church cellars," he replied.

"Can you see them?" Brule asked as he clamored onto Tavlyn's shoulder.

"No, they're behind that gravestone over there," he said indicating on of the larger monuments in the church yard. "How's our friend behind us?"

"Still out cold, but I hit him again anyway," the Brownie grinned.

"Good idea Brule, we don't need anyone to hear him moaning if he wakes up," the Alve replied.

S'ray pressed herself flat against the cool marble stone, waiting for the guard to come back around to her hiding spot. She stilled her breath as she heard the human approach again. He came around the stone and she grabbed him from behind. She held him still while Brandji cracked him over the head with a rock.

Tavlyn watched in horror as another sentry followed the one S'ray and Brandji had just subdued. He wanted to call out or drop the man himself, but he couldn't without drawing the attention of the other guards by the entrances to the church. The Alve and Brownie watched expectantly as the man disappeared behind the stone.

S'ray let the unconscious man slide to the ground. There was a crackling and she whirled to see another man walk behind the stone. His eyes widened in surprise at finding her standing over his prone form.

She reached into a pouch on her belt to pull out a knock-out dart. The man produced a bell and rang it. S'ray dropped the dart and fell to her knees.

Tavlyn covered his ears and curled into a ball as more bells rang out through the churchyard.

"It hurts," Brule complained as he cowered beneath the Alve.

"Quiet," Tavlyn hissed.

Raoul strode out the door and over to where his men gathered by a large marker in the grave yard.

"The bells worked just like you said sir," one of the men said.

"Good," the Vicomte smiled. "Bind her in iron and throw her in the cell with the other two. Then search the rest of the cemetery, there may be others."

Tavlyn shrank down behind the stone again after hearing those words. He had to find a new hiding place for himself and Brule and quickly at that as well. His eye spied a hole in the fence and the crawled through it, carrying Brule with him.

"What should we do with this sir?" another man asked, holding up Brandji by a leg.

"Throw it in a sack and throw the sack in the bird cage by the others," he replied regarding the Browning in the same way as a dead rat. "And stay on your toes; if the Elf bitch is here, then the Phantom must be close by as well."

Author's End Note: Hope you enjoyed your Christmas present!

Coming up in Chapter 26 – Re-Match