Alexiz: Wow...your threats rival that of even our Erik. ha ha. WELL...as for me bringing in a man... ANY man...I can't promise anything on that front. I CAN promise however lots of misunderstandings before our happy ending. And come on...you know Christine's love is solid...until that Phantom guy starts wooing her that is, ha ha. THEN she might be tempted to cheat on her dead husband. ha ha. I am enjoying your reviews. and just to let you know, I sent you more messages (in chapter 22 and 45 - since I had no idea WHERE you were in reading time and did not want to miss answering you. Please let me know if you are getting these responses)

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Chapter 35

Erik was living in a dream! Every morning he awoke with a new sense of joy and he could not wait to head up to the Opera House and follow Christine's every movement from the moment she set foot on the premises till it was time for her lessons. His eyes devoured her, his ears strained for every word and syllable and his hands still reached out unconsciously to touch her. She was back in his life, if only from a distance…but she was there!

"You are doing very well." He complimented her on their third session. "I can already see a marked improvement in your range. You must be practicing like I instructed."

"Yes, Monsieur Phantom. I try to do so for at least an hour every night as well as on the way to and from the Opera House." She admitted, pleased that he had noticed.

"Next we will attempt to work on the high notes exclusively." Erik decided, knowing that this was where her true limitations now lay. He had been dying to ask her about her throat, but had yet to muster up the courage. He not only feared that she might not wish to tell him but he also knew it would pain him to hear that terrible moment recounted. It had long haunted his dreams, seeing the look of terror on her face as he held her to the floor with is hands around her neck. He shuddered now just thinking about it. But he needed to know…did she still hate him for it? "May I ask, Christine…what was it that caused the damage to your singing voice?" Erik held his breath as he waited for her to answer.

"It was an accident." She said after a few moments of thought. "Just a terrible accident back in Persia…it was no one's fault." Well, she did blame the Shahbanu, but this Phantom didn't need to know about her.

Erik let out his pent up breath. No one's fault? Oh he begged to differ!

"In Persia you say? What pray tell were you doing there?" He continued, trying to keep his voice as casual as possible, so as not to sound too eager.

"I thought you knew everything…being a ghost and all." Christine said, tilting her head to the side skeptically.

"I know many things, but I don't wish to presume how you feel about them, my dear. I ask out of courtesy…not curiosity." He lied, trying to throw her off the track.

"I see…" She said, her eyes narrowing as if she doubted his words. But still she humored him and went on to explain. "I was in Persia quite against my will. I had been kidnapped while working in Poland and given as a slave to a man there as a gift from the Shah. Thankfully though, he was a civilized Frenchman and he did not take advantage of our situation."

"I see…how fortunate for you. And did this man help you escape?" He asked.

"I am not sure if escape is the right word…I was sent away when he…he died." Christine tried to explain, growing sad and looking down at her hands that were now in her lap.

"I am sorry for your loss, my dear." Erik told her, it pained him to know that he had made her sad, but it elated him to think that is was over him that she was now grieving. Maybe she did love him still.

"I would really rather not talk about this anymore." She told him suddenly, standing up and looking at the clock on the shelf. "I need to be getting home anyway."

"Why the hurry? I had hoped we could go over one more song, really test your voice in that key." He hated this time, when she would announce her departure, leaving him alone once more and anxious until the next time he saw her. Why the hell did she not live on the premises in the dormitories like a lot of the other cast members? It would certainly help her out financially and make it easier for him to watch her!

"Perhaps tomorrow, I need to get home. Thank you for your help today, I enjoyed the lesson very much, Monsieur Phantom." She told him, picking up her cloak. She was about to walk out the door when she stopped and turned back. "Before I go, may I ask a question?"

"Certainly you may ask..." He told her, letting the last word hang in the air as if to say he may not answer.

"Why do you haunt this Opera House? If you are truly a ghost, which I still have my doubts about, why would you continue on here?"

Erik thought about that for a few tense moments. What was he to say?

