(A/N)

Hey guys! Sorry if I don't update as often now, the rehearsals are running four days a week and it's quite hard to write; especially since I'm getting home at six o'clock at night and have to take a shower, make my lunch, do homework and go to bed in a timely manner. So, if I don't get chapters out as fast, pray, don't become frustrated with me; it would make my life so much easier. Enjoy this chapter, au revoir!

Chapter Twenty Nine: I Love You

-* My foul mood hadn't dwindled much since we returned from the park, so, it wasn't any surprise to me when the page boy held out the letter, how I snatched it from his hand and cursed Christine Daae under my breath. Formerly, she was my idol. Her voice was so clear and true; she was so honest and kind; hell, she even acted as a mother to me, if even a bit. But then, when I saw her lips stitched to Erik's, I saw what a snake was hidden beneath her facade of honesty and caring.

What really lit my anger aflame was her utter lack of respect for my choices.

Perhaps she was ignorant, but she wasn't totally oblivious. Several times before had I said to her how much I loved Erik; but, she didn't care.

Just because she didn't love Erik, doesn't mean that I don't love him.

It means she wasn't the right one for him, it means that she needs to go to Raoul and leave us alone.

Oh, I am terribly sorry for the rant; but, when I saw that little wave Christine gave to me, and the wink she gave to Erik, I felt I would surely explode! And, I can't vent to Erik; not right now. I understood that he was going through terrible emotions as of those moments and to vent about my distaste to the Viscontess would surely send him over the edge.

Erik and I were silently traveling down to the fifth cellar; I walked before him, holding the lanturn tight in my grasp, and the note in the other. In these moments, I made a comparison between Erik and William (and Christine and myself).

We were in different circumstances, but, the same situation; just with a few more obsticles thrown into the mix.

William is what I compared to the past Erik.

Broken.

Beneath William's mask of confidence there sits a broken man; desperate for the tiniest crumb of affection. In the past, Erik was that way; save, in the stead of confidence, there was anger. William and Erik aren't that different.

Christine and I were and are thrown into difficult situations. Christine loved Roaul, beyond a doubt; like I love Erik. However, with Christine, there was always that nagging doubt of love to Erik; with me, it is the nagging doubt of William. There are few differences in our situations, for example, I am pregnant and, with Christine, Erik faded away from her.

William, however, is a bit more stubborn (which, I didn't believe was achieveable).

Erik and I were in the second cellar and he cleared his throat; pausing my thoughts. Then, he spoke: "Persephone..?" Asked he, I grunted, the odious feelings were diminishing, however, they clung fast to me. Erik sighed and he gently grasped my shoulder, turning me towards him and pulling me into a hug. "...I love you" he said in a whisper; I closed my eyes and sighed, enfolding my arms around him and enjoying the little warmth his body gave off.

"I love you too" I said at length, begining again. "What did Christine say?"

"Nothing out-of-the-ordinary; she spoke of William plenty. General small talk" he answered, but, there was something in his voice that told me he was hiding something. I sighed, and heard footsteps approching behind us; fast footsteps.

"Mademoislle! Wait!" Someone shouted, it was the page boy, he was huffing and puffing by the time he reached Erik and I; Erik took him by the arm and sat him down on the cellar floor. "You...you need to read that...right...right now" the page boy added, pointing weakly to the letter in my grasp. I glanced frantically to Erik who nodded; I tore open the envelope and yanked out the letter to see the words 'Managers office, now'.

My heart plumetted.

Do you ever gain that neausiating feeling that makes your stomach bubble with fear? Do you feel your legs shiver and the hairs on your arms stand on end because you know of the revolting end that is inevitably coming? Do you ever feel your throat burn because of the afore mentioned stomach bubbles? I do. And, in this situation, I did.

It's that fear that fills you with dread and not so much anxiousness. This dread is caused not because something pops out at you, or the suspence is enough to cut with a butter knife, but it is because you know what is coming and you know you will have to face whatever it is soon.

I ran to Erik and buried myself beneath his arms; for, that was where I felt the most safe. Erik glanced at the note, but, did not feel the begruding dread that sat like a bolder in my gut. He just nodded and grasped my hand, leading me up the stairs, to the manager's office.

-* When we reached the surface nothing seemed to be the bother, to anyone! Everyone was merry and spoke lively, smiles spread across their faces and laughter humming from their vocal chords.

Something was most definately wrong.

Erik lead me into M. Firmin and M. Moncharmin's office and, hanging from the rafters was my uncle's body.

