"You, my dear friend, are my great-great-great-great-great grandson, give or take a 'great'. I am a vampire, as I'm sure you've suspected. You are a direct descendent of my youngest daughter. She was only 13 when I was...taken. I have watched over all my family these centuries, but she was dearest to my heart, so I have especially followed her descendents. It will interest you to know she was a gifted pianist, and at least one person in every generation has had a special talent. Artists, musicians, vocalists… but none so talented as you. I was involved in certain 'troubles' when you were born, else I would have taken you and raised you as my son. Alas, by the time I found out, you had disappeared. I picked up your trail in Persia, but again you eluded me. I finally caught up with you here in Paris, but by then you had built your home under the Opera and I felt it best to leave you alone. I had frequent updates on you from a friend."
     "Madame Giry" Erik sighed in understanding. "Is she also...a…"
     "No, no. Nor does she know I am. She merely thinks I am a distant relative, which is the truth."

     "Is this a joke?" Christine interrupted. "A vampire? That cannot be."
     "It can be, my dear, and I am. I have offered my gift of eternal life to Erik, but he has yet to make his choice. There are difficulties, to be sure, but the alternative is death-sooner rather than later, I'm afraid. For his illness is also a curse of my family. Marie, my youngest, died from it when she was only 43."

     "I cannot accept," Erik told him.
     "May I inquire as to why?"   
     "I could not live and watch Christine grow old and...die. I would rather die myself."
     "She could also choose to become one of the Family."
     "Erik…" Christine began.
     "No!" he cut her off. "I will not let you."
     "You are being selfish. You do not wish to accept his offer because you fear watching me die, but you think it is all right to make me watch you die? I will not let that happen to you. If you will not accept for your sake, then do so for mine."

     "You don't realize what this would entail. I have lived in darkness all my life. To do so forever would mean nothing to me. You have a life, Christine. A career. Would you be willing to give all that up? I am not willing to let you do so. You deserve so much more."

     "You cannot choose for me, Erik. My life, my career, would be nothing were it not for you. I will not give YOU up."

     "No, Christine, you can't do this. You've worked too hard to give up your dreams now. The Opera Populaire…"

     "Who is to stop my singing? The productions are all night shows. We could live here, together; I would have no need to be out in the daylight hours." He shook his head and turned away from her. "Erik," she tried a new tactic. "I have made my choice. It is now up to you to decide your own fate." She walked toward the visitor. "If you truly are a vampire, then take me now. I am ready."

     "No!" Erik cried, lunging toward her and pulling her away.

     She jerked free of his grasp. "You can't stop me. I go to him willingly."
     "Very well," he finally sighed in defeat. "I will do this on one condition-he must take me first. Then you will know what lies in store for you, and have an opportunity to change your mind." He looked from Christine to the man. "Agreed?"
     Christine nodded and the man said, "A wise choice. Will you please step near to me?" Erik obeyed, his movements a bit nervous. "You will need to remove your jacket and cravat, and unbutton your shirt." Erik did as he was asked, silently handing his clothing to Christine. The man moved behind him, pushing the shirt down and away from the left side of Erik's neck, feeling his muscles tense in response. "There is nothing to fear," he soothed. "The pain is slight and only momentary." He tilted Erik's head away from him, bent close to the exposed area, then without warning bit deeply.
     Erik's eyes widened in sudden panic. "Christine!" he called. She made an aborted move toward him, stopping when his eyes closed and he sagged in the man's grasp. The man lowered him to the ground, still drinking his life's blood. Finally he stopped and looked up. Christine gasped; his eyes glowed eerily and his mouth and chin were covered in blood-Erik's blood.

     He stood, taking a handkerchief from his pocket and wiping his face with it. "Go to him," he told her.

     She immediately knelt at Erik's side, taking her own handkerchief and dabbing away the blood on Erik's neck and throat. He didn't seem to be breathing at all… and she nearly screamed in surprise as he gasped suddenly and looked up at her, his own eyes glowing with some new-found force. "Erik…" her voice trembled despite her best efforts to sound calm.

     "Christine." He sat up slowly, pulling his shirt back into position and wincing slightly as the collar touched the wound. She helped him stand, supporting him with her arm around his waist. The heat of her body against his was like a flame-he had touched her before, but never felt her in this manner. His senses were heightened-the smell of her perfume filled his nostrils, her breath was like a gentle breeze… He closed his eyes, almost overcome with the sensory overload.

     "My love," she said, concerned. "Are you all right? How do you feel?"

     He looked down into her eyes, answering, "I feel good. I feel… very good." He took a deep breath, luxuriating in the feeling. "There is no longer any pain."
     "Of course not," the visitor told him as he approached the pair. "You will no longer have any problems in that respect, my friend. Your heart is as if you had never been ill." He smiled, asking, "Do you regret your decision?"
     "No," Erik shook his head. "I feel… reborn. Strong, healthy, invincible. I must thank you."
     "It is enough that you will not die," the man said.
     "Then I ask only one last favor of you," Erik began. "If I am indeed your descendent, then you must know my last name."
     "I do."

     Erik waited a few moments, then continued. "Yet you do not want to tell me?"
     "It's not that I don't want to tell you. It is, rather, that I had hoped you would take on the Family name. It would be a great honor to me if you would do so."    

     Erik stepped toward him, removing Christine's arm from his waist and taking her hand into his own. "Monsieur, the honor would be mine-or I should hope to say," he glanced at Christine, "Ours." She smiled at him, nodding in agreement.
     The man grinned widely. "My friend, allow me to formally introduce myself…"

A/N Yes, it's a bad place to stop, but the muses do as they will, and there IS more to come, hopefully soon!