"I…I haunt this place because of a lost love." He told her, speaking more truth than lie. "Here is where I feel closest to her…where I feel I can be near her."

"I am sorry to hear that. I know what it feels like to lose the one you love. You have my deepest sympathies." Christine could hear the raw pain in the ghost's voice and she found that she longed to reach out and comfort him. That was strange…comfort a ghost? "Good night, Monsieur Phantom." And with that she slipped out and shut the door behind her.

Christine walked home very slowly, her mind thinking back to the conversation with her unseen teacher. She had at first been very leery about the whole arrangement, after all one did not normally go around conversing with people they cannot see. But it was becoming very evident that he held some distinct power over her…something almost manipulative in nature and she felt herself being reluctantly drawn to him. It almost frightened her to some degree…and yet she was reluctant to end their agreement. It shocked her to realize that she had willingly spoken more to him tonight about her past than she had to almost anyone…even Meg. What was it about this disembodied voice that allowed her to open up when she had worked so hard to forget over the last four years? However, when he had told her about his lost love, she had felt a kinship to him, she could feel his pain. The loss of Erik had been the most devastating and debilitating thing she had ever experienced and she imagined that if this ghost still haunted the Opera House over the loss of a lady…he must have loved her a great deal. Perhaps he was the one person who could understand her pain, the one person who she could freely confide in?

No… she refused to think about this Phantom man any further. She had Charles to consider and she felt as if she had told him too much as it was. Would he reveal her secrets to the managers if he knew? Would he betray the small amount of trust she had placed in him? She dare not risk it. Maybe she would talk to Meg about this Opera Ghost tomorrow…she would see what her friend could tell her about him.

Erik sat at his piano for a long time that night just staring at the blank sheet in front of him. He had thought composing might ease his mind but no words or notes came. He looked over at the stack of pages to his left, sheets and sheets of music he had written over the years for Christine. They had kept him sane, they had kept him alive. But now they were an empty and hallow form of comfort. He didn't want words…he didn't want music…he wanted her!

Erik rose and began to pace the room feverishly, his hands raking through his hair as he let his mind race. He knew he had sworn to wait until he had helped to restore her voice, but he just couldn't stand it any longer. She was his wife…well in name only since he had yet to make it legal here in France, but in his heart she had been his since the first day he had seen her kneeling there before him. Oh how he blessed that day…the day she had come into his lonely life and breathed the breath of life back into his empty shell. He had to find out where she lived, he needed to see her outside the Opera House, to come to her like a man and not a ghost. Erik decided that is what he would do! Tomorrow he would follow her home and make his presence known. Tomorrow she would be back in his arms!

Christine entered her small apartment and was met by Charles as he ran into her arms.

"Mama!" He cried, as she picked him up and whirled him around. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too, my dear. Were you a good boy for Marie today?" She asked as she planted a kiss on is precious cheek.

"He was a perfect angel today, as always. We spent the afternoon at the park and had a marvelous time." Marie told her, getting up from the sofa and heading for the door.

"Thank you again for doing this, I will get my salary at the end of the week and then I can pay you for watching Charles for me, will that be all right?"

"Do not fret about it, I am not worried." Marie told her with a smile. "I am just happy that I can be of help to you and make a little money so that Andrew does not have to work so hard. I do have a favor to ask though. Tomorrow is our anniversary and we would like to go out to a nice restaurant so I was hoping to leave a little earlier than usual? Can you be home by five tomorrow?"

"Of course I can, your anniversary is very important!" She told her. Inwardly she wondered what her Phantom would say about her having to skip her session, but it couldn't be helped. She was so grateful to have Marie living next door and willing to sit with Charles all day and now even staying a little later since she was working with her voice coach.

"Wonderful, Andrew will be very pleased." Marie grabbed her small bag and headed home.

"What did you do today, Mama?" Charles asked as she set him down and began to take off her cloak.

"I sang and practiced on the stage and thought of no one but you all day." She told him with a laugh.

