"Returned? Returned from where?" Raoul exclaimed.

"The little fox! Where was she hiding?" Carlotta bellowed.

Andre demanded, "Where has she been? We have been dealing with the news and a diva's disappearance is not an easy thing to explain-"

Carlotta nearly turned purple. "Diva?" She cried. "You call that unprofessional mouse a diva?"

Quietly my mother announced, "I have a note."

Firmin nervously eyed my mother. "Let me see it!" He added quickly, "Please."

He read: "My dear gentleman: I have now sent you

several notes containing instructions on how

my theater is to be handled. You have not

followed them; however, I shall give you one

last chance. Christine Daae has been returned.

However, I have her career in interest. Her parts

must increase distinctively or I shall interfere

once more. You will place Miss Daae in the role

of Countess. Carlotta shall play the pageboy.

I find this change very appealing. You will see

it done. I shall be watching from Box Five; see to

it that it is kept empty. Should you ignore my

request, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.

I remain your obedient servant,

O.G.

After a moment of silence, everyone began yelling.

"Christine! The Vicomte is her lover, no doubt he is helping her rise to a star! I defy this ploy and demand it stopped!" Carlotta shrieked.

Raoul sarcastically replied, "Indeed." Turning to the managers, he demanded, "What's all this nonsense?"

Burying his head, Andre groaned. "What next? What a joke."

"This changes nothing! No ghost will order us in our opera!" Firmin hastily exclaimed to Carlotta. "Miss Daae will be playing the pageboy. You maintain the lead, Signora."

Carlotta bristled. "You say this only to please me, Monsieur. I refuse to be placated!"

My mother's face became distant as she murmured, "The Angel sees, the Angel knows."

"Have I done anything to offend Christine? Is she avoiding me? What is wrong?" Raoul questioned himself.

I rubbed my head. It was too much chaos for me to handle. As I stood, ready to walk out, Firmin and Andre actually got on their knees to La Carlotta.

"My dearest Signora. Your public needs you. And- we need you too. You are our only star. Come back to us." Firmin begged.

Carlotta's lip curled as she cynically asked, "Would you not rather have your precious little ingénue?"

Andre quickly cried out, "No! You, Madame. We want you."

After a pause, Carlotta sighed heavily. "Very well. This star shall shine again!" She announce dramatically. I rolled my eyes.

In the corner, Mme. Giry was still muttering something about Christine and an angel. Raoul was sitting, pondering over what he did wrong.

Meanwhile Andre and Firmin were whispering together. "Perhaps he slept with her."

"It is possible, for him to then demur for her reputation."

"And career. Quite the opera, indeed, Andre?"

I rushed out of the room. They did not understand they were dealing with a genius of a madman. Angels, suitors, publicity. They did not understand! ~

That morning, I called on Christine. She was lying on her bed, her curls spread over the pillow, and looking slightly ill. Worriedly I asked, "Are you feeling well?"

She smiled. "Quite well, Meg. But." She suddenly frowned. "I have something on my mind."

I pulled up a chair as Christine pushed herself into a sitting position. "What is it?" I leaned closer. "Is it about your angel?"

Christine laughed nervously as she played with the lacey frill of her nightgown. "So you believe in him now, do you?"

"Well- I- um- yes" I stammered. "But I thought, perhaps, that he had." I trailed off.

Christine raised an eyebrow. "Thought that he had something to do with my whereabouts?"

I blushed. "Yes."

Christine looked at me for a moment, then sighed. "I cannot keep it from you, Meg. I met him."

"Your teacher?" I breathed. So she had met Monsieur!

She nodded. "Yes. He came to me through my mirror. It was so strange, right after Raoul- the Vicomte left-"

I nodded. "Yes, I know." Suddenly I panicked. She did not know I had eavesdropped!

Puzzled, Christine repeated, "You know?"

Wildly I searched for an excuse. "Yes, he.told me after you disappeared."

This apparently satisfied her, for she continued. "I heard a voice, it came from my mirror. I turned around, and there was a bright light, and suddenly I found myself in darkness with a man!

"He was handsome, but half his face was covered in a white mask. He also wore dress clothes and a long black cape, with a fedora. Oh Meg, his voice! He had the voice of my angel! It was my angel! And he brought me beneath the opera, to a lake with candles shimmering.

"I sang with him, and then he-" Christine turned red. "He sang to me, and it gave me a queer feeling, and he touched me. When he touched me, I felt.intoxicated." She stopped at my look of horror. "Oh no, nothing like that! I was in my right mind, Meg! I don't drink!"

I prompted, "Then what happened?"

Christine replied, "I don't remember exactly why, but I fainted. When I awoke, he was playing his organ. His hat was off, and I had a clear vision of his mask. I wanted to know why he had a mask, what the purpose was. It couldn't possibly hide his identity. So I crept to the organ, and I tore it off him! There sat the ugliest man I had ever seen! His face.so deformed.horrifying." Tears rose to her eyes as Christine sat in dismay."

I gasped. "Deformed?" I repeated. Monsieur? Never!

"When I unmasked him, it was as though I had unleashed a monster! He chased me around, screaming and cursing at me until I fell. I swear, he could have eaten me! But he fell at my feet, and slowly dragged himself to me, in the dirt.like an animal begging for forgiveness. Meg, he wants me to love him! I can't! I can't love that face!" Christine began to cry. "He let me go, but he is always watching! He will be back for me! I cannot escape him!"

I sat in shock. This revelation about my 'master' caused devastation on my part. A monster? What had I done? What had Christine done? ~

A/N~ Hehe a good place to stop. Next time, the song of the singing toad! Woohoo! R&R please! Luv, Kat