Blood poured down the Vicomte's face…but it didn't matter at the time. His concentration was directed at a very angry, but laughing masked man.

Erik crossed the room in two steps, grabbing Raoul up by his shoulders. The Vicomte shuddered as he realized that this is how he was going to die…in a music room…bleeding.

He groaned at the though and let out a gasp when the man in front of him smiled immensely.

He stuttered as he began to speak, "Y-your happy to see me…are you?"

Erik laughed once more; wiping the tears from his eyes he looked the Vicomte dead on, "My dear Vicomte…I am never happy to see you".

Raoul groaned once more, thinking that the one-ounce of hope he had summoned had bled from his body.

"However" Erik continued, "This one time is an exception"

Raoul brightened, "Is it"?

His hands were around the Vicomte's throat in moments, "Don't believe I've gone soft boy…the only reason I'm not finishing this job…" he stopped as he squeezed the vicomte's throat a little tighter, "Is because you may be the only key to Christine".

He dropped his hands from the Vicomte's neck and strolled over to his piano, idly running his hands along the keys. He closed his eyes and let the echos of his former music fill his ears…back when all had been simple, the opera, Christine. He opened his eyes and sighed at his current reality…he just wanted her back in his arms, her warm embrace…nothing more.

Raoul rubbed his neck where Erik's hands had previously been, "I do know where Dominic keeps his manor…I see you took care of his twin…with no problems"

Erik glared at him; "I could have taken care of both at once, if you hadn't been so obsessive with my fiancée!"

Raoul cringed at the words, but knew they were true…as much as he despised to think so.

"I did not know it was his brother Demetri when you arrived at the manor…but an inside source told him you were alive and searching for her…his brother was a filler, and Dominic told him that he could do whatever he wanted with Christine…Demetri had no idea you were still alive, although Dominic did".

Erik clasped his hands over his head, it did all make sense, "Why does Dominic care…it was for your purposes anyway."

Raoul sighed, having apparently thought the same thing over many a time, "He claims to be in love with her".

Erik roared with anger as he through down the parchment he had idly been running through his fingers, "Love?!" he sat at his piano bench and drummed his fingers into a mindless tune, "he has no right to even make such a claim".

Raoul approached the phantom hesitantly, as he neared the piano bench Erik looked up, and for the first time Erik saw the human inside of the man that was portrayed as a monster.

"I guess I thought the same" Raoul whispered quietly. He walked over to the small bench beside the piano and sat. he looked a ragged mess with his clothes ripped and dried blood starting to crack along his face from where he was talking.

"I never understood why she couldn't sing to me with such passion…she longed for something else…something more" he stopped and wiped a single tear, "Something you gave her…"

Erik looked at the torn Vicomte, feeling slightly odd with the situation

"She was turning from true beauty…or so she sang" the vicomte continued. "I tried to stop her on more than one occasion…and the only reasoning I could give when she accepted you instead of me…was to.." he swallowed as he looked up at the masked man who was staring a hole into him. "It was to kill you…"

Erik idly rubbed his head, "Yeah I noticed".

"I understand that she loves you…and I will help you find her, I love her as well…and I owe it to her"

He looked down once more, "I owe it you as well"

Erik looked down at the piano, almost at shock for what the beaten man in front of him was saying… was he really apologizing?

Erik broke the silence, "This doesn't change anything…but if you and I can work together, we can save the person who has meant the most to us in times we thought impossible".

Raoul smiled weakly, he would help this man…for now he realized just how much their love for each other would never die.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Maryanne looked up from her small room…she was scared, scared for her and for her mistress. How could she explain that she was only trying to save Christine and Erik?

She closed her eyes as a silent tear ran down, Nadir would never understand…and she didn't know how to make any of them realize that she never meant to hurt them…but protection comes in strange ways.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hello…

Yes it's been a while since I've updated, I'm sorry to say so. Anyway, I know it's a short chapter... but I like the note it ended on.

Please tell me what you think