"What else?" He persisted, not finding the description of her day very exciting.

"Well….I also took some lessons from a mysterious person in the Opera House." She told him, her voice becoming very secretive and watched as his little amber eyes lit up with excitement.

"What is he like?" Charles asked.

"I am not quite sure yet…he is a…well, a mystery. I will figure him out yet though, just you wait." She reached down and ticked his ribs which made him melt into a fit of giggles. Christine couldn't help but wonder if Erik had been ticklish there as well. She had never dared try and find out…perhaps that kind of play would have come in time, but back then she felt she needed to treat him with kit-gloves. For being such a strong and formidable man he always seemed to have a very fragile air about him where playfulness was concerned. She would have enjoyed watching him as he came out of his shell…eventually.

"Will I get to meet him?" He asked once his laughter had died down.

"I am not sure…we will have to see." She told him. But first SHE would have to meet him, she thought to herself.

The next morning Christine went to the Opera House early and sought out Meg to get some answers. She found the little ballerina with her mother back stage warming up and getting ready for rehearsals.

"Meg…can I speak with you, please." She asked eying her mother, Madame Giry skeptically. She did not want to discuss the Opera Ghost in front of the elderly woman, she might think Christine had gone crazy.

"Sure, what about?"

"I was wondering…could you tell me what you know about the …Opera Ghost?" She lowered her voice hoping Meg's mother had not heard her.

"The Phantom?!" Meg said quite loudly. "Why do you want to know about him?" Her eyes grew wide. "You haven't seen him or something…have you?"

"Shhhh!" Christine hissed, trying to silence her excitable friend.

"Oh it is all right, mother knows more about the Phantom than I do. She is his box keeper after all and she delivers all his instructions to the Managers as well as his salary." Meg told her, as Madam Giry walked over to the two girls calmly.

"What is this about the Opera Ghost? Meg you know he does not like to be gossiped about like this. You must learn to show him respect." Madame Giry told her daughter sternly.

"Then you know this man who claims to be a Phantom?" Christine almost gasped. If a sensible woman such as Meg's mother believed him to be some apparition to be feared…well this was becoming very strange.

"Man…who claims…?" The ballet mistress seemed to pale at her words and looked around nervously. "My dear, the Opera Ghost is as real as you and I and just that….a ghost. Not flesh and blood! Do not dare trivialize his existence or you will find yourself on the receiving end of his fury. And I assure you that this is not something you wish to see!"

"But does that mean that I could see him?" She persisted. "Have you ever seen him?"

"Why on earth would you want to see him?" Meg gasped.

"Just curious I guess. I mean if he haunts this place, what does he look like? If not, how do you know he is real and this is all not just some prank being pulled by some deranged lunatic?" Christine asked.

Here Nadir almost burst out laughing at that! He and Erik had been listening for quite a few minutes, having discovered that Christine had arrived early that morning and found her already speaking with Meg and Madame Giry. Erik gave him a very stern look, signaling him to be quiet and keep listening.

"Christine! You would best be silent!" Madame Giry hissed, now looking around more frantically. "You are a foolish girl if you do not believe such words will not go unpunished."

"Aren't you frightened even a little?" Meg asked, grasping her arm sharply.

"No…no I am not." Christine admitted. She had lived through a hell that most people only dreamed of and she found that one ghost did not even rank among her top ten fears. "I thank you for your advice and warnings though, I will take them under consideration."

Erik was perplexed. Was he happy or upset that Christine did not fear the Phantom? On one hand he had worked hard to build up his ghostly persona, reigning over the Opera House with an iron fist in order to get his way. But then again, he never wanted Christine to fear him. He was torn.

Suddenly a loud noise from the front of the auditorium announced the presence of Andre and Firmin, their voices could be distinctly heard laughing and talking their way towards the stage. Erik knew from their tone that they were trying to weasel some money out of some new patron – otherwise they never sounded so jovial.

"And here we have our marvelous stage, where all the magic takes place!" Andre said to the unseen patron.

