Once they entered the prayer room, Marcus caught his breath as Meg asked him what was going on. She demanded to know why he brought her down there when they were in no danger. She also demanded to know if it was indeed the Opera Ghost who killed Joseph Buquet? Marcus pointed at a chair and waited until she calmed down to answer her. She sat in front of the setting of candle holders, while he began to pace back and forth to gather his thoughts and piece together what he was going to say. He thought for a while, while Meg looked at him waiting for him to speak. He finally took a deep breath and looked at her.

"What just happened to Joseph Buquet was no accident. Personally I feel he got what he deserved. However that isn't what the matter is. I brought you down here to keep you safe and protected from that crowd that is terrified beyond belief. They were even running back stage and I couldn't risk you getting hurt. It was the Opera Ghost who killed Joseph Buquet. I saw the Opera Ghost throw him off the catwalk. So I quickly grabbed a rope and rappelled off the catwalk to the stage before he could come after me.

For you see, I came face to face with him not too long ago Meg. He spared my life because I didn't know he was there. He then placed two conditions for sparing my life. Since he spared my life, I stay out of his way and if I am to stumble upon his doing something like what I saw, I am to turn away and I didn't. I fear he knows I didn't. Regardless, I did not want him to come after either of us in the commotion.

The other condition is that I get the Vicompte out of the way and away from Christine. I haven't done that either. I'm not sure if he's angered by that or not. Or if he understands that it's not that easy of a task," he explained and looked away.

Meg stood up and placed her hand cupped his cheek in her hand. "Marcus, why did you wait until now to tell me. I am so sorry my love. He spared your life in exchange for you being his servant? I understand there was no choice. Marcus, we can get out of this I am sure. He won't chase you. I do not know why but I'm sure of it. Get out of the op'era house and I'll come with you shortly there after."

"But he'll still come after you to draw me back and your mother will never allow us to be together again no matter how many times I would save your lives. I have to appear as if I am at least trying to get the Vicompte out of the way and that he is resisting. That's the only thing that may work. Otherwise, I'm going to have to get the Opera Ghost out of the way. It's the only other option Meg," he replied.

"You're acting as if the Opera Ghost is holding something more over you."

He kept his composure and reassured her that what he told her is what was bothering him.

"There is something else Marcus. What is it?"

He quickly thought up an answer to stop her from demanding to know anything further.

"The answer you seek, you shall receive if you can wait until the Masquerade Ball," he answered.

"Marcus, there is something more and I demand to know it!"

He looked around and before he could say anything, she spoke again.
"What is it? I know it's not that you're worried about Christine and Raoul! Tell me!"

Marcus took a deep breath and had Meg sit back down. He sat down with her as he stared into her beautiful brown eyes.

"Meg, I need to talk to you about your father."

She looked at him confused. Unsure and wondering of what it was he spoke of. She did not know what to say because she did not know anything about her father. Marcus decided now was the time to tell her what Erik had told him. Before he could though, Madame Giry walked into the room and slapped him across the face.

"Meg, leave! Marcus Levesque, you stay put!" she screamed.

She watched Meg reluctantly, leave down the hallway and then grabbed Marcus by his vest. She jabbed and pressed the bottom of her walking stick into his shoulder before backing him up against the wall.

"What gives you reason to pretend you know anything about Megs father," she demanded

"I know more then what you wish for more to know... Madame Opera Ghost," he replied smugly.

She lowered her walking stick and stared at him in shock.

"How do you about that?"

He told her about the night that he saved Meg from Joseph Buquets. How Erik spared his life, made the deal and took him to the room behind the chandelier. And how he told him about their love affair. Madame Giry then jabbed her walking stick against his shoulder again.

"What were you thinking? About to tell Meg that her father is alive and is the Opera Ghost?"

"I believe she not only has a right to know now, but deserves to know!"

She dropped her walking stick and grabbed his shoulders. "You musn't do such a thing! Please Monsieur! She can not know. Not after thinking all her life that her father is passed. Think of what that will do to her. Please...Think of Meg," she begged.

He heaved a defeated sigh. "Against my better judgment, I will not tell Meg what I know. Though it shall pain me further as I have already had to lie to her once, I will not tell her."

Madame Giry thanked him and kissed him on the cheek. She then looked him in the eye asked had one more thing to tell him.