Before I could scream in horror I was violently shoved into the room; only standing because Erik caught me before my body could flop to the floor.

There were a few men in black evening suits standing about the room; M. Moncharmin was no where to be seen. My eyes traveled from the men, back to my uncle. The rope that acted as his bane was bright red, as were the colour of his lips. His skin was pale and his face had the slightest touch of crimson; his arms and legs dangled uselessly. But, there was something about this scene that urked me, something that wasn't correct.

It was Firmin's face. I had seen death before, many times, especially so living in Whitechapel; anyways, Firmin's face wasn't the correct colour, it didn't have bruising and his eyes weren't glazed over, as a corpse's eyes usually are. Just then, Firmin's 'corpse' smiled! He was still alive! Firmin turned to me and grinned, a man walked to him and helped him down from the noose. "I bet you're wondering how I did that" said he, drinking a glass of scotch; I nodded.

"A harness" Erik interrupted. "You used a harness connected to the rope to keep you alive; it was just 'round your neck for show" Erik added, Firmin applauded him.

"Very good, very good! Monsieur Erik! Quite ingenious, is it not?" Asked Firmin with a drunken chuckle.

"What do you want, Firmin?" I growled, Firmin smiled.

"Ah, to tell you a few things, mademoiselle." Said he, sitting at his desk and sighing "you know, I intended to write you a letter about it, but, I came up with a different plan." he paused and sighed. "Persephone, I'm going to tell you what really happened on your eighth birthday" said he, leaning forwards and downing another glass. Erik and I sat before him, in green chairs. "You and your mother went to the park, as you know, and you sang. You were applauded and you got your face painted like a kitten; and you were promised a kitten that your mother was going to give to you that night.

How I know all of this? I was there. Persephone, as perverse and disgusting as you think this may sound...I loved your mother; I couldn't lose her after that night when we were young. So, more often than not, I followed your mother around, especially when she was pregnant with you. I was there for both of your birthdays, and I was there for your eighth. I had been drinking...as I am now...Persephone, I have a condition...a strange condition that only allows me to remember certain things when I drink.

I forgot what it's called, though. Anyways, I was drunk and I confronted your mother when you went in the woods to play" Firmin said, his lips becoming chapped, he licked them a few times and drank some more. "She smiled, like she always did, and we spoke for a while; she pointed to where you were and told me to go wish you happy birthday, she said you were playing with a new friend." Firmin paused and his eyes became glassy, in consequence, he drank another glass. "I wandered into the woods, barely able to stand I was so drunk, and I saw you, no one else was around, though.

You were so vulnerable...and I was so drunk...I...I touched you" he whispered and I felt all of the blood drain from my cheeks. My entire body went limp and I shook my head; Firmin drank the entire bottle of scotch and turned away from us.

"Y-You raped me?" I asked quietly; I knew what happened, I just...I couldn't believe my ears! There was a light 'click' and Firmin sighed.

"Yes, Persephone...yes, I did" he whispered; Erik stood, he was angry, very, very angry. Now, Firmin turned upon us; holding a loaded gun. "Persephone, this won't make sense to you, not yet, not until I explain it" said Firmin, tears falling down his cheeks. "Persephone, I killed your mother, I killed Claire. I killed her because...she didn't love me...she loved your father; but, he's dead now too. I made sure of it" he said; my heart was in my throat and I felt so much at once, it was impossible to explain my thoughts!

"You've gone bloody mental" I whispered; Firmin smiled sadly.

"Persephone, little Persephone, I love you...but...the guilt of touching you is too great, my child." Firmin said, pulling the hammer back on the gun.

"Firmin, please, think about what you're doing...Persephone's pregnant. You wouldn't want to kill a baby, would you?" Erik growled; Erik looked as if he were ready to jump across the desk and strangle my uncle to death. Firmin wept for a moment and all was silent. He looked up to the ceiling with tears flooding from his eyes.

"Forgive me, Claire" he whispered, and pulled the trigger.

-* Time slowed and, suddenly, Erik was leaned over me; carrying me away. I glanced down to see a Erik's white shirt was pressed over the left side of my stomach; the shirt was being soiled bright crimson extremely quickly. I smiled to Erik who was telling me that I would be fine; he kept calling me 'his girl' and 'baby' and 'his angel of music'. I smiled to him and kissed his masked cheek. "I love you, Erik, I love you" I whispered, closing my eyes and whispering how much I loved him over and over.