"Yes, and if you would like, we could easily get some of our dancers to give you a preview of the ballet that will be performed in our next production." Firmin said, clapping his hands as he tried to roust the dancers to the stage.

Erik was disgusted with the way they fawned over any person who promised a handful of money for special favors in his Opera House. With all the money they were getting from these lonely and board aristocrats they should be able to afford to pay for new scenery and offer raises to the more talented artists…but they never did.

"Who is that with the managers?" Meg asked, peeking out from behind the curtain along with her mother and Christine.

"Andre and Firmin are always looking for new and influential noblemen who might be willing to donate money to the Opera House." Madame Giry told the two girls. "They watch the social registry and if a fresh face is said to be in town they invite him or her here to see if they can convince them to invest. I heard that a Prince from a distant country is visiting France this week. And I am sure they felt he would be a fat bird perfect for the plucking."

"Well whoever he is, he is very distinguished looking!" Meg said in a pleasing tone.

Christine stood on her tiptoes to see around Meg's head and when she caught sight of the man standing between the managers she gave a very audible gasp.

Prince Jamal!

Erik and Nadir had also maneuvered their way around in the secret passage in order to see who it was the managers were trying to fleece and when they recognized Jamal, Erik's blood began to boil! That bastard! How was it that no one had killed him yet?!

"Erik…." Nadir said, placing a steadying hand on his shoulder as he saw him tense with rage and hatred. "This is not Persia; you cannot go challenging him to a knife fight or killing him with no cause."

"No cause?!" Erik seethed. "He tried to take Christine from me…and you say, no cause?"

"And you punished him rightly for that! Now let it go…he is no danger to Christine at the present. In fact I doubt he even knows she is here. This is purely a coincidence."

Erik's eyes narrowed, knowing that he would not calm down until that damnable man was away from the Opera House and out of France!

"Do you know him?" Meg asked, looking over her shoulder at Christine's' wide eyed expression.

"Yes….we have met before." She whispered, hardly able to speak.

"If he is a friend of yours, it might endear the managers to you if you could persuade him to donate some funds to the Opera House. Apparently the new production is over budget and unless some extra money is found, the show may not go on." Madame Giry told her. "Not that the Opera Ghost would stand for such a thing, but we can't always rely on him to step in and set everything right…often times we need to take matters into our own hands."

"I really don't think I could…" Christine began taking a step backwards in fear…but then she stopped. What was she doing? Cowering like a frightened little rabbit behind the curtain and allowing that wicked man to control her life once more?! She was no longer that young girl out of place and terrified back in Persia. No, she was a grown woman now and he was on her territory…he was the one out of place! "On second thought…perhaps I can!" She told the two ladies. "If it's money the managers need…then it is money they shall have!" And with that she flipped back the curtain and strode across the stage towards the three men who stood in the orchestra pit talking.

Erik just about jumped out of his skin when he saw Christine leave the safety of her hiding place and head for the Prince as if she didn't have a care in the world.

"What the hell is she doing?!" Erik growled, lunging forward, but Nadir once more held him back, the two remaining out of sight in their secret hiding place.

"Erik, do not reveal yourself unless necessary. There are plenty of people around, and even Jamal would not dare harm her in such a public place. Wait and see what happens first…then you can leap out and kill him if needs be." Nadir told him in a hushed voice.

Erik was not sure if the Daroga was serious or not, but it didn't matter. If he laid one finger on Christine, Jamal would find his neck pulled tight in a strangle hold as the Punjab lasso choked the life from him in seconds…and Erik didn't care who witnessed it! He held his breath and waited to see what his Christine was up to.

"No, no, Sirs." Jamal was saying to the two men, his French was quite stilted, as if he had only recently learned the language himself. "I no can stay long in beautiful country. Must get home to own lands. I thank you for tour of Opera House." Jamal told them, holding up his hands as if he were refusing to contribute like they had hoped.

