A/N: Hey everybody! I know there is absolutely no excuse for my absence, so here is the next chapter! Please, I hope you haven't given up on me, because I write for you guys! hahaha! Anyway, thanks so much for your reviews and thoughts! Now chapter 25...

Chapter 25: Letters and Newcomers

"A Mr. and Mrs. Ardemment to see you sir." Etienne announced to Erik, gesturing to a little huddle of people just outside the threshold of the music room.

Erik gave Etienne a reproachful stare in response. He had been working on his new opera, and had made it perfectly clear that there were to be no interuptions.

"Yes, Etienne, show them in." Erik said through clenched teeth as Etienne just smiled carelessly and ushered the group in.

The first person in was a thin, small man. He had light brown hair and moustache that looked out of place against his ghastly white skin. He had a good walk, Erik noticed, showing confidence in his every step and looking Erik straight in the eye. To Erik this was a first and was quite amused.

Next, was a petite young women with long, elegant red hair. She had the most striking eyes; they were a bright hazel color. Erik thought this was an odd characteristic for her red hair, but thought it made her have an angelic glow about her. She didn't walk, but floated like a dancer, if she hadn't been wearing such a plain frock, Erik would have taken her for some type of royalty.

Lastly, a little girl scampered in. She was the spitting image of her mother, down to the hazel eyes. She scampered in and grabbed the back of her mother's dress out of shyness. Erik had to guess that she was about the same age as the rest of the children.

Even though Erik was thrilled with these intriguing people, he had no clue as to why they were there and was growing ever so curious by the moment.

"May I help you?" Erik asked.

"Are you M. Von Pierce?" the man asked in a surprisingly deep, rich voice.

"One of them, yes, I am Erik Von Pierce and the other is Andrew Von Pierce, my brother."

"You are in want of a stable man and maid?" the man asked tentively.

Erik thought for a moment and remembered that there had been and ad sent out not that long ago for some more help, but he had no idea why, they had enough people to service a circus working for them, "Yes, I suppose so."

"Splendid, I am Jean Ardemment and this is my wife, Constance, and my daughter, Carissa. We were hoping that the job position has not been filled yet, we have had prior experience in such household fields and come highly recommended by---"

"Very well then, Etienne shall show you your living quarters, the position is now full. anything you need shall be at the request of Etienne, there." Erik said standing up. he acknowledged Constance, who curtsied politely back.

"Thank you sir, you don't know how much this means to us." Jean said formally with a grin as big as the country of France on his lips.

Little Carissa was hesitant to leave the warm safety of her mother's skirts when her parnets wanted her to say something, but her mother knelt down to her level and whispered in her ear for a moment. a moment later, Carissa smiled and whispered back, all the while looking at Erik.

He began to get uneasy at being made a spectacle but wasn't prepared in the least for what the little girl was about to say.

"Thank you kind sir, you are a beautiful person." and walked right up to Erik with no fear and kissed him on his good cheek.

Erik was shocked; him beautiful to a stranger he had only just met? Is the child blind? He put a hand to his cheek, speechless.

Etienne finally broke the silence, by leading them out to see their living quarters, he smiled knowingly to a shocked Erik as he closed the doors and walked out.

Erik was shocked, but on top of that he felt like he had to write something, a piece of music for his violin. The little eleven year old girl sparked a fire in him and now it was burning him from inside, threatening to burst out and this time in music.

This is how Christine and Nadir found him; his shirtsleeves rolled up, his hair in a desheveled mess, and ink everywhere visible on his hands.

Surprisingly, he was better off then the room. The music room floor was littered with sheets of music ; crumpled and flat. you could barely see the floor.

Erik didn't even break his stride, he just kept writing notes furiously in pace. After a minute or so, he let out a little sound of triumph and finally engaged his amused guests.

"Why did we want to hire another maid, I thought Charlotte had agreed to stay and help us? Today, we had a family come for the job and i gave it to them. They were more then qualified and I said the position was theirs to have." Erik said.

When no one responded, he looked up and saw Nadir smiling ear to ear, his chest slightly puffed out in...was that smug pride? Erik knew that expression too well, something was going on.

"Erik, my friend..." Nadir said proudly.

Erik shook his head, clearly confused when all of a sudden he gained his moment of clarity.

"Nadir that is wonderful! Congratulations! When is she expecting? Is she still working in her condition?" Erik said excitedly, looking around as if he would see Charlotte appear somewhere in the room at any second.

He couldn't believe it, Charlotte; pregnant!

"In December, she's a month past".

"That is wonderful Nadir, another winter babe, us women must love the spring time." Christine joked.

"I was hoping we could have a small celebration tonight in her honor? We are going to announce it to everyone else then." Nadir asked.

"Of course, of course," Christine laughed as Erik fell back onto the music bench in shock.

"Wonderful," Nadir said, walking gaily out the door and humming a tune to himself.

Christine turned from the door, smiling, and went over to the music bench, sitting herself right next to her husband. Erik looked crest fallen all of the sudden.

"Darling?" Christine asked, putting her hand on his thigh.

"It's nothing," Erik mumbled pathetically.