"I know you are now in his service. Answering his every beckoning call. But he is a complex man. Anger him the slightest and he will turn on you. Anytime, he seems angry, he will not hesitate but to take it out on you with your life. Always, in any situation with him, keep your hand at the level of your eyes! Always!" She said and kissed him on the cheek again.

As Madame Giry started to leave the room, Marcus followed behind. They both froze where they stood when they heard a thunderous voice from outside.

"You will curse the day you did not do…All that the phantom asks….of…You!"

They looked and noded at each other. Marcus lowered his head and went to the catwalk. He knew right away that Erik was going to want to meet there. By the time he got to the ladder to start climbing up, he heard Erik's voice

"Follow me! We must speak."

Marcus followed him to the secret entrance to the catacombs. Erik took him to his lair. Upon arriving, he was enticed by everything he saw there. He now understood why Erik demanded money. It was to furnish his lair and write his music.

Before Marcus realized it, Erik had fallen to his knees in tears. He knelt down next to him with a hand on his shoulder. Keeping his other hand at the level of his eyes. He remained silent while Erik wept for several minutes. Eventually Erik got up and went to his desk. In one fluent motion he angrily swept everything off of it while chanting Christine's name. Marcus grew nervous when Erik put his hands on his shoulders. He suddenly pulled out a Punjab Lasso and threw it at Marcus with a scream of anger.

Still following Madame Giry's instructions, Marcus caught it with the hand that was at the level of his eyes and pulled the rope towards himself. Erik was pulled forward and Marcus punched him in the face. He then put the lasso around Erik's neck and tightened it a little bit.

"You brought me down here to kill me? What have I done? I have done everything you have asked of me. Including protecting your daughter with my life! Answer me Erik! What have I done?" he demanded.

Erik grabbed at the lasso a few times before he stopped fighting and took a deep breath.

"You've failed to get the Vicompte out of my way. Now he has captured the heart of the only other woman I have ever truly loved! That was your most important task and you failed. You are useless Marcus!" Erik yelled at him.

Marcus leaned next to Erik's ear with his teeth gritted.

"You are very much wrong. I have tried my hardest. He has proven to be more foolish, stubborn and much trickier to run out than either of us expected! I just need to devise a new way to get him to leave," Marcus lied and released the lasso.

Erik sat and chuckled in between coughs while he coposed himself.

"Well done Marcus. Well done. Someone who finally listened to Madame Giry and was a step ahead of me. Incredible. Never thought I would live to see it," he said as he stood up and put a hand on Marcus' shoulder, "I must apologize Marcus. You are not useless. The Vicompte is certainly wiser than we thought. And foolish indeed. Please do forgive me."

Marcus forgave him and helped him up. Then Erik began to cry.

"On the roof! They proclaimed their love to one another! After I gave her my music. I took her in and gave her a sacred gift. I did everything for her. She repays me by stabbing me in the heart? She knows how I feel is true and she ignores me for that bastard? Is it because he's not a freak? Or is it because of his money and status? He even proposed to her. She said yes! He then had the audacity to tell Christine to ignore me. Worst of all, she dropped one of my beautiful roses I leave for her. She stepped on it when they left." He stopped to wipe the tears from his eyes. Erik then turned around with an angry grin on his face while Marcus discovered a beautiful rose bush hidden behind a curtain with a the mannequin of Christine. He was taken aback to see how much it looked exactly like her.

"I have decided they both shall be punished! I will get it. Everyone shall know it. So everyone will know and fear me at the same time. But I shall not say when or where. Rest assured, they will punished."

Marcus became concerned with how obsessed Erik had become. Erik apologized again for trying to strangle him. He then told Marcus to warn Meg and Madame Giry that Christine and Raoul were to be punished by him and that they will be witness to it.

Marcus slowly walked back up to the op'era house. He wondered how Erik could be such a hypocrite. And could he allow a couple truly in love, such as himself, to be split up just to make an innocent girl be placed into the burning desires of an obsessed mad man. He decided to wait a few days and would worry about it after the upcoing ball. For now he would find a way to warn Christine. His only worry was whether or not Erik come to or if his plot for revenge would endanger the lives of himself or Meg.

Before he made it to the secret door he heard Erik's voice.

"Do not tell Meg what you know about me. For her sake and the sake of Madame Giry. No one but us must know that the Angel In Hell is the father of the most promising ballerina in this opera house."