"But you have not yet met any of our performers, surely once you have seen what wonderful things we can do here you will appreciate how the arts must be supported, your highness." Firmin was almost begging now. When he spotted Christine coming towards them he quickly motioned to her. "In fact here is one of our singers now, please let us have her give you an example of what we are talking about."

Jamal turned around to look at where Firmin was pointing and Christine watched his face turn white as a sheet and he actually took a step back, away from her determined approach. It was very obvious that he did indeed recognize her!

"Mademoiselle Daae, would you be so kind as to sing a song for Prince Jamal, we would like him to see what the Opera House has to offer in the way of talent." Andre asked, hoping this might change the Prince's mind.

"I do not think that will be necessary, gentlemen." She said in her sweetest tone, never taking her eyes off of Jamal – and he in turn never taking is wide eyes off of her. "Prince Jamal is already quite familiar with my signing, since we had the privilege of meeting one another a few years ago at a banquet. Isn't that right, your highness?"

Jamal opened his mouth but found he could not speak so instead he simply nodded his head up and down.

"And please, do tell me how are things in your land these days, Prince. Are you and the Shah of Persia still strong allies or has your loyalties already come into question with his court?" Christine noted that both managers were startled by her odd way of speaking to the Prince, but still remained silent since they had no idea how to respond.

"I…we…still support the king of Persia in battle." Jamal said at last, his voice returning if not his color. "However, the Shah you were familiar with, he died some time ago. Now the son of first wife is waiting to take the throne when he comes of age."

Jamal looked around the room nervously and Christine could only imagine that he was searching for any signs of Erik. His last threats had left quite an impression and the man obviously still feared for his life. Oh, he had apparently not heard of Erik's death, she thought. That was good; she would use that to her advantage.

"Son of his first wife? Shaheen had a child?" Now that was a shock to her! She shuddered to think of what any child of hers would become. Far worse than the old Shah she could only imagine.

"No…did you not know…" Jamal seemed confused now but continued as best he could, considering his precarious circumstances. "Shaheen was sent away in disgrace, queen Leyla is mother to next Shah. She and the Grand Vizier rule in her son's stead until he is old enough to take up his reign."

"Leyla! She had a son?" Christine was so happy for her friend that she almost forgot how angry she was at Jamal…almost. "It is good to hear such things, Prince. However it would please me even more to hear that you do indeed intend on donating a substantial amount of your wealth towards the furtherance of the arts here at the Opera House. I can assure you that it would please the dark Angel as well."

Christine almost laughed out loud as Jamal grabbed hold of his left arm as if remembering the painful break Erik had bestowed on him at their last meeting.

"The dark Angel?" Firmin asked, really confused now.

"Oh just a mutual friend of ours…one who would not wish to hear that the Prince had become tight with his pocket book. Do say you will be one of our most esteemed patrons, your highness." She once more used her most sickeningly sweet tone, but it was laced with a threat and she knew Jamal understood this.

"But of course…certainly… I will be most happy to make donation." He stammered, tripping over himself to comply with her wishes. "I will do so now…for I must go…I need to return to my lands…immediately."

"Oh? Leaving so soon? And here I was hoping we could catch up on old times." She told him, not sounding regretful in the least.

"Yes…I must go now, please forgive rude departure." Jamal was now practically dragging the managers away, in hopes of escaping any further contact with this woman who could mean his death. "We talk in your office then I have to go."

"Terribly nice seeing you again, Prince Jamal." She called as they disappeared up the aisle and out the door. Christine covered her mouth and did her best to contain her laughter. Oh that had been so much fun! Extremely cathartic and suddenly she felt like some small weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She had bested the man who had tormented her dreams so many times in the past. She had won a small victory…if only Erik had been there to see it all!

Both Erik and Nadir were dumbstruck. Had they just witnessed Christine extorted money from that vile man with only smiles and veiled threats?

