Hello readers!

I'm in a bit of a hurry. Today I am meeting with some guy who will make me an exercise program to help me rebuilt my strength and strengthen my body. Your humble servant is finally on the way to get better.:d It will take work but, finally, someone is trying to help improve my situation. And those exercises might help me not get tendinitis so often... :| lol

Oh, here's your chapter! :) I bet you're all curious as to know what happens next! XD

Enjoy,

Kaya

Chapter 37

The Winter Ball came sooner than Catherine would have wished for. It was supposed to be a great and fun event since it would be the first masked ball in town since the Masquerade at the old Populaire. For the occasion, Catherine sewed a burgundy dress, embroidered with golden threads and trimmed with lace of the same color at the neckline and sleeves. Christine tried to convince her to have a seamstress do the work, but Catherine refused. The seamstress they usually employed would notice the beginning of a change in her, even if it was only slight.

The young woman worked alone on the garment, practically non-stop during these past two weeks. She did not mind the hard work though, it kept her mind busy from thinking about what would occur on that night… A thought crossed her mind as she put the last details on her costume. The Phantom would be proud of her work, the two of them were equally talented in yet another area… The thought made her cry, even if she tried really hard not to. Since she was pregnant, her emotions were very hard to handle, even more so since she was told the duke's proposal in marriage…

Catherine was preparing herself for the big night, in every sense of the word. She dressed her hair with many golden ribbons, adding a nice effect into her dark brown hair, then put on her dress. It was tighter than last she tried it on, but it did not show. She placed a drop of perfume in the crook of her neck and grabbed her golden mask. She stared at it, thinking of how awful it must be for Erik to feel the need to wear such a thing in his everyday life. He surely did not needed one in her presence though…

Shaking her head, Catherine begged her own mind not to let her think about his man, or it might destroy her resolve… Putting on the mask, the young woman looked into the mirror. It hid her upper face, shadowing her tired and sad eyes, which was a good thing. She could not allow anyone to see how miserable and broken she truly was.

Christine and Raoul had been waiting for Catherine in the hall for a while already. The viscount was pacing the marble floor impatiently, hoping their young friend would cooperate in his plan for tonight and not ruin the ball with her stubbornness. This mundane event was not simply a masked ball, but also an engagement party to a very important man, to his business partner. During the evening, Raoul would announce Catherine and the duke of Reinhardt's betrothal.

The viscountess let out a gasp, catching her husband's attention immediately. Turning, he saw Catherine approaching, slowly walking down the stairs. She was magnificent, worthy of the duke's attention and, later, of his name. He was glad she decided to make herself even prettier for her soon-to-be husband. Obviously, she chose not to make a scene and he could not help but be relieved.

Taking both of the ladies' arms, the young viscount led his wife and the one he came to consider as a sister outside where the driver was already waiting with their carriage. As they sat inside, Raoul noticed how pale and nervous Catherine looked, even though she wore a mask. She must be anxious, he thought as the coach finally took off. Maybe she had forgotten about the Phantom…

Madame Giry was waiting for the De Chagny party to show up with her niece in the hall of La Rose Bleue. She was a rather patient woman, but due to tonight's event, she was a nervous wreck. The awaited carriage finally entered the court of the opera house, the viscount coming out first, followed by his very pregnant wife and, finally, her niece came in sight. She smiled, her sister's daughter looked very beautiful, though she could tell something was different, but could not quite figure what it was.

Catherine's eyes found her aunt near the main entrance and beside her stood a young blond woman, at the arm of a bored looking man. Since the young blond was the spitting image of her aunt, she figured it must have been her cousin, Marguerite Giry. She did not really care though, she was angry at her aunt for naming Raoul as her protector.

Even though the place was set for a huge and colorful party, Catherine did not show much enthusiasm. This night would seal her fate…and her child's. Meg came forward and hugged her cousin, who returned the embrace but only out of obligation toward what remained of her family. Meg introduced Catherine to her husband, Martin Champagneur, then left to be with him and enjoy the ball. Catherine was relieved, to tell the truth.

They finally made their way to the ballroom, which was already filled with dozens of disguised people. Catherine groaned inwardly when she caught sight of Monsieur Jean. He was talking with none other than Friedrich de Reinhardt. When the duke saw the young woman, he excused himself from the manager and ran to her. He wore a musketeer costume. Nothing overly original, Catherine thought as he gave her his usual kiss on the cheek.

As he pulled back, Friedrich smiled down at his fiancée. Part of her wanted to think it might not be that terrible to be married to such a handsome man, while the rest of her hated she even dared thinking about such a thing. She was already married and her husband, though not the handsomest man, was the one she loved.

Reinhardt apologized to her, for he had to leave her for a moment, needing to talk to someone who just arrived. As he walked away, Catherine saw the viscount coming toward her from the corner of her eye. She swallowed nervously, thinking he might order her to do something she probably would not want to do…

-"If the duke asks you for a dance, I trust you will accept with great pleasure." Raoul said in a whisper so only she could hear

-"And what if I don't feel like dancing?" She retorted bravely, provocatively

-"Don't play brats, you won't win." He answered, then sighed. "He will make you happy, Catherine, I do not have any doubt about it."

The thought of running away crossed Catherine's mind, but her child was more important. She would go through with her plan. Erik had not given her any sign of life since he had given her the bloodied rose. She did not have a choice, no other option was presented to her. She could accept the duke's proposal in marriage, she would become a duchess but only so her child can have a father and a roof over its head.

Friedrich came back at that moment, taking Catherine's hands between his and pecking her cheek once more. In her ear, he whispered how beautiful he found her in that burgundy-golden dress. Yet, the compliment did not quite reach her heart, but she managed a smile which she hoped did not look too artificial. Raoul, Christine, Madame Giry, Meg and Martin joined them just in time to sing the traditional song for a masked bal.

