Thank you all my reviewers! You're the best!

Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera is not mine. All relations come from Mr. Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera. All characters that appear from this point and time in the story however are mine.

Chapter 29

"Well Firmin, what a lovely turnout!" exclaimed Armand Moncharmin as the two managers stood before a large group of young ladies tittering about what they'd do if they were excepted, but both pares of eyes seemed to find Christine, who was looking incredibly meditative, staring at the song in her hands, not saying a word to the others.

Firmin shot Armand a worried glance, "Miss Christine is back! Whatever will…"

"Oh hush Firmin! You've heard about the Viscount, give her a chance will you! The Ghost is long gone anyway!" Moncharmin hissed. He always liked Christine; she always seemed to give life to the Populaire.

Firmin huffed and yelled up to the many girls, "Settle! First will be Miss Benoite Facet. File out behind the stage all of you!"

A shy, hollowed face girl of about twenty stepped forward, cheeks rosy from embarrassment. "I've a song ready. Maestro, do you know Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms?" she asked quietly.

The two managers listened to person after person, until they thought they were about ready to gauge their ears out. Half of the girls couldn't keep a straight note, let alone sing a whole aria! So when Christine stepped on the stage they could have run to her and kissed her feet.

Once all the girls had heard the name, they stopped chattering instantly, knowing all the rumors that had trailed the young soprano last year and were interested to know if she was really as wonderful as everyone ranted she was.

"Hello Christine, nice to see you again." Firmin said relief filling him, thanking God he didn't have to listen to another croaking young hopeful.

"Same to you, managers." She smiled warmly toward the managers and to Monsieur Reyer, she asked simply, "Maestro, Lullaby of the Bells please."

He nodded, instantly striking the keys of the piano in the orchestra pit. Simultaneously, the stage filled with her strong, angelic voice.

"Hear those bells ringing soft and low,

Bringing peace to the twilight glow!

Calling to everyone,

Night has begun.

Rest from your weary toil,

Day's work is done.

Hear them ring while my love and I,

Drift and dream to the lullaby."

As Christine looked around after she had finished holding out the indubitable note, everyone's mouths were agape, and all eyes on her. The voice that came forth from the young soprano was like a gathering of angels singing up to the heavens; no one could believe that Christine, a delicate seventeen-year old- who was the youngest girl auditioning- could vocalize in such a manner.

The silence was sliced through with the shrill yell of another, "Move! Move! Move! You impotent girl, what are you gapping at?"

Carlotta emerged from the crowd furiously. "What are you doing here," she hissed toward Christine, "when it's obvious that I will be the diva as usual." She then faked a smile toward the managers. "My precious managers, I am sorry I'm late."

"Carlotta." Firmin whined.

"Maestro! Think of me!"

Because Mr. Reyer was deathly afraid of the diva, he instantly obeyed.

As she hit the high notes, everyone cringed, her voice going straight through them like a knife. She showed no emotion when singing like Christine had profusely shown.

"Alright!" Armand yelled to quite everyone after the earsplitting song they had just undergone hearing. "Monsieur Firmin and I will discuss our opinions, please feel free to roam the auditorium."

As the girls scattered, the two managers slumped back in their chairs. "I'm glad Senora Carlotta was courteous enough to add further to our resilient decision."

"Well, isn't it obvious who were choosing?" Firmin asked.

"Of course! I've never heard Miss Daae sing like that. She was marvelous!" Moncharmin replied.

The two managers discussed the matter over a second and third time before actually coming to a decision. "Ladies!" Armand yelled beckoning the young ladies back to the vast stage.

"Monsieur Richard and I want to thank you all for auditioning, you all did…very well." Moncharmin said falsely. "In the chorus will reside-"

As the managers rambled off the names, Christine felt melancholy, for her name was not called and she knew she wasn't good enough to be the diva. But all that flew from her mind as she heard a distant melody vibrate from below the stage. Quickly her heart began to pound against her ribs. He was here!

"The diva's understudy is GenevieveMontague."

A girl with straight, thick brown hair and chocolate eyes jumped up and down excitedly as her friends congratulated her.

"Now we come to the diva. Our diva is Miss Christine Daae."

Christine's jaw dropped instantly. Once everything registered in her mind, she was overwhelmed in excitement and a huge smile crossed her rosy lips. "Thank you monsieurs!"

"You're dismissed, please report to Monsieur Moncharmin on the other side of the auditorium for your room assignments."

As the groups separated- new Populaire residence and the rejected hopefuls- Carlotta exploded for she wasn't in the chorus or the diva. She had to follow the hopefuls.

"Managers! This is an outrage!"

Christine received her room assignment and quickly ran to it. It was glorious with a beauteous view. It was dressed in gold's and red's but she paid it no heed.

Quickly she dropped her belongings and ran toward the stage, where no one was in site. She got down on her hands and knees searching for the counterbalance that would shoot the trapdoor upward and let her pass through.

Perspiration formed around her brows as she searched. Her fingers slipped across a rugged board on the smooth floor. She pressed her palm against it and the board, as well as the others around it shot up, she was staring into darkness.

She looked around quickly to make sure no one was watching and slipped through the opening, sealing it tightly behind her.

A candelabrum stood next to her, frightening her as her back smashed against it. She wrapped her fingers around the cool wax at the base of the candle, yanking it free of the support.

As she advanced, the sound of the organ became stronger and stronger until she reached the murky lake leading to the lair.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped into the small gondola grabbing the lone oar that sat within its confines. As she steadied the rocking boat all she could think about was the uncontrollable pounding of her yearning heart.

"My Angel." She whispered to herself.

As water collided with oar, the boat inched forward. Christine though of what she would say first and repeated it over and over again to make sure she wouldn't forget.

Christine drifted away in her own thoughts and didn't realize the boat was coming close to shore until she was thrown forward, smacking her left side against the end of the boat.

She bit her lip to hold back a scream of pain and staggered onto the platform to his home. Her breath caught in her chest, could it really be? Could he really be in there?

She wasted no time finding out. She seized the doorknob, pushing the door open gently.

He failed to realize her presence, for he was so wrapped up in his music. He was playing his favorite of his compositions- Past the Point of No Return. He hadn't been able to go a day without playing it and today was no different.

As Christine began to recognize the song her heart ached in pain. This was the song that tore his heart out all those months ago.

The more she though about it, the more melody filled her heart until she exploded into song.

"You have brought me
to that moment where words run dry,
to that moment where speech disappears
into silence, silence . . .

I have come here,
hardly knowing the reason why . . .
In my mind,

I've already imagined our bodies entwining defenseless and silent -
and now I am here with you:
no second thoughts,
I've decided, decided . . .

Past the point of no return -
no going back now:
our passion-play has now, at last, begun . . .
Past all thought of right or wrong -
one final question:
how long should we two wait, before we're one?

When will the blood begin to race
the sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

That's when he stopped.

-Damn it! Why does my mind play horrid tricks on me! This has to me the worst by far! – He thought placing his head in his hands. – Why can't she get out of my head! Why must I always think of her! It was almost as if she were actually here singing along. –

He was just about ready to smash something when he heard a voice behind him.

"My Angel?"

A/N- I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and as you read I am typing up the next.

(If any of you are familiar with the 1943 Phantom movie, that's where the first song came from- Lullaby of the Bells) So thank you whoever wrote that song! I give you full credit!