"I believe she learned a thing or two from you during your time together, Erik." Nadir said in a low voice laced with humor. "Perhaps you should enlist her to speak to the managers about giving you a raise…"

"Not another word, Daroga….not another word!" Erik fumed. His blood was still boiling from the sight of that loathsome man and the fact that Christine had dared to go anywhere near him…even if she had handed herself so splendidly that he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride in his chest because of it. "I need you to find out exactly where he is staying in France and for how long. I want to know his every move, do you understand?"

"I will look into it right away." Nadir assured him, knowing that it would be best to keep tabs on this old enemy.

"Christine was foolish to have done such a thing, to put herself in danger like that and I will be informing her of my displeasure when we meet for our session this afternoon!" Erik told him, the strain in his voice showing just how upset he was over all this. He recalled how strong willed she was, always defying him when it came to feeding Kas or trying to speak with him.

"Really? After what I just saw…you might wish to rethink your position on that." Nadir said, now unable to hold back his laughter as he followed the storming Erik down the passageway and back within the secret tunnels.

Christine had been floating on a high all day. Her encounter with Jamal had indeed been exhilarating and the thought that she may have helped the production remain on schedule financially was an added bonus. She was still smiling to herself when she arrived at her dressing room that afternoon, eager to share her news with her Phantom tutor before she told him that she must leave early and skip the lesson. But the moment she entered the door slammed shut behind her and she heard the thunderous voice all around her.

"Exactly what do you imagine you were doing today?!" Erik boomed, causing her to jump at his tone.

"What do you mean?" Christine asked, her smile quickly fading in the face of his obvious rage.

"I am referring to that idiotic display with the contemptible Prince Jamal! You placed yourself in danger just being in the same room with him! Not to mention the fact that you felt it necessary to actually speak to him…an action for which a reason completely eludes me!" Erik had fumed all day over her rash and dangerous act. "What do you have to say for yourself?" Erik found it difficult to maintain his Italian accent in the face of his rage but he managed to hold it intact.

Christine had been stunned by his words and tone, but suddenly her eyes narrowed and she became righteously indignant by his attack on her.

"I say I did what I thought was best at the time and I don't recall asking or requiring your permission to do so!" Christine told him, placing her hands on her hips and glancing around the room. It truly was unnerving not knowing where to look when speaking to his Phantom! "Since when are you in charge of my life…telling me who I can and cannot speak to?"

"When it comes to your health and safety, it is my business! I am training your voice for greatness but if you would rather throw all that away in order to engage in some sort of game with a man who could have easily become your owner back in Persia…then by all means, go ahead and flirt with death!" Erik told her, pacing back and forth in the corridor behind the mirror. He couldn't believe her actions…still such a foolish child!

"How do you know…" Christine began.

"I have told you many times…I am the Opera Ghost! I know and see all. Do not try and deceive me Christine. It will not be tolerated." Erik knew that Nadir would scold him later for his harsh words and he felt a twinge of regret in saying them, but she had to learn to be more careful! Even though he never would have let her come to injury, she did not know that, yet still she placed herself in harm's way! He had to ensure that she did not so such foolish things again!

"Not tolerated?" Christine once more became indignant by his scolding. "Just who do you think you are? You are not my father or my husband to whom I owe my loyalty or obedience! You are my tutor and voice coach and nothing more. I told you from the onset that I would not be bound to you to you in any shape or form. You may be my teacher but that does not afford you any rights over my life…only my voice!"

"You voice is bound up with your life…lose one and you lose the other." Erik pointed out.

"Fair enough…however I will not be screamed at like some disobedient child! I am a woman with mind of her own and I will use it as I see fit." She continued, not to be deterred by his logic. "And if you think you can scare me with your rage and bluster, then you are sadly mistaken. I have faced down the wrath of a man who makes yours pale in comparison, so do not think I will cower and capitulate to you just because you dare to raise your voice!"

Erik was forced to stop there, his body becoming still as he watched his delicate Christine stand up to the dreaded Opera Ghost with all the courage of a tigress. And yet she still claimed to be shy? He knew better!

"It was still a very foolish thing to do, Christine!" Erik continued.