Masquerade!

Paper faces on parade…

Masquerade!

Hide your face,

So the world will never find you!

Masquerade!

Every face a different shade…

Masquerade!

Look around-

There's another

Mask behind you…

Christine and Raoul kept singing as they danced away from them. Everybody sang, even Madame Giry and Monsieur Jean. Catherine was the only one who remained completely silent. She did not see the point in singing something so cheerful. Under her golden mask, she was hiding sadness, grief and desperation. From the corner of her eye, she could see the duke was trying to follow the song, humming horribly. He might like music, but he could never be a singer or musician.

The song was interrupted, the sudden silence breaking at the sound of a frightened shriek coming from the viscountess. Catherine turned toward Christine, who was further behind her with Raoul and saw what had upset the other woman immediately. There, on top of the stairs at the other end of the large ballroom, clad in bright red and gold, wearing a mask in the shape of a skull, stood the Phantom of the Opera. He was the incarnation of fear and even Catherine was under his frightening spell, though maybe not as much as the others but certainly in a different way. Her eyes followed him as he took the steps down to the dance floor.

-"Why so silent?" He chuckled sarcastically. "Can't the Red Death enjoy himself with dances and laughter?"

Madame Giry felt faint at the sight of her old friend. If he brought the Red Death back to life, it certainly was a bad sign. Something must have upset him, or he would not have reappeared in such a way. Her eyes caught sight of the viscount folding him arms protectively around his scared wife, but Elizabeth realized soon enough that the Phantom was not going in their direction. He was heading straight to her niece.

Catherine's heart tightened painfully in her chest at the sight of her husband. His beautiful gray-green eyes were cold and angry, the same eyes which used to look at her with tenderness and love. Was she truly responsible for such a dramatic change in him?

The Red Death stopped a few feet away from the young woman. The silence in the room was heavy and everyone held their collective breath as the Phantom rose a gloved hand toward Catherine. He looked so coldly at her, some thought he would strike her.

-"Can the Red Death have the honor of a dance with the young demoiselle?" He questioned, his voice deeper than Catherine remembered

Le Duc de Reinhardt literally jumped between the masked man and the young diva, shielding her the best he could. His hand reached for the handle of his sword, which had been only a prop added to his musketeer costume until now. The Phantom's answer to this shallow threat was a condescending chuckle.

-"Is prince charming jealous of the Red Death?"

The viscountess began crying from somewhere behind them and Catherine knew if she did not do something, this party was bound to end up in a blood bath. Stepping forward and between the two rivals, she put a hand onto Friedrich's arm, silently asking him to lower his guard. She could tell the audience tensed some more at the strange scene playing before them and she could only hope no one went to fetch a gendarme.

-"I will dance with the Red Death." Catherine declared. "There is no need to fight over a simple dance."

Her voice sounded calm, while inside she was shaking with apprehension, fear rising some more at the Phantom looked right into her eyes. She could tell the duke was both shocked and furious, but she wasn't sure if it was directed completely at her…

The Phantom's heart was racing, his breathing increasing as Catherine stepped closer to him, obviously nervous. He put his arm around her and with a single nod toward the orchestra, he ordered them to play. Soon, he was spinning her into an elegant waltz. Their dance felt so normal to the audience that they began forgetting about them, returning to their partners to enjoy themselves on the dance floor. Yet, there were a few people who did not join the festivities. Christine, Raoul, Friedrich, Elizabeth and Meg were following the strange couple's every move, hoping this would not end badly…

The Phantom never left Catherine's wide eyes. He felt her tremble against him and not in the way she used to whenever they were together before all of this happened. She was shaking with fear and somehow it made him even angrier.

-"Why the Red Death?" She asked after a moment in a murmur, trying her best not to cry. "Are you so angry at me you wish to scare me?"

-"It was that stupid, ignorant, bastard of a duke I wanted to scare." He admitted, swallowing painfully. "Come back to me, my angel."

He could not believe he just said that, not after what she did to him. Wasn't he supposed to hate her. Yet, now that he saw her eyes, how sad they were under her beautiful mask, his anger dimmed slightly. But he needed answers as to what happened with the duke.

-"Why did you leave me for that…man?"

-"Erik, what are you talking about?" She frowned

-"The night of your triumph, you went with the German boy, while I, your husband, was waiting to take you home to have some nice dinner together."

-"Oh, Erik, if you only knew how much I wanted to be with you that night. But they insisted... I returned to the manor early, hoping I would not be too late, hoping you would be there…But instead of my husband, I found a blood rose in my bed…"

A single tear escaped her eye, finding its way down her face from under the golden mask. Erik kept looking at her and she could tell he was confused. Catherine took a deep breath before she continued.

-"Things are complicated now." She breathed, vainly trying to find some courage. "Erik, know that I love you, and that until my days end. Yet, things are so that I am no longer in control. You left me and it grieves me more than I could ever tell. Tonight…tonight the duke will announce our betrothal. We are getting married in a few weeks, even though I don't love him…"

The news stabbed the Phantom in the heart and he pushed Catherine away from him, so roughly she almost fell on the floor. The music stopped, every hear turning they way. At seeing this, Reinhardt ran toward the young woman, again positioning himself between her and the Red Death.

-"You lie!" The Phantom yelled. "You betrayed me, you love him. I saw you with him time and again!"

-"You don't understand!" She cried

-"The Red Death will come back for you, dear Catherine, very soon!"

The Phantom ran to the grand staircase, followed by Raoul and Friedrich, but they did not find him once they were on top. The Ghost had already disappeared.