Christine knew the only time he mumbled was when he was nervous.

She laughed, "Erik William, you are no match for female intellect, now come out with it."

Again Erik mumbled, putting his head down, finding the persian rug he had seen a million times, extremely fascinating.

"Darling what was that? The carpet is being a terrible word hog and it's making me terribly jealous." Christine laughed as Erik looked up at her in all seriousness.

"I want another baby," Erik said quietly.

"How presumptious of you, mon cher," Christine laughed, "It's not that simple."

Christine smiled and Erik's face turned red as a tomatoe.

"Is that a blush I see Mr. Von Pierce?" Christine teased, "Well, I don't have an answer for you right this instant and we need to get ready for the party, which leaves such little room in our busy schedule to have a baby today, so will 24 hours suffice?"

Christine went to get up and leave when Erik wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down onto his lap. He stroked her glossy curls tenderly as she laid her head on his chest, she smelled so intoxicating to him.

"I love you," he whispered softly into her ear.

Christine took off the mask and gently cupped both sides of his face, "I love you too".

"Christophe, hurry or we shall be late for the party." Sophia signed to him when he looked up from the flowers in his hands.

"One moment, I forgot Juliana's present," he signed back hastily and ran upstairs as the doorbell rang.

Sophia had given the staff the rest of the day off and went to answer the door.

"Bonjour, may---" Sophia started, but there was no one there.

Looking down, Sophia saw a letter sitting in the middle of the stairs addressed to her in fine penmanship.

Picking it up, she quickly shut the door and tore the envelope open, gasping at the first line.

Sophia Dubois,

Raoul has perished from an unfortunate horse accident. The estate is yours to do with what you would like. In the will, a good portion was set aside for Christophe and you (yes, my brother did have a heart regardless of what srewd things you say), the rest went to me. You are on your own now, if you contact the authorities about prior incidents your funding will be taken away. You will have no contact with me any further. Good bye, Sophia.

Comte De Changy

Sophia was in shock, Raoul was dead? That meant she and Christophe were free. Free from his cruel tongue and words, free from his horrible presence forever.

Sophis didn't know whether to smile joyously or cry from such delerium, she was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. It had been so long since she was able to know the feeling of being free.

Christophe cam downstairs and saw his mother reading a letter with one hand over her mouth and tears spilling over her cheeks. He went down to her and signed, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Sophia choked out, "just a friend I have not seen in a long, long time." She lied.

"Ready?" She signed back, after wiping the tears from her face and stuffing the letter in one of the nearest drawers.

Christophe had a bad feeling about that letter, he knew his mother well and could tell she was lying. He left her be, however, knowing that she would tell him soon enough, they shared everything.

"Yes, I'm ready maman." he signed and went to retireve the gifts.

Earlier that month...

"Brother!" Phillip exclaimed, walking into the dark bedroom, and ripping the curtains open.

"Phillip," Raoul growled unceremoniously, "This better be important." Raoul gestured to the lump next to him, no doubt another whore of a woman.

"Oh, it is, I assure you." Phillip said grinning like a cat in a canary cage.

"The post has arrived and with it..." Phillip slowly raised a cream colored letter with a green wax seal.

Raoul shot up from his bed and snatched the letter from Phillip's hands. He quickly tore open the seal and ripped the piece of parchment out.

Vicomte De Changy,

My mission is complete. Your wife has made new friends here as you know, the Von Pierces. I have done what you asked and included a detailed description of each member of the family, there are eight in total. first there is Andrew Von pierce, but you said not to worry about him. Andrew's wife is a one Megan Giry, blonde, petite, blue eyes...

Raoul's mouth dropped in shock, "He married that slut? She was nothing but a ballet rat, a common street whore. oh well his loss." Raoul thought ruefully and continued reading.

Their children are Annette, age 11, and her sister, Emma, age 12. Next is Erik Von Pierce, Andrew's brother, a strange man with a mask...

Raoul's eyes got as big as saucers, the phantom alive and Andrew's brother? He fell back onto the bed, he couldn't believe that monster was still alive and that Andrew had not told him about him. He could feel his hatred and anger boil underneath his skin, but he continued on.

His wife, Christine, her last name was impossible to find but i did get a tip from a chef that he had seen a bracelet with the name Daae on it on her wrist one day...

He read the passage over again, starting to feel numb with anger. "This must be a mistake, Christine was dead, he had buried her, she was nothing but a rotting corpse. Andrew said..." Raoul stopped in mid thought while reality hit him.

He grabbed the empty brandy bottle on his beside table and threw it with all of his might at the wall, startling the sleeping women who then ran out of the bedroom half naked in fear screaming.

"I've been made a fool. That bastard! He planned this with the help of that masked abomination. nobody makes a fool out of me. And nobody fucking gets away with it..." Raoul screamed at the top of his lungs like a mad man raving.

Phillip just smiled, and took the letter from off the bed.

"Raoul, I have a plan..."

Raoul looked at Phillip, his eyes glowintg with contempt.

"Tell me."

A/N: Review for me! What is happening? Isn't suspensful, hahaha, I know you guys feel like killing me! Sorry guys, I had to do it.