"Well if perhaps you were not squeezing an exorbitant salary from the Managers they might not have needed to solicit funds from men such as Jamal and there would not have been any reason for me to have confronted him like that." Christine countered, remembering how Meg had told her that this Phantom required a salary.

"I assure you that the amount of my payment is far from excessive and that is not the reason this Opera House revolves in a constant state of red, it is because our dear Managers are spendthrifts who tend to dip into the coffers to pay off their gambling debts and pad their own personally bank accounts! The sheer volume of money that disappears from the books would make your head swim. By getting Jamal to donate his ill-gotten gains you have simply afforded Andre and Firmin a few more expensive bottles of wine and nights out on the town. This will not help the Opera House in the slightest…I am the only one who sees to it that this place is not shut down because of lack of money!"

"Oh…I was unaware of that." Christine said, now feeling rather silly and uninformed. "I just thought that you…well that you didn't care if this place was financially sound or not."

"Not care?! This theater means everything to me…I have nurtured its success from day one and I will not let those greedy managers, or anyone else for that matter, bring it to its knees! Lord woman, I care more about this Opera House than just about anything else in this world!" Erik assured her. Knowing that the only thing he cared more about was standing directly in front of him. And it was for this reason that he was still fuming over her brush with death this morning.

"I see that now. Please forgive my doubts. I find that I am having a hard time reconciling the rumors I have been told about you with what I have been learning of you during out lessons. I am sorry if I have offended you. In the future I will take what I am told with a grain of salt." Christine apologized.

Hearing her words of regret had such a calming effect on Erik that he completely dismissed his anger and only wished to go back to speaking with her on a friendly basis. But he could not help but admire her for her brave and wild spirit…that spirit that had led her to love a monster such as he.

"We shall forget it happened and not speak of it again." He offered; his voice once more even and calm. "Shall we begin with your lessons?"

In the heat of the argument Christine had forgotten all about what she had come here to tell him, that she could not stay today because of Marie's anniversary plans. A quick look at the clock told her that she would need to hurry if she meant to keep her promise of getting home on time.

"I am very sorry, Phantom. But today I must beg off from my lesson. I have made a promise to someone very special that I will return home early today. I cannot break that promise even for the training I so much desire. I will work twice as hard tomorrow to make up for it though, but I really must be going right now." Christine told him, picking up her cloak and fastening it around her neck.

"You have promised whom, Christine?" Erik asked slowly, his eyes beginning to narrow in suspicion.

"I am not at liberty to say, Monsieur, so please do not ask." She told him sternly. If he was so adamant about the reputation and well-being of the Opera House she was not about to tell him it was by the request of her nanny that she must go. If this Phantom knew about her son, he might inform the managers and that would be the end of her career before it even began…and she was getting so close to fulfilling her promise to Erik!

"I demand you tell me immediately, who is it that holds sway over your actions in this manner?" Erik requested, not liking the implications of this at all. Was there someone waiting for her at home? Some man?! This thought had never occurred to him, but it had been four years…four long years! Was he fool enough to believe that a beautiful woman like Christine, who thought herself to be a widow, might not have received offers by other men? Oh the mere thought of it was like a knife in his gut. It couldn't be!

"And once more I choose to decline your demand and bid you good evening. I will return tomorrow for our lesson, Monsieur Phantom." And with that she opened the door and left.

"Oh this is not over, Christine…not by a far cry is this over!" Erik said to himself in a low and threatening tone. She was keeping secrets from him! This was not something the Opera Ghost would stand for…and most assuredly not something Erik would tolerate!

.

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Dun, dun, dun! The Opera Ghost is showing is scary side here a little I think! He better mind his Ps and Qs or Christine is gunna fire him as her tutor!

Ok, so what did you all think?

Were you shocked to see it was Jamal and not Raoul? (I know you all thought it was him…didn't ya?)

And was Erik too hard on her…or not hard enough?

Was Christine standing up to him to your liking?